Epilogue
Ilift my little girl’s car seat out the back of the car and carry her across the cemetery, placing her down in the space between Jimmer and Hayley’s headstones.
“I got someone I want you both to meet.” I look at her proudly, wondering how something so fuckin’ perfect was given to me.
“Her name’s Hayley and I’m gonna make sure she grows up knowin’ all about the brave, incredible person we named her after.” I picture Hayley smiling in my head. She never gave up on trying to make me smile when I first came to live with her. She sacrificed her life so I could have one with Maddy and without her, my little girl wouldn’t be here. I wipe a tear from my eye when I remind myself of that.
“We’ll tell her about that man who her daddy always aspired to be,” I look across to Jimmer’s name. “The man who he sets out every mornin’ to make proud. The club’s never gonna be the same without ya both. But knowin’ that you”re watchin’ over us makes it a little easier.” I kiss two fingers and place them on Hayley’s headstone, pull out a cigar from my cut, and lay it across the top of Jimmer’s.
“Come on, Hayley, let’s go home.” I lift her back up and carry her to the car. Strapping her in and making my way back to the club.
* * *
“Where were you? You took ages.” Maddy meets me in the foyer and takes our little girl’s car seat from my arms when I step inside.
“We made a little detour.” I shrug, wondering what the big deal is when Marilyn snatches the jar of pickles they insisted I pick up from town, outta my hand and starts forcing me toward the door that leads to the barroom. She pushes it open and I almost jump outta my skin when everyone on the other side shouts,
“SURPRISE!”
I turn to look at my wife who’s clearly impressed with herself when she sees how shocked I am.
“Happy Birthday, Prez.” Nyx is the first to greet me. “Your surprised face was way better than Ella’s,” he leans in and whispers.
“I can’t believe you had the president of our club head out to get you a jar of pickles.” Squealer laughs at his sister-in-law and when I turn to look at Lydia, she already has the lid off the jar and her fingers inside while Marilyn still holds it.
“Leave her alone, she’s pregnant. And we needed an excuse to get him out of here so we could decorate.” Alex jumps to Lydia’s defense and Screwy tips his chin at me in gratitude as he comes up behind his wife and wraps his hands around her growing stomach.
“Well, ya did a good job.” I look around the clubhouse at all the effort everyone’s put in.
“Happy Birthday, Prez.” Rogue plants a kiss on my cheek that leaves a glossy film on my skin before she hands me a gift.
“Maybe you should wait till the kids ain’t around before you open that.” She winks before returning herself to Grimm’s lap and whispering something in his ear. I watch his eyes stretch open before he looks across at me with a wicked grin.
“Maybe I should take that.” Gracie comes to my rescue, taking the box from my hands and placing it on the table with a pile of more gifts.
“You guys didn’t have to do all this,” I tell ‘em.
“Sure we did, it’s your first birthday as president.” Maddy beams at me proudly, she looks so fuckin’ beautiful holding our baby girl in her arms. Like everything else she does, Maddy has taken motherhood and made it look easy. I’ve already decided that we’re gonna be having a bunch more, especially now that we’re living up at the lodge and have space to fill.
“Go on give it to Uncle Jessie,” Shaniya coaxes Theo over to me and he smiles at me timidly as he holds up a gift bag.
“Thanks, little man.” I crouch down and pull out the framed picture that’s inside it. It’s one we took of him and Hayley the day we brought her home from the hospital.
“My two favorite people.” I ruffle up his hair before I stand back up and kiss my sister’s cheek. “I love it,” I tell her. She’s gotta be proud of how far Theo’s come these past few months, he’s started saying the odd word here and there and when Gabriel runs over and drags him away to play tag, that pride swells on her lips as she watches him race off to join in.
“Prez.” Troj steps up and fist-pumps me, wrapping his arm around Shaniya’s neck and kissing her cheek.
“You kept this from me.” I judge my best friend, who knows how much I hate surprises.
“Hey, don’t blame me. I was sworn to secrecy.” He holds his hands up in defense.
“Yo, Prez. We all pitched together and got ya a little somethin’.” I look across the room when I hear Storm and see him and Brax coming through the back door with a sadistic grin on their faces.
“What kinda somethin’?” I stare back curiously, and when Brax gets closer he leans in close so only I can hear.
“One of Dyer’s men was released from prison yesterday. Consuela pulled some strings.” I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“Me and Storm got him secure, he’s all yours when you’re ready.”
“Perfect.” I slap him on the shoulder and nod over to Storm who’s just saved his little girl from being knocked off her feet by all the boys that are running around.
“Come on, Prez, ya gotta say a few words,” Thorne calls over as Hayden hands me a beer.
“A speech? Nah.” I shake my head.
“Come on, it’s your first birthday as president.” Skid backs up Maddy’s words as he lifts his son, Tommy, outta his old lady’s arms, and feeling the pressure, I start to think somethin’ up.
“Okay, I love that you did all this for me. I love that you’ve all supported me since I stepped up into the role of Prez and… Squealer, what the fuck is your son doin’?”
Everyone follows my eyes over to my little girl”s stroller where Cohen has stood himself on a chair and is pressing his lips against her cheek.
“Now, ain’t that cute?” Squeal winks at me, and I pass my drink to Brax so I can throttle those thoughts right outta his fuckin’ head.
“Relax, Prez.” He laughs to himself as he starts backing away, and once he’s got a good few meters on me, he lifts up his other son and uses him as a human shield. “To the next generation.” The brave fucker sniggers as he holds up the beer he’s got in his other hand and as I look around the barroom at the kids who are playing with each other, laughing and having fun. I shoo his little boy away from my daughter, scooping him up and handing him off to his uncle. Then snatching my bottle back from Brax, I hold it up.
“To the next generation,” I agree, knowing Jimmer Carson is somewhere up there watching with a smile on his face.