CHAPTER 9

Here we go. With a long sigh of satisfaction, Lawrence looked around the kitchen. Everything was spotless clean, the pots, pans and the other kitchen utensils in the dishwasher, the flour, baking powder, chocolate chips, and the other ingredients Terry, Tracy, and him used when playing the bakers back into the cupboard.

The result of the two little girls’ and the man’s combined titanic efforts, a few flat, brown things of unrecognizable shape, were proudly displayed on a plate in the center of the table, for everyone to see them. The biker shook his head with amusement at the sight; he wasn’t sure if the products of almost two hours of work, plus another hour of cleaning and scrubbing, were edible.

However, Lawrence was grateful for two very different reasons, the most important being that his two little guests had a great time, giggling, laughing, scrunching their cute little noses and making other funny faces as they got engaged in their little play-pretend game. The pure happiness on their little faces was in stark contrast with the almost haunting sadness in their eyes when they were brought to The Base.

Lawrence went upstairs and, careful not to wake Tracy and Terry up, cracked the door from the spare bedroom open, and peeked inside, checking on them. As expected, the two little girls were sound asleep, in the same position he left them. A warm smile reached the biker’s eyes, and he spent a few minutes in the doorway looking at them before carefully closing the door and going to his room.

There, Lawrence plopped down on the bed, staring ahead and sighing dreamily. From the very first second he saw the two little girls who were now peacefully sleeping down the hall, the biker decided he was going to adopt them one day, sooner or later, and, for some reason, he felt now was the right time to do it.

After spending a few months at The Base and finally understanding what the place was about, Lawrence planned that one day, he would offer one or more of those poor, innocent, helpless souls one of the things life, and the cruelty of some heartless people, deprived them of: the affection of a father. He was totally aware there weren’t many guys who would enter in a relationship with a single dad, and he didn’t even try to express his interest in a man or another, even if there were a few he really liked.

Until Albert. Over the last two days, since the man showed up at The Base’s gates, Lawrence tried to get him out of his head and get back to his daily routine, but couldn’t. He didn’t believe in love at first sight; all the couples he knew, be them gay or straight, spent some time testing the waters and knowing each other before getting into the relationship.

Lawrence didn’t know much about Albert, except that he was Brian’s best childhood friend, the sweets he baked tasted so delicious, and he was on the run from an abusive bastard. However, these little bits and pieces made the biker want to wrap his arms around the other’s body, keep him safe, and kiss away the pain clouding those beautiful, expressive eyes.

Lawrence felt that urge earlier at Brian’s, when sadness suddenly darkened Albert’s gaze, so bright just moments before. The biker’s heart ached at the sight, and all the way to his house, he couldn’t stop wondering what caused the change. The question persisted in his head while he was getting ready to greet his little guests, and was only pushed in the back of his mind when Tracy and Terry asked him if they could bake more cupcakes.

Back when he was in the Army, Lawrence wanted to know everything about his brother-in-arms, because he saw them as family and cared about them; for the same reason, he shared his life story with them. He continued to apply the same policy with the members of the Steel Raiders MC, for the same reasons.

Anyway, with Albert, things were different. Lawrence wanted to find out everything about the man, what he liked and disliked most, his favorite and least favorite books, music, food, colors, holiday destinations, and everything in between. The biker needed that almost desperately, because right now, his greatest wish was to make the other happy, to see that beautiful smile every minute of the day.

Lawrence sighed, running a hand through his hair; none of the rescue missions he took part in as member of that elite division didn’t seem so impossible to achieve like getting information on Albert. He’d need either a lot of luck to catch the baker in a chatty disposition, or a reliable accomplice who could ask the baker questions without him getting suspicious.

Suddenly, Lawrence slapped his forehead and started to laugh, relief coursing through him? How can you be so stupid, man? He chided at himself, shaking his head. Brian is the guy’s best friend, but he’s also friends with you, and likes to help, especially when the cause is so noble; all you have to do is ask.

With that thought in mind, Lawrence turned the light off and climbed on the bed, sliding under the thin blanket. Sleep came quickly, bringing with it tranquility and peace of mind. In his dreams, the biker was holding Albert’s hand, and the man’s face was lit by the smile the ex-soldier came to love so much. They were surrounded by Tracy, Terry, and the baker’s children—the big, happy family he always dreamed of.

************

“Hello, my friend!” Lawrence greeted with a grin as he walked on into the library, a few days later. “What a lovely Monday morning,” he continued with an exaggerated British accent, making the librarian and Bart, who was also there, laugh loudly. “How come you’re not at work?” He turned to his best friend’s husband.

“The Base’s anniversary, remember?” Bart facepalmed himself, shaking his head. “Man, you’re either old as dirt or very in love. I personally incline to the second variant.”

Brian cleared his throat. “Me, too, especially since last night someone discreetly asked if you were seeing anyone. Are you? We haven't talked about this in quite a while.”

Lawrence shrugged. “Still single. Like your husband here said, I’m old as time, and no chance for me to get any younger.” He lowered his gaze. “Besides, who would want to date a guy with a crippled leg?”

Brian shook his head. “Digger, you could kick my young butt any day of the week. Plus, you saved me more times than I could count.” He gave his friend an affectionate smile. “Any man would be lucky to have you.” The librarian fell silent for a moment, then continued in a confidential tone “You didn't hear it from me, but I'm positive Albert is interested in you.”

Lawrence gasped in shock, disbelief written all over his face. “Your friend? That handsome, blond guy with kind, sad eyes?” He swallowed hard. “It’s not that I don’t know who you are talking about, I just want to make sure I got it right.”

“Yes, that's him,” Brian confirmed with a nod. “You've probably heard me call him Light,” he added, then stopped talking for a short while. “I think he's dealing with the same issues I was.” The librarian stared ahead, his voice barely a whisper. “He's scared, Digger.”

Lawrence leaned over the counter, put both his hands on the librarian’s shoulders and bore his eyes into the ones of his friend. “I'll take good care of him, I swear. I'll make him forget all the tears and pain.” The biker’s voice was passionate, warm, and sincere. “And I'll give him a house full of kids, if this is what he wants,” he added with a smile.

Brian patted his friend on the shoulder and gave him a gratitude-filled look. “Thank you very much, I knew I could count on you.” A frown creased his forehead. “Please, tell the other guards to be on the lookout, I think this Rick guy is after him. I'm not positive, it’s just a feeling, but I don't think the bastard will give up this easily on his prey, just like Cole did.”

Lawrence nodded slowly. “I'll talk to Serge and the brothers.” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “You can count on me and all the others. Albert will never be alone. If that pile of shit comes here and wants trouble…” He cleared his throat and continued in a low, dark tone. “I killed a lot of motherfuckers barehanded back in the army, eliminating this one for good won’t be a problem.”

A smile of satisfaction tugged at Brian’s lips when he heard the biker’s words. “T-Ball searched for pictures and has them ready.He and I agreed it's not wise to ask Albert, because we were afraid of his reaction.” The librarian swallowed hard. “He is like I was, and thinks that Rick will hurt everyone around him, because no one can beat him.”

“No one, my big, fat ass!” Lawrence tilted his head backwards, huffing a laugh. “I bet even Serge and Mr. Parker, not to mention Leon, can send him crying to his mamma, and they are a lot older than the rest of us. Well, not Leon, but you get the idea.”

“I do.” Brian showed all his teeth in a big grin, then continued on an almost pleading tone. “Thank you and be patient with Light, he is worth it. He's my best friend, I want him to be happy and live his life to the fullest instead of looking over his shoulder, like I did.”

“I'll split my spare time between the children and Albert.” Lawrence smiled reassuringly. “I know you are a professional worrier, but I promise you this time there will be no reasons for you to worry. I will protect and take care of him in every possible way, erasing all the bad memories from his mind.”

Meanwhile, the subject of the conversation between the librarian and the biker was heading to his sister-in-law’s house, behind the wheel of a van he borrowed from Leon earlier, when he had a brief meeting with the handyman, at his workshop. To his huge, pleasant surprise, part of the furniture for the bakery was ready to be installed.

This man is something else, Albert said to himself, shaking his head with a mix of admiration and respect, wondering if Leon ever sleeps. He must be one of those people who don’t need as much rest as us, mere mortals, the man continued his internal monologue, envying the handyman for that ability.

While he was in the workshop, Albert was called by The Base’s boss, Elias, who asked him to come to his office when the meeting with Leon was over. It won’t be long, the man assured him, apologizing for the change in baker’s plans the unexpected call may cause. He shouldn’t worry, on the contrary, the voice at the other end of the line added, without offering other details.

Indeed, to Albert’s very pleasant surprise, the man in charge of running the rescue center gave him an envelope containing the key of the house and the rent contract. Accompanied by Xavier Mills, another member of the Steel Raiders MC, he went to see the place, it was everything he wanted and more.

Three bedrooms, a spacious kitchen, where Albert could do all the baking he wanted, a large living-room, two bathrooms, and a wide, long entrance hall. Whoever designed and built that house seemed to have done that with the needs of a family of four in mind, the baker thought as he inspected the rooms.

To make things even better, the house had a small garden in the front, where Monica could sow seeds from her favorite flowers. Even though she was five, the young girl loved to water, weed out, and fertilize different decorative plants that grew in pots or directly into the soil. Watching them budding and blooming was the greatest reward for her, and when it happened, she went from Albert to Clayton, and, barely containing her excitement, showed them the fruits of her hard work.

The small garden in front of the house was a good sign, Albert smiled at the thought. The children will love to live here.