Page 42 of Stone

Constance expelled a breath. “That man’s like a dang tornado. He circles through, then turns everything upside down before disappearing again.” She turned to me. “Thank God John’s got my brains and not his father’s.”

“Thank you for the tea,” I murmured, making my way toward her and giving her a hug. “I love coming here. I feel like John will walk through the door any second, and it makes me miss him a little less.”

Connie pulled back, looking into my eyes. “I miss him too, Elise. But he’s halfway through boot camp now. It won’t be long until he gets ten days’ leave.” She smiled. “Bandit can’t go to John’s graduation ceremony. He’s offered to take the both of us to the nearest airport and pay for us to fly to San Diego to support our boy. Do you think you can come?”

My heart soared at the thought of being there to see John at his proudest moment. “I’ll talk to Mom. If anybody can get my father to agree, it’s her. The fact I’ll be going with you will help a lot. You know how strict he is.”

Connie stroked the back of my hair fondly. “He’s a father, Elise. Bandit would be the same if we had a girl. It means he cares, and that’s a good thing.”

“I know,” I whispered through my heated throat. “I just wish Dad could be more understanding sometimes. I don’t feel like he gives John a chance.”

“My daddy didn’t give Bandit a chance,” she told me. “I had to elope to be with him. He’s never spoken a word to me since the day I left. I always wonder what could’ve been, but I’ve had a good life, a life I wouldn’t change for all the tea in China.” She smiled fondly at me. “Your daddy loves you, Elise. Everything he does, he does for you because he wants the best for his little girl. Being an ol’ lady isn’t an easy life, but John loves you enough to change things around for you. He’ll meet you halfway if you meet him there, too.”

My heart soared because Connie was right. John had already told me he’d straighten the Speed Demons out when he took over from his dad. Stone didn’t want to live a life where we constantly looked over our shoulders. He wanted to make the club something we could be proud of. The day he bought the warehouses, he talked about expansion, but not with gunrunning or drug dealing. John wanted to open legitimate businesses and give the men and their families decent lives where they weren’t constantly fearful of being arrested and locked up.

Smiling, I kissed Connie’s cheek. “Thank you. I seem to feel better when I come here.”

“You’re always welcome,” she insisted. “The day John made you his, he also made you mine.”

My chest filled with warmth. “Thank you, Connie. That means everything.”

She patted my shoulder. “Anytime, sweetheart. Now, you better get home. It’s important to toe the line with your dad to stay on his good side. John’s desperate for you to come with me to San Diego.”

“You’re right,” I agreed, grabbing the keys to Bessie from the kitchen table. Turning back to Connie, I cocked my head questioningly. “Same time next week?”

Connie gave me a decisive nod. “Absolutely.” She fell into step behind me as I walked out the back to where I’d parked the truck. “But remember, I’m here if you need anything, Elise.”

Smiling, I craned my neck. “I know. Thank you. Dad goes to the country club tonight, so I’ll talk to Mom about San Diego.”

Connie crossed her arms over her chest, leaning against the back door. “Tell your momma she’s welcome here for a coffee if she has any questions.” She gave me a knowing look. “I’ll make sure Bandit’s busy that day.”

I opened the driver’s door laughing, jumped in the seat, and lowered the window. “I’m sure she’ll love that,” I called. Then, with a final wave goodbye, I started Bessie and drove her past the clubhouse and onto the main road.

During the drive home, my stomach leaped at the mere thought of going to San Diego with Connie.

Being with John for one of the most pivotal moments of his life was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss. He was putting so much of himself into boot camp and doing it solo, so I desperately wanted to be there to support him in all the moments I could. Also, I ached for him and couldn’t wait to hold his face in my hands and tell him how much I loved him.

Mom would get it. She’d been talking to Dad and trying to get him to see me as an adult. My parents got married at my age, but instead of trusting me to be responsible and to look after myself, my pop still saw me as a five-year-old girl.

I’d always been a daddy’s girl, so when John came along and I transferred all my hero worship onto him, my dad must’ve felt the loss. But wasn’t that how it was supposed to be? Wasn’t Daddy meant to show me what a man was, so when I met one, I didn’t settle for less than I deserved?

A frustrated sigh escaped me. It was clear I couldn’t keep avoiding the conversation with Dad about John. As much as I’d stopped needing his approval, I still yearned for hisunderstanding, and deep down, I hoped one day, Dad would see John the same way I did.

I knew I had to take the bull by the horns and have an awkward conversation. My dad needed to accept that John was my endgame.

My stomach flipped with nerves as I turned into my street and pulled up behind Dad’s car on the driveway of the white craftsman-style house I’d been raised in. As I got out of the truck, my gaze fell on the white Mercedes-Benz parked on the street right outside, belonging to the mayor.

I winced slightly at how Dad would react if I tried to hash things out when he had company. He’d never forgive me if I brought up John in front of Mayor Henderson.

My shoulders relaxed, and I turned and walked up to the front door. “I’m home,” I called out loudly as I went inside.

“In the dining room!” Dad called back.

Smoothing down my dress, I made my way through the door to the dining room, which was joined to the kitchen. We usually ate on trays, watching TV, so Dad must’ve been out to impress if he’d asked Mom to set the table.

Fixing a smile on my face, I opened the door to the dining room. “Hi, everyone. Sorry, I’m late—” I froze when I saw who sat at the table. On one side of Dad sat Mayor Henderson, but it was the man who sat on his other side who made me nervous.

“Elise,” Robbie crooned, slowly getting to his feet. “You look beautiful.” He walked toward me, taking my hand and kissing me on both cheeks.

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