The Biker's Fate Chapter 241

Maisie

"MAISIE?" GRACE ASKED in a worried voice as I pulled up to her house.

"Yes, love?"

"Daddy's not home."

I turned to face her from the front seat. "I know, love. But Mum is."

"I know, but she's been acting a little weird again."

"Really?" I asked. Grace nodded, so I gave her a bolstering smile. "Okay. We'll go in and have a look, eh? If she's bad, you'll grab some things and come to my house. Poppy will stay here for now."

Grace nodded again, and we headed inside. Alison had had issues with bi-polar disorder most of her life, but had been managing it beautifully with medication for years. She'd occasionally go a little off-kilter and her meds would need to be adjusted, but all would be well again. However, there had been a few times when it had taken longer to get the right "chemical balance" and she'd scared the children, but those were the times that Niall, Ryan, and I would step in for extra support. It was why she'd been at the doctor the week before… she'd needed to adjust her meds again.

She was covered. Always.

Stepping inside, I kept Grace behind me as we walked through the foyer. "We're home!" I called.

"Kitchen," Ali called back. She sounded fine, but I knew that could be a smoke screen.

We walked up to the island and I studied Alison who was emptying the dishwasher. "How did it go?"

"Really well," I said. "Cassidy Quinn said she's going to call you this week to talk about options for Grace. She thinks she's ready for the next step."

"Wow, honey," Ali exclaimed and hugged Grace. "That's amazing!"

"Thanks, Mom."

When Alison turned back to the dishwasher, Grace gave me an "all clear" nod, so I said my goodbyes and headed back to the car.

As Poppy and I drove home, my thoughts were consumed by Hatch. I felt like a teenager with her first crush again. Or maybe more accurately for the first time. I'm sure I felt that way with Niall; I just couldn't remember… we'd been together forever. Hatch set me on edge. And on fire. And ice cold. Plus, he made me flutter. God, I really was ridiculous.

"Mum? What did Mrs. Quinn say after class?" Poppy asked as we walked into our condo.

"Pajamas then I'll fill you in."

She frowned. "That sounds bad."

"It's not bad, Poppet." I smiled. "Not at all."

I could tell she didn't really believe me, but she rushed off to get ready for bed and I changed into yoga pants and a T-shirt. I was just happy to get my bra and heels off for the day.

Poppy returned, and we curled up in Niall's chair. It was the place we went when we needed to feel safe.

"Mrs. Quinn asked me how you felt about ballet," I said.

"I love it," she said emphatically.

"I know, darling. But she wanted to know what your motivation is, I suppose for a better term. Not just if you enjoy it but if you could live without it."

"I have to dance," she whispered.

"Have to because your soul has to?"

She shook her head.

"Why do you have to dance, Poppet?" She was quiet as I stroked her hair, but I could hear her quiet sniffles. "What's this now?" I lifted her face. "Why are you crying, darling?"

"I have to dance because Daddy wanted me to dance."

"He did?"

She nodded, the tears streaming now. "I found a picture he'd drawn of me. I was dancing and he'd made a little note about how much he loved me and how happy he was when I danced. I don't want Daddy to be sad in heaven."

"Oh, my sweet, sweet girl." I pulled her close and rubbed her back as the floodgates opened and she sobbed into my chest.

Bloody hell.

I hoped that whatever words came out of my useless mouth were the right ones. "Your daddy loved you and he probably drew that picture because you were two and the cutest little ballerina in the world…  and he loved to draw. Just like you do. You know he doodled all the time. But you'd have been the cutest little bull rider if that's what you were doing at two… not that bull riding's on the table, love… just to be clear." She let out a giggle snort and I kissed her head. "It doesn't matter what you do, darling, he'll always love you. If you want to dance, do it because it feeds your soul and you can't live without it. Or you can do it just because. There's no pressure."

"Is that what Mrs. Quinn said?"

"She said she could tell you weren't into it quite like Gracie. You know how much she bleeds ballet."

"Totally," Poppy agreed.

"So she said you had a choice to make, because you're getting older and if you really want to take this all the way, it would be a good idea to plan."

She turned her watery gaze on me. "So she doesn't think I suck?"

I smiled. "Not even close. You work far too hard to suck."

She bit her lip and sighed. "I like ballet, but I don't know if I love it like Gracie."

"I don't know that anyone could love it like Gracie, love."

"If I stop dancing, will you be mad at me?" she asked. "Will Daddy?"

I shook my head. "No way."

"Am I allowed to do something else?"

There was my little negotiator. "Like what? The chorus?"

"No one wants to hear me sing, Mummy."

"Yes, there is always that, dear heart." I smiled. "Um, what about piano?"

She shook her head.

"Hmm… well, what do you have in mind?"

"Could I start taking riding lessons instead?" she asked, hopefully.

"I can certainly look into that, yes. But you've committed to finish out the ballet session, so you need to keep that commitment, then we'll look at something else if you'd like to."

She nodded as she snuggled closer and I stroked her hair.

"I wish I could remember him," she whispered.

"I know, love. Is it time for popcorn and old movies?"

She gasped. "Tonight?"

I chuckled. "No, it's a bit late for a school night, but we can do it tomorrow after tea."

"Okay," she whispered.

We sat like this for a while. She was growing up so fast, but I still remembered the tiny baby feeding at my breast.

"I like Hatch," Poppy whispered.

"You do?"

"Yeah. He's nice. And he thinks you're pretty."

I craned my head. "What?"

"His eyes get soft when he looks at you," she said. "Like how Uncle Ryan looks at Auntie Ali."

I squeezed my eyes shut. See? Twelve going on… whatever. Too old. She was far too observant for her own good. "Well, I'm not sure we can go that far, sweetheart. Uncle Ryan loves Ali like your daddy loved me. That takes time."

She shrugged. "Well, I like him."

"I like him too," I admitted after a minute. "Time for bed, I think."

Poppy sat up, but didn't climb off the chair. "Thanks for always letting me talk about Daddy."

"Why wouldn't I, love?"

"Because it makes you sad sometimes, and I don't want to make you sad."

I felt my nose burn, but I staved off the tears. "Well, it was sad that Daddy died, but talking about it helps, so never stop okay?"

She nodded, kissed me, and then skipped off to her room. I held myself together until she was in bed and then I melted into my own and sobbed for Poppy and her huge heart to think her dad would be sad in heaven if she stopped dancing. Sobbed because talking of Niall did still hurt a bit, the loss ever present, the alone feeling always in the back of my mind... and then I sobbed myself into exhaustion, and finally sleep.

Hatch

My phone burned in my pocket. It had been twenty-four hours since I'd left Maisie and I wanted to call her. Had wanted to call her all day, but I'd stopped myself.

Shit. This could not happen.

I stared up at the car I was working on and tried to put her out of my mind.

"Hatch!" Buzz called out. "Where you at?"

"Down here, brother." I climbed the stairs and met Buzz at one of the rolling doors of the shop. "What's up?"

"Prez needs ya," Buzz said. "He's on the phone."

Crow was the Club's president and he didn't call a whole lot. Usually topics were discussed and resolved at church on Wednesdays, so if the Prez was calling something was up.

"Why didn't he call my cell?" I asked.

"He said he did."

"Shit. Okay, let me wash up." I tore off my gloves, washed my hands, and pulled my cell from my pocket. It was dead. I headed into the office, found my charger and plugged in, before grabbing the shop phone. "Prez?"

"Hey, Hatch. Got time to take some parts up to Abe's shop?"

I shook my head. Abe's shop was in the Pearl. Fuckin' fate.