so fucking much.” His lips pressed to mine. Vin, Chops, and Frankie all cheered along with the other members of the club, who were there to witness our nuptials.
Pulling back slightly, I looked into his deep, endless, sparkling brown eyes and smiled at him lovingly. “Say we’ll be together forever.”
“Nothing will tear us apart, Millie. Your mine for eternity.”
The plate cracks and the stab of the porcelain jabbing into my finger startles me back into the now.
“Fucking hell!” Throwing the now overly washed and completely broken plate into the cold water of popped suds, I dry my hands on a tea towel and assess the damage.
Pulling my finger up to take a look, it’s just a tiny cut, nothing some Betadine and a Band-Aid won’t fix. Huffing as I walk into the bathroom, I shake my head at my own stupidity and switch on the light, pulling back the vanity mirror. Grabbing my Medical Aid, I get to work on my bloody finger and fix it up in no time.
“Stupid fucking Mad Dog, distracting me from everything,” I murmur to myself putting the Betadine back in the vanity and closing the mirrored door with a little more force than necessary.
It’s funny how a man can go from so loving and attentive to what Mad Dog has become. He changed over the years. The club took over, and even after everything that happened, he continued to drag our only remaining son into that fucking world. But at least, Steel is at Aldinga now, and not Virginia. That club have their heads screwed on, and they don’t go looking for trouble. Unlike Virginia, who seem to be basking in trouble these days.
Huffing as I think of Mad Dog again, I almost punch off the light switch and decide I’ve had enough of my self-torment. I’m going to bed.
Making my way to my room, I flick off all the switches on my way as I drag my feet along the floor. I don’t know why I’m so down today, I guess everyone has their moments, though. Getting to my bed, I pull back the covers and slide in, after putting on my pajamas earlier. Who am I kidding? I didn’t get out of them from bed this morning. I really have been out of sorts all day.
My head hits the soft pillow, and it’s that little bit of relief that I’ve needed. My body relaxes slightly, but my mind goes straight back to my ex-husband, and I swallow hard gritting my teeth. I wish I could walk back into the club and take Mad Dog back, but the memories at that place of our dead boys is too strong. I can’t go back there, and I won’t ask Mad Dog to leave the club, so there’s no hope for us.
Rolling on my side, I glance at the photo on my bedside table of Willow and Steel. Steel’s holding Petunia their pet teacup pig. I smile and kiss my fingers placing them on the picture’s glass and then turn off my side light sending the room into blackness.
CHRISTMAS EVE
The Clubhouse is festive, the girls having decorated the place to the nines. There are tinsel and baubles everywhere, and the Christmas spirit is certainly alive and well. Which makes the rest of my brothers excited and jovial, but me, moody and cranky. Christmas is a time for families, and as the old ladies are coming in tonight and spending the night here with the kids and their men, the place is alive and buzzing with the feel of family.
Except there’s one problem, mine are considerably absent. This is the first year since Steel was born I’ve spent Christmas Eve without him. Now it might sound lame, but that’s twenty-five years and, to be honest, changing something like that suddenly, doesn’t sit well with me. Everyone is gathered in their groups celebrating and enjoying each other’s company, but I can’t concentrate on anything other than the fact that my kid is at another chapter with his Old Lady. An Old Lady that he’s been together with for a year, and they’re probably as happy as larks while I’m here wallowing in my own self-pity thinking of how my life got so royally fucked up.
When did I
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