CHAPTER TWELVE
Skull
“Is there anything I can do?” I ask poking my head in the house.
“Just make sure the cooler is stocked and we’ll handle the rest,” Ruthie says.
“Alright, we can do that.” I close the door behind me and take a long draw off the joint Echo is smoking.
“Everything good in there?” Echo asks.
“Looks like they have it under control. I pretty much stay out of her way when we have shit over here. She has a way she likes to do things.” I shrug.
“Yeah, Blue is like that too. Is she doing okay since her pop’s funeral?” Shadow asks.
“For the most part. I know she was conflicted as hell for a minute. I think her lack of melancholy made her feel bad.”
“I’m glad they did the private ceremony and the public one the family didn’t attend,” Echo says.
“Me too. Man made a lot of enemies. No reason to take that burden on,” I reply.
“True. She’s shown she’s down for KOC. You got a great Old Lady,” Stone says.
“Thanks, Pres.”
“You picked her.” Stone shrugs.
The backyard has been decked in blue and pink. Neither of us know the sex of the munchkin. The baker took the envelope and made a special cake I know her sister helped too, since she knows. I’m wondering how the grand reveal will go. My brothers are arriving and like usual, we’re shooting the shit while the women handle it in the kitchen. I think they banish us to the backyard so they can get a break from all the testosterone.
“I thought she handled herself well. Not everyone could be loyal when the choice is between the club or family. Especially bitches,” Warp says.
I narrow my eyes. He’s nice to Ruthie. I don’t know if it’s because she’s pregnant and showing in a major way, or her personality. It gets under my skin. But I know he’s a good friend to have.
“How far along is she now?” Shadow asks.
“Two weeks and we’ll hit the six month marker.”
“Getting close. You guys going to put the baby in daycare once it’s born?” Stone asks.
“No, we’re going to double up with the nanny Wiz and Nevada have,” I explain.
“That’s good. Club kids need to stick together,” Stone says.
“That was our thought too,” I reply.
“What are you hoping for?” Warp asks.
“As long as it’s healthy, I don’t really care. I mean, don’t get me wrong, a girl would scare the shit out of me. I know what I’m doing with a little boy. A girl would be like trying to read braille. But I’ll get the hang of it.”
“Hell yeah, or Ruthie would have your hide,” Dusty chimes in.
“You guys think my Old Lady is scary?” I ask.
“Normally, no.” Stone shakes his head. “Pregnant though…”
“Fuck yes,” they chorus.
I laugh. “She does change moods faster than a stoplight.”
“Dude. You’re a brave man,” Echo states.
“Like Dixie Rose isn’t a handful,” I scoff.
“True. But she doesn’t have hormones surging through her.” He shudders.
“Just wait. One day, it’ll be you and I’ll be the one giving you shit.” I nod.
“Years down the road,” Echo says with a toothy grin.
“When’s the potential prospect getting into town?” Stone asks.
“Tyson? Give or take a week,” I answer. “You know how it is when you’re moving. The time frame is fragile, depending on a lot of factors.”
“Once you feel him out, bring him around to some of the parties. I was serious about taking on some fresh blood,” Stone says.
“I will. Be nice to have some piss ants to take care of things again,” I say with a chuckle. It was a rite of passage, being the club’s bitch before you got your full patch. It made dealing with new prospects that much more enjoyable having experienced it yourself.
The sliding door opens.
“Hey babe, can you fire up the grill? We’re about to head out with the appetizers,” Ruthie says.
“On it, Mama,” I reply as I stand from my seat, and move to the propane powered silver dream. It was a house warming present from Rochelle and Tim. Once she got her head out of her mother’s ass, she’s tolerable. Tim is good people. He mellows out her high strung tendencies. Her mother is always going to be a bitch, but after Gunnar died, she loosened up. She still wants to tell us how to live our lives, but she stopped bringing the M.C. into it. I can tolerate in her small doses for special occasions. She declined Ruthie’s invitation and countered with an invite of her own to Sunday dinner. I think I’ll let Ruthie go to that one solo.
Burgers, booze, hot dogs, and sides flow as everyone grabs a plate and settles down around picnic tables or in chairs to eat. It’s good to have so many of us together for something good. I live for these moments between the chaos and drama. It drives home why I joined the club in the first place.
Ruthie runs her hand up and down my arm.
“You okay?” I ask.
She nods. “Yeah, I was thinking we should bring out the cake and get that started. I know some of the littles will be fading soon.”
“Good point, let’s go get it.” I hold my hand out and help her stand.
Cheers go up around the yard. I can’t help but catch onto the excitement. Finally, I’ll know if I’m having a little dude or a little lady. We carefully move the two tier cake done in a layer of blue and a layer of pink with the words “Leather or Lace” and two motorcycles on each tier out to the small table we’d set up.
Blue comes over and hands us a cake cutter with pink and blue ribbons tied to it. The woman went all out, and Ruthie is eating up.
I love seeing my woman this happy. Doc R would say I’m allowing myself to be a part of it. The block when it came to this kid has been lifted. I’m still sorting through some shit, but I’m better than I’ve been in a long time. “You ready for this?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
We slice into the cake and my heart skips a beat. We do the other side and scoop the cake. Pink. Shit! I’m so fucked in about sixteen years. “It’s a girl!” I yell out. I lean down and kiss my woman. “Thank you, Mama.”
“I have one more surprise,” she says in a small voice.
I watch as Ruthie and Tim drag over a tall cardboard box.
“Remember how you missed the last appointment?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, there was something I’ve been keeping to myself.” She opens the lid of the box, and a balloon with a pea pod floats out. “Surprise, we’re having twins.”
My knees weaken and I swallow as the world spins on its axis. “Say what?”
She laughs. “There’s two babies in my belly right now, Mr. Skull. You are quite the stud.”
The roar of the crowd is deafening.
“We-we’re going to need a bigger crib,” I croak.
“Already took care of it. We have another one waiting in the garage. Tim brought it over.”
“Holy shit, Mama!”
She nods her head. “Yeah.”
I pull her to me, thankful for the miracle she’s worked in my life. By making me face my worst fears, she freed me to live the life most would kill for. I have my club, my Old lady, and two healthy babies on the way. Resurrecting the ghosts of my past was the best thing that ever happened to me. It led me to a life full of peace in the midst of chaos.