Page 40 of Operation Annulment (Silent Phoenix MC)
thirty-four
Kate
O ut of all the things I expected on my sister’s wedding day, being locked out of the dressing room was not one of them. Ava came out and apologetically informed me I would need to get ready elsewhere.
Running into my grandparents as they tried to sneak in a back door at the event center wasn’t high on my list of possibilities, either.
“Mary Katherine, there you are,” Nan crows. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you for months now.”
Her hair still has a faint purple tint, and I suppress a smile, knowing who was responsible. The coldness reflected in her eyes, though, tells me everything I need to know.
She doesn’t feel a shred of remorse for stealing from us.
“Nan. Pops,” I say, my tone indifferent. “I didn’t think you got an invitation.”
Pops takes in the decorated tables. “We didn’t.
Will you just tell us what’s going on? Your Nan and I have done just about everything, trying to get in touch with you girls.
When I saw the announcement in the paper, I told her we had to try at least. So, I’m here to say we’re sorry for whatever we’ve done to upset the both of you. ”
I blink rapidly, fighting against the lump in my throat. It’s been there for so long that I’m beginning to think it’s a tumor. “Pops, you know why Dakota and I are so upset. Mama told us everything.”
My grandmother’s eyes bulge. “Your mother? What lies did she feed you this time? She’s always tried to turn you away from us!”
Little Ricky rounds the corner, only to retreat immediately upon seeing the commotion.
Some help he is.
My fingernails dig into my palms, and I take a deep breath. “My mother sent money from the moment we moved in with you. Money to cover clothing, college, and cars. We never saw a cent, though. Oh, and my father is alive. Which part is a lie?”
Pops shakes his head adamantly. “We never received money from your mother and had to dip into our retirement savings to keep you two as comfortable as possible. As for your father, he isn’t exactly an upstanding citizen, and your mother felt it best for you to believe he was dead.
If we’re guilty of anything, it’s honoring her wishes. ”
I narrow my eyes at Nan, giving her the sweeping once-over she often used on me and Dakota growing up. “Really?” I ask with a bitter laugh, jerking my thumb toward my grandmother. “Care to explain how she’s afforded all her little surgeries and that expensive Cadillac?”
His face darkens, and a vein bulges in his forehead. “Mary Katherine, what your grandmother does is none of your damn concern! That money was an inheritance from a relative of hers that passed a few years back! Young lady, I ought to?—”
“Ought to what ?” a voice growls from behind me, raising the hairs on my neck. “Choose your words carefully, old man. That’s my baby girl you’re speaking to.”
Grey steps in between us, and Nan’s face drains of color. Even Pops stumbles back in fear.
“Which relative was it, Norma? Last I checked, not a single one of ‘em had a pot to piss in. ”
“J-J-Jamie, we don’t want any trouble,” Pops stammers. “Mary Katherine was mistaken.”
Jamie?
I thought his name was Grey and had long assumed his parents were hippies who had a thing for the names of colors.
My father stands in a wide-legged stance, effectively blocking me from getting around him to defend myself.
“Dick,” he says, keeping his voice low. “Kate ain’t mistaken, and I never for a minute thought you knew jack shit about what went on under your roof. But I’m out a fuck ton of money—money that was meant for my girls. Norma knows all about it, though, and she’s gonna come clean, ain’t she?”
Nan nods shakily, lowering her head as she admits, “I—I did it. I took the money.”
Pops gasps. “Jesus, Norma! How much did you take? We can fix this. Please, let me make this right.”
“The time for fixin’ it is long gone?—”
“I still have some of it left!” Nan interjects. “There was a lot—I put it in savings. I thought if I let it earn some interest, it’d be like it never happened. Please…”
My stomach churns, watching my grandparents beg for their lives. “Don’t.”
He jerks his head back and looks down at me in surprise. “Katy, after what they put you and Dakota through?”
“It’s over now. Let it go.” I take a deep breath. “Daddy… please.”
I try not to think about how long it’s been since I last said his name—try not to think of the years we’ve lost because of his lifestyle.
He freezes at the term, nostrils flaring as he stares down at me. I see the war raging in his eyes—the battle between ruthless biker and the man who had been my safe place for the first six years of my life.
“They’re about to start,” Little Ricky announces, popping his head around the corner.
I squeeze my father’s arm, praying he makes a decision he can live with .
Little Ricky escorts me back to the event center, practically bouncing with excitement. “You ready for this, Hail Mary?”
I force a smile. “Sure. Let’s just hope it lasts.”
He stops in his tracks. “Why would you say that? Escúchame — what Caparina and Big Guy have is the real thing. He’d do anything for her and vice versa. For all your education, you don’t know a lot about love. It makes me sad for you.”
“And what would you know about love?” I snap. “Please enlighten me.”
His eyes go dark with pain, and I regret asking. “I was in love before. What’s with the face? Are you surprised?”
I nod dumbly.
“You think you’re an expert on love because you got burned, but you’re not. When it’s the real deal, nothing can stand in the way of it. Now, let’s go. I ain’t about to get my ass chewed out by Caparina because you’re late.”
I tighten my grip on his bicep. “I’m sorry.”
He squeezes me back. “Apology accepted. You and Nate will figure things out—you just need to stop gettin’ in the way of it first. Love can’t be neat and tidy?—”
“Well, it wasn’t love,” I quickly interject. “It was just?—”
He presses a finger to my lips. “Shhh… you’re not the love expert, remember? So, you know nada. Okay, good talk.”
When the music starts, I can’t help but smile. It isn’t traditional, making it perfect for my sister.
Zane stands like a statue, his hands clasped in front of his body, watching the back of the room with an expectant smile. Maybe Little Ricky’s right—maybe they are perfect for each other, and I couldn’t see it because of my own broken heart.
After the ceremony, I’ll apologize to both of them.
The doors open, and my smile fades when I realize it isn’t my sister coming down the aisle but Little Ricky. People begin murmuring when he reaches Zane’s side .
Zane leans down to hear him before stiffening in response. Then he turns to me and growls, “What the fuck did you do, Kate?”
A collective gasp works through the room, and my cheeks heat.
“Nothing!” I turn to Ava. “Was she fine when you left?”
The bridesmaid frowns. “She just said she needed a few minutes alone. What’s going on?”
“She’s gone,” Zane says, almost too quietly to hear.
“Did she mention anything to you that would help us figure out where she is?” Little Ricky directs the question at me.
“No.” I sink down onto a nearby step, recalling what I said to her during the rehearsal the night before. Why did I take it upon myself to warn her not to go through with the marriage just because she was pregnant?
Maybe she didn’t run—perhaps she’s still in the building.
“Wait, is Jeremy here? He can track her phone, right?”
Zane pulls me up and propels me toward the exit, telling the confused guests, “Hey, we’re having a slight technical difficulty. Excuse us for a moment.”
“We’re gonna find her, and everything will be good. It will be?—”
“What. Did. You. Say. To. Her?” he demands. “She wasn’t right after your little chat last night.”
I swallow nervously. “Um… I just wanted to ensure she was getting married for the right reasons and not because she’s pregnant?—”
Zane’s fist collides with the brick wall above me. I yelp and try to squirm out of reach.
“Found her,” Jeremy announces, holding up his laptop. I wonder if he takes it everywhere. I can’t recall ever seeing him without it. “Her phone’s pinging near the gym.”
“I’ll do it,” I declare when they begin bickering over who should go.
Zane snorts. “Sure, so you can convince her to leave town and change her name? You ruined what was supposed to be the best day of our lives.”
I place a hand on his arm, pleading, “Let me fix this, please!”
“Fine. Thirty minutes, and then I’m coming after her on my own.”
“I won’t let you down,” I promise.