Oh my lord. “Maverick, I am not going to fight her.”
He laughs. “Darlin’, I’m going just to bash your motherfucking piece of shit dad’s face, period.”
I shrug. “I honestly don’t care what happens to them. I never wished bad things to happen to them until I saw this precious baby.”
I study Anna’s beautiful face. She is so beautiful and her heart is so pure, but she has demons that haunt her. Those are from my parents. They caused that.
“They did it to you, baby. I can’t forget that fact either. I am fucking enraged.”
“Watch your language,” some older lady calls from behind us.
I turn around and stare at the lady, confused. We’re whispering because Anna is literally asleep beside me.
She looks down at us like we’re scum. “You both are disgusting.”
Maverick points his finger at her. “Mind your own business,” he growls. I can tell he is pissed the fuck off and so am I.
She gasps in shock, holding her chest like she’s having a heart attack. “Is that how you’re teaching your children?”
That’s what pisses me off. I lift Anna, settling her in Maverick’s arms, and I stomp up the bleachers to her.
I sit in front of her, staring. “What is hurting so bad inside of you that you have to be ugly to others?” I ask.
I can tell she is shocked. One part of me wants to tear her a new one, but I also know that everyone has hurts.
She looks down at the floor. “My husband is cheating on me. I am just so angry at the world.”
I sigh in sympathy. “I am sorry that is happening to you, but did that make you feel better, being mean to us?”
Her face reddens, showing her shame. She shakes her head no. I smile, nodding. “I didn’t think so. Take this as a lesson to be nice to others because everyone hurts. But next time someone might not be lenient with the Karen attitude. I could have beaten your ass, but I decided to be nice today but next time I won’t be.” I wink and leave her speechless.
Maverick, on the other hand, is half lying down, cracking up with Ronny. By his side Anna is wide awake too,
“You are the nicest badass I have ever seen, darlin’,” Maverick says through his chuckles, tugging me to him and kissing me.
My face burns. “I just can’t be mean. I want to be so bad sometimes.” I stomp my foot slightly and Maverick laughs so loud it booms around the rink.
“Mom, you are too nice to be mean.” Ronny hugs me around my middle. I bend over and hug him back.
I know I will do anything and everything to protect my kids, no matter what.
“I love you, my boy.” I squeeze him a little tighter. One day he is going to get old enough and the hugs will end.
“I love you, Momma.”
God, my heart
Anna takes her spot on the other side, hugging me and Ronny. “Family hug.” Maverick takes his cue and we are all huddled together.
“You guys, I really am starving.” Ronny breaks the moment, his voice muffled from being squeezed. I laugh and let him go. “Come on, let’s get our boy fed.”
Bell
The Next Morning
We have been on the plane for an hour. I’ve been staring at the ultrasound pictures of my baby.
I am ten weeks pregnant.
I’m over the moon. Hearing their heartbeat for the first time was life-changing. The kids were there with me and Maverick. It was a moment I will never forget.
We told the kids once we got home from Ronny’s practice. They were excited. Anna thinks the baby is hers to raise. She was on my phone looking at baby stuff all evening.
Ronny is just wanting to teach him or her how to play hockey. He has tried for days to talk Anna into learning with him, but she just wants to be a princess.
Anna and Tiana are playing dolls in the floor of the plane—both are the same age.
Imagine my shock when we pulled up to the airport and a private jet was waiting for us. I knew the club had money but never did I expect this.
Zach is watching a movie with Ronny. I’m glad they have someone to have fun with during this.
I don’t want Anna to know we’re in Kentucky to see our parents. After that we’re going to fly to Disney World for a vacation.
Butcher is quiet. He doesn’t really speak, and if he does it’s to Shaylin, who looks a lot like her dad Smiley. He’s here with us, along with Adeline.
Anna crawls over to us, giving us huge puppy eyes, and taps Maverick on the knee. “What’s the matter?” he asks.
“Can I have a puppy?” she asks in the sweetest little voice ever.
She’s good, I’ll give her that. “If you could have—and that’s if—what kind would you want?”
“A poodle!” she says so excitedly. “They are so, so cute!” she gushes, and starts listing facts about poodles and why they’re so great.
Maverick sits and listens to her ramble on and on about how she’ll take care of it, love it.
The kids are not in school. We decided to homeschool for the rest of the school year and we will be sending them to school with the rest of the MC kids.
The second we drive down the familiar road, the nerves start to kick in. I have not seen my parents since I was fourteen years old and I had to walk down the aisle.
I remember begging my mother in the bathroom where I was getting ready to take me home with her, but she told me it was my duty as a woman to marry or I would shame them.
Little did I know that he paid for me.
“There’s the trailer.” I lean forward, pointing. There’s a bunch of girls I knew as kids outside working in the garden.
They had the same fate as me. I wonder if their lives were better. I think I would like to speak to them and maybe see if I can help them in any way.
Butcher parks the SUV in front. I look at the house and it looks the same but more run-down.
“We don't have to do this,” Maverick says, holding my hand tighter.
I lick my lips, breathing in and out, trying to calm my nerves as best as I can. I’m terrified to see them, but I’m also so angry for the way they treated Anna.
“Just stay with me?”
His face softens. “I would never leave you, baby, ever.” He takes my hand and steps out of the SUV with me behind him.
Shaylin takes my other side. Smiley stayed back with Adeline to help the kids.
The door swings open before we can even step on the porch. My father’s face comes into view as he steps out.
He looks older. Time has not treated him well.
I can tell he’s shocked. His eyes go from Maverick to Butcher before settling on me.
“Isabella?” he questions.
“It’s me,” I confirm, my body shaking at seeing him after so long and so many memories coming to the surface, not good ones.
I close my eyes as the images of him beating me for spilling my food rush through my head. I wasn’t allowed to eat for a couple of days after that in punishment.
I had no peace. I had to walk on eggshells. God forbid I would get sick; it was left up to me and if I made a mess, I was in deep trouble.
No one cared for me.
I’m not even sure how I’m even alive.
Maverick steps in front of me, walking up the porch and pushing me farther inside. Shaylin takes my hand, holding it tightly as we follow Maverick inside.