Chapter 31
CILLA
This morning Finger followed me to work after Tracker had called him to the clubhouse early. Seems Finger had to see I arrived safely at work before he headed out to see what was going on, or so he told me, but I have a feeling he knows what is happening, he’s just not saying.
Soon into my shift, Jet appeared, looking tired and disheveled. We made him breakfast and filled him full of black coffee before he looked bright-eyed and ready for the day.
“I have Miranda meeting us at the clubhouse after you finish work, Cilla,” Jet advises as I pass him a piece of apple pie.
“Cool. Maybe we’ll get it all planned and I can stop thinking about it. Maybe Mason and I should just run away and get married.”
“Hell, no, Cilla. Pres loves this shit, and he’s gonna want to strut you down the aisle.” Jet laughs at his own comment, “What do you guess he’s gonna want your ghost friends to come to the wedding too?”
I can’t help but giggle at the thought of Tracker being followed by Bono, Tank, and Pyro, and the three of them acting like clowns. I can imagine something ridiculous happening if only Tracker could see it, too. He would be impressed and delighted, I’m sure.
Climbing out of the truck in front of the clubhouse, I see Miranda sitting in her vehicle, grabbing what looks like a notepad and pen. Wonder where her tablet is? I thought she’d sleep with that thing stuck to her hand.
I tap on the vehicle window, and Miranda looks up giving me a bright smile. She quickly opens the door and hops out, “Hi, Cilla. Are you ready to show me where this wedding is happening?”
“Sure am. Follow me.”
We walk around the back of the clubhouse, with Jet sticking close I might add. Miranda is looking quietly at the ground, the building, and as yet not taking any notes.
Positioning us so Miranda can see where the wedding is going to be held, I point.
“That is where we are going to get married. I’m not sure I want an archway with flowers if I’m honest with you, Miranda.
It feels the same old…you know what I mean?
Everyone would do that, and I would rather we did something a little different. ”
“I understand what you are saying, Cilla. The first thing that someone would say seeing this is, have an arch, a red carpet, seating. If that doesn’t appeal how about a round table with a beautiful lace cloth.
Rather than a table that resembles an altar.
At the end of the day, it isn’t a church.
It’s a beautiful area within the property boundary.
Yes, we can still have a carpet for you to walk on, but the seating could be around the table rather than in rows in front of it.
Are you following my thoughts?” Miranda’s eyes are flicking over the area as she speaks.
“Yeah, like Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It’s cool, Cilla.
I can see the brothers all sitting in a circle of seats, watching you get married.
It would be nice for some to be able to see your face and not just your back.
How about a revolving platform then everyone would see you from the front…
” Jet is getting overexcited as he says this, and Bono who has appeared is laughing at the sight.
“No, no, no revolving platform, Jet,” I say with exasperation. Honestly, men just get carried away with ideas.
“Miranda. I like the idea very much. I can envision a round table with a nice cloth. Cap is ordained and I’ll ask him if he has any objections to us having a round table.
I am not interested in having a carpet, but a nice aisle between seats is good.
Tracker is walking me down the aisle, and as we are wearing shoes, I don’t think walking on the grass is an issue. ”
Miranda smiles as she replies. “I agree. How about we only put a small floral piece on a stand at intervals down the aisle. That way you will have something, but it will not be as over the top as we often see these days.”
“Oh, I like that idea. Just something to show the way, as you said. I am good with that. A small arrangement on the table, and I will hold a small bunch of flowers. That suits me just fine,” I respond with a bright smile of my own.
“Okay. What about a cake?” Miranda asks and looks at me with a hint of a smile.
Then she holds her hand up before I can respond.
“Let me guess. Not a tiered wedding cake. A collection of cakes so that your guests can have a piece of whatever type of cake they like best, rather than a fruit covered or a basic vanilla cake.”
“That’s a good idea. If we have a dozen different flavors and a large lemon one with something on the top that Mason and I can cut that would work for me.”
“Okay, I’ll speak to the baker about the cakes, but I cannot envision any problems. I’ve also spoken to the caterer about the food.
She was creating a menu for you so that you could see what she thought would be good choices.
I’ll email that to you, Cilla, and you can confirm, or we can change as required.
The photographer is booked. She will wander around the reception after you are married.
I have told her she must not enter the building under any circumstances. ”
Jet chuckles, which has both myself and Miranda looking at him questioningly. “What if she needs the restroom?”
“She’ll need someone to escort her inside,” I quickly state. “Make sure you tell her that, Miranda.”
“I will. The caterers know not to enter too. They are bringing the food, setting up, and then leaving. They will return later and take away everything, leaving the area clean,” Miranda is making notes as she speaks.
“Where is your tablet?” I blurt.
Miranda looks at me with a scrunched nose, “I dropped it, and yes, it was on a hard surface and shattered. It’s a good thing I use a private cloud, so everything is always backed up and safe. I’m waiting for delivery of a new one at the moment.”
We close the meeting, and Miranda leaves. Walking towards the clubhouse, I stop and look at five bikes that look as though they need to be scrapped.
“What are you looking at Cilla?” Jet asks.
“Those bikes. Are they bikes the prospects use?”
Jet looks a little embarrassed but replies. “Yeah, they are. We can’t afford good hogs like the brothers. But maybe one day we can. It’s something to work hard for.”
Nodding in agreement as I tuck my hand over his arm and give him a warm smile. “We all struggle at times, Jet. Nothing to be embarrassed about. Now, let’s see where Mason is because I’m ready to go home.”
“You are not going home yet, Cilla. I want a word with you.”
Looking over to who was speaking, Tracker is heading my way, and he’s looking determined. “What can I do for you, Tracker?” I quickly ask.
“I need you to come to the office. I want a word with you, as I said,” Tracker passes me and heads to his office, and I obediently follow behind.
What nobody else can see are the three assholes swaggering behind Tracker, chests puffed out and looking important.
If only someone apart from me could see this, it would make the strutting worthwhile is what I’m thinking.
But I keep the thought to myself and blocked from the three idiots hearing it.
“Take a seat, Cilla,” Tracker gently says as he closes the door behind us. I can’t help but notice he kept Jet outside of the office.
After I’ve settled into an easy chair, Tracker sits in front of me. He’s looking damn serious, which is making me nervous. “Okay. What can I do for you?” I ask.
“I want to see Tank. For myself, not hear it secondhand. Can you do that, Cilla? Can you make it happen?” Tracker looks so eager that it reminds me of a young boy wanting to see something spectacular.
“Well…” I look at Tank who is giving me a slight nod. “Maybe I could persuade him to do that. You realize that it zaps his energy, so it then takes time for him to recover. Oh, and I’d want something in return,” I give Tracker a mean smirk which must take him by surprise.
The fact that I would have the nerve to blackmail him eventually clicks and he gives me an emotionless look. I wait, and eventually he asks. “What is it you want, Cilla?”
“I want a larger suite here at the clubhouse. Two bedrooms instead of one because I have the baby coming and will need a room for him or her. I enjoy coming here, Tracker. Staying with the brothers is a delight for me. I’ve never had people who wanted to be close to me before, so having this club family means more to me than you can imagine. ”
Tracker gives a small chuckle. “If that is all you want, you got it. Tell Finger to speak to Jeremy about it, and that you have my full support. Now, about Tank…”
I look at Tank and he smirks, closes his eyes, which I think is his way of gathering his energy to show himself. Tracker jumps to his feet and mumbles, “Tank!”
Tank has done the best he can to show himself to Tracker. A misty man is how to describe it. But the huge smile on his face has my heart lurch. You can see the love Tank has for Tracker, and although it only lasts a few moments, it has Tracker standing with his mouth gaping open in shock.
“Are you okay, Tracker?” I ask. What I want to do is laugh my butt off, but I think better of it knowing what Tracker is capable of.
Tracker retakes his seat and looks at me. “It’s real. I saw him.”
“Yeah, it’s real. You saw him, and Tracker…”
“Yeah?”
“Look to your left,” I say quietly.
Tracker looks to his left, and there is a perfect flame hanging in mid-air. Tracker cannot see Pyro, but I can see him. He is holding out a flame for his friend to know he is also around and real.
“Holy fuck!” Tracker says before a huge smile crosses his face. “Pyro, you fucker. Stay around because we could have fun at times, and one day I’m coming and I want to be with you, Bono and Tank.”
“Not yet, Tracker. It’s not your time yet,” I state, knowing it is not nearly his time, as his life’s aura is bright and clean.
I make my way out of the office and Jet tells me that Mason has left and gone home. That is where I dash off to now, with Jet, of course following me on his piece of crap bike.
The next morning, I am sitting with Shelby after the morning rush for breakfast. I’m drinking a glass of lemon water because my stomach was a little off this morning.
I have so far had no morning sickness, and I’m hoping I don’t start now.
Taking another sip before I decide to throw an idea out to Shelby.
“Shelby, have you seen the crap bike that Jet rides?”
“Yeah, it’s not good. I worry he’ll break down while he’s following you.
Mind you, all the prospect’s bikes look the same,” Shelby rolls her eyes as she continues.
“It’s a shame they can’t afford something even a little better.
I know they won’t get the Harley Davidson big bikes for a long time yet, but something that doesn’t look like it’s going to fall apart from under them on a rough road would be better than what they have. ”
“I’ve been thinking about getting some cash so I can get them a decent bike. Not a posh hog as Mason calls them, but something that looks like it’s roadworthy.”
Shelby leans forward. “What are you thinking?”
“A spiritual evening. We could hold it here, and have people pay to come inside. They can buy drinks and sweet treats from you. It would be a win-win, for you and for me. We would both get something out of it. My win I would put toward bikes for the prospects.”
“No. They come in free as always, so we would have people walk in at any time. If they have a message they pay for it. That way, the only payers are the ones who get something out of it. The others will come back for another evening, and we could do five evenings, one for each prospect,” Shelby leans back in her seat and folds her arms over her chest.
“Okay, we'll do that. But how much do we charge?”
“Leave the money side to me. I’ll do the charging, collecting and finding decent bikes. You are pregnant, so you just do the readings only, as that is tiring enough, Cilla.”
“Deal.”
Shelby gives me a huge smile, “Deal!”