Chapter One

Dale rushed through the house picking up the toys that were scattered carelessly around, nearly breaking his foot as he tripped on a Tonka truck at the base of the stairs. “I swear to God!”

“Problems little brother?” Kelley asked with a smirk as she walked into the house.

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t mess with me right now Kel. I’ve got a meeting in half an hour and I’ve been trying to clean up Kellen’s mess for the last two.”

“Where is he?”

Dale threw his hand in the direction of the living room and shook his head as his sister went after her nephew. “You’re spoiling him! He’s a big enough handful as it is, especially with all the sponsor stuff I’m trying to take care of lately. Budweiser’s running out of toys for him to play with.”

“Hey there mister…” Kelley cooed as she scooped him into her arms. “You’re driving your daddy crazy. Yes you are…” She walked back into the foyer to find Dale sitting in a frustrated heap on the stairs. “Have you given any thought to my suggestion?”

He looked up at her shaking his head, laughing at the gurgling noises Kellen was making while she bounced him on her hip. “I don’t know if I can do that, sis. I mean… I don’t want to leave him with some stranger all the time.”

“Dale. You work entirely too much to give him the adequate attention he ne…”

“Kelley! I spend every waking moment with him. I need to be with him… I want to be with him.”

She rolled her eyes. “Would you just listen to me for a minute? You can’t spend every minute with him and drive a racecar too, Dale. I’m not telling you to give up your son or that you can’t spend time with him, I’m just saying you need some help.”

“And just how do you suggest I do that? Advertise it on my car? Want to help raise my kid… Ask me how?”

“I swear sometimes that bleach job you did on your hair a few years ago killed some brain cells. No you dork, post an ad in the paper. I’ll do the interviewing for you, that way I’ll know their hired on ability,” she smirked.

He stood up and crossed his hands over his chest. “Well I’m telling you now, I’m not going to the track without him with me. So what are you gonna do about that?”

She threw her free hand in the air. “Dale, I’m ahead of you on that one too. I’m going to find you someone who’s able to do the job well, someone who can help out around here because you obviously need it if picking up toys after a 1-year-old is that much of a problem for you, and someone who can travel so they can be at the track to watch Kellen while you’re busy with other obligations. Most likely a live-in.”

He sighed and looked at the floor, rubbing his foot over a scratch in the hardwoods. “I don’t want some stranger living here with me… I mean Martin’s here most of the time…”

“Look. I know this is the last thing you want Dale but it’s been three months since Paige died and, well you haven’t been at the track since. I’ll admit, you’ve really come a long way in a short amount of time but I don’t know how you’re gonna handle this alone. It’s gonna be hard for you and I know Kellen’s your anchor but he’s gonna need someone to take care of him when you can’t because you’re not gonna be there all the time once the season starts back. The only reason you’ve had all the time you’ve had with him anyway is because you’ve got sponsors that have a heart and gave you some time to grieve. Anyway, what about when you’ve got to fly to Missouri or Utah or something for a signing, what are you gonna do with him then? You can’t just dump him on my and Theresa’s doorsteps every time you’re on your way to make the corporate people happy. It’s not fair to him. He needs some stability in his life too, Dale.”

“Gees, you think I don’t know that Kelley? I’m doing all I can to be the best father I can be and all I can think about is how I shouldn’t be doing this without her. She told me I could do this and I… I don’t want to let her down,” he added softly.

“Dale. Trust me. You’re not letting her down by getting some help. Paige knew your organizational skills, I’m sure she’d be thrilled for you to have some extra hands around.”

“Kiss my ass, Kel,” he smirked, remembering the many times Paige had gone behind him cleaning up his cleaning.

She frowned at him. “Language Junior! You need to realize that everything you say, he’s gonna pick up on it so if you must swear, at least put earmuffs on him first.”

Dale rolled his eyes. “Yes mom.” He quickly glanced at his watch and grabbed his keys. “You’re gonna be okay with him, right?”

Her only answer was a raised brow.

“Sorry. Just…”

“I know. Go before you’re late. We’re gonna go over to Theresa’s in a little while.”

He nodded and pressed a kiss on Kellen’s cheek. “If there’s an emer…”

“I know Dale…” She watched as he rushed out of the house, shaking her head in amusement. If someone had told her 2 years ago that her baby brother would be a single father raising a child on his own, she would’ve laughed in their face. But as it was, she’d never seen a more attentive and loving parent as Dale and that included herself and Jimmy. “Who’d a thunk it, Kel Kel? We’ve just got to get your daddy some help before he drives us all crazy.”

---

“So he finally agreed?” Theresa asked with relief, as she took Kellen from Kelly and sat on the sofa, making faces at him as she bounced the little boy on her knee, smiling as he giggled.

Kelley shrugged. “I’m not sure it was an all out agreement but I told him I’d run an ad and do the interviewing. Last thing I want is for him to hire some girl that doesn’t know where to stuff a rectal thermometer.”

She chuckled. “He’s not that bad anymore and you know it. Paige definitely settled him down a lot but this little guy has done a number on him. Dale just better hope Kellen doesn’t act like him…”

“So… should we put an age preference in this thing or what?” Kelley asked. “As much as we want to have an old school teacher take this job, I don’t think she’ll have the stamina for it. Especially with the traveling.”

Theresa gave a thoughtful nod. “Well. I’d say between the age of 25 and 40? I don’t really think Dale’s gonna be looking for anyone any time soon. He’s still…”

“Yeah, I know. Of course it’s going to have to be someone that doesn’t have much of a social life either. We can’t have anyone with kids or a husband at home because they’ll never see them. I’m definitely thinking live in…”

“Well. Do what you think is best Kelley. You might want to run it by Jade as well. Let him do some checking up before we do any interviews or hiring.”

She sighed and stood up, stretching her tired body. “I guess I’ll try to get this worked up so we can put it in the paper tomorrow. That should give us barely a month to get everything situated before Daytona.”

---

Macayla Kirkpatrick rolled her neck as she turned yet another page, looking for the perfect job. She didn’t know exactly what she was looking for but she’d know it when she saw it. As far as she was concerned anything that got her out of her current situation would be the answer.

Taking a long sip of her espresso, she took a moment to look out the front window of the coffee shop, watching as bundles of people went about their daily grind, some of them smiling, others mirroring the way she felt. Trapped and lonely.

Looking back at the paper one ad in particular caught her attention.

Wanted: Single female with no children between the age of 25-40 for a full time, live in nanny position for one-year-old boy. Constant travel will be involved and expenses as well as room and board will be provided in addition to salary. Experience encouraged but not necessary. Please mail resumes and inquiries to Kelley James, PO Box 880, Mooresville, NC 28115.

Circling the ad with a red marker she glanced at her watch, biting back a curse when she realized she was late and could only hope she wouldn’t be fired until something else came up. Working the graveyard shift in the county morgue was by no means her idea of a good time but she didn’t have anywhere else to be or anyone else to be with.

As a matter of fact, she didn’t have anything at all.

She said a quick prayer as she threw her belongings into her bag that this job was a sign of things to come.

---

“So Macayla, I noticed on your resume that you don’t have any experience taking care of children… Why do you want this job?” Kelley shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she looked across the table at the young woman in front of her.

According to her application she was 27 and her only job experience was her current job at the county morgue. How this woman thought she was qualified for this job was beyond her. Yet there was something in her eyes that she couldn’t quite figure out.

“Well, I love children. I’ve always been partial towards them. Quite honestly I’d rather spend time with them than I would people my age. They’re too young to be judgmental.” She gave a weak laugh and absently picked at the arm of the chair. “And… well I really don’t have anything keeping me here.”

Kelley nodded slowly. There was nothing shifty or uncomfortable about her, she was actually quite soothing compared to many of the people she’d interviewed but she was definitely a candidate, despite her lack of qualifications. “Alright. Well, we’ve got a few more interviews lined up after yours so we’ll probably make our decision in a few days.”

Macayla nodded and smiled. “Thank you.” She closed the door softly behind her as she left.

The moment the door latched Kelley picked up the phone. “Jade, I need you to check on someone. Macayla Kirkpatrick. That’s M-a-c-a-y-l-a. Birthdate 7-7-77 . I don’t have a social but it’s not a common name. Just let me know as soon as you get something.”

---

Dale picked Kellen up, tossing him in the air with ease, smiling as his son frantically waved his arms and laughed. He caught him and swung him around in a circle then they fell in a tired heap on the couch.

Kellen crawled against his father’s chest, snuggling his head beneath his chin as Dale gently stroked his back and stared at a picture of Paige and Kellen right after he was born.

“I don’t want to let you down baby…” he spoke quietly. “I know you said I can do this but I can’t do it alone…”

Kellen tightened his small hand, grabbing a handful of his shirt as he fell asleep in his arms.

“I can’t do this without you…” he whispered as he closed his eyes and pressed his lips to Kellen’s head, smelling his delicate scent. “I can’t do this without you…”

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