Chapter Six
Dani
My dad decided to take my mother and me out today so we could have time to ourselves to get to know each other.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the day ended up going really well.
At breakfast, my father asked us both for stories and information about my childhood. We were more than happy to give him answers. I could tell that he was happy to learn everything about us, but it killed him that he wasn’t there himself.
After that, he had taken us to a fair that was happening in the town next to ours.
I don’t mind fairs, but rides weren’t exactly my thing. I get scared shitless of rollercoasters.
Winning prizes and walking around laughing was fun. I was able to convince both of them to get their faces painted which was hilarious. My dad ended up getting some eagle face painted on him, and my mother got a butterfly. I decided to go with a mermaid. In the end, we all took pictures to remember this moment. In the picture, all three of us have the biggest smiles.
It was a lot of fun. At around supper, we all seemed to be done with the fair.
“Well, what do you girls want to do now?” my dad asks, rubbing his hands together in excitement.
“I’m hungry for more than hot dogs and cotton candy,” I tell him, and my mom nods her head in agreement.
We finally leave the amusement park and head to a pub. I see some members of the club are here eating. They look over at us and smirk when they see the paint on our faces.
“It’s okay to be jealous. I know you secretly wanted to be a mermaid,” I say to Knuckles when we sit at their table. He chuckles at my words.
“I thought I hid my envy well,” he teases.
“Did you guys have a fun day?” Rock asks us with a smile.
I nod my head. “Yes, it was great. Though I will probably pass out as soon as my head hits the pillow.”
They laugh at my words, and we all order food. I decide to have a Jack and coke.
Everything about this day has been amazing, and I know that we will have plenty more days just like it.
We spend hours at the pub having drinks after we had finished our food.
The club brothers tell me stories about my dad that have me laughing at some of the shit he has been up to.
My dad apparently has a habit of blacking out when he’s drunk and has streaked a few times. I can honestly say I am happy that I missed that.
I decide to head out for some fresh air, and my mother follows me outside.
“Today was great,” she says when we are finally alone.
A deep sadness comes over me, something I have kept buried, and I guess all the alcohol is finally unleashing it.
“Please help me understand why,” I whisper. My eyes well with tears.
“Oh sweetie. I thought I was making the right decision at the time. I was young and scared,” she admits.
“I get that. I do. But you could have contacted him at any point in the last twenty-five years and told him, or called just to find out it was safe. I didn’t have to live my whole life thinking my father didn’t want me,” I spit with my anger rising.
She sighs sadly. “I know. If I could go back and change it, I would. I missed your father so much. My heart broke every day. There were some days where I wasn’t sure I could make it through without him, and the only thing that kept me going was you. You were the only piece I had of him.”
“I wouldn’t have been the only thing if you hadn’t been a coward,” I snap.
“I know,” she says with her voice cracking.
“Today was great, but it also showed me how much I had missed out on,” I say as a sob slips out.
“I’m sorry,” my mother says while pulling me into her arms.
“We will get through this,” she mumbles.
“I want to stay. I’m not sure how long yet, but I don’t plan on leaving any time soon,” I tell her.
She pulls back and smiles at me. “I’m going to stay. I think it’s time to finally come home.”
“There are my girls!” a voice shouts, and we both look to see my dad walking over to us with a grin. The grin falls when he sees us both with tear streaks on our faces.
“What’s wrong?” he asks while pulling us into his arms and looking around for any threats.
“Nothing, we were just talking. Getting a few things off my chest,” I tell him.
“Everything good?” he asks hesitantly.
“I want to stay for awhile to get to know you, and my mom said she is ready to come home,” I say.
His eyes widen at my words, and he looks at my mom with a determined expression on his face. “If you think I wouldn’t chase after you if you left me again, then you are mistaken.”
“I know, honey,” she says while smiling softly at him.
“I couldn’t find you before, but nothing will stop me a second time. Even if I have to handcuff you to me,” he says with a grin.
That look is too much for me. I fight a gag. “Okay, that was not something I needed to hear,” I say, stepping back and shivering in disgust.
They both laugh at me, and I don’t mind. There is a lightness in their eyes that calms me. The serenity they both give off is comforting. I don’t ever remember my mom being this peaceful.
I hope this feeling lasts for them both.
Zane
Tonight, Zeke and I decide to stay at the club and have a few drinks. He plans on leaving in a week. I hate to see my brother go, but I know he has a life where he is living.
We haven’t had much time together. Hopefully, he visits more often.
“Do you really need to leave?” I ask after taking a drink of my beer.
He nods his head reluctantly. “Yeah, I have… someone special back home. I need to get back to them.”
“Really? You never mentioned anyone,” I tell him.
“I haven’t really had the time,” he says, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.
“I can’t wait to meet her, if she’s that important to you,” I tell him honestly.
He gets a pained look in his eyes but nods his head. “One day. Hopefully they will want to come here. I want to move back, but there is some shit I need to take care of first.”
“Anything you need help with?” I ask. If he’s in any trouble, I will be glad to help him out.
“No, I’m not in danger or anything. I just have to tell my boss I’m leaving, as well as some regular clients, pack up my house. Shit like that,” he says.
“If you need help with anything, I will be there for you, brother. I’ve got your back,” I say.
He looks at me for a moment before nodding his head. “I know. I’ll be back before you know it. Maybe by then you will finally convince my best friend to stay here too,” he says with a laugh.
I smile and shake my head. “I plan on doing everything I can to get her to stay.”
“You know, I thought it would take a strong fucker to stand by Dani. Most of the losers that wanted her seemed too scared of me to even try. There were also a couple who tried to form a wedge between us, but she was always like a sister to me. No one will come between us,” he says in a serious tone. I take the warning for what it is. They don’t have to worry about that with me. I don’t feel threatened that they are best friends.
Fuck, it makes it easier they see each other as brother and sister because I hope to make that a reality one day.
I know I am getting ahead of myself, but I already know Dani is it for me. I plan on having her by my side for a very long time.