Cora laughed, watching Sharon leave to go back into her office. That was why Sharon got the job. She may be sweet, delicate, and caring, but she didn’t take any crap when it came to the care of the kids. Sharon wanted the best for the students, and she bent over backwards to get it.
****
“I wasn’t going to hurt that lady,” Ryan said.
James glanced across the car toward him. “I know you wouldn’t. If you had, I’d have beaten the shit out of you. You’re sixteen, Ryan. You know better than to try shit like that. We never hurt a woman like that, or threaten her.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“I mean it, Ryan. The club doesn’t accept bullies. You want to be a bully then go and find another town to do that shit in. Last time we talked you told me you wanted to be a patched in member. I don’t allow bullies in my club. We’re men, we accept our responsibilities, and we work damned hard, do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Cora’s off limits. You treat her with respect.”
“Is she your old lady?”
“She’s the woman I’m seeing at the moment. I don’t believe she’ll ever be anyone’s old lady.”
Lucy, Ryan’s mother, had begged him to pick Ryan up, and to keep him for the afternoon. Once he found out what Ryan had been doing, James promised to have a word with the little shit. Ryan’s father may have run out of town, but that didn’t give him a reason to start acting up. Lucy was doing the best she could, and she was under the club protection.
“What’s going on with you?” James asked, pulling up outside of the diner.
“I don’t know. I’m angry, I guess.”
“Why are you angry? And don’t give me shit. I’m not in the mood, Ryan.”
“My dad’s a coward, and my mom’s always so damned busy. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of her expecting him to come home, or waiting for him to call. He just upped and left,” Ryan said.
“You’ve got everything to be angry about, Ryan,” James said. “Look, I didn’t have a dad to care about. I only had my brother Pixie. I know about the anger. I understand the anger. Being a man isn’t about letting that anger control you. It’s about controlling that anger, and becoming a better man.”
Ryan turned to him with tears in his eyes. “Why did he leave?”
“I don’t know, son, I really don’t know. You’ve got to talk to your mother. She’s so afraid right now. She’s afraid of losing you, and failing you. Lucy’s a good woman. She’s a strong woman, but she’s got the same anger you do. He’s your dad, but he’s her husband. What is she to do now? She can’t move on right now.”
“I can’t move on. He’s always going to be my dad.”
“Exactly. He’s always going to be your dad, but what about your mom? What about her happiness? Can she move on? Can she find someone else? At the moment, she can’t. She’s sitting around waiting for him to come home. Will he ever come home?” James asked.
“Are you looking for him?”
“We’re looking for him, but
when a brother doesn’t want to be found, there’s no point in looking for him, Ryan. Your father, he left for a reason. I’m not making excuses for him because I wouldn’t dream of leaving my club behind, but we’ve all got reasons for doing the shit we do.” James turned to look at the diner. “Now, we’re going to go in there, eat some good food, and talk. No more bullshit from you, Ryan.
“Yes, sir.”
James opened the car door and took his regular booth. Teri came over handing out menus. She didn’t linger at the table, and with Cora in his life, James was starting to see he’d gotten it completely wrong with Teri. The women cared about him as a friend, like he cared about her. There wasn’t any love between them, and there never would be.
He sat for the next three hours talking with Ryan, working shit out with him. The kid was angry, confused, upset, and hurt. James knew all about that, and it was all for good reason. When he was growing up in the foster homes, his anger got him through the worst of the pain. Now, he was helping Ryan get through his.
When Lucy walked into the diner at lunchtime, she looked so damned tired. Several of the brothers had joined him in that time.
He took her arm, and led her to the table in the back. James gave Ryan a look to stay where he was. It had been too long since he’d talked with Lucy, and he wanted to know what was going on. She rarely visited the club, and didn’t accept any payouts from him.
“What’s going on?” he asked, taking a seat.
The club had voiced their concerns, each bother coming toward him to complain about this shit.