Later that day, I’m speaking with my dad and making plans for the weekend. He’s going to enlist the help of my mom to get things set up at the cabin to make it a romantic setting. “About time you made it legal,” Dad states.

“It’s never been my decision to wait, Dad. It’s always been hers,” I reply. “After what her stepdad did, I guess she didn’t want to chance anything like that happening again.”

“As if you’d ever… no, I take that back, as if we’d ever allow anyone to take a hand to that girl again,” he declares. “I remember how they both were when Chief and Trinity first got them. All the therapy and shit. It wasn’t an easy time, although you’re too young to remember.”

Not exactly. I remember the times she’d doze off only to wake up screaming in terror. And the scars she has from her stepdad? Let’s just say I’ve been up close and personal so many times that even though it’s been years, I have to tamp my anger down every single time. She knows they bother me because of the pain she endured, but I won’t let her think she’s anything less than beautiful. Because she is and always will be, even when we’re old.

“So, this is it, this weekend you pop the big question, and before long you’ll be a married man with kid number two on the way. I’m so proud of the man you’ve become,” he shares. “The day I walked into that jewelry store was the day our family grew and the love we all share is what’s kept life good.”

“Agreed.” I need to change the subject. I’m not always comfortable with emotions and shit and that’s twice today they’ve been tossed at me.

“Talon, you know we never wanted to take the place of y’alls folks,” he starts, “but I’m sure you’re aware that as far as your mom and me are concerned, we’ve had you both all of your lives.”

I start laughing because he’s correct. Mom made it her mission to track down everything from before and then created photo albums with those pictures so we’d have them. She even got medical history stuff and put that in a binder thing, stating that someday, we’d need that for our own families. “Love you too, Dad,” I finally say. “Couldn’t be prouder to be your son or to be a part of the club.”

And... now it’s Dad who is uncomfortable. “Yeah, same. So, Chief’s taking Steel fishing?”

“Yep. Said he’d make a good wingman or something like that because the girls don’t like digging up worms.”

“Oh, he’s going to have a blast. Better send old clothes.”

“Think Claree’s got that covered,” I inform him.

“She feeling okay?” Jeez, what the hell is this today, twenty-fucking-questions?

“Yeah, no major problems. A little bit of morning sickness which was interesting when she couldn’t maneuver on her own, but now that she’s able to hobble, hopefully that’ll help.”

“So you’ve been mopping then.”

“You could say that. Your grandson is no help either. Well, other than saying, ‘Mama sick, Daddy,’ that is.”

“Well, sounds like he’s learning early to take care of women, it’s a lesson that’s natural to him and not something you’ll have to work hard to make sure he follows.”

“Yep, he’s very protective of his mama, and he already talks to the baby. It’s hilarious because he’ll lean over her and place his mouth directly on her stomach and holler at him or her to make sure the baby hears him.”

My dad’s laughter increases at my words and I find myself chuckling. It’s so fucking cute watching him ‘talk’ to the baby. He’s been telling the baby about us, how I don’t do the voices right, how his mama will love them both. Fucking cute. Not that I’d admit anything like that to my woman and lose my biker rep.

I’m a badass biker.

I ride a Harley, I do not drive a minivan.

I’m a take no prisoners type of guy.

Yep, dick is still in place, so my reputation is intact. Sometimes I have to double check with this group.

“I’ll put your mom on this shit. Good luck proposing, Son.”

“Thanks, Dad. Figured it was easier to call and ask you because she’d keep me on the phone forever and I need to get back to work.”

We hang up and I head back into the warehouse. I’m torn between which job I prefer doing because I enjoy it when I get to work the construction sites as well. Until I’m forced to decide, I’ll just keep going back and forth. At least I won’t get bored by repetitious work.

We’re passing Cissy’s Place when I ask Mom to stop. Not sure they can fit me in because since she’s opened the salon, Cassarah has stayed busy. But I need to see if one of them can trim my hair up again. It’s been slowly growing out since she came over and did what she could to ‘fix’ my hair after they shaved a huge part off when they had to put the shunt in, but now that I’m mobile, I want to look good for my man. Walking in, I see that the only one without a client is Bridget.

“Are you able to work me in, Bridget?” I ask.

“Sure! My next appointment cancelled so I’m free right now. Whatcha wanna do?”

“Let’s see if we can continue to even it up?” I question. I don’t really know what to say because Cassarah had to take that one side pretty much to the skin. She used a ‘number two’ blade according to her, and while it’s a cute cut, it’s not really me.

She nods and helps me over to the shampoo bowl. With my head pretty much under water, I can’t hear anything and completely miss her question. “What?”

“Oh, I just asked how you’re feeling,” she replies, “I know being pregnant and having others wait on you hand and foot has probably gotten old.”

Wait...how does she know? Huh, guess the Mom Brigade has spread the news. Sometimes that aggravates me because it was our news to share. Then again, it’s probably Talon’s mom who spread the news. “Who told you?” I ask.

“Your mom when she came in the other day to get her hair done.”

That little rat! I lean up and give Mom the death glare and what does she do?

She smiles.

She fucking smiles at me!

I shake my head because I know that I’ll never get anywhere with her. She’s freaking impossible sometimes. So sweet, you can’t help but love her. She’s the kind of woman you can’t stay mad at no matter how upset you are with her at the time. It drives me insane, insane I tell you!

“It figures. If we ever want something spread around, we only need to tell her or DJ,” I say.

“They’re so ecstatic, Claree. I don’t think she meant to share it but she had Steel and he said something about being a big brother and well, that cat jumped out of the bag. Your mom didn’t have much choice then.”

I suppose she makes sense, but dammit, I wanted to make an announcement to everyone at once. I envision us having a family gathering and Talon and myself making the announcement. The men patting him on the back and the women bombarding me with hugs. Of course, leave it to my son and mother to take away all of my glory. I get out of my head and moan when Bridget works her magic on me, I always relax and enjoy being shampooed more than anything else...well, other than a monthly massage that is. I’m nearly asleep when she lifts my chair up and wraps a hand towel over my damp hair.

“Let’s get to my workstation and see what kind of magic we can make happen,” Bridget announces, escorting me over with her hand on my back. Guess I better get used to everyone treating me like I’m an invalid. I want to shout from the rooftops that I’m pregnant, not suffering from any type of illness. Not that with this family it would make a bit of difference in the way they’ll treat me. They are all protective of us women, when one of us is expecting a baby, the women are sometimes worse than the men are. We talk about this and that as she works on me and has my back to the mirror, I’m not sure how long I’m sitting in this chair, but when she turns me around and I see myself in the mirror I gasp. My hair is much shorter, but it really looks good on me. I’ve never had hair shorter than my shoulders, but I may be changing my mind after today’s visit.

“Oh I love it!” I exclaim. “Mom? What do you think?”

She walks over and looks me over. “I think it suits you perfectly, sweetie,” she finally says. “And with what you’re getting ready to do, it makes sense to keep it shorter.”

“Maybe. I wonder what Talon’s going to think about the drastic change?”

“Take a picture and send it to him!” Cassarah says.

I grab my phone and take a selfie and before I can chicken out, I send it to Talon. Seconds go by and my phone is ringing.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Damn, baby, you look fucking hot,” he says. Okay, I like that better than ‘hello’ because I can hear the huskiness in his voice.

“Yeah?” I question him.

“Fuck yeah. Putting that in my bank.”

Wait, what bank? “Um, what bank, Talon?” I question.

“The one I rely on when you’re not available.” Holy Hell! He means his spank bank! I look around to see if anyone can hear this conversation other than my side of it, that is.

Oh my fucking God. Seriously? I’m surrounded by other old ladies including my own mom and he’s talking about that? “Talon, you can’t talk like that when I’m around my mom and other old ladies!”

“Why not? You don’t think they realize we’re having sex by now?”

“That is so not the point, Talon! Gah, my mom is here,” I whisper the last part into the receiver.

Mom must have figured out what he said, either from my words or the fact that I’m blushing like I’ve got third-degree sunburn, because she suddenly says, “Immaculately conceived. All of them. Yep,” before she turns around and sits back in the waiting area.

Her words have Talon laughing in my ear, and the other women in the salon laughing out loud. Fuck me. I mumble something under my breath and he says, “I’ll make it up to you this weekend, baby, promise.”

“You’d better. I’m so embarrassed!”

“Because everyone in there now knows I think my woman’s hot? Uh, think we burned that bridge a long time ago, Claree.”

“I hope this one is a girl,” I say.

“Fuck! Don’t do that, Claree, I mean shit, I’ll end up in prison if we end up having a daughter you know. There’s no way some little fucker will get anywhere near her before I put him six feet under. Don’t do that, don’t wish me to lose my fucking mind, babe.”

“Nope. I’m praying right now that this little one is a girl. Then I cannot wait to see you, your dad and my dad lose your shit. Oh, and let’s not forget all of her uncles too,” I say, laughter now evident in my tone. “Hey, Mom, call Dad and tell him I hope this one is a girl!” I shout.

“Why didn’t I realize how cruel you could actually be?” he questions. By now, he’s muttering and I’m laughing so hard I have tears rolling down my face and I’m having a hard time catching my breath.

“Now, what goes good with the last name Hatchet?” I muse, twisting just a little more.

“Harley, Macon, Trevor, anything masculine,” he growls out.

“Harley Hatchet? Hmm, that would be a cute name for a little girl. I can see her now, a little princess cut and a tutu with tiny biker boots. Mom! We need to go shopping!”

I hear him huff into the phone and he says to me, “Listen here, woman! We will be having this conversation later tonight. In bed where I can tie you up and make you see things my way, got it?”

“Don’t let my dad know you wanna tie me up, Talon,” I tease. “He just started talking to you like he wasn’t plotting your death.”

“Dammit, Claree. Don’t mention your dad in the same sentence as us in bed again! Fuck, what a way to make me lose my boner. You’re going to pay for that one.”

“Why are you discussing boners at work?” I hear through the phone. Fuck, that sounds like Braxton.

“Axe,” I hear Talon say, “I think my old lady is trying to give me a heart attack.”

“How?” I hear asked, and I listen intently to see what Talon is going to say in response to his question.

“She mentioned her father, while I was discussing continuing our present conversation in bed!” That weasel! I’m going to make him bleed for this!

I hear Braxton’s laughter ring through the phone and my grin grows bigger. Yeah, my man is gonna get heckled by his brothers.

“Yeah, talk about a boner killer, man,” Talon states.

“Talon! Don’t you dare say another word, not one more word mister!” I admonish him over the phone.

“Baby, you started it with all this ‘I’m praying for a girl’ bullshit,” he states. “I’m just saying and making it clear...no girls. Ever.”

“I’m going now. I’ll see you at home,” I reply. When I hang up the phone, I look over and see the others huddled together and snickering. I’m glad my personal life can give them the amusement that they seem to be missing.