by Vera Quinn
I thought about what Lillian proposed yesterday. It sounded too good to be true. If the apartment comes with my job, then that is money I can save. So even if they pay me less I can still get by. I love working with any animals and helping rescue them is a bonus. It just seems way too good to be true.
What if they are doing it because they feel sorry for me. I want no one’s pity. I’d rather sleep in the streets. I know I really have no choice if I want to stay in school and keep a job. I’ll just eat more noodles and save every penny. That way if it doesn’t work out I can at least buy a bicycle to ride where I need to go. I can do this. I hate to depend on anyone, but that’s what I get for not being more careful. I’ve talked myself into it, when the door opens and Lillian, Captain, and I think his name is Shine, walks in.
“Morning, Sunshine. Today you get a new home.” Captain seems awfully cheery.
“Now Jethro, you know we have to wait on her to agree.” But she is smiling.
“Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, I would like to take you up on the job and place to live, if it is still available.” I look away from them. I know it is what they want, but it still feels like a hand out.
“About time you use that pretty head. I took all your stuff to their house last night. I did bring you a bag. Your landlord said you didn’t have a lease, so you are good. Your rent isn’t due for a few more weeks and he said he’d rent it again before then. He’s keeping the fifty- dollar deposit though, something about cleaning fee, but that place was spotless. I just wasn’t arguing over fifty bucks. If you need it, I’ll just give it to you.”
These people don’t let no grass grow under their feet. Shine must not realize I can eat two weeks, sometimes three, on fifty dollars, but it is okay. It’s fair.
“Okay.” I just want out of here.
“Okay, you want it back or okay, it’s okay?” Could he be any more confusing? I look closely at him and he is a very sexy man. He has sandy blond hair with a day or so growth on his face, and the most piercing green eyes. I notice he has full kissable lips which are turned up in a smile right now. He knows I am checking him out.
“Okay, that is fine. That is fair, since I am moving out without notice.” Why is Shine trying to get a rise out of me? “I just want out of here. If they don’t discharge me soon, I will just walk out. No sense in running a bill up higher f I’m just sore, and I can do rest somewhere else.” I swear Shine just growled.
“Don’t worry about the bill, just relax. They’ll be here soon, sweetheart.” Lillian is trying to calm me down. I’m not used to doing nothing or lying in bed, and Shine gets on my last nerve with his bossiness. I am saved from anymore of his input by Dr. Gray and the nurse coming through the door.
“Ms. Walton, you are getting sprung today. I heard you made a couple of laps around the nurse’s station last night and you ate most of your dinner. You can stay for breakfast if you want, but there is a diner up the road with better eggs.” He is smiling today.
“I am giving you my instructions on what to do if you get blurry vision, pass out, or severe nausea. Stay off work at least four days. Your ribs are bruised and I’m sure the discomfort will keep you sidelined. Now let me hear your lungs one more time and then Nurse Kirby will get you out of here and on your way.”
I don’t even have time to ask a question when his stethoscope is on my back. “Deep breath and blow it out. Again. Well, it sounds good. Follow up with your primary care giver and you might want to send for a copy of these records, since you don’t live here, so your doctor will have them available. Anything else?” I grab a hold of his jacket. He’s going so fast I’m afraid he’ll be out the door before I can ask him my only question.
“Can I go back to school on Monday?” It’s not like I would really stay out anyway.
“Yes. Just nothing real strenuous for a few days. No heavy book bags. Your body will tell you what you shouldn’t do.” With that he is gone.
“I’ll be back in about thirty minutes with your discharge papers, but I will take the IV out now, so you can get dressed.” She takes my IV out, then she is gone.
“If you two will step outside, I will help Katie get dressed.” Lillian looks at Captain and Shine expectantly. Captain rises and kisses Lillian on top of the head. He really loves her, and it shows in everything he does. Grammy is the only one I can ever remember loving me.
“We’ll be right outside.” Shine is looking at me when he says it and then he does something that surprises me. He moves over and takes my hand and kisses it. Softly. It is so out of place for the big giant, but sweet. I can’t help but smile at him. Then him and Captain are gone.
Chapter Six
Shine
“What the hell, Shine?” I knew this was coming, but I don’t give a damn. Cap said she was hands off as in sex, not as in claiming.
“I want her. I want her as mine. She needs me.” Makes perfect sense to me.
“We’re all going to help her. She has us now. You don’t need to do this. You are not what she needs. You stick your cock in anything with a hole. Do you think you can change that? She doesn’t come off as the kind of girl up for that. I don’t even know if she knows what a motorcycle club is, and I doubt she’s even been on a bike. Not your type at all.”
Cap don’t get it. She’s under my skin. I saw the way she lives. She always wants to do the right thing. She’s tough and it shows by how she has survived, but she has a sweetness and innocence about her. She has brought out the protectiveness in me. I’ve never had sweet, and I want it more than anything right now. I don’t just want her, I need her.
“I don’t have a choice. I’m going to take care of her and I’m going to claim her, and I hope I have your support in that. She’s mine. She just doesn’t know it yet, but she will.” Cap is shaking his head.
“You know you are going to have to fight Lil on this. Her mother bear instincts are at work. She’s taken that girl as our own.”
I’ll do that, and I will convince Lil and Katie. “Plus, if you claim her and bring her into the club, the club bitches will eat her alive. If Lil wasn’t as strong as she is, I would never have claimed or married her. She would just shoot the bitches and they know that. You’re my brother and a grown ass man, and I won’t forbid it, but you better think it out. Because if you screw this up, I have a feeling Lil will make us all pay for it. I know you have it in you and you are a good brother. She will be lucky to have you, but it won’t be an easy task. She’s an innocent when it comes to our life.”
I’m glad I won’t have to fight Cap over this, but he is right about the club girls and taking it slow with bringing Katie to the club. I’ll have to work up to that and make sure all the girls know I am taken and to stay away from Katie. I turn and see Con coming off the elevator. He looks better now than he did three hours ago. When I left he was still passed out with a bitch on each side of him and all three were butt ass naked on the pool table. I hope I was never that bad. He is moving slow, so I know he is feeling that hangover.
“Do you want to move over here, so I can give you the update. It’s not very long because there is nothing to tell.” We move over to the corner. “Zig Zag says there is not much to tell. She was raised by her grandma. Her dad’s mom, Nina Walton. She died two years ago. Probably worked herself to death, but death certificate said stroke. The lady was sixty-nine years old and had both a full time and part time job. She took custody of Katie Bug Walton when she was four years old after her dad was killed in a construction job accident.” Con is smiling. “Yes, Bug is her real middle name. The lady was not only raising Katie but paying all her son’s debts off. He had no insurance. He was working for cash money and off the books. Son’s name, Thomas Walton. Katie’s mom died in child birth, Katherine Walton. Nina lost the home they had owned for years a year before she died. It was mortgaged to the max and she couldn’t keep up with the payments. They lived in a rent-controlled apartment, but when Nina died Katie didn’t qualify, so she had to move.
“Katie
has worked since she was legal to. Sometimes more than one job at a time. Katie is in her first semester in college at TJC. She is making good grades with a full schedule and the full-time job with Brown. Brown said he gave the job to Katie because he knew her grandma and wanted to help her until she got on her feet. He said she is one of the best workers he has. He said she keeps to herself and always shows up. He also said she works forty plus hours every week and didn’t like it when I told him she wouldn’t be returning because she would be hard to replace. I told him it was a personal favor for the club.
That’s about it. No criminal record, not even a ticket. No credit. Zig Zag said the only thing that brought up a red flag is the time between living in the apartment with her grandma to the time she rented her apartment. There is no record of where she lived.”
“Oh, hell no!” Cap is off and headed back to the room. He doesn’t even knock. My woman better be dressed, or I am going to be pissed. We are on his heels, and I see she is sitting in a chair, dressed. “Young lady, where did you live the year after you left your grandma’s apartment and before you got your apartment?” Katie’s eyes hit the floor and she is blushing.
“Answer me, now.” Cap is angry, and I push him aside and go to stand beside Katie. I want in between the two before he blows a cork. When Katie looks up she has tears in her eyes and is close to crying. Even with the one eye swollen I can see her beautiful blue eyes are full of tears, but she squares her shoulders and sits up straight, and keeps them in. I can barely hear her reply.
“In my truck.” No, she did not just say that.
“Calm down, Jethro, you’re scaring her.” Lil is trying to comfort Katie, but she isn’t having it.
“I’m not ashamed of it. I had no money, but I was working. I would go to the shelter and shower and then I would sleep in my truck. Went to the laundry mat to wash my clothes. I broke no laws. I had to save money to get a place to live. Grammy had burial insurance, but there were other expenses and I couldn’t stay in the government apartment we had. They gave me a little time, but I could never save enough, so I slept in my truck. It is why it is important for me to work so I won’t be homeless anymore.” That’s all I could take. It’s like every word out of her mouth was a dagger to my heart. I reach down to her and lift her. I took her in my arms and whispered to her.
“You will never be alone again. I promise you, I will be there for you. You are mine from this day forward.” She was stiff at first, but then she relaxed some, although she was wiggling to get down, so I set her down again. I can’t believe the things Katie has been through.
“Darlin’, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just can’t believe you slept in your truck for almost year.” Cap has calmed down.
“I didn’t trust the shelters. I mean, I know there are good people there, but I have heard some bad stories, too. I had rather be in my truck with locked doors. Now, when I have time I volunteer at the shelters to help people like myself who just need a little help. I wasn’t asking for a hand out, just a hand up.” She thinks we are judging her.
“Babe, we’re not judging you. We just hate it for you. Con and I didn’t have a home until Cap and Lil took us in and we aren’t the only ones. We have a motorcycle club full of brothers who didn’t fit anywhere, and we came together, and we are a family now. Do you know anything about motorcycle clubs?” Katie has a genuine smile on her face.
“You mean the kind like in the romance books?” My baby reads trashy romance books.
“No. You like trashy romance books?” I swear Katie turns three shades of red. “We are real men.”
“They are not trashy. They are sexy and interesting.” She still won’t look at me.
“Well, I am sexy.” I shoot Con a go to hell look.
“We are a brotherhood. Family. We have each other’s backs and we love to ride and we love the freedom of the road.” Cap tells her.
“We are each other’s family.” My girl is smiling big at me and I need to let her know I know my brothers are my family.
“My Grammy always said there are rules in life. Rule one is your family is always related by heart but not necessarily by blood.” I think Katie’s Grammy was smart woman.
“That’s it exactly, babe. I am claiming you and you are mine and I am yours. You will learn what this means. I will give you the time to adjust, but it is a fact. That means we are all family now. You have a family now.” I take her hand and kiss it.
“Shine, I think you are moving a little fast for Katie. Give her some time.” Lil is afraid Katie is going to run. It’s okay, because if she runs, I will catch her.
“Lil, Shine, and I have already spoken. Not your business. Katie, you have a family now, so let’s see if we can get this nurse to turn you lose so we can get you home and settled.” Cap gives Lil the look that always shuts her down. Lil has free rein most of the time, but when Cap has that look she shuts her shit down. The nurse comes in and we are out of there.
Chapter Seven
Katie
All the way back to Tyler I have been inside my head trying to figure out what I should do. It’s all happening so fast. Lil has tried to draw me into her and Cap’s conversation, but I just need to think. I cannot afford to make mistakes. It seems I have always been one paycheck away from living in my truck again and I don’t want to go back. One of Grammy’s rules in life is keep moving forward and don’t look back. I never quite understood it until I was all alone. If you look back, it’s always right there trying to pull you back.
I never had a mother to miss. I always wanted one. Grammy tried, but I’ve always felt like I missed something everyone else has. I vaguely remember my dad, but I can never be sure if it is actual memories or because Grammy always spoke of things we did. Grammy, bless her heart, was always just tired. I learned early to take care of myself as best I could just to give her a break. She worked so hard. I guess that is where I got my work ethic. First one there and last one to leave.
School was hard for me. Not the studying and learning part, but the part of making friends. I guess I was what you would call a nerd. My nose always in a book so I could soak up any kind of knowledge. I was quiet and didn’t like to break the rules. I had a challenging time making even casual friends. I had no time for friends. I went to school and then did odd jobs for people my Grammy knew. Any odd job, from walking their pets to cleaning garages. When I turned sixteen I was finally old enough for a real job.
I was very lucky to have Grammy and I tried my hardest to make sure she knew this and never let her down. She worked hard, so I worked hard. The only thing we ever splurged on was my driver’s license. I took drivers education in school. She said it was because she knew her eyes would give out on her sooner or later and I needed to be able to do the errands. We had only the one vehicle that used to be my dad’s.
Shine said he claimed me. I don’t even know what that means. I’m guessing he wants me to be like a girlfriend. I’ve never had a boyfriend. No time, and I am way too shy around men. He said I would never be alone again and he wanted to take care of me, but I don’t know how he knows this, because he doesn’t know me. None of them know me. What if I take the chance and they don’t like me? Then what? It’s a big gamble, but I want it so bad. I’ve never felt so lonely.
They said they were part of a motorcycle club. I know nothing about motorcycle clubs, but they have been so kind to me. I just can’t imagine Lil being anything but nice. The men are big and sometimes a little gruff, but they have kind eyes. My gut tells me they are mostly good people, but I think they are intimidating at the least. I want to give it a chance though.
Taking care of rescued animals would be a dream job for me right now. I love animals and helping them after they have been mistreated is something I believe in. I’ve always wanted a dog, but we never could afford one. Grammy always said that adopting any kind of pet is like extending your family. They are completely dependent on you for everything and it’s a life commitment. If I do this, I get to help wit
h their care. My mind is working overtime. My eyes feel heavy and I think I’ll just shut my eyes for a minute.
I hear knocking. It seems far away, but it is getting louder. Then I feel like I am falling and being picked up. I open my eyes and Shine is holding me like a baby in his arms. I guess I must have fallen asleep and we arrived at Lil and Captain’s house. How Shine got me out of the SUV is surprising because I usually don’t sleep very sound. “I can walk now. I’m awake. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to have to carry me. If you had shaken me or yelled I would have woken up.”
I thought he would put me down, but he just keeps on walking straight into a beautiful farm house. I’m trying to look around and take it all in. It looks like something out of a magazine. It has high ceilings, hard wood floors and there is so much room. Shine sits me on the sofa and I am almost scared to move. This is an expensive home and I do not belong here.
“Ma’am, I can’t stay here. I don’t fit in here. I thought you needed help, but I can see you can afford to hire someone experienced. I don’t want to disappoint you.” Lil is beside me in no time.
“I want you, Katie. This is just possessions. I just take care of my things. Do you know how hard it is taking care of this big house alone? Some of your job will be helping me in here. Plus, I must keep these three, plus more, fed. Not an easy job. So you see, you’re doing me a favor.” I just don’t know why.
“Okay. I’ll give it a try, but you have to promise if I don’t work out you will give me some time to move.” That’s the only way I can do this.
“Yes, we’ll give you plenty of time and I don’t think that will ever be a problem. I had Con tell Brown you would be changing jobs. As a favor to the club, no notice needed.” I can’t do that.
“I have to give Mr. Brown notice. He was good to me.” Not a lot of people would take a chance on me.