Kismet...A Love Story

Author's note: For my non-NASCAR readers...Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman are close friends of Tony's.  Ryan is his teammate at Stewart-Haas (Tony is also his boss).  In real life Delana is expecting a boy and Krissie is expecting a girl. :o) 

Tony’s POV

Tony woke up on race day smiling. The talk with Bonnie seemed like a dream. He was going to be a father at the end of the season. Who cared about another championship, he had a baby coming with the only woman he ever loved. Well, he had to try for the championship. He wasn’t going to roll over and play dead by any means; he just had a bigger prize waiting for him this time.

He threw on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, plodding out to the kitchen for breakfast. He looked at the clock. He needed to tell someone the big news.

He grabbed his cell phone, texting his buddy Kevin Harvick.

He sent the same message to his teammate Ryan Newman and his wife Krissie.

Within five minutes the troops piled into his motor coach. Kevin, Delana, Ryan, Krissie and a squirmy Brooklyn sat down expectantly.

"What in the world is so important that you had to drag us over here so early?" Ryan said with mock exasperation.

"Remember how I told you about my ex from high school that I ran into at my friend’s funeral?" Tony asked.

"Bonnie?" Krissie replied.

"Yep. We’re back together. We’ve been seeing each other since the beginning of February. I honestly believe she’s the one. Like, I’m done dating ‘the one’." Tony said smiling.

"Seriously? Are you in love with her? Is she aware that you’re in love with her?" Delana asked.

"Yes, she is aware and it’s quite mutual." Tony said, grinning a little bigger.

"Well, we’re very happy for you Tony. Can we head back to our coaches now?" Kevin asked, standing up.

"Sit down Harvick. I’m not done. There’s more." Kevin sat back down with a huff. "I just found out that…I’m going to be a daddy. She’s pregnant."

There was a collective gasp and then they all started asking questions at the same time.

Tony held his hands up, quieting everyone.

"First of all, yes it’s mine. She conceived the day we were together. Second? She’s due in November. And finally? She said she was on antibiotics for a sinus infection and that it made her pills stop working." Tony said.

Krissie spoke first. "I had a friend in high school. Her sister was a pill baby. She and her sister were only a year apart. It happens all the time. Wow."

"So Krissie and Delana are having babies in July and you’re having one in November. What are you going to do?" Ryan asked.

"Love her? Support her? And buy her a new car. Hers is a piece of crap. I’ll send her money so she can pay her bills if she can’t work. And I’m going home to Indiana as often as I can." Tony said grinning. "I’m gonna be a daddy!"

"Tony Stewart, three time champion and father-to-be. Something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime. You gonna marry her?" Kevin asked.

"Maaaaybe." Tony smiled mischievously.

"So congratulations are in order I take it?" Delana asked.

"Yes. This is wonderful news. But please, not a word to anyone outside of here. Nobody even knows I have a girlfriend yet. She is fiercely private; we’ll make an announcement soon. Promise." He said.

Delana and Krissie hugged Tony. "Our kids are going to grow up together! We’re having a boy and a girl. You’re all set for clothes!"

"When is she coming to a race? We have to meet her!" Krissie said.

"I hope soon, before she starts to show. She’s been really sick in the morning. I’m not even sure she’d want to travel."

"That’s true. Maybe we’ll head to Indiana with you one day. We’ll be miserable together!" Delana said.

Ryan shook his hand. "Welcome to the club dude. God help you if you have a daughter. You’ll be done."

"Maybe he’ll one up as usual and have twins." Kevin joked.

"Bite your tongue Harvick. Imagine two babies?" Tony laughed.

"No! We don’t need two more of you thank you!" Kevin said laughing.

After everyone left, Tony decided to give Bonnie a quick call. He grabbed his cell phone, dialing her number. She picked up on the second ring.

"H’lo?" She groaned into the receiver.

"Hi babe. You sound awful. You OK?" Tony asked, very concerned.

"Ugh, no. I’ve been throwing up all morning. This sucks Tony. I never even had morning sickness with Lexie. Oh God, hold on?" He heard the phone drop on the floor and Bonnie retching. For the first time in his life he didn’t want to race, he wanted to be there with her. This was killing him inside.

She picked up the phone. "I’m so sorry. This is how it’s been and probably will be for another month or so."

Tony ran his hand through his hair. "Are you like this all day?"

"I’m usually better by the afternoon. It’ll pass. I’ll be OK." She said softly.

"God, I wish you were here with me. Hell, I wish I was there. I hate being so far away from you." Tony sighed.

"Tomorrow babe. Don’t worry about me. Lexie is helping me out. Focus on your race. Do the best you can for me and the bean, OK?" she said.

"I’ll do my very best. I’ll send you a wink or two today." He heard her giggle.

"You’re a goofball Tony, you are aware of that, right?" Bonnie said. He could hear a smile in her voice for the first time. "I love your wink."

"And I love you. By the way, I told a few of my friends about the baby. Both of their wives are having babies in July. They’re dying to meet you. Everyone is sworn to secrecy." Tony said.

"Good. The way I’m growing it won’t be long before everyone knows. We’ll talk about this more when you get here tomorrow. I love you Tony. Be safe today…but kick some ass!" she said happily.

"Love you too sweety. I have to hop in the shower. The driver’s meeting is in an hour. Call you later?" Tony asked.

"You’d better!" Bonnie said laughing.

He hung up the phone, quickly texting Ryan.

Fucking Newman. God, it was going to be so hard to keep his mouth shut, but for Bonnie? He would do anything.

Getting ready for his shower, a million thoughts crossed his mind. What if I missed the birth? I have to baby proof the new house. I wonder if she’d let me make the nursery look like my shop? Would asking for a red crib be too much? He chuckled to himself. He’d work on her with that one. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw his reflection in the mirror.

"You are going to be a father… someone’s daddy. How a-fucking-bout that."

He smiled, undressing for his shower. He couldn’t wait for this race to be over with so he could get home to her.