Page 10 of Kiwi

Turning my attention away from Promise and back over to my mother, I can't help but notice the hopeful expression on her face. That look quickly morphs into defeat when I turn on my heel and climb into the passenger seat of Promise's car.

Luckily, Promise remains quiet on the ride home. My head is filled with a jumbled mess of conflicted emotions. I desperately want to know the answers to my many questions on why my mom decided to abandon me, but at the same time, I'd like things to go back to the way they were before she found her way back into my life. From what dad told me, Hell's Punishers and The Kings have no beef with each other, and both clubs show respect to one another. My dad's number one rule he made clear was that my mother and nobody from the club she is associated with approaches me. Today is the first time she has been alone too. All the other times, she has checked on me from a distance, Crow was with her. The first time was at my high school graduation. A few other times were during the summer before I left for Texas. Sometimes I would be out having lunch with friends and hear the rumble of a Harley. I know she has good intentions. The club wouldn't allow her or Hell's Punishers to step one foot into New Orleans otherwise. I'd bet anything that my dad knows of every single time they road through town. Nothing goes on in New Orleans that the club doesn't know about.

Lost in my thoughts, the ride home passes in a blur, and we are pulling into the garage.

"Are you still wanting to go by the clinic?" Promise asks.

"Yeah, I miss that place," I smile. "I'll be back home in time for dinner. Dad said he was going to make his famous beer-battered onion rings and grilled steaks. I don't want to miss out."

"Alright, sweetie. I'll see you later." Promise lifts a sleeping Jaxson from the backseat while I grab my purse, make my way over to my car, and climb in. On the way to the clinic, I'm coming up on the tactical store the club owns, and spot my dad standing outside talking to Fender. With a smile on my face, I turn into the parking lot. My dad returns my smile when I step out of my car. "What ya doing, Bean?"

I throw my arm around his waist. "I was on my way to the clinic when I saw you out here. I thought I'd stop and say hi." I look from my dad to Fender. "Hi, Fender."

"How's it goin' darlin'?"

"Going good. I'm happy to be home."

Dad squeezes me. "And we're fuckin' happy to have ya home."

I'm about to open my mouth to respond when Tai strolls out of the front entrance of the tactical store. I suck in a sharp breath at the sight of him. Tai stands at 6 feet 2 inches tall, has brown hair that has grown out a bit since the last time I saw him, has a week's worth of scruff on his face, and has the most beautiful green eyes I have ever seen on a man. Wearing a pair of faded jeans, a gray t-shirt that stretches tight across his broad chest, and black motorcycle boots, Tai makes his way over with a woman dressed in a police uniform following behind him. I've never seen her before, so she must be new to the force. The woman looks to be in her late twenties to early thirties. She's tall and has her brown hair pulled up into a ponytail. She's also currently making goo goo eyes at Tai. A sick feeling settles into the pit of my stomach. I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying something. The last thing I want is the green-eyed monster known as jealousy making an appearance. The only thing that manages to tame the wild beast is the fact Tai is blatantly ignoring the woman. In fact, I can feel his gaze directed at me. I do my best not to let my satisfaction show by keeping my eyes cast downward.

"So, I'll see you Tuesday?" At the sound of the officer's sultry voice, I snap my head up to see her batting her lashes at Tai. He takes his eyes off me and addresses the woman.

"Fender handles the orders," he says, his tone flat.

"Well, I just thought…"

Tai cuts her off. "Thought what?"

I almost feel bad for the woman when she becomes crestfallen and starts stuttering over her words. "Oh, well, okay. Sure, I'll be back Tuesday to pick up that order then."

By the time the woman goes to leave, Tai's attention is back on our group, and the pretty new officer has become an afterthought.

"Damn, brother." Fender slaps Tai on the back and chuckles. "Did you have to be such an ass? I mean, the newbie is a little desperate, but she's not bad to look at."

Tai shrugs while taking a cigarette from his cut, lighting it.

Deciding to take my leave, I give dad a nudge. "I'm going to take off. I'll be home in time for dinner. Are you still cooking?"

"Yeah. I promised you beer rings and steaks, so that's what you'll get."

Dad jerks his chin toward Fender and Tai. "You two want to stop by the house later for supper?"

"I wish I could, brother, but I have plans. I need to pick one of the kids up from the Rec Center and take him home. Sawyer's mom has to work late, and I'm going to help her out."

Dad nods and looks at Tai. "What about you?"

Tai takes a drag from his cigarette, flicks his eyes over to me, and then returns to my dad. "Yeah, brother. I'll be there."

Walkingthrough the door of the clinic fifteen minutes later, I scan the room to see Erica, the girl who replaced me when I left last summer, is not sitting behind the reception area. I hear barking coming from the back, along with Dr. Channing shouting. "I'll be right with you!"

A second later, she bustles around the corner from the back, looking a bit frazzled and a lot overwhelmed. In her late fifties, Dr. Channing is about three inches shorter than me, has dark brown hair sprinkled with a little grey cut into a short bob, and is one of the sweetest women I know.

"Piper! Oh my god! What are you doing here?" She walks up to me and pulls me in for a tight hug.

"I'm home for the summer and wanted to come see you. How are things here? And where is Erica?"

Dr. Channing puts her hand on her hip. "She quit last week. No notice or anything."