???
I stood at our parents’ grave with my brother and sisters next to me. Polly seemed reflective, Clio not bothered, and Callie uncomfortable. Rain took it in his stride. We’d flown home for a weekend to visit Grandmother, who’d had to return for a charity event, one she couldn’t avoid as it was an event for the Phoenix Trust. I’d brought my siblings to my parents’ graves without her. Which possibly was a good thing.
“Did you really dance on their grave?” Callie asked, glancing around.
“Yes, and I don’t regret it. They gave you away and left you to God knows what. I hated them and still do for how they treated me, but what they did to you was worse,” I said. Idly, I wondered if I was being judged.
“Can’t say I blame you,” Rain said, staring dispassionately at the grave. “My parents are back home, not here.” Rain still had his adopted parents, who were alive and healthy. They’d been stunned to understand Rain had four sisters. But had embraced his new family when we’d met them. Rain’s parents were gracious, wonderful people, if a little shy.
“Honestly? I don’t feel like I should be here. They have nothing to do with me. I don’t feel an ounce of grief,” Clio said and shrugged. “There’s nothing here for me.” And with that, Clio turned and walked towards Chance, who was waiting patiently. Rain shrugged and, as he turned away, Callie spat on their graves and followed. Polly remained staring and then, to my amusement, danced a few steps on their grave.
“We survived and found each other. Clio and Callie needed parents; they had a rough life until now. Thalia needed parents and not to be abandoned. I can’t understand or agree with your actions, and I want you to know I had wonderful parents. And they far surpassed you,” Polly said and danced a few more steps and walked away. My jaw dropped open as the most reserved out of the five of us flung her middle finger up as she walked away. Bear sauntered over, a half-smile on his face.
“That was unexpected,” Bear said. I quirked an eyebrow. “Expected that from Callie or Clio, not Polly.”
“Same here,” I replied, watching Polly as she slung an arm around Callie. Callie leaned into her and then straightened as Chance whispered something in her ear. Callie laughed and whacked Chance in his stomach, who pretended to be wounded, and danced away. A smile broke out over Bear’s face.
“Chance will be insufferable now he has sisters; he’s damn right territorial where Phoe is concerned. Now Chance has sisters; he’ll be a nightmare; good job Polly has those black belts. Chance always desired a huge family; when it was just Drake and him, Chance suffered. When Phoe came along with her hive of kids, Chance was in heaven,” Bear said as we began walking away without a backwards glance. A sharp wind ruffled my hair, and I brushed it flat as Bear kissed my hand. Next week I was having reconstructive surgery, and soon after that, we’d be married.
Big Al and Grandmother had argued over the wedding for several weeks until they both agreed to reach a compromise. Big Al would conduct the ceremony at Hellfire, but Grandmother got to have the full works. And Big Al would have to suffer. My dress had been picked, and I had to wait for the reconstruction until it could be fitted around the bodice. Flowers and a caterer had been ordered, plus a string quartet and a DJ. Chance blanched whenever he saw Clio and Grandmother with wedding brochures. And Bear had taken to hiding the moment the word wedding was mentioned.
The one thing Bear had participated in wholeheartedly was the cake tasting. We’d agreed on a layer of fruit with a chocolate orange on top and vanilla as the last layer. The damn thing was huge and needed to be because Hellfire loved generous slices. Grandmother had been appalled at a chocolate orange wedding cake, but it was Bear’s favourite flavour. Big Al had created merry hell when he’d realised there was no hog roast or hotdogs. Grandmother had to cave on allowing two grills, much to her disgust.
Grandmother had hired bartenders and drink from a local bar who was happy to be supplying Hellfire’s needs. Chance had agreed to that because he remembered that brothers had to keep running out for booze for his wedding. This time the bar staff could phone the bar, and they’d send what was needed over. The caterers would be inside the clubhouse, which Grandmother had overruled Chance and hired cleaners to scrub it top to bottom two days beforehand.
Grandmother was proving to be a force of nature, alongside Shotgun’s grandmother, and the brothers had caved. Both women had their heads together and rolled over any arguments coming their way. I’d initially wanted a small wedding, but when Rage MC, their old ladies and children, rolled up, I knew that wouldn’t happen. There’d been a fight over who would walk me down the aisle, which Inglorious and Rain won. Inglorious tying because he claimed I’d got over my misapprehensions because of him! Chance had also thrown his hat in, but he had to stand with Bear, so withdrew. Kelly was my man of honour, which tickled him to no end.
Staffey, Clio’s adoptive Dad, had wanted to walk me down the aisle too. He’d claimed cheekily that he’d the right because of Clio. However, Inglorious and Rain beat off everyone else apart from each other. They’d settled uneasily on them both walking me together.
“Baby?” Bear asked as he stopped by his bike. I blinked, and concern crossed his face. I’d seen the therapist as he requested, and the nightmares were fading, but some lingered.
“Sorry, I was thinking about the wedding,” I said. Bear smiled and dropped a gentle kiss on my mouth.
“Fancy a ride before dinner?” Bear asked. I hopped on the back of his bike as he rested his hip against it and smiled at him. Bear threw his head back and laughed, and climbed on.
“Stupid question,” I teased Bear.
“Idiotic,” Bear agreed.
???
I winced in pain as I came to and found my fiancé sat waiting for me to awaken. Bear saw my eyes and held out a glass of water with a straw.
“Did surgery go okay?” I asked croakily. Bear’s eyes softened.
“Perfectly. The surgeon is happy with the surgery,” Bear said.
“I have two boobs again?” I asked, lifting my head to peer at my chest. Two wrapped up mounds greeted me.
“Oh, thank God I can get naked again,” I sighed, and Bear burst into laughter.
“What?” Bear stuttered.
“I can get naked again. And bikinis!” I said happily. Embarrassed, I’d refused to have sex with Bear without a top on. I’d sunken to wearing a tank top and wouldn’t let Bear touch me there, as I’d felt so self-conscious about the missing breast.
“Well, can’t say I won’t look forward to that,” Bear said, and guilt swamped me. Our sex life hadn’t suffered, but every time Bear came near my breasts or lack of, I’d flinched. Having my breast back filled me with confidence. The phantom pain that had haunted me also disappeared.
“Sorry,” I said in response to his words.