Page 124 of Being Lost

When the kid turns and strides across the room, I see the back of the cut he’s wearing. I adore it. It reads ‘Junior Prospect’, just as I’d been told.

“Dart tells me your problems are over,” Alex begins, waiting for my nod. “And that you’re sticking around. It will be so good to have another old lady here.” She views the room, then turns back and winks. “Who do you think we need to work on to increase our numbers? It would be good to have a few more old ladies.”

I do the same as her and examine the people in the room, realising in the short time I’ve been here, these men have become friends. But would any of them be in the market for an old lady? The idea makes me snort. “Do you think anyone would take any of this lot on?”

She giggles. “Let me just go drop this off, and then I’ll come back and relieve you of Isla.” She waves the bag at me as if to show me what ‘this’ is.

“I’m fine holding onto her. You take your time.” I lower my face and breathe in that unique baby scent, realising that in a few months I’ll be able to meet my grandbaby, and no one could stop me now.I could ring Beth.I freeze. It had become so ingrained in me that I couldn’t, for some insane reason, the thought of contacting her hadn’t entered my head. I decide I’ll do that as soon as I’ve handed back Isla.

The television above the bar is on, but no one’s paying much attention to it, and I doubt anyone knows even what program is playing, until Pennywise’s shout.

Blaze turns the tattoo gun off, and now we can hear what the newscaster is telling us.

“The DEA have today found a tunnel entrance in a restaurant in San Diego. Initial reports show it goes to Tijuana in Mexico. It appears to have been the site of a mass killing earlier today which the DEA are initially putting down as fighting between rival gang members. The tunnel was discovered as a result of an anonymous tip-off. No drugs were found on the premises, but it’s likely that drugs were smuggled in this way.”

“You practicing to be a grandparent, babe?” Lost puts his arms around me and smiles down at the baby in my arms who’s sucking her thumb.

“Did you see that?” I nod toward the television.

“They’re always finding tunnels or stopping smugglers,” he replies, seeming to be unconcerned.

“Yes, but…”

He cuts off what I was going to say by kissing me. When someone wolf whistles he shows them the finger.

“Fuck, it’s like watching your parents,” Deuce complains.

“Then look away,” Lost replies unrepentantly, and kisses me again.

“Get a room.” That’s Blaze. “I can’t concentrate.” He pretends to cover his eyes.

I glare at Kink as he starts to open his mouth. “You can’t say anything,” I call over to him. “Not when you drag naked women around in here.”

Grumbler comes over and slaps Lost’s back. “She’ll do,” he says, with a wide grin on his face. “She’ll fuckin’ do.”

“She will that.” Lost cups his hands around my face, then touches his forehead to mine.

When he pulls back, there’s an intense look in his eyes. Then he takes a deep breath and reaches for a bag he must have carried out and placed on the table behind him. The bag I saw Alex carrying in earlier. He opens it and takes something out.

It’s a leather cut. On the front it has a patch which says ‘First Old Lady’, and on the reverse, ‘Property of Lost’.

It’s a moment with all the seriousness of a wedding ceremony but with none of the normal trappings. The television has been switched off and he’s distracted me sufficiently I’ve forgotten what I’d been watching. The room has gone completely silent, so much so you could hear a pin drop. In the periphery of my vision I see Salem and Dan have returned, even the club girls have put in an appearance. But everyone seems to be holding their breath.

“You gonna stay in San Diego, Patsy?”

Lost takes in air and holds it.

I realise I could go back home. But Colorado isn’t home anymore. My daughter lives there, but I can visit her any time I want. Home is here. With Lost.

“Yes.”

He lets his breath out.

With shaking hands I reach out and Lost reverently holds the cut so I can put my arms through it, then holds onto it until it rests on my shoulders. I know I’ll have to thank Alex as it fits perfectly.

“I take you as my ol’ lady,” Lost says, quietly.

“I take you as my old man,” I respond.

---