Page 55 of Biker Daddy

Chapter Thirteen

Addi

Fell County and the town of Fell near Tonalonka Camp weren’t big, but when the residents all gathered in the small funeral home, they certainly filled it.

Addi couldn’t believe how many people came to what she’d thought would be a small service of close friends and family. She’d figured it’d be done in an hour. That’s what she’d wanted. The true tribute would come from the memorial weekend she’d planned for October. Where all the people Ray had shaped would come to tell stories and enjoy the camp once more.

With all the mourners chatting and milling about, she felt overwhelmed. Who were they all?

“Babe?”

Startled, she blinked at Drew. “Who are all these people?”

“He was loved, Addi. He was always there when someone needed a hand. Hell, more mamas came to discuss their wayward boys than men called him for fishing—and he was called to fish a lot. He had a way with kids and adults alike. This community adored him.”

Tears pooled in her eyes. “My God. I just didn’t realize.” He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I feel like I’ve talked to a million people today.”

“Oh, here you are!” A woman with short dark hair wearing a floral-patterned dress came rushing to her as soon as she was in sight. “Finally I get to meet Ray’s little girl. He was always talking about you, honey.” She grabbed Addi’s hands, pulling the one from Drew’s. “I’m Nora. I run the diner in town. Your uncle ordered eggs up, ham, and home fries with a side of steak every Sunday at the diner. He was a small man but he could pack it away.” Her laugh was infectious and Addi found herself smiling at the woman.

She went on to tell Addi all about her three boys and how they were always up to no good until they started going to Ray’s camp. “He changed my hooligans into proper young men.”

“That sounds like him.” She looked around. “I didn’t expect this kind of turnout.” She nervously wondered about the sandwich and light lunch offerings she’d had the funeral home order in. “I don’t think I ordered enough food.” She sounded spacey even to her own ears, but if Nora cared, she didn’t show it.

“Hon, my place was doing the catering. Don’t you worry. I’d been asking around and knew there would be more people here. I adjusted the order myself on the house. You’ll be fine. You just go around and meet everyone and hear stories about your uncle. They’ll go a long way in the days to come.”

“Thank you, Nora.” Her nose tingled with emotion, but she was quickly swept away under Nora’s arm and met more people, heard many stories, and was hugged so much she felt as if she’d collapse if one more person dragged her off.

The service had been beautiful and several of Ray’s fishing buddies got up to speak, but she was sort of numb to it all until Drew stood.

“I met Ray when I was a teenager. I’d been sent to work at the camp after getting out of juvie. His good fishing buddy Judge Darren Mackie had asked him if he’d take me on as a favor.” He pointed to a tall thin man sitting in the first row behind the pew reserved for family—well, for her. He turned and waved a big hand at the congregation behind him and then nodded at Addi and smoothed his gray goatee.

“I was ready and willing to learn, earn my keep, and prove to the world I wasn’t worthless, but I didn’t expect to be treated very well. I was wrong.” He glanced around.

“Ray treated me like a son and never once doubted me or my potential—even when I hurt him. And I did hurt him. I had my reasons, and he understood them, but he didn’t have to take me back with open arms and he did, without hesitation.” Addi sniffed and Judge Mackie passed a tissue forward.

“I don’t know what he saw in me, but there was never a doubt that he loved me. He changed a lot of lives.” He smiled as he looked at Addi. “He even changed the life of the giant pike he finally proved lived in the lake. We campers and leaders tried not to believe it, but we still swam like hell when no one was looking just in case.” There were chuckles from the crowd. “A few weeks before he died, he rescued that pike and nursed it back to health. His niece and I released it a few days ago and I’m sure Ray was smiling down on us and probably yelling at us to do it his way.” More laughter filled the room and Drew continued weaving a picture of Ray that made everyone smile and wipe tears from their eyes.

It was evident to everyone that Drew loved Uncle Ray, and when he continued to speak of Ray’s love for his only niece her cheeks were wet with tears. By the time he finished, she was sobbing along with everyone else. Even he had red glassy eyes.

As the man from the funeral home rose to end the service, Drew whisked Addi to the private family room off to the side where they could still see and hear but also have some privacy. The only thing she saw as he pulled her away, besides the sniffling teary crowd, was the redhead sitting at the back.

“You okay, babe?” he asked, after sitting Addi down and crouching in front of her. She nodded, wiping her eyes and he scrutinized her in that weird way as if reading her mind for what she wasn’t vocalizing.

“That was beautiful, Drew. I’m so glad you had each other all these years.”

“You and me both, honey. I don’t know where either of us would have been.” He stood, shoveling a hand through his hair. “Well, no, I’m pretty sure I know where’d I be.”

There was a gentle knock on the door and they both looked to see Carter.

“What the hell do you want?” Drew growled in a low, but threatening way.

“I’m just checking on Addi. I stopped by the camp yesterday but no one was around. She looked pretty shaken up just now, so I thought I’d see if she needed anything.”

“It’s okay, Drew,” Addi said and he looked at her in disbelief. She took his hand, squeezing it like he had hers moments earlier. “I’m good.”

His mouth hitched slightly on the side and he nodded before shooting Carter a threatening look. “I’ll get us some coffee.”

“Thanks.” When he was gone, Carter spoke.

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