Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

Halloween was a surprise. It seemed that the entire town closed up and headed over to the campground owned by the Dragon Runners MC for a big all-day barbecue festival. They had vendors, crafters, games, piles of food, kids in costumes, candy, and rides on the road nicknamed the Tail.

Short for the Tail of the Dragon, anyone who hung around bikers learned about this legendary piece of asphalt, and how they dreamed of its eleven-mile stretch. It also had the reputation of eating unskilled or arrogant riders, and many had lost their lives to its appetite.

Today was also my first official date with Pastor Robert—at least, I thought so. He’d called me yesterday to confirm us going to the festival together. Truthfully, I’d forgotten about his invitation, but I didn’t like the idea of ditching him. He’d been nothing but kind and polite to me, so in the end, I decided to go out with him. I told him I would meet him here instead of transferring the car seat and stroller. He was okay with that, and we set a time.

He was in fitted jeans and a patterned dress shirt. His neat hair, glasses, and general appearance made me think of a young business professional or banker or something like that, not necessarily a preacher. He looked really nice.

Pearl had a blast and was full of happy giggles for everyone. She stared mesmerized at the spinning lights and stuffed herself with treats. She walked a little but preferred to be pushed around. The stroller had a back that laid down flat, so when she was sleepy, I could put her down for a nap.

The rides held no interest for me, but I tried some of the games. Ring toss, water guns, Plinko disk drop, even a booth with ax throwing. I didn’t win anything, but the vendors handed out old slap bracelets and ugly keychains as consolation prizes.

Robert won a stuffed lion and presented it to me with a gleaming smile. He wasn’t pushy and didn’t try to hold my hand or anything like that, but he did stay attentive to me and Pearl. Occasionally, he would push the stroller as we wandered through the crowds and talked to each other.

“It must be tough being a widowed mother at your age.”

I hesitated but didn’t have the need to correct him. “I manage.”

“You’re very admirable and brave. Many women wouldn’t have picked up and moved so far away from home. What does your family think about it?”

“I didn’t have a lot of family. Just one or two very close friends.”

“Your mother?”

Again I hesitated. How was I supposed to tell him that she gave birth to me but wasn’t really a mother “She’s… gone.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. You’ve had a very tough life. It’s amazing that you’ve come this far and been so successful. Many women would have crumpled under that much weight.”

I saw what made him a good pastor. His attitude for listening and paying attention was phenomenal. He didn’t spout fire and brimstone, doom and gloom, or anything I’d always associated with church people like the ones I’d seen in movies. I couldn’t really see myself with a preacher or someone like that, but he exuded such kindness, it did have me wondering what it would be like. It also had me feeling guilty, as I’d kissed Weatherman, and his touch still occupied my thoughts.

It bothered me that he hadn’t called or texted, but most men I’d dealt with in the past seldom kept their word. When he said we’d talk later or not, I guess he meant the “not” part more.

My past struggles left scars, deep ones, and so far, I hadn’t been around anyone who I thought could understand them and where they left me. Some of the ladies at the salon regularly spouted off Bible verses and talked about forgiveness and love for all. Was that a real thing or just words?

The campground bathroom facilities weren’t enough to accommodate the need of the crowd, so a row of porta-johns had been set up on the far end near the tree line. Pearl was napping, and I was about to burst. Robert also confessed his need with a grin, and we decided to take turns. The porta-johns were not my first choice, but the long lines at the regular restroom building had me turning the stroller in that direction anyway.

I went first and braved the plastic booth. It had me thinking about toilet training for Pearl. I was glad she was still in diapers for now, as bringing a potty-training toddler in here would not be one of my top ten wanted experiences. I washed my hands as much as I could, thankful that I’d learned the joys of keeping pocket-sized hand sanitizer with me at all times. I emerged to see Robert holding the stroller and staring between the booths with a curled lip of disgust.

One glimpse told me all I needed to know.

Through the sliver of space, I saw Kimmie on her knees sucking off one man while another smoked a blunt, watching and waiting for his turn. The faint sweet and earthy smell of pot wafted to my nostrils, and I tensed. Both men had on dirty shirts that declared them to be carnies in charge of the traveling rides. Kimmie finished the first man and took the twenty-dollar bill he handed to her before starting on the other.

“We should go. I think you said you wanted to look at the soap tent, right?”

Robert’s voice had a forced sound to it, as if he smelled a pile of shit and had to pretend it was roses. It bothered me, both the sight of Kimmie on her knees and the contempt I was sure Robert had for her. The same contempt he might have for any woman on her knees for money.

I snatched the stroller handle from him and started moving away. Pearl woke up and fussed at me, but I kept moving. Robert caught up to us a few moments later.

“I’m so sorry you had to see that.”

Back to the gentle Pastor Bobby whose love and concern rained over everyone. How would he feel if I told him Kimmie was my roommate? How would he react if he found out that I’d seen plenty of public blow jobs before? What would he think of me if I ever told him about my past and what I’d done to survive?

Memories swirled in my head. Ones I wished I could erase like chalk from a blackboard. Instead, they piled on, higher and higher, and my belly burned with the need to purge. My focus was so intense, I didn’t realize where I’d gone until I heard my name called in a friendly greeting.

“Opal! Over here!”

I turned to see two people near me, one in a wheelchair and the other behind it. Weatherman and his mom. Natalie didn’t have on the wig I’d styled for her. Instead, she was wearing a tall, elaborately braided contraption and a thick white robe like a Roman goddess. The wheelchair was disguised as a chariot, and the woman in it smiled with delight.

“It was Bryce’s idea. What do ya’ think?”

“It’s amazing. You look wonderful.”

She did look wonderful. Vibrancy shone from her face, and her energy level was higher than I expected a cancer patient would have. Tambre had mentioned that she was done with treatments, and things seemed to be going in the right direction.

My attention turned to the man behind the wheelchair, and I stopped dead in my tracks.

He was breathtaking in his biker regalia. The club colors were on full display, and something about them radiated an aura of dominance. Alpha male in every sense. It tingled my nerves, and I became hyperaware of him.

Right now, he was staring at me—or rather, at the man next to me—and the memory of our shared moment outside his house came to mind. He’d said it was between friends, but I felt weird with him seeing me out with another man.

“Pastor Bobby.” Weatherman gave a short nod as he growled the greeting.

“Bryce, nice to see you again, son.”

“Son”? I was confused. Weatherman was a few years younger than me and Robert, but not that much to be called “son.” Maybe it was a pastor thing?

I got even more uncomfortable when Robert put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close.

“Nice day for the festival. Your people did real good this year.”

“Your people.” Why did that sound like an insult?

Apparently, Weatherman thought it did too. His back straightened, and tension filled the air.

Thankfully, Pearl broke the awkward stand-off. She woke up and squealed with delight seeing two familiar people in front of her.

“Eh-da!” she exclaimed and stretched out her arms.

Weatherman relaxed and grinned at my little girl. He bent over and lifted her from the stroller without asking permission. “How’s my little peanut?”

When did my daughter become his “little peanut”?

Robert’s back stiffened, and his arm tightened around me. “Opal, do you know this man?”

I felt a little like a chew toy being pulled between two dogs. “Yes, I cut his hair, same as I do yours. I styled Natalie’s wig, although this isn’t the one I did.”

Natalie seemed unaware of the thick testosterone floating in the air. She smiled and reached up a thin hand to touch her towering hairdo. “I decided that while I’m still here on earth, I’m gonna have as much fun as I can. It’s been years since I dressed up for Halloween.”

Robert chuckled. “Amen, sister. We’ll leave you to your celebrating. Perhaps we’ll see you in church on Sunday.”

The use of “we” threw me. Was he implying that I’d be in church on Sunday with him? A quick vision of me standing in a choir loft, wearing a plain conservative dress to my knees with a high frilly collar and my hair tied up in a tight bun, almost had me laughing. My eyes darted to Weatherman and his fierce frown.

“I believe in the Almighty, but I’m already in one club, preacher. Don’t need to join another one.”

Natalie gave an indignant huff. “Bryce Turner! Church is church, not a club.”

“It’s a club when you have membership requirements. Church is supposed to have wide-open doors to anyone and no judgments, right?” He placed Pearl back in the stroller, and my girl squalled in protest. “We need to get going, Mom. I told Dodge I’d watch his booth while he grabs some food.”

Natalie pursed her lips. “Orneriness. Pure orneriness.”

He turned away and didn’t look at me again. I had the sense that I’d done something wrong.

But I couldn’t think about that now, as the heat rolling off Robert was enough to broil a steak.

As fast as he’d turned it on, it was off again, and he was back to sweet Pastor Bobby. “Food sounds like a good idea. Shall we head over to the barbecue tent?”