Page 19 of Kimbra
We follow Brady inside, and I see Maine and Jon directing people into the room they have church in. Maine looks at meand gives me a nod. “We’ve just got to have a discussion so we all know what we saw and know about those fuckers.” I suddenly flash back to that chest freezer in the cellar. “I know our guys know what was delivered to my door a while ago. There was a chest freezer in the cellar, and I think it had the rest of that person, along with more in there. That asshole Brander is the creepiest guy I’ve ever come into contact with.” I can see quite a few of Brady’s brothers give each other looks. Maine nods, “Duly noted. We’ll try and keep it brief. As a dad, I can only imagine how much you want to get back to your kids.” The guys all head in, but Ben hands me his cell phone so I can call Anna.
***********
It took me a good ten minutes to convince Branson that I was okay. Bentley seemed quicker to believe me. Bailey was just excited to have a sleepover with her friend Daisy. I’m really glad she has no idea what happened. I think it might take some time for Branson to work through things, but I know he’ll get there.
The guys are still in their meeting, and a few more from Brady’s club just arrived. I watched most of them walk in and go straight into the room. Two stopped to grab a couple drinks before heading in. I watched them interact with Batya and observed her watch one of them walk into the room. My heart feels for her.
She comes out of the kitchen a few minutes later with two mugs. “I don’t know about you, but tonight is a two-cup kind of night. This one has a little something more in it.” I take a mug from her and take a sip and immediately know there’s some whiskey in it. “You are right again. You most certainly are a mensch.” She looks at me in surprise. “I appreciate that. It’s not often that I run into someone around here who would know that word.” She’s not wrong. “Well, I did some of my residency back east. I had a classmate and good friend who was Jewish. I took a chance after you called yourself the Malka of this place.”
Batya points at me. “You are one smart and observant woman, which means you are a mensch as well. Like knows like, and we are going to have to keep in touch because there aren’t enough women like you around these parts for my liking.” She takes a sip, and my nosey-ass self has to ask. “So I’m going to ask, and you can tell me to mind my own fucking business, but what’s your deal? Are you an old lady to one of these guys? A club girl? Just by your comments, I’m guessing one of these brothers isn’t your dad or brother, so what’s your connection?”
Her smile turns into a glare. “You are fucking observant. I originally came here thinking I would be a club girl, but it didn’t really work out that way. I noticed this club looked like a frat house after rush week and started cleaning. Cooking is just something that brings me peace, so I do it on occasion for the brothers. Maine saw what I was doing and ended up offering mea job keeping this place and his house clean and the fridges filled with food. It’s not conventional, but it works for me.” Smart woman. “Hey, whatever makes your life something you can do with a purpose, that’s what matters.”
I take a sip and ask the real question I wanna know. “What’s between you and that last brother who came in just a few minutes ago?” She glares at me again, and she sighs. She shows it all on her face, and I can’t keep my mouth shut. “Let me guess, you’re head over heels for him, and he sees you as nothing but a friend or sister.” She doesn’t say anything but nods her head ever so slightly. I take one more sip of my drink. “Can I tell you something as someone who’s got a few years on you?” She waves me on to continue. “Don’t waste your life waiting for someone who looks through you. You deserve to find that person who sees no one else but you when he walks into a room. I’m not an expert in love or anything, but I know without a doubt that my ex didn’t see me that way, possibly ever, but my fiancé in that room? I know that the second he walks into a room I’m in, I’m the only woman that he sees, and honestly, it’s the same for me with him. Life is hard enough. Don’t waste time begging someone to love you who isn’t even going to see you.”
“Ugh!” She slouches slightly in her seat. “I know you’re right. I know I need to just give up this ridiculous crush, but it’s so much easier said than done. Especially when he gives me moments where he’s so nice and makes me think he could possibly beinterested, but then ten minutes later, I walk into the main room, and he’s getting a blow job from a club girl. I know I should just treat this as a job and keep him at an arm’s distance. I sure as shit ain’t about to be on my knees blowing him like the club girls do. That just makes me gag.” I can’t help the laugh that comes out. Her face is so animated as she gags at the thought. “Is that why you didn’t become a club girl?” She looks at me while trying to stop gagging. “It’s one of the reasons. I mean, have you really studied a man’s wiggle lizard? It’s all veiny, bumpy, and just…just no. That vein is why I can’t eat Snickers and have to stick with Milky Way.” Oh lord, I’m dying. I’m laughing so hard there are tears in my eyes. I’m only one stop away from peeing myself. Just like that, I think I just made a friend for life.
CHAPTER TWELVE
There is no greater momentary fear than the fewseconds when your six-year-old is midair and about to land on you in bed. I have had that fear four days in a row now. I think my gray hair has doubled.
~Text Ben to Kimbra~
Ben
It’s been a couple of months since the scary day when Kimbra was taken. Thankfully, since then, it’s been relatively peaceful. We know that there are now only two surviving members of the Sangre Devils. Taz and Brander got away, though we don’t know the extent of Brander’s injuries. He’s also on the Fed's radar, as it sounds like the freezers at the clubhouse and farm weren’t the only ones he’s left in his wake. Since they were in Washington and Oregon, crossing the state lines brought the Feds in. Last I heard, the number of victims was estimated at twenty-five women. Makes me nauseous every time I think that Kimbra was in the same room as him for even a minute.
Today’s not a day to think about that shit, though. Today’s a day I’ve waited my whole life for. Today, I get to marry the love of my life. I get to tie her to me forever. I also officially become a dad today. Something I had given up on years ago. I know people talk about having nerves on the day of their wedding, but I don’t have any of those. There’s this peace that’s settled in me that I’ve never felt before, and it’s brought a calm inside of me that tells me to my bones that I’ve found my person.
All the women folk, especially Linnea and Anna, insisted that we have to abide by the tradition of not spending the night before the wedding together, so I spent the night at the clubhouse with a number of brothers. It’s still pretty early, and I’m still lying in bed, just trying to get my thoughts in order.
I reach over to the nightstand and grab my wallet. I open it, reach in, and grab a photograph. It’s tattered and worn. Looking at it, I find myself talking out loud. “I still, to this day, am sorry about what happened. I have kicked myself for decades that I wasn’t able to protect you.” I rub the picture in the same way I’ve done for decades now. “You’ve been gone longer than you were on this earth, but your memory lives on in all that knew you. I don’t know if we would’ve lasted for the long haul. We were both so fucking young. I’m getting married today. I remember telling you that your old lady status meant more than a piece of paper from the government. At the time, I meant it, but with some decades of experience, I think it’s more about committingto your person in front of all the people in the world that mean the most to you. I’m sorry I never gave you that option.” I study the picture of her, leaning against a picnic table in jeans and her property cut with a big smile on her face and the wind blowing her hair. “I think you’d like her. She’s got an inner strength like you. She’s so smart and yet down to earth. She’s got the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. She’s a great mom, and she makes me feel like the king of the world when she looks at me.” I rub the photograph one more time. “I guess I just wanted you to know I’ve finally found my happiness, found my peace. Fuck, I’m pretty sure you had a hand in it somehow. I just wanted to tell you that I will never forget you and what we had, and that I know you and the loss of you helped to make me the man who’s at least slightly worthy of a woman like Kimbra.” I put the picture inside the book on my nightstand. Time to get up and take the step toward the future, to my forever.
**********
Branson came up to me right before the ceremony started and asked to speak to me alone. We walked over to a bench under a shade tree. Sitting down, I looked at Branson, who, at the moment, looked a lot older than his years. He rubs his chin like he’s seen some of the brothers do. “I just wanted to say that I’m really glad you’re marrying Mom. I can kind of remember whenI was little, she smiled more, but even then, it wasn’t every day or all the time. Since she met you, she smiles every day. She’s not worried about everything and doing everything by herself. So…I guess what I’m saying is thank you for that. I also want to say one last thing, but don’t tell Mom.” I nod because I’m not sure what he’s going to say. “I just want you to know if things change in the future, don’t do what my dad did and fade away and cheat on Mom. Tell her. Don’t make her sad for years and years like he did.” I stand up and give him a hug. “I promise you I willnevercheat on your mom. She’s the love of my life, and I promise to make sure I don’t make her sad or upset very often.” Branson nods. “Good. Now let’s go before that guy Nicky comes out and yells at us for making this thing start late.” Chuckling, I agree because I also don’t want that wrath.
*********
I look around the yard, and I can’t wipe the smile off my face if I tried.
Sitting here with my wife next to me and our kids running around the yard and playing with the other kids in the family. Today’s been a perfect day. Our ceremony was so very us, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Kimbra’s dress is casual, flowy, and she walked down the aisle on her brother’s arm, barefoot with her hair down and a flower behind her ear. She’s the mostgorgeous bride I could ever imagine, and now she’s my wife. I am one lucky son of a bitch.
Our reception is casual, with food prepared by our club, and our cake is cupcakes that Jane made. We aren’t having a honeymoon really, just going away for the night. Next school break, we’re going to take a family vacation together instead. I look over to the kids and see Bently and Branson taking turns twirling Bailey around to the music, which, of course, is an ABBA song.
It’s nearing the end of the song, and I see Logan give me a signal. I squeeze Kimbra’s hand, and she turns toward me right as the current song playing ends. “What would you say to a dance with your husband?” She gives me that beautiful smile that she gives only to me. “I would say absolutely and lead the way.” We both stand up and go toward the makeshift dance floor. The chords of the song I picked start playing. I take a hold of my world in my hands, spin her around, and then pull her in close, our foreheads touching. I sing along with the words that mean the most to me. “...I’m so in love with you, honey…” I knew the moment Logan played a few options thatDanny’s Songwas just right. It mentioning a family where there wasn’t one is exactly what Kimbra loving me has brought me.
Who knew something as simple as taking my niece to her doctor’s appointment would bring me everything I was always too scared to dream of. Kimbra moves her head back and looks me in the eye. “Thank you for loving my imperfect self soperfectly. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my days as your wife.” She leans in and gives me a kiss. Cheers are heard all around us, and I know that this family, blood or not, is what life is all about.
EPILOGUE ONE
One week later
Him
Time to make a move. I’m tired of our family waiting for the past to affect our presentagain. This shit needs to end now. I’m thinking it’s time I take control and take care of shit. Time to make a plan.
EPILOGUE TWO
