Mad About Moon

by Melissa Foster

  “I’m trying to be,” she said honestly. “Everyone is so nice.”

  Red reached over and tucked Josie’s hair behind her ear, like a mother would do. Not Josie’s mother, but she’d seen other girls’ mothers do it to them, and she’d longed for that type of affection.

  “But it’s a lot to take in,” Red said empathetically.

  “A little.”

  “I understand. I’m not sure if you know who I am, but Biggs, the gnarly looking guy with the cane and the bushy beard, is my husband. Bullet, Bones, Bear, and Dixie are my children.”

  “I know. I read all about your family on the Dark Knights website.”

  “You did your homework. That’s good. There are a lot of us, and we’re a tough crowd, but we’re also a good, honest, kind crowd.”

  “That’s what everyone tells me,” she said nervously.

  “Josie, honey, we love Scott, Sarah, and Sarah’s children. They’re family to us, and they were even before Sarah and Bones got together. My oldest, Brandon—Bullet—is the one who saved them from the car accident. From that moment on they became part of the Whiskey family, and by extension, part of the Dark Knights.” Red stepped closer, her green eyes searching Josie’s face for understanding. “That means that you and Hail also came into our family circle. I was so sorry to hear about your husband. We’ve all been worried about you and Hail, and I’m really glad that you came tonight. I can’t wait to get to know you and Hail a lot better.”

  “Thank you,” Josie said just above a whisper, emotions bubbling up inside her. “That means a lot to me.”

  “Family is what the Whiskeys and Dark Knights are all about. Each and every one of those people out there are either Dark Knights, their families, or their closest friends, and if you need anything at all, we’re all here for you.”

  Josie’s eyes teared up. She blinked rapidly, trying to regain control.

  Red opened her arms and wiggled her fingers, “Bring it in, darlin’. Let’s get it out, so you can let us in.”

  She stepped into Red’s warm embrace, and as if her kindness had broken a damn, tears ran down Josie’s cheeks. Red stroked her back, the same way Brian’s grandmother used to do, and that made Josie cry even harder.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart,” Red said sweetly. “You’ve been on your own for a long time, but you’ll never have to be alone again.”

  THE MUSIC COULD barely be heard over the din of friends laughing and talking as the New Year approached. Jed couldn’t imagine his heart feeling any fuller than it did right then, with Josie’s and Hail’s small hands tucked into his. When he’d seen Josie hurrying to the bathroom a few hours ago, he’d been ready to snatch up her and Hail and go someplace quiet to celebrate. He’d gone after her, but Red had stopped him outside the bathroom door and asked him to give her a minute alone with Josie. A little while later, Red’s best friend, Chicki, another Dark Knights mother hen, had gone into the bathroom carrying her purse like she was on a mission. The three of them had come out of the bathroom a few minutes later, with Josie tucked under Red’s arm. She was smiling, had on freshly applied makeup, and when their eyes met, he knew she was going to be okay.

  Over the last few hours she and Hail had gotten to know everyone. She’d called a few people by the wrong names and was astonished that she didn’t keel over from embarrassment. Hail fit right in with the other kids, running around and playing and having a great time. He even followed Kennedy’s lead, referring to the Whiskeys and their significant others as uncles and aunts.

  Now Josie was busy chatting with Dixie like they were old friends.

  “You’ll have to come out to Whispers with us sometime,” Dixie said.

  Jon Butterscotch flashed his panty-melting grin as he stepped between Dixie and Josie and said, “I can vouch for Whispers being a good time.”

  Jon was a physician and he came into the bar pretty often. He liked to ride motorcycles, sported a year-round tan and longish blond hair, and he was an adrenaline junkie. He was known to be a womanizer, but Jed had never seen him look at anyone the way he looked at Dixie.

  “I meant for a girls’ night,” Dixie said sharply. “You think Jed wants your horny ass near his woman?”

  “Damn, girl. You are feisty.” Jon waggled his brows.

  Dixie rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Josie, I’m sure Red wouldn’t mind babysitting. We’re also hoping to get together to plan Sarah’s baby shower in a few weeks. It’s a secret, so don’t say anything, but you have to be there for that.”

  “I’ve never actually gone out for a girls’ night, but I would love to help with the baby shower.”

  “You should go out with the girls sometime,” Jed said, giving her hand a squeeze. “I’ll watch Hail.” He glanced at Jon and said, “We’ll just keep fifty shades of sweetness over there away from you.”

  Crow, Bear, and Crystal joined them just in time to see Jon scowling at Jed.

  “What’s got his undies in a bunch?” Crystal asked.

  “Nothing,” Jon said. Then he turned a flirtatious smirk on Dixie. “I hear you’re heading up the spring bachelor auction. How come you haven’t asked me yet?”

  “No woman in Peaceful Harbor is going to pay for what she’s already had for free,” Dixie snapped. “This is a fundraiser, which means we want women to actually bid on the men. I wish I could get Jed to do it, but he turned me down flat.”

  “Damn right.” Jed leaned closer to Josie and whispered, “Think if she and Jon were locked in a room together they’d tear each other’s clothes off or kill each other?”

  Josie turned her face into his chest to cover up her laugh, and man, he loved that she felt comfortable enough to do that.

  Crow draped an arm over Dixie’s shoulder and said, “I’ll do it, Dix, but only if you’ll bid on me.”

  She turned that death stare on Crow.

  Bear shoved Crow’s arm off Dixie’s shoulder. “In your dreams, dude,” he said as Biggs stepped up to the stage and cleared his voice, quieting the crowd.

  “Hi, Papa Biggs!” Hail hollered, making everyone laugh and Josie blush.

  Biggs stood taller, like a proud grandfather, and said, “Come on up here, Hail.”

  Hail looked up at Jed, as if seeking permission, and Jed looked to Josie, though he knew while at first there was no way she’d have been comfortable with Hail leaving them, now that she knew everyone, he was fairly certain she’d be fine with it. She nodded sweetly, and Hail ran up to Papa Biggs. His little arms shot up for Biggs to hold him, and Bullet stepped beside his father and lifted Hail into his own strong arms.

  “I’ve got him for you, Pop,” Bullet said.

  Hail wrapped one arm around Bullet’s thick neck and waved into the crowd, causing another burst of laughter.

  “Anyone else want to join us?” Biggs asked.

  Kids shouted out excitedly. Truman and Bones carried Kennedy and Bradley up to the stage, and a handful of other children followed. Lila was fast asleep in a bassinet beside Sarah’s chair.

  “Oh my gosh.” Josie gazed up at Jed and said, “Did my boy just ruin this for Biggs?”

  “No, babe. He just made the night even more unforgettable.”

  He leaned down to kiss her, stopping short when he realized Hail might be watching. They’d stolen a few kisses when Hail was busy playing, but it was like getting a taste of his favorite meal and then having it whisked away. It wasn’t nearly enough. She stroked his cheek knowingly, went up on her toes, and kissed the spot she’d just touched.

  “Y’all know I’m not big on speeches,” Biggs said, drawing their attention. “So I’ll make it quick. In a few minutes we’re going to say goodbye to another fine year that went by too fast. We’ve been blessed with many new family members.” His warm gaze swept slowly over the children, then over the adults, pausing at Finlay, Tracey, Scott, Sarah, and finally, Jojo. “And old friends who have found their way back home.” He nodded at Diesel. “And to little ones who have yet to meet us.” He winked at Crysta
l and Sarah. “I’ve gotten grayer, but I could not be happier, or prouder of our Dark Knights family.”

  Red joined him on the stage and handed him a bottle of beer.

  He leaned his cane against his leg and put his arm around Red as he lifted the bottle and said, “Here’s to another great year.” There was a murmur in the crowd, and then all of the Dark Knights joined him in reciting the Dark Knights creed, “Love, loyalty, and respect for all.”

  It wasn’t just the creed. It was how Dark Knights lived their lives, and it was how Jed was determined to live his.

  Biggs took a drink, and everyone cheered.

  When the countdown to New Year’s began, with Hail safely tucked against Bullet’s chest, counting backward from ten with the rest of the crowd and Josie’s hand in his, Jed was riding high. He swept Josie into his arms and gazed into her beautiful eyes as they counted down the last three seconds together. When cheers rang out and confetti was thrown into the air, his smiling lips found hers.

  He lifted her off the ground, kissing her hard and deep, and when their lips parted he said, “This is already my best year yet.”

  Chapter Nine

  JED’S GUT FISTED as he drove through the rusted chain-link fence that surrounded the trailer park where he’d spent too many awful years of his life. They’d moved to the trailer park when he was eleven years old, after his father had lost his job, which had led to them losing their home. For a brief period of time both of his parents had found solace in alcohol. His father had quickly sobered up thanks to eight-year-old Chrissy telling him he no longer smelled like her daddy. Their father had cleaned up his act, and for a while things weren’t quite so bad. But ten months later, after finding out their mother was having an affair, their father had given her an ultimatum—clean up her act or he was taking the kids and moving out. The day he’d gone to see about renting a place in Peaceful Harbor, he’d been killed by a drunk driver, and their mother had spiraled into a world of alcoholism and denial. She’d turned bitter and mean, but in Jed’s mind, she was fucking weak. Her weakness had forced Jed to be stronger than he’d ever thought possible, and at eleven years old he’d become the man of the house.

  As he parked in front of his mother’s washed-out trailer, he thanked the heavens above that Josie was strong. After all she’d been through, she could have ended up like his mother, or worse. He didn’t want to think about Hail going through anything even remotely similar to what he’d been through. He remembered their happy, excited faces when he’d surprised them and shown up with doughnuts that morning. They’d been painting their palms and making handprints on paper. Hail had insisted Jed do it, too, and Jed had to admit, seeing his handprint with theirs had made him feel all sorts of good. He eyed his hands, which were still tinged with blue. Man, he’d hated leaving them, but it was New Year’s Day, and he’d promised himself he’d try one more time to get through to his mother.

  He climbed from the truck, taking in the tiny plot of overgrown, unkempt land that had once boasted a small garden in front of the trailer. Crystal and their father had tended that garden religiously. The green awning on the side of the trailer had broken on one side and hung slanted, resting on the back of two metal chairs like a tooth hanging from its roots. Fighting against a familiar sense of obligation, he strode past his mother’s old car with two flat tires and so much caked-on dirt it looked like she’d dug it out of a swamp, telling himself it wasn’t his problem. She was a functioning alcoholic, like Superman only with alcohol—able to drink a twelve-pack and still pull in a paycheck! Lord only knew how she held down her job at a convenience store.

  He kept his eyes trained on the ground, trying to rein in years of anger and disgust. The stench of cigarettes hit him before he even reached the musty indoor-outdoor carpeting beneath the awning. The door was open, despite the winter cold. He peered through the screen, taking in a multitude of empty beer bottles on the coffee table, ashtrays full of cigarette butts, and dirty dishes littering every surface.

  “Mom?” he called out as he stepped inside. His gaze swept over the dark paneled walls, the stained plaid sofa, and the rancid green and yellow curtains. Answered with silence, he peered down the narrow hall at the bedroom door, which was ajar, and wondered if this would be the day he’d find his mother’s dead body. He’d lived with that fear for so long, he was almost used to it. It would almost be a blessing.

  Jesus. What’s wrong with me?

  He pushed those awful thoughts away. Jed wasn’t a coldhearted bastard. He loved his mother, despite the shit she’d gotten herself into. Yeah, he’d always hate the way she made Crystal feel and the demeaning way she treated him, but he didn’t want her dead. He’d been taking care of her since he was eleven years old. Unfortunately, it was as much a part of his life as the air he breathed.

  He filled his lungs with the stench of a wasted life, steeling himself against the possibility of finding her lifeless body, and pushed open the door. Pamela Moon sat on the edge of the unmade bed wearing a pair of black leggings, high heels, and a red sweater that hung cockeyed off one thin shoulder. A lipstick-stained cigarette hung between her lips, and she was swaying a little. An empty bottle of whiskey lay on the end table.

  She lifted glassy eyes to Jed, so different from the paper-bag-lunch-making, bus-stop-greeting mother he’d grown up with in Peaceful Harbor. “Jeddy,” she said with the raspiness of a chain smoker. “What’re you doin’ here? D’jou bring cigarettes?”

  Same questions, different day. He didn’t come by much anymore, but once every few weeks was enough. She pushed to her feet, wobbled, and he grabbed her arm, steadying her.

  “Christ, Mom.” He gritted his teeth. She wasn’t usually this bad off.

  She slapped at his hands, talking around her cigarette as she pushed past him and headed down the hall. “You got cigarettes?”

  “No, I didn’t bring you cigarettes. You need a reason to climb out of the bottle long enough to remember there’s a whole world out there.”

  “Then whaddaya want?” she snapped as she set a kettle of water on the stove. “You lose your job? Need a place to crash?”

  “No, and if I did, this would be the last place I’d come.” He began picking up the dirty dishes. “The place is a wreck. How do you live like this?”

  She grumbled something indiscernible and dumped coffee grounds into a mug. Then she waved her hand and said, “I entertained last night.”

  “Oh, right. Happy New Year. Are you still working?” He was pretty sure she was banging the owner. He couldn’t think of any other reason the guy would keep her on board.

  She stubbed out her cigarette and lit another. “Whadda you care?”

  He put the dishes in the sink and stood over her. Her sunken cheeks and ashen skin brought a wave of sadness. She was glaring at him like he was an asshole, pushing those softer feelings aside. “You’re my mother. Of course I care. Do you have any idea what it’s like to wonder if you make it back to your trailer every damn night? Or if you’re alive or dead?”

  She scoffed as the kettle whistled, reaching for it with a shaky hand. Jed pushed her out of the way. “Sit down so you can sober up.” He poured the water into her mug and set it on the table.

  She grabbed a bottle of liquor from the counter and poured it into the coffee, scowling at him like a rebellious teenager. He wasn’t about to get roped into an argument. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms, waiting for her to sit down before he said what he’d come there to say.

  Once she was sitting down, he said, “You need to get control of this shit.”

  “I got no shit in my life besides you strolling through my door.” She sipped her coffee and crossed her legs, kicking one high heel up and down. “Just like your father, always trying to tell me what to do.”

  “Dad loved you even after you had an affair.”

  “He was a liar, just like you,” she seethed. “He promised me a good life, and instead I got this hellhole.”

  She alwa
ys compared Jed to their father. It probably didn’t help that he looked just like him. Jed admired his father. He might have gotten derailed for a short period of time, but he was a good father who would have done anything for his children. And from what Jed remembered, he was good to their mother, too.

  “You did this to yourself. He gave you a chance to get sober and make things better, and you chose not to.” He would never forget the way his father had taken the blame for her drinking and her affair and begged her not to give up on their family.

  She gulped her drink and said, “He was full of shit. He went and got himself killed, leaving me to raise two kids alone.”

  “Well, you sure showed him, didn’t you?” he said sarcastically.

  She took a long drag of her cigarette. “Oh, I raised you, all right, but you turned into a thief and she turned into a pansy who can’t even satisfy a man.”

  Fire exploded in Jed’s gut. He set both hands on the table, glowering at her as he spoke through gritted teeth. “Don’t you ever speak of Chrissy that way again. She was raped. Can’t you get that through your thick skull? Or don’t you care? And if it weren’t for me stealing to put fucking food on the table, we’d all have starved.”

  He pushed away from the table and paced, pissed off that he’d gotten roped into another fight. There was no arguing with a drunk. Fuck this. He reached into his back pocket and slapped a brochure for a rehab facility on the table. It was for the same place Quincy had gone through treatment, and he hoped to hell his mother would take this chance to do the right thing.

  “Chrissy’s pregnant.” For half a second he thought he saw something other than venom in his mother’s eyes, but he must have imagined it, because in the next second it was gone. “Her kid doesn’t have a maternal grandfather, and that kid sure as hell doesn’t deserve you as a grandmother. At least not the you sitting before me. But once upon a time,” he said sharply, “a long time ago, you were a good person, a good mother. You were someone I was proud of and I wanted to be around. Dad gave you a chance and you blew it. Now it’s my turn.”