Christmas came and went with no big to do’s. Dale visited his mom’s, grandma’s and even Teresa’s before heading to Michael’s late that evening. Michael and the girls made it through the holiday season, like they knew they would, this was their life now and they were finally, a year later, settling in to a pattern that they were all comfortable with. Or so they thought.
Michael was cleaning out the basement one day in January, deciding it was time to really start getting rid of Buffy’s things. He had moved her stuff out of the bedroom a few months after her death but he had stored everything in the basement. He felt it was really time to finally get on with their lives.
He heard footsteps on the stairs. "Daddy you down here?"
"In the back Caitlyn." He saw her come around the corner. "What’s up baby? Is there any of this stuff you want to keep?"
She eyed the knick knacks and clothes. "You know I miss her, right?"
Michael looked at her. "Of course I do. We all do."
"She wasn’t my mother but she was my friend."
"I know." He set the bag down and looked at his daughter. "What’s up baby?"
"Where is Macy?"
He pointed out the basement door. "Playing in the back yard." He had a sinking feeling as she picked up a porcelain doll that had belonged to Buffy.
"Dale has been spending a lot of time here." She stated never looking at her father.
Michael closed his eyes and sat on an old recliner that was tucked into a corner. "Yeah, he has helped a lot with us getting on with things."
"Some of us more than others, right?"
"Cait"
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for that to sound as harsh as it did." She finally turned to her father. "Please tell me what’s going on. I’m not a child any more and I’m not stupid. I have friends who are gay and I’m ok with that."
"Have you talked to Taylor?"
"Yes, but only after I figured it out on my own. Don’t worry she kept your secret. I went to her and asked if she knew anything, that’s when she told me about Thanksgiving."
Michael took a deep breath, this wasn’t a conversation he thought he would have to have this soon. He laughed to himself, this soon, he and Dale had been together for almost 4 years now. He weighed his options closely. He knew if he lied she would know but he also didn’t want to give her too much information. "I wish I knew how to do this."
"Just tell me the truth, are you and Dale," she paused. "together?"
Michael met her stare and nodded his head. "Yes."
Caitlyn swallowed, she thought she would feel better about it hearing it from him. She looked at Macy playing in the back yard. "Did you love Buffy?"
"With all my heart, I still do, and I always will."
"Do you love Dale?"
"Yes."
"Why have you kept it hidden? You ashamed of him?" She thought for a moment and turned back to him, her protectiveness showing through. "He ashamed of you?"
"Catey. Come here." She may have been 16 but she would never to be too old or big to be his little girl. He pulled her down on his lap wrapping his arms around her. "Neither of us are ashamed of the other. We kept it hidden, not sure how everyone would react and there is a lot to lose if it was received badly."
"From your sponsors?"
He smiled, she was so much smarter about the business than anyone gave her credit for. "You are a Waltrip. Yes, if Budweiser or Napa found out they would probably pull out of DEI and we might lose Aarons."
"Taylor said her mom told her and Kerry to forget all about it, that it doesn’t matter, but she said that Teresa is acting weird towards Dale now."
"Teresa is having a hard time dealing with it, as are a lot of people, that’s why we don’t want to put it in people’s faces." He paused this was the defining moment of his life. How she answered one question could change everything forever. "What about you? You do know that you and Macy are the most important people in my life? That’s why I didn’t tell you, even after Thanksgiving, I didn’t want to hurt you."
She stared off into space and he could see her mind working over time. The seconds passed by and Michael held his breath. "I’m ok. It’s weird and if we are being honest, I don’t know that I’m ready to have everyone, including my friends know. I don’t want to hurt you either and have you think I am ashamed of you. I love you and I will love you no matter what I just…I don‘t know."
Michael fought back the tears that threatened to fall. "That’s all I need baby. I love you so much. I have no intentions of letting anyone else find out and I think the people that know, won’t say anything. I don’t ever want you to be embarrassed by me."
Caitlyn smiled. "Well, at least not for this. If you continue to sing on Inside Nextel Cup, we may have to have another talk."
He laughed and hugged her to him. "God I love you, Caitlyn."
"I love you too daddy."
Later that evening, Macy was staying at a friends and Caitlyn was getting ready to head to her mom’s. Dale sat on the couch playing with a game of Macy’s. "Little over your head there Uncle June?"
"Hey, and yeah I think I need some help." She laughed and hugged him before turning to hug her dad as her mom pulled into the driveway. "Bye Junior, see ya in a couple days daddy. Love you."
"Love you too baby." He walked her out to the car then stood in the doorway and watched the car pull away before shutting the door and turning to Dale. "She knows about us." The game fell out of Dale’s hands and he had a panic stricken look on his face knowing this could be the deal breaker for them and he wouldn’t blame Michael, his kids had to come first but he held his breath none the less. Michael kneeled on one end of the couch and crawled towards Dale. "Don’t worry, she’s ok with it. Well as ok as she can be having just found out her father is in love with another man." Dale didn’t look too sure. "You saw the way she was with you. She doesn’t want to see it and doesn’t want her friends to find out but what we do behind closed doors is no one’s business but ours."
Dale saw the lust in his eyes and saw the change in his behavior. "What’s different?"
"We are June." He kissed Dale’s neck. "This is about us and no one else." He moved up Dale’s neck towards his jaw. "Don’t you see, people know and it’s still just about us, we win."
Dale’s hands traveled under Michael’s tee. "What about Teresa? She hasn’t said anything but is acting strange."
He grinned as he dropped a light kiss on Dale’s lips. "She won’t talk."
Dale looked at him. "What did you do?" He asked as he pulled Michael’s shirt over his head.
Michael moaned as Dale’s mouth found its way to his chest. "We had a little talk and I don’t think we need to worry about her anymore."
Dale thought about continuing this conversation but lost all thoughts of it as he felt Michael’s had slip down the front of his jeans. "Michael, I need you."
"Well, you got me baby." They spent the rest of the night and most of the morning in each other’s arms. Daytona was on it’s way and as everyone knew, that track had a weird control of these two.