Chapter 23 #3
That’s not to say everything was smooth sailing.
Neither of us was particularly used to the total transparency and vulnerability that came from sleeping under the same roof.
It was hard, taking a step back to understand.
My responses didn’t come naturally. For Fiona, though, it was worth the work.
I wanted to be the best man I could be for her.
Now, it was our housewarming dinner, and I couldn’t help the satisfied smile on my face as I greeted my family.
“Big bro.” Charlie greeted me with a nudge to my shoulder, as her hands were full with the oversized box she was carrying. Before I could see what it was, she was heading straight for the kitchen as Ma barreled past me. Fiona had left the bedroom, and was quickly swept up in my mother’s arms.
“Fee, darlin’, this place looks so much better already! We’re so happy you invited us over,” Ma raved.
Dad lumbered in at a more sedate pace, an indulgent smile on his face as he came to stand next to me in the living room, watching as Mom forced Fee to sit on the couch with her.
“I wanted to give you a little gift, and I’m too impatient to wait until after dinner to give it to you,” Ma rushed out quickly as she passed Fiona the gift bag I had somehow missed on her arm.
Fee looked up at us, her eyes large behind her glasses, but when faced with a determined Cece, there was nothing any of us could do about it. Fiona placed the bag on the coffee table and gently pulled out the tissue-wrapped item.
Pulling the paper away from the item, a surprised look washed over Fiona’s face. Concerned, I headed over to where she was seated to get a look at the gift. It was a colorful picture frame made from a local artist that Ma favored.
Inside was a candid picture of Fiona and me making eyes at each other, while Mom, Dad, and Charlie laughed around us. Match was in the back of the shot, and Bull’s large form could just be made out from the corner. Inscribed on the top of the frame was the word Family.
“Welcome to the family, my darlin’ girl. We’re so happy you’re here,” Mom said with tears in her eyes. After a short pause, while she studied the gift in her hand, Fiona gently placed the picture on the table before leaning forward and wrapping her arms around Ma.
“Thank you, Cece. For everything. I’m so grateful to have all of you in my life.” Fee’s voice was thick with emotions.
“Enough of this mushy junk. C’mere, lady. I got you a present too,” Guard stated in his no-nonsense way. Fiona snorted at the comment. Getting up from the couch, she walked over to where Guard was waving a smaller gift bag in front of her.
“You really didn’t need to get me anything,” Fee insisted, even as she took the bag from him.
“Nonsense. Now, open it so we can get to dinner. It smells so good in here, I’m gonna start chewing on the furniture if you don’t feed me soon.
” Fiona rolled her eyes good-naturedly as she pulled out a small wooden box.
Opening it up, it held a swiss army knife attached to a keychain.
Engraved on the knife, it read Property of the Reaper’s Guard.
The keychain was silver and had our club logo etched into it.
“Now, before you get all weepy on me, I’ve got the second half of your present,” he said quickly before he shoved a plain paper bag into her hand, causing Fiona to look confused.
She reached inside and pulled out a mini bottle of pepper spray, which was small enough it could fit on the keychain.
With a watery laugh, she pulled Guard into a hug.
“It’s perfect,” she said softly, and I couldn’t help the feeling of warmth that ran through me as I watched everyone together.
“Okay, this is super cute and all, but I’m seriously hungry. Can we eat now, please?” Charlie said from the doorway, a large glass of wine already in hand.
“C’mon, grab a seat. Dad and I will bring the food out.”
“No! We’ll all help. Right, guys?” Charlie ordered everyone, overly cheerful in her command.
“Uh, sure, whatever you want,” I said, looking at my sister, confused, but knowing she had something planned.
Charlie held the door open to the kitchen so Fee and I could walk in with my parents behind us. On the counter top was a shiny silver espresso machine with a big red bow on it. Fee gave a small gasp, and I couldn’t help the whistle that came out of my mouth.
“It’s a Breville espresso machine. Top of the line, best of the best, the sales guy assured me,” Charlie boasted excitedly.
“It’s from the three of us. An official gift for the two of you, so you always start the day off right together,” Mom added.
After that, we were all ready to eat, and soon, the table was covered with divine-smelling food from end to end. The meal passed quickly, conversation was easy and happy. Bellies full, talks turned to the annual Halloween party coming up.
“Oh, Reaper and Seph have been throwing this party every year. They go all out. It’s not the usual scene for an MC club, but it was important to Seph.
At first, Reaper was mostly indulging her, but he’s gotten really into it over the years, and loves it now.
So do most of the Brothers. The entire clubhouse gets decorated, and there are themed food and drinks.
There’s a costume contest, and the competition’s gotten pretty serious over the years. ”
“Fee, you and Bash should do a couples costume. It would be so cute!” Charlie gushed, and I shot her a look. She knew I wasn’t a fan of costumes. I attended the party every year and had managed to get away with little to no costume so far.
“Chuckie…” I started, only to have her interrupt me.
“I have so many ideas! You could be Fred and Daphne! Raggedy Anne and Andy! Oh! Or Jack and Rose from Titanic!” Charlie rushed out.
“Charlie goes all out every year. She’s the reigning queen of the costume contest,” Ma explained.
“What are you going as?” Fee asked Charlie.
“Nope. It’s a secret. No one gets to know until I show up. Now, back to you guys. I have a great idea, if you both trust me.” I looked from Fee to Charlie, my brow furrowing. I wasn’t sure where it was going or what part I wanted to have in it. I definitely did not trust her.
“That sounds ominous,” Fiona finally said, and I nodded in agreement.
“Let me pick your costumes. I’ll make sure Bash only has to dress up minimally and that Fiona will look fucking fantastic.
You’ve seen what I can do with costumes.
Trust me, Bash, you’re gonna wanna let me help,” Charlie said.
Right as I was about to argue, images of Fiona in different costumes flitted through my brain.
I looked to see Fee staring at me, and shrugged.
“Whatever you wanna do, darlin’. Charlie is right, though. I’m not a huge fan of full costume, but content to participate if it makes you happy.” Fiona’s eyes got soft, and she reached over to grab my hand. I lifted hers up and kissed it.
“Gross. So is that a yes?” Charlie asked eagerly. I rolled my eyes.
“It’s a yes as long as all my private parts are covered and you pick something that’s comfortable for Bash. Bunny ears or a bowtie. One item he can take off once he’s over it,” Fiona replied. Charlie squinted at her.
“Fine, that gives me enough room for some ideas. Oh, goodie! This is gonna be great.”
“Not that any of you bothered to ask, but I’ll be going as a sexy pirate, ready to fight anyone who comes near my sea witch,” Guard announced as he wrapped his arm around Cece, looking pleased when he saw the smiles fall off both my and Charlie’s faces.
When Fiona’s laugh rang out, though, we soon all joined in. My father never hesitated to go out of his way to make Mom happy, and they had gotten into the Halloween spirit more and more over the years.
Dessert and coffee were brought out, and I sat back in my seat, watching my family around the table.
Charlie, Fiona, and Ma were clustered together as Charlie showed Fiona pictures from previous Halloweens.
Guard sat beside me, eating his third slice of cheesecake, eyeing the rest like he was trying to see if it would fit in his pocket.
Watching Fee interact with my family brought me a deep sense of contentment.
Even though I had felt that way for a while, the moment hammered home how much I wanted Fiona to be my Old Lady.
As soon as things calmed down, once we made sure Trish and Ginger were out of the picture, we could move forward.
Flashes of our future together flitted through my mind.
My cut on her back, her walking down the aisle toward me in a white dress, a chubby baby with wild red hair.
The breath was knocked out of me at those thoughts, and I dropped back in my seat.
Rubbing a hand over my heart, unsure if it was even there anymore, since I was sure Fiona held it.
“So, now that you got your girl under the same roof as you, what’s your next move?” Dad said from my side. I turned to him, gauging his seriousness. Before I could reply, he continued.
“Saw it from the beginning. She was the one for you. I know you got some shit to sort out, but once that’s done, I expect you to make her a proper member of this family.
You working on her cut yet?” I shook my head, and he scowled.
Holding my hands up, I leaned over, not wanting to draw the attention of the women.
“I have Match working on a specific design. I want it to be special, perfect for her. Once he’s finished, it’ll be done in no time.”
“Thats my boy. I expect some grandbabies, too, but I’ll let your mother bug you about that.
” I just shook my head at Dad’s antics. He patted me on the back, and we both returned to watching the girls as they chatted excitedly.
Growing up, I saw how special my parents’ relationship was.
The way they looked at each other, the casual touches that were so natural to them.
I didn’t know at the time that not every family or every relationship was like that.
Once I was old enough to understand how lucky they were—we were—to have such a loving family, I knew I wouldn’t ever settle for less.
Finally, I knew how they felt, since I had found the person I was meant to be with.
I would do anything, go anywhere, fight anyone to keep Fiona safe, to preserve the precious love we had for each other.