Page 15 of Axle's Angel
“No, I’m fine. I just wanted you to know, that’s all. I don't say it often enough. You guys don’t know how much you filled a hole in my heart.”
“Oh, Aunt Ang. We know. I’m sorry you had to give your little girl up. We can look for her if you want? She’s an adult now.” Janis reassures me as she reaches over the seat and takes my hand.
“No,” I shake my head. “She’s happy, or she was the last time your dad checked on her. I don’t want to derail her life, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t tell you how much I love you all.”
“Well, we love you too,” Janis assures me with a smile. “Best aunt in the world.”
“Agreed,” Tru nods.
“And the best sister,” Siera smiles at me.
Returning her smile, I settle back in my seat. We go back to discussing things, like what we’re going to get Stone and Bridget for the birth of their surprise baby. We were all thrilled. Stone and Bridget were still in shock. They’d tried for years with noluck and had more or less given up and were talking about adoption when Bridget had gotten ill with what she thought was the flu, only to discover it would last nine months. We were thrilled for them.
The diner wasn’t that busy as it was mid-afternoon; we were seated by the same lady as last time.
“Good to see you back. What can I get you?” Lala asks as she fills our water glasses.
“What are you getting?” Siera asks, scanning the menu.
I glance down at mine. “The meatloaf special sounds good.”
She nods. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“With apple pie after?” I add.
She grins. “Obviously.”
“Same for us too, please,” Janis says to Lala.
“I’ll get that out to you shortly. It may be a little late, I’m by myself for the next little while.”
“No rush,” I reassure her. “We’ve not got anywhere to be.”
“Appreciate that,” she smiles at us and picks up the menus, leaving us to chat.
“So, I called Jake about the motorcycle club,” I inform them.
“And?” Tru gives me a curious look.
I fill them in on what Jake told me, and about Fern’s shopping trip.
It was so good to spend time with them; we’d been so busy working that our evenings had been a quick supper, shower and then falling exhausted into bed. We were coming to the end of the major projects though.
Lala brought our food out, but she seemed nervous and kept looking out the windows of the diner. Nearly an hour after we arrived, I went up to the till and paid our bill.
“Are you okay Lala? You seem a little jumpy.”
“Oh,” she smiled at me. “You are too sweet, worrying about me, but there’s nothing wrong. I’m expecting one of my boys. I’ve been keeping an eye out for him.”
I eye her for a minute to make sure she’s okay. She seems perfectly happy though.
“As long as you’re okay. Thanks for the lovely meal.” I say, sliding a few notes into the tip jar before I walk out after Siera and the girls.
In the distance, I hear the rumble of motorcycles. You don’t live in Shadow Haven without getting used to hearing them, so I know what the sound is.
I’m near where Siera parked, reaching for the door when I hear my name called. My breath catches as a chill slides through me. I stiffen, my shoulders tensing with shock.
I’m sure that I’ve misheard. It’s just wishful thinking. It can’t be him—not after all these years, not here, in a town only miles from where I’ve been living this whole time.
