by A. J. Downey
“Lisa has been my ol’ lady for almost two years. We have a daughter. If you ever called me, you might know that.” Wow, my brother is a dad and he has a woman. A woman I used to be close to. I like that idea.
“I’m happy for you, Matty. What did you name your daughter? I’d like to meet her and see Lisa before I leave. There’s so much to do. I’ll stay long enough to help ma with cleaning out Gran’s house. I’m sure she’ll probably sell it. Do you have a house? Maybe she would let you live here.” I hate the thought of selling Gran’s stuff.
“Naw, we have a place. We bought some land out by Lisa’s parents. After her mom passed away she wanted to be close to her dad. We built a house.” I am happy for Matty. He seems so happy when he talks about Lisa. “Lisa wants you to come by tonight to eat. Around Six. Our daughter’s name is Kylie Charlotte Spencer.” I nod my head yes and smile. They named their daughter after me.
“Sounds good.” I can give him that much.
“You two just going to completely ignore me? Lottie, you know I love you. You are mine. I laid claim to you. You won’t be leaving.” Sebastian is delusional. The back door opens about that time but Sebastian keeps talking. “You’re not leaving again. You’ve had your time. Now it is time for you to stay home with your family.” I hear Sebastian but it doesn’t matter what he says. My ma and dad walk in. Ma comes over and hugs me and I hug her back.
“Love you, Lottie. I have missed you so much. Your Gran missed you.” I try to comfort my ma.
“Why would you tell her that, Liz? That girl only thinks about herself. She walked away from us.” Dad says as only he can. Truth is it doesn’t even hurt anymore to hear it.
“Same old dad. How are you, old man?” I am not disrespectful. I know poking the bear will get me nowhere.
“Did you hear me, Lottie? You’re going nowhere.” Sebastian gets up and storms out. Finally! One less hothead. Dad gets himself a cup of coffee and fixes ma one too and hands it to her. That’s progress. I level dad with a hard look. He has aged a lot in six years.
“Baby, where have you been? How have you been? Are by yourself? How did you get here?” Ma is full of questions but all eyes are on me and all ears are listening.
“I have been all over. Not staying anywhere too long. I am good and I rode my bike. It’s in the garage. I got in late last night and didn’t want anyone knowing I was here. Matty showed up while I was showering. I am by myself but a friend is supposed to meet me here soon. He had a stop to make first.” I answer all of ma’s questions. Then I have to address Sebastian’s last remark with dad and Matty.
“Sebastian was a prospect and couldn’t claim me before the club until after he was patched in. We weren’t together after he patched in and he didn’t claim me in front of the club nor will he ever. I want to do right by Gran but I will not be drawn back to Sebastian. I know the rules. Rules you both live by. Am I making myself clear?” Matty says nothing but dad cuts me again with his sharp tongue.
“You’re just as uppity as you were when you left here. Don’t know why that brother would want a bitch like you anyway.” He gets up and walks out. I hear his bike start up and leave.
“You still know how to clear a room girlie.” Ma is right. I do. “Let’s get to the funeral home and get this done. Mr. Kellum is going to meet us there and then we are going back to his office to go over Mom’s will.”
“Remember, tonight at six.” Matty says. He gives Ma a quick hug and he is gone.
Chapter 2
It takes most of the morning to get arrangements done. Everything seems like it is in slow motion. We finally get out of there about lunchtime. Mr. Kellum is meeting us for lunch at one of the only restaurants in town. Luckily for us it is one of the best Mexican food places I have ever eaten at. I get a text right before we go in and I reply. It makes me smile.
Mr. Kellum already has us a table. When the waitress seats us, I let her know someone will be joining us. My ma gives me the eye. I ignore it. She’ll find out in time. We sit down and order our drinks and nothing has changed. It’s like time has frozen for the past six years in this restaurant. It’s not long before we have drinks and have put our orders in. I just want to get this over with.
“I am very sorry for your loss Elizabeth and Charlotte. Mrs. Rebecca was very clear in her wishes. You took care of the funeral arrangements this morning, correct?” Mr. Kellum phrases it as a question but he knows the answer.
“Yes, we did. They just need something from you on payment. My Gran said you would have that.” My Gran and I had talked about this in detail before I left. She wanted permission to put me down as her executor and I had papers to sign.
“I have that. I will take it by to them when I leave here. I am just going to cut to the chase here. Elizabeth, by your mom’s will you will receive both her diamond earrings, the five acres of land that she purchased behind your property, and any of her other jewelry you would like except her cameo brooch. She would also like you to pick out a piece for both Lisa and Kylie. Her cameo brooch goes to Mrs. Kennedy.” Mrs. Kennedy was Gran’s best friend for years. “Her grandson, Matthew, will receive fifteen acres of land beside the residence of Mrs. Rebecca. She says it is separate from her home. Everything else of monetary value goes to Charlotte. Her home, the lot it sits on, her 2014 automobile and all money after her debts are paid. Everything Rebecca owned was paid off. I have been pulling all her financials to make sure everything is paid off and have not found any outstanding debts. I wish my credit cards had a zero balance.”
Mr. Kellum sounds amazed. My Gran always pinched her pennies and kept her bills paid. “All the house furnishings are yours also. She wanted the personal effects you don’t want donated to the women’s shelter. Unless something major comes up, you stand to inherit a good amount. It’ll take me about two weeks to get everything on paper and then the will has to go through all the legal channels. I’d say give it a month after it is filed unless it is contested. I don’t see that happening. I must talk to Matthew but I don’t see that being a problem.”
Mr. Kellum has been eating the whole time he has been talking but his head comes up and looks behind me. I turn my head to see what he is looking at and I have to smile. There’s Brady. All six foot five inches of him. He takes my breath away just looking at him. Not only is he sex on a stick and can make any woman drool but he is the most trustworthy man I have ever known.
I notice every woman in the room is looking at him, for that matter, so is every man. He has broad shoulders, a trim waist, and an ass that catches every woman’s eye. His arms are a work of art with their full sleeves of tattoos and nearly as big around as my legs. Fortunately, we have no titles on our relationship so I have no reason to be jealous of all the attention he gets from all the females around him. His tight t-shirt shows off his massive chest. My ma’s eyes almost pop out of her head when Brady comes up and kisses my forehead.
“Hey babe, I missed you last night.” Brady says in his deep voice.
“Brady, this is my ma, Elizabeth.” I nod towards my ma and then look at Mr. Kellum. “This is Mr. Kellum, my Gran’s attorney.” Brady reaches out and takes Mr. Kellum’s hand as they shake.
“Nice to meet you. If I need to give you a little more time I can get another table and wait.” I look at Mr. Kellum.
“No, we are done and I have to get running. I have some papers to file. If you ladies will excuse me. I’ll head out. If you have questions or I can help with anything let me know. I’ll drop the check off at the funeral home this afternoon. Good afternoon, ladies.” Mr. Kellum is up and starting to get money out of his wallet.
“Thank you, Mr. Kellum and I have lunch. We’ll see you tomorrow at the service.” He nods his head.
“Thank you and I will see you then.” Mr. Kellum leaves. My ma has not taken her eyes off Brady. I motion for the waitress.
“Ma, he’s just a man.” I smile at her and she winks at me. “You hungry, Brady?”
“Yeah, babe. Food would be good
. It was a long hot ride. Do they have beer?” Brady asks. About that time the waitress gets there with a menu and she all but rubs up against Brady. She’s standing so close he looks up at her and then scoots his chair away. I laugh.
“Honey, he doesn’t like be crowded and he really don’t like women who fall all over him.” Brady grins at me and winks.
“Lottie, that wasn’t very nice.” Ma says.
“Might not be nice, but it is the truth. Just giving her a hint.” I wink back at Brady. Brady looks at the menu and orders his food and a beer.
“How do you know my daughter and what are you doing here?” I look at my ma.
“Now who is not being nice?” I ask her and laugh about it. I have been gone six years and she questions my friend. I hear bikes outside. I know Brady’s arrival did not go unnoticed by the club. Might as well get this over with now.
“I’m just asking. You’ve been gone so long, you’re still my daughter and I worry about you.” My ma says. I see my ma’s eyes go wide. I look behind me and sure enough Matty, Dad, Sebastian, and Jeremy are walking straight to our table. No getting around this so might as well go with the flow.
“Lottie and I met on the road. We are two like souls trying to find our destiny. Traveling the wide- open highways.” Brady gives my Ma that sexy smile of his. It’s slow but finally even reaches his eyes. He is enjoying this a little too much. Dad and Sebastian stop beside Ma, but Jeremy and Matty come and stand between Brady and me.
“Who the hell is this?” Dad asks. I ignore him. Jeremy pulls me up into a tight hug.
“Lottie, I have missed you. Damn girl, you look good. Why haven’t I heard from you since you left here?” That’s Jeremy, straight to the point. I hug Jeremy back. I have missed him and I didn’t even realize it.
“I missed you too, Jeremy. Everyone, this is Brady. He’ll be here until…” I pause and look at him and smile. “until he’s not.” Brady nods his head. Jeremy reaches around Matty and puts his hand out to shake Brady’s hand. Then Matty does the same. I guess he had to make sure his President was ok with him first.
“Brady this is Jeremy, Matty, Sebastian, and my dad, Harrison.” I point to each one.
“Name is Jag, Lottie.” Jeremy tells me.
“I’m sorry.” I look at Brady. “They are all members of the Demented Revengers MC, so they all have road names. Dad is Wrench, Matty is Bear and Sebastian is…” I leave it open and look at him because he hadn’t gotten a name when I left.
“Hawk.” Sebastian says.
“That’s Hawk.” I point at Sebastian.
“Lottie belongs to Hawk.” Dad says looking directly at Brady. Brady doesn’t react but Jeremy does.
“Wrench, I don’t recall that ever being done in front of the club nor did it ever get endorsed by the club. Hawk also has the problem that he already inked Kim. Remember, Kim his wife.” Jeremy smiles at me. “That leaves Lottie a free agent, but seems like Brady has that taken care of.”
“That would be a no. I am not owned or claimed by anyone. Brady and I have no labels. We just are. I will be gone as soon as everything is taken care of.” Jeremy smiles. Sebastian glares. Dad just shakes his head. Matty and Brady look amused, and if I’m not mistaken, Ma has a look of pride in her eyes.
“Pull up some chairs and eat something with us.” I move my chair by Brady’s. Jeremy and Matty get chairs and sit down. Dad and Hawk walk out.
“How the hell have you been, Lottie? Where have you been and why aren’t you sticking around?” Jeremy asks me.
“So many questions. I am good. I have been all over and I’m not staying because this town holds too many ghosts for me. I just came back to say good-bye to Gran and lay some ghosts to rest. If I decide I want to come for a visit I don’t want to go through the crap of Sebastian and Dad every time. I’d like to be able to come visit from time to time. I didn’t realize how much I missed everyone until now, but I love the open road on the back of my bike. I think I can come back for those visits now. Dad and Sebastian must let the past go. I am.” Ma reaches across the table and grabs my hand and squeezes it. Brady shows I have his support by squeezing my thigh with his free hand.
“Lisa will like that. I can’t wait for you to meet your niece.” Matty says. I see the reaction Jeremy has when Matty mentions Lisa. There’s a story there but if I don’t want anyone in my business I must respect their privacy.
“You should come by the club while you are here. It’s changed a lot, Lottie. We have a lot of new members but some of the old guys are there, too.” The waitress comes over to see if Jeremy and Matty want to order.
“No thanks sweetheart, we have to get going.” Jeremy tells her.
“Jag, you need to come by for dinner one night. Our door is always open.” Ma tells Jeremy.
“I’ll do that. I’ll never pass up a good meal.” Jeremy gets up and Matty follows suit. “Lottie, I just wanted to say hi. The invitation is open to come by the clubhouse. You know you are still Demented Revenger even if you’re not here. Your family and never need an invitation. It was good seeing you.” Jeremy is standing beside me and he has his arm around my shoulder. He reaches down and hugs me.
“Okay, but probably won’t be there this time. Next time maybe. I missed you.” I hug him back.
“Good meeting you, Brady. Watch out for our girl.” Brady and Jeremy have eye communication. It’s a man thing.
“Good to meet you and Matty, too. But to be honest, Lottie watches out for herself.” Matty shakes Brady’s hand again.
“Matty, Mr. Kellum needs to speak to you also if you have not got his message yet.” I let Matty know.
“Got the message and I will see him in a few hours.” Matty tells me. Jeremy walk out and I feel a little better knowing Dad does not have the club’s backing in his idea of me belonging to Sebastian. Sebastian left the part out he not only has an ol’ lady but a wife. Same old Sebastian. It’s not that he even cares about me it’s just the idea he can’t have me. They say woman are complicated.
“See Lottie, the club has changed. Won’t you consider staying around?” Ma asks. “You’ve missed so much with the family. Haven’t we paid enough for Sebastian’s screw up?” Ma thinks I am trying to make them pay for something they didn’t do. I look at Brady and he is still busy eating but I know he is curious for my answer. This time it is me that reaches across the table for ma’s hand.
“I’m not trying to make anyone pay for anything, not even Sebastian. I was hurt when it all happened. Hurt from Sebastian because he had no more morals than to cheat on me in front of a large portion of my family or didn’t care for me enough to not cheat. Hurt because my whole life no one would listen to the things I wanted. Hurt because Dad always told me to make a man respect me but when I came face to face with Sebastian’s infidelity he said to suck it up and accept it because that was part of the club life. Hurt because I know my dad didn’t respect my ma that night and I was witness to it.
“I wanted Grampa’s bike since I became able to ride a bike. No one thought I deserved it. Even though he is the one who taught me to ride it. We restored it together. He showed me the love of the open road by taking small trips with me but because I am female I don’t deserve the same freedoms. I can’t and won’t accept that. I won’t accept someone can claim me without my consent. Because I am female does not mean I must want a white picket fence with a two-car garage and two point five children before I am thirty. I deserve the life I choose and I choose the one I am living. So please ma, for me, can you try to understand?”
I feel drained after all this. I am pleading with my ma but I see in her eyes she is too set in her ways to even understand and that is okay. Wanting my way of life does not mean I do not understand hers or want to change her. I love ma for ma.
“I don’t understand your way of thinking Charlotte but I love you and I want you happy. Can you please just try to call your ma when you are on the road so I know you are okay? I love you, baby girl.” I see the tears in ma’s ey
es and I know she is trying and that is all I want. I get up and go to her and hug her and she hugs me back.
“Ladies, I think you have made a breakthrough today.” Brady says with a knowing look at me. He knows what this means to me. I see he is finished eating so we can get out of here.
“Looks like. Can we get out of here then? I’d like to go through some of Gran’s stuff today before we go to Matty’s tonight.” I motion for the waitress and a few minutes later we are on our way out into the hot Texas sun.
Chapter 3
My afternoon was spent going through boxes, mementos, and tears. Memories flooded me of growing up. Brady caught me smelling my Gran’s things more than once and he just smiled. The smell of things just triggers so many memories. Guess I am weird that way but it makes me happy.
I thought I had forgotten so much but it is all back like it was yesterday. Ma helped me separate and box things up and Brady carried them to the stack they needed to go in. We worked together as one and had more done than I thought we could accomplish. Brady never once complained about all the tears ma and I let go. Ma finally had to leave to get her and dad’s dinner. Dad refused Matty’s invitation and that is okay. I look around and I see Brady seems quiet.
“What’s up, Brady? You’ve been quiet since we got back here.” I watch his walk as he comes over to me.
“You know you have family and friends that love you here. They miss you. You know we don’t have to leave in a big hurry if you want to stay a little while. The highways will still be out there.” Brady looks like an intimidating man and he can be, but I get his sweet. He comes down and sits beside me on the floor.
“I know this. My family loves me and I love them, but they don’t understand me. They don’t get the way my brain works. When they met you they jumped to the conclusion that you are mine and I am yours. That’s their mind set. My mind set is you are yours and I am mine. No one owns anyone.
“I feel nostalgic here. I love my family but my Gran is the only one who understood my way of thinking, or she tried to. She loved me enough to just want me happy. You know how I get an itch to just get up and go. I want to see different scenery and be in another climate and I just do it. If they came to visit me and I was just gone they would panic. This is my way of life but I don’t want to worry others. I don’t know how to explain it any better, and you know what?”
