Chapter Twenty-One #2
A giant glistening turkey is being carved up by the tall man named Bigfoot, and there’s a cherry glazed ham, already sliced and ready for consumption.
The mashed potatoes are swimming in butter, with a cute little gravy boat filled to the brim with thick gravy, setting by its side.
Beside it are all my favorite Thanksgiving sides: green bean casserole, and stuffing made the right way because it’s homemade and not out of a box.
There are large sweet potatoes that look delicious set next to a typical marshmallow yam casserole.
But it’s the perfectly browned rolls stacked like little clouds on a platter that have my mouth watering.
My carb control wavers around the holidays.
Someone even attempted to put out some cranberry sauce, but it looks suspiciously like it came out of a can, though no one seems to care.
Gremlin darts past me with one of my pies already cut into pieces. “This peach pie is out of this world,” he announces to no one in particular.
I can’t help but smile.
Then I feel it. That familiar pull.
I look up just in time to see Krampus step back into the room. His jaw is tight, eyes storming with rage. He only softens when he sees me staring at him, lifting his mood just for a moment, smiling just long enough to make my chest ache.
He doesn’t come to me right away. He goes to Drac, murmurs something in his ear before Drac claps him on the shoulder, and nods.
He keeps my stare as he marches across the room, only stopping when he’s in front of me, his presence steady like an anchor.
“You okay?” he asks, low enough so only I can hear.
I nod. “Yeah. I am now.”
His hand brushes over mine. I can barely feel it, but it’s possessive… intentional… like he’s making sure there’s no one else stupid enough to intervene. Then he takes the seat beside me, placing his arm over my shoulders like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
He's wearing that stupid mask again, but I don’t have the heart to make him take it off. He told me himself that large gatherings of people make him nervous.
Dinner is anything but quiet.
Someone argues over who carved the turkey last year as Bigfoot complains about the chair size being too small.
A man playfully steals food off Autumn’s plate and earns a quick smack to the chest. I’m guessing that’s her man, Phantom, but we haven’t been properly introduced.
Voorhees stands up obnoxiously, quieting the room.
“Prez has asked me to say grace, so let’s all bow our heads.”
The room goes silent, everyone’s head bowed in silent prayer.
“Dear Lord,” he starts, taking on a gospel tone. “We’d like to thank the big biker in the sky for allowing us to come together to share this wonderful meal. We’re thankful that the women prepared this ginormous feast for us, and that Gremlin wasn’t allowed in the kitchen.”
Gremlin’s voice carries. “Hey now, I helped with some things.”
A few of the men chuckle.
“We also want to thank you for bringing new friends into our lives. As everyone knows, we’re all a family here, and once you break bread with us, you become a part of our family too.
So, Autumn, Mindy, here’s a roll for each of you.
We’d like to formally invite you to be a part of our Elm Street Rider family. ”
The warm bread is placed in my hand, just as Autumn reaches over to touch hers to mine. “Cheers,” she shouts, immediately popping a piece of bread into her mouth.
“Cheers,” I answer back.
Drac gathers everyone’s attention right before they dig in. “I just want to thank all the ladies for making this meal, and if anyone starts any shit tonight, I’m putting them on dish duty.”
“Gremlin, I hope you’re ready to wash more dishes,” I joke. “Now that you’ve gone pro.”
“I hate doing dishes,” he grumps,
“Then I suggest being on your best behavior,” I tell him, throwing him a wink.
It’s not long after that the plates start being passed around, everyone piling so much food on their plates it’s unhealthy.
Periodically, Krampus squeezes my knees underneath the table, making me jump every time.
“You’re a little jumpy tonight,” he whispers in my ear.
“Sorry, just nervous, I guess.” I turn my focus over to Phantom and Autumn. “So, Autumn, how did you and Phantom meet?”
Everyone laughs, but I’m not quite sure why.
Phantom speaks first. “Well, it’s kind of a crazy story, but the gist of it is that Autumn was my ghostbuster.”
“What?”
Autum smiles. “I talk to ghosts, sweetie.”
“Seriously?” I question, taking a bite of mashed potatoes.
Phantom laughs. “I had this crazy ass bitch of an ex that stalked me into her afterlife. It was exhausting keeping up with her angry spirit every day, so Drac called Autumn, and she came to help me get rid of her. I just never knew I’d meet the love of my life in the process.
” He kisses her cheek, making her blush.
She clears her throat. “Speaking of ghosts, Krueger has something to say.”
Everyone quiets down.
“Which one is Krueger?” I whisper to Krampus.
He points a finger up at the wall, straight at a portrait of an angry looking made with one eye. “That’s Krueger. He’s Drac’s dad that passed away about a year ago.”
“That’s so sad,” I mumble just as someone passes me one of my own pies.
Autumn closes her eyes before announcing, “Krueger just wants to say how much he loves each and every one of you, but he also wants to remind you to stay safe out there.” Her gaze turns to Krampus.
“He says you, especially, need to watch your back, Rich. There are people and things you don’t see behind the scenes that you need to pay more attention to. ”
“I’ll do my best,” Krampus grunts, looking grumpier than usual.
“Yeah, Krampy. Keep your eyes off Mindy’s goodies and start being more vigilant!” Gremlin shouts from across the table. “OW! What the fuck was that for?” he asks, glaring across the table at Rich.
“For you even existing,” Rich grumbles, threatening to kick him again.
Autumn finishes her speech with a few other words of wisdom from her ghost friend before settling in next to Phantom, resting her tired head on his shoulder.
“Talking to ghosts takes a lot out of her,” Phantom tells me, rubbing soft circles on her arm as another one of my pies make its rounds, this time it’s a warm apple pie with a side of ice cream for those who like it à la mode.
Everyone finds it delicious, and I lose count of how many compliments are thrown my way.
Halfway through dinner, when everyone is full and leaning back in their chairs, Drac stands up and taps his fork against a glass.
“I have an announcement,” he says begrudgingly. “Since Christmas is coming up, and we all somehow survived sitting in the same rooms without killing each other, I was thinking we do Secret Santa again this year.”
A pin drops in the silence just before the room erupts into chaos.
“Not again!” someone shouts. “I got fucking robbed last year.”
“Do we draw names out of a helmet?” Gremlin asks, rubbing his hands vigorously together. “I’m the king of gift giving,” he informs me with a wink.
“We’re gonna have ground rules this year,” Drac yells, drawing people’s attention. “No kids, no drama, and no weapons,” he shouts pointing his fork around the room. “Gifts can be funny, biker-themed, or come straight from your heart, if you even have one. I’m looking at you, Krampus.”
He laughs when Krampus’ one finger salutes him.
I squeeze his hand underneath the table, reminding him that he does have a heart, one that’s already growing on me.
“You’re the only one with a kid, Drac,” Phantom reminds him, “unless you count Bigfoot’s mysterious family.”
A girl shoots Phantom the iciest of stares before she curls up against Bigfoot’s chest.
“My mom’s going to keep Giovanni that night, just in case things get a bit rowdy again.” He shoots a look at Jigsaw, who only shrugs.
“Didn’t realize punching a guy for taking your present is a crime around here.”
“Only when that crime puts the other in the hospital!” Drac fires back. “Besides, it was all part of the game.”
“Last year we did a white elephant exchange,” Krampus whispers in my ear. “It was a disaster.”
I giggle, picturing a bunch of burly bikers duking it out over cheap presents and booze.
Krampus leans closer to me, his knee brushing mine under the table. “You think you’d want to join us, Mindy?”
“I don’t know, Rich. I barely know these people.”
He nods, but just once. “We’ll make sure you get to know everyone. There are always not enough girls to participate, and I think you’d be a great edition.”
“Let me think about it, okay?”
He nods just as Amber comes around holding out a metal coffee can that already has names in it. “I already threw your name in, Mindy, so no backing out.”
One by one, people reach in, drawing slips and immediately shoving them into pockets like they’re state secrets.
When the can reaches me, I hesitate for just a second before pulling out a folded piece of paper.
I don’t look at it yet.
Krampus watches me, a ghost of a smile tugging at his mouth. “No peeking,” I scold him.
He laughs. “You sound very serious about this.”
“I am,” I say proudly. “I take Christmas very seriously.”
When I finally unfold the paper, my heart excitedly jumps.
I tuck it away before he can see it, smiling to myself because I got someone I actually wanted.
Around us, the noise swells again, people are already planning on what diabolical gift they give their person this year, as laughter bounces off the walls.
For the first time since I moved here, since everything started spiraling, I feel it settle in my bones.
I’m not alone.
And somehow, standing in the middle of all this leather, laughter, and pie crumbs, Thanksgiving here at Rich’s clubhouse kinda is starting to feel like home.
We’re all excitedly talking among ourselves and laughing when shit hits the fan.
A scream silences the room.
No one realized it, but Amber was mid-sentence arguing with Hannibal over something when she suddenly went quiet, like dead quiet.
Her hand drops to her stomach, then looks down at the puddle around her feet.
Autumn notices her first. “Amber?”
Amber’s smile tightens. “My water just broke.”
Drac straightens instantly. “Are you sure, baby?”
She motions to the puddle. “Well, I didn’t just pee my pants—” She doubles over in pain. “Oh, I think these contractions are real now.”
Drac looks pale.
She exhales slowly, one hand bracing on the edge of the table the other still holding her belly. “Okay that was definitely a contraction.”
The room freezes.
Then everyone scrambles.
“Oh shit,” Phantom mutters.
“Wait a minute,” Autumn quickly says, holding up a finger. “Everyone calm down. It could be Braxton Hicks again.”
Another wave hits Amber hard as she sucks in a deep, sharp breath, knuckles whitening as she grips the table.
“Or,” she adds, rushing to Amber’s aide, “these could very well be real.”
Drac is on his feet in an instant his chair clattering to the floor as it’s thrown backward. “How far apart?”
Amber checks her watch, face slightly pale but focused. “That one was about… seven minutes from the last.”
“You heard the lady, everyone fucking move out.”
The clubhouse scrambles, moving awkwardly around each other as they try to figure out what to do.
Voorhees shouts, “Get a cage, now!
Gremlin nearly trips over himself sprinting for the door. “I’ll grab one of the cars!”
Autumn hands Amber a jacket. “Hospital bag? Do you have it?”
“It’s in the car,” Amber yells, teeth clenched and bared as another contraction rolls through her. “I wasn’t supposed to be due for another few weeks.”
Drac cups her face gently, his voice steady even though his eyes dance wildly. “Hey, I’ve got you. You’re doing great.”
She laughs weakly. “You say that like I’m not about to murder your hand the second we get to the hospital.”
He grins. “I’m looking forward to it, baby.”
Giovanni toddles over and squeezes his mommy’s hand. “Mommy, are you okay?”
She nods, ruffling up his hair. “Yeah, baby. I just think your brother or sister is coming a bit earlier than expected.”
The smile on his face is endearing. “Yes! That means I finally get to meet them.”
She laughs. “Yup, but can you do Mommy and Daddy a favor and hang out with uncle Krampus and Voorhees?”
He nods. “Yes, Mommy.”
The kid runs up to Rich and climbs into his arms. “Mommy says you’re stuck with me.”
Rich grins. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, kiddo.” His attention turns to me. “You doing okay?”
Nodding, I can’t help but swoon over how handsome he looks holding Gio right now. It’s giving me total daddy vibes, and I’m here for it.
As they rush her toward the door, Drac pauses long enough to glance back at the room.
“Prospects, Annies, I need you to put away the dinner.”
A chorus of groans follows him as he leads Amber to a car, just as Gremlin jumps out with the keys.
“Here, Prez, I got you a cage.”
“Thanks, Gremlin.” He helps his wife in to the car, treating her like precious cargo.
“Go help the others clean up, Gremlin.”
“Aww, do I have to? I wanted to meet the rugrat.”
Gremlin kicks his foot and sulks into the clubhouse, just as a door slams shut and a flurry of engines roar to life. Rich ushers me and Giovanni to another vehicle, holding open the door for me so I can slide in.
Krampus carefully places Giovanni into his car seat and buckles him in. “Looks like our family’s getting a little bigger tonight,” he murmurs, staring at Giovanni with nothing but love in his eyes.
“Do you think Mommy and Daddy will name the baby ham or turkey?”
Krampus nose crinkles just a tad. “No, buddy, why would you ask that?”
He shrugs. “Well, she’s being born on Thanksgiving. Ham and Turkey are better names for a baby than Stuffing or Green Bean Casserole.”
Our laughter echoes through the car just as Rich slides into the driver’s seat, and Voorhees hops into the back next to Gio.
He starts up the car with a spark gleaming in his eye that wasn’t there before.
He’s excited about the baby. More excited than I’ve seen him since we met.
He’s actually smiling for once, so much so that he quickly kisses the back of my hand after finding mine over the center console, our fingers tangling as one.
“This was the best Thanksgiving ever,” I say softly. “Thank you for inviting me.”
He steals a quick glance my way, making sure to obey traffic lights even though everyone’s on edge, racing to get to the hospital.
“Don’t worry, beautiful. This won’t be the last Thanksgiving you have with us. If I have my way, this is just the first of many.”
And somehow, even with adrenaline pumping through our veins, and the leftover pie crumbs waiting for us back the clubhouse, I realize that this connection I have with Rich is something more than a girlish fantasy.
It’s bigger than that.
It’s the beginning of something greater than both of us.