Reckless Love (Satan's Prophets MC, Book 2) (Satan's Prophets MC Series) (20 page)

Robert put down his empty beer bottle, pushing aside the other empty ones on the table to make more room. He kept picturing Jenny Phillip’s smiling face in his mind. She seemed like such a genuinely warm person when she greeted him at the wedding, not a miserable old bitch like he always assumed she would be. Looking over at his nightstand, he knew the time had come. It was time to face what was in that journal.

Robert’s hands trembled as he picked it up. He took a deep breath and started reading.

My niece, Kellie, called me today to tell us about her eighteen-year-old girlfriend who is pregnant and her boyfriend is in jail. Her family is ashamed of her and gave her an ultimatum: either get an abortion, or leave their house. Jenny is frantic. She has nowhere to go and she can’t bring herself to kill her unborn baby. Kellie knows how long we have been trying to have a child with no luck. She asked if we would want the baby. Of course we did. It was a dream come true for us. We sent airplane tickets to Jenny soon after. We are so happy she agreed to live with us until her baby is born.

~ ~ ~

Today we picked up Jenny at the airport. The poor girl. She is so young and scared. How could her family treat her so badly? I see nothing but desperation in her eyes.

~ ~ ~

Sometimes, during the night, I can hear soft sobs coming from Jenny’s room. My heart is breaking for this girl. But what can I do to comfort her? Me … who is taking away the one thing that she desperately wants.

~ ~ ~

Jenny delivered her baby today. I can’t even begin to express how happy I am. To think, after all these years of wanting a child, my dream became a reality. We have a son!

~ ~ ~

The midwife tried to take the baby away, but Jenny wanted to hold her son one last time. I watched as she kissed her son’s face and sobbed gut-wrenchingly as the midwife brought the baby to my arms
.

~ ~ ~

I am feeling deeply sorry for this young girl, but I am very happy at the same time. I am ashamed of myself. Is it so wrong of me to be so happy when it is causing someone else so much pain? But I absolve myself of feeling any guilt; Jenny knows she can’t take care of her son properly. She has no job and
never finished high school. She told us she is going back to school to try make something of herself when she gets back home.

~ ~ ~

Jenny left today. We told her to never try to see her son again, thinking it would be better for everyone involved. God forgive me. I’ll
never forget the look of pure anguish on her face as she agreed with us.

Robert kept reading long into the night. His mother kept tabs on Jenny Phillips through Jenny’s friendship with her niece. He found out that his birthmother did go back to finish high school and even made it through a business school after that. Jenny got a good-paying job as a private secretary to a successful businessman, and when the company relocated, she went with it.

According to what was written, she never married. Robert read on that his father’s name was Tony Figuero and he was sent to jail for breaking and entering.

When Robert got to the end of the journal, his mother had put in one last entry that blew his mind.

Robert,

If you’ve read this journal, you’ll now know why I want you to find your birthmother. I’m sorry, son. I know you always thought she didn’t want you, but I couldn’t tell you the truth. I couldn’t tell you just how badly she really did. I was so afraid you would leave to find her and never come back to us. Please don’t hate me. I know it was selfish, wanting to keep you with me always, but now I want you to find her. I want to give something back to Jenny Phillips, for all she gave to us. Maybe it’ll ease her guilt and sorrow by letting her see what a fine man you have become. Your dad and I were always so proud of you. Now it is her turn to be proud.      

                                                                                Your loving mother

It was her dad’s birthday. Renee woke up early, excited to be spending the day with her dad and aunt. She tried getting out of bed slowly, not wanting to wake up Mick.

“What are ya doing up so early?” Mick reached out to pull her back down and give her a kiss.

Renee loved cuddling up with Mick first thing in the morning. She wrapped her arms around him, running her hands through his long hair. “I told Aunt Jenny I would be over early this morning to help her in the kitchen. I told you it’s my dad’s birthday today, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, I forgot. But… that reminds me, I have a
candle
for you. Better be careful, it’s awfully hot.”

He wiggled his brows, then flipped her over to use his “candle” and enter her from behind. Renee loved this position, feeling so safe and cherished with Mick’s strong arms wrapped around her.

* * *

“I’ll drop you and Michael off. I have to take a ride over to The Den this morning. Danny called me yesterday and wants to meet with me. Since the bar is closed today, we’re going to move some stuff around.”

Renee didn’t hear any noise on the monitor, so she knew Michael wasn’t up yet. She snuck quietly into his room to pack up his carrying bag with everything she would need for the day, then returned back to her bedroom to get dressed.

Renee put on her new pink button-down top and black leggings that she had bought especially for the party. Her new haircut hung in long layers framing her face and the new shampoo she bought really made her hair shiny and bouncy. She didn’t want to wear too much makeup; just a little mascara and some cherry lip gloss was all she put on.

By that time, she heard little giggling sounds coming through the monitor. She smiled, thinking how lucky she was. Michael was such a sweet, good natured little boy. Mick came walking into the room with Michael in his arms. “I think someone is hungry. Why don’t you get his baby cereal made while I change his diaper? Then we can be on the road.”

Renee wasn’t going to mention it, but then she took pity on him. “You sure you want to do the diaper changing thing right now? He usually poops in the morning.”

“Well babe, I gotta get used to it sometime. Come on, lil’ guy. It’s off to poopy diaper training for your daddy.”

Renee was downstairs in the kitchen when Mick started hollering for her to come upstairs. She walked into Michael’s bedroom to see her son lying naked on the changing table and Mick standing there gagging, holding him in place with one hand.

Renee knew immediately what had happened. She started giggling. “I warned you it might be messy.”

“Yeah, well, I thought I could do it. I’m gonna stick to making his baby cereal from now on,” Mick grumbled as he walked out of the room.

Renee couldn’t stop laughing. “Come on, little guy, mama’s here now.”

* * *

Mick parked his truck and helped Renee get Michael and all his stuff into her dad’s house, gave Renee a quick kiss, and told her he would be back in a little while.

She caught the delicious smell of a turkey roasting in the oven. She walked into the kitchen where Aunt Jenny was busy cutting up giblets to make the stuffing. She hurriedly wiped her hands and held them out for Michael.

“Oh my goodness, isn’t he getting so big! Grandpa has been waiting for you to get here. Jenny took Michael and gave him to Charlie, who was sitting watching the morning TV shows.

“Look who’s here, grandpa!”

Michael giggled and held his arms out for his grandpa. Charlie’s whole face lit up with happiness as Jenny placed Michael in his lap.

“So yummy…” Renee lifted her nose into the air. “I love the smell of roasting turkey.”

“Well, I asked your dad what his favorite meal was, and he said turkey with all the trimmings, so that’s what he is getting.”

Renee looked over at her aunt’s happy face. “I’m so glad you are here with dad now that I am gone.”

“Oh honey, there is no place I’d rather be than here with family. Now you go sit down and I’ll let you finish cutting up the rest of the celery and onion and other ingredients for the stuffing. I decided not to actually stuff the bird. There’s your first baking tip: it makes the stuffing too soggy!” she explained.

“I am so excited! This is our first family get-together since you’ve been married, and I want it to be the best ever.” Jenny’s brow wrinkled. “I just hope your dad is okay with the company that’s coming. Jaz said she and JD would be happy to come and I told her to invite Holly and Striker, too. Susanna said she was going to ask Lori and Drifter to come also, as they love a good home-cooked meal. I figure, maybe if your dad sees how nice they can be, he will accept Mick’s friends, too. He did come a long way with Mick, but I hope this will give him that extra little push. I’ll tell you, Renee, I really like Jaz and Holly, but from the time I spent in Striker’s company… I’m not too sure about him. He does seem to speak out of turn a lot, doesn’t he?”

Renee chuckled. “I know what you mean. I know Jaz isn’t crazy about him, either, but she puts up with him for Holly’s sake. She says he is too crude for her liking.”

Aunt Jenny let out a nervous little chuckle. “Well, I just hope he behaves himself today.”

“So tell me, how are things going with you two?”

Aunt Jenny loved seeing the dreamy look that came over Renee’s face whenever she talked about Mick. “Things are going great. And it’s because of you. Aunt Jenny, I could never thank you enough for helping us get together again. I was such a silly fool to push him away. Now we’re married and I am so happy.”

Renee got up to wipe the tears from her eyes. “These onions are making me cry,” she said with a laugh. Jenny knew it was tears of joy. “Where are the bread cubes? I’ll mix it all together, then it’ll be ready for the oven in a little while.”

“Over here on the counter. As long as you’re taking care of that, I think I’ll pour myself a glass of wine,” Jenny mused out loud. “Did I mention that I never drank until I came here? Now I see what I’ve been missing out on.” She giggled. “I really love this stuff.”

The girls were kept busy in the kitchen most of the morning. Soon, it was time for Jenny to get dressed and wait for their guests to arrive. Renee heard the doorbell and went to open the door.

Jaz and JD were the first to arrive, and they brought Lori with them. Jaz hugged Renee and told her how beautiful she looked. “Married life agrees with you. I can tell by that glow you have around you.”

Renee clasped her hands to her chest. “Oh, Jaz, I have never been happier.”

Jaz handed Renee a bowl of sweet potatoes she’d made and Lori brought over homemade cranberry relish. Renee told them to help themselves to a drink before she walked into the kitchen to put the bowls on the counter. JD couldn’t wait and poked Jaz to hurry and get him a beer. Jaz frowned at JD. He nodded back at her and pointed to the fridge in the kitchen. Aunt Jenny and her dad came into the parlor and greeted them. Aunt Jenny was cordial as ever and her dad, she saw, was trying his best to be friendly. He extended his hand and JD shook it. The men settled down to chat while the girls went back into the kitchen.

Mick arrived about the same time as Drifter, Striker, and Holly with their son, Sam. Charlie went to answer the doorbell and invited them in. When Jenny noticed the scowl on his face, she poured herself another glass of wine—
for fortitude
, she told herself—hoping she wouldn’t be drunk before dinner. Holly handed Renee her specialty she’d made: a casserole of green beans with mushroom soup and french-fried onions.

Striker brought a bottle of wine and set it down in front of Jenny and winked at her. Mick carried in a case of beer and was on his way to the refrigerator.

“No sense refrigerating it,” Striker said out loud. “It’ll be gone before it gets warm. Set it down right here.” He pointed to a spot on the floor near him and JD. That brought out another scowl on Charlie’s face. Striker smirked at him. Drifter opened up the bottle of Jack Daniels he had brought.

Jenny offered Holly a glass of wine, but she wasn’t drinking, being as she had her son with her. She pursed her lips tight and nodded her head to Striker. “I have to take care of Sam. As usual,” she pouted. Then in a louder voice, “You’d think he’d not drink once in a while so
I
could enjoy myself.” Striker completely ignored that statement while he made a grab for the bottle of liquor.

Mick walked over to Renee and put his arms around her and kissed her on the lips. He rubbed his hand over her butt. That little show of affection always made Renee feel so special and loved. She looked up into Mick’s eyes and suddenly they were the only two in the room. Mick lowered his head and kissed her lips again. Renee felt tingly all the way down to her toes. She was trying to press herself a little closer to Mick when they both heard a loud throat clearing. Renee glanced over at her dad. “I guess we’d better stop before my dad has a fit,” she giggled to Mick.

“Can’t wait to get you back home, babe,” Mick whispered in her ear. “Where’s my son?” She told him Michael was tired out from playing with grandpa and was sleeping in his portable playpen.

Striker was amused by the scene in front of him and couldn’t hold his mouth any longer. He promised Holly he would try to control himself, but damn it, some things were just impossible. “Hey, you two lovebirds, if you’re gonna start dickie-dunkin’, leave the room. My son is here.”

Holly poked Striker in his ribs and Charlie scowled once again.

“Holly, stop poking me,” Striker seriously threatened, “or I’m gonna take you home and do my own dickie-dunking.”

Aunt Jenny decided she needed another refill.

By the time dinner was ready, everyone was in a jovial mood, except for Charlie, but at least he was still cordial. Charlie said the grace before they ate and he purposely added in, “Lord help us,” at the end, which caused some snickering from the men. Charlie looked around the table, and he was quite surprised by the good table manners he saw. Jenny caught him watching the guys and kicked his shin under the table. He looked at her innocently and smiled. She frowned back at him with a little shake of her head.

After everyone had eaten their fill and had some birthday cake, Charlie invited them all to join him in the parlor. “I got a good Clint Eastwood movie I’m putting on. ‘Dirty Harry’, my favorite.”                             

Striker stood up immediately and told Holly he was ready to leave. Holly lied and said that they had promised Sam they would take him to the park playground. Lori asked JD and Jaz to take her back to the motel, saying she needed to get back to relieve the cleaning lady that was filling in for her. Drifter quickly offered to give her a ride which made Lori smile. JD and Jazz also excused themselves. JD was taking Jazz to the cemetery to visit her parents’ graves.

Mick looked at Renee with pleading eyes. “Do you want to go buy that new wallpaper you’ve been wanting for Michael’s room?”

“Absolutely not,” Renee said, seeing through his ploy. “I want to spend the day here with our family. Please,” she looked at him imploringly.

Mick smiled back. “Absolutely, babe.”

When Mick’s friends were gone, Charlie stood up and gave Jenny a thumbs-up sign. “Well, that certainly got rid of those bikers quick, didn’t it?” he commented with a smirk.

Jenny’s hands flew onto her hips and she looked at him with narrowed eyes. “It wasn’t
that
bad, Charlie, now admit it!”

Charlie didn’t say a word; he just walked out of the kitchen humming.