He lasts longer than I thought he would, with how rough he’s been feeling. Once they are lying on the floor catching their breath, Shea toddles over to them and uses them as jungle gyms. The rest of the brothers find seats to relax in, someone switches on the TV and others wander into the kitchen, where Maggie has set up coffee and snacks for those who want something to eat. All in all, it’s relaxed, with a family feel to it, and I wonder if this is how it is most weekends.
Bolt pulls himself up off the floor when Shea moves from him to Coal. Picking up the white box from under the Christmas tree, he turns and crooks his finger at me. “Come here, sweetness.”
Standing from the couch, I do as he asks and walk over to him, wondering what he needs.
“What’s up,mo ghrá?” I want to know.
Bolt clears his throat, and I realise that the entire room has gone quiet, and everyone’s attention is focused on us. It’s a little unnerving.
“Sweetness,” Bolt says, and my attention diverts back to him, forgetting about everyone watching. Especially when I get a look at the expression on his face.
It’s a look that tells me exactly how he feels about me.
It’s written across his face as clear as day. He’s told me he loves me, and he’s told me he’ll treat me like a queen, but until this moment, it hadn’t quite sunk in. That he means it. Every word. Although, the fact that he and Dad had beaten the living daylights out of each other should have made that clear to me.
Now that he has my full attention, Bolt continues, “Jeanie, I know I asked you yesterday, and you agreed. But today I’m asking you in front of my family and club brothers. Will you be my old lady?”
My heart is racing, and I can’t tell if it’s from nerves or pure excitement. I know what it means to be an old lady from my years around the Crow MC. Although, they are a bit different from most clubs.
From what I’ve seen, Bolt’s club is a bit more traditional, but I’m confident I’ll make a good old lady. I also have skills they could use if it ever came to that. I’ll have to speak to Bolt about that.
“I’d be honoured,” I reply with a smile. “I’ll try my hardest to be the best old lady to you. Thank you for asking me.”
“I have no doubt about that, sweetness,” Bolt assures me and removes the lid from the box.
“Hang on a second, Bolt,” Coals says. He gets up from the floor, lifts Shea into his arms, and hands her to Thea. Then he takes the box from Bolt so that Bolt can hold up my cut so I can seethe back. A thrill runs through me when I spot my name stitched above the Property patch.
Some women might think I’m crazy for being happy about that, but for someone like me—someone who grew up the way I did—I know exactly what it means and the protection it offers. I’ll take that any day, because unlike some, I know what it’s like to be alone, afraid, and without backup. Although that hasn’t been true since I became an O’Shea, but the memory lingers from when I wasn’t.
Smiling wide, I turn and give Bolt my back when he says, “Turn for me Jeanie.”
I slip my arm through my cut. I’m not sure I can describe the feeling that thrums through me as that heavy leather settles on my shoulders—or when I see my name embroidered on the front. When I turn back, Bolt’s arms wrap around me, and I tilt my head up to meet the kiss I know is coming. The moment his lips touch mine, I sink into it, all my worries melting away as our kiss deepens. By the time we pull apart, I’m smiling wide. I’m so happy I feel like I’m walking on air.
That smile doesn’t fade all day. And hours later when my dad, mum, Sam, and Ally arrive, I’m still wearing it.
I’m happy to see that Dad is also feeling a little worse for wear. But as I expected now that they’d beaten the shit out of each other, Bolt and he are fine.
All of us women pile into the massive kitchen at the clubhouse and put together a meal. Because there are so many of us, we decide lasagne, garlic bread, and salad would be the easiest. It also gives us time to find out more about Maggie, Thea, and Opal. I like them all, and it becomes clear as the day progresses that while Maggie and Opal are softer and have been sheltered from the harsher side of club life. Thea, on the other hand, has a different perspective of what life is like. I’ll have to speak to Bolt about keeping up training and Opal having a few lessons in self-defence.
But that is a worry for the new year. We’ve been filling the Queens Wraiths ladies in about the list of Christmas festivities coming up that we think Thea could take Shea to.
“Sam’s brother Ben organises a gift giving every year. We have a list of kids who will come so we know how many gifts to buy. They do a movie, snacks, and then Father Christmas arrives and gives out presents. It’s a huge hit with the village kids, and I think Shea will love it,” Ally is explaining to Thea.
We can see Thea thinking it over, and I know she’s going to decline when she wrinkles her nose and says, “That sounds great, but she’s pretty young, and I don’t want her causing chaos while the older kids are trying to watch a movie.”
Ally waves her hand like it’s not a big deal, and really it isn’t. Kids of all ages come, and somehow, we make it through with little to no interruptions. Ally and I got roped in to help the first year we arrived, and we’ve helped every year since then. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve handled all sorts over the years. Shea will be fine,and it will give you a chance to meet some of the Crow old ladies. Maggie already knows most of them.”
Maggie pats Thea’s arm. “I do know most of them, and I do business with Molly and Avy. You’ll like them, Thea, and it will be good for Shea to meet other children.”
Thea still looks a little uncertain, so I step in. “Shea will be fine, Thea, I promise. Plus, I’ll be there, and it’s my job to keep young minds busy.”
“What do you do, Jeanie?” Thea asks curiously.
“I’m a trained nursery school teacher, and for the last few years I’ve been nannying while going to uni. I’ve applied at the Crow nursery, but with this one on the way, I’m unsure if they’ll be able to accommodate me.”
I’m a little gutted about that, if I’m honest with myself. I’ve been looking forward to working at the nursery the Crows own.
“No shit,” Thea exclaims, mouth open in shock. She and Maggie share a look, and I’m wondering what the hell it’s about when Thea mutters under her breath, “Fate really knows what she’s doing.”
