Page 14 of Hawk

“I appreciate you seeing to it that my motorcycle was repaired while I was away. She still runs like a beauty, even after I crashed it.”

“You know I got you, brother. You’d do the same for me.”

I nod and cross my arms over my chest. “How have things been going around here?”

“Everything is everything. You know how that goes. Ay, you getting The Garage back up and running?”

“I am.”

“Good. I need you to look at my ’69 Camaro before you get locked up again.” He grins, then says, “I’m just yanking your chain, man.”

“Trust me—there ain’t going to be no more of that. I’m out for good and I’m not going back. Listen—let me open the garage, figure out where everything is and get it back up and running. I’ll let you know when to bring the car by.”

“Will do, brother.”

For the next hour, I keep a seat at the bar warm and watch these girls dance, but as I sit here, it’s like I’m seeing right through to them. Through it all. I’m fulfilling a duty – letting my brothers know I appreciate their gesture to welcome me home and show me a good time, but I’d rather be elsewhere.

“Hey, there,” one of the Beauties says walking up to me. She grabs my crotch and says, “I was told to come over here and give you a hard time.”

“Nah, I’m good.”

“Oh, come on,” she says, tugging my arm. “Follow me.”

Holding my hand, she pulls me into the back room then asks, “Now, where were we?” as she loosens my belt.

“Ay,” I say taking her by the wrists. “I’m good.”

She glances at the front of my pants and says, “It doesn’t appear that you’re good, but I can solve all that big boy.”

I say, “Solve somebody else’s problem,” then I leave out the back. It was time. This party’s over.

Heading home, I take the time to appreciate my bike. I even go for a longer ride, enjoying the thick, humid air that used to be a pain in my rear. Now, I’m embracing every part of it because it spells freedom in ways that people who haven’t had two years of their life taken away won’t appreciate. I appreciate the little things now. I hate to say this officially, but prison has indeed changed me.

When I get home, I step inside. It’s dark and quiet. I walk to the bedroom where Ivy and Lilly are crashing. When I open the door, I see Ivy stretched out on the bed wearing the same clothes she had on when I left. Lilly is beside her. They both look like this is the best sleep they’ve had in a very long time. I close the door quietly to let them be, then head down the hallway to my bedroom. I immediately get out of my clothes and step in the shower to wash the day off of me. It feels good to shower in privacy. It’s a luxury that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Which has me thinking…why do we take so many things for granted, especially people and places we’re familiar with? I’m guilty of taking Ivy for granted just like she’s guilty of doing that to me. But does that mean we give up trying?

I dry off quickly then fall across the bed in the nude. It’s been a day. I have a lot to deal with in the morning, but for now, I need to rest my mind to prepare myself to handle it.

Chapter 4

Gideon

In the morning, I get dressed in a pair of jeans and black shirt. Ivy and Lilly are still sleeping. I feel like checking their pulse since they’ve been out for so long, but I can clearly see that they’re both breathing.

I go ahead and drive to my mother’s place in the Dodge Charger Scat. I’m anticipating seeing her lovely face as much as I know she wants to see me. We haven’t always seen eye to eye, but we’re in a good place now. I think…

I pull up in the yard and shut off the motor. Stepping up on the porch, I knock on the door and wait for her to answer. She opens the door and places a hand over her heart. My mother is shorter than her children. Even in her fifties, she’s a sight to behold. She has her ash blonde hair cut. The last time I saw her, it was longer. She’s wearing a white dress – looks like she was about to head out.

“Oh my word,” she says, bringing her hands to her trembling lips.

“Hey, there, beautiful lady,” I say, “And don’t you start that crying nonsense.” I pull her into my arms. “How have you been, Mother?”

“I’m good now,” she says. “I’m real good. It’s so good to see you, Gideon.”

“You as well, Ma.”

After she releases me, she sits down in one of the rocking chairs on her porch and invites me to take the other.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with your brother. Gage ain’t been nothing but trouble. I keep hoping, wishing and praying that he will get some kind of common sense, but so far, he ain’t got nothing. It always fall back to the company you keep, I reckon. And speaking of…you’re in that bike club nonsense…y’all trying to send me to an early grave, aren’t you?’

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