Brenda was shocked to say the least but after hearing the story of how things had gone at Teresa’s and seeing the pain and fear in her son’s eyes, she pulled him into her arms and held him like she had so many times when he was younger. "I love you Junebug, no matter what. It’s going to take some getting use to but you are my baby, I don’t care how old you get, you always will be. I will never turn my back on you."
Dale sank into her arms not able to speak as the tears fell. There weren’t many people he could be himself around but he was safe with his momma and that was all he wanted right now. She held him and let him cry, holding back her own tears as his body shook uncontrollably. She could feel all the pain that he had been holding back all these years and the thought that Teresa and the Earnhardts had treated him so horribly tore her up. She knew his father would disapprove and he would have been pretty hard on Junior but he would never stop loving him or turn his back on him and for Teresa to even insinuate that he would.
Michael and Kelly had slipped out into the back yard with everyone else giving them the some time alone. "I’m sorry about back there. I didn’t know you guys were out there."
"It’s not your fault. I guess now at least it’s out in the open."
"Well, not completely and to protect everyone it can’t ever be. I don’t want to upset June but do you think Budweiser is going to keep him on if they find out. Kerry was partially right, they want this single, party loving, poster boy bachelor, what do you think will happen if they find out about you two?"
Michael looked to the ground but looked back up as the back door opened and Brenda and Junior walked out. "Dinner’s ready." Brenda yelled out as the family started in to the house. Dinner was served although Dale barely touched his plate, "Did you at least have lunch today?" Brenda asked taking the plate from her son.
"Yeah. I’m just not hungry."
She smoothed his hair and kissed the top of his head. "Ok, I won’t push." There was a knock on the door and Brenda went to get it. "Martha? What are you doing here? I’m sorry, please come in."
"Thanks, is Junior still here?"
"Yeah, they are back on the porch." She led her to the enclosed sun room. "Dale?"
Dale turned to see Martha. "Grandma, what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you, can we talk privately?"
"Sure," He led her upstairs to the guest room so they could be alone. "Guess, I don’t have to ask what this is about."
"June, sit." She took his hand in hers as he sat next to her. "I’m not going to lie to you, I was shocked and I can’t say I’m happy about this but Teresa was way out of line back there. I don’t know what’s going to happen with DEI or Budweiser but you won’t be alone. You’re my grandbaby and I love you. I knew your father better than anyone on this planet and he would never stop loving you. Now don’t get me wrong, he would have busted both your asses after a lot of screaming and yelling, but he would never have stopped loving you and he wouldn’t have tolerated anyone else busting your ass either. That was his job, no one else had the right to do it. If Michael makes you happy then you have all you need."
"No, I need you guys too."
"Well, from what I have seen, you have me, Kelly, Taylor and your momma, if the rest of them don’t come around, too bad for them."
Dale hugged her. "I love you so much."
"I love you too Junebug."
Dale and Kelly decided that as people were finding out there were two more people who had to know just in case things spiraled even more out of control. Jade and JR Rhodes were brought into the picture and filled in on all that was going on. They would need some public relations work if someone decided to talk. As like with everyone else they were shocked to say the least but they had a job to do and this wasn’t any of their business.
Teresa received a few visits over the next weeks from Jade, Martha, Brenda, Kelly, her own daughter but it was the one from Michael that didn’t give her much of an option. "I know how very busy you are so I won’t stay long but I have a few things I want to get off my chest." He sat in the leather recliner in front of her desk. "I know you were shocked, appalled, disgusted, that’s why we had no intentions of you finding out and as far as I’m concerned it’s none of your damn business. Before you ask, yes, Buffy found out shortly before her death." Michael grinned and leaned forward resting his elbows on the desk. "Let’s cut the small talk, shall we? You want to fire me?" He stared Teresa down. "Go ahead. You know, Michael Waltrip Racing has been thinking of adding a Cup car to its lineup." Michael rubbed his chin and looked out at nothing as if in deep thought. "Kind of like the sound of that, how about you?" He looked back at Teresa. "He will come with me, I guarantee that. Sure, we might not have Bud or Napa but you will have 3 empty cars, and Bud isn’t going to stick around without Dale. The future of this company is in that young man’s hands and you know it."
Teresa sat silent staring at him. "Want to know what I’d do?" Michael chuckled. "I’m going to tell you anyway, I’d shut the hell up, shut up the family and pretend like nothing has changed." He stood and headed to the door.
"And if I don’t?"
He smiled and turned to her. "You want publicity? I will drag DEI so far through the mud that there isn‘t a shovel big enough to get you out, I am sure there are a ton of lawyers out there that would love a discrimination case like this, especially one involving one of the biggest names in sports."
"You’d really do that to your dear dead friend?" She said bitterly.
Michael tilted his head. "As much as you would to your dear dead husband." With that he left her sitting alone.