Page 24 of Truck

I take a seat while looking from Jill back to Grady. “So, Grady. Are you good with me collecting you from school and bringing you here?” Yeah, I’m blunt about it. No point beating around the bush.

“Yeah. I’m good with that. Jill needs me to do this, so she doesn’t get fired from her job. Momma is not well, and I know it’s bad now that she’s in the rest home,” Grady is speaking older than his years.

It’s often what happens when life throws shit at us. It’s how we deal with it, and how we survive from that point. It reminds me that I have to move on too, because life doesn’t stand still no matter what happens to us.

“Well, I will pick you up and we can either come directly to the diner or do something else before we come here. I’m happy either way.” I wink at Grady, then lean in as though I’m being sneaky. “We could go to that ice cream place I’ve seen, but never had the nerve to go to on my own.”

Grady studies my face to see how serious I am, and he must see what he’s looking for because he flicks his eyes at Jill, then leans toward me. “Yeah, we could. It would be a sneaky thing to do.”

We spend another half an hour before I have to start my shift, and Jill hugs me with a quiet, “Thank you,” in my ear. I pat her shoulder, wink at Grady, and tell them both to get gone.

“That’s a nice thing you are doing for them, Rory,” Shelby states as I step behind the serving counter.

“I am glad to help. Jill is in a place she can’t win. Do you think her momma is going to be okay?” I ask without thinking.

Patting my shoulder, Shelby replies, “No, she’s not going to be okay. She’s dying, and everyone is aware it’s only a matter of time. She has an inoperable brain tumor which has gradually…you know we are not going to talk about this. We know she doesn’t have years, but we don’t know how long. Jill is doing her best, and I allow her to be late, although I get on to her about it. I would never, however, fire her because of it. But your solution is excellent, and you are a good person for doing what you are going to do for Jill and Grady.”

“It’s not totally unselfish, Shelby. I live alone. I work, go home, and hardly ever speak to anyone before I come back to work again. It’ll be nice to have someone to think about, other than myself.”

Shelby surprises me when steps closer and hugs me. Right before the diner door opens and a group of bikers walk inside.

Chapter 13

TRUCK

I’ve left the gas station with Xero and the others for the moment because I have to speak to Coin regarding the landscaping costs. I’m not sure how much he thinks would be viable to lie down for plants and shit!

Climbing out of my truck, yeah, I purchased one because I’m sick of standing in line to use the club's vehicles. I picked this one up at a local car dealership, and they’d only had it a week. It was a good purchase with not too many miles on the clock.

There is something going on as the prospects, even Jethro who is normally at the tattoo studio at this time are there. Cilla is speaking to them, and Pres, Finger and Rides are standing listening. I am too curious to step away, so I saunter over and listen.

Cilla is speaking calmly and directly. “I’ve watched all of you work hard for the club. You all do whatever you are told without a single complaint. Jethro, you have stepped up and are now learning and working with Scribe, who is also a prospect but a working one as he manages the tattoo studio. I wanted you all to know that what you do is seen. With that being said, I’ve seen the bikes you ride, and honestly, they need to go to the bikes in the sky.” Cilla scrunches her nose up so hard she has frown lines between her eyes. “Tracker, Finger, and Rides have helped me achieve something I wanted to do. That someone needed money, and I did the…let’s call them spiritual nights at the diner to raise the funds. Yes, it was a fundraiser. To get enough money to get you all better bikes, and with the kindness of Tracker, Finger and Rides I’ve done that.”

I turn to look at a row of Harleys, yeah, older ones but in decent condition. They are not anything special, but by the look on the prospects' faces they are special to them.

I clap my hands in genuine applause. “I would have thrown a few dollars into a hat for the bikes, Cilla.”

“No need, Truck. Thanks to Rides, a dealership in bikes found me these six Harleys and did me a good deal on them too. I hope they’ll be better than the ones they are riding because honestly, they sound terrible, and I know nothing about bikes.” Cilla giggles when she sees Jet cringe at her comment. I can understand why, because we’ve all seen the black smoke pouring out of his exhaust at times.

“Thank you so much, Cilla.” “Thank you.” “Oh my God, thank you.” Is the chorus of comments from the prospects, all looking emotional.

“If any of you fuckin’ cry like babies, you’ll be out the door and leaving your cuts behind,” Tracker snarls in his President tone. I smirk when I see two of them swallowing and controlling their expressions.

Cilla however, throws out her hand and the back of it hits Pres in the middle of his chest. We all look at Cilla in shock, then at Tracker for his reaction. What we don’t expect is for him to grab her around the neck and give her a noogie. Giggles burst out of Cilla, and she grabs ahold of Tracker’s sides and pinches him. It’s turning into an all-out wrestling match, and I’m not getting involved. I make my way into the clubhouse, chuckling at the carry-on I’m leaving behind.

Walking into Coin's office, I throw myself into a chair. “How much can I spend on the frontage of the gas station?” I quickly ask without giving him a greeting.

“Well, hello, Truck. It’s lovely to see you. Are you having a nice day?” Coins sarcastically responds, to which I ignore, and wait for his proper reply. “Okay, you can spend what you like within reason. Don’t spend on ridiculous shit. I can allow ten grand, and after that you need to come back to me.”

Jumping out of the chair, I slap his shoulder as I pass him to reach the door. “Thanks, Coin.” I quickly step out of the office and make my way back outside to the truck.

Hearing my phone ping, I check out the message, and it’s Xero saying Rory is at the gas station checking out garden areas. I rush to the truck and quickly get on the road. I don’t want to miss seeing Rory, and I want to make sure the three shits know to stay away from her too.

Parking at the gas station, I quickly make my way over to Rory, Xero, and Mitchell. They are discussing the large border in front of them. I call it a border loosely because what it is, is a damn mess.

“Hi, Rory. So, what do you think?” I ask as I look at the overgrown area in front of us.

Rory shakes her head. “It is a mess that is for sure. Cut back and get rid of all the dead stuff. Mow the lawn area, and then we can see how large the border really is. At the moment, there is no telling. That needs to be done in all three areas in the front here. I’ll not look around the back of the property until we have this looking something like it should when completed. I’m happy to come and help if that is okay?”