"First, you need her medical team involved. Second, you need to accept that a road-going motorcycle might not be an appropriate platform at all. Third, you have to be willing to build something that never moves if the child's condition makes motion unsafe."
Doc nodded.
"I understand."
Virginia looked at him carefully.
"Do you?"
"Yes."
She pointed toward his drawing.
"This isn't a project where you keep adjusting things until they seem good enough. You're talking about a medically fragile child. Every decision has consequences."
Doc lowered his eyes.
"I know what happens when things go wrong."
Virginia's expression softened slightly.
She knew about Sophie.
Most of the Blue Ridge Riders did.
She looked at the sketch again.
"What exactly did the little girl ask for?"
"A ride on a Harley."
Virginia tapped the paper.
"Did she ask to go down a highway?"
Doc shook his head.
"Did she ask for speed?"
"No."
"Did she ask for a particular kind of seat?"
"No."
Virginia folded her arms.
"Then stop designing around the assumptions adults make about motorcycles. Start by finding out what makes the experience meaningful to her."
Doc stared at her.
The idea was simple.
He hadn't considered it.
Virginia continued.
"Maybe it's the sound. Maybe it's the feeling of sitting beside one. Maybe it's seeing the world move while she's part of something special. We won't know until somebody asks her."
Doc nodded slowly.
Virginia looked toward the notebook.
"And if we do build anything, I want proper review, qualified fabrication, and testing without the child anywhere near it. No shortcuts."
Doc smiled faintly.
"Does that mean you'll help?"
Virginia sighed.
"I said your first drawing was terrible."
"I heard you."
"And I don't like your timeline."
"Understood."
She looked at the sketch once more.
Then she reached for a pencil.
"Move over."
Doc grinned.
Virginia gave him a warning look.
"I'm not promising this is possible."
"I know."
She began drawing.
"But if we're going to investigate it, we're going to do it properly."
Rachel's second conversation about the project took place in a medical office.
Ellie's physical therapist, Leah Morales, listened while Rachel explained what Doc wanted to attempt. Leah had worked with Ellie for more than two years and knew the girl's physical limitations intimately.
She was not impressed by the fact that a generous biker owned a repair shop.