Chapter Twenty-Five

Genesis

IT'S BEEN TWO weeks since the guys proposed to me and a week since they claimed me as their ol' lady in front of the club.

It was the last night their family was in town with the exception of Caleb.

He's staying here in Pine View with his brothers because he wants to spend time with them before moving home and making a decision about his future.

He can join either chapter of the Phantom Bastards, but he's not sure if that's the path he wants to take.

Caleb loves the idea of being in a club since he was raised in one.

Right now, he's thinking of the men he was in the military with as they all start to make their way here toward Pine View.

They're as lost as he is and aren't sure what they want to do with themselves as they struggle to make their way in the civilian world after all the horrors they witness overseas.

Caleb often struggles when there's a lot going on at once and things are loud in the clubhouse.

Vault actually gave him the keys for one of the empty houses out back to use for now so he can get away from everything.

Anyway, when the guys claimed me in front of the club, everyone was in the common room.

Their parents and siblings, all the members, the Prospects, Phantom girls, the kids, and everyone else who was in town.

I'm talking about Tank and his kids and grandkids.

Well, his sons.

His daughter, Zoey, and her man couldn't get away from his club to come spend time with everyone.

She did have a lengthy conversation with Dylan though.

Zoey and I talked for a while and I can't wait to meet her.

She's a lot like Hope, Morgan, and the other women I'm now surrounded by on a daily basis.

Zoey's not afraid to speak her mind, stick up for herself, and put one of the guys in their place when they're being idiots.

Especially one of her brothers or Dylan and Jinx.

Caleb is the only one she doesn't do that shit with and I find it hysterical.

Wade and Dylan also told me about Melinda and what Ricky said when they were in the cells with him.

King has been digging for information to prove or disprove his words and he finally found the proof.

Ricky and his men recorded what they did to my foster sister.

I wasn't allowed to watch the video, but the guys gave me just enough details to know it's her they were watching and she is in fact dead.

They told me that I could call the Pratts and let them know what happened to their daughter, but I wasn't able to mention the video as evidence of her death.

So, I'm choosing to remain silent since they haven't reached out to me since the day we talked about the money they put up for me.

If they ever ask me if I know what happened to their daughter, I won't lie to them.

For now, I'm just trying to wrap my mind around everything and figure out what to do.

My heart is breaking for Matie because now he'll never have the chance to get to know his mom when he's older.

Ricky took that shit from him and if it weren't for me, I'm sure he'd be in a foster home by now.

Or he'd be with his grandparents.

Matie would do well with the Pratts if they chose to take him in because he's their grandson and will love him unconditionally.

But, they might not want to take in any other kids since they're older and are living their lives the way they want to right now.

There's no worry for having to be home for the kids or anything.

They've been taking vacations and spending time abroad more than being in the states.

I have a feeling they're going to be moving to another country at some point and I'm happy for them.

As long as they don't try to take Matie from me, I will always be happy for them.

I want to do something for Matie so he has a place to go when he wants to visit his mom.

It won't matter right now since he's just about to turn one, but one day he might want to have a place to go to talk to Melinda.

I already planned on telling him all about her as he got older and showing him any pictures I have of her.

Now all the stories I have to share will be in past tense and he'll know she's not coming back.

Dylan and Wade know I want to do something for him, but they're at a loss like I am.

We'll figure something out when the time is right.

For now, they support my decision to put up pictures of Melinda in the house and share stories about her when I put Matie down for bed each night.

It's the last thing I tell him even if he's already asleep.

Before they left, Sam, Shy, and Jennifer assured me they'd be back to help plan the wedding.

For now, they'll do what they can from home to help even though I want something simple and low key.

The way the guys proposed to me might not be the right way for anyone else, but it was perfect for us.

I do prefer the simple things in life and don't like having a spotlight shining on me.

It was bad enough when they claimed me as their ol' lady and we were in front of everyone.

So for them to propose to me in our bed was absolutely perfect for me and I wouldn't change a single thing about it.

Especially considering the fact that it's truly how the three of us are and how we want to live our lives.

Annabell, Savannah, Hope, and Morgan will help me plan things from here and be with me for dress fittings and all the other bullshit that goes with planning a wedding.

I already asked if we could get married at the courthouse and the guys said no.

They'll marry me at the clubhouse, with Slim officiating the ceremony, but not at the courthouse with a judge marrying us.

Slim apparently married Hope and Carson and Dylan wants the same thing for his wedding.

So, we're getting married at the clubhouse and will have the reception out back as long as the weather is nice and it's not a winter wedding.

I don't want to get married in the middle of winter because that's too damn cold for me and I hate being cold.

Even if we remain inside the clubhouse, we won't be able to invite everyone the guys want to have here.

So, we'll have a summer wedding and will hold as much of it outside as we can.

"Sweetness, where are you?"

Dylan calls out for me as I listen to him walk through the house.

"In the kitchen,"

I answer him, turning back to wash the dishes I've been doing since putting Matie down for his nap after lunch.

I tend to zone out and think of other shit when I'm doing the dishes if I don't have music playing.

Today is a day I don't have music on because Matie isn't feeling the best.

He's running a light fever and I know he's either getting sick or he'll be getting a few more teeth.

Matie has most of his teeth already, but he's still got some to come in and he always gets sick when he's teething.

I hate it because there's nothing I can do to help him other than hold him and give him cuddles, give him the medicine to help keep his fever down, and walk the house with him when he can't sleep.

If it gets too bad, I'll have to take him to the doctor again because he'll end up with a double ear infection.

That's when I really feel for the little guy because he's so damn miserable.

Even the guys can't do anything to help him.

"What are you doin', Sweetness?"

Dylan asks me, walking up behind me and wrapping me in his arms while pulling my body against his as I'm trapped between him and the counter.

"Washing up the dishes from breakfast and Matie's lunch.

He's not feeling good again.

It took me a long time to get him to sleep and every time I tried to put him down, he'd wake up and start crying all over again.

It was almost an hour before I could put him in the crib while he stayed asleep.

What are you doing up so early?"

I ask him, not sure if we woke him up after he worked all night last night at the club.

"I got a call from Doc.

Wade's on his way home right now and Doc will be here soon.

The results from the DNA test came in.

He knows what it says, but won't tell me anythin'.

Do you want anyone else here when you get the news?"

Dylan informs me, his voice gentle as his breath fans over my neck causing goosebumps to break out over my skin.

"No.

You and Wade are all I need with me.

I'm nervous, Dylan.

Whatever result we get has the power to change my entire life.

These people could be my birth parents and I don't know what they really want with me.

No one knows what their agenda is, Dylan,"

I tell him, my voice full of concern as I turn in his arms so we're facing one another.

"They might not even have an agenda, Sweetness.

For all we know, they've been searchin' for you all this time and just now had the ability to hire a private investigator.

Or the private investigator finally got a lead that panned out.

I have a feelin' they had to be very careful about what they did while your grandmother was still alive and now they have the freedom to do what they please,"

Dylan tells me, his voice soft as he leans his forehead against mine.

"Whatever you choose to do, we'll support you a hundred percent, Angel,"

Wade adds in as he steps into the kitchen and heads straight for us, taking me from Dylan's arms and holding me close while giving me a deep kiss.

"If you want to get to know them, we'll be there with you every second you spend with them.

Then again, if they are your parents and you choose not to have anythin' to do with them, we'll support that too.

King is on his way up.

He's waitin' for Doc to get here and will catch a ride with him.

I'm not sure if you want him here or not, but he's got a file on Virginia and Richard.

We had him dive deep into their past to find any dirt on them so you know what you'll be walkin' into dependin' on the results you get today."

"Thank you both for having him help us with this.

I would like to know if what he finds matches the story they gave in the hospital,"

I answer them without saying if I want King here or not.

Honestly, it doesn't really bother me one way or the other.

King knows all about the situation and will know even more because he's been digging into the so-called Camden's.

That's what I have to call them in my mind because I'm not sure if that's who they truly are or not.

It's the only way I've been able to get anything to sound coherent in my own mind when it comes to this situation.

That and also trying not to think of things while I was waiting for these results to come back.

Wade and Dylan lead me into the living room and sit with me on the couch.

One of them on each side of me as they hold my hands in theirs and rest them on their thighs as normal.

When we're not walking around when they're holding my hand, the guys always rest them on their thighs for some reason.

I've never asked them about it because it doesn't really matter at the end of the day.

I'm comforted by the gesture and it seems to be something they both like doing.

There's no reason to stop them from doing it when we all love it.

Before we can get too comfortable on the couch, there's a knock on the door.

Wade gets off the couch and releases my hand before going to let King and Doc in our home.

I hear him telling them Matie is sleeping so we need to be quiet.

I'm not sure if Wade knows he's not feeling well, but he'll find out once Matie wakes up from his nap.

Our son is a cuddle bug when he's sick.

Any other time, Matie is all over the place, playing and trying to walk.

Today, he's not doing any of that.

Wade leads King and Doc into our home and gestures for them to sit in the chairs across from our seats on the couch.

He offers them a drink, which they both decline as Doc looks over at me with a small smile on his face.

"I know you've been worryin' yourself like crazy over these results.

So, I'm not gonna hold them back or anythin', Genesis.

Here you go,"

Doc says, leaning forward and handing over the envelope.

I take it from him, releasing the guys' hands and hating how my hands are shaking so bad.

It's visibly noticeable as I quickly place them in my lap in an attempt to try and hide them from everyone in the room.

For several minutes, I just look down at the envelope and don't make a move to open it.

Dylan wraps his arm over my shoulder while Wade places his hand on my thigh.

"We've got you, Sweetness.

You open it when you're ready,"

Dylan says, his voice warm and gentle as he whispers in my ear so no one else hears.

Taking a deep breath, I hold it for a minute before releasing it very slowly.

Lifting the envelope in my hand, I open the flap that was never sealed since Doc is the one who printed out the results and put the paper in the envelope.

He also went to the hotel where the club put Virginia and Richard up so they remain in town while we waited for the results.

I haven't talked to them since the day I went to the hospital and I probably should have checked on Virginia to make sure she's okay after being discharged.

That's literally all I know about them because Vault and Slim went to see them several times before Slim went back to Benton Falls.

Removing the paper, I unfold it slowly and take another deep breath as I slowly release it while looking down at the words typed out.

Virginia and Richard Camden are my parents.

There is no doubt left based on the results that their story in part is true.

Now I just need to know if my mom's mother did this to us or if it's because they didn't want me when I was born and this is their way of avoiding that reality.

"T-T-They're m-m-my parents,"

I tell the men sitting in the living room with me.

"Here's the proof right here."

I show Dylan and Wade the results of the DNA test as they wrap me up tighter in their arms and hold me close while tears fall from my eyes.

This is what I've wanted for so long.

I've dreamed of having parents and building a relationship with them.

Telling myself that no matter how old I was, I'd give my birth parents a chance if I ever got the chance to find out who they are.

Now, I'm not sure if I can follow through with that.

"King, what have you found out?"

Wade asks the man who's been silent up to this point.

"Not a lot if I'm bein' honest.

Richard and Virginia are your typical adults.

They've both worked for the same companies from the time they graduated college and are still each in the same company.

Both of them have gained several promotions over the years.

Virginia is now the manager of a nursing home and oversees all the patients, staff, and anythin' goin' on in the buildin'.

Richard is an accountant and has made it to the highest in his company that he can go without buyin' into the company.

"Neither one of them have ever been arrested for anythin'.

They aren't drug users and unless they're at a dinner party, Virginia and Richard don't drink.

When they are at a party, they each only have one glass of wine and nothin' harder than that.

Richard won't even drive after havin' a glass of wine so there's no accidents caused by him.

They've lived in the same house since they were married.

It was a gift from his family who was thrilled they were married.

Richard's family was all very excited for your birth and they would've taken you in a heartbeat if somethin' happened to either of your parents.

"I did look into Virginia's mother.

She is completely behind Genesis bein' put in foster care and never knowin' her birth parents were alive and lookin' for her.

There are letters in this file she wrote to several case workers in the child protection services department.

She also wrote to your mother after everythin' was sealed up to let her know what she did.

Virginia's mother has carbon copies of all the letters she ever wrote regardin' you, Genesis.

I have no clue why she'd keep that shit, but she did.

This woman was a real piece of shit and you weren't the first person she did this to.

Apparently her husband got another woman pregnant before they were married and she also made that child disappear with the same story.

The parents were told by doctors she paid off that the baby died while everyone else involved were led to believe the parents were unfit,"

King tells us making my heart break for the time I lost with my parents and the hell I imagine my grandpa went through after his wife found about his other child.

Dylan takes the file from King and flips through everything.

Virginia and Richard's work history, bank accounts, and everything he could find on them is placed neatly inside.

All these papers are a brief history of my parent's lives and Dylan's holding it in his hands.

Everything I could want to know about them is right next to me.

However, none of it will tell me if they're good people or not.

That's something I'm only going to learn by being around them and getting to know who they are deep inside.

"I think I'd like to get to know them.

I want to take things slow and do this on my terms though.

Do you think they'll be okay with that?"

I ask my men as they surround me with their comfort and strength.

"Then that's what we'll do, Angel.

You're in charge of this.

If your parents are the kind of people I believe them to be, I don't think they'll have a single problem doin' things on your terms and in your time.

Why don't you take the rest of the day to think things through and just be here with us.

We'll shut the world around us out and not let anyone in.

The baby will be wakin' up soon and we'll need to take care of him.

Doc, do you think you could check him over when he gets up? He had a small fever last night when I put him to bed and I gave him medicine and stayed in the nursery with him for a while.

I'm guessin' he's not much better today,"

Wade says, turning to face me for confirmation.

"He's not.

I've been givin' him the medicine every six hours today and it seems to be keeping his fever down, but he's not himself.

I don't know if he's getting sick from something or if he's teething again and this is from that,"

I inform Doc as everyone looks at me.

King leaves the house and Doc remains behind with us.

When Matie wakes up, Dylan grabs him from the crib and brings him downstairs in nothing more than a diaper.

He's burning up and covered in sweat.

Matie doesn't stop crying all through Doc's exam and I feel horrible as I take in our little guy.

Dylan and Wade don't get too far from him, looking down with concern and fear as Doc finally finishes his exam and tells us that he has a double ear infection, is congested in his chest, and definitely has a fever.

He prescribes some antibiotics for him and tells us to alternate the two medicines to relieve his fever.

This isn't because he's teething, though he is actually getting two new teeth in.

While Wade and I give him a cool bath to help bring down his temperature until we can give him more medicine, Dylan heads to the store.

He plans to get more medicine, his prescription, something to ensure he remains hydrated that's not formula or milk, and anything else Doc tells him to grab while he's out.

The quicker we can get him taken care of, the better I'll feel.

Doc said not to force him to eat, but to try to give him something he usually eats very quickly.

Wade and I try, but he doesn't want anything.

So, we bring him to the couch with us and hold him in our arms while playing his favorite movies on one of the streaming channels.

That's how Dylan finds us when he returns home, loaded down with bags and takeout for dinner.

The rest of the night we spend with Matie and watch him sleep more than usual while he fights whatever is going on with him.

Thankfully, we were able to give him his medicine before he fell asleep once again.