CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
-:- Paisley -:-
Sitting in the playroom with Mia, we have her laptop open and we’re surfing the internet. We are looking at Harley Davidson trikes, and I’ve been told by Mia I can’t look at other models of bikes because the entire club supports Harley. It’d be a good name for my first daughter, I’m thinking. Well, until I shock myself in the realization I actually just thought that.
“What’s up? You just had a shocked look on your face,” Mia asks, and I give a nervous giggle before responding.
“I just had this darn thought flash across my mind that I could call my first daughter Harley.”
Mia laughs, “Well, it is a good name, but how many daughters are you thinking of having?”
“I’ve no idea where that thought even came from.”
“I was the same before I had the twins, but I was imagining a single son, not two of them.” Mia smiles, and we both turn to look at the twins, who are sound asleep on the quilt laid out on the floor with cuddly toys and motorbikes scattered around them.
“Okay, I don’t want to spend money on a new trike. I want an older one that I can get someone to paint something on for me.”
Mia squeezes my forearm. “Don’t even worry about that. Hot Hogs and Cages will do that for you. It’s a club business and they will put our work first. Get ideas ready to throw at them, and they will discuss what will or won’t work. You’ll have to have the club logo on it somewhere as it shows who it belongs to and any idiot trying to steal a club bike would know they are going to suffer for it.”
Nodding, I look at the laptop once more and all I’m looking at are the colors available, if I’m honest. Because I have no idea what else to look at, or what the specs even mean.
“Go speak with Mensa. He runs the club Bike Recovery and Web Sales business. I can bet he’ll find you a good trike and at a decent price, too.”
“Where will I find Mensa?”
“End of the hallway, last door on the left.” Mia closes the laptop and I quickly make my way out of the playroom and head to Mensa’s office. I peek into TwoCents’ office as I pass, but it’s empty, so I make my way to the end of the hall and give the door a light tap.
“Come in.”
Stepping inside, I’m met with a younger man who I’ve seen around the clubhouse but have never spoken to. He has a vast set up of monitors and keyboards. It’s a little like Specs’ office, if I’m being honest.
“Hi, Paisley. Are you lost?”
“What? Oh, no. I’m here to see you. It is Mensa, isn’t it?” I blush a little as I confirm this is the right guy.
“Yeah, that’s me. What can I do for you?” Pointing to an empty chair, I sit down and wonder where to begin.
“Unless it’s bike-related, no one usually comes in here, but I’m up for helping in any way I can.”
“Yes, it’s bike-related. Well, no. It’s trike-related, to be honest. I don’t know what I’m looking for, except I don’t want something new.”
“Ah. Girl-gang stuff, eh? Right. Have you ridden anything before?”
“I had a bike when I was a kid. My dad bought me an old off-road thing that he made street legal when I went to college. It was so cheap to run and easy to park. I soon became a fair-weather rider though. I hated being wet and cold.” I laugh as I remember that old thing and shudder as I recall the icy rain finding its way into my clothing.
“I have a whole mess of trike ads saved here. I figured that they’d come in useful at some time. Nearly all the Ol’ Ladies have something now. Let’s see what we have in the older stuff, shall we?”
“Oh. It has to be a Harley. Mia said the club supports Harley! I think she means Harley Davidson.”
“That’s definitely what she means, Pais. Now there are some old trikes from the sixties that are truly stunning and mainly they would be police, fire department or Automobile Association trikes. They are very high end, price-wise and I would honestly hate to see one converted from its original purpose.”
“Absolutely not. I’d be horrified to do that.” Looking at the screen of his PC, I point to a Coca Cola trike. “That would be handy on rides out. I could carry the picnic,” I laugh until I see the price below the advertisement. “Ouch. See what you mean. Maybe not.”
Mensa shakes his head at me. Once we’ve discussed budgets and my wish list, he narrows down the ads on the screen. Leaving just six, I look a little deflated at what he’s showing me. They are all rusty old two-wheeled relics and are well under budget.
“Wow, Mensa. You sure know how ‘not’ to show a girl a good time. They look like shit. I wouldn’t be seen dead on any of those.”
“No, you wouldn’t. However, look at what they can become.” Flicking to a different screen shows me images of some stunning trikes.
“These are all from the same type of Harley rust buckets I’ve just shown you. Hot Hogs can do this type of work and should come in around your budget.”
“Holy crap. I don’t want one with two wheels at the front. It looks like something Frankenstein would have created. That’s not my thing at all. I like this style,” I say pointing to an older model that has been lovingly restyled or remodeled. From the side, it still looks like a bike, but from an angle, you see it’s a trike.
“That’s it. That is most definitely it. That’s the one, Mensa. I want one.” Not being able to look away from the picture on the screen now that he has enlarged it, I don’t see his grin.
“That’s way outside your budget and the capabilities of Hot Hogs. Sorry, Pais. Not happening.”
Without taking my eyes off the screen, “The darn cabin can go on hold. We’ll live in a goddamn tent. I’m having that trike and that’s all there is to it. Get me what I need and get Hot Hogs to up their game.” Looking from the screen to Mensa, I see him desperate not to laugh.
“You’re a horrible man and a not nice brother. If you EVER get a woman, I’m gonna talk to her until she runs away from you.”
Dropping my credit card on the desk, I tell him to order everything we need to make my baby happen. He shows me one of the rusty wrecks, and I start to see my baby for the first time.
Now all I have to do is tell TwoCents what I’ve gone and done. Telling Mensa not to overspend my credit limit, I leave him to spend my money with a promise that I’ll get my card from him when he’s happy we have what we need to create a thing of beauty.
Next job of the day is cleaning Silver and Eden’s room. They have the house now but have not moved in, as it’s still going through some remodeling and decorating. Jo, Kya and Heather have volunteered to clean the rooms that are ready, while I had volunteered to do their club room. It was the easiest option since I’m not supposed to leave the clubhouse unless I have two brothers with me.
Walking into the clubroom, I’m surprised at how neat it is. But if I’m going to get this room ready for Harrison coming home, then I want every inch clean.
Knuckles is about to pass the open door of the room, but stops when he sees me standing and looking around. “Do you need anything, Pais?”
I’ve noticed they are all jumping on the shortened name now, but I like it because it’s never been shortened before so makes it feel special.
“Yes, I’m going to need cleaning supplies. Do you know if Lina is here today?” I ask, looking at where Knuckles is leaning against the door with his massive arms folded over his chest.
“I think I saw her downstairs earlier. I’m going downstairs, so I’ll find her for you. I’ll tell her you need cleaning gear for the room.”
“Thank you, Knuckles. That will save me running downstairs and back up again. If I’m honest, my damn legs are still hurting from Sunday and all that exercise.”
Knuckles gives me the grin, the one where the dimple pops, before he shakes his head and chuckles, “I’ll sort it for you.”
I watch him walk away, then get to stripping the bed, take the laundry basket outside the room, and drag furniture away from the walls so I can dust and sweep behind it.
Lina appears twenty minutes later with everything we need for a thorough cleaning. I didn’t know we had a cleaning cart like they have in hotels, but it’s better than carrying everything for sure.
“Okay, Pais. I’ll start the bathroom. Eden keeps their room spotless, so it won’t take long. I asked Meat if he would assemble the crib for us and he’ll be up in a while to do that. Silver is staying at the hospital until Eden and Harrison are released so we don’t have to worry about him getting in our way.” Lina leaves me as she walks into the bathroom and starts cleaning, humming a tune under her breath the whole time.
Two hours later, every inch of the room, bathroom and walk-in closet have been thoroughly cleaned. Meat is finishing assembling the crib, and it is beautiful. It’s a 4-in-1 convertible crib. It’s a blend between traditional and modern. I imagine they have purchased this one as it’ll convert into a bed later when it’s needed at the house.
Once finished and in place, Meat gives the crib a nod of satisfaction, then brings boxes into the room and takes out a crib mobile with motorcycles hanging from it. It lights up and makes the sound of motorcycle engines running. It’s a soft sound, but it’s sure different from the nursery rhyme tunes you would normally hear.
He hands me bedding for the crib and then lays cuddly toys around the bottom of the crib before he seems satisfied. Now Meat has not said a single word, yet he’s been making grunting noises. I watch him finish collecting boxes, then catch his attention.
“Did you get the crib mobile locally?”
“No, had it made special,” Meat states, then stomps out carrying the cardboard boxes he’s broken down with him.
Oh well, that gave me a lot of information I’m thinking, and I look at Lina, who giggles. “He said so much, didn’t he?” I pop my eyes comically and that sets Lina to more laughter.
Now that the room is spotless, and tidy, and the crib is made up, we close the door and head downstairs. Lina takes the cart and I head to the kitchen, where a cool drink is in order.
I’m drinking a tall glass of iced lemon water when TwoCents walks into the kitchen, gives me a smile as he takes the seat next to me, and kisses my forehead.
“I want you to look over the plans for the cabin with me. Let me know if you like it or if you want it different.”
Rolling out the plans he’d been carrying, I lean over and check what this cabin will look like. Expecting it to be like Star and Meat’s, I’m a little surprised when there’s no front porch. The basement is laid out as a ‘man cave’ with a bar, pool table, easy chairs and a huge TV.
The first floor doesn’t have a half bath, and I think that needs to be included. Taking a pencil from his kutte, I start to add my thoughts and ideas. The ground floor, once the half bath is added, has the kitchen at the rear, opening onto a large porch area that I have penciled in. I’d prefer to be looking out over a garden with kids playing than be looking onto a road through the compound. There is a utility room and mud room at the front which will be handy.
Second floor has five bedrooms, all ensuite and with the master to the rear. This also opens onto a balcony that I pencil in.
The third floor is given over entirely to a library and office space. I take notice that there is no mention anywhere of an armory or two. We can find somewhere for a couple of gun safes once we’re settled in.
I’m certainly settling into MC life, I think to myself. Gun safes! What the hell!
“I’m more than happy with the plans for the cabin. I love it actually. You planned the perfect cabin for us, almost.” I kiss TwoCents cheek. Well, I aim for his cheek until he turns his head and covers my mouth with his. This man has no shame where it comes to kissing and canoodling, as my dad used to call it.
Watching TwoCents stroll out of the kitchen where he’s going to hand over the plans to Hammer with the okay to go ahead with the build. We know we have to wait until Jo and Knuckles’ house is built, but it is exciting knowing it’s going to happen.
Rubbing my hands together, I’m going to get myself into trouble, I’m sure, but hey, it is what it is. I walk out of the kitchen and crash into Star, who I thought was at TJs all day.
“Oh, Pais, I nearly knocked you on your arse,” Star grins.
“It’s okay, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“You have that look.”
“What look?” Shit, does she know I’m going to be doing something I shouldn’t?
“That look. The one that says you are up to no good. Now if you are up to no good, you best spill because I’m the best at no good business.”
“Okay.” That’s when I tell Star what I’m going to be doing. She rubs her hands and gives me a wink before whispering, ‘I’m in’.
That’s how TwoCents and Meat find us later with rifles over our shoulders, grins on our faces and targets that have been shot to shit if I had to describe them.
“Pais, come on now. You know you are not to be shooting without a brother with you,” TwoCents states, and I frown because I’ve never heard that. In fact, I’m sure nobody has mentioned that to me.
“No, I’ve never been told that. However, as you can see, I had a sister with me. I can use a weapon and I have my permit. I’m not even off the compound, so hey, give me a break.” Yeah, I’m snippy with him, too.
“You tell him, Pais,” Star encourages. She winks then looks at Meat who is standing with his fists clenched at his sides and frowning. “Hey, big guy, don’t start with me. You know I can handle myself and it’s best we keep our skills sharp.”
“Hand over the rifle, Pais,” TwoCents says and holds his hand out.
“No. It’s mine,” I snap, because it is mine and I’m keeping it. Now it isn’t loaded because we’ve finished our session, but it doesn’t mean I can’t reload it.
Star takes a stand next to me and gives this overly frowned look. It’s quite comical and if it was any other time, I’d probably laugh at her antics, but I’m not happy at the moment, so I give the same look she’s giving and hope for the best.
Star takes the rifle and gives me a wink. “I’ll clean it with mine and return it later. I suggest you leg it before he makes a grab for you. Head for the treehouse. If you get there first make sure you bolt the hatch closed.”
I give her a tiny smile and hand over the rifle. Now Star swings those rifles around, pointing one at each of them, and as I see the surprise on Meat and TwoCents’ faces, I take off as fast as I can. Reaching the treehouse and scampering up the rope ladder like a damn squirrel up a branch, I slam that hatch and bolt it, breathing hard. After a moment or two, a giggle pops out of my mouth, and I cover my mouth with the palm of my hand, but it won’t stay down and turns into a full-blown laugh.
I ignore the shouts from TwoCents to get my ass down and face the music, but I lay on the bedroll and relax. I know I have work later at Club Whisky, but I can spare an hour or two until TwoCents calms down. That is how I fall asleep and miss hearing the bellows from below and the laughter from Star, who I find out later was skipping around them, a rifle over each shoulder and grinning like a loon.