Flashback - Cincinnati, 2023
The air hung heavy with the scent of industrial cleaner and stale popcorn as Austin navigated the crowded movie set, his boots echoing on the concrete floor. "Action!" yelled a voice from the megaphone, and the scene before him, a chaotic biker bar, erupted with synthesized gunfire and the roar of motorcycle engines. He was supposed to be in the moment, immersed in the raw energy of the Bikeriders shoot, yet his mind was a million miles away.
"Hey, you alright, man?" a voice pulled him back. Jeff Nichols, the director, stood beside him, a weary smile on his face. "You've been staring off into space all morning. Worried about Lori starting kindergarten?"
Austin forced a smile. "Yeah, a little. First day jitters, you know?" He knew he sounded lame, even to himself. "This is supposed to be a big day for her, and I'm stuck here, missing it all."
"I hear you," Jeff said, patting Austin's shoulder. "It's tough. But look, we could do an early wrap today. If you fly out tonight, you could make it just in time for pick-up."
A sudden rush of relief flooded Austin. He could do it! He could be there for Lori. A thousand emotions swirled within him; guilt, yearning, hope. He'd been working himself to the bone on this film, staying dedicated to the schedule, and now, his daughter would be starting kindergarten without him. The thought was almost unbearable.
"No, it's ok," he said, trying to sound strong. "I don't want to disrupt the shoot. Besides, she has Lucy. She'll be fine."
Jeff studied him for a moment, a knowing look in his eyes. "You know, you love your daughter more than anything, Austin. It's a big day for her. You're the one who should be there, not us."
The director’s words struck a chord. Austin couldn’t ignore the pull in his heart anymore. He knew he was being selfish, putting his career before his daughter's needs.
"Fine," he said with a sigh, conceding to the unspoken plea in Jeff’s eyes. "Let's try to wrap things up early today."
He pulled out his phone, its warm light momentarily cutting through the dimness of the set. A flood of relief and excitement washed over him when he saw Lucy’s smiling face on the screen.
"Lucy, hey!" Austin grinned, relieved to see her. "We're going to try to wrap early today, so maybe I can be back in L.A., just in time for Lori's pick-up."
Lucy's eyes widened. “Really?” she chirped. “But, Austin, weren’t you worried about disrupting the shoot?”
“Don’t worry about that,” he said, chuckling at her concern. “Jeff’s a good sport about these things. We’ll, uh, make it work.”
His voice dropped to a whisper. “Hey, Lucy, how about we plan a little surprise for Lori? Maybe I could pick her up after school in a limo?”
Lucy’s eyes lit up. “A limo? You’re kidding, right?”
Austin shook his head with a mischievous grin. “Seriously. I want to make it special for her. You know, something to make her feel like a princess – a little extra magic for her first day.”
"I love it," she said. "She's going to think it's incredible."
As their conversation continued, Austin felt the weight of worry lift from his shoulders. He knew there was no substitute for being there in person, but the excitement in their voices filled that gap. He already felt closer to Lori.
Later that evening, as the sun bled orange into the sky, Austin found himself in a waiting area at the Cincinnati airport. The air was thick with anticipation and the scent of stale coffee. His heart pounded with each passing minute, each click of the clock on the wall.
He pulled out his phone again, checking the time. Just a few more minutes until his flight boarded.
He was going to see Lori. His daughter, his heart, his little girl. He’d missed her terribly. The thought of his little girl, walking out of the school door, possibly even looking for him, filled him with a mixture of excitement and fear.
He had to make up for lost time, and this surprise, this limo ride, was just the beginning.
***
**Flashback - Los Angeles, 2023**
The setting sun painted the sky in shades of purple and orange as Lori walked out of the school gates, her small hand clasped tightly in Lucy’s.
“Do you think Daddy’s coming? ” Lori asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She’d been talking about it all day, asking questions about when her dad would get back, how he would pick her up, whether he would be waiting for her at the school gates.
Lucy smiled. “I don’t know, sweetie, but I bet he's doing his best to get here.”
They walked, hand in hand, towards the sidewalk. The familiar yellow school bus had pulled away just minutes ago, its bright colors fading into distance.
As Lori looked across the street, she saw a glint of chrome catching the waning light. And then, the headlights illuminated a stretch limousine, a beacon of black against the fading light of the Los Angeles sky.
The back door opened, and from the inside, a figure emerged—a familiar figure, radiating warmth and love. “Lori! Hey, kiddo!”
Lori gasped. “Daddy!” She ran towards the limousine, eyes wide with wonder.
The car’s interior was plush and dark, the scent of leather and car air freshener filling the air. The limo driver, resplendent in a chauffeur’s uniform, opened the door for her and Lucy.
“Well, Lori, how was your first day? ” Austin asked as Lori slid into the seat next to him. She giggled, nestled her head against his shoulder, and told him about her teacher and her friends, her voice muffled by his shirt.
The limousine slid smoothly down the road, the Los Angeles sunset painting a vibrant backdrop to their joyous ride.
Austin looked at Lori, her face flushed with happiness, her eyes shining with a mix of wonder and delight. He felt a wave of relief wash over him, knowing he’d made it back in time to witness this magical moment.
He knew that this wasn’t the end of it, that this was just the beginning of a new chapter, but for now, he was just glad to be here, with his daughter, driving through the golden glow of the LA sunset.
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Bikeriders Serenade
Fanfictiona tale of two people meeting at a movie premier continue reading to see what happens
