Page 16 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)
Fiona—
It doesn’t take the guys half as long as I expect, and before I know it, they’re packing up the drop cloths and hauling out the empty paint cans, trays and brushes.
I have to admit, they did a wonderful job. The place looks amazing in a soft pale pink that goes beautifully with the cream I chose.
As the guys prepare to leave, Cody, Jake’s son, who’s been prospecting for almost a year now approaches, slipping into his leather cut with the prospect rocker on the back. He points at the wall behind me, where I’ve taped off a large square and told them not to touch.
“What’s the plan for that area?”
“That’s going to have chalk paint. It’ll be my daily board behind the counter where I can write out our menu and specials.”
“Cool. You got the chalk paint on hand? We can knock that out while we’re here.”
“No, that’s okay. You and Skeeter have both done so much already, and I can’t thank you enough.” I glance at the wall. “I’ll do that part myself.”
“Don’t you trust us to do a good job, Fiona?” He gives me a cocky grin.
“Of course, I do.” I turn to look at the square. “Janey is looking for a gold wooden picture frame to mount around it. But we haven’t had any luck yet.”
“That size?” His expression shows his doubt. “It’ll be pretty hard to find one that big.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“Maybe I could make one for you. Nothing too fancy, but you could paint it.” He shrugs. “Maybe that’d work.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Sure. We all want you to succeed, Fiona. Plus, maybe there’d be free cupcakes in it for me.” He waggles his brows.
Happiness floods me at his offer. I’ve had so much help from everyone, and I know I shouldn’t be surprised by that, but it’s so much more than I ever expected. Suddenly my eyes flood, and when Cody sees, his grin fades.
I wave a hand in front of my face, wishing he wasn’t witnessing this.
“Darlin’, you okay?”
“I’m fine. Really.” There’s a lump in my throat, making it hard to speak. I turn away and cover my face.
Cody spins me back and wraps his arms around me, and now my face is pressed against his chest. I breathe in the scent of his leather cut, and my mind flashes to Shine. Right now, I wish it were Shine standing here, holding me. But that will never happen again. The thought makes me so sad.
“Hey, it’s all gonna work out, kiddo. We’re here for you. You know that, right?”
I nod against his chest, then dash the tears away, paste a smile on my face and push out of his arms. “I know that. I do. I’m just so grateful for everyone. It’s a little overwhelming, I guess. Thank you for everything, Cody. Really.”
Skeeter pokes his head in the door. “I’m takin’ off, Cody. You comin’?”
“Go on. I’ll catch up.”
“Take it easy, Fiona.” Then he’s out the door, and a moment later, we hear his bike roar off.
“Your father told me to check on the showerhead in your upstairs bathroom. Said you told him it wouldn’t shut off all the way. It probably just needs to be tightened.”
“Oh, thanks. It’s this way.” I lead him to the rear of the store and a set of stairs that lead up to the apartment.
The place is small with a living area in the front of the building overlooking the street, a small kitchen with a bar that’s open to the living room, and in the back a bedroom and bath. I point to the door. “It’s there.”
He steps in and sees the dribbling showerhead. “Yeah, I think it just needs to be tightened.”
“My father left me a toolbox. It’s in the hall closet.”
Cody gets a wrench and returns to make the repairs while I grab a bottle of water from the fridge.
I set one on the counter for Cody, and move to the front windows, watching the cars roll past and the people walking by.
I’m so thrilled with this location. It’s going to give me so much foot traffic.
I’ve already got plans to put out a sandwich board on the sidewalk with our daily special.
I reach a hand up and rub the back of my neck. I haven’t been sleeping well, and now on top of everything I’m trying to get done, I’ve got a new worry to keep me up at night.
“Fiona?”
I turn to find Cody standing near the bar with a strange expression on his face. “You finished already? That was quick.”
“What is this?” He holds up the pregnancy test box, and my eyes slide shut.
Shit. He must have found it in the bathroom wastebasket. I should have thought of that before I led him in there.
“Do I even want to know? Maybe I don’t. Because if you tell me, then I have to tell my sponsor.”
The thought of that has me terrified, and I burst into tears again. God, what is wrong with me?
In three steps he’s to me and pulling me in for a hug. “Aw, babe. Come here.”
It seems like I cry at everything now. “I’m in trouble, Cody.”
“No, you’re not. Don’t say that. Everything will work out.”
“You don’t know that. I’m trying to open a business, and I’m so grateful and so thrilled that my dream is finally coming true.
But it’s going to take long hours. It’s going to take so much hard work, which I’m not afraid of, but now I’m exhausted all the time, and feel like I want to throw up at random times, and I cry at the drop of a hat.
On top of all that, now I’m going to have a baby.
How am I ever going to do all this on my own? ”
“Why do you have to do it on your own?”
I don’t answer. How do I ever explain it? There’s so much I can’t tell him.
“Look, I know it’s none of my business, and you don’t have to tell me who the father is, but have you told him yet?”
“No, and I won’t.”
“Why not?” Cody cocks his head, like he’s trying to put together who it might be. “You need to tell him, Fiona. Whoever he is, he needs to know.”
“No,” I whisper. “You don’t understand. He’s not in the picture, and he won’t ever be in the picture. It was just a… a one-night stand kind of thing. I doubt I’ll ever see him again.”
He sighs. “Well, that sucks for the kid. Have you told your mother or Janey or anyone yet?”
“Just Janey. She brought me the test. I haven’t really even had time for it to sink in.” But now Cody knows. My eyes widen, and I plead with him. “You can’t tell anyone, Cody. Promise me. Please.”
He runs a hand down the back of his neck and turns, pacing. “You’re really putting me in a spot, here, Fee. I’m not supposed to keep anything from my sponsor. He finds out, I might lose any chance I have at a patch. All the shit I’ve been through this last year will have been for nothing.”
“How will he ever find out you saw that?” I gesture to the box he set on the bar. “He won’t unless you tell him. Please. I’m not ready for the entire club to know.” I spin, panic starting to set in. “And my father… oh my God. When he finds out…”
“So, you didn’t know this guy?”
I think of Shine. “I can honestly say I’d never met him before that night. Please don’t judge me. It was a moment of insanity. I don’t usually do things like that, I swear.”
Cody spreads his hands. “I’m not here to judge you or anyone. Look, half the guys in the club are real dawgs. Skeeter’s got a different woman every damn week.”
“But no one would think that’s acceptable behavior for me, would they?”
He shoves his hands in his hip pockets. “I suppose not. But Fiona, unless you’re planning to get rid of this pregnancy, they’re gonna find out, eventually. You’re not, are you?”
“No. I mean… look, I haven’t made any decisions yet, okay? I just… I need time.”
He nods. “Yeah. Sure. Okay, fine, I promise I won’t say anything.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
“How about I stop back in a few days and see what I can do about that frame we talked about? I can’t make any promises about when I’ll get the time. With the club, I’m kind of at their beck and call.”
“I understand. I’d appreciate your help. Whenever is fine. Just let me know. And thanks for everything, Cody.”
“It’s tough growin’ up in this club, isn’t it? I guess that’s especially true for a girl, huh?”
“Yeah. But look at all the family we have.”
“Right.” He grins. “Always up in your business, whether you want ‘em there or not.”
That brings a smile to my face. “Right.”
He moves to the outside door that leads to a small balcony and set of wooden stairs, but pauses before he leaves. “You need anything, you got my number, right?”
I nod and feel my eyes sting again.
He winks and goes out the door.
Cody’s like a brother to me, but there are some things that are easier to talk to him about than I’d ever feel comfortable talking to my brothers about.
I lock the door, then go downstairs and lock up the shop. I see him through the window climbing on his bike and riding off.
God, I hope he’s good to his word and keeps my secret.