Chapter 9
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Coty
The fellowship hall at Willow Creek Baptist Church is packed. Most of the town comes out for Ariel McLeod’s Candlelight Vigil, no matter where it’s held. In fourteen years, this is the first time this church has hosted the event. No matter how much Finley tried to bring everyone together, there’s a clear divide between townsfolk and bikers tonight. They have their side of the room. We have ours.
The fellowship hall is decorated beautifully. Flameless white candles are on every table. The flower centerpieces have red and pink roses, tied with white and purple ribbons. Each color means something. Ariel’s favorite color was red. The pink roses are for Baby Angel. Emily said white at funerals represents honor, peace, and innocence. This is a memorial service, yet it always feels like a funeral to me. The purple ribbon is for domestic violence. Nanny refuses to use purple when they honor Ariel’s birthday in June.
Kayla, Lily, Emily, and Finley did a great job putting this together. A sober feeling settled over the room when Jack’s family walked in. The candlelight vigil does bring people together to remember Ariel. From what I’m witnessing tonight, Harley was right. More than half of these people are here for show, not because they care about the McLeods. Reporters from the local paper, radio station, and news channel are here. If you ask me, it’s why most of these people showed up tonight. I’ll never say that to Jack or his family, especially not to Nanny.
Pastor Rhodes and his family stand in front of the room on a small stage. Jack and his family stand next to a table with special candles that Finley had ordered. One is red with Ariel’s name on the holder. The other is light pink with Angel’s name on it. It’s a really sweet gesture. Jack’s parents will treasure those.
Nanny holds the lighter. Her hand visibly shakes, even from the back of the room. Mack covers her hand with his to help steady her. After a prayer from Pastor Rhodes, Jack’s parents light the candles. The only member of their family who isn’t here is Harley. She’s getting the help she needs. However, it feels wrong with her.
I’m leaning against the back wall, near the exit door, watching everything. Movement to my right catches my eye. Kayla slips outside. A quick glance around the room assures me everything’s fine. It’s doubtful anything bad would happen at a church. Well, as long as we keep Jay away from the Pastor’s son, Matthew, things should be fine. No one knows what happened between those two. Hendrix is on Jay duty tonight. I kind of feel bad for the big guy. He and Jay are about the same size. Hendrix is a little bigger, but Jay isn’t easy to take down, especially when he’s angry.
I wouldn’t abandon my post if everything weren’t okay. Dipping my chin once at Bankz, I slowly slip outside. Kayla’s nowhere in sight. A weird feeling rolls down my spine. Where is she? I hurry around the corner of the fellowship hall and find her leaning against the building. I get it. The room is stuffy and full of tension. Fresh air can clear your mind. She’s safe. My nerves and emotions still need a moment to settle down, though.
“You okay?” I stand in front of her. She’s close enough to touch, but I don’t.
“Yeah. These things just get to me.”
I know exactly how she feels. It takes the entire club to hold Jack’s family together this month. It’ll be another couple of weeks before they start coming out of the darkness that swallows them up in January.
“You need anything?”
“Yeah. I need your help.”
For a moment, I’m stunned into silence. Those are words I never expected from her lips. They had to be hard for her to say. I’ll take it, though. My hope rises a little. Okay, a lot.
“Anything. Name it.” I’d rope the moon if she asked me to.
“They’re lighting the candles.” Her aqua colored eyes meet mine. I nod. “In about thirty minutes, I need you to help me get our people to the Den.” She glances away nervously.
Our people. Those words give me more hope. She’s always belonged within the club, no matter how much her father hates it. But wait. What she’s asking for doesn’t make sense.
“You know these things last for hours. Why would we need to get everyone out of here?”
She drops her eyes to the ground. “Yeah, but this one won’t.”
Every nerve in my body feels like needles piercing my skin. That’s not right. Nearly every member of the club and their families are inside this building.
“What’s going on, Lala? What are you not telling me?”
Her lips slightly part as her eyes snap back to mine. I didn’t mean to let Lala slip out. It's what happens when I’m comfortable around her. My youngest sister, Mary, has always called her Lala. Mary was a late surprise for my family. She’s the same age as Everly. They’re best friends. She’s inside with Everly right now. My sister, Ember, is too. She’s Maci’s best friend. They’re roommates at college. Mary couldn’t say Kayla when she was little. Her name came out as Lala. I don’t get it. It doesn’t rhyme, but it stuck with my family. My parents still call her Lala at times. I want to be nostalgic and explore this. I can’t. Everyone we love is inside.
I gently place my hands on her upper arms. “I need to know.”
“Um.” She looks from side to side. No one’s out here but us. “Finley’s father told her this had to wrap up thirty minutes after the candle lighting.”
“Why?”
“I don’t really know.” She shrugs. “Something about getting things cleaned up for church in the morning.”
Right. I step back, releasing her. I run my hand over my mouth and down my chin. They don’t have church service in the fellowship hall. We’re bikers. We’re not easily accepted around here. Harley was right about a lot of things. It doesn’t matter at the moment. We need to get our people out of here quickly. It’s more than I can handle alone.
“Okay. I’ll get Worley Bird to help.” Our VP is very skilled at moving our guys along. “We’ll round up a few more members and send everyone home.”
“No.” She steps forward and grabs my hand. I don’t point it out. “Finley felt bad. She really tried to get her father to listen. She told him Jack’s family needed more time. Finley ordered extra of everything. She arranged a longer vigil at the clubhouse. So, send everyone to the Den.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Finley Rhodes was at the Den?”
“She’d be better off there.” Kayla huffs and crosses her arms. “But no. She wasn’t there. Emily’s setting everything up now. Just get the Vikings out of here as calmly as you can.” She nudges me toward the back of the building.
I pause and spin around. “Emily Powell is at the Den, alone with the prospects?”
“No.” She tosses her hands up like I’m an idiot. “Nick’s there. He sent the two prospects to the guardhouse. The ladies from the Haven House are helping her.”
“That’s not a good idea.” This night has gone all kinds of ways wrong.
“Why?” She crosses her arms again, challenging me. "Because Jack won’t tell Lily that Nina is here?"
“Uh.”
She jabs her finger at me. “You need to tell your friend to tell his ole’ lady that her friend is here and soon, or I will.”
“Please don’t. Let Jack do that.”
“Fine.” She narrows her eyes. “But he needs to do it real soon.”
That’s one thing she and I agree on. I’ve been telling Jack for over a month to tell Lily that Nina is in Willow Creek and on club property. I understand his argument, too. There’s more at stake than Lily knowing her friend is here.
Plus, this time of year flips Jack out. Once New Year’s Day hits, the day of Ariel’s death looms over his family like a dark cloud. A cloud isn’t the right word. Darkness swallows up the McLeod family. It surrounds the rest of us who try to hold them together. We’ll deal with telling Lily about Nina on another day. I need to find Worley and fast.
“Come on.” I motion toward the back door. I’m not leaving her out here alone. There’s no telling how everyone will take being rushed out of here.
Thankfully, she doesn’t fight me. “Okay. I’ll get Lil Mama and Ross’ wife to help with the families.”
That’s not a bad idea. Quick thinking on her part. I hold the door open and wait for her to enter ahead of me. Kayla goes straight to Lil Mama. With her hand up to cover her mouth, Kayla tells her what’s happening. Bankz’ mother’s eyes widen, and her mouth falls open. She snaps it shut and turns three shades of red. Okay. That might not have been a good idea after all. I can’t help Kayla right now. I have my own mission. It takes a moment to find Worley, Bankz, and Hendrix. As quickly as possible, I weave through the tables to where they’re standing against the wall. We quickly pass the word to as many members as we can. Sadly, I don’t reach Jack’s family in time.
Nanny and Mac have laid the lighter on the table. They stand there, watching the candles burn in memory of their daughter and granddaughter. Mack has his arms around his wife. Nanny cries against his shoulder. Jack, Lily, Jay, and Maci hold Everly and Logan. Granddad has Nana wrapped in his arms. This is the saddest part of these ceremonies. This family has experienced so much loss. Again, I can agree with Harley. I’m not sure how much these ceremonies help.
Pastor Rhodes approaches the microphone with his son at his side before I can reach Jack. My eyes lock with Matthew’s as I move closer to the McLeods. There’s no love lost with that man. He was never the good kid he pretends to be. Well, maybe he’s straightened up. Don’t know. Don’t care right now. The disgust in Matthew’s eyes confirms he knows what his dad is about to do, and he’s not going to try to stop him. That makes him scum in my book, Pastor’s son or not. Pastor Rhodes taps the microphone. Everyone pauses and glances up. “Thank you all for coming out tonight to help us remember Ariel McLeod. It’s a horrible day, indeed.” He slightly shakes his head. “She was a lovely young lady who was taken from us way too soon. Keep her children, parents, and family in your prayers. If you brought food, thank you. You may collect your dishes and head on home. We’ll see you at service in the morning.”
The people on the other side of the room begin gathering their things and cleaning up. Kayla and Lil Mama managed to inform most of our side. They gather their things, too. Jack’s family looks lost. They’re definitely confused.
Finley rushes to her father as he walks down the steps. “Daddy, please don’t do this. They need more time.”
“We’ve had this conversation already, Finley.” He gently pats her arm. “You did a great job tonight.”
Matthew douses the candle flames. Yep. He was in on it. He hasn’t changed a bit. Worley and I finally make it to Jack and his father.
“What’s going on?” Nanny looks around the room.
“You can have the candles. They were made special for your family.” Matthew removes Ariel’s candle and holder from the pedestal.
Finley rushes over and swats her brother’s hands away. “Don’t touch them. I got it.”
“Of course, you do,” he mumbles. One look at Jack and Jay has him hurrying to catch up with his father.
Finley gently wraps a hand towel around the candles and offers them to Nanny and Nana. “I’m so sorry. I tried to change his mind.”
“He’s kicking us out?” Nanny blinks several times.
“I’m so sorry,” Finley apologizes again. “I really thought he’d change his mind.”
Nanny’s eyes lock with the Pastor’s wife’s. “Are you serious?”
Sherry Rhodes clasps her hands together. “Evelyn, it was a lovely ceremony. Finley did an amazing job organizing this. We’re so sorry for your loss. We hope you light the candles often for Ariel.”
Mack gently places a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “We need to go, love.”
What’s happening hits Nanny like a tidal wave, and the hurricane she is unleashes. “Are you insane?” She yells. She draws back and throws the candle at Mrs. Rhodes, hitting her on the shoulder. “Keep your blasted candle! I don’t want anything from you! You feed us, say a few nice words, let us light candles, and then throw us out? You’re fake! You don’t care about our family! You never liked Ariel! I don’t ever want to hear you say her name again!”
“Eve, let’s go, love. Everyone’s going to the Den.” Mack tries to calm her down.
“No!” Nanny pushes away from him, her sights set on the Pastor and his wife. “You’re horrible people. Don’t ever speak to us again. My child and granddaughter were murdered! And you have the gall to play nice and pretend to care? You don’t.” She shakes her head and keeps trying to push Mack’s hands away. “It’s all for show. You’re only doing it because cameras and reporters are here.”
“Jacob, you need to take your wife and leave.” Pastor Rhodes wraps an arm around his wife and lifts his chin. He’s not this brave. Nanny’s right. It’s only for the cameras. And yes, they’re recording everything.
“You’re absolutely right.” Mack scoops Nanny up and carries her out the door as she continues to scream. The rest of their family follows.
Finley wipes tears from her cheeks. “I’m so so sorry, Coty.”
“Not your fault, Fin.”
“Don’t let them hate me,” she whispers.
“The Vikings and McLeods will never hate you,” I assure her. “You’re not like the rest of your family.” She’s not.
Finley is the only member of her family who knows how to love unconditionally. Half this town could take lessons from her on kindness. After ensuring every Viking is out of the fellowship hall, I nod to Finley and leave.