Page 90 of Black Flag

“What the hell does itlook like I’m doing, Sway?” Charlie shot a glare my direction before lookingdown. “I’m looking at the menu for Christ sakes.”

“Well, honestly itlooks like you’re about ready to have a heart attack, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he mumbled,his attention focused on the menu.

Maybe being a pitlizard was wearing on him. Either that or him getting arrested last night withgrandpa Casten had done a number on him. Stupid assholes took it uponthemselves to have a talk with the official that made all those shitty calls onpit road. Needless to say, old Duane decided he’d had enough abuse fromJameson’s words and he wasn’t putting up with the talking or lack of talkingthey decided to have.

Giving him space, Ifocused on the Charlotte Observer newspaper in front of me from a few weeks agoremembering my happy place. Sprawled across the front page was a picture of mesitting on the hood of Jameson’s car in victory lane and him down on one kneelooking up atme.

Rowdy Riley tamed at the Lady in Black?

If Sway Reins ever wanted validation ofRowdy Riley’s love, she got it Saturday night after his dominating charge towin the Mountain Dew Southern 500 Winston Cup race on August 23. Under thelights and the shower of champagne, Jameson Riley, driver of the No. 9 SimplexFord, dropped down to one knee in front of his long time childhood friend SwayReins and proposed. The fans in attendance got one heck of a show when she saidyes and proceeded to seal the marriage proposal with a fairytale kiss.

At least this articlewas a good one. The other papers spread across the café didn’t exactly paint mysoon to be husband as a nice guy. But like I said before, they didn’t know himand they didn’t try too. They had their theories.

Charlie leaned forwardtearing the paper from my hands. “Listen, I need to talk to you about somethings.”

“Okay,” I set my waterglass down on the table and removed my legs from the other chair they wereresting on. “What?” I gave him all my attention.

Charlie leaned back inhis chair and sighed. If I had to guess, by the way he wasacting,he was trying to figure out how to tell me something.

Charlie and I werehaving breakfast together at a small outdoor café before we all left for Vegasto celebrate my birthday. Andrea, Charlie and the Lucifer twins were going tofly home later today, so while Jameson was with his physical therapist, Charlietook me to breakfast, alone. It was nice to be alone with him for once andwithout the twins tagging along.

“Have you and Jamesonthought of a day yet?” he seemed to be fidgeting.

Recalling the momentJameson asked me to marry him; I smiled looking down at the ring, my mother’sring, my grandmother’s ring.

Lately, I couldn’t keepmy eyes off this thing as it meant I’d forever be his.

“Yeah, we talked about itlast night.” Images of our time at the house flashed through my mind. Thoughthe night wasn’t the dirty sex I had promised him before the race, I made upfor it last week.

“I wanted to getmarried on Mom’s birthday. Originally I wanted to get married on theanniversary of her death, Valentine’s Day, but Jameson doesn’t want to waitthat long and neither do I.”

Charlie smiled.“So December fourth?”

“Yeah, Decemberfourth,” Looking around the café, I noticed Van standing off in the distancewatching us. I felt safer knowing he was there, especially after that night inSummerville.

“You know, I miss yourmother very much.” I watched as his usual steady gaze glistened with tears. Themorning light reflected the shine from his brown eyes.

I started bawling rightthere in the middle of the goddamn café. “I...dotoo...I miss her so much.” Iwailed. Usually I wasn’t this emotional but I’m sure it had something to dowith my hormones, Jameson’s epic proposal last week and the baby hormones thatseemed to be consuming me. Lately it’d been ashitstormof emotions.

Charlie got up fromacross the table and pulled me into his arms. “Shhh...it’sokay sweetheart...shhh.”

My baby hormones tookover and I cried—blubbering crying even. And you knowwhat,you’d be surprised how good it can feel to just cry sometimes.

Charlie and I satthere, in the middle of the restaurant crying and holding each other. Well, Iwas crying, Charlie was trying to comfort me and not freak out that hisemotional pregnant daughter was having a nervous breakdown.

Soon, I gathered mywits and pulled back. “Sorry,” I wiped the tears and snot away. “I just...with the baby and Jameson proposing I’ma littleemotional.” I waved my hand around trying to convince him, andme, that’s all it was.

Charlie stared at mefor a long moment, his chocolate brown eyes that matched his hair examiningmine. “Have I ever told you how your mom and I fell in love?”

“No.”

“Well, I think it’sabout time you hear this story. It’s a good one.” His eyes brightened at thethought reminding me of when they were together.

I was all for a goodlove story so I sat back and listened, tears slipping down ever so often.

“I met Rachel when Iwas four years old, she lived next door. She threw a baseball at my face and Iwas in love.” Charlie chuckled softly. “We grew up together, dated all throughhigh school. The day she turned eighteen we drove down to Vegas and gotmarried. Her father hated me and didn’t approve of the wedding so we eloped.Nine months later to the exact day...youwere born and changed our lives forever, in a good way. You showed us that itdidn’t matter whether or not people approved of us, we had this tiny baby andin her eyes...we were everything.”Charlie smiled. “We had no idea what the fuck we were doing. I’m amazed youmade it to a year old at times.” He told me letting out a laugh.

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