Page 8 of Amy's Santa

“Well she’s home, Heart.” Marc’s hand finds mine as we walk back down to the clubhouse. “You can stop worrying now.”

“Can I?” I ask her, my eyes looking unseeing into the distance. “She’s not been home for months, and now she turns up with a guy we only heard of a few days ago.”

“A guy with a good job and a great reputation. You know Wizard checked him out. An impeccable record, no trouble with the cops…”

I can’t help it, I laugh. “You think that would worry us if he’d been arrested? Come on, babe.”

She chuckles loudly. “I suppose it might even be a recommendation in your eyes.” I get a hard nudge to my arm. “Look, you should be proud of how she’s turned out. She’s done so well for herself, going to college and becoming a registered nurse, studying hard for all her qualifications and has gotten a great job in Phoenix.”

I’d rather she’d taken a position closer, but can’t criticise her for wanting to live her own life. While I’d had misgivings when she stepped out on her own, she’s thrived, and yes, I do have immense pride for her. As for how much she’d achieved, Marc deserves much of the credit. “You should be proud too, babe. You encouraged her.” Not to move away, of course, but to follow her dreams and become a nurse.

“Not as much as Mariana.”

Yeah, Mouse’s wife, also in the same profession, hadn’t hesitated to share her knowledge when she’d found my daughter was interested. Amy had become exactly what she wanted to be, and as I remember, something she’d shown an aptitude in from the start. “Huh, do you remember Amy playing doctors and nurses with the kids in the clubhouse?”

Marc giggles. “I remember having to undo bandages when she’d tied too tight a knot. It was the only time I saw her bossy with the kids.”

Amy had been the oldest. Well there was Wizard of course, but he didn’t really count. He was always too mature to be called a kid. But then, he’d lived a hard life until he came to us.

My lips thin. “I suppose she’s playing doctors and nurses for real now with this Xander.”

Another thump to my arm. “She’s a grown woman now, Heart. Put that damn shotgun back in the cupboard.”

“He hurts her, I’ll still get it out,” I warn as we near the clubhouse. I put my hand on her arm and stop her forward progress. “You know I’ve been worried, Amy hasn’t been home for months. And there was something, a light in her eyes missing. It was more like she was putting on an act when she entered the club. Do you think everything’s right between them?”

“If it’s not, she’s a big girl. She needs anything from us, all she has to do is ask. You can’t keep fixing her life for her, Heart, she’s not your little girl anymore. She’s an adult, and has to be allowed to make her own mistakes, and rectify them when she does.”

Marc’s right. But it’s hard. I suppose guilt drives some of my concern for her, unable to ever forget the time when I walked out and abandoned her when she was just three years old. Since then I’ve done everything I can for her. She might not need her dad anymore, but until the day I die, I’ll be there for her.

She’s an adult, though, and can make her own choices. I grin, I’d noticed she’d come back with yet another tattoo. Nothing wrong with that, just another sign she’s not my little Amy anymore.

“Heart?” Now Marc stops me when I start walking again. “See how she is later. No pressure, but maybe you can have a word with her if she still doesn’t seem right? She may just be tired. She said she’d come off shift and then had that journey.”

I nod. “I’ll be having a word with that boyfriend of hers too.”

“Really, Heart?” Her eyebrows go to her hairline and back down. “Asking what his intentions are?”

I shrug, unrepentant, as I open the door and step back to let Marc proceed me. “Of course.”

“Hey, Heart. Good to see Amy.”

Inside the clubhouse, Drummer’s standing with Hawk and Zane. I envy him. His oldest son’s become the VP of the club, his younger is studying at the university in Tucson and still makes the compound his base. Of all the children of the surviving members, Amy’s the only one who’s moved away. So far, anyway.

“Yeah. Great to have her back,” I answer him.

Drummer’s eyes narrow. “She good?”

As always I value my ex-prez’s opinion, same as I did when he was in charge of the gavel in church. “What do you think?”

“She wasn’t her normal self.” It bothers me he’d also seen it. “Think it’s got anything to do with this Xander?”

If it has, he won’t be leaving the club. I’ve got a nice piece of ground with his name already on it up in the forest under Road’s trial bike racing track. Road might have transferred out long ago, but that’s how we still refer to our burial plot.

“Did it surprise you?”

“What? That he’s a big, black fucker?” I shrug. “Don’t give a damn as long as he treats Amy right.” My eyes narrow. “And the jury’s still out on that.”

Wraith walks over to join us. He nods at Drummer and his sons. “Nothing much changes, does it? All my kids are helping out in the kitchen.”

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