Heavy Hogs MC

by Elias Taylor

  “You know, Carter.” My lip started to tremble uncontrollably. I couldn’t help it. I peeked across the kitchen to see that my parents were engrossed in conversation in the living room, out of earshot. “It’s just not going to work out. If it was meant to be, we wouldn’t have had all these hiccups.” I started to weep. The pressure I felt was immeasurable. I wanted to crawl up into a ball and crumble.

  “Autumn, what are you saying? Give me a chance.”

  “I’m sorry, Carter. It’s not meant to be.”

  I let the tears slide down the sides of my cheeks. Even with the desperation in his voice, I hung up the phone quietly. My fate was assured. I touched my stomach. I was raising this child alone.

  Chapter Seventeen: The Ring Bearer

  Now she didn’t even want to talk to me. I dropped the phone as I heard the dead tone. I’d found her, but I hurt her so badly that she wasn’t willing to give me another chance. I needed a drink to help me figure this shit out, so I grabbed a beer from the fridge.

  My bachelor pad felt empty. With Autumn here, it became a home. It never used to feel this way. I used to enjoy the silence and inviting women over only to have them leave after we had our fun. Funny how your life can change in an instant. I flipped through the catalog of memories that Autumn and I shared. We had formed a bond so deep that Autumn had an imprint on my soul, one I didn’t want to lift, regardless of that pain I felt. From the very first time I met her, I wanted her to be my wife, which was something that was hard to admit for a man like me. I’d followed in my father’s footsteps, though, and his beliefs had darkened my own views. No matter what anybody said, I wanted to be with Autumn for life.

  I thought so hard about things that my brain became foggy. I knew what I had to do. I had to do everything I could to get her back in my life, no matter what it cost me. I fell asleep on the couch with a new sense of conviction.

  The light flooded through my living room and woke me up. I stretched out, knowing exactly the first step to take. Ring shopping. With all the new business coming through the shop, I had enough in my back pocket to buy Autumn a ring, and not just any ring, but a ring of commitment. A promise to her. I racked my brain with ideas of what she might like. I would need the day for this task so that I could get it right.

  I texted Magner. Hey, Magner, can you hold down the fort today? Explain later.

  Most of the time, Magner was up early. He pinged me back.

  No problem, bro. Let me know if you need anything.

  I left it at that and got dressed. I shaved, picked out a collared shirt, and put on some nice blue jeans. I wore the cologne that Autumn liked, the one that always made her lick my neck. Once I was ready, I looked in the mirror and saw I didn’t look half bad, considering I’d been a wreck since our breakup.

  Autumn wasn’t predictable or conventional, so the ring wouldn’t be either. I knew that she often wore pink, she often wore jewelry, and she appreciated the finer things in life. Even her bike helmet had pink sparkles on it. A pink diamond. That was it! Something totally unique. It was worth a shot, at least.

  Marseille’s Jewelry was just the place to get what I needed. I knew about the shop from another guy at California Ryders, who had told me it was good. A mixture of emotions sifted through me, but none of them were to do with the decision to be with Autumn. I wondered if she would like the ring and if she would even want to marry me. Those were the two main unanswered questions in my head. I pulled up at the jeweler, and it took me a few minutes to get out of the car.

  A well-groomed woman greeted me with a smile at the door.

  “Hello, sir. Welcome. Feel free to browse, and if you need any help with anything today, please let me know.”

  “Ah, yeah. I do need help.” I must have looked stressed.

  “Seems like you’re making a big purchase today. Am I right?” She anticipated my next question.

  “Yes. I need a ring. A particular ring.”

  She moved around the glass counter. My head was spinning with all of the diamonds sparkling back at me. All of the choices. This wasn’t my forte. I fixed bikes for a living. I wished Autumn were here so that she could pick her own ring.

  “What does your lady like?” the lady quizzed me.

  “Seen this before, huh?”

  The lady gave a knowing nod. She was immaculately dressed, like a flight attendant. I felt out of place. But hey, the place came highly recommended, so I was willing to go through with it.

  “I think she would like a pink diamond. Do you have one of those?”

  “Ah, as a matter of fact, we have three. One of them is on sale. Exquisite rings. Shall I bring them out for you to take a look at?”

  “Yes, thanks.” My hands were damp with perspiration as she brought out the three rings from under the counter. One ring stood out, basically calling to me to get it. I pointed to it. “This one. Right here. This is her all over.”

  “Great choice,” the lady beamed. “That’s a rose gold setting with an emerald-cut pink diamond, eighteen karats all the way around. The price is normally thirty-two hundred, but we are having a sale, so today it’s twenty-five hundred dollars.”

  No hesitation from me. “I’ll take it. This is it.”

  I spun it around in my fingers. A sense of exhilaration and trepidation filled me. I didn’t know how both could co-exist at the same time, but they were. The ring was a truly beautiful piece of jewelry. I watched as the next part of my destiny played out. The lady placed the ring in a blue velvet box and a little bag, and I paid for it. I had a sudden fear as I reached my car that I would lose it. I had to work to calm myself, and I reminded myself that it couldn’t get any worse than it already was.

  I had my car today because I wanted to take every precaution. I wanted to make sure nothing flew away. I had this paranoid nightmare in my head that the tiny velvet box would fly out of my hands. I wanted to make sure all things were in place. I knew I was being overly cautious, but this was my last chance with Autumn.

  By the time I got everything arranged, it was mid-morning. I gave myself a pep talk in the mirror before I left. Time to be a man, Carter. She’s the love of your life, and you’re not going to find another like her.

  As I drove over to her parent’s place, the dream I had of us came to my mind again. I saw the kids, the bike, and us being married. We were predestined, even before I wanted us to be. It was like my subconscious had known how much I wanted her in my life, even if my conscious mind was tainted by the thoughts and ideas about love and women that I had unwittingly inherited from my father.

  I stopped in front of the address I had written down. I looked at the paper again, and my hands were trembling. I second-guessed that I had the right address again, and I looked again. I matched it to the mailbox. I commanded myself to just get out of the car.

  I saw a porch swing out front and a beautiful garden full of life on a quiet street that sat back from the road. They had a large house, but it still managed to look cozy. I see why Autumn wanted to be here. It seemed so serene.

  This would be the first time meeting Autumn’s parents. Here I was about to make a proposal to their daughter, but fuck it. My need to demonstrate to Autumn how serious I was about her overrode my fear. On legs like jello, I got out of the car and knocked on the door. I cleared my throat one too many times.

  A tall, angelic woman with blonde hair opened the door. She had the same powerful blue eyes as Autumn, and I thought it must have been her mother. I held out my hand to her.

  “Hi, I’m Carter. I know you don’t know me, but I’m in love with your daughter, and I’m here to see her.” I observed the trepidation on her face. I blurted all of it all without thinking my sentences through. Dammit. This was not how I wanted it to start.

  “Well, that may be all well and good, but I don’t know if my daughter wants to see you. I have to check with her first.”

  I waited at the door. I was sweating bullets. My armpits were wet, and I hoped I didn’t have wet patches
under them. An older gentleman poked his head around the corner after hearing my voice.

  “What a way to meet!” I saw a tall and handsome guy with a big smile on his face, and I felt more at ease with him coming to the door. He had a casual demeanour. “Carter, right?”

  He stretched out his hand to me. I took it. He gripped it firmly but not too hard. “Yes, sir.”

  Amused, he gave me the once over. “Garrett. You can call me Garrett. I’m Autumn’s father, but I’m guessing you already gathered that.”

  “Thanks.”

  Autumn’s mother joined him at the door with it slightly ajar. “ I’m Ambrosia. Nice to meet you, Carter. Autumn is making her way down now.”

  “Thank you both.”

  Ambrosia let me in reluctantly.

  “You have a lovely home, ” I said as I admired the interior.

  “Thank you.” Garrett spoke as Autumn came down, and they both disappeared when Autumn approached me.

  My heart wanted to explode into a thousand pieces when I saw her. She didn’t look so great, though. Her face was withdrawn and a little sickly.

  “Autumn, thank you for seeing me.”

  “Hi, Carter.” Her eyes held sadness, and I wanted to hug her and tell her it was going to be okay.

  “Autumn, are you all right? You look sick? What’s going on with you?”

  She managed a weak smile. “That’s what happens when you’ve been puking every morning.” Puking every morning sounded a lot like morning sickness. Holy shit! Autumn was pregnant with my baby. I grabbed her hand and drew her to me. She laid her head on my shoulder. She didn’t resist, and it felt so good to hold her. She put her hands around my waist, and we just hugged like that for minutes. There were no words. None were needed.

  I finally drew back from her to look at her pale face. “Autumn, are you carrying our child?”

  Vulnerable and weakened, she peeked up at me through her long lashes. “Yes. I’m pregnant.”

  My own reaction shocked me. I felt certainty and clarity. Autumn Bancroft was the woman for me. I had the velvet box in my top shirt pocket. I breathed in and dropped to one knee.

  “Autumn Bancroft. I’ve been waiting my whole life for a woman like you.”

  She gasped.

  “Autumn, will you marry me?”

  Chapter Eighteen: Clarity

  Carter on bended knee. Never in a million years did I think this would be something that would happen to me. The ring sparkled brightly in the light, a dusty rose-colored diamond with a gleaming gold band. I gushed.

  “Exquisite. I can’t believe this.” The words wouldn’t come, a lump formed in my throat from overwhelm. I felt the tears well up in my eyes as I clutched my throat.

  Carter stared back at me with his earnest eyes. He’d dressed up. He looked as sexy and handsome as could be, and in contrast, I looked like a hot mess. “Carter, please tell me you’re not asking me to marry you because of the baby?” I rubbed my stomach, not that I was showing. I just knew that’s where life was growing.

  Carter vehemently shook his head at me. He raised up from his knee, and I stroked his arm. I felt happiness wash over me. “Baby, I bought the ring before I even knew about the pregnancy.”

  Well, that was true. I bit my lip.

  “Are you sure you want to do this, Carter?” I asked. I wanted to be sure.

  “Autumn Bancroft, if you don’t kiss me right now, you’re going to be in trouble.”

  I let him slip the ring on my finger. I felt the weight of it and held it up to the light. I raised on my toes to put my hands around Carter’s neck, and he leaned to me and kissed me back to life. I had forgotten how excellent the taste of his lips was. I let his tongue take a voyage as I opened my mouth to receive him. The wounds were healing, sealing over with love. We pressed our heads together.

  He whispered to me, “We’re having a baby. This is amazing.”

  Finally, I felt like I could smile. I cried tears of joy. “Yes, we are. We have something cooking in the oven.”

  Carter fondled my hair and tucked it behind my ear. “Autumn, I love you so much. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.” All the angst and miscommunication were washing away from us like the California tide.

  “I’m still not sure. I mean, you don’t have to do this, Carter. You don’t need to take it to such extremes if you’re not feeling it.”

  Carter stepped back from me and stared at me like I had two heads. “Autumn, I have never been so sure about anything in my life. You’re the one for me.” He looked at the ring sparkling on my finger. “How is it I know nothing about rings, and it fits perfectly on your finger?”

  “I know it does,” I mumbled, holding it out one more time. “How did you know that I liked pink diamonds?”

  “I mean, I saw your motorcycle helmet. It made me think of you. You’re exquisite and have unique tastes.” I hugged him tightly, and he sunk into me.

  “I don’t mean to press you. But what’s your answer, Autumn?” I sighed and looked him in the eye. “When you don’t know what to do, just follow your heart, baby.” Carter urged.

  I paused and watched as a bluebird flew past the open window. My parents stepped into the room, both of them taken aback by the scene. My father had a wide grin on his face. He was hugging my mother. My stomach settled down. Carter was the one for me, too. It was love at first sight for me. I loved him the first time I saw him with those muscles and the stud in his ear getting to work on the bike.

  “The answer is yes,” I declared.

  Carter clutched his chest in mock pain. “I didn’t know how much longer I was going to have to wait for an answer.”

  He planted a peck on my lips.

  My father stepped over to Carter, patting him on the back. “I knew you were a man of honor when you showed up here. Congratulations, and I guess a welcome to the family is in order!”

  Carter hugged my Dad then high fived him. My mother had her reservations, but she softened.

  “All I know is that my daughter’s face is the happiest I have ever seen it. That’s all I care about,” my mother said.

  “I promise to take care of her.” The sincerity written on Carter’s face let me know he was for real.

  I just couldn’t draw my eyes away from the ring. Rose gold. It shimmered so brightly when I held it up to the light. I needed a minute to sit down and collect myself.

  “Are you okay?” Carter asked.

  “I’m fine. It’s just so much to take in. I’m going to take a seat on the couch here.” I patted the seat next to me. “Come sit by me.”

  Carter dropped next to me on the couch and hugged me.

  “Autumn, sweety, what do you think about having a little impromptu celebration?” My mother did a little dance, and we all laughed. “We can introduce Carter to a few of his extended family members.”

  “Mom, that sounds wonderful. I just don’t know if I have the energy to run around.”

  My mother waved me off. “Oh, don’t worry about that, honey. We’re getting takeout. It’s just going to be a nice gathering of friends and family. Nothing hectic to wear you out. I wouldn’t do that.”

  “Okay. That works. It actually sounds nice.”

  My mother loved doing little things like this, and I liked it. I was still coming to terms with the fact that I was about to get married to the man of my dreams. Our love affair certainly hadn’t run smoothly, and we weren’t out of the woods yet. What if Carter decided that he didn’t want to marry me anymore? What if he left when things got tough? It’s not like he hadn’t left before. I looked over at him. He was sitting next to me, chatting easily with my father.

  My ring gleamed, left to right, front to back. Shining. It was so thoughtful of him to get a ring that matched me so well. He really knew what I liked. I nestled into him, and he put his arm around my shoulder, kissing my temple.

  “Hey, baby. Happy?”

  I whispered back to him, “More than you could ever know.”

  My m
other was already on the phone, having conversations with people. She was directing my father in the kitchen.

  “Garrett, what takeout is close by? Do you think we should get a few extra snacks?

  “Slow down, honey. Take a breath.”

  She sneaked a little giggle. “I know. I know, Garrett. But it’s not every day your eldest daughter gets married. I’m so excited.”

  “Yikes, woman. This is the same thing you did for my brother’s wedding. Please don’t turn Momzilla on me.”

  I heard my mother break out into laughter. “Your humor is one of the reasons I married you.”

  “Yes, dear, I know.”

  I smirked and shook my head. “Welcome to the family. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “They’re beautiful people. They would have to be. They produced you.”

  I stroked the side of Carter’s face, and we kissed.

  “I need to call my parents, as well. I don’t know what they’re doing right now, but I want them to know about you.”

  The whole situation was making my head spin.

  “Are you okay?” Carter held the side of my arm to prop me up.

  “I’m fine. It’s just that this is so much. I don’t know that I’m ready for all this.”

  Carter kneaded the back of my neck. “Babe, don’t think too hard. Just enjoy the moment. We’re not married yet. We can take everything a day at a time. I only wanted you to meet my parents and my baby sister if I can get a hold of them.”

  “Okay. I’d like to meet them. Don’t get me wrong. I just need a minute.”

  Carter leaned in to kiss me, and my nerves settled. He held my hand and stood beside me. “I understand. Come on, let’s get ready for this little shindig your mother’s throwing.”

  For the first time in weeks, I was starting to feel like myself, and Carter had something to do with it.

  People started streaming in during the late afternoon, offering congratulations. There were lots of kisses and hugs. Thankfully, my mother didn’t tell everyone that I was pregnant. I didn’t want all my personal information out in the open like that.