"So... Karen," began Leon Talbot, looking at his son. "You two getting serious?"
"I brought her to dinner to meet you, didn't I?" pointed out Peter. "No one I have ever been interested in before has gotten that far, and she has agreed to come back tomorrow to meet the rest of our extended family as well."
"That will be something to see, especially knowing a couple of my brothers the way I do," admitted his father. "This career in art she wishes to pursue..."
"Animation," corrected Peter, "but you have seen the quality of her drawings," he reminded him, when Karen showed Leon a brief portfolio via the photo app of her cellphone.
"True. In that, she is gifted. I wish her well and success, but do you think she'd be willing to do some artwork for the shop?"
"Like what?"
"I've been considering your suggestion of having a more formal logo done for the business. But other than playing with various fonts and color schemes on our respective computers, your uncles and I have yet to create anything viable for the Talbot Restoration Company," revealed Leon.
"She is her own woman. You will have to ask Karen yourself," replied Peter.
"That is good. In these modern times, despite the lion's way of governing ourselves, males and females are far more equal partners in some respects than they used to be. I will make that request of her before we part company for the night," said his father.
Then there was a pause before Leon spoke again. "Miss Yuletide. She is the one?" he asked, staring directly at his son.
"Except for her reservations concerning werelion... marital arrangements that I was not fully aware of before tonight, both my heart and brain say yes," answered Peter.
"Your mother had her own reservations on the same subject when I courted her. In the end, she knew my love was true and far stronger than my were libido. Show Karen yours is the same way, and all will turn out well in the end," advised his father.
"I will heed your counsel," promised Peter.
"If you always did that, you would be more involved in the business too," pointed out Leon.
"As I have told you before, there are many aspects of the restoration business, especially on the mechanical side, that I have no actual skills at. But after I graduate college with my business degree, I can certainly be more involved with the more mundane aspects you hate and help keep the Talbot Restoration Company alive and profitable."
"If you are referring to the paperwork, that is one chore I will gladly give up. As your lady wisely recognized earlier, this is what I love," said Leon, looking at the unfinished 1966 Mustang before them. "The restoration. You cannot see it all from just under the hood or looking up from beneath the chassis, but the fully completed cars are my works of art."
"I know, and each is an accomplishment to be proud of," agreed Peter.
"Yes," said Leon. "But while I had some serious help with it, there is one project that I will always have a greater sense of accomplishment in more than anything else in life."
"Oh? And what is that?" wondered Peter.
"You, my son," revealed his father, with a smile. "Now then, I have done what I can out here tonight without upsetting your uncles too much. Let us go inside and see how the ladies are doing," he suggested, as Leon wiped his hands on a rag before turning to head back to the main house.