Page 13 of Bayou Knights

“I can have my office in Portland send it,” he says, getting why I said that.

“Thank you,” I shake his hand.

“Once I have all the paperwork you have, I can draw up the papers.You might have to go to court, but we can cross that bridge when it comes,” he says before leaving.

“He was nice,” Gage says, I totally forgot he was here.

“Gage, I’m so sorry,” I tell him.

“Dad is a dick, nothing to be sorry for,” he says before grabbing a plate. I’ll let that one go.

“Hey,” I hear his raspy, rumbly voice and turn to see Zion. He stayed?

“Hi,” I wring my hands nervously.

“What else you got today?” he asks.

“Go to the school,” I admit. I like it here so far, and Gage can’t afford to miss any more school.

“I can take you both over there,” he says.

“Really? Why?”

“I like spending time with you,” he says, and it makes my heart lurch.He makes me really feel beautiful.

“Okay.”

“After that, can I take you to dinner?”

“Ummm,” I stutter.

“She’ll go,” Gage yells across the yard and I glare at my son.

“Yes, I’ll go,” I agree.

“Wear jeans,” he says before grabbing his own plate.

“Okay?” I just follow suit. We eat quickly and then head to the school.It was super easy to get Gage’s transcripts transferred with a promise that the old school doesn’t say where Gage is.If they do, I can sue. I didn’t tell them that. Zion made it clear that this was sworn to secrecy.Same for Black Bridge High School. Zion had the secretary call one of the kids from the club to the front office.

“Noah, this is Plum, Gage’s mother,” Zion introduces us.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Noah says respectfully.

“Nice to meet you too.Gage, have fun,” I call as the boys run off to whatever class Gage has.

“He will be fine,” Zion engulfs me in a hug.

“I took him away from all his friends, everything he knew, and he never once complained,” I sniff.

“He loves his mom,” Zion says, escorting me out and back into his truck.

“Thank you. Now I have to figure out my car and a place to live,” I admit. This place is hidden from the world. If Sawyer did come looking for me, he would never step foot here.Might as well stay.

“You can stay at the bed and breakfast until you figure it out. Your car will be done in a couple of days.”

“I don’t know what I expected when I found out that Gator was a biker, but you guys are really great. Thank you.”

“No problem.We have a few hours, I’d like to take you somewhere,” he says as he turns his truck down the only other road in town. We pull up to a house on the swamps and I look at him.