Chapter 26: Goodbye

"Momma?"

"Yes dear?" Trixie turned to her son as she took a bite of her sandwich. The summer sun shone down on the Racer family, kissing their skin as they sat on a giant picnic blanket in the park.

The last three years had been good to them. X was growing every day; he could already read, write his name, and hold a conversation. He even had a little brother, Sparky, who was about to have a birthday. X loved Sparky as much as Trixie and Speed did, which was a hell of a lot. If there had been any estrangement left between the couple when Trixie had learned she was pregnant, it vanished with the news. They both immersed themselves in making sure the pregnancy was a safe one. They had bought their own home, down the street from Mom, Pops, and Spritle and had painted Sparky's room a deep blue, which ended up matching the child's eyes exactly.

Every Wednesday and Sunday, the Racers had lunch in the park. Of course, Trixie, Speed, and the boys had nearly every lunch and dinner at the old Racer household, but the picnic always seemed like a special event that all of them cherished.

"Can I feed Sparky?"

"Sure, Honey," she handed her older son a can of mashed peas.

X wrinkled his nose. "Does he really have to eat this stuff? Can't I just make him a sandwich and rip it up really small?"

Speed laughed. "Sorry, little man," he ruffled X's hair, "but Sparky doesn't have any teeth. He can't chew a sandwich yet."

X frowned. "When will he have teeth? Did I ever not have teeth?"

"We don't know. It's different for every baby." Trixie smiled and tugged the top of the baby carrier forward more, trying to protect Sparky from the beating sun.

"And yes," Speed added, "you were toothless for a while. All babies are."

X didn't seem to like that, but he popped the top of the baby food (with quite an effort, but he wouldn't accept help) and easily fell into the airplane food game with his baby brother. "Here you go, Sparksie," he cooed, "ucky food to make your teeth grow so you can have yummy food."

Sparky giggled and wrapped his tiny little lips around the spoon as best he could and gave his baby rendition of a chew. X grinned broadly, clearly proud that he had gotten his little brother to laugh and eat.

The rest of the meal carried much the same fun and happiness. When the family split outside Mom and Pops' place, Spritle invited them to come to breakfast the next morning. Now sixteen, he helped his mother cook sometimes and apparently he was making huge sausage patties and pancakes when he awoke. Trixie pleasantly accepted and they said their goodbyes.

It was Tuesday and Speed was working on the Mach 8, Pops' newest model. Trixie decided to take the kids for a walk around the neighborhood. She was chatting happily with X, about anything his little heart desired, as they took turns pushing Sparky's stroller. She didn't even realize how far they'd walked until she looked up and saw Rex Racer packing large boxes into the back of a rented moving truck. She paused on the sidewalk in front of his driveway and he glanced up, then did a double take and frowned.

She told herself to turn and leave, but they both stood staring at each other instead.

"Momma?" X's voice made her look away, coming back to herself. "Who is that man and why are you guys staring at each other?"

She made herself smile. "That's Rex, an old friend. We don't really talk anymore 'cause we had a big fight when you were really little."

"Well, it looks like he's leaving forever," he looked over at Rex, who smiled tentatively at the child, "so maybe you should go make-up before that happens."

She had to laugh aloud at that, but she felt guilty when X frowned at the sound. "Sorry, Sweetie," she glanced at Rex, who was openly watching them now. "You're right," she touched his head, running her hand over one side, like mother's do. She turned the stroller and started up the driveway. "Good afternoon, Rex," she said, trying to make her voice casual.

He visibly swallowed, "so we're talking now?"

"Only for a moment," she said, a little more icily. She put her hand on X's back, "you remember X."

"You grew up a little, kid."

"Your name is like mine. Rex, X, they're pretty close."

The corner of Rex's mouth twitched, "yeah, I guess they are. We could be related."

Trixie frowned and shook her head almost imperceptibly. It would be extremely difficult to try to explain that Rex was his father's brother and why they didn't speak. Better that X think he was just a family friend once.

"Well, I'm going to let Mommy apologize now. I'll take Sparky over there," he pointed toward the front of the truck.

"You have another son?" Rex asked, as X pushed the stroller out of earshot of normal voices.

"He'll be a year in August."

"He's cute."

"He looks just like Speed." Their tones were neutral, but Rex's eyes blazed and Trixie could guess that hers did too. "So, you're moving?" she asked unnecessarily, motioning toward the truck.

"I figured if you and I weren't on speaking terms anymore, and I still wasn't part of my family, I might as well start over elsewhere."

"It took you three years to decide that?"

He frowned, obviously offended. "I had hopes for the first year and a half or so that you would call me. Then I just needed to figure out where to move to, and then get a job and a place there. I just found a house last week."

"Well, good for you. I hope you enjoy your new life."

"You're undoubtedly enjoying yours."

"Mine isn't new."

He didn't have anything to say to that. "Here," he said, after a painful silence. He tugged a sealed envelope out of his waistband, "I was going to put this in your mailbox on my way out of town. But here you are right in front of me."

She took it, but didn't open it. "Thanks, I guess."

"It's just some last things I wanted to say. Promise you'll read it, at least?"

"Of course I'll read it, Rex." She really did wish they could still be friends. She wished things were different and that he could stay in this house and come to meals at the Racer place, and be part of the family. But that couldn't be. "Well, bye."

"Goodbye, Trixie," he looked around her, "see ya, X!" he called to the boy.

"Bye! Have a fun trip," he bent down to his brother, "say goodbye, Sparky." He made a wave motion toward Rex and Sparky raised his open hand just a little and then touched his fingers to his palm.

It broke Trixie's heart and she moved quickly toward them, pushing the stroller back the direction they'd come. "Come on, X. Let's go home."

Trixie,

I sincerely hope that you and Speed have more than worked things out. I never meant to come between the two of you and I regret my actions and the actions I led you to take. I wish that things had been different and that we could really be family.

Some part of me will always love you, even though I know there must be someone else in the world for me, since you clearly belong to Speed. I love you enough that I can live with you and Speed being together without me, because I know it makes you happy.

I'm moving to Tokyo. Togokhan Motors has offered me a job. I'm sure you all won't miss me, but if you even need me, at least you'll know where I am. I'll always be here for you—you and Speed, and X, and the rest of the family (and any family to come).

Always,

Rex

The letter seemed to echo her earlier thoughts. It also left her with the feeling that he'd had more to say, but didn't have the words for it.

As she placed it in one of the desk drawers in the office, Speed came into the room, having just gotten home from working on the car. "Hey, Beautiful," he greeted her.

She smiled and kissed him, letting his wrap his arms around her waist. "How was your day?"

"Any day I work with a car is a wonderful one. How was yours?"

"The boys and I went for a nice walk," she frowned, "I ran into Rex." His body immediately tensed, but he didn't release her. That made Trixie feel a little better, because she'd been dreading this moment. "He was moving to Tokyo. We kind of said our final goodbye. I don't think we'll ever see or hear from him ever again."

"Good," was all he said.

She sighed. "We really did just say goodbye. He wrote me a letter, but all it really said was that he was moving, just in case we needed him," she made sure to make it sound like she thought that was preposterous, "and that he's sorry."

"You threw it away, right?"

"Not yet, I didn't know if you'd want to see it or not."

"Of course I don't."

She turned out of his arms and retrieved the letter, throwing in the garbage can beside the desk. She caught his hand as she stepped around him and she led him into the bedroom. Mom had come by earlier and asked if she could have the boys for a sleepover. X had seemed extremely excited about it, so she'd agreed. Now, she was especially glad for the empty house, because that meant that she and Speed didn't need to worry about the kids tonight. They could just enjoy each other's company. Mom always seemed to take care of the kids exactly when Trixie and Speed needed to be alone.

For once, they didn't shut the door as they shucked their clothes. They didn't shut the door as they embraced. They didn't shut their door as their soft kisses became ravenous ones. They didn't shut the door as Speed pushed himself inside of his wife. And they didn't shut the door as Trixie moaned against his mouth and begged for more.

They both came three times, before they finally slumped against the mattress beside each other, breathing heavily.

"I love you," Speed whispered, pushing her hair out of his face and wrapping an arm gently around her.

"I love you," she echoed, turning to kiss him softly.

"Forever."

"Always."