CHAPTER TWO #4
She grabs my hand and squeezes it. “Now let’s get back to the subject of the man who contributed his DNA but not an ounce of sense or kindness to your life.
” She puts the kettle back on to heat up more water.
I sit back down and start listing things about my father that might be helpful.
Ma gets us more tea and sits back down. “Does your father have any scars or marks on his face or hands?” I think for a minute.
“His hands have a few from cuts and such over the years, but nothing different than any of the men besides Joseph up there have. He does have a scar on his face. He never once told me what it was from, but it’s been there for as long as I can remember.
It goes from the edge of his mouth, almost all the way across his cheek.
It’s not super big, almost like it was cut with a razor or something small, not a knife.
” I watch as her eyes go big, like she knows what I’m talking about.
She gets out her cell phone and hits a few buttons.
I still don’t know how those things work since I’ve never had one, and the men only had flip phones on the mountain.
Ma holds the phone to her ear, and I hear it ring.
Someone must answer, but she doesn’t let them speak.
“Are you busy? Come over for a minute. I’ve been talking with Christy, tryin’ to help her figure out her legal last name and all that shit, and she just described her scum-sucking father.
I think I might know who it is, but I want your opinion.
” It must be her brother because he’s the only other one besides Mary, who knows anyone up there.
Ma hangs up with him and types on her phone, which I now know means she’s texting someone.
“Anna invited me to the sleepover. I think after what I’m gonna confirm, I think she and I need to teach you ladies about the wonder called the margarita. ”
Not more than fifteen minutes pass when the door opens, Erik and Jackson come in. Pa sticks his head in the door and tells Ma, “I’m taking off to go run and check on him like we talked about.” Ma nods, and the door closes.
Jackson looks at the room. “Do I need to leave?” Ma shakes her head.
“Nah, we’re not talking world secrets or anything.
You two want some coffee? There’s still some in the pot.
” Both of them quickly grab a cup and come sit down.
Ma looks at me. “Tell Erik the description of his scar. I want to see what he thinks.” I tell him the same thing I told Ma not twenty minutes ago, and I watch his eyes get big.
He looks over at Ma and Jackson. “I’m gonna need something fucking stronger than coffee.
” I look at them, and my mouth, like always, moves before my brain catches up.
“I’m not very school smart, but I can tell you both recognize that scar.
Does that mean you know my father and maybe his real name?
” Erik is the first to speak up. “Your father go by the name Peter?” I nod.
Erik huffs. “I don’t know if I ever knew his last name, but his real first name is Dennis.
He changed what he went by because he swore he was the first disciple of Joseph’s, which wasn’t true, but he claimed it the minute his family came up.
” Ma makes a scoffing sound. “He had his nose so far up Joseph’s ass, he was determined to be his second in command and heir to everything.
But seeing as he wasn’t at the meeting Anna and you girls interrupted, I’m guessing that’s not the case. ”
I shake my head. “He’s always been in the inner circle since I can remember, but Mary’s father was definitely favored more.
My father said I was one of the reasons for that.
That I wasn’t a lady and didn’t know when to shut up, which reflected badly on him.
He also didn’t have as many offspring as Joseph wanted, so that was a disappointment too. ”
Ma and Erik both roll their eyes. Erik studies me for a moment before speaking. “His parents were big followers like our father, except our father let Mama keep us in school down here till we graduated. Your father moved up there early in high school, and he never came back down.”
Something he says must trigger something in Jackson because he speaks up.
“Was he in our class?” Erik nods. “At least freshman year, and I think at least part of sophomore year. Why?” Jackson grins and shakes his head.
“A couple of years ago, Hanna found out that the library in town has all the high school’s old yearbooks going back to the sixties.
I’m thinking that might be a way to figure this shit out. ”
Ma looks at her watch and then at me. “They’re still open for a while.
I’m gonna get some things together, and we can go over there before heading over to Anna’s for girls’ night.
Sound good?” I nod, and Erik speaks up. “I think Jackson and I will go with ya to the library. I figure more eyes and all, one of us should be able to find his ugly mug there.”
An hour later, we confirmed that my father’s real name was Dennis Clarkson.
We didn’t find Mama in the yearbooks, but since Ma didn’t remember her, I wasn’t surprised.
I don’t know exactly how knowing my father’s real name will help me, but Ma insisted it would.
“I’ll let Max know. He’s got some contacts he’s reaching out to, so he can help you and Mary get identification so you can work, drive, and do all the things. ”
We split off from Jackson and Erik, who were meeting Wyatt and some others at the clubhouse, to avoid walking in on girls’ night.
I’m not sure why they’re so scared, but I do know that Anna and Ma are both forces of nature.
I’d like to learn to be that way. Of course, knowing my klutzy-ass self, I’d turn into a one-woman tornado or something.
Ma pulls out and heads over to Anna’s. “Those guys think we have some sort of ritual or will sacrifice any male who dares to intrude on girls' night, but in reality, we eat good food, divine desserts, and consume plenty of alcohol while laughing and having a good time. It ain’t a big secret. I think all of us together worry some of the guys. My Jonah and guys of his age don’t scare off anymore, but you better believe my and Anna’s boys won’t step foot inside tonight.
” Well, nothing she’s describing sounds bad.
I guess I’m about to discover what a sleepover is like. Better late than never, right?
Max
I park and grab the six-pack of beer from the seat next to me, along with the letter, to show the guys.
I walk up to the front door, and for the first time, I look around and pay attention.
Mayson’s front yard and the porch are strewn with toys.
There’s a trike and a scooter on the lawn, and on the porch, there are blocks and what looks like toy farm animals.
He really is a dad and living that life.
How many kids does Christy want? What the fuck? I mean, I know I want to get to know her, but that…I’m nowhere near ready for that. That’s what I keep trying to tell myself, at least.
The door opens, and Mayson’s standing there with at least three dolls in his hands.
“Come on in. I’m just trying to find the couch so we can watch the game.
” I walk inside and take the beer to the fridge.
“Where is Princess Daisy?” Mayson takes the toys in his hand and puts them in a bin in the corner.
“She’s having a sleepover at Kierstie’s.
Kierstie said they were staying in and offered to give me a night off.
Said it would give her practice with two, since they’re gonna have two kids in a few months.
I wasn’t going to say no to that.” I hear a bike pull up and look out the window to see Jeremiah.
I grab three beers out of the fridge and pass one to Mayson.
“Think we’ll have a few before Ry and Asher get here? ”
Mayson nods. “Yeah. Game doesn’t start for an hour, so they probably won’t be here till right before, I’m guessing.
Logan said that Ry and Asher decided to go for a ride just a bit ago, so you know they’re gonna take the long way around.
” Good. Gods know I love my brother, but when it comes to what we’re gonna discuss, he can be quick to judge and slow to change.
Jeremiah knocks once and opens the door.
I hold out a beer, and he takes it, looking at the two of us.
“So what the fuck is going on? Mayson about to have another kid dropped off on his doorstep?” Mayson glares at him, and I know this can quickly end up with a night-long argument between these two.
They might be two of my closest friends, but I swear they love to argue, and both are stubborn.
Giving in during an argument is something they’re both physically incapable of.
I take the letter out of my back pocket, where I'd put it, and hold it up. “I got a letter from Tyson the other day. I wanted you two to read it and help me figure out if I should tell Shane and Grant, and what the hell to say to him back.”
Jeremiah’s eyes go big. “What the hell does he want?” I hand him the letter.
“Read this and then give it to Mayce here to read.” I catch myself using the nickname we used as kids, and honestly, still do it half the time for Mayson.
Jeremiah spends the next couple of minutes reading, without giving anything away by showing no reaction whatsoever.
He finishes it and hands it off to Mayson to read. He takes a long sip from his beer.