Chapter 13
Wrath
“ S ince you’re in construction, how come you haven’t built a home of your own?” Lisa asks.
I smile. “I was waiting to find my woman. I didn’t want to build something, then have the woman I love hate it. And honestly, crafting it for her is part of how I plan to show my love. I’ll hand-make every cabinet, counter, and piece of furniture in the house. If she’ll let me.”
I feel Millie’s hand on my leg. She gives it a squeeze. I glance over and see her looking at me with a mixture of awe and hunger. My arousal intensifies, my body responding instantly. Seeing her strike Aaron in the throat has me both aroused and intrigued. If we weren’t out with her family, I'd be tempted to explore what kind of underwear she's wearing. We chat while enjoying the appetizers. My glass of wine never dips below a quarter full. Our server effortlessly keeps everyone's glasses replenished, regardless of their chosen beverage. I brush off Aaron's earlier derogatory comments. I face prejudice far too often to let it affect me. It's disheartening that people are still judged by their skin color, but I hold on to hope for a better future.
A future where mine and Millie’s children don’t have to worry about a gun being put to their head because of their brown skin. Yeah, I’m already thinking about kids. I wonder how many she wants. They’ll be beautiful with my brown skin and their mother’s forest green eyes.
Left-over appetizers are expertly boxed and replaced with entrees and vegetables. I’m going to have to do extra cardio for a month to make up for carbs I consume in the next hour. I laugh so hard my sides and face hurt. Millie and her brothers take turns telling stories about each other. I look up to find Millie laughing so hard tears are streaming down her face.
By the time we leave, I’m so stuffed I can barely walk. It’s a good thing we have a forty-minute drive before we get back to her parents’ place. I follow Lisa and Brian, who are holding hands, holding Millie’s hand.
Micah and Tyler hurry around us, joking about something as we all head to the SUV.
“Holy fuck!” Tyler exclaims.
“Dad, call the cops,” Micah says.
We come around a group of vehicles to see the SUV. It’s been trashed. The windows are all busted out. Spray painted on the side in red are the words “Nigger Lover”.
Looks like Aaron decided to take his frustrations out on the vehicle. Millie immediately comforts Lisa while Brian calls the police.
?
Three hours later, we’re all sitting around the Barnes family table eating cold leftovers. We waited nearly an hour for the cops to show up due to the non-emergent nature of the crime. After we all gave statements, a friend of the family picked us up in a passenger van.
While everyone in the family is upset, they’re taking it well. I want to find Aaron Barnes and put my fist in his face for upsetting his family.
“I’m sorry you had to see this side of our family,” Brian says.
I shake my head. “Aaron’s actions are his own and don’t reflect on any of you. It’s not the first time, nor will it be the last time I deal with bigotry. Aaron came tonight to cause trouble. That much is clear.”
Everyone around the table nods in agreement.
“How did he know we’d be there is my question,” Millie states.
“We always go to a show then have dinner at Bella Luna’s,” Lisa supplies.
“We ran into Scarlet at the Artist Colony earlier today,” Millie says.
“That explains it,” Brian says. “Scarlett is my granddaughter's mother. She and Aaron never married, but Scarlet is fiercely loyal to him.”
“It’s sad really. Scarlet follows him around like a lost puppy, surviving on whatever scraps of kindness he feeds her,” Lisa adds.
Millie stands up and stretches, dropping a kiss on my cheek.
“I’m beat. I’m going to spend some time with Soldier if you don’t mind.”
“Want some company?”
She shakes her head. “I need non-people time.”
I understood that. Animals have a way of healing us that no one else can emulate.
“Text me when you're ready?”
She smiles and nods her head. “I will and thank you for understanding.”
It was hard to watch her walk out the door, knowing she was hurting. I feel a hand on my arm and look to see Lisa smiling at me knowingly.
“I know how tough it is to watch her walk away when all you want to do is wrap her up in your arms until it’s all better.”
I nod. That’s exactly how I feel. I want to wrap her up until she feels better. If only I could make her brother disappear. Alas, I can’t make Aaron disappear. Not yet anyway. But I can do something good to wipe tonight’s memory out of her head. I smile as an idea forms in my head.
I have a day to pull it off and I know all the people to do it. Some of them are sitting around the table with me.
“What would you think about packing up the bikes and horses and going to Tennessee for the next two weeks?”
“Millie would love it,” Brian says, immediately.
“We could leave our dickwad brother far behind and enjoy a family vacation,” Tyler says.
“He’s on probation and can’t leave the state,” Micah adds.
“Perfect. I’m going to call my family and have them meet me there. Besides my blood brothers, a few of my club brothers might be interested. If that’s alright with you?’
“Fine by us,” Brian says with a smile.
“I’ll book the rooms. I know just the place we can all stay. The resort has motocross tracks and horse trails. Plus, we can book in the hotel, or they have cabins of various sizes, including one area that has a dozen cabins close together with a communal kitchen and dining area.”
I pull my wallet out of my back pocket and retrieve my black Amex before sliding it over to Lisa.
“Can you use this to book the area you just spoke about?”
“I sure can,” she says with a smile.
“One more thing I need help with.”
“We’ll do what we can,” Brian says.
“I want to put together a surprise wedding for Millie and me.”
“When did you ask her?” Lisa exclaims.
“I haven’t yet.”
Brian smiles and pats my shoulder. “Do you think you should do that first?”
I shake my head. “I know this is all fast. I want to make a grand enough gesture that she knows this is for life. She’s the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.
“Leave it to me. And let me have your mother’s number,” Lisa says. a determined look in her eyes.