CHAPTER 9
Mick
Something’s up with Madison.
It’s been a couple of months now since we finally became an us and most of it’s been fucking amazing.
Yes I’ve done shit that makes her roll her eyes at me but we haven’t had any major blow ups.
Well, correction, we hadn’t until the last couple of days.
I asked her the other day if there was salt and pepper on the table because I wanted some on my corn.
Apparently I was being overly critical of her cooking, even though it was corn from the local fried chicken place, as in not her cooking.
She’s had a couple other little moments, but the last one before I left for church was the biggest and I’ll admit I didn’t help things with the only thing I said.
So sue me, I was an ass.
We were at her place and she was telling me about the idea she’s come up with for what she wants to do.
I think it’s awesome that she wants to open a sandwich shop and hire people who need a chance to establish a work history.
She wants to hire Christy and Mary to start with.
She also wants to hire people who’ve aged out of foster care and need a foundation and those who might have been stay at home moms but find themselves divorced and needing job experience.
I think it’s a great idea and her sandwiches are amazing.
The brothers alone will keep her in business.
She was going on and on about not being able to find a place to rent to start and she was on a roll and I was trying to get her attention to tell her I found a place, but when she started crying and wouldn’t let me get a word in, well, shit.
I might have said the dumbest thing I’ve ever said.
She was going on about the realtor she was working with being a diva and not showing her anything that checked off any of her requirements.
She’d said the same thing for the fourth time and I couldn’t help what came out of my mouth.
I called her name and then I asked her, “Are you done yet?”
I know, I know, you don’t have to yell.
I was a fucktard, an idiot.
It’s like I channeled Juan or Saxon at that moment.
I think my girl might have channeled the exorcist or poltergeist or something, ‘cause when I said that, her head turned so fast I’m surprised she didn’t hurt herself.
She told me to get out and go to church and she’d decide when she was ready to see me again but with a lot of colorful swear words and tears.
I tried to backpedal and at least give her a kiss and tell her I love her.
She looked at me and with fucking tears streaming down her face she told me.
“I love you but I absolutely do not like you at all right now.
Go to church.
Stay at your place or the clubhouse tonight.
Do not come back here tonight.”
She slammed the front door behind me as I walked out.
I think my only saving grace was I texted Shane and Rory and they’re gonna get Jane and Kierstie to go over and bring my girl some take out and bash me some I’m sure.
I don’t know what’s going on with my girl, but I’m honestly a little worried.
I don’t mean ‘cause I was a shit and said something stupid, I mean ‘cause she’s not eating a lot and is very quick to cry.
I might have to ask Mom or Anna about it.
I pull up to the clubhouse and park.
I get off my bike and hear the tell-tell sound and turn to watch five bikes pull up.
Samson, Saxon, Shane, Erik and Grant all park.
I start walking to go inside, with the guys I’m sure to follow.
As soon as I walk in the door, I’m pushed up against the door and an angry Pres is in my face.
“Why was my sister crying when I just talked to her? What the fuck did you do?”
I can feel someone trying to get in the door, but I’m not exactly in a fucking position to move.
“I said something stupid, but she was crying and yelling before I even opened my mouth! I swear!”
Jon looks like he’s trying to decide if he believes me.
“Son, let him go.
You’ve got half the club on the other side of the door trying to get in and you can’t tell me you’ve never said anything to set Jane off.”
I don’t think I’ve been that grateful to see Pa in a long time.
Jon lets me go and I move away from the door and it instantly opens and a flood of brothers walk in.
Saxon bumps my shoulder with his when he walks by “What gives brother? I know you saw us come in right behind you.”
I grab a chair at the table where Jon’s still staring daggers at me.
“I was hung up for a minute and couldn’t move.”
Before Saxon can open his mouth again, Grant grabs him and puts him in a chair.
He looks down at him.
“I’m gonna just say it now, shut your mouth and just fucking listen.”
He looks over at Samson and adds, “Same goes to you.”
Samson looks like a teenager who just got scolded.
He sits down next to Saxon and glares over at him.
Wyatt adds to it.
“Just to save myself a fucking headache, Asher and Mayson sit your asses down and be quiet too.
Logan you’re usually okay, but you sit down too.”
I swear Logan can’t hide the grin on his face to be included as one of Wyatt’s kids.
Shit, focus.
I’ve got Jon glaring at me still.
Juan, Ry, and Rory come sit down too, though they don’t look as angry as Pres.
Shane sits next to me, maybe in solidarity or maybe ‘cause next to me, he’s looking like the fucking perfect brother-in-law.
Jon gets everyone’s attention by smacking the table in front of him.
“I’m gonna ask you to explain yourself out here ‘cause it ain’t a church matter.
Why the fuck was my sister crying when Jane called her? What.
Did. You. Do?”
I run my hand down my face and then spew everything that’s been going on the last week.
When I get to the part when I asked her if she was done, every single guy in the room who’s ever been married or lived with someone groaned.
Ry, the fucker spoke up.
“You just had no self-preservation at all did you? Fuck.
That’s worse than how much Juan puts his foot in his mouth.”
I think all the older generation is trying to hide their laughter, well except for Erik and Pa.
I can’t help but glare at the fuckers.
Erik holds up his hand and gets his fucking laughter under control.
“I’m not laughing at you, even though you did say four of the worst words to say to a woman.
No, we’re laughing ‘cause I’m guessing you two have been…”
He looks at Pa and her brothers before he continues.
“...active since you two finally got your shit together?”
I nod in affirmation.
He looks like I’m supposed to follow along.
He sighs and looks at Pa, then back at me.
“Son, have her take a fucking pregnancy test.
Sounds like she’s riding the wave of hormones that early pregnancy brings.”
Juan, showing his mouth works before his brain speaks up.
“We’re all fucking in trouble if that’s true.
Kierstie’s almost halfway through and raging with emotions, Jane’s just made it past the first trimester and almost ate me alive today, and now Mads!”
Shane’s glaring daggers at Juan and it looks like Rory and Pres are too.
I’ve never been thankful for Juan’s foot in mouth syndrome before, but today I’m most grateful.
Shane starts to speak but Jon interrupts him.
“If you didn’t egg her on or piss her off so much she wouldn’t yell at you like she does.
You get her riled up when she’s tired and busy with the boys and being pregnant and if you don’t watch that shit she’s gonna start after all of us!”
Shane, still looking annoyed adds in, “Kierstie’s been less emotional this time, fucker.
She’s just passionate, damn it.”
I quit following their bickering back and forth ‘cause it hits me.
She’s probably pregnant.
My woman is gonna have my baby.
I’m gonna get to experience everything with her.
Holy shit .
Wait.
I haven’t even given her the ring yet, and I don’t want her to think I’m going to give it to her only because she’s pregnant.
How… I’m shaken from my inner freak out by Erik who nudges my elbow.
I look over at him.
“Two things, son.
One, you missed it and everyone is heading into church.
Two, I can hear those gears grinding in your head.
Let’s go have church and after that we can grab a beer and you can tell me everything that just went through your mind, alright?”
I stand up and nod.
He pats my back as we walk in.
“It’s not like you have to rush home afterward tonight anyway.” Fucker.
Church goes as expected.
We have a couple of possibilities for new prospects as Leif is about to be patched in, and that would leave us with just David who’s only just starting his prospecting time and he’s got a lot to learn about the world in general.
Mayson brought up that one of his cousins has been showing interest which I can tell surprises Wyatt and Jackson.
Micah mentions he knows someone who has mentioned an interest in the past.
We don’t always need prospects, but it’s nice to have some younger guys interested in joining.
For the first time in a while no one leaves to go home right away, I’m sure partly because all the women are together no doubt plotting my demise.
I take a seat at one of the tables, the urge to get my phone out and text or call Madison is almost overwhelming.
To think there’s a good chance we’ve made a baby…I just can’t wait to see her pregnant and become the amazing mom I know she’ll be.
Shane sits down across from me and hands me a beer.
Erik, Grant, Asher, Samson, Saxon and a few other brothers sit either at the bar or around the table.
Micah and Jameson go and start a game of pool.
Shane looks at me like he’s studying me.
“It’s hitting you a bit now, ain’t it brother? I remember that feeling, and honestly it happened when she got pregnant again.”
Ry, the man who can never let a lull in the conversation happen, chimes in.
“Yeah but Mick ain’t hiding shit for the first fucking three months of it.”
Shane glares and raises an eyebrow at Ry.
“Really? You, of all people, want to talk about people hiding relationships?”
I don’t see who, but one of the brothers snorts as he tries to muffle his laugh.
The way Ry glares, I can tell it’s Asher before Ry opens his mouth.
“You snort, but you kept Logan a secret for at least a couple of months too, brother.”
Asher instantly stops laughing and glares at Ry.
“Because I was going through shit in my head.
That had nothing to do with Logan.
I remind you to watch your mouth brother when it comes to talking about him, ‘cause I will go out back with you, we ain’t too old for that.”
Shane nods in agreement.
Ry holds his hands up in surrender.
“I wasn’t meaning anything about him or my sister, I was just stating facts.
Yes, I know I hid Nicky too, but like you, it came out and I ain’t mad about it.”
Their conversation, although not totally related, has me thinking.
I point my beer to Asher and Shane.
“How did you two know when it was the perfect time to ask them to marry you?”
Both of them scoff, almost laughing at me.
Shane takes a sip of his beer and answers.
“There’s no perfect time.
I had it in my head I was gonna go all out and do the whole twinkly lights, candles and flowers and have it perfect.
That didn’t happen at all, but honestly the way it happened was right for us.
It was at the doctor’s office and we’d just found out that we were having a girl and I couldn’t imagine waiting a minute longer to ask her and get one step closer to tying her to me forever.
It was this overwhelming feeling and I just did it.
I don’t remember what exactly I said, hell I had gotten a ring but didn’t even have it with me at the time.
Kierstie still says it was the perfect proposal to her.”
Asher nods.
“Yeah, I didn’t even have a ring picked out or anything.
It was after he was shot, and fuck those first couple of days when he hadn’t woken up yet…shit they were some of the hardest days of my life.
I knew then that he was never going to get rid of me and that I wanted, no I needed to tie him to me permanently.
It was the second day after he woke up.
Everyone had gone home and it was just the two of us.
He had been napping and I was in the chair next to his bed, holding his hand.
I knew he was going to be alright so I just started talking, you know just whatever was going through my head at the moment, I don’t even remember what I said really, just kinda word vomit.
I know at one point I told him he needed to understand after everything that happened I wasn’t going to let him out of my sight for a long time, even showers and going to the bathroom was gonna be questionable.
Of course he picked that moment to wake up and said he’d agree to the shower, but a man’s gotta be allowed to shit in private.
I don’t know why, but that he could still joke, pick on me and roll his damn eyes at me like he does all the time, that just made it seem like the right moment.
It was just the two of us.
Just us being real and honest and...
fuck, I asked him.
Well, I kinda told him how it was gonna go.
I know some people love the big grand gestures, and that’s great for them and more power to them, but it just felt right, you know, starting the beginning of our marriage, or the first step toward it, as it is. Just the two of us, no frills. Just honesty, love and some tears. Hell, you can ask him for his side of it when he gets back in here.”
Well fuck me.
Asher is right.
Leif, who is passing around a second round of beers, speaks up.
“Real love isn’t perfect.
A proposal doesn’t need to be perfect or fancy.
It just needs to be about the moment between you two and her understanding how you want to do life with her for the rest of your days and how much you love her and are in love with her.”
He sets the last beer down and walks back over to the bar.
I think he surprised us all with that insight ‘cause it takes a minute for anyone to say anything.
Ry looks around.
“Well, fuck.
When did he become so fucking smart and insightful?”
Saxon, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet since before church, asks no one in particular.
“Was he speaking ‘cause he’s got someone on his mind he might be thinking that way about?”
Max, who just arrived a few minutes ago, answers as he undoes his tie.
“I think there might be, but she’s clueless about it so far.
If he really is, he’s gonna have to step up and ask her.”
Oh now the gossip mill is going to be running and trying to figure out who that could be.
Jeremiah stands up to go play pool.
“I ain’t looking to settle down or get serious any fucking time soon.
I’m young and gonna have fun in my twenties.
Ain’t no woman gonna tie me down for a good long while.”
I see Erik roll his eyes at him.
Asher looks at him and gets a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Bullfrog, I can’t wait till you meet your one and they knock you on your ass.
You’re gonna fall so hard and fast that I’m gonna enjoy watching your fall.
Speaking as a former player and commitment-phobe, I think we fall faster and harder when it’s the right one.”
Jeremiah looks like Asher just grew a second head.
“Just ‘cause it happened to you, it ain’t gonna happen to me.”
He walks off to the pool table.
I think Asher’s right for once.
It’s gonna be fun to watch him fall.
Madison
Last night when Jane and Kierstie came over bringing their babies and take out, I thought it would be a full-on bashing Mick night, but I was so wrong.
Well, not totally wrong.
They did agree that he was an ass for saying the four words that’s guaranteed to piss off any woman.
The two of them stormed in and brought food and babies for me to cuddle.
As soon as the babies were settled and we had chips and salsa in front of us, Kierstie looked at me, “Okay girl, spill it.
What happened?”
Jane chimes in, “And don’t leave anything out.
We need to get the whole picture to best help you, though I think Jon might be having words with him since he heard you crying on the phone.”
So I tell them everything that’s been going on the last few days and everything that happened before I slammed the door in Mick’s face.
Halfway through everything, I realize I’m crying again.
I don’t know why, but it seems to be my go-to thing lately.
Jane interrupted me halfway through today’s events.
“Girl.
Have you taken a pregnancy test?”
I shook my head “No ‘cause I’m on the pill, why would I?”
I swear the two of them do this communicating without saying a word thing and Jane gets up and grabs her purse.
“I’ll be back in like ten minutes.”
Kierstie then talked to me about all the symptoms she had the first time.
Fuck.
I guess I could be.
She then had to talk me down a mini freakout ‘cause it wasn’t planned and what if Mick ain’t happy about it.
She gave me a look that only she can give along with a bit of knowledge that apparently everyone else in the family knew except me.
“Mick has been so gone for you and ready for a family, that I wouldn’t be surprised if he had super swimmers and knocked you up the first time you two did it.
It’s kinda sickeningly sweet how much he loves you and finds you beautiful.
I love that he’s that way for you though, sis.
You deserve a man who worships you like Pa does Ma and I think-no I know Mick is that man.”
Fucking eyes won’t quit running.
Jane got back not even ten minutes later and handed me a bag full of stuff.
“There’s like eight pregnancy tests in there.
I figure you can take a couple tonight and if they aren’t clear, you can take some in the morning.
I also got you a two liter of ginger ale, Saltines, ginger tea and some chocolate.
All of it is stuff you’re gonna want on hand.
Go take a test, ‘cause we’re dying to know!”
I went and took a test, then I took another one.
Okay, I took four before I came out of the bathroom.
I’ve been awake just laying in bed for over an hour.
I almost called Mick a few times last night, but decided not to.
I needed the night to get my head wrapped around everything.
I know I overthink things, and this, of course, is no exception.
I hear my phone go off with an incoming text and I reach over to grab it.
Mick: I’ve been awake for a while laying in my bed at the clubhouse.
Seems I can’t sleep for shit without you.
Can I come over and tell you in person just how sorry I am? Please? I’ll bring breakfast, coffee, whatever you want too.
The man knows the way to my heart, though the thought of coffee doesn’t sit right this morning.
Me: I’m sorry too.
I know I’ve been a lot to handle lately.
Yes, please come over, I missed you last night.
No coffee but I would love some orange juice.
If you're stopping at Sooner or Later, a muffin.
If you’re stopping at the diner, I’d love a Millie’s scramble with gravy on it and toast… with jam, lots of jam and my hash browns extra crispy. Love you.
Mick: I’ll be there as fast as I can.
Love you more.
My stomach is full of nerves.
Logically I know Kierstie was right and that Mick is going to be excited about this, I know he is, but it’s still nerve-racking having to wait till he gets here to tell him.
I spend way too long thinking of how I’m going to tell him when an idea comes to mind.
I get up and get myself together for the day, taking a quick shower and getting back into some comfy clothes.
I find what I need in my office and have everything the way I want it when I hear his truck pull up.
He must have left his bike at the club since it’s pouring cats and dogs out this morning.
I open the door just as he gets to the porch.
He’s got like four bags and a drink carrier.
“What all did you get? It looks like you’re gonna feed an army!”
Mick gives me a smile and sets everything down on the kitchen island.
“No army, I just got what you asked for, breakfast for me and some stuff for us to maybe share later if we want.
I figured…I dunno, I just got stuff.”
I look at him and I can tell he didn’t sleep much and he looks…he looks almost nervous.
He looks at me.
“Can I kiss you?”
I can’t help but move so I can hug him.
Being in his arms like this is my favorite place in the world to be.
I kiss him and I can feel my heart settle just a bit.
He settles me and centers me like no one else has ever been able to do.
“Baby, I’m sorry I was such a fucking ass by saying that last night.
Even if I was frustrated, that’s no excuse.
I don’t like sleeping without you next to me.
It doesn’t feel right.”
I shake my head against him.
“I was being ridiculous.
I was just stressing and I wasn’t listening to you when you were just trying to help me.”
I let go of Mick and grab the bag I have on the counter.
“I have something for you.”
I hand him the bag and I can tell he looks confused.
“Wait.
I was an ass yesterday, but you got me something?”
I can’t help but smile.
“Girlfriend’s prerogative.
Open it before we eat.”
He shrugs his shoulders and opens the bag and starts to take out the tissue.
I can’t breathe, waiting for him to see it.
I watch him unravel the tissue and grab the stick.
It only takes a second for him to look from the stick to me.
“This means you’re pregnant, right?”
I nod, not able to break eye contact.
“Yeah.
There are like six more tests I took in the bathroom.”
I grab his hand and squeeze it.
“We’re gonna have a baby.”
He looks at me and I can see tears in his eyes.
“I can’t believe it.
This is so awesome!”
He grabs me in a hug.
“I love you so much, baby.
I can’t wait to be with you at every step of this journey.”
He looks at me and touches his forehead to mine.
“I had tried to think of the perfect time to do this and I had wanted to do a big gesture and have all our family involved, but I think this…this…this is right.
It’s us.
Just you and me…and this one.”
He touches my stomach with just the tips of his fingers.
He takes one hand off my stomach and pulls something out of his pocket.
“I love you Madison, with all of my heart and soul.
My heart beats for you.
I know we danced around each other for a long time, but in that time, not only did I fall in love with you, you became my best friend.
There’s no one on this planet for me, but you.
I want to do life with you.
I want to do the good and exciting as well as the bad and traumatic.
I want to live this life with you and take my last breath with you at my side.”
Is he? Is he asking? “Madison, baby, my love.
Would you do life with me and be my wife?”
He holds out a beautiful sapphire ring.
I can’t seem to form the words, but I nod emphatically as he slides the ring on my finger.
As soon as it’s on I launch myself at him and kiss him with everything that I have.
I break the kiss.
“Yes I’ll marry you! That was the sweetest proposal ever! I love that it was just you and me.
We can have a wedding with everyone, but this…this is us, just us.”
I look into his blue eyes and see nothing but love looking back and I know I’m a very lucky woman.
I need him to know how I feel.
“I know those few years where we were friends and neither of us was ready to recognize more, they still mean the world to me.
You were with me when I was so broken, and you didn’t fix me, but even better, you helped me fix myself.
How could I not fall in love with you?”
I kiss my fiancé and feel like this is right where I’m supposed to be.
*********
Yesterday, after Mick proposed, we spent the day together.
He’d brought all the food I requested and muffins, fruit, snacks and ice cream.
He said he wanted to be prepared.
He told me what went down outside of church last night and that he was hoping I was pregnant.
He showed me just how happy he is that I'm pregnant and told me he’s just getting in practice for the next kid.
I made us some pasta for dinner and we ate it in my office, talking about turning it into a nursery.
He brought up painting the walls and decorating.
“You know Mom is going to want to paint a mural in here for the baby.”
I couldn’t help but ask him, “Don’t you wanna do that yourself? You’re an amazing artist too, babe.”
He shook his head and told me that it was something his mom would want to do.
“She will plan it all out with characters from books that she read to me as a kid and end giving us those too or something.
It’s the kind of gift that’s right up her alley, you know she wouldn’t be one to just get us a stroller or something.”
The more I thought about it that night, the more I realized how right he was.
Romona has always shown her love and how well she knew us through her art.
She painted my favorite painting ever for Ma and Pa just a couple of years ago.
It’s their back porch looking out at all the trees they planted over the years and it’s sunrise.
In the light of the sun you can see their rocking chairs and the only part of either of them that you can really make out is them holding hands between the chairs.
When I look at it, I can feel their love in the painting.
I don’t know how she does it but she gets emotion in all of her paintings.
He was so cute this morning, when we woke up he asked if I was feeling okay and what I might want for breakfast, telling me “I have to make sure my family is fed and happy.”
Making me swoon like a book boyfriend or something.
He made us eggs, bacon and toast.
He offered sausage, but the thought of that this morning…just no.
He asked what I had planned for the day and I didn’t have anything specific planned.
“Will you go for a ride with me? I mean in the truck.
There’s something I wanna show you.”
He knew that I’ve never been good with surprises and waiting so what did I do? Finished my breakfast in like two minutes and ran to the bedroom to finish getting ready for the day.
We get out on the main road and after a few minutes I realize we are heading in the direction of the tattoo shop.
“Are we going to your shop? Do you have an appointment today?”
I look over at Mick and he’s got what can only be described as a sly grin, like he knows something.
“Nope, I don’t have an appointment today, and we’re not going to the shop.”
Where the hell are we going? He keeps driving and within a couple of minutes he turns onto the street that the shop is on.
He doesn’t pull up to the shop but parks across the street from it.
The shop he’s parked in front of has been empty for a number of years.
It used to be a coffee place but when the owner died, it closed down and nothing has been in its place since.
“What are we doing?”
Mick gets out of the truck without answering me and comes around to my side and opens the door.
I get out and watch him as he goes to the door and takes out a key and opens it.
“We’re checking out your new sandwich shop.
Well, after some work, that’s what it’s gonna be.”
He pulls me inside.
What in the? “How? I thought no one knew how to get a hold of the person who owns this place to rent it from them? That’s what my realtor said.”
He wraps his arms around me from behind.
“Well for one, that realtor sucks ass babe, she didn’t even look into anything for you.
Secondly, I might have had some help tracking down the owner.
Turns out Ry and Juan are really good at finding shit online.
They found the owner, and he didn’t even know he owned the property.
Guess the owner of that coffee place that used to be here wasn’t close with her family and left it to a nephew who’d only met her a couple of times.
We chatted and got a good deal.
He’s staying on as owner of the property, but it’s going to be like a rent to own agreement.
I’ve got Asher and his crew lined up to do work on it for the next few weekends.
There’s only one hitch to that though.
I promised you’d feed them your sandwiches every day that they worked here.”
I’ve been looking around as he talks.
I can picture it all.
He’s making my dream a reality.
He squeezes me a little.
“Say something please.
Did I over step? Is this not what you pictured at all? I can-”
I spin around in his arms and kiss him, interrupting him.
He breaks the kiss and still looks a little worried.
“I love it! I can’t believe you did this for me.
I love that it’s right across the street from you, that makes it even better.
I don’t know the words to really say.”
He kisses me.
I don’t think I could love him more than I do at this very moment.
“You know you’ve supported me through all of this, through my figuring out what I wanted to do.
You supported my idea to hire people who need a little help.
You’ve had my back when I didn’t have confidence in myself.”
He kisses my forehead.
“I was just loving you, baby.
That’s all and my selfish need to see you happy.”
He doesn’t get it.
“Mick, look at me.”
He looks down at me.
“You turned my never evers into maybe I just might.
You gave me the confidence to let myself work through my ideas.
Thank you isn’t enough, but thank you.
I love you and can’t wait to be your wife.”
We spend the next hour or so going over the whole place.
I take pictures of all of it so I can talk to Asher and his guys about what I envision everywhere.
We even came up with the perfect name.
I can’t wait to get started on everything.
Mick texts Asher about when they can start and he hems and haws.
I know how to get an answer and text Logan.
Me: Hey, your husband is not giving us an answer, so I’ve come to the brains in your house.
What weekend is he and some of his crew going to start working on my shop?
Logan: He’s being extra today.
He can start next weekend.
I work most of the weekend so it will keep him outta trouble.
I can try to make him behave even more if you add a sandwich for me to their order? Pretty please with sugar on top?
I love him, he’s funny and a great friend.
Who knew Asher would turn all alpha when it comes to him?
Me: Duh.
I was already going to make you one.
Logan: Thanks lady.
I will tell him to stop being an ass.
He’ll probably pout ‘cause I’m leaving for work in like 5, but he’ll answer Mick.
Love ya chickadee.
Me: Love ya too, Loganloo.
Magically Asher gives Mick an answer just a minute later.
We get back into the truck to head home.
Mick turns the truck on but doesn’t put it in gear.
He looks over at me and asks, “Can we go tell my mom in person right now? She’s gonna be over the moon.”
I love that he loves his mom so much and is so excited to tell her.
I think Romona is awesome and I couldn’t be happier that she’s gonna be a grandma to our kids.
“Yeah we can go tell her.
I mean it’s still early on, but with everyone already guessing, I want her to know too.”
Mick pulls up in front of his mom’s place and parks.
We both get out and he takes my hand as we walk up to the back door.
I don’t think I’ve ever come in the front door in my life.
We always park in the back and come in the unlocked back door.
She’s more in the country than anyone else so she’s more likely to have deer in her yard than uninvited guests.
We walk in the back door and something feels off.
I don’t know what it is, but something’s definitely off.
“Mom! Where ya at?”
He looks at me as we both listen for her signature answer to him.
Nothing.
Her SUV was parked out back, so she’s gotta be home.
Mick’s never mentioned her dating anybody or anything.
“Mom! I wonder if she’s got her headphones on and painting.
She hasn’t done that since I still lived at home and she needed to focus. Mom!”
We pass through the kitchen and I see a full pot of coffee that looks like it hasn’t been touched this morning.
That off feeling is getting stronger.
I follow Mick into the living room and go toward her studio in the sunroom.
I hear Mick still calling out for her.
I look in Mick’s old bedroom and see he’s still got posters and stuff up in that room.
I hear Mick scream, “Mom! Mads, call 9-1-1!”
I run to where I heard him yell from and see his mom on the floor next to her bed.
I dial 9-1-1 as I feel and thankfully, I find a pulse.
“She’s still breathing. Mom!”
She’s not responsive but she’s breathing.
I let the dispatcher know our location and how we’d found her.
As soon as I said unresponsive, they got a unit en route to us.
They said that we’re lucky ‘cause they just finished a call a few minutes away.
As I’m talking to dispatch as they wanted to stay on the line, I grab Mick’s phone out of his pocket and send a text to Pa, Grant, Erik, and Jon.
I go to let the ambulance in and when I open the door, I’m so glad to see Logan and his partner, Amanda.
I know they know their stuff and it should help reassure Mick.
They rush in past me and I hear them talking to Mick.
I walk in the doorway, not sure how I can help at this moment.
Logan and Amanda work as a well-oiled machine and have Romona hooked up to an IV and machines within the first couple of minutes.
They get her onto the stretcher.
“Her pulse and O2 are low and with her being non responsive, it’s going to require more tests so we’re gonna take her to the hospital.”
She looks between the two of us.
“One of you can ride or you both can follow.”
I look at Mick and there’s no decision to make.
“Gimme your keys.
I’ll lock up and follow you to the hospital.
You go with your mom.”
He leans over and gives me a quick kiss handing me his keys as I hand him back his phone.
He hurries after them and jumps in the back of the rig with Amanda as Logan goes around to drive.
He takes off with lights and sirens.
I send off a text to the same people plus Ma and Anna from my phone and hurry to the back door, finding the key on Mick’s keys and locking the door.
I hurry out to the truck and take off in the direction of the hospital, the whole time praying to the gods that Romona’s okay.
Mick
Amanda is continuing to monitor things and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so helpless.
“Talk to her, it helps sometimes for a person to hear a familiar voice, even when they’re not conscious.”
I look at her and nod.
I take Mom’s hand and start talking, most of it nonsense stuff, but just so she can hear my voice.
“Mom, you need to wake up.
You got so much more living to do.
I need you here.
Madison needs you too.
Your grandbaby is going to need you.”
We got to the hospital faster than I thought possible.
As soon as they back up to the ambulance bay, they whisk Mom inside.
An older nurse stops me from following the gurney.
“You can’t go in there with her.
You must be family if you rode in with her.
Let me take you to the waiting area while they run some tests.
I’ll come out and let you know any updates and when you can see her.”
I must look like I’m about to argue, ‘cause she puts her hand on my arm.
“Let them see what’s going on with her.
Our doctors are excellent and will take care of her.”
She shows me to the waiting area.
I sit down and not a minute or two later the doors to the waiting area open and Erik, Grant, Pa and Ma all walk in.
My girl must have let them know.
Erik sees me first and heads over to me.
I stand up and he gives me a hug.
I can feel the others are right by us.
Ma speaks up first.
“What happened? Mads’s text didn’t say much.”
I sit back down and tell them how we found Mom.
By the time I get to the end and that I’m waiting for the nurse, the ER doors open again and Madison rushes through.
She looks around and as soon as she sees me she hurries over.
“Any update? I got here as fast as I could.
Freaking Sheriff Stone pulled me over, but when I told him what was going on, he let me go instantly without any argument.”
I tell her no, and she moves to sit next to me, but I need her closer, so I pull her into me and have her sit on my lap.
I need her grounding me right now, ‘cause the only thing going through my head is I’m not ready to lose Mom.
I want more time with her.
I want her to get to be a grandma to our baby.
Anna, Wyatt and Jackson arrive a few minutes later.
Anna looks like she’s been crying.
She and Mom have been friends since high school.
Asher, Jameson, Saxon, Samson and Rory come in next.
They all take a seat and wait with us.
After what feels like forever but was probably only forty-five minutes or so, the nurse finally comes out.
She looks at everyone around me.
“Family of Romona Johanson?”
Madison stands up to let me up.
“I’m her son, but everyone here is her family.”
She takes a second but nods.
“Right now it looks like your mom had a myocardial infarction-a heart attack.
They are running some more tests to make sure she didn’t also have a stroke, but right now it looks like she didn’t.
Her heart rate and pulse got so low which is most likely the reason she was unresponsive.
The tests will also show if she’s going to need surgery or not.
The doctor will be out after they finish a couple more tests.
Once we get her settled in a room, I’ll come out and let you know so you can see her.”
I nod and I hear my woman thanking the nurse for keeping us updated.
Erik grabs me by the shoulder.
“Let’s take a walk outside for a minute.”
What the fuck? “I’m not gonna leave when-”
He looks at me with what can only be described as a dad look.
“We’ll only be gone a few minutes and be just right outside.”
Ma touches my arm.
“One of us will come get you if anyone comes out.
Go with him son.”
I look at my girl and she gives me a nod.
I walk outside and Erik points toward the bench.
I look over and him and wait since this was his fucking idea.
“Don’t glare at me like that, I have two perfectly good reasons for having you come out here.”
I wave my hand to get him to get on with it.
“First, don't go down that road.
I know you and I was with you when your dad passed.
This ain’t the same thing.
His brain was already gone by the time he was brought in here, his body just hadn’t gotten the message.
The accident killed him, his body just took an hour to follow.
Your mom had a heart attack.
She was still breathing when you found her.
Don’t compare the two, ‘cause she’s one of the biggest fighters and one of the most stubborn people I’ve met when it comes to you and I don’t see her being ready to leave you just yet.
Think positive and know that we’re all here for both you and your mom.
You guys are family and we ain’t going anywhere.”
I nod ‘cause he’s right.
I went right back to that night and running into the ER with Mom and having hope that he was okay and the realization that he was really gone as soon as that semi hit him.
“Secondly, don’t be shocked if Captain Stone of the sheriff’s office-one of the older ones, Jason comes here soon.”
What? “Why the fuck would he come here?”
Erik shakes his head at me.
“We all didn’t marry the first person we ever dated.
He and your mom dated in high school.
They broke up ‘cause he went off to the military after they graduated and she was going to go to art school.
By the time he came back after his four years were up, your mom and dad were together and he ended up marrying someone else too.
They didn’t end on bad terms and his wife died within a year or two of when your dad died.
They ran into each other a few months ago at the diner and have been having coffee fairly often together.
I think he’s still very much interested in your mom.”
Holy shit.
Mom dating? “I mean.
I want her to be happy, I just never thought of my mom dating or anything.”
Erik looks over at me and rolls his eyes.
“Son, your mom ain’t ninety.
She’s still got lots of life to live and love to give.
Your dad’s been gone for ten years.
I think if he makes her happy, then more power to her.
You’re never too old for love or at least friendship.
I swear you boys think we hit fifty and we need to be put out to pasture or some shit.
I hope the sheriff has been rocking her boat and making her happy.”
I gagged.
I full-on gagged.
“Listen fucker.
I want Mom happy and if this guy’s friendship or whatever it is, makes her happy, then I’m good with it.
I can be an adult about that.
I don’t ever need to know about her having sex with anyone. EVER.”
I have a full body shake with that thought.
Just ew.
Erik laughs a full belly laugh at me.
“Got ya outta your head though didn’t I?”
I nod.
“Yeah you did.
Thank you for that.”
I look at him.
“Are you gonna find you some happiness now that your divorce is almost finalized from the Celest-ercist?”
He nods, “Yeah I’m working on that.”
I really look at him and realize that he’s seemed lighter lately, around the same time as…oh… ohhh .
“Well, I hope whoever they are, they make you happy.
You spent years being miserable and you deserve some happiness, whoever it’s with.”
I stand up to head back inside, but I can tell he’s studying me and I must give something away without realizing it.
“You know.”
I can’t help but grin ‘cause he sounds like a teenager that just got caught and is in trouble.
“I just put two and two together right now.
Don’t worry, I ain’t gonna say anything.
You both deserve happiness, just please let me be there when your kids find out ‘cause I can almost guarantee that they’re clueless.”
He rolls his eyes at me and changes the subject.
“Let’s get back inside fucker.
I swear some days I think you’re a mature adult and more like your mom, but then your mouth opens and your dad and all his jackassness comes out.”
Walking in I can’t help but ask, “Jackassness?”
He glares at me.
“I don’t care if it’s not a word, it is when trying to describe your dad.
Calling me on my shit and all.
He’s been gone for years, yet you manage to bring him back in moments like that.
Like I said, jackassness.”
About an hour after she came out with the first update, the nurse and doctor both come out.
“Your mother did have a heart attack.
She’s got a blockage so we will need to do a bypass.
Good news is it looks like it's only going to be a double bypass and not a triple or quadruple.
Surgery is scheduled for the first thing in the morning.
The specialist I consulted with felt that was the best time for her to have it done.
She’s had meds and is being put in a room as we speak.
I’ll be checking on her throughout the day and evening, but I think she’s got a good chance at a full recovery, barring anything being discovered during surgery.
Nurse Kind here will give you all the rest of the information, but I wanted to come and speak with you myself.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask a nurse to page me.
I’m here till midnight.”
I shake his hand and thank him.
The nurse tells me to give them about twenty minutes and she’s going to be on the second floor.
She gives me the room number and tells me that it’s only going to be two people allowed at a time.
As soon as the nurse goes back behind the closed door the ER doors open up and an officer walks in.
He looks like he could be my mom’s age and I can see when he sees Pa he walks over to our group.
Pa asks what we all wanna know.
“What brings you here Captain Stone?”
He rubs his face and puts his hands on his hips, with his head bowed before he looks back up at Pa.
“It’s just Jason and Jonah I think you know.”
He looks at our group and stops at me.
“You’ve got your mom’s eyes.
I know she hasn’t told you, hell my kids don’t know either yet, but she and I have been spending time together again.
We dated in high school and realized we still have a lot in common, maybe more than we had in high school.”
I look up at him, and I can see his fine etched lines around his eyes.
Mom always says that means a person has laughed a lot in their life.
“Hey, if spending time with you makes Mom happy, that’s all I want.
You treat her how she should be treated and you and I will have no problems.”
He nods and takes a breath, like he was worried.
Shows me he wants her family’s approval and that goes a long way with me.
He looks at me again.
“How is she?”
We make room for him to have a seat and fill him in on what we know.
“I’d like to go in and see her myself with my girl first but as soon as I see she’s okay, you’re welcome to come sit with her and see for yourself.”
He nods and mumbles a thank you.
Seeing Mom in that hospital bed with machines all around her was harder than I thought it would be.
Madison never let go of my hand, being my quiet strength.
We sit with her for a few minutes and she starts to stir.
I watch her wake up. “Mom?”
She looks over at me, with a furrowed brow.
“What? Why am I here?”
I squeeze her hand and a nurse walks in and checks the machines and tells Mom about what happened and what’s planned.
Mom looks at me.
“You get Anna to come and check my chart, she’ll know what questions to ask, okay?”
Madison speaks up next to me.
“I’ll go get her and send her back now so she can look at your chart and speak to the nurse with you guys.”
I squeeze her hand and she squeezes mine back, stands up and goes out the door.
I look back at Mom.
“You scared the shit out of me, Mom.”
She gives me a small smile.
“I just like to keep you on your toes, son.
You found me?”
I nod.
“What were you guys doing coming over that early? Not that I mind you coming over, obviously today it was a very good thing for you to do.”
I don’t think my girl will be upset if I tell her.
“Well we came to tell you that you’re gonna be a grandma.”
To watch the smile come over her face, it means everything.
“You’re gonna have a baby? My boy is gonna be a dad!”
I squeeze her hand.
“I am and that means you gotta get this surgery and get better.
Your grandbaby is gonna want to know their grandma.”
She glares at me.
“I’m not gonna be grandma, Nana sounds better, don’t ya think?”
A voice comes from the doorway.
“Sounds like a good name to me.
Sounds like a name that needs to be called out for years, so you need to get your ass better woman.”
Anna glares at Mom, in a way that a decades-long friendship allows.
She walks over and starts fussing with the IVs all around Mom.
She looks at Mom after she’s fixed things the way she seems to want them.
“What have we discussed, Romona? You are stuck with me and we agreed not to keel over till we’re at least eighty-five and we've got lots of years till then!”
That makes Mom grin.
“Jeez woman.
You act like I planned for my ticker to go haywire.
They’re gonna go in and fix me up in the morning and I’m gonna be right as rain.
I gots a grandbaby to plan for.”
I kinda zone out on their banter.
They’ve done this for as long as I can remember.
My phone dings with an incoming text.
My love: The sheriff—Jason guy—is getting antsy.
I swear his knee is bouncing faster every second.
When Anna’s done, I’m gonna send him back.
Ma wants after him.
Do you need anything?
Me: I’m good.
Mom’s good right now.
You said yes to marrying me and you’re having our baby.
I’m good.
I’ll come out so Ma can come in with Anna still here, then we can let Mister Anxious man in.
My love: Sounds good.
I’ll let them know.
See you in a minute…love you
I get up and start to tell Mom that I’m gonna go let Ma and her gentleman friend in when there’s noise at the door.
Standing in the doorway is Ma.
“You know that two-person bullshit doesn’t count for us.
Besides, only having three people here is as close to two people as we can get in this family.
Now, woman.
You need to tell your heart to get in line and start ticking correctly.
You got shit to do here still and we gotta get time together to love on our shared grandbaby.”
She glances over at me and must see something that reassures her, because she keeps going.
“We also gotta plan a wedding between our kids so we can officially become in-laws.”
They banter for a few more minutes and then tell Mom they’ll be back here tomorrow to wait while she’s in surgery.
The two of them head back to the waiting room.
“One more person is about to come visit you.”
Mom looks over at me and waits for me to continue.
“A certain captain in the sheriff’s office seems to be very concerned about you.”
I swear Mom blushes, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her blush before.
“Yep.
He seems to be quite taken with you too.”
I take her hand again, wanting her to get how serious I am.
“I know you loved Dad.
He knew it too, but he’s been gone a good long while.
If this Jason guy makes you happy and treats you right, you deserve it.
Mom, if he does that then I’m happy for you.
Your happiness is what matters.
I won’t see it as a slight against Dad or anything you might be thinking.”
I can see she’s got some unshed tears in her eyes.
“Love you, son.
You make me proud every day.”
I stand up and kiss her cheek.
“Love you too.
I’m gonna go out and clear out their waiting room.
I’ll give the two of you some time alone before I come back.”
I turn around to leave and see Jason at the doorway.
I nod as I head out of the room.
I know I should give them their privacy, but I can’t help turning around and watching from the doorway.
Don’t judge me.
You know you’d do the same thing.
I watch him go up to her and kiss her on the forehead.
He then touches his forehead to Mom’s.
“Baby.
I’m not ready to lose you a second time.
Not when I just got you back.”
He really does care for her.
Something feels right in my gut about it.
Time to go find my girl.