The Champion (Racing on the Edge) (27 page)

“That’s what the taboo should say!” Lane announced
happily jumping up and down on the bed. “Suber seed,”

We all looked at one another. I started laughing
hysterically. Nancy couldn’t help it and gave way to her snorts and giggles.

“Sway’s pregnant too.” Alley said in between her own
laughs.

“Sell out.”

“Wait,” Nancy waved her arms around. “So you’re both
pregnant?”

You could literally see the excitement building. Nancy
would adopt an entire country of children if she could. The only reason her and
Jimi stopped having kids was because Nancy had too many problems having Emma so
soon after Jameson that their doctor advised them not to have any more.

“Try to control your enthusiasm.” I told her. “You
already have five grandkids, seven if you count the Lucifer twins—which you do
for some reason.”

“That doesn’t matter. I love all my grandchildren, even
the ones that are not technically mine.”

Just as she said this, Charlie, who she had picked up
from the stroller, puked all down the front of her. She held him close, puke
and all. “Regardless of what they do,”

The next few days passed quickly and I found myself
keeping busy with Axel to avoid the truth. I was pregnant again. I made it to
the doctor in town to confirm and sure enough, another positive result.

And then finally the day came when Jameson was set to
arrive home. I did the only thing I knew to do to avoid reality. I made cookies
and then that turned into a full on feast.

“Do I tell him now, or do I wait?” That was the question
I’d been repeating to myself for the last three hours.

Any minute now Jameson would be home from the Chili Bowl
that he won. I wasn’t sure whether or not to tell him tonight or later. I
didn’t want to take away any excitement he had for his win with having another
baby. Not that it wasn’t exciting to have another child because it was but I
hated for anything to get in the way of the thrill of an earned victory at the
Chili Bowl.

And oh did the thrill shine. Jameson could hardly control
himself that night. Once the guys got back around five on Sunday night,
everyone gathered over at our house.

Already drunk, Jameson of course attacked me the moment
he walked through the door.

I went with it and then there I was, watching my very
drunk husband recount his victory.

“What I want to know is since Tommy set up both our cars
...
how the hell did you win?” Justin asked
picking up Lily who came running to him when Axel pushed her down and stole his
Mr. Piggy back from her.

“Maybe the same reason why you always win Turkey Night
and I don’t,” Jameson replied leaning back in the chair. His eyes took on an
amused look when he thought of all the times Justin had taken Turkey Night from
him. “I swear Irwindale hates me. I’ve never run good there.”

“You won a few years back.” Justin reminded Jameson
taking a seat next to him.

Jameson chuckled. “Still
...
I
haven’t won since. I’ve been every year since I was what
...
” he looked over at Spencer. “Seven?”

Spencer nodded.

“See, that track hates me. Loves you, hates me.”

Making my way back into the kitchen to check on the food
and make sure everything was kept stocked; I realized our house was full. Most
of Jameson’s pit crew was there along with the sprint car teams and most of our
family as well.

With all this excitement around, I was still nervous that
I was once again pregnant. I thought back to when I got pregnant the first time
with Axel during our “friends with benefits” days.

This was different in so many ways, but it didn’t stop me
from being nervous.

What if he didn’t want another kid?

We had finally adjusted to Axel and traveling with him,
how would one more fit into that?

So there I was milling this over in the kitchen and
eating cookies when Jameson approached me from behind.

“Here,” his drink in hand swung around the front of me as
he placed his chin on my shoulder. “Ami made it. It’s good.”

“What is it?” I sniffed the cup. “Christ almighty, is
there anything besides alcohol in there?”

He chuckled and took a drink. “It’s Root Beer and rum.
Mostly rum,” He pushed it toward me again. “It’s good.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” I turned in his arms to
face him.

“You’re not drinking?” his eyebrow arched in question as
one hand rubbed down his jaw.

“No
...
not
tonight,”

“But I won the Chili Bowl,” he pouted. “We’re
celebrating.”

“I know that,” I sighed and hugged him. “I just
...
well I
...
”

Sensing my hesitation as I fumbled over my words, he
pulled back to look at me. A long moment passed before he smiled. “Are you
...
?”

I didn’t know what to say so I nodded.

“Say it.” he demanded with a smirk.

“What?”

“Say it.” he repeated, the smirk growing into a full
fledge grin.

I slapped his shoulder and stuck another cookie in my
mouth.

“Why?”

Jameson stood quiet for a moment before he tipped his
head to the side. “I just want to hear you say it.”

Our eyes locked, that silent bond between each other
spoke. He wanted me to say it because when I found out with Axel, I never
actually told him, he guessed it, which he did again. He wanted to hear the
words this time.

I leaned forward, motioning for him to come closer before
I smiled; he trapped me between the counter and the island with his arms,
hovering over me.

“I’m pregnant.” I whispered in his ear. His arms that
were wrapped around my waist tightened.  “Are you happy?” you couldn’t
miss the apprehension in my tone.

“Yes, of course I am,” he pulled back to look at me, his
fingers curled under my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “Did you think I’d
be mad?”

“Well no,” I paused and looked around as Ryder walked into
the kitchen to get food and drinks. “I just
...
I
worried that adding another kid would complicate this more for you.”

“Nothing is complicated about us expanding our family.”

“So you’re okay with it?”

“Yes.” He nodded eagerly. His grin widened taking another
drink of his mostly rum. “Couldn’t be happier right now,” He started walked
toward the family room before he spun back around and stood in front of me.
“Are you happy?”

“Yes.” I answered immediately.

And I was. I wanted more kids; I just didn’t think it’d
be this soon.

Jameson left to party with his boys in the family room
while Alley made her way back into the kitchen. She’d just put the kids to bed
upstairs and looked exhausted.

“I remembered why I hated being pregnant.” She huffed and
stuffed a cookie in her mouth.

“Why’s that?” I asked leaning against the counter.

Nancy walked by with Axel sleeping in her arms and
motioned toward the stairs. I assumed she was putting him to bed for me. He had
this ability to fall asleep anywhere and at the most random times. Like in the
middle of dinner, or in the bathtub. The bath was a problem, well so was dinner
after he inhaled mashed potatoes up his nose one night.

“I hate all the hormones and the cravings,
oh
and
the exhaustion.”

“Me too,”

“Did you tell Spencer?”

“Yeah, he noticed how big my boobs were.” She looked
down. “I had to buy a double D size.”

I laughed once. “Was he happy?”

“Yes and no. He’s nervous about how much he’s away from
the kids already and now we’re adding another when Lexi isn’t even one yet.”

It was tough on everyone involved in racing, not just the
drivers. The crews, spotters
...
they all
sacrificed any sense of normalcy.

Alley laughed and looked over at me. “Let’s just hope we
don’t have them on the same day.”

I finally convinced Jameson to come to bed that night
around three in the morning. He grabbed Axel out of his room and brought him to
our king sized bed.

Axel curled up against his chest and fell back asleep
almost immediately.

“Why did—”

Jameson’s index finger silenced me and then moved to his
lips where he whispered. “Shhhh,” and then he pointed down to Axel. Moving
closer, he rested his hand on my belly.

After a few moments, he spoke. “Do you think it’ll be a
girl?”

“Hmmm
...
I kind of hope
so,” I said softly trying not to wake Axel.

The good thing about him was he slept like me. Jameson
could start a sprint car in his room and he wouldn’t wake once he was asleep.

Laying there with my expanding family, my anxiety of our lifestyle
got to me.

“Do you think
...
I
mean
...
it’s soon to be having another
baby, isn’t it?”

“Yeah I guess so. But I wouldn’t change anything about
it.” he turned over propping himself up on his elbow to look over at me. The
sun was starting to rise over the lake, the light filtering in through the
light sheer drapery. “I know I’m not around much honey but this,” he motioned
to us lying in bed. “I live for moments like this. Having another baby only
sweetens that for me.”

“Sweetens?” I giggled softly.

He laughed as well before kissing my forehead. “I just
feel bad that I’m living my dream and you are taking care of our family. You’re
my pit stand.”

“Is that what you think? That you don’t help?”

“I don’t really.” He shrugged. “Even when you’re at the
track with me, I feel like you’re the one having to keep track of him and now
another baby, I just worry about your sanity in all of it.”

“Just like you
...
I
wouldn’t change anything. I love being Mama Wizard. Being at the track is where
I’d rather be anyway, with you, as your pit stand.”

His eyes focused on mine and then fell closed.

“I love you.” He whispered intertwining our hands
together.

The next morning, I quite possibly heard the cutest thing
I’d ever. Jameson and Axel talking.

“Good morning little man.” I heard Jameson open the door
to his bedroom. Axel was never fun to sleep with so we ended up putting him
back in his bedroom this morning to get some sleep. He had this way about him
when he slept that for being so small, he took up the entire bed.

“Daddy!” Axel chirped like he hadn’t seen him in days.
Snuggling into the bed, I laid there and listened to them on the monitor.

Jameson must have sat down with him on the floor because
I heard him say, “Here,”

He usually did this when you sat down in his room and he
began handing you toys he thought you needed.

“Did you miss daddy when he was at the Chili Bowl? I won
by the way.”

“No,” Axel answered. I know he missed him, but being one,
he hardly understood what you were asking. Unless you asked if he wanted ice
cream
...
the answer to that was always,
“Yeah!” with a nodding of his head.

“Well that doesn’t make me feel any better little man. I
missed you guys.”

They seemed to play for a while before Jameson spoke
again.

“Did you know mommy is having a baby?”

“No.”

“She is. You’re going to be a big brother.”

“No.”

“I think you’ll make a good big brother. We need to work
on your sharing, oh and potty training.”

I could hear the rustling of Axel’s diaper as Jameson got
him changed and then the ordeal of dressing. Axel loved to take his clothes off
but refused to put any back on.

“Come on little man. Let’s go get mama some decaf
coffee.”

“Yeah!” Axel chirped with enthusiasm.

“So I mention mama and you finally say yeah?”

“Yeah,”

“We need to work on that too.”

“No.”

I think Axel understood more than we gave him credit.

When I heard the Expedition start up in the garage, I
turned the monitor off. My hands moved from behind my head to my stomach where
new life was forming. It’s crazy to think something was growing inside me
again, part of me and part of him, together.

Moments like this, I understood why people wanted to be
alone in life and the fear of getting hurt. Losing someone to death was easier
than losing them to heartache.

If what I had with Jameson simply vanished, the heartache
would never die.

Regardless of the happiness I felt having my family
together; the family
we
created was worth any risk of ever being hurt.
Just like the racing family we were, we stacked our pit stand with equipment to
get us through this crazy life, oh and adding kids along the way.

13.
           
  In-Lap - Sway

In-Lap – This is
considered a lap where a driver makes a pre-arranged pit stop during the race
or practice. Drivers push hard to drive fast in order to gain time during the
pit stop.

On September 9, 2005, thirty-four weeks and four days
later
...
what we
hoped
wouldn’t
happen, happened. Alley and I went into labor, at the same time.

Aside from Aiden, Spencer and Jameson, most of us were up
in Alger Washington at the Skagit World of Outlaws race. It was a two-night
feature; hot as hell, and we’d finally made it to the final night.

Jameson and his cup team were in Richmond for the NASCAR
race. Managing a sprint car team, a track and racing full-time in the cup
series was wearing on Jameson this year.

We hadn’t seen each other in about 2-weeks and frankly, I
missed my dirty heathen, as did Axel. He had this way about him that if he
hadn’t seen him for a few days, he started to become unruly. Kind of like
tonight.