45. Chapter Forty-Five
When I get to the warehouse, I’m welcomed as if I’d never left. My gaze scans the faces of club members, looking for her.
“She’s not here. She went to the big game,” Jackson says, handing me a beer and guiding me outside.
I stop abruptly. “She’s at the school?”
He nods, looking at me over the rim of his beer.
“Shit. I just remembered I left my damn stove on. I’ll catch you guys next time.”
A big hand wraps around the back of my neck, pushing me forward.
“Well, your fucking shitty little trailer is just going to have to go up in smoke, because you aren’t going anywhere,” Dan grits out, squeezing harder than necessary.
He pushes me out onto the patio.
“Did a craft store throw up out here?” I ask as he shoves my ass into a chair.
Charlotte comes bounding over to me. “Just wait till you see the one we made. Mommy is bringing it up from the cabin.”
It’s then I notice this is more of a family gathering than a club party. Parents are leaning over their kids as they work together … what are they making? I lean forward just as Charlotte thrusts a glowing lantern in my face.
“Isn’t it pretty?”
My gaze goes back to the others. They’re all making lanterns. I smile, remembering the light festival we had back home every year. That’s when it hits me. This is for Kelsie.
And they included me.
Jesse sits down across from me, leaning her head on Dan’s shoulder. He gives her a quick peck on the top of it as he narrows his eyes at me.
It’s because of her. Jesse is the reason I’m sitting here.
“At least tell me she’s okay at the school.”
He scowls. “Why wouldn’t she be?”
I don’t want to tell her business, but I’m genuinely worried about her. She left my trailer in the middle of the night while I was asleep. I never got a chance to talk to her.
“Lily is with her,” he says when he sees concern play over my face. “You don’t have to stalk her every fucking minute of the day.”
Jesse laughs, looking over her shoulder at her own brooding stalker. Dirk leans back, blowing smoke rings over his head, his gaze only leaving her long enough to flick over his daughter and granddaughter. Then it goes back to his wife.
“She came to me last night.” I rub my temples, not wanting to betray her trust, but I need to know she’s okay. I want him to tell me that little fuck, Matt, didn’t hurt her.
He doesn’t say anything, and I wonder if it was a mistake to bring it up. Great, he’s going to kick me out. I’m such a fucking idiot.
“Told you that you could trust him.” Jesse tips her head back, smiling up at him sweetly.
He grunts back at her, rolling his eyes. Then he leans forward, whispering quietly so Charlotte doesn’t hear.
“He didn’t hurt her. However, it did trigger her, and she’s working through it.”
I nod, breathing a sigh of relief.
Charlotte runs her finger over the lantern they made, staring at the flame inside. It’s beautiful. It’s made of glass, and there are a pair of frosted white wings in the center.
“It reminds me of my mommy. I hope it reminds her of hers,” she says softly.
Katie pulls at one of her curls gently. “I’m sure it will, baby.”
“Kelsie didn’t want to bother us with planning a memorial service for her mom. She planned on spreading her ashes in the river this weekend, but Lily thought this would be a nice way of reminding her that the whole club is here for her. The lantern festival is one of her favorite memories with her mother.”
“We’re going to make it a yearly event,” Jesse continues when Dan quiets.
My fingers wrap around my own throat, because I have some pretty good memories of the festival myself. I swallow hard. “It was called the light festival back home. They hold it every October.”
“Was it something they did for Halloween?” Jesse asks.
“No. I don’t really know how it started. My grandmother told me it was held every fall to remind us to always look for the light even through the darkness of winter.”
The night goes by quickly as everyone works hard on their lanterns. It’s fun actually. There’s plenty of food, drink, music, and laughter.
Charlotte watches me cut through the tin on the lantern I’m working on. I’m making mine exactly like one my grandmother and I made. It will be perfect for Kelsie. Maybe it was a sign placed in the past, linking me to our future …
I smile to myself, hoping she likes it.