Chapter 72: Shifting Gears

Friday, July 22nd, 2006

Josh stirred awake in the soft gray of dawn, Katie nestled close beside him, her breath slow and even against his chest. Her hand rested gently over his heart, fingers curled slightly as if holding onto him even in her dreams. He let himself enjoy the quiet for a few seconds longer, soaking in the warmth of her body and the comforting rise and fall of her breathing. Carefully, he slid out from under the covers, mindful not to disturb her. As he stood, he cast a glance over his shoulder, taking in the peaceful sight of her tucked beneath the blankets, auburn hair spilling across the pillow like a flame.

He longed to crawl back into bed, to wrap his arms around her again and steal a few more moments of comfort. But responsibility tugged at him, and he knew he needed to get moving. With a sigh, he dressed in his workout clothes and padded barefoot out to the back patio.

The early morning air greeted him with a cool embrace, scented faintly with dew and the lingering freshness of night. The neighborhood was still asleep, silent but for the occasional bird chirping from a nearby tree. Josh dropped into his routine with practiced ease: push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. His muscles warmed quickly, his breath falling into a steady rhythm as he focused on his form. With each repetition, he reminded himself of the importance of discipline-how this simple structure had helped keep his mind anchored through both lives. By the time he finished, his shirt clung to his back with sweat, and a quiet satisfaction spread through his chest.

Back inside, he made his way to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Hot water cascaded down his shoulders, loosening the tension in his muscles. He leaned against the tiled wall, letting the steam envelop him as his thoughts drifted to the day ahead. The new Phaeton was supposed to be ready for pickup today. He couldn’t help but feel a little excited. It had been a long time since he’d driven something brand new.

The RX-7 and Supra were great-fun, iconic, and deeply nostalgic. The RX-7, especially, had carried him through countless nights of freedom, reflection, and emotional escape. But neither were built for convenience. As much as he loved the sound of the rotary engine and the snap of shifting gears, he had to admit it could be a pain during heavy traffic or long errands. The idea of sliding into the plush leather seat of a luxury sedan and letting the automatic transmission handle the tedium was growing on him.

His thoughts shifted to Katie. With the XC90 now hers, she had real independence again. No more waiting on rides, no more coordinating schedules. She could visit her parents whenever she wanted, run errands on her own, or just go out for the sake of it. Josh didn’t mind the driving-he never had-but he welcomed the change for her. And once the new house was complete, it would cut the commute to her parents’ place in half. She could pop over on a whim and still make it back before dinner. It felt like another puzzle piece falling into place.

Josh finished his shower, toweled off, and went through his grooming routine with methodical precision. He shaved, brushed his teeth, and applied deodorant before heading to the closet. A pair of tailored black slacks and a clean black polo shirt waited on the hanger. He dressed quickly, slipping into comfortable loafers to finish the look.

Returning to the bedroom, he stood at the foot of the bed, watching Katie for a moment. She stirred slightly, curling more tightly into the blankets. He walked over, leaned down, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Love you,” he whispered softly.

In the kitchen, he slipped into a familiar rhythm, scanning through their supplies. The pantry shelves were a little sparse: low on coffee filters, nearly out of oats, and the peanut butter jar was down to the scraping point. He made a mental note to pick those up during his shift.

He spotted a pack of English muffins on the counter, their expiration date fast approaching. That settled breakfast. He checked the fridge-eggs, sausage patties, cheese. Good. He set about preparing breakfast sandwiches, cracking eggs into a skillet, frying sausage, and toasting the muffins to a golden crisp. The smell filled the kitchen with warmth and comfort, the sizzle and aroma of cooking bringing a sense of home.

While everything cooked, he rinsed some blueberries and prepared himself a protein shake. Once the sandwiches were assembled, he plated one for himself and wrapped up a few extras for Katie, storing them neatly in the fridge.

He grabbed a sticky note from the drawer and scribbled a quick message:

“Morning, love. Breakfast is in the fridge. Hope you sleep in a bit. You deserve it. <3 - Josh”

He stuck the note to the fridge door, right where she’d see it, and gave the kitchen a quick clean-up. Dishes in the sink, counters wiped down, stove off.

Josh sat down at the kitchen table to eat his breakfast before heading to work. The warm aroma of sausage and toasted English muffins lingered in the air, mingling with the subtle sweetness of the blueberries on his plate. He took a sip of his protein shake, savoring the cold, creamy texture before digging into the sandwich. As he ate, he allowed his mind to wander, watching the golden morning light spill across the tile floor through the half-drawn blinds. The quiet was a welcome reprieve, a small pocket of peace before the demands of the day began. He glanced over at the sticky note he’d left for Katie, smiling softly to himself. Life wasn’t perfect, but it was good. And in that moment, with a full stomach and a full heart, he felt ready to take it on.

Josh stepped into the garage, the cool concrete floor grounding him again. He paused beside the RX-7, his hand brushing along the smooth silver hood. The car looked as good as the day he bought it. Sleek. Stylish. Timeless. It had been a symbol of freedom once and now, it was the embodiment of a life he was transitioning from.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, he inhaled deeply and turned the key. The rotary engine came to life with a low, distinctive growl that echoed off the garage walls. It was a sound that never failed to thrill him, a reminder of younger days and late-night drives.

But even as he reveled in it, a thought lingered: was it time to retire the RX-7 as a daily driver? He could keep it for special occasions, of course, or weekend drives up the coast. But with everything changing-with marriage, with talks of starting a family-a more practical, comfortable car made sense. The Phaeton, with its understated luxury and smooth ride, would be a better fit for where his life was headed. In many ways, it symbolized more than just comfort; it was a step into stability, a tangible marker of growth and intention.

He pressed the clutch, shifted into first, and released the parking brake. The RX-7 rolled forward with practiced ease. As he pulled onto the street, the garage door slowly creaked shut behind him, sealing off the quiet of morning.

The streets were still mostly empty, touched with soft golden light as the sun crept over the rooftops. Josh shifted gears smoothly, savoring each motion, knowing this might be his last commute in this car. It was bittersweet.

But the horizon ahead was bright. By the end of the day, he’d be driving something new.

And with it, the next chapter of their life together would begin to unfold.

The workday at the Mini Mart unfolded with quiet predictability. Josh methodically moved through the daily routine-checking deliveries, rotating stock, updating expiration labels, and manning the register while Mrs. Chang took her midday break. His familiarity with the tasks allowed him to operate on near-autopilot, a testament to years of repetition. Though mentally disengaging at times, the rhythm provided space for introspection, and Josh often found his mind wandering to matters beyond the aisles.

At the end of his shift, he returned home and backed the RX-7 into the garage, the engine’s distinctive hum fading as he cut the ignition. The garage retained the day’s warmth, but the comforting familiarity of home greeted him as he stepped inside. In the living room, Katie lounged comfortably on the couch, absorbed in one of his manga volumes. Her auburn hair cascaded over the armrest, and her feet were tucked beneath her in a posture of complete relaxation.

Josh crossed the room and bent down to kiss her gently. “Hey, beautiful. How was your day?”

Katie smiled as she looked up from her book. “It was really nice. Just read, relaxed, and enjoyed having nothing on the schedule. I forgot how good that feels.”

He returned her smile, appreciative of the peace in her tone. “I’m glad. You’ve earned a quiet day.” He stretched out his arms, feeling the pull of a long day in his shoulders. “Hey, I need to pick up the Phaeton. Mind giving me a ride to the dealership?”