Chapter Eight
Sunny
I fight my tears as I wrap my arms around Josh’s mother, Susan. Her frail frame trembles against me, and it takes everything in me not to cry right along with her.
“He was such a sweet boy,” she whispers, fresh tears soaking into my shoulder. “I know he got mixed up in things he shouldn’t have, but… he still had a good heart.”
Don’t ask, Sunny. Stay out of it. Don’t dig into something that isn’t yours.
“What things?”
Dang it.
She pulls back slightly, dabbing at her eyes with a wrinkled tissue.
“Oh, you know… drug stuff,” she murmurs.
“He wasn’t using, at least not that I ever saw.
Just selling. Said he could make enough to help out.
I told him we didn’t need the money, but he knew better.
” Her voice cracks. “I guess that’s why they killed him. He got involved with the wrong people.”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, and I mean every word. “I didn’t know him well, but for the short time I did… he was kind. Genuinely kind. I hope you can find some comfort in that.”
“Thank you, dear.” She offers a trembling smile. “I appreciate that more than you know.”
I glance around the funeral home. It’s quiet. There are no other mourners, no flowers, no whispered condolences. Just the faint hum of fluorescent lights and a casket that shouldn’t have to be closed so soon.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” I ask gently. “Anything at all that might ease even a little of this?”
She shakes her head, new tears welling. “I’m sure there is, but right now, my mind’s a jumbled mess. I just want to bury my son. I want him to know he wasn’t alone.”
I nod, my throat tight. “Then let’s go do that, ma’am. Let’s lay him to rest with someone by his side.”
I guide her toward the viewing room. She clutches my arm like it’s the only solid thing in her world right now.
“If you’re up to it,” I say softly, “I’d really love to hear more about Josh. Would you mind sharing some memories with me?”
She sniffles, looking down at her hands. “I would love that, dear… but I’m afraid I’ll cry through all of them.”
“That’s okay,” I say, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “Sometimes crying is just the soul’s way of honoring love.”
“Oh, you are a ray of sunshine, aren’t you?” she chuckles through her tears.
“Well, that’s why they call me Sunny,” I smile, nudging her lightly.
Before she can reply, a deep rumble splits the air like a rolling thunderstorm. The growl of engines fills the parking lot, dozens of motorcycles pulling in and lining up around the funeral home like a leather-and-chrome honor guard.
Susan stiffens beside me. “Oh my,” she whispers. “What’s going on?”
My breath catches as I watch the men and women dismount one by one. Some faces I recognize, others I don’t. But every single one of them carries the same solemn respect in their eyes. And then I see him.
Jack.
Stoic. Silent. Stronger than anyone should have the right to be. His gaze flicks to mine for just a second and it’s like gravity shifts.
One of the men, tall and commanding, steps forward. I think it might be Spike, Riley’s husband. He came by Marv’s once a few months back. He moves like someone used to giving orders and having them followed.
“Ma’am,” he says, his voice deep and sincere as he approaches Susan. “We’re truly sorry for your son’s passing. If it’s alright with you, we’d be honored to stand with you today to help you lay him to rest with the dignity he deserves.”
Susan blinks in surprise. “Oh… were you friends of my boy?”
“Unfortunately, no, ma’am,” Spike replies gently. “We never had the privilege of his friendship. But someone who mattered to him…matters to us.”
Her hand flies to her heart. “Oh. Well… I think he would’ve liked that.”
I glance at Jack again, and his eyes are already on me.
“Who mattered to him?” Susan asks, her voice soft with curiosity.
“Our Sunny-girl.”
Marv and Cheryl step forward from behind the row of bikers, coming to a stop beside Jack. Marv’s face is solemn but kind. Cheryl smiles at me with those kind and wise eyes of hers. She’s always been so sweet and soft-spoken. The opposite of Marv who always acts rough and tough.
“Me?” I ask, confused, glancing between them. “I didn’t know him well enough to mean something to him.”
“He wasn’t with us for very long,” Marv says. “But he always mentioned how nice you were. Told Connie once that every time you smiled his way, he felt your care melt away his fears…even if just for a second. I’m only sorry we didn’t see those fears sooner.”
Susan turns to me, tears streaking freely down her cheeks now. She reaches out and takes my hands in hers, gripping tight.
“My boy didn’t care about much,” she whispers, voice cracking with grief. “But your kindness… I just know that it meant the world to him. Thank you for giving him that.”
I swallow hard, the burn in my throat spreading to my chest. “I only wish I could’ve done more.”
“You did enough,” she says, pulling me into a gentle embrace. “You made him feel seen. That’s a gift most people never get.”
Pulling back, she offers the most genuine smile I’ve seen from her all evening. It softens the sorrow in her eyes…if only a little.
“So, you belong to this group, huh?” she asks, glancing toward the gathered bikers.
“She does,” Spike answers before I can open my mouth to protest.
“I do?” I blink, confused.
“You do,” Jack grunts, his eyes steady on mine.
“She so does,” Riley adds with a wide grin like this was the most obvious thing in the world.
“I’m really confused,” I admit, looking helplessly at Susan.
She lets out a watery laugh, the kind that’s half joy and half ache. “You might be, dear… but I don’t think that handsome man with the scars is.” She nods toward Jack. “He seems very confident in that claim.”
I glance back at him. He doesn’t smile. Doesn’t blink. Just looks at me like he already made up his mind. But what is it that he’s decided?
“Come,” Susan says, linking her arm with mine. “Let’s go bury my son… and I’ll tell you all about the time he tried to sell lemonade in January because he thought he could corner the off-season market.”
A small laugh bubbles up in my throat. And just like that, surrounded by chrome, leather, and grief, I walk beside her, heart heavier and lighter all at once.