“It’s just quiet now, without the bikes,” I admit.
Duke smiles and shoots Ruby a mischievous smile. His entire face lights up, creating dimples in his cheeks.
“Like mother, like daughter,” he says. Her face falls as she eyes the pair of us and then levels her gaze on Duke.
Oak Street morphs from densely-packed single family homes with little land to homes of the same size with larger yards that sit farther back from the road, eventually sprawling out to residential properties that sit on at least half of an acre each. The farther we get from Main Street, it seems, the closer we get to the country. The straight shot of Oak Street winds and bends as it becomes Sherwood Road. Minutes pass before we slow and turn down an unmarked gravel drive.
Up ahead is a dark-brown one-story ranch house that sits parallel to the curving drive, then bends at the mid-point in a forty-five degree angle that features a large sun room with a furnished deck jutting out into the tall, wild grass. The house is nothing fancy, but it looks cared for, if not updated. The van pulls up around the side, revealing an attached three-car garage, and another deck that leads up to the front door. Behind the house, nestled in a wide-open field, is a large red barn. Diesel stops the van in view of the front door, which opens and out step two men, both wearing leather vests. One is tall and slender, the other is rather squat in comparison. They rush toward the van eagerly and slide open the side door.
“All right, princess. Get the fuck out. You’re home,” Duke says with a smile on his face. I try to smile, but the arrival of new people puts me on edge. I crawl out of the van first and Ruby follows. One of the men shuts the door behind us, and the van speeds off.
“Ma’am, it’s good to have you home,” the tall one says, addressing Ruby. She nods her head and lets out a deep breath. He looks to me and gives me a polite smile. I try to smile back, but all I really want to do is to find a bed and sleep it in for the next year, maybe two.
“Welcome home, Alexandra,” the shorter one says. I notice neither of them have any patches on the front of their vests. The tall one turns around, followed by his buddy. The only patch on the back is at the bottom, curving up at the ends. CALIFORNIA.
“Where are their patches,” I whisper-shout to Ruby. She walks toward the house and steps onto the deck.
“Prospects,” she says, turning back to the house. Well, that makes sense. They’re not full club members yet, which is why they’re here with us rather than with the rest of the club. It’s what my brother calls “bitch duty”. They look after the stuff the club members don’t want to be, or can’t be, bothered with. A bitter thought hits me. Ryan must be relieved to be off “bitch duty” now that he has prospects who can deal with me.
Two dogs race out of the front door and excitedly leap at Ruby. With a short laugh, she bends down and gives each of them a pet. One appears to be a German shepherd while the other is, I think, a pit bull. I try to keep my distance, but it’s no use. Gloria has a dog, but he’s a small little thing. My best friend back in Brooklyn, Adriana, has a few dogs. I never interacted much with them, though. First the pit bull rushes at me. I tense up, tears springing to my eyes, and keep my arms at my sides, afraid to move. It jumps and claws at me. A moment later, the shepherd joins in. Through the fear, I realize they’re not biting or growling. They’re just panting and whimpering, but their nails dig into my skin and dirty clothes. I peek down at them, still unable to bring myself to move.
“PJ! Tegan!” Ruby shouts, and the dogs stop jumping. They stand beside me with wagging tails. “They wouldn’t hurt a fly. They just get excited around new people.”
“I’m okay,” I say, trying to shrug it off. I give Ruby my best smile and wonder if this hollowness in my gut will ever go away. We walk up the deck; as I step across the threshold, I know I’m home. I just don’t feel it yet.
Chapter 12
Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.
David Ogden Stiers
“THAT’S IT,” RUBY says, barging into my room as she so often does. Quickly, I shut my laptop and smile. I’ve been curled up on my full-sized bed for the last hour checking out the local college’s upcoming fall course schedule. I haven’t said anything to Ruby or Jim about it yet, but if I want the chance to go, I’m going to have to do it soon.