“Pitiful, isn’t he?”
He laughs. “Not even sure what the fuck he is. He sure isn’t a man.” He bends down and practically lifts him off the ground. I see the name Smiley on his cut.
I know he’s one of Maverick’s close friends. “Want to get together and let our ladies meet?” he asks Maverick, who looks at me.
“I’d love that.”
Smiley smiles at me and drags the doctor out of the room. “What’s your number, honey?” I take out my new phone since the other is long gone.
I need to get with my girls tomorrow and catch them up on everything that has happened. It’s a been a whirlwind.
Once I have her number, I text her so she has mine. “Nice to meet you, honey. I do hope to hear from you.”
She smiles and walks out of the room, leaving me and Maverick alone. “Ready to go home?”
My mind gets stuck on the word “home,” but that is what it is to me, home.
“Yeah I am. We have a special little boy to take shopping and I was googling. I found a salon that offers lessons with helping to do hair for Ronny. I need the help.”
Maverick helps me off the bed. “I need to learn too. I’m clueless about hair shit in general.”
My heart does a little dance at his offer to learn too. That immediately lets you know what kind of man he is. He’s the best of the best.
10
Bell
Ronny’s waiting for us at Lane’s front door. He saw us and ran outside to greet us.
Maverick gets out and helps him in the back seat. “Hi sweetheart, you have fun?”
He nods enthusiastically. “It’s so cool that we are neighbors. She said we can play all of the time!”
Maverick gets in, grinning at the excitement in his voice. “She had a dirt bike, it was so cool! She offered to let me ride it, but I didn’t want to in case I would get in trouble.”
Maverick looks at me then at Ronny through the mirror. “If you want to learn, I can teach you.”
Ronny gapes at Maverick. “Will you? I don’t have a bike.”
“We can borrow one from Lane until you make sure you actually like it, then we can go from there, bud.”
Ronny looks like he’s on cloud nine.
“You’re the best ever.”
Now Maverick looks like he’s on cloud nine. I squeeze his hand, knowing how much Ronny’s words affected him.
First stop is the salon so we know what kind of products and tools to get for Ronny. YouTube just left me more confused.
Maverick holds my hand and Ronny’s and we walk inside of the salon. We’re greeted by a beautiful lady at the front. She looks at us then at Ronny, her smile growing wider.
“Need help?” she asks.
“Please.”
She laughs and motions for us to follow her. She has Ronny sit in a chair. She starts pulling out products, picks, combs and brushes.
She breaks it down from the basics, his curl pattern and what is needed for it, how to style his hair, when to wash it, how often, what products to use from start to finish.
I want to hug her. His hair is beautiful and his mother never did anything to care for it.
“Thank you so, so much,” I thank her.
She beams at me. “It made me so happy to see you come through the doors. His hair is his crown. You saw it as important and it is, to him, Look how his confidence changed.”
She’s correct. I saw a change in him the second he saw his hair. “Are you adopting him?”
Maverick takes my hand. “Yes we are.”
She smiles. “Good, I know he’s in great hands. Never hesitate to come back if you need any help.”
We leave the shop feeling great. Ronny looks so cute. Right next door is the bookstore and Ronny practically sprints inside.
I try not to laugh at his excitement. He runs from aisle to aisle checking everything out, then he spots the Percy Jackson series he loves.
“Look, here they are!” he whisper-yells to me, pulling us straight to them. He sits down on the ground, looking through them.
“Which ones do you want to bring home?” Maverick asks, bending down next to him.
“Am I really staying with you guys forever?” Ronny asks, his face showing his vulnerability.
“Buddy, once we’re home later we’re signing the papers to make it official. You’re stuck with us.”
Ronny looks down at the books, smiling. “I like staying with you guys.”
“We love having you, sweetheart.”
Yesterday was hell, but I am so thankful that we have Ronny with us and that he can have a chance at a great life.
“I still want to visit the clubhouses,” I tell Maverick, hinting.
He chuckles. “Someone right now is not having a good time between the Grim Sinners’ and the Devil Souls’ ole ladies. Take your time, darlin’.” He winks.
I try not to think of her. I try not to think of the most horrific thing someone can do.
She hurt her child.
She whipped him, left his body scarred, she sold him, she mentally abused him, but most of all, she didn’t love him as a mother should.
I’ve made mistakes but I would rather die than see someone abuse my girls. I did the hardest thing I’ve ever done, the most selfless thing. I gave them away and hoped to God they would have a better life.
I carry that guilt. That’s mine to bear.
But now? I can start new. I can do it over again with Ronny. He may not see me as a mom or anything like that, but I want to take care of him.
Both of us are getting fresh starts.
Maverick kisses my temple. “Is your mouth okay? Do you want some Tylenol?” he asks
I shake my head. “I’m good.”
“I’m ready. Can I have these three?” Ronny asks both of us.
Maverick chuckles. “Yes you can, buddy. You did such a great job taking care of Bell today.”
Ronny beams, scooting closer to me, taking my hand and holding the books with the other. “Ready to go?”
We spent the whole day shopping. Ronny literally had nothing and Maverick wanted to make sure he had everything he needed.
Now we’re home, piled up on the couch and watching a movie. Ronny is sitting stiffly beside Maverick with a blanket thrown over his lap, trying to get comfortable.
I lean over and snuggle up to Maverick’s side. He runs his hand down my arm to my hip
“Ronny, have you thought about school?” I yawn, looking over at him.
“I love school. I haven’t been since I lived at the center with Mom.” His voice trails off when he says “mom.”
His little face falls. I stand up and sit on the other side of him. “Hey, what’s the matter?”
I take his little hand in mine. He looks up at me, his beautiful blue eyes filled with tears, his little freckles scattered across his nose.
“Why didn’t my mommy love me?” he asks in the most heartbreaking voice I’ve ever heard.
I look at Maverick pleadingly, so hurt.
“Oh honey, I’m so sorry your mom hurt you like this. They are some people in this world, who are just not good people.”
His bottom lip trembles, Maverick scoots closer to him. “Come here, buddy.” Maverick picks him up, hugging him against his chest as he cries.