Chapter 21 Fifteen
Fifteen
Madison
“Good morning, honey. When did you get up?” I walk over and make myself a coffee.
“I got up an hour ago. I took the dogs out in the backyard and fed them.” She takes a seat at the island while I pour her some juice.
I make my coffee and take a sip. “Thank you, Bailey. So, did Thor and Loki sleep in their beds?”
She giggles and shakes her head. “Nope, I showed them the beds, but as soon as I got into mine they jumped up. But it’s okay. I like having them in my bed. They make me feel safe.”
I laugh with her. “That sounds like them.” Just then, Joker comes around the corner looking hot in his jeans and shirt that’s stretched across his chest, making my mouth water. He looks at me and winks as if he knows what I’m thinking.
“Good morning, ladies.” Before he takes a seat, there is a knock on the door.
I don’t think we were expecting anyone. He walks to the door, and I can hear voices.
Joker comes back loaded with bags, and as soon as the smell hits me, I know it's from the diner, and I can see Grandma Silvia and Grandpa Owen behind him, making me smile.
I walk from behind the counter and walk right into Grandma Silvia’s hug. She reminds me so much of my grandma, whom I miss dearly. I give Grandpa Owen a hug and turn towards Bailey, holding out my hand.
“Come here, Bailey, I want to introduce you to Grandma Silvia and Grandpa Owen.” As soon as she hears their names, I can see fear in her eyes. She walks to me and grabs my hand.
Bailey lifts her head and gives a small smile, her hand trembling in mine. She shuffles her feet a bit. “I’m sorry for taking the stuff from your store. I can work to make up for taking it.”
Grandma Silvia steps forward. “Oh, Sweet Pea, I don't want to hear any of that. We are family, and if you need anything, you come to me or Grandpa Owen, okay?”
Bailey looks at them with tears in her eyes and does something that surprises all of us.
She hugs Grandma Silvia tightly. Grandpa Owen wraps his arms around grandma who has tears in her eyes.
Joker wraps his arms around me as we watch the sweet moment of the three of them whispering to each other.
I think Bailey is starting to realize she has a lot of people in her corner who care about her.
They pull back and wipe their eyes, and I even see Grandpa Owen doing the same thing. “Would you like to join us for breakfast?”
“No, thank you, dear. We brought that over for you guys. We are going to head over to Colton's. My poor Flower has been having morning sickness like crazy, so we are going to bring her a few things. But we will see you guys later at the BBQ.”
“Oh, tell Willow to text me if she needs anything. Thank you again for everything.” I give her one more hug.
“What you and Joker are doing for Bailey is amazing. I meant what I said. We are family, and anything you need for that precious little girl, you let me know.”
My throat clogs with emotion as her words hit me hard. “Thank you, Grandma Silvia.”
They say their goodbyes and walk out the door.
I lock back up and head to the dining room to see Bailey and Joker taking out the food.
It seems they brought enough food to feed an army.
Joker even made me another coffee. I smile as I take my seat.
Joker plates the food as we dig in, everyone in a good mood.
Bailey talks non-stop about bringing her art book to the clubhouse so Scarlett can teach her to draw better and how she made Uncle Hawk and everyone a picture.
I think Hawk seems to be becoming one of her favorite people, which he’s going to love.
“Hey, I thought I was your favorite person, Bailey Bee?” Joker pouts, but I know he’s only joking.
Bailey knows it too, since she giggles. “You are. I made one for you as well. Let me go get it.” Before we can say anything, Bailey is out of her seat and running towards her bedroom to grab her sketchbook.
I take a sip of my coffee and turn to look at Joker. “Did you know Grandma Silvia and Grandpa Owen were coming over?”
Joker gets up, and together we clear the table, putting the leftovers away. “Yeah, Grandma Silvia sent me a text this morning asking if it was okay. I’m just glad Bailey has people in her life that love her.” Joker pulls me into his arms, and I sigh, feeling content.
“Me too. She deserves that and more.” I lift my head and stand on my toes as Joker meets me the rest of the way and kisses me slowly.
It’s not rushed, just us taking this moment to pour our love for each other into this kiss.
Before we can get too far, we hear feet hitting the stairs, making us pull apart.
“We will finish this later.” Joker winks at me, and we turn in time to see Bailey come into the kitchen with a paper in her hand, looking nervous.
Without saying anything, she hands Joker and me a paper.
I gasp seeing what she has drawn; tears automatically spring to my eyes.
A picture of me at the bakery and Joker on his bike — but it’s the words that hit me the most. My heros.
The pictures are so lifelike; it’s like looking in a mirror.
Pure talent is what this is. I will definitely get these framed.
When she said she liked to draw, I never knew it was on this level.
For someone so young, she’s truly amazing and just as good as Scarlett, if not better. It’s pure raw talent.
I pull her into a hug. “Oh, honey, this is amazing; thank you so much. You are an amazing artist.” I pull back and wipe my tears. I look at Joker to see his eyes are glassy as well.
She looks at me with a hopeful expression. “You think so?”
“I know so.”
Joker clears his throat, places the picture on the counter, and gets down on his knees, hugging Bailey. “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten. Thank you, Bailey Bee. I'm going to frame them for everyone to see.”
“You’re welcome, Joker. Thank you for taking me in and loving me.” Her whispered words hit me.
They pull back, and Joker turns around, but not before I see him wipe the tears from his eyes. When he gets himself together, he turns around and clears his throat. “Alright, why don’t we get ready so we can head to the clubhouse.”
Bailey jumps around excited. “Yay. Can Thor and Loki come with us, please?”
“Of course. Head on up and finish getting ready, and we can leave.” With that, she runs back up the stairs, making us laugh.
“Jesus, this kid is something else. That’s some talent she has there. And the pictures are so lifelike it’s amazing.” Joker picks up both pictures and looks at them in amazement.
We walk up the stairs so I can finish getting ready. “I know what you mean.” We reach the bedroom, and before I can say anything else, I can see a box on the bed. I turn around and look at Joker to see he’s leaning against the doorframe with a smile on his face.
“What’s that?” I whisper as I point to the box.
“Go ahead and open it, angel.”
I walk towards the bed, and with shaky hands, I lift the lid and gasp. Inside is my very own cut with the property of Joker on the patch. In his world, this is everything; this is for life. I pick it up and slip it on, feeling the leather touch my skin. I turn around with tears in my eyes.
“Damn, my name looks good on you, angel.” Joker steps into the room and walks towards me, pulling me into his arms. “Don’t cry, angel.”
He wipes my tears, and more seem to fall. “Then stop doing nice things.”
He just shakes his head and looks at me like I’m crazy, which makes me laugh. “Never going to happen. Are you happy, angel?”
“I’m so incredibly happy, Joker. With you and with Bailey, everything just feels right.
I know I fought you at first, but I was just scared.
I know now that it was all for nothing. You have shown me what it means to be loved, and I’m going to cherish that for the rest of my life. I love you so much.”
I watch as he swallows hard, my words sinking in.
“For years I was just going through the motions until I walked into your bakery and there you were with a smile on your face, looking like an angel with flour on your face. I knew right then and there you were it for me. I knew I was going to do whatever it took for you to see the real me. It might have taken some time, and me getting banned every day, but I’m glad we are here now.
I love you with everything in me, and now that you're wearing my cut, soon you will wear my ring, and when you're ready, we can have a baby because I want it all with you, Madison.”
Oh Lord, here come more tears. I swear that’s all I seem to do lately. “What if I say I’m ready for it all now?” I don’t want to wait. With Joker, I want it all. Some people might think we are crazy, but who cares? What matters is that we are happy.
His body stiffens, and he pulls back. “Are you sure? I know we just got Bailey, and life is going to be crazy for a while.”
I nod my head and laugh. "I’m positive, Joker.
I want it all, so why waste anymore time when we are both ready?
" Life is certainly going to be an adventure, but I know that with him supporting me, we're unstoppable.
He gets a wicked smile on his face and pulls back, walking into the bathroom and comes back quickly with my birth control pills and throws them in the trash, making me laugh.
“You're crazy. You do know it’s going to take a while for it to happen, right?” He pulls me back into his arms.
“But it’s going to be so much fun practicing until it happens.”
With that, he seals his lips to mine, taking my breath right along with him as he kisses me senseless. His lips taste of coffee and chaos. His kiss is as reckless as he is, and I love every minute of it. I know this is a promise for later, and I’m looking forward to it.
We both pull back and hold on to each other. I know that in this life and the next, no matter what happens, we will always have each other, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.