Chapter 13

Gideon

"D ad-dee, Mommy?"

"Mommy's sleeping," I tell Lilly as I look upon her with pride. She's beautiful just like her mother, but she definitely has my eyes and maybe a little of my personality.

"Mommy tired?"

"Yes."

"Dad-dee tired?"

I grin and say, "I am, but not so tired that I can't spend time with you."

She smiles and I see her mother. Just plain beautiful.

"Finish eating your fruit, okay?"

Ivy walks into the kitchen shortly after, looking refreshed. She's taken a shower, washed her hair and dressed in a pair of jeans and an oversized gray T-shirt.

"Mommy!" Lilly says. Like me, she loves the woman. I don't care what she's done to me in the past. I know there's no one else for me. There's no other woman I want to be inside of. Can't no woman handle me like Ivy, anyway. I know that. The women I was with before I met her proved that. The tool between my legs belongs to her and that cake between hers is only for my enjoyment.

"Hey, Lilly," Ivy says, scooping her up from her highchair.

"Mommy tired?"

Ivy glances over at me then turns her attention back to Lilly and says, "Yes, I am, but I'm okay. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay," Lilly answers with her sweet, little voice.

"Daddy give me fruit."

Ivy looks over at me again and smiles, then says, "Okay, finish your breakfast, honey," lowering her back to the highchair.

Then she looks over at me and says, "Good morning, Gideon."

"Good morning, Ivy."

I stand up, walk over to the coffee pot, and pour us both a cup. I take mine black. She likes hers with sugar and cream. I hand her the cup.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

We stand perched near the counter, looking at Lilly sing happily and eating her food. I say, "This rift between you and I is bigger than us."

"It is," she agrees.

"But it doesn't have to be rift at all."

"But it will be as long as you continue hating me."

"I don't hate you. I hate what you did to me. I expect my woman to have my back at all times, and I know you gave me three strikes, but I never thought you'd actually turn your back on me, Ivy."

"I'm sorry, Gideon. I just want a normal life—"

"There's nothing normal about life. And it certainly ain't normal for a man to lay hands on you, now, is it?"

"No."

"That's something I've never done and never will do. The only beating you'll get from me is from this," I say, grabbing my crotch. "And I meant what I said last night. You're my wife and you always will be, so you can get that normal stuff out of your head. This is as normal as it's going to get, baby. The motorcycle club is a part of my life, yes, but it's not my world. My world is right here – with you and Lilly."

Tears fall from her eyes. I don't know what she's thinking. I just embrace her and let her cry.

"Mommy sad," Lilly says.

Ivy hurries to wipe her face and rushes over to Lilly and says, "No, sweetheart. Mommy's fine. Everything is going to be fine now."

"You got that right because I'm taking you both home where you belong."