I was getting agitated in the house, being locked up all day, especially since I hadn’t seen Creed for a few days. I had been here for a month now, and there was only so much I could do behind these concrete walls, not being allowed to step foot outside. I missed the sun, the fresh air, and the grass beneath my bare feet. I’d give anything just to feel the hot rays on my face, even if it was for five minutes. Often thinking about sneaking out to the porch while the boys were away, but I was never alone.
They always had someone with me. Men they considered brothers, part of their MC family. They didn’t talk much, going about their own business and making sure I was safe. Taking post at the front door to make sure no one unauthorized stepped foot in the house. I had a feeling Creed ordered them to not speak to me or something, since they never uttered more than a few words in my direction.
The smell of bacon and eggs filled my room, waking me up early Saturday morning, or maybe it was Sunday. I started to lose track of the days.
A woman’s voice sounded from the kitchen, singing “American Pie.” Bringing back memories of the night I met Noah. Was I dreaming?
I got out of bed, wrapping the silk robe Noah had brought back for me around myself. Cautiously peering out my door before padding down the hallway toward the smell of heaven. Rounding the corner, I stopped dead in my tracks, seeing Creed’s momma in the kitchen. Singing and dancing around while she cooked breakfast.
“Oh hey, sweetheart. Did I wake you?”
“Oh my God, what are you doing here?” I smiled, walking over to her. Giving her a big hug.
“Didn’t the boys tell you? I have been begging Creed to let me come up here and spoil you. He finally agreed. Mentioning how close you are with your family. I figured you’d be missing your momma by now. I’m not her, and I know it’s not the same, but I’m here to keep you company for a bit. Gonna cook you up some dinners to freeze, too. I know how you love my apple pie. Got a few of those already waiting for you in the fridge.”
The mere mention of my mom brought back the heartache I kept buried deep inside me, but I shook it off as best as I could, smiling at Diane. Grateful to have her here nonetheless.
“Well, this is the best surprise. Thank you.”
“Take a seat, breakfast is just about ready,” she informed, walking back over to the stove to prepare me a plate.
“So, Mrs. Jameson—”
“Darlin’, you can call me Diane. You are carrying my grandbaby.”
“Okay. Can I ask you a question, Diane?”
“Of course,” she replied, setting my plate in front of me and taking a seat beside me. “What’s on your mind?”
“Does Creed talk about me much? I mean... has he told you anything?” I asked, eating a piece of bacon.
“Well, I would say more now than ever. Noah was usually the one who wouldn’t shut up about you.”
I sighed, needing to address the questions she probably has been asking herself often. “I know what this may look like to you. Pregnant with one son’s baby and in love with the other. But Noah and I were never together,” I confessed, calling Rebel, Noah since that was what his mom was referring to him as. I needed her to understand what happened that night and what had been going on ever since. She took a hold of my hand. Encouraging me to continue. “It was one night. I went to the clubhouse with a friend. I didn’t even know it was Creed’s MC until we got there and I recognized their cuts. I would have never... I mean I didn’t know Noah was Creed’s brother. Creed doesn’t talk much about his life. In fact, I didn’t even know he had a brother until the day I went back to the clubhouse to tell Noah I was pregnant.”
“Creed has always been my quiet boy. Even when he was just a little guy, he was a man of few words. But when he does speak, his words carry a strong meaning behind them. They always have. Creed is so damn smart, he could have done anything with his life. Been something really important, like a lawyer or a builder. He’s good with his hands, and I don’t have to tell you how much he loves to argue. The man thinks he’s never wrong,” she laughed. “It’s one of my biggest regrets, letting both of them drop out of school. Most of the time I felt like I was a single parent and the only one who cared about essential things, like an education. All Jameson ever cared about was the club and having his boys be a part of it.”
This was more than I ever thought she’d share with me. I took in everything she was saying, wanting to soak up as much information as I could when it came to Creed.
“I tried to do the best I could with raising them right when all they saw was wrongdoings. I hated every time I had to clean blood off their clothes. As they became older it became more relevant. Jameson was teaching the boys to shoot guns and fight, drink and smoke cigarettes. He should have been teaching them how to ride bikes and play ball. So, I just made sure they knew how to respect a woman, how to wrap it up, and how to protect and provide for their families.”
“You did the best you could under the circumstances. Creed and Noah are strong, confident men. They love with all their hearts. You did good, Diane.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to hear that. I was able to have more time with Creed, but with Noah and Luke...” She peered down at her lap, her demeanor quickly changing. “Well... I just made some bad choices. Noah was the one who suffered the most because of it. With Luke... I failed him. And it took a very long time to accept that and move on. Be there for my boys who needed me.”
“What happened to Luk—”
“Anyhow, this isn’t about me. I want to know about you. The boys have filled me in but they’re men—they hardly understand anything.”
I nodded, allowing her to change the subject. She already told me so much, I didn’t want to cause her any more pain than what she obviously carried.
I smiled, easing her anxiety. “My family is really strict. I’m the baby and the only girl. I have two older brothers who watch me like guard dogs, exactly how my dad trained them to. From what my papa has told me, my dad was a handful growing up. Put my mom through a lot in their adolescent years. I think he’s just making sure I don’t go through what she did. I don’t know... it makes no sense.”