Page 13 of Scythe’s Salvation (Imperial Knights MC: Roanoke, VA #2)
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Tamara
As Chance and I sit and eat, I decide to broach the subject of the summons I received the day before. “Hey, buddy, remember how I told you that your biological father left when he found out I was carrying you?”
Chance nods, his mouth full. Once he’s done chewing and swallowing, he says, “My friend, Milo, says that means he’s a pussy.”
I nearly choke on the sip of water I just took. Out of the mouths of babes, I swear! “Chance, that’s not a word you should use at your age.”
“But it’s true, Mommy. I know it’s not a nice word the way Milo used it, but if he was a real man, he wouldn’t have left. I bet Scythe wouldn’t have left you!”
While I don’t voice it, I agree with my son.
Scythe seems to be cut from a different cloth when it comes to men.
Where most I’ve come in contact with lose interest as soon as they find out I’ve got a child, Scythe seems to be willing to jump in with both feet.
I think about how he was when we were fishing; showing a level of patience with a five-year-old that most people don’t possess.
Plus, he fit in at Amara’s house as if he’d been part of our lives for years.
A slow burn courses through me that maybe, just maybe, in spite of the drama that Tim seems determined to bring into our lives, I’ve found a man willing to stand next to me and weather the storm.
I know in terms of experience, I’m way out of my depth.
I mean, I’ve heard stories of the parties the Imperial Knights have had, but I know that many of them are now taken, so perhaps that part of his life has changed.
Still, if he’s interested, even if just for a little while, it wouldn’t hurt to dust off the cobwebs, as Amara has often said.
“I don’t know, Chance, because I don’t know him well enough to say what you’ve stated is true.”
“Mommy, he hunted mud bugs with a little kid, me , and nobody else has ever done that!” Chance exclaims. “I like him. So does Memaw.”
I giggle because after Hester practically chewed him a new one with regard to his intentions, he got the biggest filets, and more hush puppies than the rest of us. “Well, Memaw is a good judge of character. So, it wouldn’t bother you if Scythe and I went out on a date?”
Shit, I’m getting way off topic now, but I need to know if me dating will upset my son. Once I hear his response, I’ll try to bring us back to the subject at hand.
“Nope,” he proclaims. “Can I go play now? I’m all done eating.”
“Just one more thing because we kind of went sideways for a few minutes. Your biological dad has moved back to Roanoke, and he’s wanting visitation with you.
In order to get that, you’ll have to have a DNA test done to prove that he’s really your father.
I believe he has two younger children, as well, so you’ll have siblings to play with, won’t that be nice? ”
Chance’s eyebrows raise to his hairline. “He wants to visit me now after all these years? This isn’t like one of those lovey dovey movies you watch on Hallmark. I bet he’s up to something, Mommy.”
Sometimes, my boy is smarter than his age because I’ve thought the same damn thing. “Still, whether or not he is, we have a legal document that says you have to have this test, buddy. It won’t hurt or anything, but if you refuse, I’ll be held in contempt of court.”
“What does that mean? You won’t let me stay up to watch Law and Order , remember?” he asks.
“It means the judge could put me in jail until you comply, or agree with getting the test done,” I tell him.
“Fine, but I better not miss practice because of this test,” he seethes.
“Shouldn’t be a problem, Chance. It’s just a Q-tip thing that they use to swab the inside of your cheek. Then a lab does what they do, and it’ll show the likelihood of you being his son.”
“But I don’t get a choice on if I take this test or not, right?” he asks.
“No, buddy, I’m sorry but you have to do it. We know what the results will say, but I’m meeting with an attorney later this morning to make sure I know all my rights when it comes to you and allowing him to be involved in your life.”
“Then I’ll do it. Because I don’t want you to go to jail, Mommy,” Chance finally says.
“I don’t want to go either, but I will always protect you and if that means going to jail, then I’ll do it while smiling,” I reply.
I’m nervous as I approach the clubhouse, although I’m unsure why.
I mean, I know Scythe, and of course, Roxy, but I have no idea who else might be present.
Thankfully, the clinic was open early, and I was able to take Chance by and get the DNA test done.
I have the slip of paper to give to Mr. Albertson so he can secure the results for the court.
“Hey, beautiful, come on in, it’s already hot and muggy outside,” Scythe says, pulling me from my inner thoughts. “Ryleigh thought you might have been too nervous to eat, so she put out a buffet of light foods. Go ahead and help yourself, Albertson is here but with Hawg right now.”
He walks beside me, his hand resting on my lower back, which soothes my nerves.
We both pick up plates and I add some fruit, along with a blueberry muffin.
“I don’t think I can eat more than this,” I admit as I watch Scythe pile his plate high with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and home fries that look as good as the ones Memaw makes.
“That’s okay, I’ll let you share some of mine,” he says. “Do you want orange juice or coffee?”
While I love how coffee smells when it’s brewing, I’m not a fan of the taste. Amara’s had me try at least a dozen different flavored creamers but I still prefer my diet soda, water, or orange juice. “Juice, please.”
“Go ahead and grab a seat and I’ll be right back with our drinks,” he instructs, nodding to a group of tables. I smile at the women I see sitting at one of the tables, their gazes focused on me and Scythe, as I make my way to one of the empty ones.
Sitting down, I place my napkin over my lap and wait for Scythe to return with my juice. I’m definitely conscious of the looks and murmurs, and if I had seen Roxy sitting there, I would’ve stopped and said hello, but I don’t recognize any of them.
“Y’all stop making her nervous,” Scythe scolds as he reaches our table and sets down our drinks. “Christ, you’d think you had never seen a stranger in this place.”
“We’ve never seen you with a woman,” one of the ladies rebuts. “Sorry to be nosy, I’m Ryleigh, Brick’s ol’ lady and a self-confessed busybody.”
“You’re not that bad, Ry,” another states.
“I’m Rory, Banshee’s ol’ lady, and this one is Moira, Kracken’s ol’ lady.
She doesn’t say a lot until she gets to know you, but just to say, our ol’ men grew up with Scythe, so when he told Brick you were coming here today to meet with the club’s attorney, we wanted to meet you ourselves.
You’re the one who asked Roxy about the gently used clothes, which was a great idea, by the way.
We’ve added that section to the thrift store so if you have clothes you’d like to donate, just bring them by. ”
“Oh, y’all would be lifesavers! My best friend, Amara, tends to go a little bit crazy when it comes to my son. I’ve got like five totes full of clothes he’s outgrown and some still have the tags on them!”
“We’ll still put them in the gently used section,” Ryleigh says. “How old is your son?”
“Five.”
“He’s right around Callum’s age. That’s RiffRaff and Jilly’s son,” Rory states. “If he likes fishing, he’ll find a new best friend.”
Scythe and I both burst out laughing at Rory’s words, because Chance loves to go any time we’re able. “Um, just to say, but Scythe found us fishing the other day,” I finally choke out. “He helped my boy hunt up mud bugs, then catch a bunch of fish for dinner.”
“Chicken livers work well too,” another female says, walking over to the table where Ryleigh, Rory, and Moira are sitting. “I’m Jilly, Callum’s mom, and he swears by them, as does RiffRaff. Have either of you three invited her to the family day for the Fourth of July yet?”
“We figured that Scythe would ask her,” Ryleigh replies.
“And I planned on it but y’all beat me to it,” Scythe teases. Looking at me, he asks, “So, what are you doing on the Fourth of July?”
I shrug then reply, “Coming to the clubhouse for a celebration, I guess, as long as Chance is welcome.”
He leans in and whispers, “He’ll always be welcome except when you and I are naked between the sheets.”
I can feel my face heat up and it must show, because the four women are now laughing, probably figuring out what Scythe said to me. While Amara is my soul sister, my ride or die bestie, I suspect if Scythe and I become a couple, these ladies will become part of my posse.
“Wait, hold on, we’re doing two days this year, remember?” Ryleigh asks. “Roxy and Saber are finalizing their adoption of Canyon and Egypt, y’all have to come to that as well!”
Since I adore Roxy and she’s quickly moving from client to friend, I agree to come that day as well.
“Be prepared to meet a lot of folks whose names you’ll forget,” Scythe teases.
“Don’t worry, though, the guys are easy, we all have our patches on.
It’s the women and kids who’ll make your head spin. ”
“Don’t forget about the pets,” Rory says. “We’ve got plenty of those as well, although when there are a lot of folks around, we keep the cats over there in their special indoor catio.”
I glance to where she’s pointing and see several gorgeous kitties lounging around on cat trees. “I’ve always wanted a cat,” I murmur. I couldn’t have one growing up because I was in foster care, and for the past five years, I’ve been treading water to survive.
But maybe now I can add a furry baby to the house, especially since Chance is old enough to help take care of it, as far as feeding it.
It’s something to consider for another time, though, as the conversation continues around me.
Unsurprisingly, Scythe has been stealthily adding eggs and bacon to my plate, which I’ve been blindly eating as I chat back and forth with the four women.
Soon enough, I’m full, my plate is empty, and Jilly is going around taking the dirty dishes back to the kitchen to clean.
“We’re going to get out of your hair now, but it was great meeting you, Tamara,” Ryleigh says as a tall, bald-headed man and a shorter, chunky man in a suit approach mine and Scythe’s table.
“Brick,” Scythe says, “this is Tamara Fruge. Tamara, this is my president, Brick, and our club attorney, Mr. Albertson.”
“I hope you don’t mind me sitting in, Tamara,” Brick says. “But I need to make sure that we fully understand what’s going on so that we can best protect you and your little boy, as well as those here at the clubhouse.”
I’m overwhelmed by emotion that I cannot express right now. I usually only have Memaw and Amara in my corner, but it sounds like I’ve gained far more than that, just because a biker named Scythe walked into my massage parlor and life.