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I wrap my arms around Edith and hug her. As much as I love knowing she views me as a sister, I again feel the sting of guilt over how Anouk was left behind. I wish I could call her or bring her here.
Except I don’t know if she even wants to leave our family or the church long term. She always seemed torn between what was expected and her own dreams. In the end, she usually chose to bow to our parents’ will.
But maybe she just needs someone to give her a little push like I did with Edith. I’m sure Ike’s sister has thought about being a single mom. She isn’t dumb, and her cousin Rie had her daughters out of wedlock. That’s not a shameful thing for the homestead people.
Yet, Edith needed someone outside her usual circle to give her permission to seriously consider the idea.
For the rest of the evening, Edith’s in a great mood. Ike also seems happier. He wants me to have friends and for his sister to approve of us.
On my third day on the homestead, I already feel part of this new family. The harder part will be letting go of my guilt over leaving behind one specific member of my old family.
IKE, AKA SHARING A BLOODLINE WITH THE LAW
Trying to settle intoa normal routine with Oana, I join King Peepaw at Rock Belt Auto. With only one car to work on, we finish up early before hiding inside the air-conditioned office.
“There are rumors,” Jared tells me while we enjoy iced tea on the hot day. “About the Blood-Red Suns and Duke McGraw.”
“Is he dying or something?”
“No, but he’s got the future on his mind. Mainly who will take over his club when he wants to step down.”
“Isn’t he like in his early fifties?”
“Yes, but shit moves fast in life. One day, he’s celebrating his fiftieth birthday, has two young adult daughters, and runs a club full of roughnecks. The next thing he knows, he’s an old man with two unprotected daughters and a club full of roughnecks. Who’ll keep the club going when he can’t? Will his daughters be safe if some other club rolls in and takes the territory? Questions like that will keep a man up at night.”
“Why can’t he polish up one of his turd members and set that guy up for the leadership role?”
“Running a club takes a special kind of mettle most men don’t have. I never wanted to be that guy. You don’t, either. I don’t know the Blood-Red Suns guys well. But I never got the sense there’d be enough polish in the world to make any of them strong enough to hold their club and territory.”
“Their territory is small.”
“So is ours. We wouldn’t want anyone to come through here and roll over us. Imagine if we didn’t have all you boys sitting in the wings, waiting for your turn to shoulder the club’s heavy lifting. Could you tolerate another club riding around our town?”
“No, I get it. What I don’t see is how McGraw’s problems affect us.”
“Well, McGraw has a few choices. He can find himself an heir to take over his club. The other option is letting his club run its course without worrying about the future. He doesn’t seem reckless enough to leave his family in the hands of whoever might take over if he kicks the bucket. The third and most likely option is he finds a club to patch over the Blood-Red Suns. That’s what your uncle’s most worried about.”
