Jackson

Two Months Later

“I don’t know if I can live this life on the road.” Michele tells me honestly.

I had a feeling this was coming. We left Chicago around two months ago. Javier Almanza has been true to his word and left us all alone. The goons that were sent to shoot up Michele’s mom’s are still in jail awaiting trial. Javi has no plan to get them out, either. We have eyes on his mother and his rivals. If either side of their war make a move, we’ll get notice in more than enough time to get prepared.

Good.

It will keep the Cloverville police department and justice system on their feet dealing with the bottom feeder drive by shooters.

Since I needed time to heal and riding wasn’t easy, we crashed for a bit in a small town in Indiana. At first, Michele was practically glued to me. Which definitely didn’t cause any complaints from me. In time, she made the decision on her own to get to know the others better.

Sonnie and Michele bonded over art. In fact, Michele has even started practicing on oranges to learn to tattoo. She still paints but obviously on a smaller scale.

“Where do you wanna settle, baby?”

We are in bed with her laying beside me twisting her t-shirt. Sometimes she sleeps in just panties which is what I prefer, but other times she wears a shirt given the guys tend to be knocking on the door at different times.

“I wanna go home, Jackson.”

My gut tightens. Her eyes widen.

“Not long term. I just feel like I need to see my mom. I’ve called her and stuff, but she’s all I have besides you.”

I relax as the fear of losing Michele hit me and she eases it away.

“Baby, I wanna be wherever you wanna be. I don’t need life on the road, I need a life with my wife.” Pressing my lips to the top of her head, I inhale her scent and she sighs.

“Sonnie’s been talkin’ that maybe they’re gonna chill in Alabama soon for a little while. She wants to open the tattoo shop back up. She wants me to apprentice.”

“You wanna live in Alabama?”

“I wanna live with you in a house, Jackson. We’ve lost so much time. We had plans and I wanna see what we can make of our life together.”

I roll over and she spreads her legs to accommodate my body to fall over hers.

“Plans, lost time, hmmm,” I mummer pressing my lips to hers.

“Jackson,” she whispers cupping my face in her hands. “I wanna have a house. I wanna build a family.”

My heart beats wildly in my chest.

“Are you sayin’ you wanna have my baby?”

She nods her head. “I know it won’t be easy. We’re not exactly young anymore, but we always said we wanted kids. The man you are, good through and through, I wanna give a little boy a chance to have a daddy that’s good through and through.”

“Fuckin’ love you.”

“Love-,” I cut her off with my kiss.

Our tongues tangle and her body shifts under me as she seeks more contact.

“You wanna make a baby now?” I ask her as I break away to pull her panties off as she takes her t-shirt off.

“I wouldn’t be sad if we got started right away,” she smiles.

With her naked under me, I work her over the edge twice before I plant my seed deep inside her womb with a silent wish that in this moment of love, of overcoming, and of enduring we make a baby together.

**

Two weeks Later

Michele

“Do you really wanna leave me?” My mother asks and I see the worry in her eyes.

“You can come too.”

My mother pulls back in shock. “Jackson and I talked. If you wanna come with us to Leed, Alabama you can. We’re gonna have a house, Momma.”

Jackson steps inside the trailer I grew up in. The distraction gives my mother the time she needed to collect herself.

“Hey, momma,” he says as he walks right over to her and hugs her.

The tears come immediately. “Jackson, I’m sorry.” She apologizes. “I was so angry.” Her revelation surprises even me. We have never talked about what happened all those years ago.

“Jackson, I knew you was good. You was always good.” She hiccups with tears falling. “I was so angry that I lost Paul. I couldn’t see things clearly. I told Michele, Jackson I told her you were garbage to kill her brother.”

“Shhh, it’s done.”

“No,” she holds up her hand. “You should hate me. All the things I said about you, felt about you. Jackson, I can never tell you how horrible it was.”

“It was a hard time for us all.” He remains calm through it all.

This is Jackson. He’s always been my steady in every storm. He’s always my rock.

“How can you want me to live with y’all when I helped take her away from you?”

“You’re part of our family as long as you want to be involved. I’ve always been honest with you. Michele and I wanna have a baby. You’re the only grandparent this kid’s gonna have. You can be part of that or you can let Paul and everything he got caught up in take more from us all.”

“What about your life on the road?” My mother asks him the question everyone seems to struggle with.

“We’ll have our life in Alabama. If my brothers need me, I can get to them. But I have a second chance at the life I always dreamed. Not many people find their second chance, I’m not gonna miss mine.”

“I just don’t know what to say,” my mom tells him still sorting her emotions.

“Well, we’re gonna take a ride to Haven’s Harbor to see some friends. On our way back to Alabama, if you’re ready then we’ll stop and pick ya up. Collector and Sonnie have decided to settle down too so they’ll be with us. Michele’s even gonna work for Sonnie doing tattoos. We’ve all had a lot of time on the road and now it’s time to enjoy the comforts of a home. You gonna make your home with us?”

My mom nods and then I let my own tears fall.

This life isn’t what I ever imagined it to be. Jackson Presley is my first love, my only love, and thank everything good in this world for second chances.