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I heard about this from the guys when I arrived. I was preparing myself for a revelation, a significant life-altering, profound conversation. He took me out for a ride, two men and their bikes on the open road. We ended up outside town at a roadside diner. It was nothing to look at, but as soon as we walked in, an older woman greeted Guard like her long-lost son. Her nametag said Vera, but Guard called her Nancy. I quirked my brow, questioning this, but he ignored me and took a seat in the closest booth.
We each ordered a burger and fries, and then I sat back and waited for Guard to start whatever it was that he was going to say. For a long time, all he did was sit back and stare at me.
“What happens next?” I asked, extending my arms out. I couldn’t stand the silence between us any longer.
“We eat,” he replied.
“That’s it?”
He slowly perused the diner, his gaze finally making its way back to me. “What do you see?” he asks.
“Huh?”
He repeated, “What do you see?”
I scanned the room. “Booths, people eating, food. What am I supposed to see?”
“You see what you see. It’s not what you see, it’s how you see it.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Thunder, you’re a wise man. You grew up way faster than you needed to, and you’ve lived. All the advice I would give a younger brother doesn’t apply. Instead, I’m going to tell you what you already know in the hope that this makes an impact.” Guard paused for effect before going on to say, “You’re trying to lose yourself in the women you fuck. You’ve already figured out that it’s fleeting gratification, a way for you to exhaust yourself so you can sleep. You dream about her. You think about her and your soul yearns for her. Do yourself a solid, go find her.”
I knew he was talking about Rosie. The young woman who’s haunted my dreams from the day I left after my rant on her family’s doorstep. “Not meant to be,” I responded.
“You can’t escape destiny, brother. She’ll find you.”
That was it. The end of our talk. We ate. We left.
And here Guard stands, giving me that “I told you so” grin.
* * *
“Hanna, everything you make is so delicious,” Izzy says before she takes another bite of her sandwich. It’s got arugula, prosciutto, and provolone, with a vinaigrette dressing on a freshly made ciabatta bun.
“Baby, that sandwich isn’t going anywhere,” Saint chimes in with a laugh. “And you know you never finish it all.”
I’d be surprised if Izzy could. That sandwich is bigger than her face. Izzy eyes her man suspiciously. “Watch me.”
Rosie looks on, giggling, as Saint and Izzy banter. I just sit back in my chair and enjoy the calm of the day. Eventually, Izzy and Rosie move on to discussing the Lady Pride and their next get-together. This is when the men get anxious, because we never know the kind of trouble they’re going to get into.
“We’re not that bad,” Izzy says when Saint rolls his eyes at the prospect of the women going dancing.
“Baby, when you women go out, we have to call in the reserves to make sure you all get home safe. Especially you, my delicious drunk,” he teases, nuzzling into her neck. Izzy’s cheeks go bright red.
“Jesus, Saint, take your woman home.” This comes from Risk, who enters through the back door that leads to Hanna and Risk’s home. He comes in holding his son Romeo’s hand. The backpack Romeo has strapped to him is bigger than he is, yet he’s beaming with joy at seeing his uncles sitting at the table.
“Uncle Saint, Uncle T,” Romeo exclaims, dropping his backpack on the floor and releasing his dad, then catapulting into Saint’s waiting arms.
“If it isn’t my little buddy. How was school today?” Saint asks.
“It was awesome. We played baseball, and I caught the ball three times.” Romeo smiles happily.
“Do you have any hugs left for your Uncle T?” I kid, and as soon as I do, he slides off Saint’s lap and runs over to me.
He wraps his arms around my neck and whispers in my ear, “Rose is really pretty. Are you going to marry her?” Romeo thinks he’s being quiet, but Rosie hears him and lowers her eyes and stares down at her plate.
“That’s my plan. Think you can talk me up? Make me look good?” Romeo’s laugh makes his belly jiggle.
