Page 112 of Roar & Lizzy: A Forever Kind of Love

Kelli walked away. Lizzy let her. She'd spoken what needed to be said.

And, because of that talk, she realized that Roar needed his club to be happy. That if they were going to have a forever love, it would need to be Lizzy who adapted. Because to ask him to change would be unfair.

Roar was a proud Norwegian with traditions and ties that go deeper than anything she'd ever experienced. She wanted to be a part of his family, to love him for the rest of her life.

Her cell vibrated. She'd forgotten all about having the phone in her pocket. Looking at the screen, she didn't recognize the number, but something in her urged her to answer.

"Hello?"

"Lizzy, this is Maren. Roar's mom."

Whether it was Kelli's emotional confession or the fact that she would do anything to have her mom alive, telling her everything would be okay, that having Roar's mom reach out to her, hit her hard. She stepped over to the nearest chair and sank down.

"It's so good to hear from you," she said, clearing her throat. "Thank you."

"How are you doing?"

She pressed a hand to her quaking chest. The overwhelming acceptance from Maren and her concern for her, not about her son—which was a given, but reaching out to her personally to see how she was doing touched her heart.

Yet, she wouldn't want to worry Roar's mom any more than she imagined she was being far away and hearing the news through the club.

"I'm hanging in there. Roar's in a, um, meeting right now or I'd let you talk with him." Her legs shook, suddenly exhausted.

"I've already heard his voice and Knute has assured me he will be fine. I wanted to call you, though, because I know accepting the good and the bad that comes with loving Roar is so very difficult," said Maren.

"It is." She hesitated to say more. "Were you familiar with Slag Motorcycle Club when you met your husband?"

Maren laughed softly. "Oh, no. He was scary and bad, and I was a good girl. As I got to know him, he started talking about someday moving to the United States, and that scared me to death. I was only sixteen years old and traveling so far away from my family frightened me to death."

"I didn't know that." Lizzy inhaled a deep breath, comforted by connecting with Maren. "And, yet, look at you now. You have a beautiful family."

"Yes, and I gained an extended family with Slag," said Roar's mom softly.

Lizzy looked around the room. Each member not involved in the meeting behind closed doors waited in support of whatever Roar decided for his members. Each of them here to protect her and Coco. They were from all walks of life with only their heritage and a vest bonding them, yet they had mutual respect for something bigger. Slag Motorcycle Club.

"I never thought Slag would bring me comfort, but today, they give me strength," she whispered.

"Ja." She could hear the happiness in Maren's voice. "You take from them when you need to hold yourself together, and when it's someone else who needs the support, you'll be there."

She found herself nodding. It took her a long time to see the benefits of loving a man in charge of Slag, and the whole time, it was right in front of her face, every step of the way.

"I'll let you go, so you can be there for Roar. Remember, if you ever need a shoulder, you can call me. Day or night. Britt and Katherine send their love, too," said Maren.

"Thank you so much. Hearing from you really helped, and I'll definitely be calling you." She hesitated. "Bye."

Disconnecting the call, she set the phone on the table and covered her face with her hands. Her whole body shook. She wanted Roar.

He shouldn't be up on his leg. The pain he dealt with must be brutal. She wanted to take him home and take care of him.

"Are you okay?" asked Coco.

She lowered her hands. "Yeah, I think so."

"At least Kelli didn't punch you again." Coco forced a smile.

With the phone call from Maren, she had forgotten about the intense conversation with Kelli. She shrugged. "I've let it go. Kelli had her reasons and apologized."

Coco nodded without questioning her, which she was grateful for. Glancing down at her phone, she found it after ten o'clock at night. Roar had been in the meeting room for hours.

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