Belle couldn’t be calmed as they rolled through the gates of the drivers lot. The Earnhardt’s coach was parked next to the Waltrips and Macy ran out to meet her friends as they came to a stop. Keith opened the door and the kids started loading out. Belle took off running with the other kids, with Macy and Taylor following closely to make sure they stayed in the allowed area. "Belle easy."
Dale yelled as he started unloading 2 weeks worth of bags and luggage. Belle felt much better on her off weeks but Dale worried that maybe she pushed to hard during those times. Keith tried to convince him that she wasn’t going to make anything worse but he also knew how scared Dale felt. Keith had been with this family for six years and these kids had become like his own.
"Hey buddy." Michael came out to greet them. He watched the kids run off to play as Buffy followed him with Mikey Jr in her arms.
"Hey guys." Dale took a peak at the baby before carrying more bags into the coach.
Michael grabbed a couple bags and followed Keith and Dale while Mandy took the baby out of Buffy’s arms. "I can’t believe how big he’s gotten in just the past couple of months. What is he 5 months now?"
"Yeah, next week actually. Can you believe it. He’s taking after his daddy." She paused as the kids ran back by. "Belle seems to be feeling better?"
Keith, Michael, and Dale joined Buffy and Mandy sitting outside the coaches. As the kids ran back by Mandy noticed one more had joined the stampede. Steve yelled for Bryan to slow down and Lexie carrying a sleeping Samantha sat next to Mandy. "I’ll watch him uncle Steve." Taylor yelled following after Bryan who kept forgetting he was a few years younger than the quads, he loved playing with all of them but seemed to always be following closer to Belle, than any of the others. Steve was still driving for Orleans Racing and loved it there, he finally put all those bad years behind him and was starting the season as the defending truck champion.
"So bro what’s this press conference with DEI about?" Mikey asked. "I’m not fired am I?" Mikey grinned knowing that this was his last season racing with Nascar. He had planned on hanging it all up a couple years back but much to his surprise DEI offered him a new contract and he couldn’t say no.
Dale laughed but then looked at Mandy nervously. "No, you’re not fired, yet. Look, please understand we don’t want word getting out till we’re ready."
"That’s cool no pressure bro, should I be worried?"
"I told you you’re job is safe." Dale laughed.
"Not about me." Michael said seriously making Dale’s laugh fade.
Dale and Michael stared at each other and somehow Dale knew Michael knew what was going on. The kids came running back laughing and yelling, happy to be at the track again. Bryan and Belle walked back to the adults hand in hand with Taylor following closely behind. Dale looked up. "You ok?"
Belle climbed onto Dale’s lap. "Tired." She put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
Dale watched his daughter before turning back to Michael. "Everything is going to be how it should be." He looked back to his daughter. "You’ll excuse me." He stood carrying an almost asleep Belle inside to bed as Mandy watched on.
Michael turned to Mandy. "How is he? Really."
"Honestly, it’s been a rough couple months. I don’t think any of us were prepared for what we were going to be facing at St. Judes. It’s all finally sinking in but he’s dealing with it, we all are. He’s ok, he really is. Belle’s his baby, she was the littlest, had the most problems, and is the one who wants in that car of his more than anything, it’s hard. God, I’m not saying it wouldn’t be hard if it had been any of the others but."
"It’s ok, I know how he feels about that little girl. She’s always been different."
"How’s Taylor doing with all this?" Buffy asked.
"Being forced to grow up a lot quicker than she should. She helps Keith a lot more these days and even helps when Belle is sick. How many nine year olds do you know that don’t complain about cleaning up after a sick sister?"
"Hell we can’t even get princess over there to help change diapers." Buffy said looking at Macy then Michael.
"Yeah I may have spoiled her a bit too much." Michael slyly grinned.
"Did you ever take her to John’s grave?" Steve asked.
"No, we were going when we found out about Belle, life kind of got put on hold." Mandy sighed. "We are going to try and get there in the next couple of weeks since we don’t have to be in Memphis until the end of March. She has seen all the pictures and has asked a lot of questions and we‘ve answered them all." She watched Macy and Taylor off by the other coach whispering and giggling like preteen girls should, Mandy smiled.
"They grow up fast." Buffy said looking at her own daughter.
"Yeah." Mandy said hoping she got to deal with a giggly, teenage Belle one of these days.
Speedweeks were in full swing, it was the Thursday before the 500 and the press conference was scheduled for 11am that morning. The world had no idea what the huge announcment could be and anxiously awaited the Earnhardts arrival.
Mandy woke that morning to find Dale gone, she wandered to the living room, then kitchen only to find Keith fixing breakfast. "You seen Dale?"
"No I figured he was still in bed."
She grabbed her jacket. "No, the kids still asleep?" Keith nodded. "I’ll be back." She wandered out the door not sure where to look first. She didn’t find him in the garage or media center then it hit her. She walked slowly out towards turn 4.
It was a cool February morning and he could see his breath as he slowly exhaled but the sun was still shining bright and the sky was a brilliant shade of blue even at this early hour. The infield was already jumping and tools being shuffled around in the garage area could already be heard but Dale could only hear the wind and the voices of hero’s past.
He knew in his heart that the choices he was making were the right ones for him and his family but Mandy was right it would be hard not to climb into that car every Sunday. It had been his life for so long but not nearly as long as he thought it would have been.
He was worried about DEI, could they handle losing Dale and Michael in the same season? He looked to the sky looking for a sign that everything would be ok. His sister and to his surprise Teresa were behind him completely and he knew he would have Mandy’s support no matter what; and when it came down to it that was all he really needed.
"Want some company?"
"Hey, yeah, come here." He took Mandy’s hand pulling her down next to him and into his arms.
"You ok?"
He took a deep breath. "I think so, it’s going to be hard, leaving this place this time. Yeah, I’ll still be here as an owner and such but…" He sighed.
"It’s the last time as a driver. Dale you know…"
"No, this is the right thing, I know it is."
They sat in silence leaning against the wall watching the sun rise higher in the sky. "We really should get back, the kids are probably up and the press conference is…"
"Soon. Yeah, let’s go."
3 hours later
The media center at Daytona Speedway was overflowing. Those that couldn’t fit into the actual conference room were spilling out into the hallways, the other rooms, outside. The conference was being broadcast live throughout the tracks PA system plus Fox Sports, FOX Network, NBC, and ESPN were all interrupting normal broadcasting on a rumor that this was to be one of the biggest announcements since the passing of Dale Sr.
Sitting at the head table were Teresa, Tony Jr., JR Rhodes, Jade, and a represenative from Anheiser Busch, Dale and Mandy slowly entered the room silently hand in hand. They took their seats as Teresa took the podium. "We want to thank all of you for coming today. I think we probably should hurry this up cause I’m sure we are breaking a few fire codes here." She smiled as everyone laughed. "I know you all are wondering just what this meeting was called for and Dale Jr. wanted to be the one to tell you so…"
She stepped aside and sat as Dale kissed Mandy on the cheek and made his way to the podium. "Thank you all for being here today, it means the world to me and to everyone at DEI. Maybe you are all just nosy as hell but we would like to think of it as you being supportive." He laughed as did everyone else. "You all know that my daughter Isabella was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 3 months ago. We have spent many weeks at St Judes in Memphis, they are a wonderful group of not only doctors and nurses but friends to us also. Belle is reacting well to her chemo and medication but we are only at the beginning of a very long, tiresome, and scary road." Sobs could be heard through the room as Dale went on talking about his daughter and their future. "We will be spending many months maybe years at the hospital, which brings me to why we are here today."
"I can’t in all good conscience let my wife take my daughter to Memphis and live there for weeks at a time, while Keith and the rest of the kids are at home in Mooresville, while I’m here at the track." He looked down at the ground then at his wife before taking a deep breath. "The 500 will be my last race. When the checkered flag flies on Sunday I will officially be retired." The silence was only broken by a collective gasp from those in the room, out in the hall, in the infield and the thousands watching at home. "I know it’s a shock, I’m 36 and assumed I would be driving like my dad into my late forties if not beyond, but as we have all learned through the years, life happens and we can’t assume what we will be doing tomorrow."
"Now I know one of your main questions is ‘what about the 8 car?’, ‘what about Bud?’, 'what about DEI'. Well I have discussed at great lengths with Budweiser as to what the best situation for their company and for DEI would be and I am absolutely positive that the choice we have made will continue the winning tradition of DEI and Budweiser." He looked into the crowd, the front row to be more specific. "I haven’t been the right person for Budweiser for a few years now but their loyalty to me and my dad has been outstanding." He smiled at Mandy. "I haven’t been the swinging, partying, bachelor for many years now and I couldn’t be happier about that." He looked back to the front row. "Martin." Truex looked up at Dale confusion in his eyes. "You have been one hell of a driver for me over the years, you have stood by me and stayed with me even when I know you were offered other rides so, I have to say you’re fired."
The room once again exploded in chatter and Martin couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Dale threw his hands in the air as if willing everyone to be quiet. "If you will all let me finish, trust me I’m not done here." The room quieted and Dale continued. "You will drive this Sunday in the Chance 2 car then come Monday morning you will need to report to your new boss at DEI." Dale smiled as the news registerd in Martins face. "Yeah, you are the new driver #8 and yes I’m leaving that number here, it should go on and you are just the man to carry on the reputation. My place is now with my family." He paused feeling his throat tighten. "I want to thank each and everyone of you for your encouragement and friendship through the years and especially during this difficult time with Belle."
"You have all been wonderful influences and friends to my entire family. I can never thank you for the support I received after daddy died, with the birth of the quads, and now Belle‘s illness. You truly are my second family and I’m going to miss each of you but I’m still going to be around, I am still an owner remember, ya’ll can’t get rid of me that easily." Dale nodded and returned to his chair but didn’t sit instead he pulled Mandy up to him and into his arms. "I love you." He whispered as one by one the people in the room stood and started clapping.
Mandy wiped the tears from her eyes then her husbands. "I love you so much." They looked to the crowd before walking out of the conference room hand in hand.