Ten minutes later, Bethy and I are sitting on her bed, our backs to the headboard and holding hands. Reassuring each other that we are safe and doing okay.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with Art, Victoria. I just know I can’t keep helping him. This is the last straw. The straw that broke the camel’s back. Him throwing you under the bus finished it for me.”
I squeeze Bethy’s hand. “It’s not good, and you have done as much as you can over the years to make sure he got himself on a good path. You even got him that job at the printing place. That was a good job, and they liked him. He would have done well if he’d not started gambling. Not turning up for work and being sarcastic with the boss isn’t the way to keep the job.” I look at Bethy and see she is upset at what has happened. “Come on Bethy, let’s talk about my mess. Well, first, I’ve checked my bank accounts. I’ve opened a new account and have moved money to it. I’m going to move more and then close the accounts one at a time, closing any footprint as I go along. As yet, everything is fine and nobody has touched them, so I’m not worried. Second, it seems I have myself a boyfriend…”
Bethy laughs, “A boyfriend, gee you didn’t take long to hook up, did you?”
“It seemed to happen when I was out for the count a few days after rescuing Corey from the river. Now, it appears I am Chaos’ woman, but he has said we’d get to know each other.” I’m looking at Bethy as though I’m talking about someone else I’m sure, because she has a weird smirk on her face.
“I have heard that Chaos is a great person. He is probably someone that would suit you, because he’s got a whacky streak, and you and I know that you have one when you let it loose.”
“Oh, wow…” I turn and look at her shocked. “Me! Whacky streak? I think you must mean someone else…” Before I can saymore, Bethy has wrangled me off the bed, banging my elbow on the floor. Now funny bones are not good to hit because it is painful and leaves a nasty tingly sensation.
“You know you have that streak of naughtiness, so don’t pretend you don’t. From what I’ve heard from Wings and others today, Chaos is a fun guy and you’ll suit each other. They said he’s been a bit of a player, but as soon as he saw you that was it. He was all in and he’s making sure or trying to make sure everything is right for all of you. That, of course, includes Corey who isn’t even related to Chaos, but he’s saved him from what could have been a terrible future.” Bethy is sitting on top of me and she is grinning down at me, knowing she always wins our scuffles. “Come on, Vicky, give it a chance.”
“I’m not sure what to do, but I’m going to talk to him and see if he’ll go on a few dates, spend more time together.” Climbing back onto the bed once Bethy lets me up, I ask what she is going to do now.
“I have the money that we put away for my escape, and I’m thinking once this has settled down I may put a payment down on a place, or I could rent something. I don’t want to go back there. I want to stay here where you are. Maybe get a job where I can use my skills.”
“The club has a lot of businesses. Maybe you could find a job with one of them?” I suggest and jump to my feet when someone knocks on the door.
Opening the door, Corey is standing outside with a huge smile on his face. “Hi, Aunty Victoria, my dad says can you come downstairs now ‘cause it’s time to go home.”
Turning, I give Bethy a shrug and I’m thinking, why is he talking about his dad because I thought he was out of the frame now? “Are you coming down, Bethy?”
“No, I’m going to have a shower.”
Corey pushes forward and sticks his head around the door, giving a nice, sweet smile at Bethy. “Hi, I’m Corey. This is my aunt Victoria. Are you her best friend?”
“I am, Corey…”
Now, before Bethy can say more, Corey continues, “Oh well, that makes you my aunty as well.” Laughing to himself with such delight both Bethy and I just stare at him. “I’ll see you later Aunty Bethy.”
Corey grabs my hand and pulls me out of the bedroom. I have just enough time to wave before we are down the hallway and at the stairs. Turning my head, I see Bethy leaning on the bedroom doorframe with a shit-eating grin on her face.
Downstairs, Chaos is waiting and gives both Corey and me a smile before nodding to follow him outside. We are in the truck and home before I know it.
Taking a seat at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee, I listen to Chaos speaking to me, along with Corey. “I’m placing adoption papers for Corey. I’ve inside help so it won’t take long.”
“Oh, that’s why you said your dad was waiting! You meant Chaos.”
“Yeah, he’s my dad now. I’m Corey Styles, and you are gonna be my mom.”
My eyes nearly pop out of my head, and I swing around to look at Chaos who is looking at Corey and shaking his head. But it’s not an aggressive head shake, it’s a frustrated one. “I told you we have to ask her, you know, when the time is right.”
Corey looks at me with a frown, “When is the time right? Don’t you want to be my mom?”
“Well, I’ve not had a chance to even give it a thought because this is the first I heard about it. Anyone would be happy to be your mom, Corey, because you are a great young man.” It’s the best I can think to say now I’m on the spot.
“Okay, but you could be my mom?”
Nodding because, honest to goodness I don’t want to hurt Corey. “I may, you never know,” I say it lightly and nod so I don’t discourage him.
“Come on, Corey. Go get a shower and change. Then we’ll go fetch something to eat.” We both watch Corey run upstairs, and then I turn to Chaos who continues speaking. “I reckon I’m all in, without us hardly knowing each other. You need to decide to give us a chance, Vicky, but Saturday night we’ll have our first official date. That will be the start of us being a couple. What do you say to that?”
I give it a moment before nodding slightly, “Okay, I can do that. How about we take Corey with us and make it a kind of family night? I know he’ll love that, and Chaos, he needs somenormality in his life. I’m happy being his aunt for the moment. We’ll see on the mom thing.”
“Okay, I’m good with that. A family night. But it’s our night once he’s in bed.” Chaos gives me a fiery look and my girly parts take notice. If he keeps looking at me like that, I could be in trouble. “I’ve looked at a house to purchase. If it goes through okay, I want you to look at it. See what needs to be decorated. It is good enough to move into, but maybe a little dated.”
“A house? You are not wasting time.”
“No, I am adopting Corey and I want him to have a good home. One where he is happy, confident and can grow into a man who can live by his own good morals.” Chaos taps his fingertips of one hand on the table, then continues. “He’s not had much of a life, and I want to give him the best I can. He’ll have family now he’s part of the club, and he’ll never have need for anything. He’ll know right from wrong, mind you.”
“Okay. I’ll look at the house with pleasure. You cannot keep staying here. It’s just not viable.” I look at Chaos and think I should give this a chance because he’s showing qualities I’ve not seen in a man in a long time.
If I ran would he miss me? Would he quickly look for an alternative? Maybe I should run, just to see how hard he’ll chase?
