Swerve Chapter 8 #3
She beamed at me, clapped her hands, and took off running to where her mom was. Jauhnna was seated there, holding a squirming Chasin. He wanted down to run and play.
“Here you go, Swerve. You’d better watch it or she’ll have you as her race car all evening,” Boden warned with a grin.
I laughed as I took my beer. “Don’t I know it. Thanks, B.”
“You’re welcome. Let me know what else I can get you.”
Placing the bottle in the holder on the side of my chair, I wheeled over to Jauhnna’s table.
She was seated with Jamila. I wondered where Paige was.
She was usually with them. As I pulled to a stop, I had Jaycee scrambling over to me.
She had to wait for me to pick her up because Jamila wanted a hug and a kiss.
When my second mom was done, she frowned at me.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“What do you mean? Nothing.”
“Don’t you dare try to tell me that. I know when stuff is bothering my boys. You’re upset,” she shot back.
I knew if I didn’t tell her something, she wouldn’t let it go, so I settled on a partial truth.
“It’s been a couple of rough days, and I’ve been dealing with it. I have it under control. There’s nothing to worry about.”
Jamila studied me, then sighed. “Okay, but if you need me, don’t hesitate. Now, I hear you promised this little missy a ride.” She winked at Jaycee as she signed the last part.
“Swerve, don’t let her talk you into an hour ride. She will if you don’t say no,” Jauhnna told me.
“I’ll stop when I’m tired,” I replied. Come here, Shortcake, I signed.
I lifted her easily onto my lap. Chasin, seeing his sister there, let out an outraged squeal and smacked his hands on the table.
“Well, what are you waiting for, little guy? Come on. There’s room,” I told him as I held out my hands.
Chasin bounced on his mom’s lap. “Are you sure?” Jauhnna asked.
“I am. Let him go.”
She did, and he was up on the top of the table, toddling toward me in a flash.
I caught him and brought him to sit next to his sister, who put her arms protectively around him.
Not wasting time, I backed up and then swung my chair around.
The club was used to our antics, so they got out of our way when they saw us coming.
I spent a good twenty minutes taking them all over the clubhouse and around the common room.
We went forward and backward. I made sure to add the engine sounds.
Jaycee could feel the vibrations, and Chasin heard them.
He clapped and made some sounds of his own.
We were cheered on by my brothers and the ladies.
Playing with them made me smile, even if it saddened me deep down.
I loved kids, and even as a young man, I’d known I wanted children.
It hurt that I would never have them. Even if I found a woman, the chances of getting her pregnant, according to my doctor, were pretty much nil.
I wasn’t sure why. I’d tuned out the explanation when it was given many years ago.
It was something I couldn’t cope with on top of all the other stuff.
Thinking about kids made me think of Electra.
Stop it. She’s not for you. Let it go.
I brought my chair to a halt next to Jauhnna.
While I’d been playing race car, Paige, Scorpion, and Diablo had joined her and Jamila.
There was another person with them. I’d met Alvin, Paige’s former neighbor, months ago after he’d helped Scorpion out to get her to talk to my friend.
Alvin was protective of Paige, and he’d become a friend to the club.
Paige was enough to get him here. However, I wondered if there was another reason he came.
He seemed to enjoy talking to Jamila, and I swore there were sparks of interest in his eyes and hers.
Scorpion’s dad, Cottonmouth, had been gone a dozen years.
Cancer had been his downfall. Jamila was a vibrant woman in her late sixties.
I estimated Alvin to be in the same age range.
She deserved to have someone to spend time with.
I could think of a whole lot of worse guys than Alvin.
I knew that if he was hanging out here, Micro had thoroughly investigated him, and he passed. And the way he treated Paige, Jauhnna, and Jamila told us he was a man who respected and cared for women. He even paid attention to the kids, which earned him bonus points.
I handed Chasin off to his dad. He grunted in disappointment but eagerly went to his dad. Before I put Jaycee off my lap, she turned and kissed me on the cheek.
Thank you, Uncle Swerve. It was so fun. Love you, the little charmer signed.
You’re welcome, and I had fun, too. I love you. Will you check on Dozer for me?
She was more than happy to do it and ran over to check on him. He was hanging near the table with the other dogs. I loved to watch Jaycee sign to the dogs as if they understood.
“You’re so good with them, Swerve. I can’t wait to see you with these two,” Paige said, placing her hand on her belly. She and Scorpion had gotten used to the idea that they were having twins.
“I’m practicing up. How are you feeling? Still sick?” I asked. She’d been experiencing morning sickness that had worsened over the past week, according to what I knew.
“If these two stinkers would stop making their momma tired and throwing up, I’d be fantastic. What about you? What’s your week been like?”
I gave her the bare facts, excluding the scene yesterday and the one at the gas station today.
The group of us chatted for a while before others wandered over to see if I wanted to play a game of darts.
I accepted. As I excused myself, I reminded myself that my life was full and there was no reason to dwell on things that weren’t meant to be.