by Debra Kayn
"You're not meeting him alone," said Thad.
"I would like you to come with me." She slipped away from him and walked to the bathroom. At the door, she stopped and looked back at him. Thad would make a wonderful father. He had great examples of what a mom and dad do to make their children feel loved by the example his parents set. They'd faced tragedy, and they'd survived.
Whatever the results were of the pregnancy test, Thad could show her how to be a loving and kind parent.
She stepped into the bathroom alone. Her vision centered on the stick on the counter. The panel showing the outcome looked white, and she moved closer until the results became clearer.
The breath left her body, and she picked up the plastic stick. All the emotions she'd battled with over the last few months. The roller coaster of drama and fear making her sick. The questions and illusions surrounding her existence. The wonderful connection with Thad and learning to love and receive love in return. She had fought every step. She had clung to every elation.
During all of it, she drifted toward Thad, looking for a family she didn't know she wanted.
She walked out of the bathroom holding the stick in her hand. She stopped in front of Thad and peered up into his eyes.
He looked nowhere else, but at her.
She moistened her lips, afraid she'd fall apart if she uttered the words.
Thad put his hands on her waist. "Babe?"
She swallowed, and everything inside of her smiled. "I'm pregnant."
"We're going to have a baby?" he asked as if unsure what the word pregnant meant.
She nodded heartily. "We're going to have a baby."
His arms went around her, and he lifted her off the floor. She clung to him laughing as he buried his face in her neck and whispered, "Babe...having a baby."
She closed her eyes and held on. Because soon everything would hit her, and she'd need him to catch her.
Chapter 35
Lena parked her car behind Thad's motorcycle in his parents' driveway. Thad jumped off the porch and strolled toward her. She laughed, even though he wasn't able to hear her. He was excited, and only Lena knew why.
She unlatched her seatbelt. The last two weeks had been a rollercoaster of a ride. They rode the highs and lows together. During it all, she'd asked Thad for two things.
One — She wanted to wait until after she verified the pregnancy with her doctor to tell everyone, and she wanted to be the one who told his mom. He was going to give her that.
Two — She wanted to meet Alexander Grimaldi before she started showing because she wanted to see if he was even worth knowing on her own. Already, she was protective of their unborn child, and she was only three and a half months pregnant. He could also give her that.
Thad opened her door. "Hey."
"Hey, you." She pointed at the other motorcycles parked at the curb, then reached over to the passenger seat and grabbed a grocery sack before climbing out of the car. "I thought we were only meeting with your family tonight."
"All my family, babe." He took the sack from her and leaned over and kissed her, grabbing her hand. "Everyone is inside."
She shook her head in amusement and suddenly stopped walking. "Why didn't you ever point out your parents' house when we've gone over to Wayne's house?"
"Never thought to. Everyone knows my parents still live in the house I grew up. Wayne's mom owned the house across the street, and he bought the place from her when she moved away with her new husband." He pointed to the left of Wayne's house. That's where Rich grew up. His mom lived there until she died. Behind those houses on the back of the block, Glen and Chuck's parents lived...still live."
"You guys really did grow up with each other," she said.
"We'll be together for life." Thad led her straight into the house.
The living room was empty. She looked at Thad in question. He grinned and guided her into the kitchen, through the utility room, to a set of stairs in the back of the house.
"Dad turned the basement into a family room when I started high school, and Thalia was in eighth grade. It's where we hung out as teenagers." He stopped at the bottom of the steps and waited for her to step down.
She peered around, taking her time studying the area that held memories for him. His dad hadn't changed a thing over the years. He suspected the room was a reminder to his parents of a busier, happier time for their children, and Thad knew his father would be right. He loved it here.
The blue and green variegated wall to wall carpet literally covered the walls and the floor. His mom had always been afraid one of them would crack a head open during a mean game of Nerf football if they got slammed against the wall. So, his dad had padded the cement with the almost shag-like carpeting.
"Finally, man." Glen lifted his beer can on the other side of the room.
Thad raised his hand. "Everyone is here now."
Chuck lifted his chin at Thad and plucked a potato chip out of Gracie's hand. Wayne turned his head and whispered in Clara's ear. Ingrid talked with Thad's mom at the pool table that currently held an array of food. Thad walked to the group and handed over the sack Lena brought.
"Sorry. It's my fault I'm late. I got off work and had to stop at the store to pick up the two pies I ordered." Lena unzipped her jacket.
Thad took her coat and handed it off to Ingrid who held her hand out to take it from him. "Thanks."
"I'll put it on the couch in the other room." Ingrid walked away, and Glen held out his hand in afterthought.
Thad slapped Glen away and grinned. "Did you pick up the new muffler for your Harley?"
"Yeah. Are you coming over this weekend to help me put it on?" Glen rubbed the back of his hand over his mouth.
"Plan on it if nothing comes up." Thad stepped over and stood behind his mom, kissing her on the cheek. "Hey, Mom. Thanks for throwing this all together for us."
"Are you going to tell us why you wanted everyone here tonight? On a Wednesday?" His mom narrowed her eyes. "You're keeping something from me. I can tell."
He raised his brows. "Lena's got something to say."
The room quieted. Lena laughed softly from the other side of the pool table. She was too far away from him for his liking, but she'd heard the conversation.
He walked around to the other side and patted her ass before keeping his hand on her lower back. Her body already trembling when he touched her, he kissed her lightly to relax her. She had nothing to be nervous about. They were with family.
"Are you sure nobody will be upset?" she whispered.
She'd second guessed her decision to share the news multiple times over the last week. He tried to encourage her because he knew how important it was for her to get positive feedback.
"Mom might cry," he said, reaching forward and grabbing a barbecue chip out of the bowl. At her look of horror, he chuckled. "I'm kidding, babe. Tell them, so we can eat. We all have to work tomorrow, and it's getting later the longer you put it off."
"Thaddeus," interrupted his mom. "Does this have to do with Rich?"
His gut tightened, and he shook his head, catching the others studying him and wondering if he'd found their missing MC brother.
"Oh," mouthed his mom.
The unsettled loss of one of their own in attendance permeated the room. Lena slipped her arm around his back and blurted, "Thad asked me to marry him, and I said yes."
His mom gasped. "What?"
"We're getting married, Mom." Thad grinned. "She's wearing my ring."
"Oh, my Lord." His mom squealed, hurrying around the table. "Are you two being serious or are you getting us back for dropping in twice this week without calling first?"
"Yes, and no," said Lena, laughing.
His mom put her hands on his arm and Lena's arm. "When? Soon? Please don't elope. I don't care if you get married at the courthouse, and I'm the only one who gets to come, I want to be there."
"We haven't decided what we're going to do." Lena looked up at him. "Thad actually told me
about how Glen and Ingrid got married, and I like that idea."
"You want to get married at Ingrid's parents' house?" Glen cocked his head. "Man, do something original."
"Fuckin' smartass." Thad picked up a sealed beer can off the table and threw it at Glen, who caught the drink. "We're thinking about doing it at home, in our backyard, if Dad will help me build a gazebo."
"Damn right, I'll help you build a gazebo, son." His dad beamed from the other side of the room. "Congratulations, to both of you. I'll have a daughter in law."
Lena leaned against Thad for support over the warm welcome. He put his arm around her. She'd gotten her family.
"Seriously, brother. We're happy for you." Glen stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ingrid from behind. "Welcome to the family, Lena."
"Yes, this is so exciting. Huge congrats, you two," said Ingrid.
"Thank you." She sighed happily before Clara and Gracie tagged teamed her, giving her a hug.
Chuck opened a beer, raised the can, and kissed Gracie's cheek. Gracie shoved him, and everyone laughed. "What? Every woman here is now taken. You're the only one I can celebrate Thad and Lena's engagement with."
"You're an idiot, Chuck." Gracie turned away from him, unable to hide the smile of amusement away.
Wayne waited until everyone finished and walked over to Thad and Lena. Thad held out his hand. Wayne slapped his palm hard, then pulled him into a hug. Thad beat Wayne's back. His president, his best friend, his brother.
Wayne palmed the back of Thad's head and whispered, "I promise you. We will bring Rich home. He will be here to see what he's missed."
He nodded, swallowing hard. "Hold you to that, brother."
"Right." Wayne pushed away. "Notus will be back together."
Thad's mom squeezed in front of him and Lena again with her cell phone in her hand. "I need a picture, you two."
"Jesus," mumbled Thad.
Lena laughed and leaned into him, patting his stomach. "Smile, Thaddeus."
"Yes, smile, Thaddeus," parroted his mom.
He smiled because the two women in his life wanted him to. Then, he lifted his hand. "Everyone, quiet."
"We should eat." Thad's mom set down her phone on the pool table.
"Not yet." The others turned back around to him and Lena. He patted Lena's ass. "You're up again."
Her lips pursed and she blew out a stream of air. Glancing at him twice, she nodded and faced the family. "We're also having a baby. I'm pregnant."
"What?" shouted Thad's mom, giving a bigger reaction. "A baby, too? Oh, my Lord."
His mom burst out in tears of happiness, reaching out for Thad's dad who rushed to her side. Thad guided Lena to stand in front of him, and he put his arms around her waist and rubbed her flat stomach.
"We've got about six months until this kid pops out," said Thad.
His dad planted a hand on his chest. "I'm too old to take all this good news."
It took everyone longer to congratulate them, ask questions about the due date, and the women to start talking sex, names, and giving babysitting promises. Thad took it all in, knowing ahead of time how everyone would react and accept the news. Lena had nothing to worry about. The love in the room came from something deeper than blood.
Lena tilted her head back and looked up at him. "They're happy."
"Get used to it, babe. They're an easy bunch to please." He kissed her upturned lips.
When he pulled back, he inhaled deeply. He wanted to give this moment to her. Total acceptance and a new understanding of how his family worked and how she now belonged. Maybe tomorrow or over the weekend, he'd tell her the news he'd received yesterday. Lena's mother had died five days ago. He wasn't sure how Lena would take the news. Her emotions were all over the place being pregnant, all he could do was be there for her.
Clara waved Lena forward to fill a plate. He let her go, knowing her appetite had returned as soon as she'd shared the news of her pregnancy with him.
Lena took two plates and filled them both as she walked around the table. When she reached him again, she handed a plate of food to him.
He held it with one hand and picked up some-kind of rolled up sandwich. Lena walked over and talked to Gracie. He was glad the women got along. Clara, Gracie, and Ingrid would give her the support and friendship she'd need to make it through the times he was out on a missing person case.
"Your life is going to change for the better, son," said his dad from beside him.
"I believe it." His chest filled with pride. "She's an easy person to love."
"Yes, she is. Your mom and I really like her. She loves and respects you." His dad clicked his tongue. "That's the foundation."
"It's what you and mom have," he said. "You've shown me what I want in a marriage. How I want to raise my kid."
His dad grinned and chuckled. "A kid. God damn, son. You're making me a grandpa."
"Maybe a grandpop," said Thad, grinning back.
"I'll be proud of that name." His dad wandered off to talk with the others.
Thad looked around the room, unable to find Lena. Putting his plate on the table, he walked out of the family room and found her near the stairs leading upstairs. She stood on the fourth step looking at the pictures his mom hung in the stairwell. Caught up in examining the photos, she never heard him approach.
Recognizing the picture that Lena was studying, he said, "That's Thalia and Rich."
She startled, and he stepped up the stairs to make sure she didn't lose her balance. "I-I was just looking. I noticed them hanging here when we came down. I thought I'd find some of you when you were younger." She paused. "Your sister was beautiful. She looks a lot like your mom. Was she gentle like your mom?"
"Gentle?" He inhaled and exhaled, remembering. "In some ways. She was young, full of life, and was always dreaming. But, she could hold her own in an argument. Rich used to piss her off because he had fun trying to calm her down. She could only hold on to her anger for an hour or so and then she'd follow whoever she was fighting with around asking a million questions, so they'd start talking to her again."
"I wish I could've met her," said Lena softly.
"Yeah, me, too."
Lena pointed at another picture. "Is that you?"
"Yep. I was around twenty-five, I think."
"That's not a cigarette in your hand." She laughed. "I can't believe your mom put this picture up. Does she not know that's a joint between your fingers?"
"Of course, she did. Mom and dad were typical flower children." His chuckle fell short. "Those were some dark days. I was out of control, taking drugs, drinking, and doing whatever I could to forget how life was supposed to go because it only made me angrier."
"Your mom should take down the pictures of that time period."
He shook his head. "I don't want to forget my past."
"Oh..." She turned to him and put her back to the photos. "I do. Want to forget my past, I mean. I want the future. With you."
"You've got it. Every second of it." He kissed her, lingering on her lips. "You, me, our baby."
She threw her arms around his neck. "A normal family."
He palmed the back of her head and looked at all the pictures of his past. A mix of good, bad, ups, and downs, and love he never doubted. That's all he wanted for his own family. He could give her that.
Epilogue
Two months later —
A model-perfect woman glided into the lobby of the Grimaldi Building on four-inch heels. Poised and strikingly sexy in a deep cleavage black suit and white blouse. "Mr. Grimaldi will see you now."
Lena looked at Thad and stood with him. She smoothed the front of her shirt and held her jacket in front of her. Others might not see her five-month baby bump with her oversized shirt on, but she was highly aware of the bundle she needed to protect from the unknown.
Alexander Grimaldi had a record of being a shark in the courtroom. He could chew her up and spit her out easily.
"If you want to leave, we
leave," whispered Thad. "If I want you to leave, we're going to fucking leave, babe."
She nodded, knowing he'd haul her out before she could blink if he thought her or the baby were in danger or emotional distress. That's what she loved about him.
"I'm okay." She blew out her breath and followed the woman down the hallway, thankful for Thad's hand on her back pushing her in the right direction. She needed to know the truth.
Mr. Grimaldi's secretary stepped to the side of an open door and motioned with her hand. "Right inside."
"Thank you," said Lena.
Knowing if she hesitated now, she'd turn around and leave, she stepped inside the room and finally looked at the man her mother said was her father for the first time in person. In reality, he appeared older than his picture.
His hair, cut in the same meticulous style fitting a lawyer, was solid gray and not peppered with black as depicted in his website picture. His black power suit and red tie only accelerated her anxiety.
Mr. Grimaldi raised his gaze from his desk. "Please, come in."
Thad guided her to one of the chairs. She sat, thankful for the support. Thad stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders instead of sitting in the empty chair. Lawyers couldn't intimidate her biker. Nobody could.
Mr. Grimaldi half stood and reached across the desk, holding out his hand. "I'm Alexander Grimaldi."
Lena shook his large hand. "Lena Hollis."
"Thad Bowers," said Thad, shaking her could-be father's hand.
Mr. Grimaldi sat back down and gave them his full attention. "What can I help you with today."
Lena opened her mouth, and the rehearsed conversation she'd planned escaped her. Thad squeezed her shoulders, but her suddenly dry mouth distracted her. What if the answers she received were wrong or that she wasn't wanted?
"My secretary was unable to verify if your appointment with me is business or personal. Why don't we start there," said Mr. Grimaldi.
She swallowed. "It's personal."
"Okay." Mr. Grimaldi tilted his head. "Let's talk."
