Road to Peace

by Piper Davenport

  “Gracie hates her dad now, Mummy. She said it’s his fault that Alison tried to kill her and that if you hadn’t talked to Alison, Grace would be dead too.” Poppy burst into tears and I pulled her back into my arms, the tears falling freely down my cheeks now.

  Hatch moved then, wrapping us both in his protective warmth. I shifted so I could burrow against his chest, and Poppy and I each wrapped an arm around his waist.

  “Need to know my girls are okay,” Hatch said after a few minutes. “I know this is a shit situation, but, Poppy, you are protected, as are Grace and Merrick, so I need to know you get that.”

  She nodded up at him. “I know, Hatch. I’m okay.”

  “I’ll always have your back, baby girl.”

  “I know.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Good.”

  Devon returned with the dog and handed him over to Poppy. “He did his business and now he wants to play. Sorry.”

  Poppy smiled and hugged Sparky to her chest. “It’s sleepy time, puppy, not play time.” He nipped at her chin with a growl. “Let’s go make Gracie feel better.”

  I kissed Hatch gently and he released me so I could follow Poppy back into the bedroom. Merrick hugged Grace and then moved to leave the room, but I pulled him in for a squeeze and held him probably longer than he expected. “I love you, Merrick. I’m here for you too. Anything you need.”

  He settled his head on my shoulder and held on for a little while and we stood like this until he broke the connection, standing to his staggering five-foot-ten-inch height.

  “Are you okay in the bunk room?” I asked.

  “It’s all good, Auntie. Devon’s cool.”

  “Okay, if you need me, you know where I am.”

  He nodded and, after one more glance Gracie’s way, he left the room.

  “Grace, do you feel like you need something more to sleep?” I asked.

  “Do I have to go to bed? Can I watch a movie or something?”

  “I didn’t bring any with me.”

  “They have movies here,” Cricket said. “I don’t know how many are suitable for kids, though. Hatch’ll know.”

  I leaned into the hallway. “Honey, what are the odds of age-appropriate movies for Grace and Poppy?”

  “Odds are good, Sunshine,” Hatch said. “Got a movie room downstairs.”

  “Grab the dog, ladies, let’s go watch a movie,” I said. “Devon, Merrick, you coming?”

  They didn’t hesitate.

  Maisie

  ONE WEEK LATER, Poppy and I were back at our place dressing for Alison’s funeral. Grace had been staying with us as well, refusing to go home, which Ryan had agreed to for the moment, but today she was with her grandparents (Ryan’s parents), whom she adored, which meant she could have family time.

  Ryan and Alison’s home had been “cleared,” on Monday, which meant the clean-up could begin. Ryan couldn’t bring himself to sleep there again (I didn’t blame him), so Hatch organized a few brothers from the Club and I got with a few of the women, and we helped pack up the house. Cade hired a specialty clean-up crew to erase the evidence of Alison’s suicide, so Ryan could get it on the market.

  Ryan and Merrick stayed in a hotel until he could find a more permanent solution.

  “What’s going to happen to Grace now?” Poppy asked as I braided her hair.

  “I don’t know, Poppet. We’re going to have to sit down and have a very serious conversation. You and I are going to England in August, so—”

  “She could come with us,” she said, hopefully.

  “You seem to forget she still has a father.”

  “She hates her father.”

  I turned her to face me. “Which isn’t right, Poppy.”

  Poppy wrinkled her nose.

  “Ryan didn’t do anything wrong,” I stressed.

  “He left her with Alison,” Poppy countered.

  “Do you really think that if he had any idea that Alison was going to do what she did, he would have left Gracie with Alison?” I challenged.

  “Well, no, but—”

  “Look, these are all very adult situations that even us adults are having a really hard time wrapping our minds around, but Ryan loves Gracie just as much as I love you, Poppet. As much as your daddy loved you, and believe it or not, just as much as Ali loved her.” I stroked her cheek. “Alison was sick, and that doesn’t make any of this right, and it certainly doesn’t make Gracie feel any better, I’m sure, but it also doesn’t make Alison’s love for her daughter any less. One day, Grace will see that. It’s just going to take time. Uncle Ryan has a really long road ahead of him to get Gracie’s trust back, Poppet, so I’m going to do whatever I can to help, but let’s let them figure out what works for their family. We’ll be there to support them however we can, okay?”

  “Are you going to marry Hatch?”

  “Wow, where did that come from?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I was just wondering.”

  “I have no idea. I love him, sweetheart, but I don’t know if we’re at that stage just yet. It hasn’t been very long.”

  “Well, if you get to that stage, will he be my new dad?”

  “I guess that will all depend on whether or not that’s something both of you want. Your daddy will always be your daddy, Poppet, so I don’t want you to ever worry about Hatch replacing him.”

  She bit her lip. “I don’t worry about that.”

  “Well, that’s good.”

  “But if you have other kids, I kind of want all of us to have the same last name.”

  I chuckled. “Gosh, you’ve got me married off and pregnant to the man and we haven’t even hit the year mark.”

  Poppy rolled her eyes. “I know, but he’s, like, totally in love with you, so it’s going to happen.”

  “You think so?”

  “Well, duh.”

  My heart fluttered. “I’ll tell you what, if it happens, and it’s something you want to talk to him about, then we’ll do it, okay?”

  She nodded. “I want to talk to him about it.”

  “Really? What if there’s a boy you like and he stands at the door with a gun cleaning it, and embarrasses the heck out of you and tells you you can’t date until you’re thirty?”

  “Then he’ll just be acting like a real dad.”

  “Well, you’ve got me there, sweetheart.” I smiled and pulled her in for a hug. “If it happens, we’ll talk to him about it.”

  “Thanks, Mummy,” she whispered.

  “Okay, you look good. Now, let me finish up so I can be ready when Hatch gets here.”

  I grabbed my purse and walked out to the kitchen just as Hatch walked in the front door. I hadn’t seen him since the afternoon before and to say I’d missed him was an understatement. I looped my arms around his neck, kissing him long and hard.

  He cupped the back of my head and smiled against my lips. “Hey, Sunshine.”

  “Hey.”

  “Missed me, huh?”

  “So, so much.”

  He chuckled. “Missed you too, baby.”

  “Hey Hatch.” Poppy walked into the room and hugged him.

  He hugged her back, kissing her head. “Hey, baby girl.”

  “We should probably head on over to the funeral home,” I said. “I packed a bag since it’s going to be a long day. I’m not going to want to stay in this dress all night.”

  Hatch grabbed the bag and we headed down to the garage and to my car. Arriving at the funeral home, we found Ryan already there with his parents and kids, and I saw Alison’s mother immediately.

  “What the hell is that?” Hatch whispered.

  I leaned close. “The mutton dressed as lamb, as we say in England, is Alison’s mother.”

  Phyllis wore a tight, neon-pink leather mini-skirt, see-through platform heels (sans goldfish surprisingly), a leopard print, low-cut cami, and a double gold belt to finish off the ensemble. She’d dyed her hair platinum blonde and had teased it up a bit like Dolly Parton in 9to5
. I guess the hippie commune didn’t work out.

  Phyllis threw herself over the casket with a moan, revealing to the group she’d forgone undies, and cried, “My baby, my baby’s dead! She’s dead!”

  Ryan caught my eye and gave me a look of panic.

  “Time to help,” I declared.

  Hatch nodded. “I’m gonna—”

  “Nope,” I interrupted. “You’re going to show everyone here you’re my man.”

  “Yeah, not really what I was worried about, Sunshine.” He stared down at me. “Just not real interested in seein’ her shriveled up twat.”

  “Got it.” I faced him, forcing back a giggle as I gripped his cut. “I love you, Hatch Wallace. Now kiss me quickly because I have a dead woman I need to save from a drunk one.”

  He chuckled and did as he was told. Poppy hung back with Hatch while I approached Phyllis with caution.

  “Hey there, Phyllis, do you remember me?” I asked. “I’m Maisie. I met you a while ago. When Grace was born?”

  She turned her head to look at me, but didn’t stand up or move away, so I did my best to block her vagina from the family. “Yes. I remember,” she said.

  I didn’t believe her, but I went with it. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “She hated me.”

  “She didn’t hate you,” I countered.

  “She never called.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said again, and wrapped an arm around her bony shoulders, pulling her (a little forcefully because she wouldn’t let go of the damn casket) away. “That must have been difficult.” I led her to the family row and sat her next to Ryan’s mother who appeared mortified that I did so.

  Ryan joined me and gave me a gentle hug, thanking me for my help.

  “Where’s her husband, or whatever he is?” I asked.

  “Merrick said he saw him in the bathroom drinking from a flask. I thought about going and getting him, but, honestly, I just don’t give a shit,” he admitted in a whisper.

  “I don’t blame you.” I glanced around. “Is Alison’s dad here yet?”

  Ryan shook his head. “I don’t know if he’s coming.”

  “Oh,” I breathed out. “Okay.”

  “It’s fine, Maisie. People are going to be arriving soon, though. Not sure what I’m going to do with her.” He nodded toward Phyllis when he said “her.”

  “Get your cop friends to escort her out if she becomes a problem, Ryan. Seriously, don’t feel bad. I’m surprised you called her.”

  “Her daughter’s dead. I couldn’t keep that from her.”

  “No, this is true.” I sighed, feeling like a bitch. Even though I knew Alison couldn’t stand her mother, Phyllis was still her mother. No one should lose their daughter. You weren’t supposed to bury your children.

  I joined Hatch and Poppy, close to where Grace and Merrick sat with their grandparents, and we muddled through the service, then onto the procession to the gravesite where we watched Alison lowered into the ground. The whole thing was just wrong.

  There were less than twenty of us there, but I didn’t miss the support of the Dogs and their bikes at the gravesite when we pulled up, along with several of Ryan’s coworkers dressed in their finest Police Blues.

  By the time Hatch wrapped his arms around me and Poppy, and we started back toward the car, I didn’t know if my legs could support my weight… and we still had to head back to their house to feed the guests.

  I leaned heavily against Hatch as we walked away from the gravesite and by the time I fell into bed that night, I had nothing left, so I wrapped myself around Hatch and fell asleep almost immediately.

  Maisie

  ABOUT A MONTH later, Poppy had been out of school for a week or so and she and I were up at Kim’s place for a riding lesson. Well, she was having a riding lesson, I was watching. As was Kim, considering she’d just given birth a week ago. Jagger Aidan Quinn was currently sleeping in the house, as was Cambry, both under the watchful eye of a nanny, so Kim could come down and check on the horses.

  “Are you coming over to Payton’s tonight?” Kim asked.

  “I think so.” I checked my watch. “Hatch should be here in about an hour. We were going to go from here.”

  “Perfect.” She gave me a conspiratorial grin. “You know the house across from them is for sale.”

  I laughed. “Oh, really.”

  Poppy and I needed a proper house, and I’d been tossing around the idea of selling the business for a while, but especially now that neither Alison nor Niall were there to do it with me. It just wasn’t the same. With Poppy’s love of art, I liked the idea of applying for the art school in Vancouver and moving away from the memories. I’d mentioned this to Kim and it sounded like she’d said something to Payton.

  “And Carter and Cassidy live right next door to Hawk and Payton,” Kim continued.

  “I did know that, yes.”

  “Payton’s determined to have her own Dogs’ commune.”

  I grinned. “That sounds perfect.”

  “Kimberly,” an irritated growl came from behind us.

  Kim smiled and turned to face Knight who was walking angrily toward us. “Hi, honey.”

  “What the hell are you doing on your feet?” Knight demanded.

  “Checking on Fozzie, making sure Poppy got set up with Mary for her lesson, getting out of the house before I go insane,” she retorted. “Oh, and giving my boobs a rest from being sucked dry by the moose I just gave birth to because his dad is a giant.”

  I bit back a laugh as Knight wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Someone didn’t get a nap today.”

  “Suck it,” she said, lifting her head for a kiss.

  “Hey Maisie,” Knight said once he noticed I was there.

  I smiled. “Hey Knight.”

  As Knight and Kim talked quietly, I turned back to watch Poppy. She slid off the horse and the instructor walked her through a few things from the ground. I was so focused on watching her, I jumped when strong arms wrapped around me from behind and a scruffy beard landed on my neck.

  “Excuse me, sir, but if my man finds you here, you’ll be in a world of hurt.”

  Hatch chuckled, kissed me in the sensitive spot behind my ear, then turned me to face him. I looped my arms behind his neck. “How was your day?”

  “Good. How about yours?”

  “Not bad.” He’d left his hair down, so I slid my fingers into it. “I’m going to do it.”

  He leaned back. “Yeah?”

  I didn’t have to explain. I’d been bending his ear about selling the business for weeks now, and he said he’d support whatever I decided.

  I nodded. “I told Bill to put the paperwork together today. Jeremy Marville made an offer… Bill’s making the counter offer to him next week.”

  “Does that mean you’ll be at my beck and call all day?”

  “For what purpose?”

  “Sex slave sounds good.”

  I laughed. “That’s kind of a win-win, darling, so sure.”

  He grinned, kissing me deeply. “Hawk says the house across from them’s for sale.”

  “Kim told me.”

  “You wanna look at it?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”

  He stroked my cheek. “Yeah.”

  “Are you asking me to move in with you?”

  He shook his head. I frowned.

  “Askin’ you to marry me, Sunshine.”

  I gasped. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, but this is not your official proposal.”

  “Connor,” I whispered. “I love you.”

  He grinned. “Is that a yes or what?”

  “I can’t say yes… this isn’t my official proposal.”

  He laughed. “Fair enough.”

  “We do need to talk to Poppy, though.”

  “I already talked to her.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  He slid my hair behind my ear. “Talked to her about how she’d feel if I made this perm
anent and she wanted to know if I could be her dad. So we had a conversation that she asked I keep between her and I, and we have a plan.”

  “So I don’t get to know the plan?”

  “Not yet.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t think I like that.”

  “She’s safe, Sunshine.”

  “I’m not worried about that. I trust you.”

  “Good to know.”

  “I just want to know what the conversation was about.”

  “And if she wants to tell you, she can,” he said, patting my bottom.

  I slid my hands under his T-shirt and up his chest. “Bet I can get it out of you tonight.”

  He kissed my nose. “You can try.”

  “Challenge accepted.”

  “Mum, did you see me?” Poppy asked as she rushed toward us. “I jumped the logs on the ground.”

  “I saw, Poppet.” I pulled away from Hatch and hugged her. “You looked amazing.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled. “Hi, Hatch.”

  He smiled. “Hey, baby girl.”

  “Your stuff is in Kim’s downstairs bathroom so you can shower and change here instead of going all the way home,” I said.

  She handed me her helmet. “Okay.”

  “We’ll meet you back there,” I said, and she skipped off to the house.

  Hatch wrapped an arm around my waist and I slid my hand in his back pocket. “So what did you guys decide?”

  “Nice try.”

  “Damn it,” I breathed out.

  “Gonna do it right, baby.”

  “Glad to hear it, Connor.”

  He chuckled. “Gonna be a surprise, though.”

  “I’m good with that.”

  We walked back to the house and chatted with Knight and Kim while we waited for Poppy to finish getting ready. Once she was, everyone piled into cars and we convoyed up to Hawk and Payton’s home in Vancouver.

  The crowd was smaller tonight, just us, Booker and Dani, Hawk and Payton, Ace and Cassidy, and Knight and Kim. Admittedly, I was glad, because I wanted to eat, drink, then get my man home and naked.

  I was in the kitchen with the other women, Poppy and Lily were in the basement playing pool with Maverick and the guys, and Kim’s nanny, Emily, was watching the little kids upstairs.