Page 10 of Bone's Destiny

“Doubt it. Nothing good ever happens to me.”

4

Lady M

The pain in my heart was so severe I was sure I’d die in my hospital bed. My Nova would grow up without her Granny M. None of my future grandchildren would ever know me. I didn’t blame Micah for wanting to know where he came from. No, I blamed Eleanor for ruining all of our lives.

“Please, baby. Try to calm down.” Ben shushed me gently as I sobbed.

Hard as I tried, I couldn’t stop.

“What has her this upset?” Brady asked, concern in his voice. His worry showed in his furrowed brow.

“Just shit with Bone.”

I hit Ben’s hand to shut up.

“Should I go kick his ass?” That darn Brady always trying to make me smile. Emotional situations were difficult for him. He was a lot like Micah in that way. Those boys’ hearts were hard as iron, but their souls could shatter like a carton of eggshells.

I feared they would be alone forever because of the loss in their lives. I tried. Tried so dang hard to love them with everything in me. My efforts hadn’t been enough. I couldn’t fill the void left behind by their mommas.

My crying picked up, knowing I had failed my two sweet men.

“Yes, a good beatdown is what he needs. Just look at my beautiful wife.” Ben passed tissues to me.

“No.” I shook my head, dabbing my eyes.

“I’ve never seen her like this before.” Brady touched my knee. “It’s making me uncomfortable.” God bless him. He was a damn fine doctor and man. I’d been beyond honored when he allowed us to foster him. He could’ve refused, but he loved us as we loved him. I prayed I never made him feel less than my other children.

“Shit’s about to hit the fan, Brady,” I told him honestly. I saw it now. Micah would not stop until he had the whole, sordid story. I had done everything possible to give him a stable and secure home. Loved him as my own despite what Ellie had done. I had made sure my boy thrived with his brothers and sister. As far as I was concerned, he was mine…all mine.

“What are you talking about?” Brady came to my side and sat in the chair.

“I can’t tell you yet, baby. I hope you’ll understand and not hold it against me when it all comes out.”

“Lady M, enough of that foolish talk. Stitch, give us a minute.” Ben went to the door and opened it. There wasn’t a subtle bone in my husband’s body. He might as well have told Brady to get the fuck out, the way he stood there waiting for him to leave.

“Okay. I’m going.” Brady kissed my cheek. “Please stay calm.”

“I will.” I sniffled and blew my nose.

Ben returned to my side. The distress in his eyes was palpable. I knew his plight and fears; they’d been my own for the last thirty-three years. Neither of us wanted to tell our children what we’d been through. It hadn’t been pretty.

“I have a feeling he told Cobra after they left the room.”

I nodded in agreement. “He might be telling the others this very second. What are we going to do? He’s hurting so badly.”

“He is not. Don’t defend his goddamn ass! I’m done taking his shit. I’ll strip him of his patch and send Buff to Montana to run the chapter.”

“Oh, God. You’re losing your mind, Ben. Micah is our son,yourblood. You can’t strip him of his patch when he’s suffered just as much as we have. That would only add insult to injury.” Sometimes this man infuriated me. Clearly, he wasn’t thinking straight.

“Stop before you have a stroke on top of everything else.” Regret flashed in his intense gaze as he sat back in the chair. His harshness was born out of fear of losing me. “Nobody has suffered more than you, baby.” He quickly swiped a tear away like he didn’t want me to see him get emotional. Too late. Plus, he could never hide anything from me.

“Oh, my love.” I extended my hand for him to hold. Fresh tears dampened my cheeks. I loved him deeply, down to the marrow of my bones. I hated what he’d been enduring for over thirty years, just waiting for the day our skeletons burst out of the closet.

“You are my whole world, Margaret.” He pressed his lips against the top of my hand. “Without you, I have no reason to live. Not for our children or grandchildren. My heart beats only for you, no one else. If you’re gone, I will be too.”

I believed him. Men weren’t like women. If we lost our man, our children and grandchildren would give us the strength to keep going. It didn’t work the same for most men, especially not my man. My mini heart attack had given him the scare of his life. I imagined he’d be more overprotective of me than before.

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