CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

-:- ROCK -:-

Sunday and the brothers have returned, telling tales of where they went and what they got up to. Seems some had a good time, while others didn’t bother with the wine, women and song, but just enjoyed the ride, roughing it in a tent and being away from work.

I’m sure they’ll all settle back into routine quickly and I’ll hear more from Clay and Dice at work.

Axel canceled church, with some of the brothers getting back a little earlier than others. No point holding church when only half the brothers are in attendance.

I left Red and Jessica eating breakfast and getting Jessica’s things organized as Garrett will come for her when he has sorted out the issue with Jerica. They were both clinging to each other, but nobody can stop what is going to happen. Garrett has every right to take his daughter with him.

Sitting in the kitchen with a mug of coffee, I watch Mia waddle in and take a seat. Meat quickly takes her a ginger tea. Now how she can drink that I don’t know. To me, it’s just vile.

“How are you, Mia?” I ask because last I saw her, I thought she was going to have her kid just at that moment.

“I’m okay, Rock. It was just Braxton Hicks.”

Now it must be the look on my face that has Mia smirk at me and shake her head. “Rock, it’s just false contractions. Not the ones that will happen when the nugget is ready to be born. Braxton Hicks is the name for it. It’s not the name of a person.”

“Oh, I thought it was a person you were blaming for something.” That comment has Mia throw her head back laughing, but I don’t care, she’s happy and that’s all that matters.

Leaving my mug rinsed and at the side of the sink, I walk outside and take a seat on the bench near the training area. I make the call to Colt because I’m sure Axel will ask me what’s going on anytime soon.

“Morning, Rock. What can I do for you?” Colt easily says as he takes my call.

“Need to know what you are doing with your son and wife? She’s caused a lot of trouble, and I’m giving you a heads-up. She’s gonna be run out of town.”

“I’ve already moved out the house, and started divorce proceedings. I got the proof I needed that she was meeting with a man on a weekly basis. Someone who should know better, but he’s already left town, and left her behind.” I can hear Colt chuckle, so I know he’s not broken-hearted.

“Shit. Someone else I know is divorcing, too. But, like yourself, I think it’s the right thing to do.”

“Rock, I’ve known for a long time my marriage was not good. She changed so much when she got that inheritance. I want nothing from her. She can sleep with her bank account, and I’ll find someone that will keep me warm at night. Maybe, that someone will be a good role model for Acton. My boy has an attitude that needs adjusting, and I’m going to do it even if I have to put him in counseling. I’m not bringing up no brat that bullies little girls. I’m leaving town next Thursday and moving into a leased apartment on Friday morning, so all is set.”

“I wouldn’t want a kid of mine to be like that either, so I can understand where you’re coming from. Any idea how we can run your wife out of town?”

Laughter echoes down to me from the phone. “I’ll send some pictures to you. Get them printed out and show her. She’ll not want them seen around town. You give her the option of stay and they are shown, or leave and they go in the safe.”

“Okay, that’s great. Thanks, Colt. Anything we can do for you, just give me a shout.”

“Will do.”

Watching for the pictures I’m astounded when they come through. I quickly take my phone to Specs, so he can download and get them printed. Colt’s right, she’ll not want these seen around town.

Finding Axel, I show him the pictures on my phone. “We have the ammunition now, Pres. Specs is printing them, and then I’ll go speak to Mrs. Philpott. I’m sure she’ll want to leave town, and fast.”

Axel smirks. “Let her know we’ll show no mercy if she stays in town. Every inch of space we can place a picture we will. She’ll not be able to take them all down, or hide under any rock.”

“How about we let Buzz do it, ‘cause you know he’ll scare the piss outta her?” I chuckle.

“Good idea, Rock. Leave it with me. She’ll be out of town in forty-eight hours, I’d imagine.” Axel smirks as he walks away to find Buzz.

Heading back home to Red and Jessica as I want to spend as much time with that little girl as I can before she leaves with her papa. Parking my hog outside, I quickly make my way inside, and not seeing either of them, I look out of the kitchen window and notice them raking leaves from the next door's tree.

As I’m walking through the utility to the back door, I notice three boxes with the same company logo on. That’s strange. Why has she got three of those?

“Hi, Uncle Rock.” Now that’s the first time she’s called me Uncle, and I have to tell you, it really hits the mark. I hold my arms out as she runs to me, and I pick her up, swinging her around, much to her delight and infectious laughter.

“Are you helping Red clean the yard?”

“Yes. Papa said he’s coming for me on Thursday and to be ready. We’re leaving town.”

Now the delight she had a moment ago has dimmed, but fuck if I’m going to see her cry. “Well, that’ll be nice. Your papa needs you with him. He’s getting rid of your momma, so you don’t have to worry about her anymore.” Nobody has spoken to Jessica about the reason she never talks about her mother. But it’s more than obvious she has no love for Jerica.

“Good,” Jessica says and she gives me a look that has me frowning.

“You know you’re safe from her, right?” I ask and am pleased when she nods. “You take my phone number and if you need me, you just shout out and I’ll come.”

“Okay, Uncle Rock.” Jessica kisses my cheek before running over to Red and continues raking leaves.

I roll my sleeves up and help, throwing leaves on Jessica and chasing her around the yard. She has rosy cheeks and the biggest smile. It will be a nice memory for her and us when she’s living away with Garrett.

Once back indoors, cleaned up and sitting at the kitchen table with a sandwich, I can’t help but ask the question. “Red, what’s in the boxes in the utility, and why do you have three?” Red flushes with embarrassment, and now of course my interest is piqued.

“Okay. It’s a long story. I ordered four teddy bears as gifts because they wear little kuttes and I thought Jo, Mia, Jessica and I would like one. Well, the order didn’t arrive when it was supposed to. So I contacted the company, and they said I could reorder or get a refund. I opted for the reorder, and if not the same, a similar item would be sent, which is just a different color teddy bear.

“I then received the reorder with the similar teddy bears twice, but they were not similar. They were the same as the original order. Then I got the original order, totaling three boxes.

“I contacted the company and told them what was happening, but they said they had no record of sending more than the original, so no need to return any. But then I received another three boxes, and again they didn’t want them returned, or paid for, and they were sorry for the inconvenience. Now I have twenty-four teddy bears.”

Now, I’m sitting here thinking, what the hell! “What are you going to do with all those teddy bears?”

“Guess what everyone’s getting for Christmas?” Red grins from ear-to-ear.

Throwing my head back laughing, I can imagine all the Ol’ Ladies and the Three Stooges with their teddy bears wearing kuttes.

“Can I have mine now?” Jessica asks with a hopeful look on her face.

“Yes, you can, but don’t tell everyone what they are getting for Christmas if you see them this week,” Red says, but has a smile on her face.

“I won’t tell.” Jessica runs to the utility with Red behind her, and I think that I’d love a daughter to cherish.

Monday morning.

The first thing I see while straddling my hog outside Hot Hogs and Cages is the finished door. It looks fantastic. Splash and Siggy have exceeded what I imagined, and I can envisage companies in town asking them to do work, too.

Walking into the new building, I give Splash a slap on the back. “Well done, the door is fantastic, we couldn’t have done anything better. You really nailed it. I’m going to put a bonus in your salary come end of the month, and I’ll make sure Siggy gets some green, too.”

Splash gives me a beaming smile. “Thanks, Rock. We enjoyed doing it, and I reckon you should send a picture to Mikala. She’d put it on her social media, I’m sure. Maybe it will bring in more celebrity work?”

“We don’t need more work as we’re chock-a-block.”

“I can understand that. Now I’ve gotten all the spraying done in here. Do you want me to go next door and help? Or stay here as gofer?”

“Stay here. Next door can gofer what they want themselves. You can help me do the final checks on the Shelby Cobra.” I give Splash a grin because he’s eager to get his hands on the vehicle.

The day flies past. We get the Shelby Cobra checked out and parked outside in the back parking lot. Its new owner has a transporter coming today to collect it. The lot now has a seven-foot wall with razor wire on the top. We discussed this once we purchased the cage building and the third crew Hammer has on call-out came and built it, while we were having windows fitted and the roof checked.

I can’t wait to get back to my girls. I’m going to hug them both tightly as we watch a movie, drink beer and eat popcorn. Well, I’ll drink beer, they’ll drink soda.