Chapter Fourteen
Samantha
Life at the clubhouse over the past week had been interesting. There was still tension between Jack and Blade. I hated that I was the cause of it.
Today was a cookout for Blade’s birthday.
Jack was pouting. He wanted to take Charlie out for the day. And because he hadn’t gotten his own way, he was acting like a child.
Blade was his best friend. I wasn’t letting him miss his birthday. Besides, Ryder was bringing his girls today, and Charlie needed friends.
I rolled over in Jack’s arms so I faced him. He was so handsome. I knew he was awake. However, while his eyes were still closed, I took the opportunity to look him over.
“Why are you staring at me, woman?”
“Because I can.” I smiled.
Jack opened his eyes, and my smile grew.
“Morning.”
“Morning, baby,” he mumbled before leaning over to kiss me. “So, what should we do today?”
I raised an eyebrow at him.
“Jack, don’t start. We have been over this. He’s your best friend.”
“Some fucking friend,” he snarked as he climbed out of bed.
“Jack,” I sighed. He wouldn’t let this go.
Just as I heard the shower turn on, the door flew open. Charlie ran into the room, jumping on the bed with me.
“It’s Uncle Blade’s birthday!” she announced as if we didn’t know .
“Yes, it is.”
“He’s gonna have a party.”
“He is. Are you excited?”
“Uh huh. He’s gonna have cake. Uncle Blade said I can help him blow the candles out,” she said, nodding her head.
“He did?” I asked, mustering an excited voice for her benefit. “He must think you are awful special to let you share his birthday wish.”
Blade did think she was special. Despite what he thought about me, Blade loved Charlie.
The bathroom door opened a few minutes later, and Jack walked out through a fog of steam. The towel wrapped around his waist told me he heard Charlie out here with me.
“Morning, Shortcake.” He greeted his daughter the same every morning. Calling her shortcake and kissing her head.
“Morning, Daddy.”
“Wanna go to the park today?” Jack asked his daughter.
“Jack,” I warned.
“Daddy, it’s Uncle Blade’s birthday today. We can’t go anywhere. There’s a party. Uncle Blade said I can help blow out the candles.”
“My mistake, Shortcake. I didn’t realize you had such an important role today.” He slipped into the bathroom to get dressed and was back a minute later. “Come on, Shortcake. Let’s get you dressed.”
“Can I wear my pretty party dress?”
“Let’s save that to put on right before the party starts, so you don’t get it dirty.”
“Good idea, Daddy.”
Shaking my head at Jack and Charlie’s conversation, I climbed from the bed and headed for the bathroom. After quick shower, I piled my hair in a messy bun and pulled on some shorts and a tank top, and I was ready to go.
After breakfast, the kitchen was still bustling. Hash, Beck, and the club girls were running around, getting the last of the food prepared for the party .
“How can I help?” I asked the room.
Beck gave me some direction about what needed to be done and I got to work. Before we knew it, everything was ready to go. The men had moved the tables outside, and the prospects showed up to carry all the food out to the tent that was set up. It was a large, screened-in tent to keep the bugs to a minimum where the food was concerned.
There were metal animal troughs filled with ice to keep drinks cold. Streamers and balloons hung from poles that were installed in place for that purpose. As well as an enormous banner that said ‘Happy Birthday, Micah.’ No matter how much he tried, Beck refused to call him Blade.
Except for when she was mad at him.
A few people from town arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Samson, Lily’s parents, were there. They were a pretty young couple, mid-forties. Mrs. Samson once told me they were high school sweethearts.
I spotted Ryder and his parents walking toward the back of the clubhouse with two little girls in tow. I looked around to locate my daughter so I could introduce her to what would hopefully be her new friends.
Panic rose when I couldn’t find her. Then I saw her coming across the yard on King’s shoulders. I released a breath that had gotten caught in my chest. Someday, the panic attacks would be a distant memory.
I hoped.
I strolled over to King.
“Hey, Charlie, there is someone I want you to meet.”
“Who, Mommy?”
“Oh, just a couple of little girls.”
“FRIENDS?” She squealed loudly, and King winced.
He lifted her from his shoulders and set her on the ground.
“Go on, little one. Make some friends.”
“Thanks for the ride, Uncle King.” Charlie waved as we headed over to Ryder and his parents.
“Hey, Ryder. Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. ”
“Hi, Samantha, and, please, it’s Abby. And who’s this?” Mrs. Thomas asked.
“This is my daughter, Charlie. She is four years old, and I thought maybe Chrissy and Tabitha might like to make a new friend.”
“Hi,” Charlie said to the girls.
Tabitha slid behind her father’s legs, but Chrissy walked right over and took Charlie’s hand.
“Come on, let’s go find Banshee.” The little girl giggled as she dragged my daughter away with her.
“Leave that poor man alone!” Mr. Thomas called after the girls as they ran away.
Ryder shook his head. He lifted Tabitha to his hip.
“Can you say hi to Miss Samantha, Tabby?”
The shy little girl waved but didn’t speak.
Come to think of it, I didn’t think I had ever heard her say anything.
I was about to ask Ryder about it when I heard the loudest blood-curdling scream.
Immediately, I ran to find my daughter.
What I found were two little girls giggling on the ground. And a very large Banshee scowling down at them.
“Dammit, Chrissy. How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up on me? And now you have Charlie doing it? She fucking lives here. Are you trying to give me a heart attack, girl?” Banshee scolded the little girl. When he saw me, he winked.
My heart rate slowed then. He wasn’t actually angry with the girls.
“This is something they do whenever Ryder brings them to the clubhouse,” a voice said behind me.
Turning around, Blade stood there.
“Charlie is safe here. No one can sneak in here with the way Nav has it wired up. And even if they could, every man here would protect her with their lives.”
“I know. But when you’ve been living in fear as long as I have, it takes a little time to work it out of your system,” I admitted .
“Sam, I want to apologize.”
“That’s not necessary, Blade. I know you were looking out for Jack, and I appreciate that more than you know.”
I looked over his shoulder and saw Jack watching us with a frown marring his handsome face. Focusing on Blade again, I told him, “I know what I did was wrong. Using Jack to have Charlie was selfish. But I wouldn’t change it. The only thing I wish I had done differently was not keeping her from him.”
“Yea, there are more than a few things I wish I could do differently.”
I tracked the direction of Blade’s gaze over my shoulder and saw Beck talking with Ryder. Beck was holding Tabitha to her chest, and the little girl’s head was lying on her shoulder.
“We can’t change our past mistakes, Blade. We can only learn from them and hope to make better choices in the future.”
“He loves you, you know.”
“I know,” I replied, smiling. “He told me. And once my divorce is final, I’ll tell him too.” He raised an eyebrow in question, and I quickly added, “He deserves to hear it when I can say it without the baggage.”
Blade nodded his head. “I want you to know I won’t vote against you when he claims you after the divorce.” Blade slid his hand into his back pockets. “I just want him to be happy. He deserves that.”
“We both want the same thing.”
Before he could say more, Jack stood behind him.
“There a problem here?”
I hated the hurt I heard in his voice.
“No, Jack. Blade and I were just talking.”
Blade stayed quiet. He didn’t defend himself or try to make Jack understand.
“Come on, let’s get a drink.” Jack grabbed me around my waist and dragged me with him. I heard Blade sigh as we walked away.
“You need to forgive him, Jack.”
“The only thing I need to do is love my family,” he argued.
I stopped moving, and Jack turned in question .
“He is your family, Jack. He’s been your family longer than I have. What’s that saying, bros before hoes ?” I stood there with my arms crossed, hoping he would see reason.
Jack growled, “Did he call you a hoe?”
I dropped my head back and stared at the sky.
“Oh my God, Jack. No, he didn’t call me a hoe. He wouldn’t do that. He’s your best friend,” I cried, throwing my hands in the air.
Before I walked away, I told him, “Fix this, Jackass!”
The party lasted all day. Everyone was having a great time. Beck had asked me to grab some more napkins from the kitchen, and when I walked in, I found Carrie arguing with a prospect.
“I’m not sure how you got in here…”
“I was invited, asshole.”
“Carrie?”
She spun around and sighed.
“Sam, would you tell this child that I was invited?”
“Um, who invited you?” I asked.
“Well, I would have thought you would. It hurt when you didn’t. But Beck invited me.”
“I’m sorry, Carrie. This wasn’t my party to invite anyone. But if Beck invited you, I’m glad you’re here. Charlie and I have missed you this week.”
“Have you? Cause you haven’t called, and you’ve made no attempt to see me,” she whined.
“I’m sorry,” I said, looking at the ground.
Carrie was right. I had been ignoring her. I asked the prospect to grab the napkins and take them out to Beck. I didn’t need an audience for my guilt.
“I’m sorry, Sam. I just miss you and Charlie so much.” She threw her arms around me and hugged me tight.
I held on. Carrie had given up her life to live in hiding with Charlie and me. I needed to do better with my friend .
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. Come outside and get something to eat.” Linking my arm around hers, I led her out to the party.
We walked across the yard to the food tent and found Jack talking with Shotgun. He noticed Carrie and frowned.
“Hey, Carrie, I didn’t know you’d be here today,” Jack commented.
“Beck invited me,” she clipped.
“Have you met Shotgun? Shotgun, this is Sammy’s friend Carrie. I bet you two would get along great,” he hedged. “Sammy, I was just about to come get you. I need help with something. Excuse us, please.”
Jack grabbed my arm and led me away.
“Jack, what are you doing?” I sighed.
“What is she doing here?”
“Beck invited her.”
“Are you sure? Did you confirm that with Beck?” he asked.
“Confirm what with Beck?” I jumped at her voice. Turning around, I hadn’t realized she had walked up behind us.
“Did you invite Carrie?” Jack sneered.
“I did,” she confirmed.
“Why the fuck did you do that?” he spat.
“Jack, please be nice,” I begged.
“Keep your friends close, Jack. And your enemies closer.” Beck winked.
“Enemies? Carrie is not the enemy,” I squawked.
Jack and Beck just looked at me.
“What?”
“I don’t trust her, Sammy.”
I opened my mouth to speak, and Jack held up his hand. “Don’t ask me why. I don’t have an answer for you. All I know is, something isn’t right.”
“You’re being ridiculous, Jack. Carrie gave up her whole life for Charlie and me. That’s what friends do. Have you fixed things with Blade yet?” I challenged.
“Sammy, the rift between me and Blade is petty bullshit. This is different. ”
“Samantha, I agree with Jack. It could be as simple as her having an unhealthy attachment to you and Charlie, but something is definitely off,” Beck agreed.
“I can’t believe you two. That woman has done everything she could to keep Charlie and me safe, and the only thing she has ever asked for in return was my friendship.” Carrie deserved my defense of her. She had never done anything to cause me concern. “I don’t want to hear anything about this again.”
I stormed off to find my friend. There was no way I would leave her here alone at a party where she didn’t know anyone. A party where apparently everyone thought she was someone they couldn’t trust.