“Remember when Candy’s pipe’s burst, Norvell?” Mrs. Crane asked, as Mr. Fields nodded and added. “She was so worried. You were just a little thing. It was right before your third birthday. He just showed up with several of his boys. They fixed that pipe fast just in time for your ballerina party.”
“That was a good party,” Mr. Corbin grinned. “Lasted the whole weekend. A few of those boys even helped me with my back deck. Good boys. The lot of them.”
“Sir,” Savage interrupted. “The man you say is Jessica’s dad. Can you describe him for me?”
“He wore your patch boy,” Mr. Corbin stated, pointing at the Golden Skull patch on Savages chest. “Only his said President.”
“Do you remember his name?” Savage asked.
“Not so good with names anymore, son. But it wasn’t that bastard who killed our Candy. She was a sweet girl and she loved you, Jessie. She would always say you were the best thing that ever happened to her. Her beautiful Jessie girl.”
I couldn’t hold them back anymore as tears slowly rolled down my face. These were my people. The ones who helped me learn to ride a bike, learn to read, who taught me everything from fishing to baking cookies.
They were my family and they loved me.
Hugging Mr. Corbin, I quietly cried. “Oh, now don’t you start that bawling,” he said, patting my back. Sniffing, I smiled. “Yes sir.”
Releasing him, I turned to Savage who held me in his arms.
“Well, it’s getting late. Best you kids get inside,” Mr. Crane slowly smiled, his eyes shining with his own unshed tears. “Come see us before you leave in the morning.”
“Yes sir,” Savage and I both said, as they all walked back to their homes. Heading for the front door, I opened it and walked in.
“Jess?” he said, shutting the door behind us.
Nothing had changed. Pictures were still on the wall, my mother’s book she was reading was still on the small table, open to the last page she read. There was a fresh lemon scent in the air as if she had just got done cleaning. The old rug she’d found at a yard sale had been recently vacuumed. There were fresh flowers in the vase on the small mantel. “Yeah.”
“Do you know who they were talking about?”
“No.” I muttered, walking past the living room, down the small hall and opening the first door on my right. It was my room. Everything I left behind was still here. All my stuffed animals, books, magazines, even my old radio player my mom worked hard to get me when I turned thirteen. Turning, I stared at her door. The room that was hers. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to find it clean. Fresh bedsheets on the bed. A bouquet of white roses in a beautiful pink crystal vase on the nightstand. Sitting next to the vase was a picture. Walking over to it, I picked it up and smiled.
The picture was of my fifth birthday. My mom was holding me, kissing my cheek as I giggled. In the background were five men all smiling, all looking at us.
All except for one.
My father.
I remembered this day.
It was a good day. I got my first bike that day. A pink one with streamers on the handlebars. It even had a pink basket with a bell. I remembered it sparkled and shined. I didn’t even mind the training wheels because it was all mine.
My pretty new bike.
“I didn’t know you knew Pops and Moonshine,” he said, coming up behind me.
“Who?” I asked, turning to him as he took the frame from my hands and pointed at the men in the background. “That’s Hellhound, my dad, Pops, Moonshine and of course Toxic. Jess, there are two-chapter presidents in this picture.”
“So,” I said, sitting on my mother’s bed as I looked about her room. It was like nothing bad had happened here. Everything was as it should be. Even her room smelled like her.
“Toxic didn’t become the Florida Chapter President until a few years later when Bear died of a heart attack. Mr. Crane said that your father wore a President patch.”
“Mr. Crane is old Savage. Toxic married my mom when she found out she was pregnant. He was just confused.” I replied, not wanting to talk about him anymore. Not in this place. Not where my mom lived. She spent her whole life trying to shield me from the destruction of Toxic and I didn’t want to taint her home with any more memories of him.
Laying down on her bed, I rolled over hugging her pillow to my chest. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes as her scent enveloped me and for a short second, I could actually feel her near me.
That night I slept with Savage’s arms around me, in my mother’s bed, breathing in her scent. It was one of the most peaceful night sleeps I ever had. And when I woke the next morning, I felt rested and at peace. She was gone. I was never going to see her again but being here, in her home made me remember all the wonderful things I loved about her. The memories of all the laughter and love she wrapped me in. I had a wonderful mother. A loving mother and when I rolled over onto my back as the sun shined through the lace curtains, I knew my mother was finally at peace. She was safe, she was happy and I was loved.
I found Savage in the kitchen cooking eggs and bacon while he talked on the phone. Sitting at the small table I listened as he said, “What do you mean he took off? Isn’t he supposed to be guarding Remi? Great. Yeah, I’ll watch my back. I sent you what I could find. I know. None of this makes sense. See if Phantom can figure it out. Yes, we’re leaving in an hour. Saber and Bones are on their way. Judge and Maverick said they’d be here soon. No, they didn’t say where they ran off too. Saber said he only took a few files. What those were, they don’t know. Yeah, okay. Sure.” Hanging up the phone, he smiled at me. “Good morning baby. How did you sleep?”