Big Results
Chapter 13 Big Results
Carly held her breath while she waited for Jeff to give her the results of her test. Dale continued to hold her tight to him.
“I love you, Carly.” He whispered. She squeezed him tighter.
Jeff re-appeared. “Uh, I need the box to see what this means.” He grabbed it off the table. He looked at the box, then at the little stick.
“HaHa! We’re ok! You’re not pregnant!” He let out a deep breath.
“Oh thank goodness.” Carly sobbed. Dale smiled as he held her close. She finally took a deep breath and sighed. She pulled herself away from Dale. “Thanks Jeff! You’re ok, you know that. I’m sorry for being a bitch. I was just so upset.” She gave Jeff a hug.
“You weren’t a bitch!” he laughed, as he hugged her back. “I’m relieved too. Now get that thing back to the doctor so you can qualify today. I’m gonna go and leave you two alone. See you out there, ok, sweetie?” He kissed her on the cheek.
“Bye, Jeff.” She said. Jeff walked out her door. She turned and looked at Dale. “I am sooo sorry about this, Dale. I feel like a big asshole. I never meant for this to happen. I didn’t want you or Jeff to have to go through this.”
“So what were you gonna do? Just suffer alone?” he questioned her. “Carly – accidents happen. I wouldn’t have my brother or nephews if it weren’t for accidents! I know you didn’t plan this. Hell, who does?” He shook his head. “Can I tell you what does piss me off?”
“What?” she asked meekly.
“The fact that you weren’t gonna tell me.”
“I just wanted the test to be negative, so I wouldn’t have to worry you or Jeff or anyone. If it had been positive, I would have told you.” She sighed. “I usually screw this kind of stuff up. I always make the wrong decisions. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t beat yourself up! I see your logic. Just let me help you next time. It’s always easier if you have someone to help you.” He smiled at her. “You know, someday, I hope we’re standing here hoping for a positive result!” She saw a sparkle in his eyes.
Carly smiled back. “Me too! You know, if you had been the one that I had slept with, I would almost have been hoping for positive today. But, realistically, I know that now is not the right time. I want to drive for a few more years. You know, if I want to have a child, I have to take a whole season off. How much does that suck?”
He laughed. “Yeah, it sucks. But that wont be a problem as long as you work for DEI. You’ll get back in a car as soon as you feel like it. How long do you want to wait before you have kids, anyway?” he asked.
“One of my goals in my career, is to have a contract renewed. I am proud of my Budweiser contract. I want them to come to me in two years and say they want me back. I want to finish in the top 10 at least twice. I want to win a championship. I want to have a happy marriage. One that works, doesn’t end in divorce. When all these things seem like they are falling into place, that’s when I’ll feel ok about taking a year off. But if an accident happens – and I don’t mean a car crash – I’ll deal with it. If it’s you and me, and you want a baby, then we have the baby. If you don’t, we talk. I’m actually not too worried about it now. How do you feel about this?”
“Well…” he started “… we need to talk about this whole “Carly doesn’t like using protection” thing. It’s kind of one of my little rules. I don’t want any surprises. I managed to get this far in life without making that mistake. When I have a kid, I want the time to be right. Hopefully, it's you and me that are making the decision.” He smiled. “Lets get that little stick to the doctor, and I’ll have him take my blood, and we’ll go qualify our cars. Ok, babe?”
She smiled back at him. “Okay!”
~~**~~
They got back to the care center, and gave the test results to the doctor.
“Ok, Carly, you get to drive today!” He smiled. “I have not said anything to NASCAR, so as far as they are concerned, there’s no health issues at all. I’m just going to write this up as a post collision routine re-check. But you come back to me if things don’t return to normal by next week. Ok?”
“You got it, Doc. Thanks for everything.” Carly smiled.
“Hey Carly…” the doctor said. “Can you autograph this picture for my daughter? She wants to be a racecar driver like you!” he laughed.
Carly laughed. “Of course! What’s her name? Hey- you gonna let her drive racecars?”
“I don’t know – she’s only 6 – we’ll see how she feels about it when she’s a little older. She’ll be here Sunday, if you would like to meet her!” the Doctor said.
“I’d love to!!” Carly said. “I love kids. I’ll let her sit in my car!” Carly gave the signed picture back to him.
“Oh, you’ll be her best friend for life!” he grinned.
“Ok – see you Sunday!”
The doctor talked to Dale a bit, then took a blood sample. Dale came out and gave Carly the biggest smile.
“What’s that for?” she smiled back.
“Just somethin’ the Doc said after you left.”
“What? C’mon, Dale, tell me!”
He stopped walking, and leaned down and whispered in her ear. “He said you’d make a great mom someday!”
~~**~~
Steve Park had to qualify first. He drew the lucky number. He turned in a good lap, then came back to watch everyone else qualify. Kenny and Kerry had to qualify fairly soon after Steve, but Dale and Carly were 35 and 36 in the order. After the Cup cars qualified, there would be a short happy hour for the ARCA cars, then they would race that evening under the lights. Carly had been asked by Ty to stick around the track to relieve Pamela should she decide she couldn’t finish the race. Carly agreed, much to Dale’s protest. Carly really didn’t mind though, she was secretly hoping that she’d get to drive.
They strolled back to the ARCA garage area. “I know I could have put that car on the pole. She only got a 15.” Carly complained to Dale.
“Carly, you have more experience. And you know that car inside and out. Of course you could have. Oh, why am I sticking up for the witch?” he laughed at himself.
“I dunno! You watch your mouth, boy!” she laughed. She noticed that her name had been taken off the car. Pamela’s name had been placed on it, it gold lettering. “Ugh. That’s gaudy!” she whispered.
Scotty was there. “It killed me to put her name up there. But look…” he opened a drawer on his tool box. They peeked in.
“Aw, Scotty, you’re so sweet!” Carly smiled. He had an extra “CJ Grant” decal that was left over from 2 years ago.
“If you have to drive, I’ll peel her name off and stick yours on during the pit stop. You ain’t gonna drive unless you’re name is back on the car.” He smiled. Carly and Dale both laughed.
“Oh, did I miss a funny?” Everyone in the garage turned around. It was Pamela. And an older man.
“Hello, Pamela!” Carly said cordially. “And Mr. Morgan, I’m Carly Grant. Pleased to meet you!” She extended her hand.
“Likewise, Carly.” Alexander Morgan said. “Thanks for taking my Pamela under your wing. Say – have we met?”
“No, not formally. I worked for one of your companies, several years ago. I grew up in the Silicon Valley. You’re kind of an urban legend in our neck of the woods!”
He laughed. “I hope it’s a good legend! I hear they call me “Lex Luthor”. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.”
“Well, like every story, it just depends on who’s version you hear!” Carly replied, cheerfully. She seemed to have made a good impression on him.
“Ahem, Daddy, there’s someone else I want you to meet.” Pamela said, grabbing his arm and dragging him away from Carly.
“Daddy, you remember Dale Earnhardt Jr., don’t you?”
“Yes, of course. How are you, Dale?” he asked. “And how is your stepmother?”
“I’m just fine, thanks sir. And Teresa is well too. I’ll tell her you asked.” Dale answered politely.
“Oh, no need. I’m having dinner with her this evening, after my Pammy races. Well, Pammy, I really must get to my corporate offices downtown. I’ll be back in time for the green flag. Don’t you worry, darling. Well, good bye, everyone!” He turned and walked away.
Dale and Carly turned and looked at Pamela. “Pammy??” they both said at the same time.
She gave them a look that could freeze a fire. “Only Daddy calls me that. Forget you ever heard it.” She turned and looked at her car. “Oh good, you got my gold letters on. That will set me apart from the rest of the field. Don’t you think, Carly?” she turned and looked at them. Dale had just slipped his arm around her waist. “Oh! Well, what have we here? Are you two an item?” She gave Dale an evil stare.
Dale smiled. “Yes, Pam. Carly and I are dating. That ok with you?” he said acidly.
“Well, I’m Sorry! There’s no need to be that way, Dale. I’m glad you’re finally over me. And Carly, I would have thought you would do better. I offered to introduce you to Tom Cruise. And I was going to introduce you to Helio Castroneves. He’ll be at my party.”
“It’s ok, Pamela. Dale and I are very happy. Just like you and Juan. I do appreciate you thinking of me, though. And I would love to meet Helio Castoneves. As a fellow racecar driver, though – nothing more.” Carly calmly answered, even though she could feel her temper rising up.
“Oh, that’s too bad. Because Helio asked specifically to be introduced to you. He thinks you’re cute. But, oh well. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”
Just then Tony Jr. strode up to the garage. “Junior! Carly - you guys gotta get down to your cars – pronto!”
“Thanks, Tony!” Carly said, as she and Dale walked out towards the pits. “Pamela – you want to watch Cup cars qualify?”
“Ooo – is Jeff Gordon there?” She said, hurrying after them.
NOW Carly was pissed. “Um, I think he left already.” She said. Dale looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
“What the hell does that mean?” Dale whispered to her.
“Oh come on Dale, even you wouldn’t wish her on poor Jeff, would you?” Carly whispered back.
“Why would he leave if qualifying wasn’t finished?” Pamela glared at Carly.
“I don’t know…Why do you want to know?” Carly retorted.
“Why do you care so much?” Pamela said nastily.
“Just suffice to say Jeff isn’t your type.” Carly answered sharply.
“I wouldn’t have thought You were Dale Jr.’s type. After all, he dated me, as you know.” She laughed haughtily. “I can’t believe he’d settle for your type after dating me.”
Carly stopped dead in her tracks. “Excuse me?”
“Pamela, shut the fuck up!” Dale said.
“What’s the matter, Dale? Didn’t you want her to know about us?” Pamela laughed.
“She knows. She knew from the beginning. Leave her alone. She’s 10 times a better person than you are…”
“Dale!!” Carly interrupted. “It’s ok. Really. Just keep your cool, ok babe?”
“Oh, what a good little girlfriend you are. I hope you’re a better girlfriend than you are a racecar driver. We’ll see if he still wants you around when you get kicked out of your Budweiser racecar. Because that’s what these star drivers want. A woman that can drive just like them. And I intend to be one of those women. Who knows, maybe someday I will be the other Budweiser driver.” She sneered.
Carly felt like she had just been hit by a truck. She remembered the radio rumor. “Did you hear what she said?” Carly asked Dale.
Dale just looked at Carly. His jaw was clenched so tight, he couldn’t speak. His hands were clenched in fists, and he was breathing in quick deep breaths. His eyes were the color of blue steel. Just then, a strange calm came over Carly. She put her hands on Dale’s arms and smiled at him.
“It’s ok, babe. I’m ok. You’re ok. Calm down.”
Dale just rotated towards Pamela like a robot. Before he could open his mouth, Pamela must have realized what she said.
“OH! I am sooo sorry!” Pamela said with a look of horror on her face. “I did not mean any of that. I just lost my temper!! Please, please forgive me!” She begged. “Carly, you have been so kind to me. I’m kind of spoiled, I know, and I’m used to getting my way. I snapped at you, and said unkind things, for no reason. I’m really sorry.”
Dale took a couple of steps towards Pamela, with his left hand balled up into a fist. Carly quickly side-stepped in front of him, facing Pamela with her back towards Dale, and grabbed his fist with her hands. She pulled his arm to her chest, and stopped him.
“It’s ok, Pamela. I understand. I sometimes lose my temper too!” Carly smiled. “I accept your apology. Lets just put this little episode behind us, Ok?”
Pamela was actually surprised. She did not expect Carly to be so nice. “Oh! Ok! Thanks, Carly. You really do understand, don’t you. Gosh, I don’t know what to say!”
Dale pulled free from Carly’s grasp. He stepped back and looked at the ground. “Uh, lets get up to pit road, ok?” He looked at Carly and smiled.
“Yeah. Come on Pamela, let’s walk.” Carly smiled. They walked down to pit road, where the two Budweiser cars were parked.
“Oh, Pamela, here’s someone I want you to meet.” Carly said out loud.
“Hey – Robby!” she shouted. Robby Gordon turned and looked down his nose at Carly. They had worked together some last year at RCR, and had never gotten along.
“What.” He answered. Carly gave him an exasperated look.
“I want you to meet someone. Robby, this is Pamela Morgan. Pamela, this is Robby Gordon. He does some open wheel driving, in the Indy series. Robby, Pamela has some driving experience in open wheel cars, and she’s going to drive an ARCA car for the first time tonight. I thought you could give her some advice. Pamela, Robby and I used to work together at RCR”.
“I have heard of you!” Pamela batted her eyes. “I saw you race at Indianapolis. So, how do you like stock cars?” Soon she and Robby were engrossed in conversation.
“Smooth hand off! God, Carly you’re good. I can’t think of a better guy to pawn her off on.” Dale laughed. “And… I cannot believe how you held your temper! You can’t be the same Carly that bit Ty’s head off on Tuesday! I was so pissed I couldn’t speak. How the hell did you keep your cool?”
“Dale!! Did you hear what she said? About me being gone from the Bud car? Remember the Radio announcement?” Carly whispered.
Dale’s eyes widened. “Yeah! She did kinda drop a hint there, didn’t she?”
“I wanna stay on her good side so she can hang her self for good later.”
Dale laughed. “Sharp thinking. Good girl!” he said as he kissed her on the forehead. “We’ll talk later. Gotta capture a pole right now!”
“Yeah, Bud Boy. Enjoy it for about 5 minutes.” Carly teased. He gave her a huge smile.
It was time for him to drive, so he went to his car. Carly went to hers, because she went right after Dale. Jeff Gordon was currently on the pole, with Steve right behind him. Scotty talked to her as he buckled her in. “If you run a qualifying lap like you ran in practice, you’ll be in the top five. So give it all you got, CrackerJack, and you could take this pole too. Oh, and by the way, nice job handling Princess Pammy back there. How did you manage to keep your temper?”
“Scotty, I’m as baffled as you are. For some reason, so far, I’ve been able to keep ahead of her. I can almost predict what she’s going to say. But I did want to kill her when she said I could do better than Dale. Then there was some other stuff she said that you didn’t hear. But I seem to stay calm when I’m around Dale. He was with me, and I almost lost it… but then I cooled off, and kept my wits about me. Go figure.” She laughed.
By now Dale was out on the track. Carly didn’t see him leave. Her crew pushed her car up to the next to go position. She was watching the leader board to see where his number would appear. Just then they heard a screech and crash. Carly craned her neck to see the track.
There was the #8 Budweiser Chevy smashed into the wall.
~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~
