Chapter 9 #3
The drive from Bristol to Maces Spring was a mere thirty miles.
It was northwest of Bristol. Maces Spring was an unincorporated area along State Route 614.
It was known as Poor Valley. The name was literal.
It came from an area that spanned three Tennessee counties and three Virginia counties.
It got its name due to the poor soil conditions.
Thankfully, my family wasn’t farmers, or they would’ve starved. Dad had his office in Bristol. He was an ophthalmologist. Mom ran the office for him. They liked living out in the country, even if it was a forty-minute drive to work and back.
The one thing Maces Springs was famous for was that it was the place that gave rise to the Carter family, the famous country music family from which June Carter Cash, Johnny Cash’s wife, came. For Dad, who loved the old bluegrass country, it was heaven to live there.
Growing up, it was boring for both young kids and teenagers.
It was what had led me to Bristol, eventually to my meeting with the Punishers, and to prospecting for them.
My sister worked for a foundation that worked with kids as a social worker.
It was through her volunteering at the Fortress of Bravery while in college that the club began working with them, and Maniac found Lark.
Shutting off my Challenger, I reflected on how nice it was to drive.
While I preferred my bike, I did like my car.
I didn’t drive it much, but I thought it made sense to drive it today.
It was black and had the same skull design as my bike.
I reached over and took her hand. Aubrielle’s gaze met mine.
“Take a deep breath. Everything will be okay. I swear it will. Be yourself. They’ll love you. They’re not judgmental,” I assured her.
“They’re educated and successful, Braxton. Your dad is an eye doctor, your mom runs his office, and your sister is a social worker.”
“So? You almost have your degree. Do you look down on me because I don’t have a college degree?” I asked.
Outrage appeared on her face. “No! Why would I?”
“Then why would you assume they would do that to you? I assure you, they love me whether or not I have a degree. Now, smile that beautiful smile of yours, and let’s meet my family.
My sister is here. That’s her car.” I pointed to it.
Placing a kiss on her hand in mine, I let go and got out to escort her inside.
When we reached the porch, the door opened before I had a chance to knock. I saw my sister’s excited and curious face. Blythe Marie was twenty-seven, six years my junior. She flew out the door and into my arms. I squeezed her tightly as I lifted her feet off the ground.
“Did you miss me, Squirt?” I asked her.
She smacked my back as I set her on her feet. “Don’t call me that, Brax. I’m not five anymore.”
Her mock scowl turned to interest as she looked at Aubrielle. Blythe’s expression was open and welcoming. She held out her hand. As they shook hands, my sister spoke.
“Hello, you have to be Aubrielle. I’m Blythe Marie, this one’s sister. It’s so nice to meet you. Please come inside and meet our parents. They’re dying to meet you.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you, too. Shadow has told me so much about his family,” my dazzler replied.
That was how we entered and ended up in the kitchen, where Mom was checking on something in the oven, and Dad was there with her. I took over before my sister could after we said hello.
“Dad, Mom, I’d like to introduce Aubrielle. She’s my old lady. Baby, this is my dad, Barrett, and my mom, Meredith.” I decided getting the last introductions out of the way was best.
I watched my parents smile, welcome her, and shake her hand. Then I was engulfed in their hugs. Mom’s kiss landed on my cheek, and Dad pounded me on the back.
“Well, son, I have to say, you sure found a beauty. Aubrielle, welcome to our home. Please, make yourself comfortable,” Dad told her.
“He loves you,” Mom said baldly.
“W-what makes you say that?” Aubrielle asked, startled.
“Because if he didn’t, he would’ve never brought you to meet us. I can’t tell you how thrilled we are to see him in love and settling down. It’s about time,” Mom told her.
I groaned. “Mom, you make it sound like I’m a hundred. I’ll only be thirty-three at the end of July, not a hundred,” I muttered. Mom waved my remark away.
“Come have a seat so we can get to know you. Brax, get her a drink,” Mom demanded.
And that was how Aubrielle was taken from me, leaving me to be a waiter. Her alarmed expression made me wink and mouth to her, You’re safe.
I sat there, interjecting comments here and there, carrying the conversation when I felt her floundering or being overwhelmed.
My family eagerly shared about themselves, especially me.
That included embarrassing memories from my childhood.
I would protest, making Aubrielle laugh and ask them to keep going.
I watched the tension ease from her as the conversation continued.
Eventually, the discussion eased as final preparations and setting the table were completed.
The meal was a classic Italian dinner. My last name wasn’t Russo by accident.
Mom and Blythe prepared a starter soup of ribollita, a rustic soup made with cannellini beans, kale, and bread.
The meat course was chicken piccata. I loved the combination of lemon, butter, and capers.
The pasta dish was carbonara—spaghetti with cured pork jowl, covered in a sauce made of eggs, pecorino romano cheese, and black pepper.
“Lord, it all smells and looks so good. I’ll have to diet for a week after this meal,” Aubrielle exclaimed.
Chatter filled the room as bowls were filled with soup.
Servings of piccata and carbonara hit plates.
The homemade bread was dipped in small dipping bowls of olive oil, salt, black pepper, and, for some of us, balsamic vinegar, an Italian’s bread and butter.
Appreciative murmurs came next. For dessert, Mom made a mixed berry crostata, an Italian jam tart in a buttery, crumbly pastry dough.
“Okay, I have to ask, though it’ll be hell on my waistline, but can I get the recipes for these dishes?” Aubrielle asked.
“Of course, you may. You like to cook?” Mom asked.
“I do if I have someone who appreciates it. I had to learn, growing up, if I wanted to eat. Shadow loves to eat,” she said, winking at me.
“Hey, I can’t help it. Thankfully, when I couldn’t come home, the Punisher ladies helped to feed my need for great food until you came along.”
“He’s such a sweet talker,” Aubrielle remarked.
“Since when?” my sister asked.
“Listen, Squirt, don’t make me put you in time out,” I teased.
“When are you going to stop calling me that?” Blythe pouted.
“When you’re a hundred,” I replied.
“Jesus, Aubrielle, or should I call you Ellie, as my brother does?” my sister asked.
“Either. He’s the only one to call me Ellie. Others use Elle, but I’m fine with any of them.”
“Hmm, I like all of them. Let me try out Elle. So, do you have any siblings? What’s your family like?” Blythe asked innocently, not knowing the mess she was about to open. Luckily, Aubrielle and I had discussed this and what to say.
“I do have two older brothers, but I’m afraid we’re not close.
I didn’t grow up in a family like yours.
My mom was loving, from what I recall, but she died when I was ten.
Dad and my brothers aren’t. They’re cold and see me as being subservient to them.
All women are. I have nothing to do with them as much as possible. ”
Her candid remark stopped forks halfway to mouths around the table. Looks of disbelief gave way to sympathy, then to resolve.
“Well, it’s their loss. We’ll gladly adopt you. You don’t have to worry about that crap in this family,” Mom said.
“I’ll never understand people like that. How can you be cold and not love your children?” Dad asked.
“Yeah, if anything, we’ll smother you with too much closeness and love. Oh, and be prepared for nosiness, wanting to know everything,” my sister added.
There were loud protests from our parents, chuckles, and teasing. Aubrielle’s face was radiant with joy as she laughed and talked.
“Brax mentioned on the phone that you’ll be finishing college at the end of the year. Mind if we ask what your degree is in?” Mom asked.
“I don’t mind at all. I’m getting a Bachelor of Science in English with an emphasis in writing,” my old lady shared.
“Ugh, English was always the bane of my existence in school. I hated having to write papers and essays,” Blythe moaned.
“That’s my favorite part,” came Aubrielle’s reply.
“What do you hope to do with your degree?” Dad asked.
“Well, to earn a living, editing of some sort is the likeliest job. You know, a copy or content editor, a grant writer, or a research analyst who analyzes data for others to absorb. There are all kinds of those jobs.”
As my family remarked on those, I saw she wasn’t going to share her ultimate dream, so I did.
“Dazzler, tell them what your ultimate dream is,” I encouraged.
Aubrielle’s cheeks turned pink as a shy expression washed over her.
“Honey, that’s unlikely,” she protested.
“It’s not impossible. Go on,” I encouraged her, smiling.
My family joined me in cajoling her. After a couple of minutes, she broke.
“Since I was five years old and discovered books, I’ve wanted to be an author. I know it’s probably not going to happen, but I still dream. I might be able to do that as a hobby, and then do one of those other jobs to earn a paycheck.”
“Don’t rule it out. If you want it enough, don’t give up,” Blythe immediately advised her.
“Absolutely,” Mom tagged on. Dad nodded.
“Thank you, I see where Shadow gets his sweetness from. He tells me the same thing.”
I groaned and shook my head, muttering playfully, “You’re ruining my tough biker image, baby.”
She blew me a kiss, which made my family grin even more. That was when the lighthearted discussion changed to a topic Aubrielle wanted to avoid at all costs.
“Elle, what do you do for work now? Or do you attend school only?” Dad asked.
Instantly, my woman’s smile disappeared, and discomfort spread across her face. She sent a panicked glance my way. I took her hand on the table and squeezed it. Aubrielle took a couple of deep breaths, then met the stares of my family.
“I have to work to pay for school and to live. My family would never support me. I was lucky I was allowed to go to college at all. As for what I do, for most of the past two years, I’ve been a dancer at Punishers’ Eden, the club’s strip club.
That’s how I met Shadow and became friends with his club.
One of the dancers took pity on me because I had zero experience and taught me how to choreograph dances and make costumes. ”
There was the ever-slightest silence after she finished explaining before any of my family replied.
“You’re so brave to do that. I could never have the nerve to do it, and I sure wouldn’t know how to come up with a dance routine or sew,” Blythe stated.
“I could sew, but I’m not sure about the dancing part. It was fate then that brought you and our son together,” Mom added.
“I heard that a lot of the ladies who dance do it because the money can be lucrative and it’s their only way to take care of themselves and/or their children, pay for college, or make a down payment on a house,” Dad remarked casually.
I watched tears fill my dazzler’s eyes. I scooted my chair against hers and pulled her to me. Alarmed looks appeared on my parents’ faces.
“Oh, honey, what’s wrong?” Mom asked.
“You, you don’t think less of me because I’m a stripper?” Aubrielle asked in a voice tinged with disbelief.
“Why would we? Anyone who does is an idiot. You do what you have to do to make your way in the world and to better your circumstances,” Dad stated.
And that was how Aubrielle finished stealing my family’s hearts, and they did the same to her. It was an utterly beautiful moment.