CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

-:- DESTINY -:-

It’s Friday and I’ve dropped Jessica off at school, got the laundry put away, and vacuumed every room. I do not know why, but I feel jumpy, as though something's coming, but you don’t know what and it could be good or bad.

Taking a bottle of water from the fridge, I drink half quickly, then lean on the sink, looking out at the backyard. I’ve kept it neat, but it’s not what I would want for a garden. It’s just lawn and nothing else.

My phone vibrates on the kitchen table next to my laptop and picking it up, I see a message from Kya. Now that’s odd as I’ve only met her the once, and yes I liked her but not sure we know each other well enough yet to be messaging each other.

Kya: Dest, Mia said to get your ass over here pronto. If you don’t come, she’ll send a brother to get you.

Kya: Oh, it’s biker babe time [laughing emoji]

Destiny: Why does Mia need me? And do you mean the clubhouse?

Kya: Yeah, the clubhouse. She has to turn you into a biker babe so you’re fully versed for the girl-gang.

Destiny: I don’t know what you are talking about, but I’ll get an Uber and come over.

I wait for a response, but when nothing happens I shake my head, order the Uber and get ready quickly as there was one only ten minutes away.

Walking into the clubhouse a while later, I see Mia, Gemmy, and Kya sitting at a table in the common room. Giving them a bright smile, I walk over, but before I can take a seat, Kya and Gemmy are up on their feet.

“Come on, Dest. Follow us.” Kya grins and walks away toward the kitchen. Gemmy gives me an enormous smile and follows Kya. I look at Mia, who nods for me to follow them. Sighing, I do as I’m told and follow the two of them through the kitchen and out the back door into the compound.

I follow behind Gemmy, who keeps looking over her shoulder to make sure I’m following. Past the garden, past Meat’s treehouse, and over to a large barn.

“We have permission to use the barn, so this is what’s happening…” Kya states with a serious look. “You are going to try riding my hog, and if that’s too hard, then we’ll try you on Gemmy’s trike. But to be a biker babe, you gotta be able to ride. Then you can be in the girl-gang fully paid up like, and when we go on road trips of our own, you can come.”

Now, I’ve never heard of such a stupid thing in my life. Me! Riding a motorcycle on my own, not behind someone! I’m not sure that’s a good thing, and I’m not sure it’s a safe thing either. My sense of direction is about as good as my throwing arm!

Before I can say no, not happening, Kya and Gemmy have a leather jacket on my back, and a helmet on my head. Kya explains or tries to explain to me the controls and what all the symbols mean. She shows me the brake and the throttle and using the clutch and switching gears, whatever the heck they are!

Gemmy is looking at my blank face and for the first time I see doubt in her eyes, but Kya keeps egging me on and I think what the hell! Shooting forward, legs out to the side, which is causing me to do the damn side splits. I get faster, and while I’m getting faster my scream gets louder. Kya and Gemmy are chasing after me and from somewhere Star appears, she tries to grab the handlebars but is pushed out of the way by my leg and falls on her ass. I shout sorry to her but continue screaming as I see a hole in the track I’ve been riding.

The front wheel hits the hole, the front of the bike goes down, the back of the bike goes up, I go over the top and land on my back with a thud. All my breath explodes from my body and I struggle to inhale the next. Honestly, they are trying to kill me, is the first thought that flies through my mind.

“I don’t think Destiny is going to be a good biker babe, Kya,” Gemmy says while trying to pick me up. “She’ll have to ride bitch.”

“Who are you calling a bitch?” I snarl, because I’ve had enough of all this and to call me names on top is just not right. I throw the helmet on the ground, rip off the leather jacket and stomp past Kya and Gemmy, who are looking at me shocked, but Star is grinning like a damn fool.

“Destiny, hang on,” Gemmy shouts, but I’m not hanging around to listen to more insults. Now as I pass the treehouse, a lasso wraps around me and before I can say ‘shit’, I’m hauled into the air and up until I’m lifted onto the walkaround of the treehouse.

“Sit!” Meat says as I look at him, and you know what…I do just that.

Meat sits beside me, and we have our legs dangling over the edge. But it’s peaceful up here, I have to tell you. Well, until Star, Kya and Gemmy appear pushing that damn motorcycle.

“What upset you?” Meat asks.

“Gemmy called me a bitch,” I tell him.

Gemmy below shouts, “I did not, I said you could ride bitch.”

“See, she admits it.”

Meat chuckles, and I turn to look at him because if he’s going to be laughing at me and calling me names, I’ll jump off here no matter I could break my legs.

“Riding bitch means you will be behind the one who is driving. You hang on around their waist and just enjoy the ride,” Meat explains, and I look back at Gemmy who is nodding in agreement, Kya too, while Star is grinning before giving Meat a look that says more than I want to think about.

“Oh!” That’s all I say while I think about what he’s said. “But why bitch?”

“Because it’s usually a woman on the back, and bikers in past times, well, some still do, call their women, bitch. We don’t, of course, and wouldn’t as we feel it’s disrespectful, but not all clubs are like ours,” Meat explains.

As I’m watching him speak, I’m soaking up what he’s saying but then think, ‘I’ve never heard Meat say so many words at one time!’ Meat chuckles, and I think I may have said that out loud. When Meat nods yes at me, I know I did and he’s amused by it.

“Okay. Can I go down now? Please.” I add the please because I’m not that happy sitting here with a lasso around me and my arms pinned to my sides.

Back on the ground, I look at Gemmy and give her a weak smile. “Sorry, I thought you were calling me names.”

“I wouldn’t call you names, Destiny. Now come on, let’s go eat lunch.” Gemmy takes my arm, tucks it over hers and we walk back to the clubhouse with Kya pushing the bike behind us. Star, I think, has gone to have a different kind of lunch with Meat.

Sitting in Club Whisky was a surprise as I had thought lunch would be in the clubhouse kitchen, but here I am sitting next to Paisley on one side and Jo on the other, eating the best fried chicken I’ve ever put in my mouth. The club has been so welcoming, and when I hear how they all met their man, I can’t help but smile. Paisley tells me about losing her memory and TwoCents marrying her while she was unaware of what was happening. We laugh and joke around, and I feel like part of the group, not an outsider looking in. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that way, but I’m loving it.

Cookie takes a seat across from me at the table and gives me a beaming smile. “Hi Destiny, how are you and how is my bestie, Jessica?”

“We are both good. Thanks for asking Cookie.”

“Did you hear that little Miss. Goodie here got arrested?” Gemmy laughs.

“I’m not little Miss. Goodie,” I reply, shocked. I’ve been in more than my share of trouble over the years, especially when my redheaded temper comes out.

“Arrested! Why on earth were you arrested?” Cookie asks, looking amused.

Sighing as I know I’m going to have to tell her. “I had an altercation with Mrs. Philpott over her son Acton, and I was so angry when she threatened to ruin my reputation that I gave her something to do just that.”

“What did you do?” Cookie again urges.

“I punched her,” I admit, but when Cookie giggles, and then everyone else joins in, I can’t hold back the grin.

“Good for you. She’s the most horrid person. Don’t even get me started on the son,” Cookie says, and is sneering as she says it.

“What did they do to you?” Leaning forward in my chair to ask.

“Not to me personally, but I made a friend when I first came to work here. She was a customer, and we used to speak. Eventually we had meals out, went for coffee, that sort of thing. She was a single mother. Her husband was killed by a drunk driver, but she looked after their daughter and got on with her life. That awful woman did nothing but be hateful toward my friend. She said some terrible things and her son Acton bullied her daughter so much that eventually she sold up and moved out of town.” Cookie looks more than a little upset and I can understand why. Everyone around the table looks as pissed as I feel.

“Maybe we should run that bitch out of town,” Paisley says, and we all turn to look at her, shocked she’d say that. “Well, not us, but our men. Do you think we should get Pres in his office and tell him we want her gone? We’d have to get Mia onboard. You know he’s pussy whipped when it comes to her and the twins, so it would be our way of getting what we want.”

Everyone laughs at her comment, but it has merit and we discuss how to go about getting Axel, our Pres too, to get rid of the bitch once and for all.

Jo changes the subject when she asks about Jig. “Does anyone know what’s going on with Jig? He’s been chasing that paint supplier, Siggy. Has he caught her yet?”

“Not that I’ve heard. But I saw him going out in the club’s SUV the other day and he had flowers in his hand as he climbed into it.” Carrie adds to the conversation.

“He was chasing Lily, and then Lina, but neither of them took him up on his offer. I don’t understand why he’s not found his woman yet. He’s kind, loving, considerate, sexy, hard-working. I mean, what’s not to like about him?” Paisley comments, and I notice all the women are nodding in agreement.

“Do you think he’s too nice? You know, needs a bit more bad boy, rugged?” I ask, but as I don’t know Jig apart from saying hello, I’m not sure I’m right asking that question.

“You could be right. We need to help him find his woman if Siggy doesn’t work out,” Jo states, and I can tell she’s more than a little serious, too.

For the rest of lunch, we talk about everyday things, but we are all thinking about Philpott and Jig.

Back at my home later in the day, I receive a call I didn’t want to get, but only for my own selfish reasons. Seeing Garrett’s name on the caller ID, I pick up.

“Hello, Garrett.”

“Hi, Dest. I am in the process of being released. The case was found to be a crock of bullshit to be honest with you, and my lawyer had my case dismissed. It’s going to take a few hours to get out of here, but I wanted you to know I’m going to see Jerica. She needs to sign the divorce papers. If I have to make her, I will. I have plenty of evidence of her being a terrible mother and a whore of a wife.”

“I am thrilled you are being released, Garrett. You should never have been arrested in the first place.”

“I know you are, Dest, and I know it’s going to be hard on you letting Jessica leave with me. I need to make a new life for us, just me and Jessica. I’m going to have her tested first to see if she has a high IQ and if she does, I’ll move to wherever the best school is for her. I’ll do what’s right by her, but I’ll make sure we don’t lose touch. We can do FaceTime once a month, come for vacations, or you can come to us. There is no need for us to become strangers. We are family, after all.” Garrett, I can hear, is upset as his voice quivers and he swallows loudly.

“No, we won’t lose touch. I agree we are family, Garrett, and you have to do the right thing for you and Jessica. I hope you can find someone that deserves you because you are a good man.”

“I’m not sure I want to get involved with another woman, not for a long time, anyway. I want to get a place to live, a job and make sure Jessica gets what she needs.”

“I will speak with Jessica when I get her home from school. She loves you so much, and I’m sure she’ll want to be with you. She’ll miss being here, but it will pass quickly as she makes new friends.” I’m upset myself, but I don’t want to show it to Garrett because he has enough to deal with.

“Look after both of you and I’ll contact you or see you soon.”

“Bye.” Then hear the dial tone and know he’s gone.

That evening, when we’ve finished our meal, I sit next to Jessica on her bed with our backs to the headboard and I turn off the TV. Jessica looks at me sharply because that’s not something that is normal for me to do, and something in my face must tell her that what I’m about to say is going to change things.

“I wanted to have a talk with you about your papa. He has been in a meeting and the judge decided that your papa shouldn’t be incarcerated, so he kindly has let him out.” I'm trying to make this as easy as I can for her to understand, but it’s still hard knowing what I still have to say.

“Oh, that’s good. When will I see him?” Jessica has turned and now kneeling on the bed beside me, excitement washing all across her face.

“Soon. He has to go see Jerica first.” I couldn’t bring myself to say momma.

“Oh.” Now that’s interesting!

“Your papa is divorcing your momma. He doesn’t want to live with her anymore and he doesn’t want you to either.” Now Jessica shocks me.

“Good.”

“Don’t you want to live with your momma?” This may be a good time to find out what Jessica feels and thinks of her mother.

“No. She leaves me on my own. She brings men to the house when Papa is working, then locks me in my bedroom. She told me if I told Papa she’d spank me until I couldn’t sit down.”

“I see. Well, that’s not a worry because your papa is going to take you with him. He’s going to find a nice place to live, get a new job, and find you a very nice school to go to.” I give as bright a smile as I can manage.

“Will you and Rock come too?”

“No, we will stay here. But you will be with your papa, and you will talk to me often. We can FaceTime and you can tell me all about what you are doing, where you are going, and what friends you’ve made.”

“I don’t want to leave you, Aunt D.” Throwing herself into my arms, I wrap her tightly to my body, kissing the top of her head and rock her. Comforting her as well as myself.

“You belong with your papa, Jessica. I would love to keep you with me, but that wouldn’t be fair to Garrett. He loves you with all that he is, and you belong with him. But, if you would like to, you can come and have vacations with me and Rock?”

“I can do that.” Jessica wipes her eyes on her jammies sleeve and blinks at me as another tear escapes and runs down her cheek. I rub it off with a thumb and give her a small smile.

“Come on, let’s go make some popcorn to have while we watch the movie. You know we need to get a move on or Rock will be here and eat it all.” I laugh.

Both Jessica and I jump when we hear, “Popcorn, did I hear we are having popcorn?” We both dissolve with laughter right before Rock climbs on the bed and tickles us both.