I grunt, “Yes,” then admit, “It’ll be light duty. I lied and said I had a bike accident.”
His frown deepens, but he doesn’t press.
“I’ve bought your mother an apartment twenty minutes from here,” he says, shocking the shit outta me, and I raise a brow at his sudden change of heart.
He smiles sadly and admits, “She lied son, I wanted to believe her because I loved her with everything in me. I wanted to believe her because I didn’t want to see how cruel she was. Trying to kill my own son as a punishment for something I didn’t even do… I’m so fucking sorry I tried to get you to have a relationship with her. I’m sorry I didn’t see the pain I caused by bringing her home after she did what she did, believing she was ill when really, she was just plain nasty.”
I clear my throat as I look towards the common room through the open door, my eyes landing on my wife and daughter smiling and laughing.
I could never imagine making them feel unsafe in their own home.
“I don’t know if I can ever forgive you, Dad,” I admit.
“I know,” he replies, “I’m extremely grateful that you’re allowing me access to my grandchild, but I hope and pray one day you will forgive me. You’ll see I’ll never allow what your mom did to you to happen to my grandbabies. I’ll never allow her near them or you again if that is what you want.”
I swallow at his sincerity, my mind not really wanting to understand it before I mumble, “Baby steps,” not knowing what else to say, denying him feeling too fucking wrong, and he nods with gratitude.
“I can take baby steps,” he says, and I pat his shoulder before walking past him and into the loud common room, my only focus, my wife, laughing at our daughter's antics.
Time to face the fucking music.
“Hi, Daddy!” Willow giggles, and I grin her way to see Bones has her upside down by the foot, and I blow a kiss towards her without stopping my stride to my wife, who eyes me cautiously, the anger still in her pretty green eyes.
Smiling softly at her, I slowly kneel before her, causing her to quickly put her hands under my armpits, just as Cage stops next to me, helping me down.
“Miles!” she snaps, but I ignore her tone and take a deep breath to control the slight pain in my chest before giving my wife my whole attention.
“You still mad at me?” I ask as I cup her cheek, and she shakes her head before she sighs.
“No, not really. I just wish you hadn’t taken the choice away from me about having another baby,” she whispers, and her mom gasps, “You’re pregnant?” causing everyone to freeze.
We ignore her, and my girl unhelpfully reminds me, “Willow's existence was taken away from me, my wedding was taken from me, my home… Deciding to stay married to you was the only thing I’ve decided for myself, but even then, that is because you refused to give up the fight for us, and even my job. None of itwas my choice. I have allowed everyone in this room, including my own husband, to dictate my life. The least you could have done was speak to me about wanting another baby.”
And the award for the biggest jackass goes to…
“I know I should say sorry,” I begin, “I know I should allow you to make these decisions but, baby, school, becoming a nurse, you were dead set on not doing it. You were dead set on not relying on me or the club and you’d given up so much already because choices were taken away from you. I needed to help you live your dream and I can’t say I’m sorry about this baby either, because it is a part of you and me. Just like our daughter, who I won’t apologize over because despite how she was conceived, she’s the light of our life, just like this baby will be. I want a family with you, Clark, and I won’t wait years because you’re struggling with connecting with the club again or seeing if we’ll make it. Buttercup, I’m never letting you go.” I place my forehead against her. “The one thing I will apologize for, though, is the dream wedding you never got to have. I shouldn’t have taken that away from you, and I will forever regret not allowing you to walk down the aisle.”
“I love you,” she chokes, and I smile and reply, “I love you too.”
“Maybe I can cancel my shift for tomorrow, we could spend the day together and really talk about all this so there isn’t any resentment on my end?” she suggests, and I try not to wince as I side-eye Cage, who slowly walks backward.
Shit.
“Well, um, I uh, I knew you hadn’t really paid attention… but, I’m on shift tomorrow,” and she tenses as I slowly move backward from her, valuing my life.
Her face goes red as her eyes narrow, and I wince again.
Fuck, here it comes.
“What do you mean you’re on shift tomorrow!” Clark shouts, and a collective of groans echoes around me, and I’m pretty sureI hear a club bunny say, “Why on earth would Lavender mess with her?” I can’t help it, even knowing it’ll piss her off more, I smile because fuck, I am happy.
“This isn’t a smiling matter, Miles! You were shot!” she snaps, and I hum as I gently kiss her lips, Crash’s, “Fuck he’s either stupid or brave,” hitting my ears, but I ignore him, and I whisper, “I fucking love you, buttercup.” And she narrows her eyes further, anger radiating from her, but I just ignore it because I really do fucking love her.
Even with her anger towards me, I wouldn’t fucking have this life any other way, because one thing is for sure, life with Clark will never be boring.
Chapter 27
Clark – A Week Later
