Page 122 of The Champion
Lookat your kids right now. Get off the goddamn phone.
As I expected, when his phone beeped at him—he lookedover at them, staring at him.
Jameson hung his head dejectedly. He knew. “I gotta godad. I’ll call you later tonight.” He hung up quickly turning toward Axel andArie. “So what’s next on the agenda today?”
Once again, they talked amongst themselves before Arienodded and Axel spoke. “Water park—definitely the water park,”
Jameson looked toward me slowly. “Oh great honey...thewater park,” he repeatedsarcastically with an upbeat twist he knew the kids wouldn’t pick up on.Jameson didn’t like water parks for a number of reasons. The biggest one,people.
Today wasn’t bad at the zoo but usually anytime we wentanywhere, people followed us. Jameson Riley was a household name around theseparts. Anytime someone mentioned NASCAR, they associated that with JamesonRiley. All this resulted in Van tagging along everywhere. He kept his distancethough, never letting on we had security around.
“Who thought water parks were a good idea?” Jameson askedas Casten took a nap on his chest while Axel and Arie wadded around thesandbar.
“Disney.”
“That’s Disney Land, not water parks.”
“So, I’m sure they had something to do with it.”
Jameson shook his head and glanced down at his vibratingphone. “I’m not going to answer it.” He assured me.
“I didn’t say anything.”
I laughed when a small wave from the wave poolknocked Arie over and Axel helped her up.
“I know, but you were thinking it.”
“I just want you to see how they look at you. Axel hangson your every word.”
All three of my spaz children were obsessed with theirfather. They looked at Jameson and became completely mesmerized by him. Icouldn’t blame them really. He got me at eleven and kept me ever since.
“I know he does.” He nodded watching them play. “He wantsto race the Dirt Nationals at the end of the month.”
So far, Axel had raced in all the USAC Quarter Midgetraces and was running third in their championship point battle. I knew mylittle boy was ready but it was still nerve-wracking. He was so tiny and to seehim racing around with other kids scared me sometimes.
“I know...do youthink he’s ready?”
Jameson seemed to contemplate this for a moment beforereplying with, “Yeah, I do.” He glanced over at me. “Are you nervous?”
“Yes and no. I’ve watched him at home...he seems confident enough.” I shruggedsipping my water. “I worry about the other kids wrecking him.”
“That’s part of racing honey. We can’t control it.”
I knew we couldn’t. Hell, if we could, none of whathappened with Darrin would have happened but it did. Not a day goes by that Idon’t think about what happened in Loudon. It was hard not to.
I look at what I gained in return. Life. I pulledthrough. Axel pulled through. Jameson pulled through, not completely, but hedid move on.
Together, we all pulled through. You can’t controleverything. All you could do is go with the flow and hope like hell you caughta break every now and then.
Preparing for Arie’s party left me a little on edge. Ifelt the need to drink at any kid’s party because I couldn’t handle all thecommotion and children in one place. I loved my kids. But when people were overat our house and sugar was involved. I no longer liked them. So I drank.
Shortly before I had finished the cupcakes, Axel came inwith blood pouring out of his nose.
“Mama, I did somethin’ bad.”
I looked at him and knew exactly what he’d done. “How farup there is it?”
“A little,” he shrugged and looked at his feet.
