by Jamie Begley
When Moon came back in a worse temper than he left, Ginny blocked the door when he would have opened it.
“Were you mean to him?”
“No. I was extremely polite.”
“Good.”
“Can we go now?”
“Of course.” Ginny moved away from the door. “You should really start drinking tea. It’ll put you in a better frame of mind,” she advised.
“So would eight hours of sleep,” he said, going down the steps beside her.
“Yes, it would. Early to bed, early to rise will make Moon nicer in the morning,” she chirped, taking the last step.
“Which car are we taking?” Ginny asked when Moon looked at her.
“I was about to ask you the same question.”
“I don’t have a car, and Gavin has been using Viper’s.”
“I’ll be right back. Gavin has the key to the car the club uses.”
Ginny stopped him. “Don’t wake him; he’s tired.”
“We can take my bike.”
“I’ve never ridden on a bike. Can I do it wearing a dress?”
“Yes, just tuck it around you,” Moon explained as he got on his bike.
Placing her arms around his waist, Ginny experimentally bounced on the seat. “This is cool. I’m excited.”
“Yeah, me, too. Yippee.”
Ginny heard the sarcasm in his voice and didn’t care. Holding on tighter when Moon started the motorcycle, Ginny felt the thrill of excitement from doing something new. However, the elation was gone before they made it to the first curve. Moon drove like he was giving a ride to a ninety-year-old, who would fall off if he went too fast.
Parking in the church lot, Ginny climbed off.
“How was your first ride?”
Ginny shrugged, taking her coffee tumbler from Moon. “I’m sure the next time I ride on one will be better. It was kinda boring. I don’t get why Sex Piston and Crazy Bitch like riding on them. Maybe the Predators do it differently. I’ll have to ask. Anyway, thanks for the ride.”
Heedless of the glowering stare following her as she walked to the door of the church, she went inside. Ginny hoped Moon would be in a much better mood when she came out. He was a sour puss first thing in the morning. No wonder he didn’t have a girlfriend.
Making her way into the kitchen, she found Willa hard at work.
“Good morning,” she said softly so as not to startle her friend.
Seeing her, Willa turned the mixer off. “Good morning.” Willa caught her in a big hug that made Ginny feel safe and protected.
“I missed you,” Ginny said when they broke apart.
“I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Me, too.” Her face went serious. “Trudy told me you gave money to Viper to help them get on Clindale. However much did you give, I’m going to make sure to pay you back. Trudy didn’t know how much—”
“You don’t owe me any money.”
“I’m going to pay you back.” She refused to take no for answer.
“You don’t understand. You don’t owe me any money. Reaper paid me back what I’d given to Viper, and Lucky told me Reaper paid Viper back the money he spent.”
“How much did you give Viper?”
“The money didn’t matter to me. It still doesn’t. I just wanted you back safely.”
Ginny gave Willa an imposing stare. “How much?”
The amount Willa confessed had Ginny going to the stool behind the counter to sit down.
“I would never be able to pay that back in three lifetimes.”
“Do you know how much Gavin repaid Viper? Two hundred thousand more than I gave.”
“I’m going to be sick.” Ginny placed her head on her knees.
Ginny heard Willa rush around the kitchen. “Here drink this.” Willa placed a glass of orange juice in her hand.
Sipping the cold juice slowly, she felt her stomach settle. “I’ll never be able to pay him back.” She hated owing people money.
“I don’t think he wants the money back. He did it for you.”
Drinking the rest of the juice, she then took the glass to the sink. “I have an appointment with Pastor Dean this morning. Is he in his office?” she asked thickly.
Willa looked at her in concern. “Yes, he’s expecting you.”
Placing her hand on the counter to steady herself, she went around the counter.
“Ginny, are you okay?”
“I don’t know anymore. That’s why I’m here to talk to Pastor Dean.”
Walking from the kitchen, Ginny went back to the front of the church to knock on the pastor’s office door. Hearing his voice from the other side, she went in.
“Good morning, Ginny.” Her pastor stood up and stepped around his desk and took her hand. “Other than the sling, you’re looking much better than the last time I saw you.”
“Thank you for leaving your church to come to the island to help Gavin and me.”
“You’re very welcome. Have a seat.” Pastor Dean motioned for her to take the chair in front of his desk. Then he leaned back on his desk, crossing his arms over his chest, and stared at her appraisingly. “What did you want to discuss with me this morning?”
Looking around his office, Ginny remembered the many times she sat at his desk as he helped her finish school work. Sitting down, Ginny adjusted her sling rather than meet his eyes.
“I’m here to ask for your help.”
“My help? Is there something you haven’t told Reaper? Has Allerton—”
“No,” she interrupted him. “I need you to help me get my faith back.”
Pastor Dean’s fierce expression cleared. “Why do you feel like you’ve lost faith?”
“Because of Gavin.”
“You lost faith because of Reaper? Has he done something to—”
“No.” Ginny corrected the misconception. “It wasn’t what he did, but what was done to him that made me lose my faith.”
Nodding, Pastor Dean looked down at his shoes. “I see. Go on.”
“I’m so angry at God, that He left Gavin in that hellhole for so many years.” Ginny used her fingers to rub her forehead. “I keep imagining him screaming in pain, pleading for God’s help.” Her hand fell limply to her side. “Sometimes, I feel like he’s still screaming for help.”
Ginny blinked back tears. “I don’t know what to do to make the screaming stop. Whatever they did affected him sexually.” Blushing, Ginny forced herself to go on. “He doesn’t discuss things with me, and I don’t ask, because I think it will take the small piece of faith I have left. Have you ever had a crisis of faith?”
“I did … right before Willa and I married,” he admitted.
“How did you get your faith back?”
“My crisis was different. I didn’t lose faith in God; I lost faith in myself that I could serve God the way I believed He deserved to be served.”
Ginny remembered when he stepped away from the church.
“Willa helped you find your way back to the church,” she stated.
“Yes, she did.”
“I’m glad. The church wasn’t the same without you.”
“I missed the church just as badly. It’s hard to turn your back on your beliefs, which is what you’re going through. Our beliefs offer hope and comfort that God will be by our sides, regardless of the situation we find ourselves facing.”
“He wasn’t with Gavin,” Ginny argued.
“He was. God was protecting Reaper until it was time to return him to us. We’re not supposed to understand the reasons different events in our lives play out. God provides the plan, and as believers, we’re expected to do our part by providing the faith to take the steps that fulfill the journeys He sets for us to take, in order to end up where we are meant to be. Some journeys are easier than others. Ginny, your journey has been difficult, yet you never lost your faith. Reaper’s pain and suffering shouldn’t be the reason you lose faith with as much as you love him. When you love someone you can’t ta
ke on their pain or suffering; otherwise, we become as lost as they are.”
“What are we supposed to do?”
“Be God’s messenger. Hold him close when he needs to be held, love him when he needs to be loved, and offer him hope when he has lost his.”
“How can I stop the screaming in my head? Am I just imagining it?”
Pastor Dean slipped his hands into his pocket. “You’re hearing his screams. The brothers and I see the pain in his eyes. The abuse Reaper went through was horrific. Perhaps what we’re hearing and seeing is an echo of the man he once was. I truly don’t know.” Pastor Dean rubbed his eyes as if he found it just as unbearable as she did to know the amount of pain Gavin was in.
“What do we do?”
“Keep doing what you’re doing. He’s making headway, slowly, but each of the brothers have seen it. I thought I’d never see him smile again, and I saw him do it several times on the flight back from Sherguevil Island. You can have faith in God, Ginny. He placed you in Gavin’s path. Taylor would have never been able to deal with the horrors that Reaper is dealing with. She always had to be first with him. What he needs now is someone who can give that to him.”
“Gavin doesn’t want what I can give him. He doesn’t believe he has the heart capable of loving another woman, and …” Embarrassed, Ginny looked away from her pastor. “He doesn’t like me touching him.”
“Have you and Reaper been intimate?”
“Yes.” Ginny wanted to sink through the floor, but she forced herself to be truthful and open. “He touches me, but he doesn’t like me to touch him. I asked Trudy and Sex Piston if I was doing it wrong, and they seemed to think something is wrong with his motor.”
At the strangled sound of his voice, Ginny looked to see Pastor Dean returning to his desk, sitting, his face expressionless, making her feel better.
“I see.” Pastor Dean began searching through his folders. “Perhaps there is someone else you can talk with who can give some advice that I won’t be able to.”
“Perhaps I could talk with Willa..”
“God no!” One of the folders the pastor was holding fell out of his hand and to the floor. “One of the women at the club could make a few suggestions.”
“I can’t do that. I’m worried one of them will tell me they’ve been with Gavin, and I won’t be able to get it out of my head. I really would prefer an objective opinion.”
“Reaper hasn’t been with any women at the club since his kidnapping,” her pastor said, standing up holding the folder. “So, anything she could tell you would have been in the past.”
Ginny thought about it, then decided against it. “No, none of them will be able to help me.”
“Why not?”
“I’m pretty sure they would have fixed his motor if Reaper was interested. Since he still has the problem …” Ginny shrugged. “Is there anyone else you could suggest?”
A thought came to her mind just as Pastor Dean shook his head.
Ginny gave Pastor Dean a bright smile. “I believe I know the right person. Thank you, Pastor Dean. Our talk has been a big help.”
Moving around the chair, she heard Pastor Dean scratch the floor as he pushed the chair back.
“Uh … Ginny, who’s the woman whose advice you’re going to ask? Perhaps I can talk to Willa …,” he hastily offered.
“That won’t be necessary. I think that’s where I’ve been wrong. The problem is one that a woman can’t fix. I need a man’s point of view. Thank you again, Pastor Dean. I’ll see myself out.”
Ginny turned when she heard him give a grunt of pain, seeing Pastor Dean holding his leg.
“What happened?”
“I accidentally hit the corner of the chair. Listen, Ginny—”
A knock behind her had Ginny hurrying to answer the door.
“Lucky, could you help me load a wedding cake into the van.”
Ginny’s interest was piqued at the mention of someone in town getting married. “Who’s getting married?”
“Dr. Griffin. She’s new to town,” Willa cheerfully told her. “Have you met her?”
Ginny was instantly thrilled for the woman.
“I’ll be with you in a minute, Willa.” Breaking into the conversation, Lucky tried to keep her from being sidetracked.
“She’s the one who examined my arm. Who’s she marrying?”
“He’s from out of town. I haven’t met him yet.”
“Two new people are moving to Treepoint? Wow. Drake will have to change the sign as you come into town.”
Willa and Ginny broke into laughter about the sign indicating the town name and the number of population that would go up instead of down.
“Ladies … Ginny, we really need to finish our conversation.” Lucky attempted once again to get her back on track.
Seeing he was becoming frustrated with Willa and not wanting to hold Willa up, she decided it was better to leave.
“That’s okay, Pastor Dean. I’ll let you know what I find out.” Giving Willa a brief one-sided hug, Ginny left the married couple, knowing she made the right decision when she heard them arguing as she left.
Who knew Pastor Dean could be so anal about his meetings with his parishioners being interrupted? Next time she needed his advice, she would make sure Willa didn’t have a big order to get out. Men could be such jerks sometimes.
The new doctor was lucky her fiancé was from out of town. That meant he didn’t have the same affliction that most of the men in this town had—jerk-itis.
Chapter Forty-One
Pushing the swinging door to the kitchen open with the flat of his hand, Reaper stared at the room full of people in frustration when he didn’t see who he was looking for.
“Where’s Ginny? And why didn’t someone answer my texts?” he asked in frustration.
“Because we’re eating.” Viper set his cup down on the table. “I was getting ready to text you back.”
“When? After you ate that pound of waffles?” Reaper snarled, going to the back door to let Suki out. Leaving the dog to do her business, he then went to the coffee machine. Grabbing a cup, he chose a nearly full pot.
“That’s …”
Reaper turned a death glare at Puck, who was doing dishes. “What?”
“Nothing,” Puck mumbled, putting a glass in the dishwasher.
Reaper poured his coffee, giving Jesus his own death glare when he appeared to be debating saying something. “You need a haircut,” he snapped at the brother.
Jesus brought his hand protectively to the back of his hair. “Yours is longer.”
Reaper’s glare intensified. “I don’t work around food.”
“I won’t be either after today.” Jesus moved to stand next to Jewell, as if the woman could protect him.
When Jewell gave him her own death glare, Reaper went to take a seat at the table. “Where’s Ginny?”
“You have no problem texting everyone else; have you tried texting her?” Viper asked.
“She hasn’t answered,” Reaper admitted, taking a sip of his coffee. Scalding his tongue, he forced himself swallow the hot liquid rather than add to Viper’s amusement.
“She’s at the church.”
“How in the fuck did she get to the church? Why wasn’t I woken up? Someone better be—”
“Chill. Reaper, it’s too early in the morning. What’s with you?” Pouring syrup over his waffles, Viper then closed the lid with a snap.
Reaper knew he was acting like a fucking dick. Ginny had turned his mind to mush from the moment she touched him. Why wasn’t his mind clearing the more time he spent with her? When was the monotony going to kick in? He just wanted one turmoil-free day. Was that too much to ask for?
Reaper could see he wouldn’t be getting any answers until he calmed down.
“Who drove Ginny to the church?”
“Moon,” Viper finally gave the information he wanted. “He’ll tail her and bring her back when she’s done. What’s your plan for the day?”
“Putting sheds together.”
“Sheds?”
“Don’t ask.” Getting up, reassured that Ginny was being watched by Moon and Lucky, Reaper went to the door to let Suki inside before making himself a plate.
Loading his plate down with waffles, he was passing the crockpot when he curiously lifted the lid to see what was inside. Oatmeal. He fucking hated the goo.
Going to the cabinet, he took a bowl at the same time as Shade took one. Hurrying back to the counter, Reaper took the remaining oatmeal before considerately turning the crockpot off.
“You couldn’t have saved me a spoonful?”
“You snooze, you lose.”
Ignoring the dark look Shade gave him, Reaper went back to the table.
Pouring the syrup over the waffles, he started eating as Shade sat down with Viper and him.
“You going to be back before the party starts tonight, to make sure Ginny is out of the way?” Viper asked.
“I plan to be back at four. I’m going out later tonight with Silas and Greer. I’ll make sure she knows to stay in my room while I’m gone. Tell the brothers while I’m gone to keep the noise down until I get back.”
“How long you going to be gone?”
“A few hours. I’m not asking them not to party, just to keep the noise down so Ginny won’t have to listen.”
“How’re you going to keep her from hearing what’s going on when you come back?” Shade questioned, dropping his eyes to the uneaten oatmeal.
“She’ll be more concerned with what’s going on in our room rather than the rest of the club,” he bragged, pulling the oatmeal toward him and starting to eat the goo. Expecting to gag under Shade’s scrutiny, Reaper was pleasantly surprised at the taste.
Finishing the bowl, he looked at his cell phone and saw that Ginny still hadn’t texted him back. Sending her another, he told her that he was heading to Silas’s.
Taking his dishes to the sink, he grabbed one of the tumblers sitting out, then went back to the table, pouring the hot coffee into it. “I’m going to Silas’s. If anything comes up, you can text or reach me there. Any of the brothers want to earn any extra cash this afternoon, we could use help building the sheds.”
Shade gave him a quizzical look. “How many are you building?”
