by MLJ Quigg
When the door opened, and the kids came running in, jumping on the bed, he pulled me tight against him, making sure we were covered.
“Morning, Mum. Morning, Dad,” the kids said in unison.
“Morning, kids,” Derrick said.
“Morning, kids,” I replied.
“You kids have a good sleep?” Derricks asked.
They all nodded.
“All right, kids. Come on. We need to get up and get ready,”
I said.
“Okay, Mum, we’re going. Come on, you two. Let Mum and Dad get up,” Connor said.
“Thanks, baby,” I said.
“I’m guessing they both missed each other really bad,” Connor stated.
“Oh, yeah, I think we need to soundproof the room,” Jackson said, laughing.
“Out, you cheeky brats,” I yelled, and they ran out the door, closing it behind them.
“There is no way in hell they are fourteen, Monique. Are you sure they aren’t adults in kids’ bodies?” Derrick asked.
“Pretty sure, though I have never kept anything from them. Well, that went better than expected, though. Join me in the shower?” I asked.
“Hell, yes. Let’s go,” he answered with enthusiasm.
I laughed as Derrick jumped up and pulled me with him to have a quick shower.
When the kids came into the kitchen, I was making breakfast, and Derrick was making coffee.
“Do you kids want bacon and eggs or cereal?” I asked.
When they all yelled out bacon and eggs, I just laughed and shook my head.
“Can we have hash browns too, please, Mum?” Jackson asked.
“Sure, baby, get them out of the freezer, please. Madilyn, can you please put the toast on? Connor and Jackson, can you set the table?” I asked the kids.
“Sure, Mum,” all three answered.
Derrick came over to help me, and we cooked side-by-side.
Every time he kept stealing kisses, the kids laughed and smiled.
“Scrambled eggs okay with you, Derrick?” I asked him.
“Sure is, gorgeous,” he said, pecking me on the lips again.
When everything was ready, we took it all to the table to eat. After we’d finished, the kids grabbed the plates and packed them away in the dishwasher. Once Derrick and I finished our coffee, I put the mugs in the dishwasher and started it, then I gave the kids money for lunch, and we were off and out the door.
Giving the kids and I a kiss and a hug, Derrick then got on his bike, and we both pulled out of the driveway at the same time. While he went left, I turned right and drove the kids to school, watching them walk into the school grounds before making my way to work.
Derrick
I arrived at the clubhouse with a huge smile on my face, and when I walked in, everyone looked at me. I made my way up to the bar and grabbed some coffee, then sat next to Dozer and Trigger.
“You look happy,” Trigger pointed out.
“I am. I spent the night with Monique in my arms. Best feeling ever,” I replied.
“You finally got some, you dog, you.” Trigger laughed.
I put up four fingers.
“Lucky bastard. Good for you. I’m glad things are working out for you both,” Dozer said.
“So am I. I’m gonna make her my old lady and marry her arse. Fuck, yeah. Put more babies in her, too. Yep, gonna do all that.” I smiled at Dozer. He knew I was being cheeky.
“Knew you would sooner or later,” he replied.
“Gonna put in an order for her property cut and go buy a ring,” I stated.
“Want some company?” Trigger asked.
“Sure, why not? I have some paperwork to do today. We can do it tomorrow morning, yeah?” I asked.
“Yep, sounds good. Well, I’m off to work,” Dozer said, giving me a fist bump.
“Yeah, me, too. Gotta earn a living,” Trigger said.
“Hey, I’ll swap any day. I hate fucking paperwork. That’s all I seem to do,” I pleaded.
“Fuck, no. Nuh-uh. You keep that shit to yourself. That’s why you’re the boss—all the paperwork. None of us suckers wanted it.” Trigger laughed.
“Fuckers,” I yelled at their backs.
I could still hear their laughter as the front door shut. Finishing my coffee, I made another and walked into my office to begin the dreaded paperwork. I was about halfway through the paperwork when there was a knock on my door.
“Come in,” I called out.
“Sorry to interrupt, Prez, but Trina’s phone is going off here. Ivan wants to know what’s going on,” Knife said as he and Danger walked in.
“Hmm. All right, text him, ‘I can’t get away at the moment. They are getting suspicious and know something is up but not that it is me. They still think I’m just a fucking club slut. They are going on a run this weekend, and most of the members will be gone. Best time to put the plan into motion. Will let you know when it’s safe to turn up,’” I said.
“Sounds good,” they said.
“We can ride out in case they are watching, then double back and walk in the back way. They won’t know. Set them up and wipe them out when they get here. Let’s talk to the guys in church and see what they say first,” I said.
That night at church, I explained what had happened, and everyone agreed to go ahead with the plan.
I went to my bedroom and called Monique, wishing her goodnight and told her I would see her soon.
I was so tired from last night since we’d ended up not getting very much sleep, but it was the best night I’d ever had. I would do it again every night if I had the chance. This sleeping apart was not gonna be for long if I had my way.
I woke up refreshed and ready to go, and when I made my way downstairs, Dozer and Trigger were waiting for me.
“Don’t you two ever sleep?” I asked as I grabbed a coffee.
“Oh, yeah, we do.” Dozer laughed.
“You ready to get this done, Prez?” Trigger asked.
“Hell, yeah, I am. Let’s go,” I said.
We got on our bikes and rode for half an hour to the place I wanted to buy the ring from. Parking outside, we walked into the shop. The saleswoman was looking at us like we were going to rob the place, but the stupid bitch was gonna get a surprise.
“Can I help you, gentlemen?” she asked.
“I would like to buy a wedding set for a female and a wedding band for me, please,” I stated.
“Okay, these are the wedding sets, and the bands are here. Have a look, and see what you like,” she says pointing to the rings.
I saw the set I wanted straightaway and pointed to it, I asked, “Can I have a look at that set?”
Opening the case, she brought them out and passed them to me.
I took them and looked at them closely.
The engagement ring was gold with a fucking huge white diamond in the middle and three smaller black diamonds on either side. The wedding ring that came with it was gold with white and black diamonds alternating around the whole band. The saleswoman tried to explain the rings, but it got too complicated for me, so I tuned her out. I just liked the ring set.
“The other night, I took a ring that she wore on her ring finger from her jewellery box and tried it on. It fit my pinkie finger, so let’s try it,” I said.
I slid them on, and they were a perfect fit. I smiled.
“We have a matching set of bands that are similar to this set.
They are gold with a black diamond in the middle,” she said.
“Okay, show me.”
She brought them out, so I tried them on, too, and they were a perfect fit.
“Fucking perfect. Yep, definitely those, but I won’t need the female’s wedding ring because there is already one in the set.”
“You could always use the one in the set for an eternity ring,” the saleswoman suggested.
“What the fuck is an eternity ring?” I asked the guys, but they just shrugged.
“No idea, man,” Trigger replie
d.
“Fuck-load of help you are, then,” I said, then looked back at her.
“An eternity ring is given to a wife when a significant event occurs in the marriage—like their first wedding anniversary or the birth of a child, things like that. It has a continuous line of identically cut gemstones around the ring, and it signifies never-ending love,” she explained.
“Well, you got the kids down pat there,” Dozer stated.
“Yeah, and I want more. I want a whole houseful,” I said with a smile on my face.
“Aren’t the triplets enough, man? Fuck, you’re a glutton for punishment,” Trigger said, laughing.
“Hey, now, I had no idea I had kids. Not my fault they’re nearly grown-ups. I want one that I can be there from the start, watching Monique grow them and then the whole baby, toddler, children, and then the teenager age they are now.” “I can understand that,” Trigger said.
The saleswoman showed me how all the rings would sit, and it looked really good, all blending in together. I put them on my pinkie and showed the guys.
“Nice. I like it,” I said. Then I said to the girl, “All right, I’ll take the lot.”
She just looked at me, dumbfounded.
“You all right there?” I asked.
“Sir, that’s over forty thousand dollars’ worth of rings.”
“And your point is?”
“Okay, sorry. We usually don’t get people coming in to buy that amount at one time,” she said.
“It’s cool. Treat me good, and I’ll recommend you to others.
You’ll be getting a shitload of sales then,” I stated.
“Thank you, sir,” she replied. She then boxed them up and handed them to me after I’d paid.
Leaving the store, I entered the florist next door and walked up to the counter.
“I would like sixteen red roses,” I requested.
“Certainly, sir. We can either deliver them, or you can take them now if you would like,” the saleswoman said.
“Um, delivered, please. How long will that be?” I asked.
“We can do it this afternoon in about two hours,” she replied.
“Sound good.” I paid and gave her the address.
When we arrived back at the clubhouse, I made my way to my office. I had a few things to organise. A club brother was a marriage celebrant, so I would give him a ring and ask him what I needed to do to get married. I had no idea if there was a waiting period or anything like that. I knew that in some states in the US you could just go get married, but I wasn’t sure you could do that here, so I made a call, and he answered on the first ring.
“Hey, Prez, what can I do you for?” he inquired.
“Hey, Wombat, are you in the clubhouse by any chance?” I asked.
“Sure am. Do you need something?”
“Yeah, can you come to my office?”
“Sure. Be there in a minute,” he replied, and literally, a minute later, he knocked on the door.
“Are you still a marriage celebrant?” I asked.
He smiled a huge smile. “I certainly am. Do you need me for something, Prez?”
“You know I do, fucker.” I laughed.
“Well, then, congratulations. When are you asking? I’m assuming you haven’t yet,” he said.
“No, I haven’t. I’m going to ask her tonight. I have a plan, though. Gotta make a few phone calls and get everything here. How do I go about the process of lodging the forms and all the shit that goes with it?” I asked.
“All right, first off, I have all the forms in my room upstairs, so when she says yes, we can fill it all out. Then there is a waiting period of a month before you can get married. There are also fees that go with them, but I’ll pay for them. That will be a present from me to both of you. All you need to show me are birth certificates and photo identification. It’s pretty easy. I fill out all the forms, and after the wedding, I have two weeks to lodge it, then you’ll get the marriage certificate if Monique wants to take your last name,” Wombat explained.
“Okay, sounds good. Have the forms ready for tonight then.”
“No probs, Prez.”
The delivery of the roses arrived, and I sent out a mass text, asking all the brothers and families to come to the clubhouse when they finished work today. I only had a couple of hours, so I continued making phone calls.
When they had all arrived, I told them my plan, and they loved it. I pulled out my phone and called Mike, who answered straightaway.
“Hey, Mike, it’s Derrick. Can you get Dave? I need to ask you both something,” I said.
“Okay. Hold on.”
Through the phone, I heard Mike calling to Dave, “Honey, come here, please.”
“All right, I’m putting it on speaker so we can both hear. Go ahead,” Mike said, returning to the phone.
“Okay, Mike and Dave, I want to ask something, and being that I can’t ask her parents and you two are her closest friends, you’ll do. I want to ask Monique to marry me today, and I want you here when
I do it,” I said.
“Fuck! That was quick. Hell, yes. She loves you, and I know you won’t fuck up again. This is the happiest I’ve ever seen her. You have my approval,” Dave said.
“Thanks, Dave. Mike, what about you?”
“You’ll never hurt her again?” Mike asked.
“Never. I love her. Always have and always will,” I replied.
“Okay, that’s all I needed. I will kill you if you do, but I know you won’t. I had to warn you, though. You have my approval,” Mike said.
“Understandable and not gonna happen. I do have one question, though, Mike. Do you by any chance know where she keeps her birth certificate? I need it to fill out paperwork for the certificate. If it’s at her house, I can get the kids to get it on the sly or something.” I asked.
“I do, actually. She has it at the office in the safe. The safe is made of steel, and she put it there because it’s fireproof and indestructible, apparently. She thought it was safer there. I can go and get it before we turn up,” Mike offered.
“Thanks, guys. See you soon. I’m just about to call and ask her to come over,” I said.
“We are leaving now. We’ll be there in about forty-five or so minutes,” Mike replied.
“Excellent. Can you send me a text when you have it and on your way?” I asked.
“I sure can,” Mike replied.
I went out and grabbed a beer from the bar, then sat, and while I drank it, I received a text from Mike saying he had it and was on his way.
I walked upstairs to my room to grab my birth certificate, and while there, I took a deep breath and called Monique.
“Hey, Derrick,” she answered.
“Hey, baby, what are you doing?”
“Just hanging with the kids. I’m about to cook dinner.”
“Can you and the kids come over now? You can have dinner here. I need to talk to you all, and it’s important.” I said.
“Um, yeah, we can. Is everything okay?” she asked.
“All good, baby. I just really need to talk to you.” “Okay, we’ll be there soon,” she said.
I walked out to the bar and yelled, “She’s on her way.”
All the guys hollered, and I smiled as I walked over to the bar, taking the drink the prospect had slid across the bar to me.
“Nervous?” Dozer asked.
“Nope,” I replied.
When Mike and Dave turned up, Mike passed me an envelope. I opened it and saw it was Monique’s birth certificate, so I added mine to it.
“Wombat,” I yelled.
“Yeah, Prez?” he yelled back.
“Got ’em,” I said with a smile and waved the envelope.
“Huh? What are you talking about?” he said, walking over to me.
I handed him the envelope.
He opened it, and when he saw the papers, he said, “Ooh, right. I’ll put it with the paperwork. You let me know when you want to fill it out with Monique, and we’l
l go from there, okay?”
“No worries. Will do,” I replied, then watched as he walked to the stereo and added the envelope to a folder, then patted it and smiled.
“What the fuck was that about?” Mike muttered to Dave, who shrugged.
“No idea, baby,” Dave replied.
“He’s a marriage celebrant, and he’s got all the paperwork to fill out,” I stated with a huge smile.
“Oh, cool,” Mike said, smiling.
“She’s here,” someone yelled.
“Showtime, guys. Get over here and grab a rose,” I yelled.
Monique
I had no idea what was going on when I pulled up at the clubhouse. All I knew was that Derrick had rung and wanted the kids and me there.
Oh, well, only one way to find out.
We piled out of the car and walked up to the door where I was met by Dozer, who handed me a red rose, then took my arm and walked me into the clubhouse. There were guys lined up from the entry of the common room to the bar where Derrick was standing with a red rose.
I smiled. What the fuck is he up to?
Dozer nudged me to walk to Derrick, and as I passed the guys, they each handed me a red rose. When I finally got to Derrick, he gave me his rose and kissed me.
He took a huge breath and said, “Monique, each one of these roses marks the years I’ve been away from you, and the last one from me is a promise I will never leave you again. I love you with all my heart, and I was a fucking idiot to ever leave. I promise to never leave you again, and I offer everything that I am to you from now on. I know I said it would be soon, but I couldn’t wait. You are the love of my life, Monique, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife and spending the rest of your life with me?” He knelt down on one knee, opened a box, presenting me with a gorgeous ring.
I was dumbfounded and just stared at it.
Holy shit.
“For fuck’s sake, Mum, yes,” Jackson yelled.
“Language, boy, but I really need your mum to say it. What do you say, gorgeous? Wanna make an honest man out of me?” Derrick asked.
I nodded my head, and then I kept nodding.
“Gonna need to hear it, baby,” Derrick said.
I looked at him. “Yes, yes, yes.”