Chapter 44

Peg

I don’t know what I did to deserve her. If I was a praying man I’d be sending up thanks. My arm tightens around her as she sleeps, her head resting on my chest. I’m wide awake, trying to process that this is my family beside me.

When I’d watched my brothers finding their old ladies, I’d hoped, but never expected, I’d find my own. I certainly couldn’t have predicted coming across my woman, my one, as I had, by the side of the road.

We’ve been through some shit together, and if that didn’t break us, nothing will. I’ll dedicate the rest of my life to making her happy. Both her and the babe.

She’s pregnant. Not planned, though not entirely avoided. It will mean some changes to her job, and some discussion.

But I wouldn’t change her, impose my thoughts on her. I’ll trust her to do what’s best.

I must have eventually dropped off, as it’s daylight when I awake to hear a banging on the door to the suite.

Flash is still sleeping, probably still tired after a lack of sleep in the hospital, coupled with the busy day yesterday and our numerous couplings when we got back to my bed, so quietly I ease myself out, strap on my prosthesis, and pull on my jeans.

Truck’s at the door looking sombre. I raise my finger to my lips and tell him, “Flash is still asleep.”

“Need you to come with, Peg.”

“Let me get my boots on.”

I’m back in a flash and asking. “What is it Truck?” I start to turn towards the clubhouse, but he’s pointing in the opposite direction.

I change course and walk alongside him. “What’s going on, man?”

“It’s Ma,” he replies, and carries on walking.

“Ma?” But by the time I’ve asked my question, we’re arriving at the house we did up for the old woman and her great-granddaughter.

Pushing inside, I hear subdued voices and follow them, finding Drum and Wraith standing around Ma’s bed, Sarah sitting by her side holding a frail, bony hand, and Hyde behind her with a supporting hand on her shoulder.

Fearing the worst, I look at Ma’s face. She looks like she’s sleeping, a small smile playing at her lips. Her face is relaxed but already paling. I look for signs of her chest falling and rising, but she’s not breathing. She’s left us. Oh fuck.

I rest my hand on Sarah’s other shoulder and lightly press in my fingers. “I’m so sorry, darlin’.”

Sarah looks up at me. “She knew, Peg. She had a long chat with me yesterday. Told me she loved me, which is something she never says. Oh, I knew that she did, it was just something she never vocalised.”

It makes me remember how she left Flash and I yesterday, words that could be interpreted as a goodbye and how she made time to speak with everyone. She knew.

“And, look.” Sarah’s still speaking. “She’s left this out. I’ve never seen it before. Didn’t realise she’d brought it with her.”

She holds out a well-worn book, and as I take it a note flutters out. I catch it before it falls, snatching it up and try to read the scrawling writing. “To the Satan’s Devils’ women. May you make good use of this and keep feeding my boys.” Opening the book, I find it’s handwritten, hundreds of recipes Ma must have devised during her long life.

“She’s laid out her will.” Drum gets my attention, and I see he’s holding some papers in his hand. “She’s left the land where her house stood to Hyde and Sarah, along with enough cash for rebuilding. And the rest of her money comes to us.”

My eyes widen, and I don’t know where to look. At Drum, or… “What the fuck, Hyde?”

Hyde sinks down, and crouching, pulls Sarah into his arms. “Ma must have seen this coming.”

“You and Sarah?” Wraith questions.

“We haven’t talked about it yet,” Hyde replies. “But yeah, I was thinking of making her my ol’ lady.”

Sarah sniffles, chokes back a sob, and then lays her hand over his. “Do I get a choice in this?”

Hyde grins. “Not accordin’ to Ma.”

It’s a private moment we’re watching, so I keep quiet and wait for her to respond.

“Gramma was a wise woman.”

Then I turn away as Hyde takes her in his arms.

“Well fuck me. That’s another vote comin’ up.” Drum sounds resigned.

“Fallin’ like skittles,” Wraith observes.

I step back and go stand next to the prez and VP. “Better get a doctor here. Especially if she’s made us beneficiaries. Just how much we talkin’ here, Prez?”

He points the document he’s still holding toward the woman and man who are still clasped together. “Whatever’s left after the estate’s settled and Sarah and that fucker Hyde get their share. Might be nothing.”

But she thought of us. Wanted to repay us for taking her in. She didn’t need to do that. I turn and look at the woman on the bed, and then at her great-granddaughter in Hyde’s arms. “Old woman’s still jerkin’ the strings.” I smile for the first time since Truck got me up. “She had a good life, and we helped her live it.”

“That she did, Peg. That she did.” Drummer slaps my back and starts to walk out. “I’ll go get a doctor. Mouse will find the one she was seein’. As you say, we’ve got to take care to get this buttoned up right.”

By the time the news has filtered through to everyone, the clubhouse is a muted place. There’s no one wheeling themselves over and berating us for infractions real or imagined. No sarcastic comments coming our way. The doctor’s been and gone, satisfied it was simply her time. The funeral director’s removed her body, and Hyde still hasn’t let Sarah out of his sight.

Drummer walks in with Matt Gore beside him. I nod across, knowing Drummer wanted a quick word before formally introducing the new prospect. Personally, I think he’ll be a good fit. As I go to the bar to get a drink, Prez brings him up beside me and nods at Truck. “New prospect for you. Show him the ropes?”

Truck’s eyes light up, and Fergus gives a nod. It’s hard work prospecting, and the more hands the merrier. As Matt goes past me, I say in my sergeant-at-arms voice, “Beer and a soda. Jump to it, man.”

With one hand on the bar, Matt jumps over the top, and soon I have two drinks in front of me. I turn away and wink at the Prez.

He grins, then frowns. “Bad shit, Ma going like that.”

I’ve had a while to think about it. “You see that look on her face, Drum? She went happy, can’t dispute that. And a couple of months ago it could have been a very different story had Dollar not reminded us she was our neighbour.”

“There is that.” He orders a whisky, then resumes our conversation. “I was just getting used to having her around.”

“Won’t get told off for trackin’ oil in anymore.”

At that moment Sam walks in. “Drum, you clean your boots before you came in?” she throws at him as she walks past.

I spit out the mouthful of beer I’ve just unfortunately taken and start choking on the little that had gone down the wrong way. Prez slaps my back. “Fuck, Prez,” I start when I can speak again. “Think she might still be around.”

Drum’s staring after Sam with narrowed eyes. “Left a legacy, that’s for certain.”

“Yeah, about that. We gonna take her money?”

“Mouse has done some investigatin, and Dollar’s done some sums. They think it will be around two hundred thou. I suggest we should take it and invest in a new business.”

That’s a great idea. The more we have coming in legit, the less inclined we’ll be to slip back into old habits. “Any ideas?”

Drum shakes his head. “We’ll discuss it at the table. Now, I think your wife wants you.”

Throwing a glance her way, I see Prez is right. She’s motioning with her hand, showing she’s thirsty.

“Pussy-whipped.” Drum chuckles.

“Too right,” I agree, and start walking then turn back. “Fuckin’ love it.”

I leave him chortling, then go over to my wife and, as I pass, I hear Hyde and Sarah starting to make plans to rebuild Ma’s house. Looking to the future that she’s handed to them.

After I’ve given Flash her drink, and have just raised mine to my lips, Sandy comes over to join us. “Have you seen this, Peg?”

This being the recipe book Ma left behind, I nod.

Sandy’s eyes gleam. “It’s incredible. I’m going to try some of these at the Wheel Inn. There’s stuff here I’d never have thought of. Will certainly bring the customers in. My mouth’s already watering just reading about it.”

Sophie’s looking over her shoulder. “Oh, I fancy that. It looks bloody delicious.”

“We got the makings?”

“I believe we have.”

“Com’on Soph, let’s give it a try.” The two women disappear into the kitchen.

Grunt bounces in accompanied by Marcia, Heart, and the babies. Wraith appears and is throwing Olivia up and down in the air, making the toddler giggle and laugh. Jayden arrives with Amy, who immediately runs over and throws her arms around the dog. The arrival of the children lightens the atmosphere some more.

Joker comes in, holding hands with Lady. It’s become such a common sight recently no one says anything. He throws a chin lift with me, which I return. Since getting everything out in the open, Joker seems far more relaxed, and sees it as being me who forced the issue.

Prez is heading toward his office, then hearing a shrill shriek spins around and crouches. Eli lets go of Sam’s arm and runs to Drum, throwing himself trustingly into his arms.

I look around the room at my brothers, their old ladies, all the children, and not forgetting the fucking dog, coming together and being what I’ve always called them, a mismatched family.

Remembering not so long ago I used to be on the sidelines, looking at what my brothers had, never thinking I’d be so lucky that it would come to me. I hitch a breath, then reach out my hand and place it on Darcy’s flat stomach. She looks down at my arm, then up at my eyes, a slight questioning look on her face as I gaze at her.

Just one word escapes my lips, one word which carries so much meaning. “Mine.”

She smiles, and it’s like the sun rising on a dark morning as she lays her fingers over my hand, squeezing gently. “Mine.”

She’ll get no argument from me.