Epilogue - Jasper
Fifteen Years later
“How the fuck can you stand to watch this?” Otis grumbles.
“Sixteen years of watching you race, that’s how,” I tell him with a smirk.
“Are you telling me this is how you felt, every time I raced?” Otis asks again.
“Yep, sucks doesn’t it?” I say over to him. “And I’ve had to watch you crash, like today.”
“I didn’t crash, I was spun out,” Otis adds. “But shit I didn’t realise it was this bad. I’m so sorry.”
“Otis, you don’t need to be sorry. You were born to drive. I think seven world titles proves that,” I say over to him, “And I know you’ll get your eighth.”
“Not if I’m racing against that,” Otis replies.
“He’s flying out there,” Lars says, coming over to us.
“Well we do have a fucking fast car,” Otis adds, looking over to him.
“Thanks to Richard and David, I suppose,” Lars replies.
David being involved in the design and testing of the cars had been a genius idea.
Now, I have to admit that when Otis spoke to me about the changes that were happening with the car, I tuned him out.
It all became too technical for me. All I know is that Richard and David working together has been a dream team, making them even closer, if that’s possible.
Seeing David so happy always makes me happy.
I also love that Montague Racing is reaping the rewards and making most of the other teams green with jealousy.
“Well if it isn’t Mr. Lars Montague, CEO,” I joke over to Lars.
“Fuck off, Jasper,” Lars starts, but I notice that he doesn’t disagree with the statement.
Vincent and Lars had got married a few years after us and it had been a big affair.
There had been celebrities everywhere. It was perfect for the pair of them.
But Vincent had now finally announced that it was time to slow down a little, and none of us had been surprised when it was announced that Lars would eventually be taking over the company, even if that was a long way off.
“Is Vincent here?” I ask, looking around the room.
“Yeah, he’s checking the stats. Apparently they’re almost as good as Otis on his debut race,” Lars says.
“Thank God Vincent offered him a seat?” I say over to him, not that I was ever in doubt but I had been worried that another team might’ve made a better offer.
“He was the only option when I finally agreed to completely retire. I’m getting too old for this now, but God I miss it. CEO is harder than it looks.” Lars states, but I know that he is loving the challenge of running the team.
“Seriously, I’m racing with him for the rest of the season?” Otis complains. “I may as well retire now myself.”
“Fuck, he won,” A technician shouts, and the garage erupts with cheers, and I go over to the TV screens and watch as the car is pulled into the winner’s circle and the driver climbs out of the car and takes off his helmet. The smile on Mason’s face is huge.
Fifteen years ago, at Mason’s birthday party, Vincent had spotted his potential when we had been at the go-kart track, and with a lot of persuading, had managed to get Tina to agree to let him race.
The whole team had been behind him and had encouraged him over the years.
Mason turned out to be a brilliant driver.
He didn’t have the same skills as Otis, but he was still good.
“Who’s interviewing him?” Someone shouts.
“Nicky,” another voice responds and the whole garage turns to the screen to watch.
“Mason Wilson, congratulations on your first Grand Prix win,” Nicky starts, “How does it feel?”
“It feels amazing,” Mason starts, and the pride I feel is almost overwhelming. “But my name is Mason Young. And I want to dedicate this win to the best uncles a boy could have. Uncle Jasper, Uncle Otis, thank you.”
“Jasper and Otis are wonderful. Now that your seat is confirmed at Montague racing, are you planning on going after Otis’ record?
“Uncle Otis is an incredible driver and I am very lucky that my future will be with Montague Racing. I won’t be going anywhere else, so you never know.” Mason starts.
But I don’t hear the rest of the interview when I see his name change on the screen.
My head snaps in the direction of Tina and her husband, who happens to be one of the team technicians.
We had all loved it when we found out they were dating, especially when we discovered that they had kept it a secret for six months.
“Mason came to us and asked if he could change his name to yours,” Tina says as she comes to stand next to me.
“Why?” I ask, astonished.
“Mason said that both you and Otis had been more like fathers to him than Clive. How he didn’t want to make a name for himself with the surname Wilson. So, he asked if he could have Young.”
“But,” and I look over to her husband, surely Mason should’ve taken his.
“Jasper,” Tina’s husband starts, “The bond you and Otis have with Mason is special. Everyone can see that. Mason asked my permission, and I think it’s brilliant. I might have encouraged him to announce it after his first win.”
“Jasper,” Otis says, and when I turn to look at him, I see the tear roll down his cheek. “Did you hear Mason?”
“I did,” I confirm.
“Tina, no. We can’t allow him to do that,” Otis starts. “He’s your son, we are just the fun uncles.”
“To that boy you aren’t just the fun uncles. This was Mason’s choice, and we agree.”
“Thank you,” Otis replies, pulling Tina into a hug.
“Uncle Jasper. Uncle Otis,” Mason’s voice shouts, and when we look up, we wait as Mason rushes over to us. Otis pulling him into a hug first, then me.
“Mason, that was quite some drive out there,” Otis starts.
“What happened to you? I wanted us to podium together,” Mason adds.
“Spun out, but I’m sure we will be on that podium together this year,” Otis adds, and I can hear the pride in his voice “You’re amazing.”
“Uncle Otis. I wasn’t lying in the interview, I never want to leave Montague Racing. I belong here with you, racing and with Uncle Jasper, even if he’s mean at the training sessions.”
“Mason, I’m not mean,” I counter. “I’m pushing you.”
“Mean,” Both Otis and Mason say together.
“God damn lucky that I love you both,” I say to them, which causes them both to chuckle. “The pair of you are a pain in my arse.”
“I thought you were a pain in Uncle Otis’s arse,” Mason adds with a grin.
“Really?” I say over to him.
“Sorry Uncle Jasper. I couldn’t resist,” Mason adds.
“Mason,” Otis says his name gently. “Are you sure that you want to change your name to Young? We’re completely honoured, but what about Tina?”
“Mum knows my feelings. You and Uncle Jasper were there for us, all of us. When I need something I call you. When I liked a girl I called you. When I liked a boy I called you. I might not have the same DNA as you, but you are my family.”
And Mason was right. We might not have had the same DNA. But these people were special. From the start they welcomed me without hesitation. The team didn’t even care about my past. It has taken me a while, and falling in love, but I have finally found my home.
The End.