Chapter 24
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Doc
It’s been three weeks since Big Daddy and his crew went back to California, and the East Texas crew went home, and we’re still no closer to finding Donnelly.
Rip’s contact came through and we’ve seen an increased black suit presence in and around town.
From Nerd’s reports, they’re coming up empty, outside of the second warehouse that we had found.
Nerd’s been able to find out that every person is now in a treatment facility, although one did die because of an overdose.
Today, Gretchen and I are going in for her first obstetrician appointment. As a doctor, I should know how long they can take getting set up, but Gretchen wouldn’t let me use my clout as she calls it and pull in a few favors to get her in sooner to be seen.
“I don’t know what to wear!” she exclaims, coming out of the closet with two different sundresses held up in the air.
“The blue would be my choice, it looks beautiful on you,” I reply from my position sitting against the headboard.
“Okay, the blue it is,” she murmurs as she carries it into the bathroom. I know it’s still early, but her hips have started rounding slightly and her breasts are already fuller. She even has the tiniest pooch which she says looks like a food baby.
“And that’s your baby’s heartbeat,” the tech says as we hear whoosh whoosh reverberate around the room.
“I know the bloodwork and also the at-home pregnancy test told me I was expecting, but actually hearing the baby’s heartbeat seems to make it more real.
Realer? Is that a word?” Gretchen asks. Shaking her head, she adds, “Doesn’t matter, this plus the pictures she printed off have me so excited, I want to start shopping.
That’s silly, I know, I’m barely showing, but I want everyone to know I’m having a baby. ”
The tech laughs a little then she says, “Then I say go for it. Life’s too short to worry about what anyone else thinks. Do you, plain and simple. Now, at your next appointment, we should be able to determine the gender of the baby in case you want to know.”
“I don’t, but I think doing a gender reveal might be kind of fun,” Gretchen replies. “I’m sure Constance and Maria would love to be in charge of handling that, at least the cake part. I suspect Issy and the other ol’ ladies will take over the rest of the planning.”
“Sweetheart, any excuse we can get to have a party works for us. We’re simple men, after all,” I tease.
She giggles as she rolls her eyes at the tech. “Only in your minds, Doc. I mean, y’all have superstitions concerning your bikes, where you park, how you park, but you’re simple? I don’t think so.”
Leaning down, I take the paper towel the tech hands me and I gently wipe off Gretchen’s abdomen before I kiss her. “We are, Gretchen. Now, once we’re done here, we’ll go shopping.”
“Yay!” Gretchen exclaims, making me chuckle.
I swear, it’s not like my life was colorless before she came into it, but there’s far more vibrancy and joy than I’ve ever had before. The best thing I’ve done, aside from joining the Kings, was making her mine.
The prospect stops me at the gate and says, “There was a courier who stopped by to deliver a letter to someone named Cameron Shepherd. I didn’t know anyone by that name, but he insisted it was to be left here.”
“I’ll take it, Monkey, and give it to Rio,” I reply.
“Thanks, Doc,” he says, handing over the official-looking envelope.
On closer inspection, I see it’s from a local attorney’s office and my curiosity is roused.
Gretchen looks at me and I just shrug; I know who Cameron Shepherd is, all of the officers are aware of everyone’s legal name since background checks are performed on anyone who wants to prospect with the club.
It’s a system Paps put into place. Like he used to say, we can deal with folks having skeletons as long as we know who or what those skeletons are, so we’re not caught unaware down the road.
After parking, I help Gretchen out then say, “I’ll send a prospect out to get our bags.”
Because my woman shopped. Not just for some maternity clothes, but also some baby onesies, baby-themed chocolate molds, more cake mix, and almond bark.
It’s definitely an eclectic haul and I wonder how much of it is pregnancy brain and how much is just Gretchen.
Then I decide I don’t care, since there are more pressing matters to be concerned about.
Specifically, we need to find out what’s going on with Mongrel, the letter’s recipient.
The End… for now
Stay tuned for Mongrel’s book