Page 16 of Behemoth

"Darlin', why don't we go out to eat tonight? I'm hungry and want to give you a break; you've been putting in a shit ton of overtime at the hospital and clinic. And before you say anything, I know you are short-handed. Damien and I want to take you out. Come on, are you up for it?”

Damien starts on his mom too, taking my back.

“Come on, Momma, let’s eat out. I got a taste for some wings and I’m sure Francis will eat some with me. How about it, want some wings tonight, Momma?”

Watching my girl as her thoughts bombard me—as usual, arguing with herself—I just wait. Finally, even though I know the answer before she says a word, she answers.

"Sure, guys, I'm up for a break. I’ll just put this stuff away; we can have it tomorrow. Thank God I didn’t start cooking. Where are my boys taking me? Apparently somewhere we can get wings."

As we joke back and forth, I realize what everyone has been telling me is true. Life is a journey and only we can continue on the path we truly want to go down. My thoughts have taken me out of the conversation so I listen to Grace and Damien, seeing the little stinker is working it; keeping her occupied. As usual, he has my back as he realizes how nervous I am.

Once again, my mind goes back to just last week. I recall what I did one day with Grace, when Damien was in school. Something I should have done years ago; I went to see my parents in jail. Grace made me realize I needed to let that shit go. Deal with my past, tell them I forgive them, and finally move on with my life and our future.

So, we drove out to the prison and waited. What a process. Anyhow, first I saw my mother, who after all this time is still the bitch she always has been. Everything was about her.

She expected me to bring her shit and fill her commissary account so she could buy stuff she needed or wanted. When I told her I wasn't there for that, she shut down. But I could tell she kept checking out Grace, trying to figure out how she played into everything. I didn't share, didn't even introduce them. She didn't earn anything that has to do with Grace.

Am I sorry to see her for what she is? Not really, it just makes me appreciate Grace even more. My mom is a sick individual who should have never had children, as she is incapable of loving anyone but herself. She is still playing the same game as usual; blaming everyone but herself. Her same old same old blame game. Jail hasn’t taught her anything.

After seeing her, Grace and I went to grab a bite to eat, even though I wasn't remotely hungry, then traveled about an hour away to the men's prison to visit my father.

I use father ‘cause anyone can father a child, but it takes a real man to be a dad. What a joke. He was all about how we, his kids, are useless and haven't amounted to anything. Telling me what they did was to help me make something of myself. I just sat there realizing after all these years that nothing was my fault. I was an innocent and these adults should have protected me.

After he went on and on, Grace finally lost it and told him to go fuck himself. God, I love this woman. My dad hated her on sight, especially after her outburst. The things he was thinking made me want to kill him with my bare hands. Then he had the nerve to tell me she was using me and wouldn’t be able to love me. Who could love a freak like me? I had to literally pull Grace out of the visitors’ room.

After, we left pretty quickly and drove straight home instead of staying the night. I needed to be home and Grace understood. It did give me closure, as it was crystal clear my parents are damn lunatics and bat-shit crazy insane. It finally made me realize I hadn't done anything wrong and that bad shit can happen to anyone. Just like good shit can. Grace taught me this. Also, I am able to accept that the special abilities/skills I have are truly gifts. Ones I need to learn to use for good. Now I can put those two in my past and not give them another moment of my time.

As we get ready to go to dinner, I can feel my anxiety building over my plans for the events of the evening. It’s a move that’s gonna either go really good or really bad. Only time will tell. Feeling a small sense of calm, I look to Damien and he is able to communicate to me his love and support. I can feel his words as if he spoke them out loud. Yeah, we share a lot.

When I park in the lot of Damien's favorite restaurant, which means lots of chicken wings, I grab Grace's hand and give it a squeeze. She looks my way and smiles. As we all get out of my SUV and head in, I spot all the vehicles of our 'family’ scattered throughout the parking lot. Of course, Grace's family is here, as are both sets of my brothers: bikers and firefighters. I have a room in the back filled with our loved ones. I need their support to take the next step in my life.

The waitress already knows the plan, so as she leads us to the room, Damien runs ahead and goes in first. Grace calls his name and starts to walk a bit faster to catch up to him. As she turns the corner to the room, I see her body jerk back and come to a stop. Her thoughts are all over the place. Then she looks from the room to me and then back again. As I get closer to her, I see what I planned for tonight, a room filled with happy, smiling faces. Our family. Waiting to celebrate a joyous event, fingers crossed.

Gently, I move Grace into the room where Damien is clapping his hands and laughing.

"We gotcha, Momma. You didn't know, did you? See, Francis, I can keep a secret. Now you’re up, Francis, your turn."

Watching the little boy who jump-started my scarred heart up again, I reach into my pocket with shakin’ hands. Before she knows what’s going on, I turn Grace to face me and then go down to one knee.

"Grace Sinclair, from the minute I first met you, my heart started to beat again. Ya give me hope that my life can amount to something more. You give me laughter ‘cause you’re kind of goofy and you accept me for who I am. I love you, Grace, and would like to spend the rest of my life showing you how much. Marry me, darlin’?"

Watching the emotions run across her face, I can hear her thoughts and know before she even speaks what her answer is.

"Momma, come on, give Francis an answer. We have tons of food and an awesome cake to eat, and I'm starving."

Everyone laughs, but I'm still on my knee in front of Grace, who now has tears running down her cheeks. She grabs my face, getting close, and winks, knowing I know her answer, but she plays along for those around us.

"Yes, I'll marry you, Francis."

As I stand and pull her closer to share a kiss, all we hear in the background are the screams of, “Yeah”, and words of congratulations. My future holds all the promise a man can ask for. I feel his presence before he approaches me and reaches my side, so I end the kiss and look up to see Brick standing there, his hands behind his back. As I turn his way with Grace still in my arms, she sees Brick and gives him a warm smile. I observe her with my prez, knowing she gets my club. She’s finally able to recognize the differences of our club from some others. We’re about brotherhood, family, freedom, and living life. She might never understand it all, but she is one of us now. So is Damien.

On that thought before I can call Damien over, he is in front of me. I give Brick a nod and he pulls a little boy’s leather vest from behind him. Brick shakes it out, showing Damien that it says, "Property of Stitch" with the Grimm Wolves MC logo above the stitching. The room quiets as he helps Damien put it on. I look to him and grab his little shoulders.

“Damien, I want you to know that even though I’m marryin’ your momma, you and I are coming together too as family. I have never asked anyone before to be part of me so this leather vest, or as you know we call it a kutte, lets people know you’re mine and under my protection. I hope you’re okay with this and actually want it, ‘cause I want to give it to you.”

I watch Damien’s face get confused for a moment then his cheeks turn pink as he struggles to keep the wet in his eyes from falling down his face. His thoughts though I’m not gettin’ a grasp on. He looks to his momma first then around the room and finally at me with a strange look in his eyes. I get it when he asks me, “Does that mean you will be my dad? I'll finally have a dad?"

Feeling the wetness in my own eyes, I look away to see the same in many faces in the room. Even the badass bikers are turning so no one can see the emotions Damien is drawing out of them. Damn, this kid is fuckin’ killing me. He, like his mother, owns my heart and soul.

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