Page 42 of Choosing My Happiness
Uh, I didn’t really understand the logic of that sentence.
“I’d like you to be my Mommy so I can see D2 as much as I want. I know you like her too.” Dylan looked up at me with pleading blue eyes.
I sighed. “Dylan, I’m not going to be here for much longer. It’s not fair for me to say yes to being your Mommy, and then never being here, is it? Mommies have to stay with their babies.”
“But my Mommy didn’t stay with me. She’s dead.” His lip started trembling. I wasn’t trained for this. I tapped his chest.
“Yes, she did. But she’s in your heart,” I countered. “Whenever you think of her, she’s listening.”
He thought about it and sighed. “Okay. An’ I do have an Aunty Shaq who helps me remember my Mommy. Is that okay?”
I eased out a breath of relief as I nodded. Then he opened his mouth to talk again. My stomach clenched in terror.
“Even though you don’t want to be my Mommy, will you still be my friend?” he asked.
My stomach eased. “Sure thing. I can be your friend.” I smiled.
“Yay, and I’ll call you Big D ‘cause you’re a big Daisy, and D2 is also Daisy, and you’re both my friends, but I can’t call you Daisy ‘cause D2 will think I’m talking about her, and that will just be confusing.” I held my breath as he talked. I was wrong to relax. He looked at me, and then wrapped his arms around my head.
“Thank you for being my friend, Big D. You’re the bestest,” he told me, before running away again.
27
Chapter 27: Daisy
I escaped the house as soon as I could and ran for the bike. I had no idea how I ended up in this situation. I’d better let Janie know Dylan’s decision. Hopefully she can offer some advice. I’m an ER nurse, not a paediatric one. It’s been a long time away from kids.
I pulled up at the lawyers office in time for the appointment with Darcy. I pushed the bike into a park where it was protected. Despite Jim’s earlier pronouncement, he’d lent me his granddad’s bike to ride around on. The blank jacket and helmet kept me hidden as well. I sighed in delight. Only one thing was stopping life from being any better…and I was about to take the next step in getting it.
An hour later, it was done. I’d started the divorce process. I didn’t know what assets Blaze had stashed away now, but he also had Dylan to look after, so I tried to be as fair as I could. All I really wanted was my freedom, but the car he bought me wouldbe safer than the rust bucket I currently had. He wasn’t using it anyway. He could keep the house to raise Dylan in. The jewelry was mine. I earned each of those pieces by putting up with his infidelity. Hopefully it would be easy to get his signature, and then it was just a matter of filing.
I also caught up with Dad’s last will and testament. It was pretty straightforward. Everything went to Mom, so she had enough to live on for the rest of her life. She was right about the cremation. He also requested a club ride, which would be par for the course, but it would be up to Bull to approve, as president of the club. Everything was good to go. So, I went and visited some funeral homes.
* * *
I returned back to Mom’s house after finding a funeral home director that most appealed to me. He was sweet and professional, until he figured out who the funeral was for. Then he laughed and relaxed.
“I know Matchstick,” he said, shaking his head. “I know exactly what to do. Just let Molly know that little morbid kid is on the case.” He chuckled at my expression.
“My rebellious phase included a stint prospecting for the Riders. Matchstick was the one who took me aside a few months in and gave me the heads up that the funeral business world was not compatible with the Riders. I had to knock off thezombie shit, as he called it, or drop out.”
He paused in his memories.
“Best come-to-Jesus speech I’ve ever heard. I handed in my kutte, floored it back home, and never left.” He glanced at me. “The dead don’t swear like your father does, well,did.”
I chuckled back at him, my own memories floating up. He patted my shoulder and reassured me that Dad would have his ideal funeral. I paid the deposit, and hopped back on the bike.
A truck pulled out onto the road from Mom’s house just as I was coming around the corner. Dylan and Blaze waved to me nonchalantly, as if I was just someone on a bike. I guess the disguise worked. Thank God my timing was also impeccable. With any luck, the funeral would be the last time I’d have to see him…unless he disputed the divorce. If he did, oooh boy, would I fight. I had a Jim to catch.
28
Chapter 28: Blaze
Molly had assured me that Dylan was fine with her when I got off work. It was his first time sleeping over with Molly. She was keen to get into the grandparent mode now that Daisy was back in our lives and she had the time. Hopefully, that meant babysitting for our date nights. I knew I couldn’t count on my parents, even if we half lived there in their backyard.
I’d taken the opportunity to get a shower and a quick ride in. The ride was by myself, mapping out places to take Daisy to so we could reconnect properly. There was the diner that we met at a couple of weeks ago. Er, maybe not. It might remind her that I didn’t recognize her. The lookout? Nah, that was too public, although it did look damn good at night. I kept riding and thinking. Maybe I’ll take her to that fancy restaurant over by the river. Might also check out the cinema and see what movies are coming up. A little bit of back-row action wouldn’t hurt toremind her of what we used to have. Satisfied with my plan of action, I sped up. I’d have to pick up Dylan soon anyway, and needed to swap to the truck. Only Daisy got to ride on the back of my bike.
I swapped out my bike and also put away my kutte. Unlike Matchstick, who wore it all the time, I only wore it to club events and when I rode. It felt disrespectful at any other time.
