No complaining about the free labor he keeps doing or that she always has something in mind for him. Just him being his typical useful self and wanting to help. Not sure if it’s because she’smynana or if he’s just like this with everyone. Though I’ve got a funny feeling that he’s like this with anyone he likes. Which, from my understanding, is the people at the club and me. Plus Nana by association.
“Got more plans for the space above the garage. I think we should put a full room up there, and I can rent it to a college student or something.”
I whip my head around. This is completely new information to me. “Really? You want a stranger living above your inventory?”
She shrugs. “Maybe give him a few bucks off the rent if he helps or something. Not really sure. Just something I’m thinking about. Don’t get your panties in a twist over it. Especially since I’m not sure if you have any on right now.”
“Nana!” The blush that creeps up my face makes the room feel like it’s twenty degrees hotter.
She and Law just laugh at my reaction. Then he pulls me back to his chest and bends down in my ear. “That something I need to check on, darling?”
I ram my elbow into him and turn. “No,” I say with more force than necessary and scurry outside, his and Nana’s laughter following me.
“Text me the details on when you want to start,” Law tells her as a way of exiting. I know not to step off the porch without him, so he catches me easily with his arm over my shoulders and a kiss on my cheek. “Pretty sure Nana figured out your blush weakness.”
“You think?” I groan as we make it down to his bike, and we put our helmets on. He always has mine with him in case he decides he wants to randomly pick me up at the hospital or something. Always prepared, this one.
“Were you ever a Boy Scout?”
“No, why?”
“No reason,” I say with a smile, and then he’s pulling out onto the road.
He already knows where we’re headed. Moffatt Cemetery isn’t in town, which was one reason Mom picked it. That and she wanted to be buried by her dad.
The drive is easy, quiet except for when I direct him to the spot once we get inside. I get off and unhook my helmet, setting it on the seat before I walk over to Mom. I leave Law to his own devices, expecting him to just wait by his bike. I asked him to come with me, but there’s zero obligation on his side to do anything other than just be here for me. But I should have known he wasn’t just going to sit back and watch.
Him walking up to me is nice. Him kneeling down and putting a silk white rose in the vase that already has fake flowers in it all year long is entirely different. A flower I had no idea he had and must have been hidden in his saddlebag because I don’t think his vest has inside pockets.
“Hello, ma’am. Name’s Karter Hofstadter. Been dating your daughter a while now, and I’ve got to tell you, she’s one hell of a girl. You should be proud.”
I sniff, trying to keep the tears at bay, but I’m foolish to think I’ll be able to contain this overwhelming emotion inside. Especially when he looks back at me, and the intensity behind his eyes says he means every word.
He comes over, wraps me in his arms, kissing my head a few times, and just offers me support. I never really know what to say to Mom. I know she isn’t here, not really, and that I can speak to her spiritual being anytime I want. I do sometimes. But when I come here, my emotions take over, and I can barely get out more than a “Hi” or something small like that. I try to say more, but my throat closes up and my chest gets tight. I hate crying. It gives me a headache,which is why I try to avoid it at all costs. I usually say nothing, just spend time with her. Which Law doesn’t seem to mind one bit.
We stay like that for twenty minutes. Long enough for me to take in having him here with me. Talking to mom for me and letting me find my own calm in the moment. Then I pat him on the arm and turn to face him.
“You good, Babygirl?” He pushes a stray bit of hair behind my ear as he looks over my entire face. The wind isn’t strong, but it’s steady enough to dry my initial tears.
“Yeah. Thank you.”
“Anything for you, darling.”
I rise onto my tiptoes and kiss him with as much thanks as I can put into it. Well, in front of my mother, anyway.
“One down,” he says.
“One to go,” I add with a determined nod.
Seeing Mom was always going to be the easy part. This next one might make or break us. And I really hope it doesn’t break us because I’m not sure I can put myself back together if I lose Karter. He’s become my everything in such a short amount of time, and I don’t want to know what the world would be like after having it all just to lose it.
It might not only crush my soul but my heart too. I think he stole it the moment he came under my care and opened his eyes.
Chapter 18 - Karter
As soon as we park and take off our helmets, I grasp my girl’s hand tightly and make a silent promise not to let it go today. Not only for my comfort but hers too. She won’t admit it, but I know she’s worried about being here. Not scared, because my girl doesn’t do scared, but nervous. The last time she saw Ruby—well, when either of us saw her, actually—things were said. On her side, not ours. I don’t anticipate much of a change in her reaction to either of us, but who knows. After what she went through, she might not care about me and will just be happy she’s back home and alive.
General filled me in on some of it. She was taken to South America—by whom, no one knows—and held captive for weeks. No initial signs of sexual abuse, but there was a lot of physical. She’s doing okay, or that’s what I’m told. She just finished school, too, and is looking for some time off. Probably a good thing. I was never held prisoner, but I was on the other side of it a few times when the club needed us to keep someone, either out of revenge or just to get them to talk more. I know the amount of shit a person can go through. It’s not something you just get over. It takes time, and sometimes talking to people.
