Page 29 of Scythe's Salvation
“I need more fish for the guys to cook later,” Jilly adds, grinning at Tamara. “They’re going to help me clean them up, but Chancealready said he needs to call his memaw to make sure we do it right.”
Tamara just shakes her head and starts to eat. All I can think of is how my life is changing, for the positive, just because I made a simple phone call.
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Tamara
With the lastof the salads and desserts finished and put up until later when it’s time to eat, I sit outside with the other ol’ ladies sipping on a bottle of water while I watch the kids run around. One of the prospects put up an inflatable pool and there’s a water slide that’s running as well. Yelling and laughing, children are going back and forth, their screams of excitement almost louder than the music that’s steadily playing.
“So, what do you think?” Selah asks, sitting next to me.
“It’s a lot to absorb, of course, but I’m having the time of my life right now,” I admit.
“Scythe’s a good guy. He was with us when we found Moira,” she says. “Just so you know, she’s quiet until she gets to know you, because of the trauma she’s endured, but that’s her story to share or not, you know?”
I nod because I understand completely that some things are best left in the past where they belong. Reliving painful memories intherapy is one thing so you can get the coping skills needed to move past it all, but constantly regurgitating pain keeps those wounds wide open. I’ve noticed how solicitous Kracken is with her, and I’ve paid attention to how the other men in both factions of the club are with not only their ol’ ladies, but their children. They exude family from every pore, and seeing big, gruff, sometimes scary looking bikers gazing lovingly at their child or woman shows me what my future holds.
Because Scythe already looks at me that way. It still boggles my mind that we’re moving at what feels like warp speed, but I guess when it’s right, it’s right. I’m slightly startled when Dragon leans over and quietly says, “What you’re feeling is real, Tamara. Embrace the crazy and welcome to the family.” With that, he walks away with a six-pack of beers in his beefy hand, toward a group of the brothers who are standing around talking.
“So, has Scythe told you about his… affliction?” Selah asks, a gleam in her eyes.
“Um, no. What is it?” I question, praying that he’s not secretly a closet sadist. I’ll never yuck on someone else’s yum, but pain isn’t my thing at all.
She snickers then calls out, “Faith, can you come over here? Bring your new dolly.”
“Okay, Mommy,” a little girl replies. A few minutes later, she comes over, cradling a porcelain doll that’s dressed in an old-fashioned outfit. Selah leans in and whispers something to her, and I watch a grin split Faith’s face before she nods and heads toward where Scythe is standing.
“Watch this,” Selah instructs, pointing to where Faith has just reached Scythe’s side.
The high-pitched screech that comes from him shocks the hell out of me. It’s like watching theSupernaturalepisode where Dean has ghost sickness, and everything terrifies him. When the little terrier crosses his path, he loses it totally and screams, then looks at his brother and says, “That was scary!”
Scythe glares over at Selah, who blows him a kiss as she says, “Chop, chop, China doll.”
“You are an evil, evil woman, Selah. Butcher! Control your woman.”
Laughter erupts all around us as Selah explains how she told the story to the brothers during their trip to rescue Moira. The one about the China doll freaked Scythe out so badly that he threatened to turn off his mic in his helmet. Ever since then, she’s occasionally pranked him by hiding dolls in his saddlebags, or even emailing him tidbits she finds about the possessed doll. But today’s prank is epic becauseeveryonesaw his reaction.
“I mean, those creepy kewpie dolls freak me out,” Rory murmurs. “So, I kind of understand his phobia.”
“We all have them,” Selah agrees. “But his reaction is always so freaking priceless, I can’t stop.”
As the day goes on, I watch my son whenever he deigns to run by me. He’s absolutely filthy right now, but the smile lighting up his face is one I’ve never seen in my life. No matter what happens with the court case, I internally vow that he’ll always be this happy. At least while he’s young before life shows him that it’s not always rainbows and sunshine.
“Hate I can’t sit with you during the fireworks,” Scythe says as we eat some of the best barbecue I’ve ever tasted. Several of the brothers pride themselves on their grilling skills and smelling all the food cooking for what seems like hours has had my stomach eating itself.
“It’s okay, Scythe, I promise. You’ll be with us when we watch the movies, so it’s all good.”
“You having a good time, sweetheart?” he asks.
“Definitely. Thank you for inviting us.”
“Wouldn’t want it any other way. Do you want more of anything? I’m heading back to the table.”
Smiling internally at his generous nature, I reply, “Um, maybe some more of the pasta salad? And a brat without a bun?”
“You got it, Tam. Be right back, my woman needs more food to keep her curves,” he says as he nearly bumps into Hawg, who was heading in our direction.
