EPILOGUE
The stadium was filled to capacity. Most were there to see what Tracey Powell-Westbrook was going to do today.
“Ladies and gentlemen Tracey Westbrook has put on quite a show leading up to this race. Most people thought after taking two years off she would be rusty. As you have seen that has not been the case. She’s driving better than ever. The crowd is going wild. Let’s see if she can win it all this year.”
“Unca Adam I wanna see,” the little girl cried.
‘You wanna see what, Princess?” he laughed lifting the little girl up onto his shoulders.
“I wanna see mommy, silly,” she said.
“There’s Shane over there,” Declan said.
“No doubt he’s aggravating his wife,” Adam laughed.
“You would think the man never raced before as much as he worries about Tracey,” Declan chuckled.
“Uh oh, Samantha’s sending him to us,” Adam frowned.
“Oh hell,” Declan exclaimed.
“Bad word unca Dec,” the little girl said.
“Sorry Princess,” Declan apologized, bashfully.
Shane joined them in the stands. They had front row seats. “Samantha sent me away,” Shane complained.
“Probably because you were being a pain in the ass,” Declan said.
“Unca Dec said a bad word again, unca Adam.”
“Uncle Dec has no couth,” Adam laughed.
“The race is starting,” Shane said nervously. “Thank goodness this is her last race. My heart can’t take it.”
“Shane, dude, you were a racer too. You know it’s safe out there. What’s wrong with you,” Adam asked scornfully.
“Yeah, well I wasn’t pregnant when I was racing,” he said.
“What!” Both Adam and Declan shouted.
“Be quiet. Y’all scared the little one,” Shane chastised. “Yeah. I tried to get her to drop out of the races. She refused. Tracey is determined to let the world know she won her last race against me fair and square. Can’t say I blame her. In the process though, she’s about to give me a heart attack. I couldn’t say anything because she didn’t want it to leak out and she’d be disqualified from racing. Trust me this is the very last race she’ll be doing for a while.”
“And ladies and gentlemen the race is on,” The announcer said. We have two competitors back from sabbatical, Tracey Powell and Daniel Ashby. Although Daniel is finding himself in the same position Tracey Powell was in a few years back. He hasn’t won a race yet. However, they’re still the finals after this. He’s looking really good. Let’s face it, Shane Westbrook was his biggest contender, and now that he’s retired let’s see what Daniel will bring to the circuit.”
“Tracey and Daniel are neck and neck,” Shane said excitedly.
“Go Tracey,” Declan and Adam yelled.
“She’s got him,” Shane shouted. “Look at my baby go. Yes!”
“Yeah she’s got this one in the bag for sure,” Declan cried.
“Daniel’s giving her a run,” Adam interjected.
“Shut up Adam,” Shane and Declan roared.
“I’m just saying,” Adam chortled.
“They’re coming in. Come on baby. You can do it,” Shane whispered.
“I want mommy,” the little girl whimpered.
“Y’all hush. Y’all are scaring Princess here,” Adam said. “We’ll go down sweetheart as soon as the race is over.”
“K.” she sniffed.
“She did it!” Shane yelled in a walk-almost run from the stands and going down to the cock pit. Adam and Declan were right on his heels.
They made it into the cock pit.
“Mommy, mommy!” Kayla cried excitedly.
“Adam what is my baby doing down here? Why is she on your shoulders? Come here baby,” Samantha scowled.
“She wanted her mommy. So I brought her to you,” Adam said lifting the baby off of his shoulders and handing her to Samantha.
“Hey baby, did you enjoy the race?” Samantha asked kissing the little girl on the top of her curly head.
“There’s Tracey,” Adam said.
“Auntie TeeTee,” Kayla called out.
“I’ll meet up with y’all latter. I’m going to get Kayla out of here. Tell Tracey I’ll see her later,” Sam said leaving the pit with Kayla her arms. “We’ll see auntie later sweetie.”
“K. Mommy.”
Samantha needed to get out of the stadium and quickly. She walked briskly over to her car where she unlocked her door and placed Kayla in her car seat, got in and pulled out of the stadium. She was on the highway when she’d remembered she’d left her bag and cell phone.
“Oh heck,” She cried, driving to the quickest exit to turn around and go back to the stadium.
Tracey accepted her trophy, took the necessary photos, signed autographs, and did the necessary interviews before she ran to her husband and jumped in his arms.
“Congratulations, Suga’!” Shane smiled, embracing his wife in a bear hug.
“Just get me out of here before I get sick,” Tracey murmured. “Besides I’m ready to do our own brand of celebrating.”
“Let’s go. Don’t even think about stopping to talk to anyone or sign anything. We’ll make our apologies later,” Shane demanded.
“Sounds good to me,” Tracey, screeched as Shane lifted her up in his arms and walked with her out of the arena.
“Love you baby,” she smiled up at him.
“Love you more,” he returned her smile.
They were met by Stacy and her mom.
“You did it, Tracey,” she hollered jumping up and down.
“Yes I did. Glad you could make it, sweetheart,” Tracey smiled over at the teenager who looked far better now than she had two years ago. Her brown eyes and cheeks were glowing from excitement.
“Are you kidding me? You sent her those passes and she couldn’t sleep all night worrying about you and this race. I think we beat you all here,” Stacy’s mom, Claudette, chuckled.
“Y’all are stopping by the house to celebrate aren’t you?” Shane asked.
“We sure are,” Stacy replied.
“Great, we’ll meet y’all there. My wife here is heavy,” he said, which garnered him a punch in the arm.
“I am not. I don’t feel that great though,” Tracey moaned.
“Uh gotta go. See y’all in a bit,” Shane said walking briskly towards his truck.
“Oh I am not going to make it Shane,” she cried.
Shane quickly stood her up against the truck, pulled his shirt over his head and held it to Tracey’s mouth where she threw up what appeared to be everything she’d eaten the night before.
“Baby I told you to eat something before the race. That’s it. You will not be racing in the finals. I can’t risk you hurting yourself out there,” he said.
“Trust me. I’ve learned my lesson. I’m finished with this. I’ll not risk my life nor my baby’s to prove a point,” she groaned. “Let’s go. I need to brush my teeth.”
“There’s some bottled water in the truck you can rinse with until we get home,” he said.
“Home sounds good to me,” she smiled. “I got my redemption.”
“Twice over I’d say,” Shane responded, returning her smile.
Keep reading for an excerpt from Someone to Watch Over Me by Serenity King