***
Walking around school, I thought it would be like in all the movies where a girl gets pregnant and everyone calls her names and isolates her because she’s having a baby so young. But everyone has been really nice and helps me if I drop something. Just last week, Kian, one of Jake’s team mates, carried my bags for me. There have been some things in the press about me being pregnant, but it hasn’t hurt Dad’s campaign one bit like Mom thought it would. If anything, it’s gained him leverage.
“You okay?” Jess waves her hand in front of me. “You were miles away.”
“Yeah, just thinking.” I offer a small smile.
“Wanna talk about it?” She pops a fry in her mouth.
“How am I going to tell Striker?” Saying his name and the thought of seeing him again causes a shiver down my spine.
“Want me to come with?”
“No, Jess. I think I’d best do this on my own.” She nods.
I need to do this. And soon.
Chapter Five
Daria
Seven months have passed. Mom and Dad still haven’t come to see me or even tried to contact me. I’ve driven up to their house a few times, tempted to go in and confront them to tell them I’m having a baby girl, but I chicken out every time. The school has been good with me going to appointments, and the support from my fellow students has been overwhelming.
Here I am, finally plucking up the courage to tell Striker that he’s about to be a father. I’m scared as hell coming on my own and I pray that Nico or the lady that warned me, or even Chucky, is here so I can at least feel sort of safe.
Walking up to the doors, I push the buzzer, and someone lets me in immediately. My heart hammers against my chest, beating faster the closer I get.
“What can I do for you, little girl?” A tall, well-built, dark haired man I vaguely recognize walks towards me.
“I-uh, I need to speak with Striker.” I stutter a little, getting a better look at this guy who I now remember as the himbo. Blaze.
“No can do.”
“Please, it’s important.”
He looks down at my swollen belly and back up to my face. “You seriously think you’re the only one that’s come here to claim that her bastard child is his?” He laughs, walking towards me. “You’re not the first and you sure as hell won’t be the last. He doesn’t do seconds. Especially with a dumbass teenager. He’s busy with a different girl warming his bed every night.” He’s standing in front of me now, and I can smell the alcohol and cigarette smoke on him, making me gag. “Now, run along, little girl. Go bother some other dumb fuck. Maybe they’ll believe your little story.”
I turn away from him, walking fast to my car with tears falling down my face while he laughs. I hear him talk to someone.
“Who was that?”
“No-one.”
I’m such an idiot.
***
“Hey, babe.” Jake greets me when I arrive home. “What’s wrong? Is it the baby?” He guides me to the chair.
“I went to tell him.” I hiccup.
“You went to the biker place on your own?” His eyes are as wide as saucers. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going?”
“I thought I could do it on my own. You’ve already done so much for me.” I look down at my left hand, the light catching my rings. “I wanted to do this on my own. But the guy at the door just laughed at me and turned me away.”
“The bastard. I’ll go myself and fucking kill him.”
“No offence, Jake, but you’d be dead before you got through the gate.”
“He can’t knock you up and treat you like that, Dee.” He sighs, sitting next to me.
“I know. That was his one and only chance.” I sniff, and just as I do, I smell something amazing cooking. “Is that spaghetti Bolognese I smell?”
His face beams with a dazzling smile. “Yes, and cupcakes.” My little girl starts to kick like crazy at the mention of cupcakes. I quickly grab Jake’s hand.
“Our daughter approves.” I smile, looking at his happy beaming face as he feels our girl kick.
No matter what, I know I can always count on Jake. I just wish this was our future; married to Jake with a child on the way. Our child, made out of love. But it’s not, and life has a funny way of kicking you when you’re already on the ground. This is my reality; pregnant and married to someone I don’t love wholeheartedly at seventeen.
After dinner, I hear the doorbell.
“You get the popcorn and I’ll choose a movie,” Jake shouts as he goes to answer the door.
“Fat chance. You picked last night,” I shout back, laughing at him trying to use my baby brain against me, all because I put the cereal box in the fridge and the milk in the pantry. He’s never let me forget it.
Turning, my smile suddenly drops when I see someone I never thought I would see again standing in front of me.
“Pumpkin.”
“Dad?”
“Can we talk?”
I want to say no, but I also want to hear what he has to say. Nodding, I lead him to the dining table.
“You have a nice place.” Dad looks around, sitting opposite me.
“Thank you.” He may have hurt me, but that doesn’t mean I lost the manners he instilled in me growing up.
“I'll leave you to it. I'm just next door if you need me.” Jake kisses my head, squeezing my shoulder. I place my hand over his, trying to draw some strength from him.
“Please, pumpkin.” Closing my eyes, I will the tears away. For so long, I’ve longed to hear his voice, to hear him tell me he misses me. But too much time has passed and the hurt has taken up residence in my heart with no intentions of leaving.
“Don't. Don't call me that,” I say, my voice lower than a whisper but loud enough for him to hear. Looking up, I see the hurt in his eyes at me telling him not to call me that name. A name he has called me ever since I can remember. “You don't have the right to call me that anymore.”
“Pum... Daria, I'm sorry.”
“You're sorry? You're fucking sorry?” For the first time in my life, I'm swearing and raising my voice to my dad. “You let Denise kick me out of my own home just because I made a mistake!”
“Your mother didn't mean you had to stay away forever. She was just upset and disappointed. We both were.”
“You know the worst thing about that whole thing?” I look at him with tears falling from my eyes. “The worst thing was that you let her speak to me the way she did. You let her kick your own daughter out.”
After staring at me for the longest time, he starts to speak again. “Pumpkin.” I give him a hard look and hold my hand up when he reaches for me. “Daria, I am so sorry. I never wanted you to feel like I chose your mother over you.”
“One, there shouldn’t have been a choice to be made. You should have stuck by me no matter what,” I snap. “Two, she’s not my mother, never has been. Any sort of mother would never put so much pressure on her daughter who she says she loves, to lose weight, put her in so many classes that she’s physically exhausted, call her names, mentally abuse her. Make her take diet pills.” Dad’s eyes widen at the last statement. “Your precious wife has been feeding me diet pills since I hit puberty. She’s not so perfect now, huh?”
“She’s just disappointed.” He completely ignored the fact that she mentally abused his daughter and gave her dangerous diet pills.
“Didn’t you hear what I said? She gave me pills that you said were full of dangerous chemicals.”
“I heard you, Daria. She only had your best interests at heart.” He doesn’t look at me when he speaks. That tells me he’s ashamed he didn’t see it all happening under his nose.
“You’re delusional. She’s a nasty, manipulative bitch.”
“That’s enough. She was distraught when she kicked you out. She feels bad, but like I said, she was disappointed. We didn’t bring you up like that!”
“How dare you
come into my home after seven months of radio silence and tell me Denise is upset about all of this! How do you think all of this has affected me? How do you think I feel seeing your picture in the paper, looking happy with her when you won the election? I should have been there with you. Not hidden like I never existed! She got what she’s always wanted, you all to herself. So, don’t come in here and try to justify her actions for throwing your eighteen-year-old pregnant daughter out.”
“Look, pumpkin, I didn’t come here to fight. I wanted to clear the air and to apologize.” He sighs. “Mom and I know a lady who can’t have children we want you to meet.”
“What?” I gasp, realizing what he means by that. “I am not giving up my baby.”
“Listen, Daria. You’re eighteen. You don’t know how to look after yourself, let alone a baby.”
“This isn’t you talking, Dad. This is her. She wants to control everything.” I shake my head as the tears continue to fall. “You wouldn’t make me do this. You would support my decision.”
“Daria, this lady is a good woman. She’ll care for it.”
“Her,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Excuse me?”
“Her. The baby is a girl, not an it!” I snap. “She’s my daughter and I am not giving her up like you did to me.” I stand.
“Daria, stop being a spoilt little girl. You have no idea how much pressure you will be under having a child this young. How much stress comes with babies at seventeen. Take it from someone who knows, who has been there.”
“Grandpa and Grandma didn’t make you give me up,” I counter.
“No, they didn’t. But your mother couldn’t cope and ran. I don’t want that for you!” He sighs. “I never wanted you to fall into the same mistake as I did.”
“Wow.” I stand crossing my arms over my bump, “Gee, thanks, Dad. Nice to know how much I was wanted.”
“That’s not what I meant. I love you with everything in me. You’re my life, Daria.” He stands in front of me. “You know damn well all I do, all the work I do, is for you.”
“You just said I was a mistake! Tell me, how the hell am I supposed to take that?”
“Don’t you dare yell at me, young lady. I am still your father!”
“You’re nothing to me.” Looking him in the eye, I see the hurt cloud over his face as the words leave my mouth. “I think you should leave, Mayor Denver.” Turning away from him, I can’t look at him anymore.
“I love you, pumpkin.” I hear the raw emotions in his voice, then the door slams shut. I crumble to the floor in a heap and cry my hardest.
“Daria, what happened?” Jake’s anxious voice sounds in my ears. I grab him and weep in his arms, mourning the father-daughter relationship that has been ripped apart.
“I don’t have anyone.”
“Hey, no. No, do not say that. You have me.” He brings my tear-stained face up to meet his. “You will always have me.” He kisses me lightly. Looking him in the eye, I kiss him again. “Don’t do this because you’re upset,” he whispers against my lips.
“I want to.” I kiss him again, this time with more passion and desperation. Standing, he lifts me up on to the counter top, pushing my dress up and pulling my panties down. I reach for his trousers and undo them, dropping them to the floor. He pulls me closer to him, pushing himself into me.
“Oh, God,” I gasp. I feel a pop then a gush of water. We stop dead.
“Shit. Let me get the bag.” Jake steps back, running to get the hospital bag. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” And I do. I love him.
***
“That’s it, sweetie. One more push,” the midwife coaches me.
“I can’t do this,” I pant. Jake wipes my brow. “Jake, you take over.”
“Baby, I can’t.” He smiles down at me. “You can do it. I know you can.”
“Okay, Daria. One more big push, sweetie.”
I push with everything in me until we hear the cry.
“Congratulations, Mommy. You have a beautiful baby girl.” The midwife shows my daughter to me. Tears of joy and pain fall down my face when I look at how perfect she is.
“Look at her. She’s beautiful like her mommy.” Looking round, I see Jake crying with a big smile on his face.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you,” I tell him honestly. He looks down, away from our daughter, and kisses me lightly.
***
“Well, let me see my niece.” Jess walks into my room while I’m trying my hand at breastfeeding. Looking up, I see her beaming face, along with Alexa and Tyler.
“We can come back.” Tyler looks anywhere but at me.
“It’s fine, she doesn’t seem interested.” I’m a little disheartened by it.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. Not all babies like the breast. I’ll get you a bottle.” The midwife that has been with me through my whole pregnancy and labor tries to appease me. I look down at my baby girl, from her jet black hair, her oval eyes, her full lips, to her button nose. I can’t wipe the smile off my face. I’ve never felt love like it before, apart from my dad. My smile must have dropped because Jess looks at me with concern.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Just tired, I guess.”
“Why don’t you nap? We can look after this beautiful princess,” Alexa suggests.
Alexa and Tyler have been there for me every step of the way. They acted the way my parents should have and supported all my decisions. The same can’t be said for Jake’s mom. She hated every decision, right down to who I was having in the room while I gave birth. I remember her and Jake Snr. having a blazing row that turned into her dropping herself in it that she had this planned all along. Turns out, Jake Snr. knew nothing about the whole plan to get Jake and me married whether we liked it or not. He swears Dad knew nothing either. He may not have known, but when he did find out, he still took her side.
Closing my eyes, I fall into a deep sleep, dreaming of a perfect life with my perfect family.
Chapter Six
Daria
Nine years later…
“Can we go for ice cream?” Emily asks me as she puts her jacket on.
“We need to get back for Dad coming home, sweetie.” I smile.
Jake comes home today from traveling Europe with his company. He made it his mission to be home for Emily's ninth birthday, which is today. It just seems like yesterday I gave birth to our little girl. The more the years go by, the more she looks like her father. Every time I see her, I see him in her. My heart flutters when I think of him.
“But, Mommy, it's my birthday.” She bats her big blue eyes at me, pushing out her bottom lip, bringing me out of my thoughts. She only calls me mommy to get what she wants. She stopped calling me mommy two years ago, telling me that she’s not a baby anymore and effectively crushing my heart.
“Well, how can I say no to that face and that it's your birthday?” I shake my head at the fact she always gets what she wants. “It'll be our little secret.” I wink at her.
“Mom, what about Dad?”
“Hmm, Dad will be upset if he finds out we've been to Three Scoops without him. He loves their honey-rhubarb ice cream. Maybe we can get him a tub for coming home to.”
Her eyes light up at the suggestion. “Yes! Then we can watch Descendants while we eat it.”
“We can do whatever you want, princess.” I giggle as we walk towards Three Scoops.
We're busy trying to choose what ice cream to get; or rather Emily is trying to convince me to buy the counter of flavors. I hear a rumble of motorbikes that make the hairs all over my body stand on end. My back straightens when I hear the thud of boots getting closer. The thuds sound like my heart beating against my chest.
“Mom.” Emily taps my arm. “Mom, I've decided.” Looking down at her, I place a smile across my face, trying to ignore the fact that her real dad’s biker group could be breathing the same air as us.
“Can we have the mint chocolate chip and the bubblegum extra sprinkles on a cone, please?”
“Of course, Emily.” Lara smiles. “You okay, Daria? You look like you've seen a ghost.”
“I'm fine, just can't wait for Jake to get home.”
I look to the left of me and see someone I never thought I would lay eyes on again. He's a hell of a lot bigger than he was ten years ago. Manlier. He's almost bursting out of the Black Sabbath shirt and his leather vest with skull with wings coming out at the back.
“Charlie, can you come serve, please?” Lara shouts through to her husband to help out.
“What can I get you guys?” he asks.
“Mint chocolate chip with bubble-gum. Extra sprinkles.”
“You're such a kid, Striker.” Hearing his name sends a shiver down my spine.
“Who gives a shit? It tastes amazing!” His voice causes my stomach to bottom out, and flashbacks of almost ten years ago come back. My breathing becomes ragged and all I hear is my heartbeat in my ears.
“Daria, are you sure you're okay?”
“Mom, oh my God, that man has the same as me.” The shock and surprise in her voice echoes off the walls. I pray it wasn't loud enough to alert him. As I'm paying, she runs up to him.
“Mister. We have the same iceys. It's my birthday today,” she says.
“Emily, how many times have I told you not to talk to strangers?” I scold her, looking up at the cold blue eyes that make me weak at the knees. “I apologize. She gets excited when someone orders the same, which isn't often.” My voice sounds foreign.
“Mom, we have the best flavors. You can't just pick one.” Emily tuts at me, licking her ice cream.
“Come on. Better get Dad's ice cream home before it melts.” I take her hand and begin walking out.
Jesus. I feel myself become hotter the longer he stares at me. I'm surprised the ice cream doesn't melt. I can still feel his eyes on me when we cross the road to my car. I'm walking so fast that Emily loses her footing and trips, dropping her cone.
Three Strikes (Demons Disciples MC Book 1) Page 4
