Epilogue
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MAKER
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I run my hand over my aching hip as I climb off my bike. I know I should park it in the garage and drive my truck, but I’m not ready for that just yet. I can’t give my Harley up. I just can’t, but it makes me hurt like hell every time I straddle it. When I feel the vibration travel up my spine, I forget about the pain and focus on the ride.
It only takes me a few minutes to make it to her. The cold stone, as cold as her heart, sits there as a testimony to her wasted life. “How’s hell treating you, Lula?”
I know I’m not gonna get a response, but I still ask the question every time I come. Some folks would think I’m a sick fucker, visiting the bitch’s grave, but I need this. I need to rub her nose in how wonderful our lives are without her in them. “Little Vi is growing like a weed. She looks so much like Daisy cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen.”
I smile at the thought of my granddaughter toddling through the house, her cute little blond curls bobbing up and down with every step she takes. She always has a cookie in one hand and a toy in the other, and she always has a huge ass smile on her face. “She’s so damn smart. Every time she comes over, she goes straight for the kitchen. She may be only two, but she knows exactly where Brenda keeps her favorite cookies. She’s just like me there and loves her chocolate chips.”
Brenda is a wonderful grandma, even though Violet isn’t her blood. Hell, the woman has so much love to give, it’s mind blowing. I thank the good Lord every day that she came back to me, that she was willing to give me another chance. After twenty-three years of living in a world of shit, she has finally showed me how to find my dream. A good woman, my baby girl, my beautiful granddaughter: that’s what it’s all about—pure fuckin’ bliss.
“Brenda and I are getting married next week. Took me two damn years, but I finally talked her into it. We’re not doing anything big, just heading to the courthouse and having a little thing in the backyard afterwards. I would’ve given her anything she wants, but she says all she needs is me and our family and she’ll be happy.”
Daisy and Brenda have become really close over the last couple of years. Still, Brenda was worried that Daisy would have an issue with us getting married, but I knew better. I knew my girl would be happy as long as I was, and being with Brenda makes me fuckin’ ecstatic. My smile grows as I remember Daisy’s reaction when Brenda and I told her we were getting married. My girl broke down in tears, so happy for me, so happy for herself. She told me all she ever wanted was to have a real family, and now she does.
“I got some big news, not that you’ll care. We got another grandchild coming. Should be here this winter. Daisy is sure this one is going to be a boy, but I hope it’s another girl. A man can never have too many little flowers.” Preach agrees with me; he wants another girl. He says that he’s going to name her Lily to keep the tradition going.
“They finally bought that house down the road from Kidd’s. Our baby girl finally got her white picket fence.” I smile, knowing all those dreams she had has come true. “Preach worked his ass off to get the down payment. I tried to loan him the money, but you know how stubborn his ass is.”
Shrugging, I tell her the secret I’ve been hiding for everyone but Brenda. It’s not like this bitch can tell anyone. “I talked to Old Lady Reed’s son, worked out a deal with them. I gave him twenty thousand cash, and he knocked it off the cost. Told Preach that he needed to sell right away, so he had to lower the price. I figured I owed it to Daisy for all the shit I’ve put her through over the years.”
Walking closer to her tombstone, I look down at her name etched in the marble. Lula Marie Anderson. I hate, just fucking hate, that the bitch carries my name, even in death. “This is gonna be my last visit. I’m starting a new life with Brenda tomorrow. It’s time I leave you behind. I gotta put all our shit in the past and live free. Before I do, I gotta tell you something.”
Taking a deep breath, I utter the words I thought I would never say to this woman, words I never would have said if she wasn’t already six feet under. “I’m sorry, sorry for everything—all the drinking, the fucking around, every damn thing. I remember when we first got married. We were both just kids. You weren’t the bitch then that you were the day you died. If I had tried harder, you might have too. Then, our life wouldn’t have been such shit.”
Closing my eyes, I lean my head back and let the bright sunshine warm my skin. “We weren’t meant for each other, Lula. No matter what we did, I don’t think we would’ve ever been happy together, but we could have made a go of it. I’m sorry that I didn’t at least give it a try.”
Shaking away the thoughts, I walk to the foot of her grave. “With that said, there’s something I’ve been wanting to do for years.”
I unbutton my jeans and slowly slide down the zipper. Holding my cock in my hand, I let out a stream of piss that drenches the grass growing above Lula. “I may be sorry, but I still hate your fuckin’ ass.”