Page 163 of The Legend
Silver Cup
USACTriple Crown Champion
IndianaSpeed Week Champion
HutHundred
I knew Iraced a lot that summer but seeing it on paper was an eye opener for just howmuch I raced. And not only that,damn, I was good!
There werevarious shots from our summer at Lernerville, Eldora, Elma, Terra Haute...it was all there. There were even a fewpictures of all of us, including Ryder, eating at a Denny’s after we werecaught in a hurricane in Kansas one spring. Tommy was still holding that damncat.
There weresome from Republic also gave me a chuckle. I was amazed we made it out of thatplace alive.
My entirecareer was in books for me to remember.
Hell therewere even some dating back to that red go-kart that had started it all for meand the gaping hole in the side of our house from when I adjusted the throttletoo much.
My firstcup win was there and shots of me and dad celebrating together in victory lane.My first Chili Bowl win, Turkey night, Cooper Classic, Knoxville Nationals...news clippings...magazinearticles with me mentioned.
Then therewere the ones with Sway and me. Close up photographs from that night at theHowl at the Moon bar that had changed everything between us. We were dancing inthe one she inserted, I was staring down at Sway and I looked as happy as didshe.
There wasa picture that stood out to me of me and Jimi. It was taken when I won my firstchampionship and the way he looked down at me put his death into perspectivefor me. He loved me not only because I followed my dreams and became sodetermined to make my dreams come true but because I was his son. It nevermatter that I raced, that only sweetened the deal for him. It was alwaysbecause I was his son.
Emma tookthe time to do this...for me. Everyone in myfamily cared so much for this dream of mine that they did things like this. Andwhat did I do for them...nothing.
“You foundthe books.” Sway whispered from behind me. I heard her pad toward me on the woodfloor. Her arms slipped over my shoulders and wrapped my neck.
I leanedinto her arm, my ear pressed to her forearm. “I never knew she did this.” Ichoked out.
“She hadfun doing it.”
I sighed closingmy eyes and then turned the chair around to face her. Moving to sit on the deskin front of me, her legs rested in my lap. Wrapping my arms around her legs Ipulled myself closer and leaned into her calf.
“I wish Iwould have seen these sooner. I feel bad I’ve never thanked her for them.”
“She knowsyou appreciate it.”
“All thesame, I should say thank you.”
“Yes youshould...” Sway slipped off the desk and into my lappressing her forehead to mine. “Those of us that really know you though, theones that keep you going, we don’t do these things because we’re looking for athank you.” She told me pressing her lips to mine.
“Huh?”
“Jameson...” she paused tipping her head to look down atme. “You get me coffee nearly every morning aside from the time you were in thehospital and when you couldn’t drive.”
“So?”
“I neverask you to and do you honestly need me to thank you every morning?”
“No. Iknow you appreciate it. It’s why I do it.”
“Exactly,”she sighed. “Emma, Spencer, Alley, me…the kids…our entire family, we all dothis because we love you and we know you appreciate it. It’s never aboutgetting a thank you.”
I laughedagainst her lips thinking of everything that was in those books. “Did you seethe picture in there of Tommy and that damn cat?”
“That onealways cracks me up.” Her eyes beamed as she reached for that particular book.“And did you see the one of Emma staring at the Burger King sign with a poutinglook that the drive through wouldn’t be open?”
I noddedflipping through the pages of our lives together. “The one of Spencer carryingAlley was one of my favorites too.”
