There had been so much improvement to her form and fitness she figured she had maxed out what she could do on her own. To improve from this point she probably needed to get some better training. She hit the hill ahead of her past times and made her turn. She would check out place on the web where she could possibly go to get some training. The only problem was her job. She was doing so well getting orders that taking off for training would be difficult if not impossible.

She thought of her Dad. He would have been proud of what she had accomplished, personally and with the business. He really loved the community they lived in and worked hard to bring the money the community so desperately needed.

She looked at her cyclometer as she passed her business, and saw she had an excellent time for her. She was shaving seconds off her time every week it seemed. She rode about another half mile cooling off before she headed back to her shop. She would have to add some more distance to her ride soon.

She was ravenous as she fixed her breakfast; she fixed a huge breakfast. She increased the amount of fats and protein in her diet. Afterwards she said to herself, “I can't believe I ate that whole breakfast.” Her weight was still dropping, just not as fast. Her legs and backside were ripped; her arms were even stronger where she was pulling on the handlebars to get more thrust.

Physically her boobs were getting smaller not much but just a tad maybe; a lot of that was probably due to her chest was getting bigger. She had a lot more lung capacity now than last May when she started riding. Her waist was down to twenty four inches. She was developing a sixpack; she even used her abdominal muscles cycling.

Dressed for work she headed to her shop, stopping by her office. Sally gave her a break down as usual. The business was way ahead of any previous year.

“Your cash flow is excellent, Diane. I would recommend putting a chunk in some interest bearing account or investment, all payables are current, and receivables are right where they should be. Cal has gotten a couple of feelers for fabricators and welders. One guy from Charlottesville wants to interview and another from Raleigh, NC. Samuel is doing good. Derek wants to setup another work station for CAD/CAM. They have the computer controlled lathes and mills going about sixty percent of the time. Derek is really bringing in the business Diane, and with your bikes, well I just never thought we would look this good.”

“Having the bills paid off helped the most Sally. I think Derek deserves more money. I don't know whether to increase his pay rate or give him a cut of the business he brings in. Sally if you could take a good look at that and see what you think, you can let me know later this week. We don't want the machines operating at over eighty five to ninety percent load; I want to keep well maintained. I don't want them breaking down from neglect. If business keeps picking up we have to get some more machines.”

Diane hugged Sally and headed to Derek's office. “Hey Derek, how you be?”

“Hey boss, I am doing fab girl, how are you?”

“I am doing great Derek. How is that girl of yours doing?”

“Patricia is doing great, she wants to ride with us the next big ride we go on. She'll probably kick my butt. I want to thank you Diane. I was going nowhere fast till you got me involved here, and pushed me out of my comfort zone.”

“Sometime today I want you to look up an athletic training/sports medicine department at a University. I want to improve my fitness and conditioning. I think I need professional help at this point. See what you can dig up in this five to six state area. Ok?”

“Sure Boss, can do.”

“Go ahead and set up that additional work station and hire Samuel as an apprentice. He will be in your responsibility.”

“Ok and by the way Diane, we can get some Federal money for our apprenticeship program girl, there is a guy from DC coming here to check us out, for compliance. According to the checklist he sent us, we are AOK.”

“ That is good news; we may be able to take on one or two more kids as apprentices. We need to set up a safety program too, Derek, for everyone. Also you might study mountain bike and other high end bike geometry too Derek. Catch you later.”

“Later.”

Diane went in her shop and got to work. Little Timmy was busy working. Derek's plans for the bikes made it easy for any fabricator to build the bikes, but Diane would only trust Cal or Timmy with her name. Together they got some major work out of the way. Timmy was faster than she is, that is twenty years of fabricating she was working against. They knocked out four bikes, in one day. They kept Janice hopping when she got there and had her doing some minor things while being watched over. They laid out the tube for four more bikes.

Derek brought the results of his search to Diane. There were four or five Universities nearby that had special facilities for sports training. He sent out email to each of them to check them out.

Diane called it a day and headed to her home to clean up. She dressed comfortably in slacks and a loose blouse. All her clothes were a little loose on her now except in the legs and thighs. She was going to have to buy some more.

About five thirty Drew showed up, by himself on his bike. He had breasts at least as large as hers it seemed and looked quite good.

“Hey Drew how are you?”

“Ok I guess Diane, How are you?”

“Doing very good right now. Come on in.”

Diane called in an order for two large pizzas to be delivered, and she got drinks out for them.

“Have you come to any decision about contacting the British Ambassador and his daughter?”

“Kinda, but I just don't know, things could get a little sticky.”

“Cause they think you are a girl right?”

Drew blushed as he realized that Diane was another that knew his secret. “You figured it out too, huh?”

“Yep, kinda hard hiding it from people who know how to use the internet. I discussed it with Ms. Bell,we are sorta close. She didn't tell me. I just saw Brit's pictures and Derek's research on the internet and we figured it out. Drew I want to help you be what ever you need to be. You are a good kid, I am not out to get you.”

“Thanks, it seems everybody wants me to fit their mold of what they want me to be,”

“Tell me who Drew is?”

“Drew is a thirteen year old kid who loves riding bikes. Mom got me started. She is a really great rider Diane. I love to be out there pushing myself. I want to succeed at it. I got roped into dressing as a girl by my friends, family and by my own dumb actions. I really like Maddy, she is my second cousin I guess, but she can be a real pain at times, but I would hate to be without her. Sometimes I am just scared; things are getting crazier.”

The pizzas arrived and Diane paid for them and she just sat down and had a long talk with Drew, as they ate.

“Diane, tell me about your parents.”

Diane walked over to a window and gazed outside at nothing in particular, as she began to speak.

“Well I lost my Mom when I was a young girl, I was about four at the time, can't remember exactly when. She was twenty two, I guess when she died. She lost control of her car on an icy road.” Diane said, while tears formed at the corner of her eyes.

“Dad married her when she was eighteen and he was thirty. He really loved her a lot. Dad raised me with help from Sally and several other ladies in the area. He taught me welding and fabrication. He was a big guy, not as big as Little Timmy, but big.”

Diane paused she was filled with raw emotions she thought she had left behind. “Last April he had a heart attack while he was working, and died before the paramedics arrived.”

“Diane you don't have to go on, I am sorry I asked.” Drew said behind from behind her.

“No I want to go on, it's just that I have never really had to tell my story, everybody here already knows it Drew.” Diane walked over to her couch and sat down.

She cried for a couple of minutes before continuing, “I was lost for a while after that. My Dad had been everything to me, and I was his princess. He worked himself to death trying to keep the business afloat and raise me. I guess I could have sunk in depression and run away from Grottoes. I almost did that, but I felt I owed my friends and neighbors more than that. Everybody here has been so good to me.” Diane paused for a couple of minutes as she cried some more.

“There was enough insurance on the business and on Dad that I was able to pay off all my personal and business debt and leave me comfortably well off. I really don't have to work, but the bike business and riding is just my therapy you could say. I don't hurt as much when I am working and riding. Derek has been a huge help to me, like a big brother. Together we have brought this community out of the doldrums. I could never have done it without him.”

“Do you have any family left at all?”

“No close family except for my business. I have some cousins somewhere. Cal, Sally, Tim and the rest of them, are my family now Drew.” Diane began to cry as she said, “I miss my Daddy so much Drew, but what was I to do. I could have gone into hiding and wasted away, but life goes on Drew.”

When the tears subsided she stood and walked to the mantle of her fireplace. There were many of her fathers things there she touched them one by one fondly remembering each of them.

“Believe me on this Drew, we all lose people we love at some time or other, but life is still worth living. We mourn and cry, but then we pick ourselves up, smile, and go on living. We never forget those people we lose, but it honors their memory when we succeed in life.”

Diane watched Drew watched for several minutes. He looked like she did when she found out she lost her Dad. She just sat next to Drew and held him while he cried softly.

Diane thought she would change the subject, “Tell me Drew, they said that I screwed up in the DC ride there at the end. What did I do wrong?”

“Nothing really, when you made your last sprint to spring me, the other guys in the lead pack saw your move and they came with us. We never talked about or practiced the moves we needed to make, but it was so much easier to finish against three riders than seven. They could have tired to box me out there at the end; your move strung em out and gave me my shot at the finish. Maybe if you had waited another couple of hundred meters you might have finished better, but then again they might have made a move and left us in their dust. You sacrificed yourself to help me and I appreciate that Diane.”

“Drew you look like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. You and your sister seem to be carrying a heavy burden. You don't have to tell me anything, but if you ever need to talk I have two good ears to listen with or if you just want to be a boy come on over. I respect you a lot kid.”

Drew looked at Diane with two big eyes. He thought about telling her everything but all he did was give her a big hug.

“Thank you, Diane that means a lot to me. I will call you later after we decide about the thing with the Ambassador.”

Drew went outside and put his cleats back on, hopped on his bike and waved as he rode off. Diane felt better about Drew, he was a strong kid, but he just didn't know how strong he was.

(to be continued)

Paula Dillon 29.05.05 © 2005
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