“Well for one, they all have to vote on it. And not for nothing, but they’re preoccupied with a lot of shit. Maybe he plans to, but the timing isn’t right.” She pulled my hand off the counter, cradling it between both of hers. “Your marriage was arranged, Katya. But here, for us, the patch is like a wedding ring. It’s the symbol that you’re hisandthe club’s. And because he’s the president, it means you’ll be a First Lady forever.”
“But we’re married. And it would be unthinkable to break a deal with my father, and divorcing me would do that. So I’m already his forever. This just makes it feel like he’s leaving roomto push me aside.”
Squeezing my hand, she said, “He wouldn’t divorce you, but you could want out. But once you’re patched in, there’s no leaving. No patch, you still have options.”
“But I don’t want options. This is my life. Here. With him. I…”
She grinned. “Does he know that?”
“I married him and I’m as honorable as he is. I hope he knows I wouldn’t betray the vow I took.”
“No, hon. I meant does he know you love him?”
“I–I didn’t say that.”
“You said enough.” She patted my hand, then went to the sink. “Now don’t get me wrong. I’m all for making ‘em work for it. But don’t push so hard you shove him out of reach.” She pulled paper towels down and dried her hands. “He’s got a tough exterior because he has to, but he’s got a good heart.”
“A rugged one,” I whispered.
She nodded. “But think of it like this. If you had just met him and didn’t have to get married, wouldn’t you think it would be nuts for him to give you an engagement ring a few weeks into dating? When a man decides he’s going to give a woman a ring, he doesn’t usually run off that second and buy it. And even once he has it, he doesn’t just shove it in your face. He makes a plan to present it. Because it’s a big deal. To him, the patch is a hundred times more important than a ring.”
“Well, when you put it like that, it sounds different. He just said all these things about how much he cares for me. Andwe’re already married.”
“Things are a little backwards, and as bad as it sounds, the marriage certificate was part of a business deal. When he gives you the patch, he’ll mean it. And who knows, maybe they already voted and he’s waiting for your patches to be sewn on.” She went to the counter where I left the sausage and grabbed it, taking it to the stove. “Then again, he’s not the type of man to push a woman to do something she doesn’t want to do. So if he doesn’t know how you feel…”
His words echoed in my head. He was right. He never said the three little magic words, but he answered all of my questions, told me things he was thinking, and even told me how special I was to him. While I thought I showed him, I never really told him how I felt about him.
As I mixed the batter with other ingredients, I started to feel silly. I let Jeannie get under my skin. And it was driving a wedge between us.
“Mama Hen, why do you think Jeannie was acting out?”
She scoffed. “Who knows. I will say, it was a new side of her. But my loyalty will always be to the club, and she’s not part of it.”
I wanted to retort that technically I wasn’t either, but decided against being salty. Instead, I told her, “I really do appreciate your support. It’s been a bit of a transition and honestly, I thought everyone would take her side.”
“Why the hell would we do that?” she laughed as she tossed discs of sausage on the griddle, sizzling as they landed.
“I guess because she’s been around so long.” I sprayedthe muffin pans with oil and started pouring the batter.
“It ain’t been that long. Maybe a couple of years. But she never stayed here. She’s not a bunny. Just a party girl.”
“Really? I assumed it had been longer.”
Mama Hen washed her hands again then turned as she dried them. “Nope. Honestly, the bunnies come and go. Party girls stick around even less. They get tired of trying to get a patch and move on eventually. Or find a way out and start new lives. This is a pit stop for a lot of the girls.”
“This is crazy but… well, nevermind.”
“What is it, hon? You can speak freely to me.” Mama Hen came over as I poured the last of the batter into the muffin tins.
“I feel like I’ve seen Jeannie somewhere before.”
“How? You hadn’t been down here, right?”
Shaking my head, I told her, “No. And I thought maybe I was mistaken. But then when Klara met her, she said the same thing. And I know for sure Klara hasn’t been here.”
Mama Hen’s brow furrowed. “Huh. That’s odd. Did you ask her about it?”
“I mentioned it when we first met but she said she just has one of those faces so I thought I was wrong. But I had a bad feeling about her, so when Klara said she looked familiar, too, I wondered if it was more than just jealousy. But I don’t know what.”
