Leah’s arms wrap around me tight, her front to my back. I reach over and squeeze her leg, letting her know I’m thinking about her as the wind hits our faces. Riding. It’s always been a passion of mine, but there’s something about your woman wrapped around you on the back of your bike that you can’t put into words.

It’s as if we are one. I tilt, she tilts. It’s natural, like she was born to be on the back of my Harley.

Every day she gets better and better, even going to the grocery store the other day to pick up a few things. She was smiling when she walked in the door, and that right there was worth a million bucks.

Having a good woman at my side is something I’ve never experienced, and I’m damn happy that Leah is that woman.

The iron gates welcome us, still tattered and worn. We ride through the small driveways, and I know the destination by heart. Turning the curve, we stop, turning the bike off and getting off the ride.

I hate that I have to come to this place to see the only blood I have. That instead of her, the stone stares back at me, waiting for me to talk. Leah grabs my hand, her hold strong. We make our way through the plots and arrive at Judith Michelle Burm. The stone is a gray and black mix with her name carved in a block font.

Leah squeezes my hand as she looks down to where my mother lay six feet under the ground. Fuck, she died way before her time. It still kills. The thoughts of watching her disintegrate before my eyes in the hospital until there wasn’t anything left of the mother I knew run on overdrive.

She would have loved Leah and been on her like a mother hen. It’s part of my life that Leah will never know, and that hurts too.

“Ma, I brought my girl today. Wanted you to meet her.” Tears well in my eyes, but I bat them away quickly. “This is Leah.”

Leah quietly says a ‘hi’ but nothing else. What does one say to a stone and grass? I still don’t understand it and I guess I never will, but I just felt compelled to stop and let her meet my woman.

“She would’ve loved you.” My hand gives Leah a squeeze. “She was a kickass mother.”

Leah’s hand comes to my chest as she looks up at me. “She is a kickass mother. Just because she’s not on this planet and you can’t physically see her doesn’t mean that her spirit isn’t around you all the time. You didn’t have to bring me here to meet her. She already knows.”

Something catches in my throat, and I choke it down. Leah’s right. My mom lives inside of me. Damn, it’s hard losing the only parent you’ve ever known. Even years later, it still burns like it was yesterday. Yes, you move on and have new experiences, but you never forget them. Little things like putting toilet paper on the roll makes me think of her. She had this thing where the paper had to come out of the top and not hang down.

Certain foods make me think of her. Holidays are hard, but I have an ornament with her picture on it that I put up at the clubhouse since I used to live alone. Now, I’m sure that tradition will change.

“I just wish she was here to see you.” I shake my head and breathe out a hefty breath, pulling myself together.

“I wish that too.” She wraps her arms around me, hugging me tightly. The burn is still there, but Leah helps to soothe it.

After staying for a few quiet moments, we hop back on the bike and head south. This trip to Florida isn’t like the last. I don’t feel like I’m losing a part of me with each mile that passes; instead, I’m whole and happy. Leah turns me inside out and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.

We pull up to a very well-lit house with gray-blue siding and a wraparound porch. I check the address one more time and shove the paper in my pocket. Leah climbs off and hands me her helmet with me not far behind.

She visibly shakes and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her tight to me. “This what you expected?”

Leah shakes her head. “No, I thought they’d get a two-story like before.” Her voice sounds far away, and I kiss the top of her head.

The door flies open and her mom, Stella, flies out of the house and is to us quickly. She pulls Leah in and wraps her in her arms. Stella has tears falling down her cheeks. I knew they missed her, but they also knew she wouldn’t be coming back here.

Aaron, her father, comes out with a wide smile on his face and his hand out to me, which I take. His grip is firm. “Good trip?”

“The best.”

His other hand comes up and slaps me on the shoulder. “Thanks for bringing her home.”

“You should know by now that I’d do anything for this woman. Anything.”

He blows out a breath. “And those people who were at her apartment? Leah didn’t know anything when I talked to her on the phone, even though I asked many times. The police don’t know anything. I guess we have nothing left on them.” He sounds defeated and I hate that for him, but he can’t know everything.

The side of my lip tips. My girl keeping her mouth shut. Love it. “They’re taken care of. All of it is. No one will ever put a hand on Leah again.” I aim to put his mind at ease.

“Good man,” he says, then turns to his daughter. “Give me some of that.”

Leah releases her mother and embraces her father. “Daddy,” she says on a choked cry, her body shaking at the strength of it.

“Ma’am,” I greet Stella and hold out my hand.

She bats my hand away. “Now, none of that business.” She pulls me into a hug, and all I can do is reciprocate it. “Thank you for taking care of my baby,” she says into my chest.

“It’s an honor.” Her mom beams up at me and then releases.

“Alright, let’s not stand out here. Come inside and see the place!” Stella ushers us into the house where we eat and laugh. Leah too.

The food is fantastic, but sitting in their living room talking and hearing Leah laugh is the best part. She’s comfortable around them, making me realize she’s not quite there with the club yet, but she’s on the right path.

“Honey, I don’t know if this is something you want, but…” Stella starts, and my hackles go up.

“Stella! Not now!” Aaron chastises her.

“Wait.” Leah holds up two hands. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t think this is a good time for this,” Aaron says, and since the man knows his shit, I’m with him. But I also know Leah. She’s not going to let this go.

“I want it,” she demands with finality.

Stella walks over to the cabinet and pulls out a tan box and turns around to Leah. Leah gasps, putting her hand over her mouth, and tears stream down her face.

“Baby, what is it?” I ask, reaching for her hand.

Aaron stands. “I told you this was too soon. Now look what you’ve done.”

“No,” Leah croaks out. “Give it to me please.” She holds her hands out and reaches for it. Her mother sets it in her hands as Leah looks to me, her beautiful face covered with tears. She blows out a deep breath while Stella and Aaron sit back down.

Leah starts to shake a bit, and I reach out to her leg reassuringly. I’ve got her, she knows this. Whatever in the fuck is in that box, will not make my girl cry.

“The day… it… happened.”

“Baby, don’t…”

She cuts me off. “I was coming to visit my parents. This box was with me, and I was going to store it in their house. I didn’t know why, it was just in my gut to do it. It was knocked out of my hands that day. And here it is.” She smiles, throwing me off. Now she’s happy. I’m getting whiplash here.

She slowly opens the box, and all I see are papers. About ten or twenty of them. “What are they?”

Leah smiles wider. “Your letters. They needed safekeeping and I was coming to my parents anyway, so I thought I’d bring them along.”

“Oh, baby.” I reach out to her face and caress her cheek, loving the fact that she kept them all.

“You don’t see it?”

Confusion sets in. “See what?”

She smacks me playfully on the chest. “My apartment was destroyed. If these letters were there, they would’ve been in tatters and I would never be able to read your words again. They were supposed to come here.”

Pulling Leah into my arms, I hold her tight while she lets the tears flow. Once she gathers herself, she sits back. “Thank you so much,” she tells her parents. “I didn’t even think about them because I had Green with me. But these letters are our start. Just, thank you.”

She stands and moves over to her mom and then her dad, hugging each of them.

Leah’s right. Those letters would have been lost forever. It makes me a happy motherfucker that she kept them and kept them safe. That’s my girl. This will forever be our beginning and our connection—in paper, words, and open from the heart.

Stella and Aaron stand on the stoop waving at us as we get on the bike, the letters safely tucked in the saddlebag. “I’m so happy I have these,” she says in my ear behind me.

“Me too, baby. Me too.”

“It didn’t hurt to talk about that day. If anything, it gave me something positive out of the negative, and I’m choosing to hold on to that.”

My hand goes to her knee. “Leah, I love you so damn much.”

Her smile is beautiful, and each time she gives it to me it’s a gift to treasure. “Love you too.”

At that, I fire up the Harley and we ride off. The future is bright with my girl at my side. No matter what.