The Biker's Fate Chapter 282

Maisie

ONE WEEK LATER, Poppy and I were back at our place dressing for Alison's funeral. Grace had been staying with us as well, refusing to go home, which Ryan had agreed to for the moment, but today she was with Ryan's mother, whom she adored, which meant she could have family time.

Ryan and Alison's home had been "cleared," on Monday, which meant the clean-up could begin. Ryan couldn't bring himself to sleep there again (I didn't blame him), so Hatch organized a few brothers from the club, and I got with a few of the women, and we helped pack up the house. Cade hired a specialty clean-up crew to erase the evidence of Alison's suicide, so Ryan could get it on the market.

Ryan and Merrick stayed in a hotel until he could find a more permanent solution.

"What's going to happen to Grace now?" Poppy asked as I braided her hair.

"I don't know, Poppet. We're going to have to sit down and have a very serious conversation. You and I are going to England in August, so—"

"She could come with us," she said, hopefully.

"You seem to forget she still has a father."

"She hates her father."

I turned her to face me. "Which isn't right, Poppy."

Poppy wrinkled her nose.

"Ryan didn't do anything wrong," I stressed.

"He left her with Alison," Poppy countered.

"Do you really think that if he had any idea that Alison was going to do what she did, he would have left Gracie with Alison?" I challenged.

"Well, no, but—"

"Look, these are all very adult situations that even us adults are having a really hard time wrapping our minds around, but Ryan loves Gracie just as much as I love you, Poppet. As much as your daddy loved you, and believe it or not, just as much as Ali loved her." I stroked her cheek. "Alison was sick, and that doesn't make any of this right, and it certainly doesn't make Gracie feel any better, I'm sure, but it also doesn't make Alison's love for her daughter any less. One day, Grace will see that. It's just going to take time. Uncle Ryan has a really long road ahead of him to get Gracie's trust back, Poppet, so I'm going to do whatever I can to help, but let's let them figure out what works for their family. We'll be there to support them however we can, okay?"

"Are you going to marry Hatch?"

"Wow, where did that come from?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I was just wondering."

"I have no idea. I love him, sweetheart, but I don't know if we're at that stage just yet. It hasn't been very long."

"Well, if you get to that stage, will he be my new dad?"

"I guess that will all depend on whether or not that's something both of you want. Your daddy will always be your daddy, Poppet, so I don't want you to ever worry about Hatch replacing him."

She bit her lip. "I don't worry about that."

"Well, that's good."

"But if you have other kids, I kind of want all of us to have the same last name."

I chuckled. "Gosh, you've got me married off and pregnant to the man and we haven't even hit the year mark."

Poppy rolled her eyes. "I know, but he's, like, totally in love with you, so it's going to happen."

"You think so?"

"Well, duh."

My heart fluttered. "I'll tell you what, if it happens, and it's something you want to talk to him about, then we'll do it, okay?"

She nodded. "I want to talk to him about it."

"Really? What if there's a boy you like and he stands at the door with a gun cleaning it, and embarrasses the heck out of you and tells you you can't date until you're thirty?"

"Then he'll just be acting like a real dad."

"Well, you've got me there, sweetheart." I smiled and pulled her in for a hug. "If it happens, we'll talk to him about it."

"Thanks, Mummy," she whispered.

"Okay, you look good. Now, let me finish up so I can be ready when Hatch gets here."

I grabbed my purse and walked out to the kitchen just as Hatch walked in the front door. I hadn't seen him since the afternoon before and to say I'd missed him was an understatement. I looped my arms around his neck, kissing him long and hard.

He cupped the back of my head and smiled against my lips. "Hey, Sunshine."

"Hey."

"Missed me, huh?"

"So, so much."

He chuckled. "Missed you too, baby."

"Hey Hatch." Poppy walked into the room and hugged him.

He hugged her back, kissing her head. "Hey, baby girl."

"We should probably head on over to the funeral home," I said. "I packed a bag since it's going to be a long day. I'm not going to want to stay in this dress all night."

Hatch grabbed the bag and we headed down to the garage and to my car. Arriving at the funeral home, we found Ryan already there with his mother and kids, and I saw Alison's mother immediately.

"What the hell is that?" Hatch whispered.

I leaned close. "The mutton dressed as lamb, as we say in England, is Alison's mother."

Phyllis wore a tight, neon-pink leather mini-skirt, see-through platform heels (sans goldfish surprisingly), a leopard print, low-cut cami, and a double gold belt to finish off the ensemble. She'd dyed her hair platinum blonde and had teased it up a bit like Dolly Parton in 9to5. I guess the hippie commune didn't work out.

Phyllis threw herself over the casket with a moan, revealing to the group she'd forgone undies, and cried, "My baby, my baby's dead! She's dead!"

Ryan caught my eye and gave me a look of panic.

"Time to help," I declared.

Hatch nodded. "I'm gonna—"

"Nope," I interrupted. "You're going to show everyone here you're my man."

"Yeah, not really what I was worried about, Sunshine." He stared down at me. "Just not real interested in seein' her shriveled up twat."

"Got it." I faced him, forcing back a giggle as I gripped his cut. "I love you, Hatch Wallace. Now kiss me quickly because I have a dead woman I need to save from a drunk one."

He chuckled and did as he was told. Poppy hung back with Hatch while I approached Phyllis with caution.

"Hey there, Phyllis, do you remember me?" I asked. "I'm Maisie. I met you a while ago. When Grace was born?"

She turned her head to look at me, but didn't stand up or move away, so I did my best to block her vagina from the family. "Yes. I remember," she said.

I didn't believe her, but I went with it. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

"She hated me."

"She didn't hate you," I countered.

"She never called."

"I'm sorry," I said again, and wrapped an arm around her bony shoulders, pulling her (a little forcefully because she wouldn't let go of the damn casket) away. "That must have been difficult." I led her to the family row and sat her next to Ryan's mother who appeared mortified that I did so.

Ryan joined me and gave me a gentle hug, thanking me for my help.

"Where's her husband, or whatever he is?" I asked.

"Merrick said he saw him in the bathroom drinking from a flask. I thought about going and getting him, but, honestly, I just don't give a shit," he admitted in a whisper.

"I don't blame you." I glanced around. "Is Alison's dad here yet?"

Ryan shook his head. "I don't know if he's coming."

"Oh," I breathed out. "Okay."

"It's fine, Maisie. People are going to be arriving soon, though. Not sure what I'm going to do with her." He nodded toward Phyllis when he said "her."

"Get your cop friends to escort her out if she becomes a problem, Ryan. Seriously, don't feel bad. I'm surprised you called her."

"Her daughter's dead. I couldn't keep that from her."

"No, this is true." I sighed, feeling like a bitch. Even though I knew Alison couldn't stand her mother, Phyllis was still her mother. No one should lose their daughter. You weren't supposed to bury your children.

I joined Hatch and Poppy, close to where Grace and Merrick sat with their grandmother, and we muddled through the service, then onto the procession to the gravesite where we watched Alison lowered into the ground. The whole thing was just wrong.

There were less than twenty of us there, but I didn't miss the support of the Dogs and their bikes at the gravesite when we pulled up, along with several of Ryan's coworkers dressed in their finest Police Blues.

By the time Hatch wrapped his arms around me and Poppy, and we started back toward the car, I didn't know if my legs could support my weight… and we still had to head back to their grandmother's house to feed the guests.

I leaned heavily against Hatch as we walked away from the gravesite and by the time I fell into bed that night, I had nothing left, so I wrapped myself around Hatch and fell asleep almost immediately.