Ryan never got to meet his kid.
I tilt my head. “You were having a baby, right? I remember how excited he was. He was so anxious to get home and marry you. It’s all he talked about. He had all these plans.”
She wipes at her cheeks.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“It’s not that. I’m glad to hear about that.”
“How’s your baby?”
She smiles. “He’s turning five soon.”
“Wow. Does he look like Ryan?”
“He’s so much like him. It’s like Ryan left me with a gift before he died. I get to raise his little mini-me.”
I grin. “That’s awesome. He would have loved to be a father. He was damn excited.”
Her eyes drop to my cut. “You’re in a motorcycle club?”
“Yeah. The Evil Dead out of California.”
“Oh? Which part?”
“San Jose.”
“You’re a long way from home.”
“Guess so. We’re out here visiting the Birmingham chapter. One of our guys transferred there.” I nod toward the gravestone. “Figured I’d make the ride since I missed the funeral. Was it nice?”
“Yes. Very.”
“I’m sorry he’s gone. God, I miss him every damn day.”
She doesn’t reply, but stares at the marker.
“We never got to have that lunch I promised you.”
“I guess we didn’t,” she murmurs.
“Are you okay? I was worried about you.”
“I’m better. Thanks. That was a bad day.” She turns and meets my eyes. “Thanks for stopping me. That was a dumb idea. I don’t know what I was thinking. It would have been so selfish to leave my son an orphan.”
“Did you get some help? Some counseling?”
“I’ll be okay. But, really, thanks for talking me down.”
“Of course.” I study her face. She’s even prettier standing here than she was that day on the bridge, but there are dark shadows around her eyes, and I wonder if she gets enough sleep.
“A lot of cars drove past that day. Not you.”
The sound of a Harley roaring past draws her eyes over my shoulder to the road in the distance. I turn but can’t spot it behind several trucks rumbling along.
When I look back at her face, she seems pale.
“I really have to go.” She extends her hand. “It was nice to meet you, Cody.”
