Page 2 of Life Stands Still For No One

“I don’t know, maybe. I would like to spend a little time with Miss Billie Jo. She’s a hard worker. Graduated from high school while taking care of the family farm and now she’s taking classes online to get her degree. That’s a real go-getter, and I’ve heard she’s a better cook than her ma. That’s no little feat. Her mom has won ribbons at the county fair for her pies. Billie Jo sounds better and better.” Buzz isn’t serious because Billie Jo is a marrying type of woman, not a fling type of woman. Buzz is a hit-it and quit-it kind of man and there are no return performances for him.

“She’s not your type. She’s the staying kind. The kind you take home to mama,” I tell my friend and brother, trying to warn him away.

“I heard she was the virgin-type of woman. When her dad was alive, he would have skinned any man or boy alive who tried to get too close to his beloved daughter. Since he’s passed, she’s been too damn busy trying to keep their family farm going, and she’s done a fine damn job of it. They donate seventy-five percent of all the produce that we give away each first weekend. Since her mom has gone back to work full time as a nurse, she also has her brother and sister to raise. She didn’t even take the time to walk across the stage for her graduation. She was too busy with the farm. She has a lot to offer a man like me.” I want to kick Buzz’s ass for talking about Billie Jo that way.

“You need to mind your business. We don’t talk about any woman’s virginity or not. You know the rules. We show women the respect they deserve, and Billie Jo deserves our respect. She works her ass off trying to help the people of our community.” I am seeing red.

“I was just teasing you, Raid. Chill. I know you have already staked your claim on Billie Jo. You just won’t admit it to anyone else.” I throw the pen that I have been writing things on my calendar with at him. Buzz moves his head and avoids it. I laugh.

“Does anyone else have anything to say since Buzz is finished wasting our time?” No one says anything, but they all have smirks on their faces. “As usual, I’m glad I could amuse everyone today.” I bang my gavel to close the meeting. “Everyone get to your day jobs before your bosses fire your asses.” I need to check in on my mom before I can go to the produce stand. “Buzz, you want to ride to Mom’s with me? I need to check in with her.”

“Sounds good. Mom—Honey—always has the best coffee.” Buzz has been my best friend for years and when we were in school, he lived at my house most of the time. His mom and dad were never home, and Mom always said Cole needed to be fattened up some. No one who ever came to our home went away hungry. Mom loves feeding everyone.

“Meet you in five out front,” I tell Buzz. I just need to make a quick stop in my office to get the keys to my bike.

2

Raider…

“Hey, Mom, you, okay?” I ask her.

“Raider, I’m fine. Just a bad night,” my mom tells me and I can see the dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep.

“I knew something was wrong. I wanted to see you with my own eyes,” I tell the only parent I have ever known. Mom and I have a closer bond because of the history we have had. I have questioned her many times about my dad, but she only tells me that he didn’t want children.

“I’ll be fine. I need to get this caffeine in me. I leave in three weeks for my signing in Conroe. I have a lot I need to get done,” she tells me.

“Yeah, about that. I’m not happy you’re going to be that close to the Rival Sons MC. We don’t have any kind of connections with them, and I hate when you’re out of our territory.”

“That’s too bad. I need to do my job. I also have some readers who I will get to meet for the very first time.” My mom has been more into her writing since I left her and she became an empty nester. I know my mom is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but I love her too much to let anything happen to her.

“I don’t like it,” I tell her, trying not to sound like too much of a dick toward her.

“Oh well, kid, you’ll just have to suck it up.” She sees Buzz standing behind me. “Hey, Cole, how are you doing?” she asks him.

“Good, Mom.” Cole says. He’s been my best friend for years and for most of it he’s called my mom, mom. It’s the same with my other club brothers, except for our prospects.

“How are your mom and dad doing?” Mom asks Buzz. She always makes sure my club brothers feel at home in her house, and she is genuinely interested in every one of them. Have I said I think my mom is the best mom in the world?

“They’re good,” he replies with a smile. He doesn’t care much for his parents, but he has a soft spot for my mom, so he shows her respect.

“Hey, Buzz, you want some coffee?” I ask him.

“Sounds good,” Buzz answers. I fill two cups with coffee and hand Buzz his. I take a cautious drink. It’s still a little too hot, but it doesn’t take Buzz long to drink his down. I try to think of a better way to handle the conversation with Mom. Nothing comes to mind, so I’ll go with what I always do with Mom—direct and to the point.

“How’s Pete doing, Mom?” I ask Mom, smiling.

“No idea. He’s history. Has been for about a month,” Mom tells me with no remorse. I’m sure she broke that man’s heart. I know Pete had already bought her a ring, and he was going to pop the question this weekend.

“Why do you do that, Mom? He was a good man,” I state, aggravation in my voice.

“Because he wanted more than I wanted to give. I don’t do love and strings,” she tells me.

“I told you the sperm donor was ruining her life. She’s going to grow old and be all on her own if she doesn’t let the memory of that man go,” I tell Buzz.

“I’m sitting right here. I can hear everything you say. It’s none of your business. You want me to butt into your love life?” Mom asks me with attitude in her voice.

“Mom, I worry about you. You don’t even know if he’s still alive. He who shall remain unnamed, since I don’t know who he is.” I don’t use this tone of voice with my mom. “Just let yourself be happy for once in your life. Quit pushing every man you care about away. He didn’t want us, remember? You told me that every time I asked why I didn’t have a dad while I was growing up.” I hear the bitterness in my voice. “Mom just let the man go. You deserve to be happy.”

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