Page 13 of Avenging Devil: Part 1

“Fuck off, Brother,” he growls. “And let me know anything she might not want to tell me.”

How would I do that? Mary’s hardly likely to share information with me that she wouldn’t give him. I settle for reassuring him I’ll let him know anything I find out.

“Shiny side up, Brother.” I end the call.

By the time I’ve finished with the car I’m repairing, it’s time to head out. Riding my bike back to the clubhouse, I swap it for the club’s SUV, then make my way to Grumbler’s house. As soon as I draw up, a figure runs out.

“Hey, Niran.”

“Alicia.” I pull Mary’s teenage daughter in for a hug. “Shouldn’t you be in school?”

“I am. I just popped home to pick some work up.”

“She was bored and wanted an excuse to drive her car.” Mary’s waddling out, looking every bit the glowing pregnant woman that an ignoramus like me would expect. She’s six months now and has a decided baby bump, slacker muscles due to her age and previous pregnancy, or so Grumbler had told me. Being a gentleman, I’d never ask.

“Well, I’m off.” Alicia runs back to her mom and gives her a peck on the cheek. “Let me know how it goes.”

“Kids!” Mary exclaims, but she’s got a big smile on her face. “Sometimes I think I preferred it when I drove her everywhere, and when she wanted to come home, had to go and pick her up. Now she appears when I’m least expecting her.”

I chuckle as I catch her gist. “That cause you and Grumbler problems?”

“It has.” Mary laughs loudly. “Alicia has said she needed to bleach her eyes. Now if she comes back unexpectedly and finds his bike here, she sounds her horn to warn us.”

The old man’s obviously still got it in him. I start to wonder about the ‘lunches’ he pops home for. Guess it’s more that he’s working up an appetite rather than getting his hunger assuaged.

Mindful of the time and having had timeliness drummed into me by the Corps, I prompt her, “Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah. I’ve got my purse and all I need.”

I like Mary, have from the first moment I met her. She’s got a strength that comes from suddenly finding herself alone in the world and having to cope with bringing up a rebellious girl angry at the world after losing her father. I’d personally witnessed Alicia being more than a handful at first, but when Grumbler had pulled her out of a mess, she’d grown to respect her stepfather. Nowadays, I see a new maturity in her, and put it down to both Mary and Grumbler. It wasn’t what I would have expected. Who would’ve thought a confirmed bachelor biker to take so well to being a dad?

As I help Mary into the SUV, I think how much Grumbler’s looking forward to having his own child, even though they’re both old enough to be grandparents. I sincerely hope that today’s appointment is simply a confirmation that everything’s heading in the right direction.

Mary settles into the seat with an oomph, and a rub of her hand over her stomach. She looks at me ruefully. “I don’t remember it being this hard. Now I get worn out so easily.” She waits until I’ve started the car before she adds, “I’m very grateful for the company, Niran, but I could have gone on my own. I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than cart a pregnant woman around.”

“Hey, I’m just here to settle Grumbler’s mind.” I wave off her thanks as I get into gear, turn and pull away smoothly.

For a moment, we drive in silence, then a sideways glance shows her biting her lip.

“You alright?”Am I driving too fast? Is she car sick?

“I’m fine.” She offers a brief smile. “These appointments are always worrying, just in case they find something wrong with the baby.”

I’m an idiot. I should have guessed it was that. I try to be reassuring. “I’m sure they won’t. You’re doing everything right, aren’t you? Eating well, resting and all that?”

She chuckles. “As if I could do anything else with Grumbler looking after me. He made me give up work, you know that? Still, I don’t deny it’s nice to not have to worry about things. Though I do get bored, it’s good being able to take a nap whenever I want.”

I know all that. I also know if she hadn’t done it voluntarily, Grumbler was going to speak to her boss. Once that man takes something on, he’s all-in. He’s determined to do everything he can for this pregnancy to have a healthy outcome, for both mother and child.

We fall back into a comfortable silence for a while, the only voice being the instructions uttered by the GPS. When we arrive at the hospital, Mary still seems concerned. When I’ve parked and helped her out, I offer her my arm.

“It’s going to be fine,” I try to impress on her.

Her squeeze on my bicep tells me she hopes that I’m right. So do I. Suddenly, the weight of responsibility settles on me.What if there’s a problem?Grumbler should be here, not me. I now understand why he moves heaven and earth to be with her.He would if he could.But he can’t, and I’ll just have to be an adequate substitute. Straightening, I pull my broad shoulders back.I got this. I can handle it.

After she checks in, we go to a waiting room. Far from my fear I’d be the only man, most women seem to be accompanied. Mary picks up a magazine and starts to flick through it, while I settle back on a chair and surreptitiously eye the others waiting, occupying myself by wondering about their backstories. Some of the couples look lovey-dovey and excited, some look bored as if they’ve been through it all before. Of the unaccompanied woman, only one’s showing a small baby bump. It would have gone unseen had she not looked so thin she could be undernourished. My eyes move on and then back, seeming to be drawn to her. Her hair is blonde and short, which seems at odds with the dark hue of her face. She’s not tanned, but has a naturally deeper toned skin, brown eyes and almost black brows. I surmise her hair colour is due to dye, but is that advised during pregnancy? Well, what the fuck do I know? I’m hardly qualified to give advice or criticise.

I pull my eyes away, but soon they slide back again. She’s not a young girl, thirty or so, perhaps? She’s certainly not affluent. Her clothes are clean but cheap. Surreptitiously, I look but spy no ring on her finger.

---