A Fighting Chance

by Annalisa Nicole

  I’m surprised when Max wants to drive his truck back to my condo. We walk in the door and find Ava sitting on the couch with her laptop in her lap, her cell phone in her hand typing a mile a minute with one hand and the other on a legal pad scribbling notes. This woman is a hot mess.

  “I just remembered I need to get something out of my truck,” Max says eyeing me, then Ava. Then he makes his hurried exit. He want’s none of the conversation about me moving out in two weeks and the possibility of Savvy moving in. Coward.

  I sit on the coffee table in front on Ava. I take the pen out of her hand and the laptop out of her lap and set it beside me.

  “Hey, I need those,” she says grabbing for the pen.

  “I need to talk to you about a few things,” I say taking her cell phone out of her hand too.

  “OK, what?” she sighs.

  “I’m worried about you…” I start to say

  “I’m fine, there’s nothing to worry about.”

  “Yeah, I remember saying something very similar to you not too long ago, you know about me being just fine,” I remind her.

  She sighs and says, “That’s completely different, and you know it.”

  “Maybe a little different, but that still doesn’t change the fact that I’m still worried about you. Max and I are getting married in two weeks. He took me by a house he owns. Which, let me just say, is freaking phenomenal. It’s only a few blocks from here. We’re going to have the reception there, it’s so beautiful. I can’t wait to show you.”

  “I’m really happy for you,” she says looking at her cell phone as it buzzes on the table beside me. I move it out of sight and put my hand on her knee.

  “I’m moving out in two weeks,” I say softly.

  “Oh, yeah, right, of course you are. That’s great. Really, it is. We both knew we wouldn’t be roommates forever.”

  “I have a proposition for you.”

  “OK, shoot.”

  “I’m really worried about you…”

  “You already said that and I told you, I’m fine.”

  Alright time to switch it up. “Sure you are. As I was saying, I’m really worried about Savvy. Max, I think would kill Savvy if I moved her in with us, and you know the whole newly married thing, too. It’s just not a good idea all the way around. I was wondering how you’d feel about moving Savvy in here with you. I’d feel more comfortable if I had someone on the inside watching out for her.” Telling Ava I’m worried about her and that I need Savvy on the inside to watch her would never go over well. It was time for some reverse psychology. Fiona would be so proud. I can see her thinking, so I give her a few minutes.

  “Yeah, sure, that’s fine with me. Now can I have my stuff back? I have work I need to do.”

  “Good, I’ll tell Savvy tomorrow morning. You two will be awesome together,” I say and hand her all of her things back. She instantly goes back to multi-tasking and zones out in her own little world. Max comes back in and we head to my room.

  “You didn’t even leave the building did you?”

  “Nope, but I didn’t want any part of that conversation. I’m just glad to get Savvy out of my office. Two weeks couldn’t come soon enough.” I give him a dirty look because honestly, I think in his own way he loves that woman too.

  “What?” he questions. “I mean I can’t wait for these two weeks to go by because then I’ll be married to you.” Nice save.

  Max

  The next two weeks are hectic and unusually busy at work. Chloe works crazy shifts at the hospital, and between putting the final touches on the wedding, work and Chloe’s therapy sessions, we didn’t have the time to get even one piece of furniture in the house like we had hoped. Outdoor tables and chairs were delivered last night, and the whole family is in ‘get it done’ mode. The wedding will take place at the park up the street. White chairs now face the duck pond and are trimmed in purple bows. Kyle and I worked in the yard all week getting things ready. Chloe and the girls are in the house sitting on folding chairs, with one long mirror getting ready. I take one more look around to make sure the yard is perfect. With a smile I get on my bike and ride to Kyle’s house.

  Outside Kyle’s house are seven Harley’s. My woman dreamed up the perfect Harley wedding. Everyone standing up in the wedding will ride to the park and ride down the side of the aisle on a Harley. My woman is fucking badass. All of the men had to take lessons, and now they each have their motorcycle licenses.

  Chloe’s dad, Steve, walks down the hallway and stands in the doorway as I straighten the purple bow tie of my all black tux. I swallow a lump in my throat. He looks at me with a face that doesn’t say welcome to the family.

  “You’re not the right man for my little princess,” he says. All I can do is stare at him. Isn’t it a little late for the ‘you can’t marry my daughter’ speech? I didn’t ask him for her hand in marriage, but truthfully it never crossed my mind. I’m not used to having to ask for anything.

  “Sir…” I start to say. I figured it was a better idea to start with sir than an expletive and punch him in the face.

  He talks over me before I can plead my undying love for his daughter. “You’re not the right man for my little princess. You’re the perfect man for my little princess. Thank you for everything that you did for my little girl. Thank you for bringing her back to us.” As a tear rolls down his cheek, he sticks his hand out to shake mine, then turns around and walks away with a sniffle.

  Chloe

  As I sit in an empty house with only folding chairs and one long mirror surrounded by my friends and family, I can’t help but think just how far I’ve come. Ava, Amelia, Shay, my mom, Samantha, Willow, Savvy, and Sharla are in a hurricane primping and getting ready. I sit as calm as ever in a hard folding chair with a huge smile on my face, as the hairdresser puts the final touches on my hair and makeup.

  My dress sits on a hanger over a bare curtain rod in the window. The white floor length lacy dress glows in the sunlight as it sways in the light breeze. When the whole motorcycle wedding hit me, I don’t think I gave proper attention to detail of straddling a motorcycle in my wedding gown. But nothing can ruin this day, not even an exhaust ruined dress. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen, but oh well if it does.

  “Before we put the final touches on all our makeup, I think we should do the something borrowed, something blue stuff first,” Willow says.

  My heart jumps in my chest as I think about my own behavior at Shay’s wedding.

  “For your something old,” Samantha says, handing me a small square box. I look into the eyes of a mother who raised a boy like one of her own, and see the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. In the box is an antique pair of diamond earrings.

  “They’re beautiful, Samantha. Thank you.” I put them on and they sparkle beautifully.

  “You’re something blue,” Savvy says, handing me a small rectangle box. A tear slides down my check. I know just how much this woman has lost and just how much she really can’t afford this. I look in her eyes and hope she knows just how much I love her, because my words are incapable of being spoken at the moment. I catch Willow’s eyes out of the corner of my own and see her wink at Savvy. Savvy smiles at her and mouths the words, thank you. The looks between the two of them speak volumes. Savvy can’t afford it, but with Willow’s help, she did. I open the box to a beautiful purple garter trimmed in blue lace. Six hearts dangle from the center wrapped in purple and blue ribbon.

  Shay steps up with a smile and hands me another rectangle box. “Oh no, I couldn’t. I’m not a Wellington, I just couldn’t,” I say handing it back. I know the Wellington bridal tradition, and Shay was the last to marry, which means it’s her turn to gift the new bride. That’s a sacred tradition meant for Wellington’s. I couldn’t.

  “You can, and you will. You are just as much a Wellington as everyone else in this room,” she says handing it back to me. I take the box as more tears spill down my cheeks. I open the box and inside is a platinum tennis brace
let alternating in black diamonds and purple amethysts. She takes it out of the box and places it on my wrist. “Just remember that it’s your turn next. Sheesh this tradition costs a whack,” she says, breaking the tension in the room. Everyone laughs as Sharla steps up and takes my hand.

  “This is your something borrowed. This was all I ever had of Max. It brought me through my darkest days. I always believed my only son was dead, now, today I gain a daughter. Thank you for loving my son,” she says as she unhooks the heart necklace from around her neck and clasps it around mine. My mother again sits with snot running down her lips. Everyone’s attention is turned away by the rumble of a motorcycle pulling into the driveway. Never in a million years did I ever imagine my dad being on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle, much less let his daughter get on the back of it with him.

  The girls helped me slip on my dress, and we all clean up and repaint our faces. More roaring motorcycles pull up as everyone starts to assemble for the ride to the park. Ava goes downstairs to make sure all the bikes are assembled in the right order, and makes sure that Max again knows if he turns around to look at the bride, she will sick Savvy on him. Everyone, except my dad and I, goes downstairs and mount their bikes. I look out the window and see Max staring straight ahead sitting on his vintage Harley.

  Willow climbs on the back of Asher’s brand new Million Dollar Harley Davidson bike. And just as the name suggests, it did indeed cost a whopping million dollars. Willow is wearing a signature pink strapless gown, and she looks absolutely stunning sitting behind Asher in his black tux and pink bow tie.

  Shay climbs on the back of Adrian’s Harley in a sea foam green strapless gown. She looks like a total badass sitting behind her man in a black tux with his sea foam green bow tie.

  Amelia climbs on Kyle’s Harley wearing a light blue strapless dress. Seeing her climb on a Harley behind my twin brother, wearing his black tux and baby blue bow tie, tugs my heart and just as I’m about to cry, he looks in the window and wags his finger at me. Wonder twin powers.

  Ava struggles, but manages to climb on the back of Levi’s Ducati. Alright, so not everyone rode in a Harley. Levi has his own bike, and it’s a never-ending argument between Max and Levi which bike is more badass. Ava is wearing a yellow strapless dress and looks completely uncomfortable pressed to the back of Levi. Levi, on the other hand, can’t keep his eyes off Ava.

  Savvy climbs on the back of Aiden’s Harley wearing a grey strapless dress. Aiden looks handsome in his black tux and grey bow tie. I see Savvy talking a mile a minute chomping on a piece of gum. He revs the engine in an attempt to drown out her nonstop talking.

  Chase heads up the rear on his vintage Indian. He also owns a Harley, but chose to ride the Indian. To defy his boss, I’m sure.

  There is just one vacant motorcycle, my wedding gift from Max. A white 2015 Superlow Harley Davidson. Except for my bike, and Chase and Levi’s, all the rest of the bikes are gifts from Asher. How badass generous is that?

  Safety is of utmost importance to Max, and he was pretty insistent that everyone wear a helmet. I convinced Max that it’s a short enough ride and no one will go over twenty-five, and that it’s alright not to wear helmets just this once. A bride cannot go to her wedding with matted down hair looking like a screaming banshee.

  “Are you ready, princess?” my dad’s voice says tearing my glance away from the sight downstairs. I turn around to see my dad wearing his tux looking like he’s just lost his little girl. My dad will always be the first love of my life, and nothing can ever take that away from him.

  “Almost,” I say, looking under my folding chair for my piece de resistance. My badass purple combat boots round off my white wedding dress perfectly. I lace them up and take his arm and head downstairs.

  My mother, Max’s mother, and Samantha are being taken to the park in a limousine.

  Max

  I’m given the go-ahead to start down the street. I’ve always felt so free and relaxed on my bike, and this is no different. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life before. I can’t wait to make Chloe my wife. I pull up to the park and every seat is filled with an additional two to three dozen or so people standing. There are at least fifty motorcycles parked in rows with the riders still sitting on their bikes. Our wedding is standing room only. As I get closer, I see familiar faces of people who are, or have been, clients. Some of these people had to have ridden for days to get here. How did all of these people know? Here I thought I hardly had any family or friends. But to see all of these people here for me on such a special day sends my heart soaring. I just had no idea I meant so much to so many others. I never thought I’d amount to anything in my life, but I’ve touched so many people’s lives.

  I pull around the right side of the chairs and park my bike up front. I get off and take my place between my bike and the first row of chairs. Asher and Willow pull up next to my bike. Asher helps Willow off the bike and walks her to the right of me, and then he takes his place to my left. Kyle and Amelia pull up outside the left side of the chairs. He helps Amelia off, walks her next to Willow, kisses her on the cheek and then takes his place next to Asher. Next is Adrian and Shay. Adrian was so worried about putting his pregnant wife on a motorcycle, and I’m sure he’s glad to get her off. He pulls his bike next to Kyle’s, helps her off, walks her next to Amelia, and then he takes his place next to Kyle. Next are Ava and Levi. Levi heads down the right and pulls his bike behind Asher’s. He helps Ava off, walks her next to Shay, then takes his place. Next is Aiden and Savvy. He pulls down the left and parks next to Adrian. He helps Savvy off, and then walks her next to Ava. He takes his place next to Levi. Next is Chase. He pulls behind Levi and takes his place. The park is silent except for the geese in the pond squawking and my heart pounding in my chest.

  Then I hear it. My woman’s bike roars in my ears. It’s sweet music to my soul. Then I see her white Harley, and as they get closer, her dad has the goofiest grin on his face I’ve ever seen, but I can’t see Chloe. All I can see is a poof of white sitting behind him. He drives straight up the middle and stops a few feet away from me. He puts the kick stand down and climbs off. Only then does the angel in white come into view. Her eyes sparkle, her plump healthy cheeks hold a rosy glow, and her curves are sexy as hell.

  I was so nervous about her dad driving Chloe on her bike, I myself gave him lessons. He extends his hand and helps her off. Chloe’s mother, Mary, steps from her seat and helps her rearrange her veil. He kisses her on the cheek, and then takes her hand and walks her to me. I don’t take lightly the responsibility of him giving me her hand. It means the world to me. He then walks the bike to the side next to Aiden’s.

  Holding Chloe’s hands in mine I smile. Looking into her eyes on our wedding day by far exceeds any happiness I ever thought I deserved.

  Chapter 15

  Chloe

  When we turned the corner and I saw just how many people have shown up to celebrate our wedding, it just reaffirmed what an amazing man Max is. I pulled Chase and Levi aside two weeks ago and asked them if anyone else should be invited to the wedding. They both looked at each other then said leave it to them. That there are several people they know that would move heaven and earth to be there. And they weren’t wrong. Max has a heart of gold, and the dozens of bikes lined up in rows just proves that.

  Getting off my bike was a challenge. I couldn’t get off it fast enough. I just wanted to be in my man’s arms. I’m so glad my mom helped me rearrange my veil. Even as slow as my dad drove, the wind still wreaked havoc on it.

  Max and I wrote our own vows. We haven’t rehearsed them so I have no idea what he’ll say.

  “Who gives this woman to be married?” the officiant says.

  “Her mother and I do,” my dad says with a smile. And once again my mother has snot running down her nose. That’s one thing I wish I hadn’t inherited from her. It’s so not lady like.

  “Max and Chloe have written their own vows and will recite them for you no
w.”

  “Chloe, from the first day I looked into your eyes, I knew we were kindred spirits, and we were meant to spend the rest of our lives together. I never thought I deserved an angel like you. You always see past my imperfections and make me feel like a man worthy of love. You fill my world with light and happiness. I promise to be there for you, and to love you unconditionally. I promise to fight what we cannot see, to hold you close and protect you until my last dying breath. I promise to be faithful and to be the best husband I know how to be. I promise to be truthful and to love you until the day I die.”

  Tears stream down my face; his words were so carefully chosen, so he didn’t announce to everyone here in the audience my past demons. He’s my knight in shining tatted armor. He digs in his pocket and takes out my wedding rings. He slips on my engagement ring and a platinum wedding band with small amethysts around the entire band on my finger. That means it’s my turn.

  “Max, the first day we met, I looked into your eyes and I saw a similarity written in the depths that only you and I can understand. You’ve freed me physically, emotionally and mentally. You gave me back a life that I thought was gone forever. You not only gave it back to me, but you gave it back with something special. You gave me love. You gave me your love. I promise to never let it go. I promise to be faithful, I promise to love you and to fight our way through whatever may come, together.” I turn to Willow and she places Max’s wedding ring in my hand. I absolutely love Max’s band. He’s not seen it yet, but I know he’ll love it too. I take his hand and slide on his ring finger a platinum band with black diamond’s circling the entire band. In small stones on the top and bottom are purple amethysts. The smile on Max’s face tells me he loves it. He squeezes my hand as the officiant speaks.

  “Maxwell Aloysius Jones, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?” Soft giggles and whispers can be heard all through the crowd at Max’s middle name. He looks to the crowd and instant straight faces appear except there is still a chuckle coming from Asher. Max looks at him, but if anyone can take Max’s death stare, it’s Asher. Max shakes his head, and then looks into my eyes.