Page 64 of Bound by Affliction
Leah releases her mother and embraces her father. “Daddy,” she says on a choked cry, her body shaking at the strength ofit.
“Ma’am,” I greet Stella and hold out myhand.
She bats my hand away. “Now, none of that business.” She pulls me into a hug, and all I can do is reciprocate it. “Thank you for taking care of my baby,” she says into mychest.
“It’s an honor.” Her mom beams up at me and thenreleases.
“Alright, let’s not stand out here. Come inside and see the place!” Stella ushers us into the house where we eat and laugh. Leahtoo.
The food is fantastic, but sitting in their living room talking and hearing Leah laugh is the best part. She’s comfortable around them, making me realize she’s not quite there with the club yet, but she’s on the rightpath.
“Honey, I don’t know if this is something you want, but…” Stella starts, and my hackles goup.
“Stella! Not now!” Aaron chastisesher.
“Wait.” Leah holds up two hands. “What are you talkingabout?”
“I don’t think this is a good time for this,” Aaron says, and since the man knows his shit, I’m with him. But I also know Leah. She’s not going to let thisgo.
“I want it,” she demands withfinality.
Stella walks over to the cabinet and pulls out a tan box and turns around to Leah. Leah gasps, putting her hand over her mouth, and tears stream down herface.
“Baby, what is it?” I ask, reaching for herhand.
Aaron stands. “I told you this was too soon. Now look what you’vedone.”
“No,” Leah croaks out. “Give it to me please.” She holds her hands out and reaches for it. Her mother sets it in her hands as Leah looks to me, her beautiful face covered with tears. She blows out a deep breath while Stella and Aaron sit backdown.
Leah starts to shake a bit, and I reach out to her leg reassuringly. I’ve got her, she knows this. Whatever in the fuck is in that box, will not make my girlcry.
“The day… it…happened.”
“Baby,don’t…”
She cuts me off. “I was coming to visit my parents. This box was with me, and I was going to store it in their house. I didn’t know why, it was just in my gut to do it. It was knocked out of my hands that day. And here it is.” She smiles, throwing me off. Now she’s happy. I’m getting whiplashhere.
She slowly opens the box, and all I see are papers. About ten or twenty of them. “What arethey?”
Leah smiles wider. “Your letters. They needed safekeeping and I was coming to my parents anyway, so I thought I’d bring themalong.”
“Oh, baby.” I reach out to her face and caress her cheek, loving the fact that she kept themall.
“You don’t seeit?”
Confusion sets in. “Seewhat?”
She smacks me playfully on the chest. “My apartment was destroyed. If these letters were there, they would’ve been in tatters and I would never be able to read your words again. They were supposed to comehere.”
Pulling Leah into my arms, I hold her tight while she lets the tears flow. Once she gathers herself, she sits back. “Thank you so much,” she tells her parents. “I didn’t even think about them because I had Green with me. But these letters are our start. Just, thankyou.”
She stands and moves over to her mom and then her dad, hugging each ofthem.
Leah’s right. Those letters would have been lost forever. It makes me a happy motherfucker that she kept them and kept them safe. That’s my girl. This will forever be our beginning and our connection—in paper, words, and open from theheart.
Stella and Aaron stand on the stoop waving at us as we get on the bike, the letters safely tucked in the saddlebag. “I’m so happy I have these,” she says in my ear behindme.
“Me too, baby. Metoo.”
“It didn’t hurt to talk about that day. If anything, it gave me something positive out of the negative, and I’m choosing to hold on tothat.”
My hand goes to her knee. “Leah, I love you so damnmuch.”
Her smile is beautiful, and each time she gives it to me it’s a gift to treasure. “Love youtoo.”
At that, I fire up the Harley and we ride off. The future is bright with my girl at my side. No matterwhat.
