Life at Best

Chapter Sixteen

Yay Deana and Peyton are back!!!!

Chapter Sixteen

Talladega was over and they were coming up to their last "home" race of the year, which meant a much less stressful week around the shop. Haulers only had to be driven down the road to the track, motorcoaches were driven there only for the sake of the drivers who had families so they had a place to hang out between practices and such, and it resulted in all the drivers in much better moods. Everyone loved home races.

For Martin there was a little more excitement, because it meant that Peyton and Deana were finally coming to visit North Carolina and he was finally going to be able to introduce his other daughter to all of his friends and everyone around the track. He was not sure why he waited so long, but he was so happy to finally be doing it.

Plus Brynne was back.

He had conveniently left that fact out of his last conversation with Peyton and Deana simply for the surprise factor. Deana had been so pissed at him when things had blown up between him and Brynne because Peyton loved Brynne and so did Deana for that matter; she had been the only girlfriend he had ever introduced to them and of course they had fallen in love with her. And then he had fucked it all up and they had been so mad. Peyton had cried for days, Deana told him, which made him feel like the biggest piece of shit father around.

So now the excitement was real, he got to surprise them with Brynne. And it was even better because her and Julie had to finalize some things for Julie's bridal shower on Saturday so she hadn't been able to come to the airport with him to pick the girls up; so when they got back to his house, the surprise was going to be epic and he couldn't wait.

Deana had texted him and told him they were just inside the doors waiting for him as his car pulled up to the curb outside the airport to pick them up. As much as he would have loved to be in there waiting for their plane to touch down, they thought it was better this way so as not to garner any unwanted media attention. He may be ready to bring Peyton to the track and introduce her to his friends and his crew, but he still didn't want their life back home interrupted because they found out he had an "illegitimate" child back in high school. So, this was as good as their airport greetings got, but it was good enough for him. He felt like a giddy child on Christmas morning, he had missed Peyton so much.

With his hat pulled down low over his forehead and his sunglasses on, he watched Deana guide Peyton out of the doors each one wheeling their bags behind them. He had to laugh a little at Peyton's matching little rolling Trolls suitcase, backpack and hat. He popped the trunk open and watched as they placed their bags in, before sliding in the car.

"Dadddddddy!" Peyton screeched, putting her arms around his neck from behind him over the back of his seat.

He leaned up and kissed her cheek, reveling in her hugs, knowing there would come a day where maybe she wouldn't greet him like this, so he should enjoy this while it still happened. "Pey Pey baby girl, I missed you!"

"I missed you too, Daddy!"

"Peyton honey, why don't you sit down in your booster seat and buckle up, daddy can give you real hugs when we get back to his house. But he can't drive until you're all buckled up, so he's waiting on you, sweetheart."

"Okay Mommy."

Martin smiled at Deana and gave her a kiss on the cheek, "Hey De, what's up buttercup?"

"Wow, apparently your mood. Sir, where did this good mood come from? Where's the grumpy old man Martin we've gotten used to? I wasn't expecting you to be so chipper."

He shrugged, "I missed you girls. Plus, I may have a surprise for you back at the house."

"A surprise, Daddy? I love surprises!"

"You'll especially love this one, princess," Martin grinned, "You and Mommy both!"

"Well, why are we still sitting here?" Peyton asked, "I have a surprise to get to!"

Martin laughed, "Yes ma'am."

They drove in silence for a few minutes, Martin content knowing both of his daughters were now in the same city and Brynne was under his roof. What more could he want? Peyton couldn't control herself in the backseat, she was literally vibrating with excitement, bouncing up and down in her booster seat. "You're something else, Pey."

"I'm just so excited Daddy. I love surprises!"

Deana couldn't help but notice the constant smile on Martin's face and knew something was up. The last time she had talked to him, he had sounded so – she didn't want to say defeated, but things hadn't been going the way he wanted them to go. He had been working on things, but it still didn't seem to be working out.

"So what's going on with you, hotshot? Dare I say you look – happy?"

"Some things have changed since I last talked to you Deana, things are getting better... I just can't help but be positive about life right now. I think I'll have a resolution with this whole visitation thing soon – got a date for mediation the other day, so hopefully after that I'll have scheduled days and weekends where I'll have Kinsey, and I'll make sure to get you girls out here when that does happen so you can meet her. But maybe you'll be able to meet her while you're here this weekend – Kaleen showed up at the track with another driver last weekend with Kinsey in tow and a couple of my friends ran into her and subsequently met Kinsey."

"Well you know my thoughts on that situation and that wh- um, girl. I'm glad you finally came to your senses and filed for visitation. It blows my mind that she has the father of her child wanting to be a part of her child's life and wanting to extend so many other people who would love her child to her child's life and she's just so jealous and spiteful that she won't allow it to happen. Do you know how many females there are out there begging their child's father to be a part of that child's life? What they wouldn't give to have someone like you in their child's life and she's just taking you for granted because you don't want to be part of her life... she'll learn someday, hopefully before it's too late for her child."

They pulled up to Martin's house and Peyton was out of her booster seat and running towards the door before Martin had even thrown his truck into park, excitedly bouncing on the top step waiting for her parents to come and meet her.

"You ready?" Martin asked.

"Yes, Yes, YES!!!"

He unlocked the door and led the way slowly in the house, Peyton continually running into the back of his legs as she tried to hurry him along. "Okay on 3... 1...2...3..." They turned the corner into the living room and Martin yelled, "SURPRISE!"

Brynne jumped in surprise from him shouting but then ran towards Peyton, scooping the little girl up into her arms and hugging her excitedly.

"BRYNNEY!!" Peyton squealed, "BRYNNEY!! I MISSED YOU!"

Martin stood back and watched his daughter and the love of his life embrace in the middle of his living room, feeling content; there wasn't much that could make this better.

Deana turned the corner with their bags and gasped, "Brynne's back?" She walked up and joined the girls giant bear hug, squeezing the two girls, the three of them spinning around in a circle.

When Peyton had led Brynne away by the hand to show her what she had brought with her, Deana looked at Martin with raised brows, "So Brynne?"

"Surprise?"

"A big surprise – I thought things hadn't been going so well on that front."

He shrugged, "We had a pretty big breakthrough on that front a month or so ago and just kind of went from there, things have been pretty good since that night. It was after Junior won in Richmond. She basically has been staying over here since then, kind of like it was before."

Deana smiled, grabbing Martin's hand, and squeezing, "I'm glad Martin. I loved Brynne and so did Peyton. But beyond that, she was good for you. No wonder I noticed the difference in you, I knew something was different. So, I take it the whole filing for visitation has a lot to do with Brynne too?"

Martin nodded, "I mean yeah. I wanted to do it, but just never made the time to do it, I would just give in to Kaleen and go over there and do things her way. And she knew that, so she was taking advantage of it, and me. So, after things got good with Brynne, she just made me realize what I really deserved and honestly what Kinsey deserved too. So, I went and did it. She's four months old now and never met any of my friends or my family and frankly that's ridiculous and I'm partially to blame for that. I should have stood up for myself before now."

"Well I'm glad someone talked some damn sense into your thick skull, because the rest of us couldn't seem to get through to you. And lord knows your mother is chomping at the bit to meet the baby. Does she know Brynne is back?"

"No," Martin shook his head, "Besides the two of us, Junior and Julie and obviously everyone at the track no one really knows. We've kind of kept it to ourselves, just enjoying it being just us for right now while we can. I know I'll have to tell everyone, and I'll really have to tell my mama because it'll probably earn me some brownie points with her, especially if I tell her that and tell her that I have mediation with Kaleen for visitation for Kinsey, she may just want to kiss me for taking control of my life. Oh, but Kaleen knows. She showed up at my house last week after she got the court papers for mediation and Brynne answered the door..."

Deana's eyebrows rose, "And how did that go?"

"Oh Brynne let her have it, ended up shutting the door in her face. It was so nice to see her stand up for herself and for me after the way Kaleen walked all over both of us. It's what kind of showed me that she's back in this relationship for good. Now it's time to focus on us and my kids."

*

Later that night after they finally managed to get Peyton to lay down and let her body fall asleep, the three adults sat around on the back porch, a small fire going in the fire pit, alcohol flowing through their veins - Martin had a beer in his hand, and the two girls had glasses of wine. They were unwinding from the day.

"Peyton kept talking about a surprise all day today," Brynne said quietly.

"You were her surprise," Deana told her, "Martin never told us you were back – he didn't even tell me you were back together, but he told Peyton he had a surprise for her back at the house – you were there waiting for her when she got there. The 'best surprise ever' in her words. Best surprise ever for me too, I missed you girlfriend!"

Brynne's heart fluttered a little at the feeling of those words. That little girl caused her heart to do weird things and to feel things she had never felt before. It wasn't the love she felt for Martin, but this was a different kind, the kind of love you could only reserve for a child. She could feel herself getting a little choked up just thinking about it.

"I missed you too! I don't think I could have ever stayed away forever." Martin's head turned to the side and his eyes met Brynne's by the light of the fire, a small smile gracing his beautiful face. He grabbed her hand with his and squeezed gently, saying everything he had to say using no words.

His life was finally falling into place.

*

Brynne, Deana and Peyton wandered through the coach lot before practice started on Friday. Brynne was taking them on a tour of the track – starting with the coach lot, heading towards the garage area, then she was going to show them where the haulers were before they ended up on pit road.

Peyton's eyes were huge as she took in all the sights around her. To a six year old, everything looked big and amazing and she could almost imagine how great the race track and this sport looked inside Peyton's imagination.

"So these are all the driver's coaches, they look a lot like Martin's – some a little bigger, some a little smaller – depending on who they are, if they travel with a family and such. If you guys come to a regular race where it's not considered a 'home race' I can introduce you to more people. I will get a chance to introduce you to a majority of the wives and girlfriends at Julie's bridal shower, but a lot of the kids and the drivers are not going to be there. But that gives us something to do next time you come too!"

Julie's bridal shower was tomorrow afternoon and after the two practice sessions this afternoon Brynne had to head over to Junior and Julie's to help Julie with last minute bridal shower details. Martin and Peyton were having a father/daughter date night and Deana was going to be left to her own devices for the night. Brynne had given her a bunch of places she could go and check out and she figured she just may go out and have a night to herself for the first time in a really long time.

As they turned to make the walk into the garage area, Brynne looked over her shoulder and saw none other than Kaleen walking from the opposite direction, Kinsey in a baby carrier on her front. Brynne stopped so abruptly Deana looked at her cautiously, "What's wrong Brynne?"

"Nothing's wrong," Brynne smiled, "Let's walk this way, I have someone I want you guys to meet."

Kaleen had tried to make a quick exit when she realized Brynne was heading her way, but she didn't have enough time, and she found herself surrounded by Brynne and her friends.

"Well hello Kaleen, how are you today?"

"What do you want Brynne?"

"I just wanted to introduce you to someone and say hi to Kinsey Lynn." She ran her finger down the little girl's cheek and smiled when the little girl smiled at her and cooed. "Deana and Peyton, this is Kaleen and little Kinsey. Kaleen, this is Peyton and Deana. Peyton is Martin's daughter and Deana is her mother."

Kaleen's eyes grew wide and wild, "Martin's what?"

"Martin's daughter. She lives in Jersey – Mayetta to be exact, you know his hometown. She doesn't get to come visit often but is down this weekend because we're racing in Charlotte, so I'm so happy we ran in to you so she could meet Kinsey. Pey, this is Kinsey your half-sister. She's daddy's daughter too."

Peyton's eyes grew wide with excitement, "I have a sister?!"

"You sure do baby girl, isn't that so exciting?"

Deana was hiding her laugh behind her hand at how uncomfortable Kaleen seemed and honestly downright pissed she looked over Martin having another daughter and the fact that Brynne seemed to be on good terms with both Martin's daughter and her mother. Because if Brynne was on good terms then that meant Martin was on good terms, too. And that was something Kaleen was never going to have.

Peyton laughed when Kinsey grabbed her finger and shook it, cooing at the little girl. "Mommy I think she likes me!"

"What's there not to like baby girl?" Deana asked, watching the pure joy on her daughter's face over the knowledge of her baby sister.

The sound of a car revving got all their attention and Brynne smiled, "Okay Pey, that means they're getting ready for practice to start, we should probably go find Daddy."

"Okay," she giggled, kissing Kinsey's hand and patting it once she let go of it.

"See you around Kaleen!" Brynne threw over her shoulder as she grabbed one of Peyton's hands and Deana grabbed the other and the two of them happily swung the little girl between them all the way down to pit road.

When they were out of earshot Deana grinned at Brynne, pushing her shoulder, "Holy shit Brynne, that was awesome; you were awesome."

"I don't let her bother me anymore. She thought she still had the advantage and she doesn't anymore, so now I let her know that whenever the opportunity arises. The ball is no longer in her court, it's in ours and we're about to hit a 3 from half court and all she's going to be able to do is stand back and watch it swish."

*

Brynne had had to arrive early to the bridal shower to make sure everything was set up and ready to go, food all delivered properly, decorations all set and everything perfect. But she was anxiously awaiting Deana and Peyton's arrival. Martin had 'come out of the closet' weeks ago about the existence of Peyton to all of his friends, but not everyone had had the privilege of meeting her yet, so Brynne was beyond excited to be able to get to introduce both of them to her friends today. Peyton was a gem, and she knew they were all going to feel the same way, and Deana was amazing as well and completely chill. She couldn't think of a better person for Martin – and essentially herself – to co-parent Peyton with.

Sometimes thinking about things like that still amazed her – how easy it was for her to include herself in the plans with all of them. In the future.

The minute she saw them walk in, she ran to the door and grabbed Deana's arm, escorting them towards the front where Julie was talking to Delana and a few of the other wives and girlfriends. "Ladies, I would like you all to meet Peyton, Martin's daughter and her wonderful mother Deana." As introductions were made and laughter was shared, Brynne found a moment to pull Deana away when she saw that Peyton had found the other kids and was happily playing.

"You came in late last night."

Deana laughed, "Yeah it was nice to have a night to myself."

"Uh huh. What did you do by yourself, missy?"

"I went out and got dinner and had a drink and then I came back to the house." Brynne glared at her. "Jeez, what is this the Spanish Inquisition or something? Are you turning into my mother right here Brynne?" Deana laughed uncomfortably.

"I just want to make sure you had a nice time and you focused on yourself for once. I know you don't get a lot of time for yourself when you're home."

"I had a nice time. I had dinner. I went to a bar. It was nice."

"And..."

"And what?"

"Well Deana, I mean you didn't come in until after 1am, I feel like dinner and a drink don't keep you out until after 1am," Brynne laughed.

"Were you awake or something? Damn." Brynne shrugged as if to say, 'what can I say?' "I may have met someone at the bar and talked to them for a while..."

"Did you have sex last night Deana?!"

"What?!  Oh my God!  NO!!!"

"Oh honey, there would be nothing wrong with that if you did, trust me. I would be over here cheering you on!"

"No! No, sex. We talked for a while, had a few drinks, he kissed me, and I got his number. And that's where it ended. He knows I don't live here, so he left it up to me whether I contacted him or not."

"So are you going to?!"

"I don't know Brynne, but we've gotten off topic, shouldn't you be focusing on the bridal shower?"

"Shit. This conversation is not over with Deana!" Brynne promised, pointing her finger at her as she walked away, "We will finish it later, lady!"

Deana followed Brynne back over to the rest of the ladies and got lost in conversation with everyone else, her and Delana Harvick getting lost in stories about their kids.

After they had all eaten and played a couple games including creating wedding dresses out of toilet paper, Vow Mad Libs, pin the mustache on the groom, and bridal shower bingo it was time to open gifts. Even though Julie had emphatically told everyone to not bring gifts, of course no one had listened to her. She hadn't registered anywhere, because when you lived with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. what did you really need? So, what did everyone get her?

Lingerie. And lots of it.

Luckily the kids continued playing with each other away from the group of giggly ladies who had been drinking mimosas and gossiping all day long. As Julie pulled lingerie set after lingerie set out of the unwrapped boxes the ladies continue to giggle even more as each set seemed to get skimpier and skimpier.

Someone catcalled when she pulled one specific piece out. It was black and all one piece, but there was barely any fabric there.

"What exactly is this supposed to cover?" Julie laughed.

"I think the point is what it's not covering to be honest," Brynne giggled. It was lace and was a bra and panty set that was all one with two thin lace straps running down her sides to connect them, except the cups where the breasts were was cut out and so was the crotch of the panty set. Off the side of the panty set were two more straps that connected to garter belts on both thighs.

"Well if you thought he couldn't resist you before, wait until he sees you in that," Delana laughed, "That should be for the first night of your honeymoon."

"I think I have enough lingerie for the entire honeymoon and like a whole month after we come home – he won't have to see the same outfit twice."

"Oh, but that one will be his favorite," Brynne giggled.

"For sure," Julie agreed, "I just want to thank all you ladies for being here for me today. I love you all so much. I don't know where I would be, or where we would be without you. Thank you for everything you all have done."

"Aw, group hug," Delana cooed.

*

Martin had returned from qualifying and was waiting for them when they returned to the house after the bridal shower, grabbing Brynne and placing a quick kiss on her lips while Peyton climbed up on his lap and gave him a hug.

Deana had walked into the kitchen to grab a glass of water so Brynne grinned and leaned down to Martin's ear, "Deana met someone at the bar last night, that's why she was out so late."

"Oh did she?" Martin smirked. Brynne nodded. Martin picked Peyton up and set her on her feet in front of Brynne, "Why don't you and Brynne go grab a board game that we can all play and get it set up and I will be right back?"

"Okay! Let's go Brynne!"

With Brynne successfully distracting Peyton, Martin walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter with a shit-eating grin on his face. Deana turned around and jumped, not having heard him come in behind her.

"Jesus Martin you scared me."

"Sorry De..."

"No worries, what's up?" she asked, taking a sip of the glass of water.

"What's this I hear about you meeting a guy at the bar last night?"

The water sprayed out of her mouth all over her and the counter and she stomped her foot, "BRYNNE!"

***

I have so much fun with Brynne tormenting Kaleen now!  And writing chapters when Deana and Peyton around are my favorite!