Chapter Nine. #2
Laila appeared thoughtful, and she never looked more like Jody. “Guess we all do. Mom and Aunt Aster insisted we were fluent in English. If we learned the word for apple in Danish, we learned it in English. Our cousins are the same; we’re all bilingual.”
“Was Denmark a good place to live?”
“Yes. It was home. Now this is. It is what it is.”
“That’s practical.”
Laila wrinkled her nose and looked around. “This isn’t Denmark and won’t ever be. But Denmark has too many sad memories. Life for us was bad after Far and Onkel Kanon died. And when Moster Aster (Aunt Aster) passed, we understood life would never be the same.”
“I remember Aster; she was larger than life.”
“Yes. Moster Aster was constantly smiling, and Onkel Kanon used to shake his head and say she was always in trouble. We were a close family, and now we’re broken.”
Grief drenched Laila’s voice, and I wanted to take it and make her happy, but that wouldn’t happen. Laila didn’t know me and was clearly suspicious, but she loved Vulcan as her father. And at sixteen, she’d been bonded with Vulcan for years.
“Well, I had better get back. They’ll be wondering where I am,” Laila said, getting to her feet.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” I replied.
Laila looked amused. “I don’t have one.”
“Tell me you didn’t take an Uber here!” I exclaimed.
“Pfftt, Dad was a biker. What do you think I’m riding?” she asked as we rounded the corner. Aster headed straight for a Harley Fat Boy, and my jaw dropped open.
“Is that your father’s?” I demanded. Holy crap, if Laila had stolen Vulcan’s Hog, there’d be hell to pay. Laila snorted and swung up onto it.
“No. This is mine. In Denmark, you can’t ride a full motorbike until you’re eighteen.
But Lars, the cousins, and I grew up riding bikes on Torden Hingste’s land.
This is restricted, but I can ride it legally here.
Dad bought Lars and me ours for our fourteenth birthdays.
He wanted us to be fully familiar with a bike before eighteen.
We rode them everywhere and are both comfortable with them. ”
“And over here you have to be sixteen,” I murmured as Laila pulled on her helmet. I realised she was also dressed in riding leathers. Jesus, the love of the road was in her blood, just like mine.
“Exactly. See ya around,” she said, flipping the visor and roaring off.
“Ain’t no question. That’s your kid,” Onyx stated from behind.
“She rides a Harley. Never saw that coming.”
“We backed you today, Magic. If Rogue Legends return, call on us. Alice has already called Diesel, and he’s on his way. Man sounded ready to blow his top. We could hear Diesel yelling for Chance across the bar.”
“Jesus. All I want is a quiet life.”
“You aren’t getting one. Now, asshole, tell me where we can park that ain’t IED mined.”
I shrugged. “Anywhere you want.”
“The parking area isn’t rigged?” Onyx looked relieved.
I chuckled darkly. “Oh no, asshole, the whole lot is seeded. Ain’t nowhere safe to park here, not even around the corner. But you want somewhere pussy? Park over that bit. And I’ll remember not to blow it if there’s an attack.”
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Onyx bitched. “And you won’t remove them?”
“Did you forget a cult attacked me here? Shit, I might place more.”
Onyx stalked away, complaining as I grinned and then studied the parking lot. There was plenty of space for more.
Jody
“You went to see Magic,” I stated as Laila walked in.
“Yeah. Is that a problem?” Laila demanded defensively.
“Nope. It’s your life, honey. Vulcan and I did a great job raising you to be independent and strong. You know your own mind, and I’ll support whatever you want.”
“And if I decide I want Magic around like an uncle or something?” Laila pushed.
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
“Love you, Mom,” Laila declared dramatically and hugged me before running up the stairs to her bedroom.
Magic had texted to inform me that Laila was at the bar.
I didn’t tell her that. He wished to be certain she was okay being there.
I appreciated the fact that Magic didn’t want to rock the boat or cause trouble.
If Laila wanted to see Magic, she could.
I wasn’t threatened by that, and neither was Vulcan’s memory. I’d sent a ‘that’s fine’ reply.
My phone pinged, and it was Magic, talk of the devil.
‘When can we meet?’
‘I’m free anytime. Lars can babysit as he’s being punished for letting Jesper dye Laila’s hair green.’
‘Tomorrow at seven? Fancy dinner?’
‘A burger will be fine. Where?’
‘I know a decent diner. I’ll text the address.’
Good. Magic wasn’t insisting on picking me up.
That would have caused blowback. If we got into a fight, then I wanted to be able to leave on my terms. While I hoped there wouldn’t be an argument, you never knew with Magic.
What he might relate to me could cause me to blow my stack, and I didn’t want to be reliant on him to get home.
A grin crossed my lips. Now I just had to tell the kids. What fun!
◆◆◆
As I headed down the stairs, Lars and Oskar were standing there, staring balefully.
“You need to take one of us, Moster Jody,” Oskar stated, folding his arms. Jesus, that hit me in the heart; he looked exactly like Kanon then. Thoughtfully, I tapped my chin.
“How old am I?” I asked mildly.
“Don’t answer,” Viggo whispered from behind me. “That’s a trap.”
I snorted; Viggo wasn’t wrong.
“Mor!” Lars exploded.
My eyebrow rose. A warning sign. “Don’t push your luck, Lars.”
“You need someone with you. What’s that term for it?” he snapped his fingers and smirked. “A chaperone. Magic might get ideas about tonight.”
“And I’m driving my car. Your sister, not you, has the address. I don’t require a hormonal, angst-filled, temper-ridden teenager with me. One mistaken word and everyone will think the world is ending,” I said calmly.
“Well, I don’t approve,” Lars stated, and I laughed.
“Until you’re eighteen, kid, I’m still your parent and legal guardian. At thirty-eight, I’m not in my dotage. I can kick ass with the best of them.”
“Moster Jody, I must insist…”
I made a slashing movement with my hand.
From behind me, Viggo muttered, “Oh, you’re so dead, brother.”
“Babysitting for a month,” I informed them.
Oskar and Lars were outraged. “What?” Lars shouted.
“Yup. The younger kids, which includes that little psychopath-in-the-making, Jesper, are all yours. And Jerrik has a new science kit he wants to test out. How lucky you’re now watching them!” I replied calmly.
Oskar screwed his face up, and Lars looked beside himself. Ha, what was their next argument?
“And you two are in charge of ensuring Jesper doesn’t cause mayhem. If he does, even one little incident, you’re babysitting for six months, and that will be every weekend for a start.” The threat made them both blanch.
“You get the handcuffs,” Oskar ordered Lars, who nodded.
I held a finger up, and both boys stopped. “And let me be clear. If Jesper complains of child abuse, you will babysit for a year.”
With that dire threat, I waltzed out of the house.
“Nicely played, Moster Jody,” Viggo said loudly. I chuckled; my nephew wasn’t wrong.
◆◆◆
“Thanks for explaining everything; it certainly cleared a few things up,” I said as I sipped a milkshake. The diner made ones to die for, and the burgers were extreme!
“It doesn’t change the past, but I hoped it closed some questions,” Magic replied. He had a root beer float, and it made me smile because whenever Magic saw it on the menu, he’d order it.
“It did. I feel better knowing you hadn’t kicked me to the curb because I was pregnant.”
“Never. Tell me about Denmark, and Vulcan, and the man he was?”
“Sure.” I smiled. I began by talking about how Vulcan and I had initially met; I mentioned that he’d supported me and fallen in love with me first.
Magic made a few encouraging noises, but I knew he was listening intently. There was raw grief in his eyes, and Magic realised what his actions had cost. As sad as it was, none of it could be changed. I’d choose this path even if offered a second chance.
“You miss Vulcan.”
“Every single damn day. The worst thing is, I know Vulcan would’ve done his best to get back home to us. We’d have been in his last thoughts,” I murmured.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Magic said, reaching out and grasping my hand. He squeezed gently, and I forced a watery smile.
“Me too,” I agreed. I’d not really had the chance to pity myself. Taking care of Aster and the kids had taken priority. I’d grieved in bed, but that was often disturbed by a child or Aster crawling in beside me.
A sudden bang on the window made me jump, and I snatched my hand back and stared into the furious eyes of Lars. If Lars were here, who was watching the younger children? Oh boy, was Lars in for it now!