Page 68 of Pigeon

“Maybe now would be a good time to tell Ava what type of event you want catered,” I urge the woman.

“I don’t have an event. I lied about that because I needed an excuse to meet you, and you’re not at the bakery anymore,” the woman finally says in a quiet voice.

I stiffen in alarm, and I watch Ava do the same. As I’m standing to walk to the table, the woman speaks again.

“I think I’m your mother.”

Ava freezes instantly, even her breathing. I step between the two women’s chairs while pulling my phone out.

“Why do you think that?” Ava calmly asks while laying her hands on her belly and caressing it with both hands.

When Gunner answers, I say two words before disconnecting. “Clubhouse. Now.”

“I recently saw an old article about you and this club. It had a picture of you, and you’re the spitting image of me when I was your age. Also, I left an infant girl on the street you were found on,” the woman confesses.

“First, you didn’t leave an infant. You placed it in a box at the bottom of a dumpster. You abandoned your infant in a way that shows you wanted her to die. Don’t care who you claim to be, but you’re not my mother. A mother would never do that,” Ava replies, still in a calm manner.

“I can explain!” the woman rushes to say.

“No, you can’t,” Ava counters while standing up.

“I was on drugs! I was an addict, and I was too young to know how selfish I was being!”

“Not an excuse. Even animals will fight for their young. Why are you really here? Why now after all these years?” Ava asks with anger finally showing up in her tone.

“I just wanted to meet my daughter,” the woman explains, but it sounds false even to my ears.

The kitchen door slams open, and Gunner, Petey, and Axel crash through it. Coming to a quick halt when they don’t recognize an immediate threat. Gunner reads his wife’s face, though, and moves to her side.

“I’m not your daughter! Don’t use the words mother or daughter again! You don’t understand the meaning of those words!” Ava shouts, placing her hands on the table and leaning into them.

Still standing between the two women, I watch as Petey’s face ignites in anger, and Axel tenses, ready to defend his sister against anyone or anything.

“I understand why you’d be angry. I do. But if you would just listen—” the woman starts to say.

“Cut to it!” Ava orders as she slices a hand through the air. “Tell me what you want and why you’re here. Do it now, or you’ll be the one placed in a box at the bottom of a fucking dumpster!”

“Fine. I was telling the truth when I said you’re my daughter. Here’s a picture of me, taken before I gave birth to you. You can’t deny the resemblance,” the woman says while holding an old photo up in the air.

The woman in the picture could be Ava. The resemblance is uncanny, and it’s obvious she’s either Ava’s biological mother or a very close relative. Ava’s eyes glance at the picture before returning to the woman’s face.

“How much do you need?” Axel barks, patience having run out.

“Things have been difficult for me lately. Being a business owner, I thought you might be able to help me out a little,” the woman says without a lick of shame in her voice.

“Get her out of my sight,” Ava says in a suddenly exhausted voice as she turns away and disappears into the kitchen.

“Stay away from my wife, my family, my club, or I’ll make you wish you’d have died the day you tried to kill your own fucking infant,” Gunner spits out in disgust before following his wife.

When I reach for the woman’s arm to escort her out, Petey intercedes.

“Stand down, Pigeon. I’ve waited years to meet this cunt and have a few things I need to say.”

Petey takes the woman by the arm and stalks to the door. The woman’s feet barely have time to touch the floor due to the speed in which Petey’s helping her exit. When Axel starts to follow, anger painted all over him, Petey holds up a hand.

“Go check on your sister, son. Tell Trudy I’ll be late getting home and why.”

We find Ava clinging to Gunner’s big body, soaking up his support. Dry-eyed but visibly shaking, Ava’s trying hard to keep it together. After another moment, they walk out the back door, Ava leaning heavily into Gunner’s side. Looking to Axel, I see his expression of concern. Putting a hand on his shoulder, I say, “She’ll be fine, Axel. After all she’s survived. This won’t keep her down long. Let Trudy know where Petey is, go home, and hug your daughter. We can postpone Church until tomorrow.”

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