8
Dale woke to someone jumping on his bed. "Uncle June, Uncle June. Get up."
"Karsyn? What are you doing here?" He winced still sore from the night before as she kept jumping. "OK, I am up. Where is your mom?"
"Mommy." She ran out of the room. "He’s up."
Dale had gotten up and was changing shirts when Kelly walked in. "Bout time you got your lazy ass, shit, Junior what happened?"
"What? Nothing, what are you talking about?"
"Your back, it’s black and blue. What the hell…"
"Mommy said a bad word. Two of them."
Kelly looked to Karsyn standing in the doorway. "Kar, will you go play with Bud. We will be out in a minute."
"Ok," She ran from the room.
Dale eyed his back in the mirror then quickly pulled on a shirt. "Who did this to you?"
"It’s nothing, forget it." He started to walk out and she slammed the door.
"No, who?" She saw the tears welled up in his eyes and then saw the finger shaped bruises on his arm. "Junebug, what’s going on?"
He shook his head. "I can’t, you wouldn’t understand." The tears started to fall again as he sat on the bed. "You couldn’t love me anymore and I can’t lose you too. Everyone is leaving me."
Kelly suddenly felt sick. "June, I will love you forever, no matter what. Please tell me what happened." He stared at the floor wondering what would happen if he did tell her. He was miserable and needed someone to talk to but what if she didn’t understand. She wrapped her arms around him and held him as he cried uncontrollably. "Dale, please. Let me help you."
"Michael."
"Michael what? Did he do this to you?" He nodded his head. "What? Why on earth would he hurt you like this?"
"He didn’t mean to, he is so angry, so sad, feels so guilty. I know he didn‘t truly mean it."
"Guilty? For what?"
"What we did to Buffy? We never fixed it, now she’s gone."
"Dale, slow down. I am so confused, what did you do to Buffy?"
He couldn’t meet her stare. He stood walking to the dresser and leaning against it, his back to her. "We…we…have been together."
"Together? Dale what do you mean?"
"We have been having an affair?" He could see her reflection in the mirror and could see the confusion on her face. "We are…were…lovers."
He watched as her eyes got big and she looked to the ground, trying to control her own emotions now. "Oh…oh…um…ok…"
He slowly turned still not looking her in the eye, he stared at the floor as he fell to his knees in front of her. "Just tell me you won’t stop loving me for this, please. Don‘t leave me."
Kelly sat on the bed staring at the floor, hearing the distress in her baby brothers voice she looked at him. She pulled his head to her lap and wrapped her arms around him. "I can’t say I understand this or that I even agree with it but I love you and no matter what ever happens that will never change. I promise." He wrapped his arms around her and cried. "I won’t leave you, June."
After checking on Karsyn and getting her some lunch Kelly rejoined Dale in the bedroom and he told her the whole story from Daytona three years earlier to the scene Christmas night. Kelly sat in shock and was trying not to upset Dale any farther. "Ok, honestly, I don’t know what to say. This is huge and well, not anything I ever expected from you." She paused. "or him for that matter. Your in love with him aren’t you?"
Dale looked at her. "Yes." he whispered. "I tried not to be, I did, I tried so hard but I do love him, completely. More than I have ever loved anyone."
*******************
"Daddy, daddy, wake up." Macy pushed on Michael’s chest. "Daddy, I am hungry."
Michael stirred. "Huh, what? Macy?" He looked at the clock. "9 am, how long you been awake?" Macy shrugged. "Ok, go on into the kitchen, I will be right there." He walked into the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. "What have you done, Michael?" He half laughed at himself remembering Buffy’s last conversation with him.
~~~~~~~~flashback~~~~~~~~
"None of this is your fault." He knew she was referring to more than just the wreck. "You can’t stop your feelings. I don’t blame you or him. I love you so much Mikey. If he can help your pain, then don’t deny yourself of that."
"I love you, I always have. I always will."
"I know, I never doubted your love for me. Well, maybe for a second but I know you do. I know you better than you know yourself and I know what you are about to do, don’t. Don’t push him away. You are going to need him and everyone to get yourself and our daughter through this. Don’t worry about what everyone else has to say. Just be happy."
"How can I without you? You have always been there for us. I can’t go on without you."
"You have to for Macy, for our company, for DEI and Dale, and for Junior. You are strong and I will always be right here" she placed her hand over his heart. "with you forever."
~~~~~~~~end flashback~~~~~~~~~~
He did exactly what she told him not to do, hell he had done worse. He walked through the living room picking up the pocket watch as he headed to the kitchen. "I will make this up to you June, I promise." He placed the watch in his pocket and started making breakfast for Macy.