Page 162 of The Champion
As the off-season progressed testing and sponsorshipcommitments crushed me to the point where I was physically exhausted. Havingnever really been one who caught diseases...wellI had one hell of a cold that I was sure had turned into pneumonia by the timeearly February rolled around.
While hacking up my spleen, I made my way into my officeat Grays Harbor. It seemed I still suffered from problems with my lungs and wassusceptible to pneumonia.
Mallory found me before I wanted her to. “Jameson, wereally need to take care of this.”
Nodding was my only response. Nodding was all I could dothese days. I just didn’t have time for any of this. Too much responsibilityled to me having too much on my mind.
We had schedules to finalize for the season, get theinsurance policies in order and line up track promoters for the events. Thismay seem simple but it’s not. Track promoters are constantly trying to swingtheir own deals and sponsors for events want everything under the sun.
For the last nine hours I’d been at the track with Axeland Casten and I was ready to go home. I loved my kids but I could only handlethem for so long. I could only handle anyone for so long before my patiencewore thin.
Currently Axel and Casten were down on the track wateringit with Spencer. The only problem with this situation was that the boys werehelping by attaching inner tubes to the back of the truck with a rope.
They were water skiing in mud.
Idiots. I muttered to myself glancing back at themountain of paperwork. One of them was sure to get hurt with Spencer driving.Pouring myself a glass of whiskey, I had to laugh because there weremanytimes when Sway and I did this as well when we were growing up. Our spazchildren weren’t much different.
Sighing deeply, I began looking through everything whilesipping my, much needed, drink. It was overwhelming and if Mallory hadn’t beenthere I probably would have given up by now. I couldn’t thank her, Andrea andJen enough for all the work they did keeping Grays Harbor running. Even thoughI couldn’t be there as much as I wanted, I had absolutely no intention ofselling.
Shortly before eight that night, Andrea came in theoffice with Macy following behind her. “Hey Jameson, we are leaving for thenight. Sway called and asked that you come home.”
I nodded focusing on a few insurance claims that had beenfilled last year by a driver racing in the street stock division. He wasclaiming that we didn’t tell him he had to wear gloves. In turn, his hands wereburnt when his car caught on fire. You’d think some of these assholes wouldhave common sense but no, they lacked that at times. Those were the jerks thatgave everyone the impression racers were dumb.
On the way home that night after getting the boys cleanedup enough to get inside my car, we stopped by the Ranch House and picked updinner.
I spent most of the drive home listening to Axel andCasten in the back seat.
“Well damn...Ididn’t think of that.”
“No. No. There can’t be a damn in this scenario. Take itback.” Casten told Axel, his voice serious. This was the first alarming part.Casten was never serious.
“Oh yeah, well it’s not that easy, Casten. Might I add...this was your goddamn idea?”
Hearing my twelve-year old and eight-year old cussing wasa little alarming to me. But not surprising. By the time Axel was five, we hadto “out” the money when cussing or else Axel would be a millionaire now.
“I’m aware of that.” Casten replied with a chuckle.
“I want no part of this then,” was Axel’s response.
Casten laughed. “It’s a little late for that.”
“All right,” I finally interrupted. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” they said together.
Axel cracked under pressure when I laid down the law.Always did.
“Someone better tell me.” I warned eyeing them in therearview mirror. The passing streetlights provided just enough light to catchglimpses of their eyes.
As I expected, Axel cracked after five minutes ofsilence. He didn’t like to see me upset in fear I’d take his race car away.“Casten,” Axel began when his words were cut off by a grunt. I heard the punchto Axel’s shoulder Casten delivered with Axel whispering “you asshole” to him.“Castenandme,” he corrected. “well...wetold Arie to uh...she was tired.”
“And...”
“Well she was tired and we told her to just sleep in theback of Spencer’s truck.”
“So?”
“Well Spencer he’s not exactly going back to Summit Laketonight.”
