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Hobo glances at Kourtney who pats his shoulder and watches her niece. We find a calm quiet, replacing the earlier edgy one.
Admiring Meadow in my arms, I’m in disbelief that she’s real. This is one of those moments when I’m shocked by how I’m living my dreams rather than planning them.
I’m struck by that feeling a lot when we go home from the hospital. My house is beautiful. My kitchen is a chef’s dream. My property is a slice of McMurdo Valley heaven. I have a job I enjoy. Friends who value me and I never forget to call. And now a beautiful little girl. All thanks to a man who owns me completely.
That first night home, I rest in my airy family room and admire Hobo. Meadow sleeps in her seat, having been up for a feeding. Hobo sits on the floor next to her carrier. He rests his elbows on his knees and cradles his jaw in his hands. The man is fascinated by the tiny person we made together. I feel his heart opening up in a new way. He’s letting himself dream for more.
I join him on the ground, slide my arm through his, and rest my cheek on his shoulder. We exhale together, feeling on the same page about our present and hopeful about the future.
McMurdo Valley spoke to me years ago. I like to believe the Valley knew Hobo needed me, and I’d never be complete without him.
Moving here, I doubted I’d been right about the town’s power. After my parents died, I was left with only the worst parts of myself. Hobo’s presence brought out my better half.
Now, with our family complete, and a lifetime together ahead of us, I have no doubt McMurdo Valley really is heaven.
TOMMY’S EPILOGUE
As a kid, I never dreamedof more than being safe, well-fed, and clean. As a man, I only wanted to do right by my people and avoid going soft.
Never did I want a wife or kid. What did I know about family?
A big fancy house seemed like too much work.
Traveling in a death trap thousands of feet in the air? No fucking way!
I’ll never claim I didn’t live a good life before Xenia. Freedom felt like my true love. Most days, I existed on an island by myself. When I needed more, I had my club family. The Pigsty might not have always seemed like home, but I knew it would act as a sanctuary when I was feeling low.
I wasn’t lonely when I saw Xenia that day across the meadow. At least, I didn’t feel lonely.
However, once I saw Xenia, forgetting her became impossible. I’m often relieved I didn’t go soft years ago. A weaker man might not have dared to think a scarred biker could win the heart of a woman like Xenia Griggs.
Even after all these years, I find her fascinating. She sees the world in a completely different way than I do. Yet, somehow, she still gets me. Xenia will walk into a new situation and instantly figure out how I’ll react to it.
Meadow has a lot of her mom in her. She’s got a soft spot for strays and adores trying new foods. When she’s four, we set up a chicken coop. Meadow immediately names the birds and puts them on a feeding schedule. Like her mom, my girl prefers to bend the world to her schedule.
They both love to tend to our greenhouse and take great satisfaction in feeding people. Meadow joins her mother on trips to XYZ Coffee and Old Thelma’s BBQ. With help from the club, Xenia adds two more restaurants to her McMurdo Valley culinary dynasty. First, there’s Blond Boy Burgers with all of Yagger’s favorites. Second is the newly club owned, Juan’s Cantina, which now serves authentic Mexican food.
