Oh, Baby!
Chapter 12. Oh, Baby!
Carly’s heart sank into her stomach. What would she do? She had a contract to drive a racecar for two years. She wouldn’t be allowed to drive if she were pregnant. What would she tell Dale? What would she tell Jeff?
No, she thought, this couldn’t be happening. She never missed a pill. Never. This had to be a fluke. She would go to the infield care center and talk to a doctor. This has to be a stomach virus.
She looked out her window, and watched Dale walk from his coach over towards the garage area. She waited till he was out of sight. She had been crying, so she put on her dark sunglasses. She stepped out of her coach and headed towards the care center.
~~**~~
“Well, Carly, you don’t have a fever.” The doctor said. “And you are only nauseous in the morning when you wake up?”
She nodded.
“Is there a chance you’re pregnant?” he asked.
“I’m on the pill. And I haven’t missed any.” She answered meekly.
The doctor looked at her. “You know they are not 100% safe, don’t you?”
She nodded again.
“Well, have you had unprotected sex in the last 30 days?”
“One time.” She held up one finger.
“Do you remember 8th grade biology? It only takes one time.” He smiled. Carly began to cry again. “Look, don’t get upset yet, Carly. You were in a bad accident two weeks ago. A collision like that can cause upset to all your body’s systems. Even your monthly cycle. There’s a good chance that that’s all this is. But, I cannot let you get into that racecar until I know you’re not pregnant. So, here’s the plan. I’m going to take a little blood, and send it off to the lab. I’m going to do a full workup. For now, I want you to take this.” He handed her an EPT kit. “You go do this right now, and bring me back a negative test. Then I’ll let you drive, and you’ll feel a whole lot better. Ok?”
Carly felt a little better. “Ok. Hey Doc, do you test for STD’s?” She asked him as he took her blood sample.
“Absolutely. Why? Are you concerned?”
“No, I have a new relationship. We made a promise to each other. Might as well do it now.” She smiled.
“Will do.” He finished with the sample. “Now, come back here with that test as soon as you can, ok?” he smiled. “I really don’t want to say anything to NASCAR unless I really have to.”
“Oh, thanks Doc!” she said, and headed back towards her coach.
She walked as fast as she could. She started to cry again, so she hid her face with her hand. She did not see Jeff as she whisked by him. He turned and started to go after her. She also did not see Dale watch Jeff turn and run after her.
“Hey- Hey!” Jeff called after her. She ran up the steps to her coach and tried to get in before Jeff caught her. But he caught hold of the door and ran in after her.
Dale made his way through the coach area, and leapt into Carly’s coach. Carly was sitting at her table with her head on her arms, crying. Jeff was standing over her, obviously upset.
“Why didn’t you tell me??” Jeff said. “Carly, You were going to tell me, weren’t you?”
Dale was at her side in two seconds. “Carly, honey, what’s wrong?” he said, putting his arms around her.
“He doesn’t know?” Jeff asked. “Oh, shit.”
“Shut up Jeff!” she lectured. “I wasn’t going to tell either of you until I knew for sure.”
“What the hell is goin’ on?” Dale insisted.
“This.” Jeff handed the EPT box to Dale.
Dale just stared at it. He froze. He truly did not know what to do. He instantly hated Jeff. He kept his arm around Carly.
“Carly, are you pregnant?” he asked her.
“I don’t know yet. I need to do that test, and get it back to the Care center before they’ll certify me to drive today. I was gonna just do it and go back there. I didn’t want you two to find out. I’m soooo sorry, Dale. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“You told me you were on the pill.” Dale said.
“You told me that too.” Jeff said.
“Shut Up Gordon. This is your fault. Why the hell didn’t you use protection, you bastard!” Dale yelled. He stood up and made a grab at Jeff.
“Hey- Chill, Earnhardt. Ask your girlfriend why I didn’t.”
“DON’T Blame her!” Dale was livid.
“No, Dale, blame me.” She sobbed. “It was my fault. I hate those things. That’s why I’m on the pill.” She looked up. She had tear stains on her face. “Look, will you two please act like civilized adults here?” She grabbed the box out of Dale’s hands. “I need to do this. Wait here. We’ll get this straightened out once and for all.” She disappeared into her bathroom.
Dale and Jeff just stared at each other like two dogs about to fight.
Carly came out a minute later. “Jeff, set the timer for 3 minutes on the microwave, will ya?” she asked.
“Uh, ok…?” he stared at it, not knowing what to do.
Carly pushed him aside and set the timer. “…so helpless…” she muttered.
“Look, Carly” Jeff said. “Remember the last time this happened?” he asked her.
“This has happened before?” Dale asked.
“Once. But it was a false alarm.” Carly said. “Please don’t be mad, Dale, please?” She started to cry again. Dale pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her.
“It’ll be ok, baby. Try not to cry.” He said.
“Carly – the last time this happened, you had just been in an accident. Remember?” Jeff reminded her. “The Doctor said your cycle was interrupted by the shock of the collision. Could that be what happened here?”
“Yes, he told me that this morning. He’s doing a complete blood workup on me to make sure I’m ok.” She looked at Dale. “He’s doing all the blood tests.”
“I know. I need to talk to him too.” He said. “So you think this could be a result of the accident?”
“Yeah. I do.” She tried to smile.
The microwave timer dinged. They all just stared at each other.
“Jeff, this is half your problem too. You go look.” Carly ordered him. Jeff started to move towards the bathroom.
“Wait!!” Dale said. “Carly, if you are pregnant, what do you want to do?”
“I don’t know. I am a Catholic. You need to know that. But I know what my contract says too. So, I truly don’t know. I do know that I love you, and I still want a relationship with you… if you still want to be with me.” She cried.
“Carly, I will stand by you no matter what. I just wanted you to know that before you read that test. I will be here for you. So will Jeff, right Gordo?”
“Of course I will, honey. Any decision you make.” Jeff said.
“You really mean that, Dale?” she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks.
He kissed her. “Yes, Carly, of course I do. I love you.”
“Thank you. I love you too.” She sobbed. “Jeffy, go look, ok?”
He disappeared into the bathroom.
