Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 489

CHAPTER 257-2

“Then we’ll do it again.” He said.

“I’d like that.” I said.

By Monday morning, Lawson Customs was back to its usual rhythm.

The main workshop was busy from opening time, while the second location was handling

enough work to keep its entire team moving.

The expansion had worked better than I could have hoped. Ben had taken over daily repair

management, and he now handled schedules, customer updates, job assignments, and

quality checks with the confidence of someone who had finally realized he belonged exactly

where he was.

I watched him one morning as he walked through the workshop with his clipboard.

“That bike needs another inspection before it leaves. The customer reported a vibration, and I

don’t want us handing it back until we know exactly what caused it.” He told one of the

mechanics.

The mechanic nodded and Ben turned and noticed me watching.

“What?” He asked and I smiled.

“Nothing.” I said.

“You have that look.” He said.

“What look?” I asked.

“The proud boss look.” He said and I laughed.

“Maybe I’m proud.” I said and he grinned.

“I’ll take it.” He said.

Aiden had also settled into his role.

He was responsible for training new apprentices, and he took the job seriously.

I had watched him spend hours teaching them everything from basic maintenance to proper

diagnostics, and he never made anyone feel stupid for asking questions.

14

CHAPTER 257 2

+25 Points

Uncle Will had always believed that knowledge was supposed to be passed on, and I could

see that philosophy spreading through the workshop.

Mia was the person keeping everything together behind the scenes.

She oversaw both Lawson Customs locations, handled suppliers, managed schedules,

reviewed accounts, and dealt with the endless stream of paperwork that came with running a

growing business.

Whenever I asked how she was managing everything, she always gave me the same answer.

“Coffee.” She said and I believed her.

The second workshop was thriving, and the waiting list continued to grow.

Customers who had once known Lawson Customs only as a small local garage were now

travelling from surrounding towns because they trusted our work.

That made me proud, but it also reminded me that the business was no longer just mine.

It belonged to everyone who had helped build it.

The mechanics. The apprentices. Mia. Ben. Aiden. Jace. The club. And Uncle Will’s memory

was still woven through every part of it.

Our family life had changed too.

Charles and Victoria visited regularly, and their relationship with me had become easier

because they stopped trying to repair the past with words and started showing up through

their actions.

They brought groceries. They helped with the baby. They attended family events. They asked

about the workshops and they listened when I spoke.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was real.

Charlotte was taking things even more slowly.

She volunteered with local charities, helped organize food drives, and spent weekends

working with community programs.

She never expected me to forget what happened. Instead, she seemed determined to prove

through her actions that she was changing.

2/4

MAPTER 257-2

+25 Points

Uncle Will had always believed that knowledge was supposed to be passed on, and I could

see that philosophy spreading through the workshop.

Mia was the person keeping everything together behind the scenes.

She oversaw both Lawson Customs locations, handled suppliers, managed schedules, reviewed accounts, and dealt with the endless stream of paperwork that came with running a

growing business.

Whenever I asked how she was managing everything, she always gave me the same answer.

“Coffee.” She said and I believed her.

The second workshop was thriving, and the waiting list continued to grow.

Customers who had once known Lawson Customs only as a small local garage were now travelling from surrounding towns because they trusted our work.

That made me proud, but it also reminded me that the business was no longer just mine.

It belonged to everyone who had helped build it.

The mechanics. The apprentices. Mia. Ben. Aiden. Jace. The club. And Uncle Will’s memory

was still woven through every part of it.

Our family life had changed too.

Charles and Victoria visited regularly, and their relationship with me had become easier because they stopped trying to repair the past with words and started showing up through

their actions.

They brought groceries. They helped with the baby. They attended family events. They asked

about the workshops and they listened when I spoke.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was real.

Charlotte was taking things even more slowly.

She volunteered with local charities, helped organize food drives, and spent weekends

working with community programs.

She never expected me to forget what happened. Instead, she seemed determined to prove

through her actions that she was changing.

214

CHAPTER 257-2

Sometimes she came over and helped with our daughter.

*25 Points

Sometimes we had coffee together. Sometimes we simply sat in the same room without

needing to fill the silence.

It wasn’t the relationship we had when we were children.

It was something different. Something healthier. Something we were building from scratch.

By Sunday afternoon, the house was already filling with familiar voices.

Sunday dinner had become a tradition, and everyone knew that once the invitations went out,

there was very little chance of escaping.

Emma arrived with our daughter after spending the afternoon with her and Sophia brought

dessert.

Mia brought a bottle of wine for the adults. Ben and Aiden arrived together after closing the

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