Page 74 of Choosing My Happiness
Dylan wiggled down, and Maisey loosened her arms in shock, letting him run outside. Blaze also looked shocked, ignoring his son disappearing through the doorway to play outside.
“Daisy, I coming! Wait for me!” he called to D2.
I turned my attention to Tinker. His face turned white, then red as thoughts whizzed through his head. Maisey looked at Tinker. Tinker glared at Maisey. Maisey mouthed the wordPoppy, thenMatchstick. Tinker’s scowl deepened. Maisey’s mouth dropped open, and she grabbed her husband’s hand while her eyes looked scared.
I caught Bear and Horse’s eyes, and we all stood up and moved towards Tinker. This man was close to blowing up. It wasn’t a case ofif, more likewhen…and somehow, we would have to contain it.
Blaze stood frozen halfway to the door, his eyes darting around. I guess he was looking for a hero to save his mentor from the bomb that was about to hit him fair and square.
Then his own mother lit the spark on the fuse. “Amber, honey, what did Dylan mean you’re Poppy’s daughter?” Maisey asked sweetly, looking scared of the answer to the question she asked. She held a tight grip on her husband, who was glaring at her like she was rust on his tools.
Amber looked at her uncle steaming with gritted teeth beside her. The mutton chops on his cheeks were bristling like the shoulders of a yard dog. The girl finally had the sense to look scared. Her eyes flitted to the people around her.
Horse tapped her elbow gently as he came up beside her. “I’d like to know too,” he said with a cheeky wink. She seemed to relax a little with his insinuated support. Tension stayed high inthe room however, silence listening to every word that Amber would say.
She took a breath and gave a shaky smile. “Just before she died, Mom told me that my father’s road name was Matchstick, but she didn’t know his real name,” she admitted. “Mom said he was in contact with her during the pregnancy and was really amazing and supportive. But then, as soon as I was born, it all stopped. She’d get some money in an account each month, but any time she tried to call him, he wouldn’t answer. She blamed his ol’lady.”
Horse sidled around, gently dragging Amber away from Tinker and Maisey, who by now had clasped both hands together, desperately holding onto each other. “Why would she blame the ol’lady?” Horse drawled.
“Oh, the ol’lady’s crazy! Before I was born, Matchstick managed to find a house and set Mom up in another town away from here. Apparently, it was so his ol’lady didn’t hurt her like she had other girls that she thought he’d slept with. Although, Mom said it was stupid because he slept around with everyone anyway. He barely kept it in his pants is the story,” Amber said proudly.
A low cackle came from behind the bar. Cracker was laughing, “Oh yeah, that story checks out.” He shook his head. “Matchstick used to have to dodge Molly on his way back home, like he was running from the police. Up and over fences, hiding under bushes with his pants two houses over.” Cracker started wheezing with the laughter he was holding back, but continued, “She was fiery, until he worked out the jewelry trick. Only thing that kept him in her good graces. Didn’t mean the girls got off, though. I remember her throwing one of my best knives at someone who justlookedat Matchstick. Banned her from the kitchen after that. The girl spent a night in the hospital, andwe had to help her disappear. She’s fine now.” He nodded and sipped his drink.
Amber smiled at him. “I’m here for all the stories about my dad. I’m sad I never got to know him. But I’ve got an uncle and aunt to be with. And I’ve got a cousin and a sister. I’ve missed so much! I’m looking forward to finally being a family,” she exclaimed excitedly. I caught a glimpse of Blaze looking like he was going to throw up, and because I was distracted, we missed Tinker by a finger.
Tinker had leapt backwards, letting go of Maisey, and ran to the wall of kuttes. Matchstick’s photo frame, and the wall behind it smashed with the first punch.
“You asshole! You stole my sister-in-law!” he roared. Glass splintered, flying everywhere.
“Secure the kids!” I bellowed. We didn’t need them getting hurt on cut glass. Bear ran for the rooms, and other members grabbed any kids in the room as Tinker wound back for another go.
“Take them outside!” I yelled, and they all ran the kids outside to the play area where they’d be safe. Blaze took a few steps towards where Tinker had yanked the frame off the wall and was ripping the picture up. His swearing was getting creative. I felt someone breeze past. Maisey had a big knife in her hands and was headed to her husband. She stepped up beside him and buried it into Matchstick’s kutte with a screech. Her eyes matched the ferocity of her husband. Tinker dropped the picture, his hands bloody from the glass, and ripped the kutte against the knife. It sliced like butter.
“Nice sharp knives, Cracker,” Bear complimented him, leaning calmly on the bar again. Cracker cackled, enjoying the show. I joined them and looked around. There were a few kids peeking around the door.
“Shut the effing door,” Bull yelled as he came inside, pushing the kids back outside. “What’s going on?” he asked as we watched the show. I folded my arms and nodded to where Horse was physically holding Amber in place by her arms. She was looking bewildered at her aunt and uncle destroying the wall where her father’s picture once sat.
“That’s Amber, Daisy’s half-sister, and also Tinker and Maisey’s niece,” I replied.
“What the fuck?”
“Apparently Matchstick got Maisey’s twin sister pregnant, then wouldn’t let her stay because of Molly. So he sent a pregnant Lacey away, set her up in another town and threatened her so she never spoke to her own family again. And it looks like Tinker and Maisey might have a problem with that seeing as Matchstick’s kutte just got cut.”
“Fuck.” Bull drew out the word, appreciating the shit show.
Crackers cackled again. “Best show ever.” He grinned through his dingy moustache.
Bull glanced at Horse. “Horse, we recording this shit?”
Horse snorted, glancing up at the cameras hanging in the corners of the room.
“Of course, why?”
Bull had a twinkle in his eye as he turned to me. “Next meeting, I’m voting we have a movie night with popcorn…and Daisy’s invited. Think she’ll approve?”
I burst out laughing. “Not sure, Bull,” I said honestly. “I’ll have to ask.”
A scream erupted behind us. I turned and caught Molly before she jumped into the mess being created by Tinker and Maisey.
