Page 5 of April is for Asher

ASHER

I callthe guys to a meeting at our MC club house. It used to be a brothel back in its Wild West days. A couple renovated it and tried to turn it into a museum back in the ‘80s, but it's too far off the beaten path. It didn't do well, so it sat around empty until we all bought it.

The sordid history is what drove us to it. After renovating it, we used the large old bar downstairs mostly for meetings and hanging out. We haven't done much restoration upstairs. Per the town’s historical society, we have to keep it true to its time period so the project’s been on hold.

It wasn't a big deal because The Mustang Mountain Riders was originally to be men’s only meeting place with the exception of Ford's daughter Izzy. But the rule changed because three of the guys are now engaged. Emma, Luna, and Kinley are the only women allowed in.They don't seem to mind the space, though they are hinting to renovate a room upstairs for them to use when we meet.

As she likes to remind us, Ford's daughter Izzy is the club princess. We turned the old office off the bar into her personal playroom. Thankfully, by the time everyone shows up, she is entertained and having fun.

Glancing around, I look at the eleven guys in front of me. Some are newer to the club like Ace, and others have been around for a while and have been my support system. If I'm going to make it through this, I know I'm going to need every one of them.

Taking a deep breath, I launch into the full story.

"Remember that charity ride we did a few months ago in Whitefish?" Not all the guys were able to go to it, but we all promoted it and donated money.

"Yeah, the one we froze our asses off and then ended up staying overnight. We went to the bar down the road where a bachelorette party was taking place," Jensen says, smirking.

"Yeah. You met that woman you haven't shut up about. But she was gone the next morning." Jensen's brother Jonas says.

"That's the one. Well, that woman's name is Jenna, and she showed up at the refugee yesterday," I tell them. Then let it sink in before I drop the next bombshell.

"She found you?" Luna asks, shocked.

I almost feel bad for keeping the most surprising news back.

"Yep, thanks to Ruby's little Mr. April ad. And that's not all." I shake my head in disbelief that I'm about to say these words.

I can see it on the faces of a few of my brother's-in- arms. They know something big is coming.

"She's pregnant, just got a job promotion, and plans to move to Billings once she gets her housing sorted out."

They all sit there in complete silence until Ford clears his throat.

"What did she want by reaching out?" he asks.

"That's it. She didn't want anything. She’s going to raise the baby on her own but wanted to do the right thing and let me, as the father, know."

The room is so quiet you can hear the clinking of Izzy's toys from her playroom.

"I hate to be the one to ask this, but are you sure the baby is yours?" Luna asks.

"That night, the connection we had was something that I have never felt before. We talked a lot. Not only has she never done the one-night stand before, but until that night, she hadn't been with anyone in a year. She doesn't strike me as someone to sleep around, so my gut is saying, yeah, it is."

"Still, you should get a DNA test and talk to a lawyer. You have rights, including visitation if you want them," Ace says, whipping out his phone and grabbing a pen and paper.

"Damn right I want them. There is no way I'm turning my back on my kid." I tell them.

They all nod, and I know they will have my back any way I need. I also know any kid of mine will be treated as one of their own, just like they do Izzy.

"I figured. Listen, here is the name of a lawyer. He's a good guy, a mountain man like us, and only does pro bono work for those that need it. If he can't help, he can give you the name of someone who can. His name is Jack, and he lives just outside Helena in Whiskey River," Ace says, handing me the paper with Jack's info. Even though I put it in my wallet, I hate to think I might have to go that route.

"Next week she has a doctor appointment and is letting me go and be involved. So I want to see how that is going to play out first. If I don't have to. I don't want to spook her."

What I don't tell them is I want more than just rights to my kid, I want Jenna too. If I get lawyers involved from day one, I won't get that. First, I need to build trust with her and take things slow. Though not too slow, we only have five months before the baby will be here.

* * *

I'mearly to the doctor's appointment. Since I hadn't been to the doctor’s office before, I left really early, so I had plenty of time to find it. Now I’m just waiting for her to get here. I'm equally excited to see Jenna and take her to lunch, as I am to know more about our baby.

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