~ Chapter 6 ~
Jr shut the door behind him and slowly walked over to Kevin’s bed.
His friend was still staring out the window. Clearly lost in his own world.
“Hey Kevin? What’s up buddy?”
Kevin let his eyes leave the window and he turned to look at Dale Jr.
“Buddy I know you understand me. Just wish you’d friggin get it together and talk to me.”
Kevin never blinked but kept his eyes on him.
“Well anyways… any minute now they are gonna come in and get you ready to go home so I just thought I’d get a couple minutes in with you till that happens.”
Jr stepped towards the bed Kevin was laying on and sat down at the foot of it.
“Look… I just wanted you to know that I’m glad we got you back. I was worried for a while and even though I didn’t want too I couldn’t help but think the worst. I took care of Delana for you. I hardly let her out of my sight the passed two weeks. I had to be there for her. I always told you I would if anything happened to you. I never thought anything would really happen though.”
He looked down at his feet; unable to look into that blank stare Kevin was giving him this very moment.
“Alright… well… you wanna watch TV?”
Jr didn’t expect an answer so he reached up to turn on the hospital TV. The screen lit up and MTV blared out of the television.
“Oh I love this video!”
Jr sat in the chair next to Kevin’s bed and nodded his head to the beat of the new Ja Rule song and didn’t notice the door open up next to him.
“I hate to disturb you… but its time to leave.”
Jr turned to look at Richard Childress who was busy holding a giggle in. He thought it was a funny sight to see an Earnhardt jamming to rap music.
“Uh yeah sure… Where’s De?”
“She is getting Kevin’s cloths.”
“Oh… so I guess I’ll warm up the car?”
“Good idea!”
Jr looked back up at the TV real quick to see the end of the video and then headed out the door.
Richard walked over to the TV and shut it off.
“Don’t’ know how you put up with that Kevin.”
Kevin was busy staring at the TV till he saw it shut off and then focused back out the window.
“Hmmm…” Richard said as Delana came in the room with the cloths.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So are you all set?”
“I think so…” Delana said while slowly shutting the door to the bedroom.
“He’ll be fine De… ok? He just needs some time.”
“I know I know. I keep telling myself that. I’m just glad I got him home.”
Jr followed the blonde down the stairs and into the kitchen. He was happy to see Kevin actually walk on his own. Though he needed some persuasion to go in certain directions, he finally made it up the stairs and into bed.
“You want anything to drink? I think we got some soda in the fridge.’
“Yeah that’s fine. I’ll get it”
Jr reached over to the fridge and when he opened it his eyes widened.
“Delana…”
He turned to look at her as she leaned on the counter top.
“What?”
“Have you eaten anything other then that sandwich I made you eat earlier?”
Jr stepped aside to show a bare fridge.
“There’s absolutely nothing in here De!!”
“Oh… I guess I should go shopping.”
“Delana… this needs to stop.”
“What?” She put a confused look on her face but she knew what he was talking about.
“You have to start acting like a grown up and keep taking care of yourself! You need to take care of Kevin now too! And I want you to clean that living room!”
Delana opened her mouth like she was gonna say something but never did. She stared into the solid Earnhardt stare.
“You think I wouldn’t notice? You haven’t touched the room since that day. I bet you haven’t even walked in it since.”
“Dale I think you should go. Kevin needs rest and…”
“DELANA HARVICK! Don’t’ EVEN try to throw me out when I’m yelling at you! Please stop beating yourself up and move on!”
“I can’t go in there Dale!”
“Why the hell not!”
Delana’s eyes started to glisten as she remembered that horrible night.
“I just cant ok?!”
Jr walked over and grabbed her by the arm forcefully.
“Are you took chicken to admit you’re scared? It’s alright to be scared! But you have to move on! Come here.”
With his hand still firmly grasping her arm, he pulled her till they stopped in front of the doorway of the living room. The floor was still littered with model car parts. Nothing had changed.
Delana’s eyes scanned the room as more and more memories flashed into her head. Finally a tear fell from her eye as she looked at the car parts on the floor. Jr let her arm go and put his hands in his pockets.
“I’m gonna go. Let me know if you need anything.”
Jr turned and walked to the door but before he opened it he looked back at Delana who was still staring into the vacant room.
“I wasn’t trying to be mean De… You’ll realize that. In the mean time I’ll go get some stuff for you… for NOW…”
Delana glanced in Jr’s direction and gave him a small nod. In a small weak voice she muttered “Thank you.”
“I’ll see you in the morning. Go to bed.”
And with that he opened the door and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Delana didn’t know how long she had stood there staring at the room. It could have been hours for all she knew. She knew Jr was right. Hell he was always right. She hadn’t eaten much of anything and she was sure it was noticeable. And no she hadn’t gone back in that room since that day. She was too afraid to relive the whole thing even though she was doing it anyways.
After changing into her nightgown, she pulled back the covers softly, trying not to wake up Kevin. He was facing the other direction on his side, curled up into a tight ball. The blankets were hardly covering him.
She slid under the covers quietly and moved closers to Kevin. She was trying desperately to be nearer to him. To feel his warmth near her again… to wrap her arms around him.
But she held off and leaned herself into the pillow. For the first time in weeks she fell asleep as soon as she hit the pillow. Content to have her husband next to her again… no matter what shape he was in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Delana awoke with the sun shining in her eyes. She turned her head into the pillow and groaned in disgust at the yellow bright light. She loved the sun… just not this early in the morning!
It didn’t take her long to realize something was wrong.
She was alone.
“Kevin?” She called out as she sat up fast and threw the covers off of her.
She leaned over to see if he had fallen out of bed but there was nothing there.
“Damn it!” She yelled out as she stood up and ran out the door, checking every room upstairs before heading down stairs.
She found him on the couch… In the living room. Still curled up in his tight little ball.
“I swear he heard me last night” she mumbled while taking a deep breath and stepping slowly into the room.
“Its just something you would do” she whispered as she approached his sleeping form.
She couldn’t’ help but think he looked like an angel as the sunshine from the windows cascaded around him.
She risked it and ran her hands through his hair gently.
“I’m glad your home baby.” She whispered before she stood up and headed into the kitchen to see if there was anything at all left in the fridge to make her husband something decent for breakfast.
