~ oOo ~
Maria scowled as she pulled onto her driveway and spotted Joe's bike next door. Her daughter gave a squeal of delight and was out of the car and running towards Sophia's house before she'd even killed the engine. Goddamned Joe, and that goddamned phone. She should have made Amy throw it away.
Amy let herself into Nana Sophie's house and ran into the living room. "Joe! I didn't think you'd come." She climbed into his lap and hugged him.
Joe didn't answer; he just held her tight and savored the moment. Eventually he cleared his throat. "Amy. Why don't you tell me what's going on."
"He ain't my dad, Joe." She sniffed. "An' my name's Miller, not Hunter. I don't wanna be his kid."
"You don't have to be, sugar."
"But Mommy said…”
"I don't give a shit what your mommy said. You want me to talk to her?"
"No I jus' want to you to stay here with me."
"Okay, sugar." Maria could wait.
Unnoticed by Joe and Amy, Sophia slipped outside to the little house next door. Heading round the back, she let herself into the kitchen where Maria was preparing dinner. "Think you and me need to have a little talk."
Maria frowned. "I don't have anything to say to you."
"Well it's me or Joe, sweetheart. Take your pick."
With a resigned sigh, the younger woman walked slowly into the living room and sat down. "Just say what you've got to say."
Sophia sat in the armchair opposite her and folded her hands in her lap. "I ain't judging you, Maria. If you want to tie yourself to a man you don't love, that's your affair." She straightened up. "But when your actions hurt Amy, then I have to step in. I'm sure you think you're doing what's right, but she don't love Rob and he's not her daddy. Please Maria, back off the kid."
"Why, what's the matter? Your precious son feeling threatened?"
"Oooh now, you are way out of line, lady." Sophia stood and leaned over her. "I don't pretend that Joe is an angel, and I know he's done some bad shit in his time. But he loves that little girl of yours and all he wants is for her to be happy."
"Well, Rob thinks their relationship is inappropriate."
Joe may never raise a hand to her, but Sophia had no such compunction. She slapped Maria hard across the cheek. "How dare you. You should thank your lucky stars that I don't plan on passing that information on to Joe. Cuz if I did, I doubt very much that either of you would be breathing for much longer."
Suddenly the resemblance between mother and son was glaringly obvious. "I know he wouldn't ever do anything to hurt her."
"And don't you forget it."
Maria swallowed. "I won't. I'm sorry."
Joe and Amy were snuggled up on the sofa, watching TV, when she walked back in. Sophia smiled. "Amy, honey. How about I make some fajitas and you can stay here for your dinner."
"Okay." Amy looked up. "Did you talk to Mommy?"
"Yeah. I don't think Rob will mind if you don't call him Daddy. Can't see of any way of getting you out of wearing a bridesmaid dress, though."
"Okay." She closed her eyes and snuggled closer to Joe.
"Joe?"
"Yes, sugar?"
"You love me?"
"You know I do."
"But you ain’t ever asked me to call you Daddy."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Cuz I ain’t your dad, sugar."
"So what are you, then? You ain’t my dad and you ain't my uncle."
"I'm your friend, sugar."
"Okay. Joe?"
"Yeah?"
"I wouldn't mind calling you Daddy."
"That's sweet of you, but calling me Joe is just fine."
~ oOo ~
Amy squirmed as yet another middle-aged woman kissed her on the cheek and told her what a cutie she was. She didn't feel cute, she felt ridiculous. This stupid dress was too frilly, and, really, curls? Amy's hair had never been curly. She dug her toe into the dirt as the photographer took more and more pictures. Apart from Beth, Nana Sophie and her friends Betty and Joan, she didn't know anyone. All the other guests at the church were Rob's friends and family. She had begged and begged her mom to invite Joe but was told emphatically 'no.' She sniffed and blinked away a tear. Tomorrow, they would be flying to Florida, and she was sure she would never see Joe again. She looked over to where her mom was standing with Rob—there was no way she'd ever call him Dad. She looked happy, which she guessed was a good thing, and Rob was kind. He bought them both presents and never yelled like Joe did. He didn't give hugs like Joe did either, and told her she was too old for bedtime stories. Mommy never really hugged her either. Maybe she'd never be hugged ever again.
The clubhouse was packed to the rafters. Freaks from visiting charters filled the building prior to tomorrow's run to Vegas.
Joe rubbed the point between his eyebrows, trying and failing to rub away the pounding headache that had been a permanent fixture for the last couple of days. The rage inside him was building, he could feel it. Nothing he did would shift it. It had taken three brothers to pull him off the nomad he'd taken in the ring; the poor fuck wouldn't be making the run tomorrow and the beating he gave him did nothing to erase the rage that had lodged in his chest. He had to get out, away from the noise, away from the crowds. If one more person bumped into him, he swore he would rip their heart from their chest. Pushing himself away from the bar, he stalked outside to where his bike was parked. He needed to rid himself of the noise in his head and shake off the darkness that threatened to overwhelm him.
Joe feared nothing, but right now as he mounted his Dyna, he was afraid. The only woman he had ever loved was marrying another man and taking the single ray of light in his life away from him, and without that ray of light, he was scared that the darkness would stay, lodged in his heart forever.
He hadn't planned on heading for Fillmore, his ma had told him in no uncertain terms to stay away. He had to see them, just one more time. He wouldn't cause any trouble, he just wanted to say goodbye.
The wedding reception was being held at a fancy golf club on the outskirts of town. Pulling up outside his ma's, he let himself in and left his cut hanging on the back of the chair in the kitchen. Even without it, he knew he was going to stick out like a sore thumb, and he didn't want to make things difficult for Maria. All he wanted was to touch her one more time and to give her daughter one last hug.
Amy could hear a Harley. For the first time all day the grin on her face was genuine. Joe was coming! She ran down the long gravel driveway towards to the entrance. Joe grinned and killed the engine as she ran towards him. "Hey sugar, you look ridiculous." He picked her up and sat her on the back of his bike. "Hang on, your mom will kill me if you fall off and rip that monstrosity you're wearing."
Amy gripped Joe's hoodie and laughed out loud as he rode slowly towards the reception. She knew her mom would be pissed, but she didn't care. Joe was family and he should have been invited all along.
Maria's heart lurched as the sound of Joe's bike reached her ears. Shit, she'd told him to stay away. Rob was going to flip. She rushed outside as he lifted her daughter off his bike. "Joe. What the fuck are you doing here?"
"I'm not here to cause any trouble, M. I just…”
"I know." Maria walked slowly towards him and touched him gently on the cheek. "It's for the best."
"Is it?" He swallowed. "You know I never stopped loving you."
"I know. I never stopped loving you, either. It's not enough though, is it?"
"No, it ain’t." He turned to where Amy stood, kicking at the gravel, her eyes downcast. "Amy."
She looked up. Her eyes were glassy, full of tears.
"Amy, sugar. You're gonna have a great life. You know you can call me whenever you like. And I will come see you. I promise."
"Okay."
He crouched down and pulled one of her stupid ringlets, smirking when it sprang back into place. "There's a McDonalds round the corner. Wanna Happy Meal?"
She smiled through h
er tears. "Sure."
He strapped his helmet onto her head and sat her back on his bike. Maria frowned. "Joe."
"I know, I'll be careful."
She grinned. Of course he would. She was the most precious cargo he would ever carry.
Rob frowned as his new wife walked back inside. "Tell me that you haven't let Amy go off with that biker scum."
"They've gone for a burger. She'll be fine. Joe will take good care of her." She shook her head as he puffed himself up with indignation. "I know you're not comfortable with Joe being around her. But she has known him all her life and she loves him. I'm not going to stop them spending her last night here together."
"Well once we get to Florida, she'll soon forget him."
Maria said nothing, but she knew he was wrong. You didn't forget Joe in a hurry.
Joe and Amy sat outside on the grass eating their burgers, both lost in their own thoughts.
Amy pulled at tuft of grass."Joe?"
"Yes, sugar?"
"Do you really think I'll have a great life?"
"Sure."
"I will miss you, though."
"I'll miss you, too."
"Rob said I'd forget you. I won't, though."
"I won't forget you, either."
She fell silent and picked at the lace on her dress. Joe stroked her hair. "C'mon, sugar. It'll be fine, you'll see."
"Okay. Joe?"
"Yes, sugar?"
"Can I really call you whenever I want?"
"Any time at all. I told you, if I can't answer, I promise I will call you as soon as I can."
She nodded and rested her head against his arm. "I'm a little scared."
"I know, sugar." He gave her a tiny squeeze. "To tell the truth, I'm a little scared too."
"You? You ain't scared of nothing."
"Yeah, me. I'm scared you'll forget all about me."
"I won't, Joe. I promise."
"Good to hear. C'mon, let's get you back to this wedding."
Sophia looked around. "Where's Amy?"
Maria smiled. "With Joe."
"Oh Maria, I'm sorry. I told him to stay away. The last thing you need is him coming here causing trouble."
"It's okay, really."
They both turned as the subject of their conversation walked in.
Joe stalked over to Sophia and kissed her on the cheek. "It's okay, Ma, I ain't staying." He bent and kissed Amy on the top of her head. "Bye, sugar. I'll speak to you soon." Then he turned and approached her new stepfather. "Rob."
"Joe, I presume."
"You presume right." Joe's lips curled up into a sneer. "That little girl and her mom mean everything to me. You hurt them, and I will kill you."
Joe turned on his heel and, climbing back onto his bike, rode away, feeling the darkness embracing him once again.
TEN
Maria and Amy stood, open-mouthed as they gazed at their new house. Rob had said it was big, but neither of them had envisioned just how big. The kitchen alone was bigger than their entire former home. "So?" Rob grinned. "What do you think?"
"It's…Wow, it's huge." Maria placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Do you like it, Honey?"
"Yeah, I guess." Amy looked through the window. "Is that a pool?"
"Yeah. Want to take a swim?"
"In a bit. Where's my room?"
Rob led her through the house and up the widest staircase she had ever seen to her bedroom. "There you go, Amy. Make yourself at home." He turned and left her alone to take in her surroundings. Like the rest of the house, the room was huge and Amy felt a tiny bit intimidated. Maybe if it hadn't already been decorated and furnished she would have felt more comfortable. But clearly the person who had done this room knew nothing about her, other than she was an eight-year-old girl. It was decorated in lilac and cream, with everything coordinated. She climbed onto her new bed, pulled out her phone and pressed '1'. "Joe?"
"Hey, sugar." Joe stretched and, suppressing a yawn, glanced at the clock on the dresser. Seven AM, shit. Maybe he should have explained the time difference to her. "How do you like your new house?"
"It's okay. I guess."
"Just okay?"
"It's big, an' it's got a pool."
"Wow. That's good, right?"
"I guess."
Joe sighed and lit a cigarette. "Amy, it is okay to like your new house."
"I know. But I don't. My room is too girly an' the bed's too big, an' Mom said I couldn't keep my quilt cuz it was ratty." She sniffed loudly. "How am I supposed to sleep without my quilt?"
"Hey, hey. C'mon, sugar." Joe could hear the hysteria growing in her voice. "All your stuff is still in your old house. Nana Sophie has a key, I'll get her to rescue your quilt and send it to you. Okay?"
"Okay. Joe?"
"Yes, sugar?"
"I hate it here."
"Give it a chance, Amy."
"Okay. Joe?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I call you tomorrow?"
"Sure, sugar. Take care."
Joe lay back on the bed and closed his eyes. He really hoped that this new guy had Amy's best interests at heart. Without someone fighting her corner, it would be easy for the kid to be overwhelmed, and he doubted that Maria would be up to the task. With a sigh, he flipped open his cell. "M."
"Joe? Shit."
"I ain’t gonna cause trouble, Maria. But I just got off the phone with Amy. Kid's freaking out."
"She's fine."
"No, she ain’t. I'm gonna get Ma to send her some of her stuff, make her feel more at home."
"She don't need all that old junk. Rob has promised to take her shopping, get a load of new stuff."
"I ain't arguing with you over this, M. She needs familiar shit around her right now, not something that matches the décor." Joe shut the cell before he started to yell. Deciding there was no way he was going back to sleep, he climbed out of bed and headed for the shower. He had planned to spend the day working on his bike, but now it looked like he could get an early morning ride in as well.
Rob had not been impressed when, a few days later, Fed Ex delivered two huge parcels to Amy. She, however was delighted and happily spread the threadbare quilt across her bed, then proceeded to hang the posters of Harleys on her pristine new walls. "This." He scowled as he picked up a moth eaten pooh bear by its ear. "Is that biker scum."
Maria said nothing as she watched the little girl give her first genuine smile in nearly a week. She frowned as her new husband marched into the room. "Amy. What do you want all this junk for?"
"It's not junk. It's my stuff." Amy stuck out her bottom lip and snatched Pooh from his hands. "Joe bought this for me when I was a baby and Nana Sophie made the quilt."
"But I can buy you new stuff."
"Don't want new stuff."
"But the quilt's falling to pieces and those posters make the walls a mess. Wouldn't you like some nice new pictures?"
"No, I like these." Amy wasn't going to budge on this. It was her room and she would have it the way she wanted.
Rob shook his head and looked in the second box. "But you don't have to put up with old broken toys anymore. I can get you nice new ones."
Amy sighed as she placed her Barbie horse on the dresser. She had cried and cried when she had broken its leg off, but Joe had fixed it with duct tape and it was fine now as long as she was careful. She didn't really play with it much any more, but it was a present from Joe so she kept it. "It's okay, I don't like shopping, much."
"Amy, is this just stuff that Joe gave you?"
She frowned. "No. Of course not. This”--she pulled out a chipped ceramic rabbit—"belonged to an old lady called Rita, she gave it to me when she went into a home. Beth gave me the fluffy owls when we went to the zoo." She continued to rummage through the boxes, ignoring Rob's glare. It may have looked like junk to him, but to Amy, these were precious memories.
Maria touched her husband's arm. "She needs this, Rob. This has been a massive upheaval for her."
&nb
sp; He sighed. "I suppose it has." He followed her back down stairs, leaving Amy alone.
~ oOo ~
The Seattle clubhouse was quiet as he walked through to the dorms out back. He would try to get a decent night's sleep before heading across the border in the morning for the protection run with Samson and a couple of Seattle guys. After depositing his bag on the bed, he headed back to the bar for a beer. Barney was leaning with his back against the bar. Joe grinned. "Wassup, bro?"
"Same old, bro." Barney passed him a beer. "You doing the Canadian run tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"Well watch yourself. Couple of trucks have been hit recently."
Joe nodded. This was old news. It was also why Samson had asked specifically for him. He was sure any of the Freaks could have done the job, but the nomad president was extremely paranoid, and Joe was one of only a few people he trusted to have his back. As he took a pull on his beer, his cell vibrated. "Hey, sugar. Did Nana Sophie send that stuff?"
"Yeah. My room looks much better now."
"Good to hear. So how's your new school? Do not use cuss words."
"I wasn't going to.”
"So you like it?"
"No. There ain't any boys, I have to wear a stupid uniform and the girls are bitches." She sighed and Joe chuckled. "And Mom said if I punch any of them, she'll ground me till I'm seventeen."
"Don't get caught then, sugar."
"Joe. They'll rat me out."
"Guess you'll have to suck it up, then."
"S'not fair, Joe. I hate being a kid."
"Life rarely is. I gotta go Amy. I'm gonna be on the road for a couple of days, so I'll call you next weekend, okay?"
"Okay. Bye, Joe."
"Bye, sugar."
Barney raised an eyebrow as Joe hung up. "That Maria's kid?"
"Yeah."
"They okay?"
"I guess." Joe frowned. Since when did Barney show an interest in Maria and Amy? As far as he knew he had only met Maria a couple of times, years ago, and had never met her daughter.
A Family Man Page 6