“Brandy?” Clay questions. I place my hand over his heart to reassure him that I’m okay with it.
“It was either that, or she would be required to go to a visitation centre, but the judge agreed this would be better for the boys to see their mum in a home setting,” she adds. I feel him tense.
“Clay, it’s okay. I get to see my boys.” I beam up at him. He looks down at me and kisses my nose, and all tension dissipates.
“You’re going to have to provide regular drug and alcohol testing though,” she explains.
I nod frantically, because I know right now, I would do anything to see those boys again. There would be no hoop I wouldn’t jump through.
The door crashes open behind Misty, and I automatically flinch. Clay squeezes me into his side, his presence a constant reassurance that I need right now.
“You fucking wait, you bitch,” Liam hisses as he walks past us.
“That wouldn’t be a threat, would it, Mr. Alderson?” Misty snarks. He grumbles something under his breath as he makes his way towards the exit. Brandy is hot on his heels, trying to keep up with him. Misty waves sarcastically behind them, and I let out a nervous chuckle.
“You’re incredible, Misty. Thank you. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you,” I gleam. I haven’t felt this happy since the day I gave birth to the boys.
“Just make sure this goon doesn’t undo all the good work I’ve done,” she says, hitting Clay on the back of the head.
“Ouch,” he yells as he rubs the back of his head. “Really, did you need to?”
“Yes, because I could see your eyes burning into the back of him.”
“Well, the prick needs putting in the fucking ground,” he growls.
“Clay, remember where the hell we are,” she murmurs under her breath so that only we can hear her. He rolls his eyes. “I mean it, Clay.”
He salutes her sarcastically.
“Clay,” I mutter, biting my lip nervously, he looks down at me. “Do it for me? Your ol’ lady needs you to listen right now, I need you to be there for me, but don’t screw this only chance I’ve got to see my boys,” I plead.
His eyes soften as he brushes my hair away from my face. “Anything for you, but -”
“No buts,” I interject. “I never thought this was possible.”
“There is nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for you,” he smiles. “Now let’s go celebrate.”
He lifts me off my feet, carrying me out front to where his motorcycle is waiting. He places the helmet over my head and fixes it into place. I mouth ‘I love you’ and he pulls the helmet towards him by the front.
“I love you too,” he says, knocking the visor into place. None of this would have been possible without him, I’ve gone from having control over nothing to suddenly having everything falling into place, and it’s all thanks to the man that saw me through the despair and knew I was worth saving.
Clay
Bella has been on cloud nine ever since the courthouse, the relief she felt at the judge ruling in her favour was overwhelming. Today’s the day she finally gets to spend some time with them, she’s a bundle of nerves. We’ve already been out to get their favourite snacks, and some board games that she can play with them, the club house only has Meli, so there isn’t much around here for children to do. She walks out of the bathroom, smoothing her skirt with her hands. It’s the fourth time she’s changed even though there wasn’t anything wrong with the last three sets of outfits. I stand from the bed, grabbing hold of both of her hands.
“I don’t think your boys care what you’re wearing, beaut.” I press my lips against her forehead, her eyes flutter shut, and she exhales loudly.
“I just-.” She shakes her head. “I want to make a good impression. They’ve seen me broken from their dad, I want them to know their mum’s happy.”
I lift her chin with the crook of my finger, her eyes lock with my own.
“Do you trust me?” I ask, and she nods. “Then know that they are just going to be happy to see their mum again.” Her phonebuzzes across the top of the drawers. She grabs it, placing it in her pocket.
“Well, here goes nothing,” she murmurs.
We take the stairs down to the bar where Brandy is standing, her attire the polar opposite to what we are used to seeing her wearing in the clubhouse. She actually looks presentable, like she might actually pull off being a mother. Noah has hold of her hand and Mason stands beside her, his head lowered to the floor as he kicks something imaginary.
“Mummy,” Noah squeals, running towards his mum, arms wide open. Bella lifts him in the air wrapping her arms tightly around him. “I’ve missed you so much, Mummy.” Her eyes water, and she leans into his ear.
