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Most moms would ask about food, or cash, or motel reservations. Not Lilli Lunden.
“In the glove box, as always.”
“Backup?”
“Smith and Wesson, in my pack. And pepper spray, and the taser.”
“Brass knuckles?”
Gia laughed. “Yes, but you know, if somebody’s that close, taekwondo is better.”
“I know. I want you to have options. Just in case.”
“You raised a family in an outlaw world, Mom. I do not understand why you’re so freaked out about this.”
“I’m not freaked out. I’m appropriately worried. And you understand perfectly well; we’ve talked about it enough. You know it’s because we lived through that life, and I brought you into and through that life. I remember it, and I can’t fucking believe we started a family in the middle of it all.” She eased up a little and brushed hair back from Gia’s face. “But I trust you, and I admire you. You are strong and powerful. You’re a warrior. I know you’ll be okay. I just want you to not have to be a warrior for even one minute of this trip.”
“I will be safe, Mamma.”
“And you’ll check in at least once every day, right?”
“Every day. I promise. I promised Bo, too.” And that made it unbreakable.
“Okay. I love you, cara.”
“I love you. With my whole heart.”
Mom pulled her in close, and they stood there in each other’s arms. Gia felt her mother’s love for her in every point of contact between them, in the steady, immovable strength of her mother’s body.
When they stepped apart, Bo was near, holding Dottie.
Gia scritched under a floppy ear and got a lick for a thanks. “Hey, brother.”
“Hi, sister. I’m going to take excellent care of Dottie. With Otto’s help. We’re going to sleep in your house, like we talked about, and I’ve got the box of Zaxx’s unwashed shirts so I can put a fresh one in her bed once a week and she’ll remember his scent. Otto and I are going to make sure she remembers you both but doesn’t miss you so much she’s sad.”
“Thank you, Bo. That is a huge, huge help.”
“I’m going to miss you,” he said, looking down at the ground between their feet. “I’ll try not to be sad about it, though.”
She wished he would enjoy a hug right now, but he was sad, and he was especially resistant to touch when he felt painful emotions. He’d accept one, she knew, if she needed to give him one, but it would hurt him.
“I’m gonna miss you, too,” she told him, petting Dottie since she couldn’t hug her brother. “I’ll try not to be sad, too. But if you’re sad, you can call. Anytime. And I’ll call you, too.”
“But not a video call. I don’t like those.”
She smiled. “Not a video call. And we’ll text all the time, like always. Right?”
“Right. Like always. I’m going to take Dottie back to Zaxx so they can have one more time together.”
He walked away without waiting for her to respond. Gia watched him walk to Zaxx, who’d been talking with her father, their heads bowed in quiet seriousness. Probably a discussion about how Zaxx was going to keep her safe from the scary scary bikers.
Who would’ve thunk her own biker parents would have turned into pearl-clutching grannies at the prospect of her hanging around with ... bikers.
As Bo approached, Zaxx turned to him and gathered Dottie into his arms. He tucked his face under her chin and held on. Gia’s heart ached for the way he was going to miss that pup. They’d considered bringing her along, but she’d be much happier here at home.
Dad was coming to Gia. He came straight to her without a word and pulled her into his arms.
They’d said all they needed to say upstairs. Now they simply held each other.
