28. Chapter 27
Clark – A Week Later
I chew my bottom lip as I fill in my patient's chart, chatting echoing around me, and I’m struggling to concentrate.
Miles has been off with me all week, and I’m beginning to think I pushed him away.
I’ve been angry, really angry—a hot, twisting knot that refuses to let go, leaving me brittle and raw.
It isn’t because I’m pregnant, every child is a blessing, especially when some women struggle to even conceive. It’s because yet another choice was taken away from me, and my husband doesn’t see any fault in it, no one does and that just makes my mood worse.
We’ve only been trying for what, three, maybe four months? We’re not solid just yet.
He still has his demons to try and get through. He’s still in therapy because of his mom and the trauma she caused him. She’s not happy that she’s been placed in an apartment and is no longer permitted to wear her old lady cut.
She’s making waves, and that’s putting a strain on him, yet he messed with my birth control…
As much as I love my husband, he should have spoken to me first, but now that I’ve been pissed at him, he’s acting weird.
I sigh as I place the clipboard on the nurse's desk before clocking the time, seeing my shift is over, and dread fills me.
Is he going to be there? He wasn’t on shift today after doing 14 hours yesterday, something he shouldn’t even be doing right now. I haven’t heard from him all day, when normally he’d message me throughout…
Dread continues to fill me as I go and grab my things from the staff room, and the urge to try to call Miles consumes me and I give in, the panic choking me that I’ve pushed him away.
I walk quickly into the staff room and grab my bag, my phone my main focus, and I bring up Miles' number before pressing on it.
It rings and rings before I’m sent to voicemail.
He can’t be mad at me for being mad at him for getting me pregnant without speaking to me, he just can’t be.
My frustration builds, and I slam my phone back into my bag before storming out of the staff room, my anger building yet again at my husband being an entitled prick!
Urgh, damn these stupid hormones. One minute I’m scared, the next I’m pissed.
Shaking my head, I make my way towards the exit, only to gasp to a halt before I hit a body and my eyes connect with my friend’s.
“Where’s the fire?” Kodi asks with a sly grin, and I frown.
“Nowhere, I’m just tired and didn’t see you,” I lie.
Shaking my head, realizing she isn’t in uniform, I ask, “Are you okay?”
“Well, no, not really, I could do with a friend,” she admits, and I instantly go on alert as she asks, “Take a drive with me?”
A drive with a friend and more time away from my husband before I kill him? Sounds good to me.
I nod and say, “Of course,” and walk with her towards her bright red jeep, concern for my friend itching deep inside me.
***
“Can you not just tell your dad that you don’t want to do that?” I say as Kodi turns down the road towards the clubhouse forty minutes later after driving around, and she sighs.
“I tried, and he lost it with me,” she admits before I watch her throat bob, and she murmurs, “He slapped me, Clark,” and my eyes widen.
“He did what?” I snap, and she winces.
“He went into a rant about how he lost mom because she didn’t listen and how he won’t lose me and that I’ll stand in line before he backhanded me,” she confesses quietly, and my jaw ticks as I just notice the cut on her lip.
Mother…
“You need to move out of that house, Kodi, it’s like a shrine to your mom,” I say gently despite my anger as she pulls up to the clubhouse gates, and she sighs because she knows I’m right.
Her dad can’t seem to let go and is bringing her down with him.
I wave to Aiden, the prospect on the gate who gives me a salute and opens said gates, but his eyes stay glued to Kodi, making me smirk.
Like he’d have a chance with her, or more importantly, like Knuckles would let him anywhere near her.
I’m not stupid. I’ve noticed him tensing every time her name is mentioned, he has feelings for her, he just doesn’t know what to do with them, whereas I do.
He wants her, but having a club bunny as his mom has messed his head a little.
Kodi pulls up near the doors, and we climb out as she says, “The last time I tried to get my own place, he had the place searched for drugs before I moved in and claimed to have found several. Every chance I get, he’s there to ruin it.
Why do you think he doesn’t know about our friendship?
He’d pull the club down because anything he sees as dangerous, unless it has to do with the force, I’m not allowed near, which is pathetic considering I’m an adult. ”
I sigh because I know she’s right, and we walk into the common room only to halt at the scene before me.
White and light pink roses are scattered everywhere, light lilac drapes hang from the ceiling with the roses, and my bottom lip wobbles seeing the two-tier light lilac and white square wedding cake that sits on the bar.
“Now, as much as I want to continue this conversation, which I really do because I need your advice and help with this, your husband has instructed me to help you into the ivory dress with a long train,” she whispers, and a few tears fall.
“This is why he’s been quiet this week?” I choke, and she hums as she gently wraps her arm around my waist.
“It is, and unfortunately, Belle isn’t here.
I was hoping to catch her at the hospital before you, but you came out first. Crash didn’t want to tell her what was happening until this morning, just in case she told you, but she hasn’t answered her phone,” Kodi admits, and I mumble, “She wasn’t at work today…
” As I take everything in and allow her to guide me towards my husband’s room, all while disbelief and so much love fills me, along with relief that he isn’t giving up on us.
***
I take a few deep breaths as Kodi goes out the back door first, sending me a wink, an hour later and I look down at the dress that fans out halfway down my waist, the lace sleeves adding to the elegance.
It’s my dream dress, the one I chose in high school…
I take a shaky breath as I slowly open the back door and walk out into the yard.
A small gasp leaves me when I see the brothers and their women all dressed up.
Cage is standing under an arch full of roses, acting as minister.
My husband is wearing slacks, a black button-down shirt, and his cut, looking at me with a grin.
My brother stands beside him with a matching smirk, and Kodi now stands on the other side with Drew, wearing the same dress.
A few tears fall, and I quickly wipe them away, seeing my daughter and Angela standing before me, holding a basket of flowers. With Willow's hand firmly in Angela’s, both grinning at me in white puffy dresses and light lilac ribbons around their waist… They look adorable.
“Oh my god,” I whisper, and someone clears their throat, and I look to my left and lock eyes with my dad.
“I know I don’t deserve it, but please, can I walk my daughter down the aisle?” he whispers, and a small sob leaves me as I nod, and he doesn’t hesitate.
Dad, who is dressed similarly to Miles, quickly moves to the steps, and I take his arm, allowing him to help me down before he wraps my hand into the crook of his elbow just as Willow says, “You look pwetty, Mama,” and holds out a bouquet of roses.
“Thank you, little dancer,” I whisper as I take the flowers from her, not surprised to see she’s got her hair in a low bun, and I look ahead, locking eyes with my husband.
The girls go first as soft music fills the yard, and everyone grins, looking relaxed, though I do notice it's not just Belle missing…
Miles’s mom is noticeably absent, though his dad's grin is huge.
As soon as we get close to Miles, he takes a step forward. Dad kisses my cheek before he places my hand in my husband’s as I pass my flowers over to a tearful Kodi.
“What did you do?” I whisper as we face each other in front of Cage.
Miles smiles and admits, “I’m giving you your dream wedding.
Buttercup, I meant what I said, I’m only sorry this is what you didn’t get.
I can’t be sorry about the rest because I have you, I have our daughter,” he lets go of one of my hands and places his on my stomach, “I get to have this baby with you while you finally live your dream…”
“Miles,” I choke, and he takes a step towards me and cups my cheek.
“What do you say, baby? You going to marry me again?” he asks, and a few tears fall as I agree, “Yes, yes all day, every day, I love you.”