Dragon

4 - A new life

Kyla

Present day



“Wow, this house is so big!”

I chuckle to myself as I watch my daughter rushing through our new home. My grandmother left the house to us in her will. I had no idea why, when she had nothing to do with me for the past nine years, but I figured it was her guilty conscience that made her do it.

I wasn’t going to take the house, but my Aunt Jane told me not to be stupid and take it because I’d finally have something for Greer and me. My aunt knew how much I longed to return to Bardsville with my daughter. I’d be a liar if I tried to pretend I didn’t leave my heart here nine years ago.

I was a little worried about how Greer would handle the move from Utah. Leaving everything she ever knew behind would be hard for her, so I thought. However, when I explained to my little girl where we’d be moving to, she couldn’t contain her excitement. All Greer has ever wanted is to come to Tennessee and find her father. Knowing that was where we were heading set her little mind racing on what might be.

Being back here has my heart pounding, stomach churning, and mind wandering about where I go from here. I kept my promise to Connor about waiting for him, but I’m not sure he would have done the same.

All I’ve wanted since the day I left this town was to come back to Connor. Though we never kept in touch, I held onto the hope that Connor meant what he said – that he’d always love me enough to wait.

I also have the fear inside of me that Connor will be angry about Greer and the fact that he doesn’t know about her existence. He’d have every right to be angry; only a fool would think otherwise. Though the boy I remember never got angry.

He didn’t because he was a clown who found everything funny. He pulled pranks on people, and he laughed at the aftermath. Sure, he fought as though he were a man three times his size, yet there was never any real anger. However, the boy I once knew is now a man – a man I don’t know anything about.

For all I know, Connor could be married with children by now. The promises he made could have been nothing more than those of a young boy who did not want to let go of his best friend. Perhaps Connor gave up waiting for me to turn up long ago.

I should have written to him, but I didn’t know where to start.

What good would a letter have done?

How would I have known if the address was still the same?

I tried to look for him on social media, but that was pointless. Snake Henchmen MC always had a rule that none of them would ever have social media. It could lead enemies back to them. Then again, I have never had social media either. There was no point when I had no friends to keep in touch with.

How do I know that Connor hasn’t been waiting for me under the old oak tree on the same night, every year?

I might be scared to face Conner, but how will I know anything unless I seek him out and talk to him?

God, there is so much I have to tell him, so much we need to share.

My grandmother leaving us this house is a sign that now is the right time. I won’t leave it but a few days before I look for Connor, and only that long because I need to settle Greer in.

Connor would not have left this place. He always swore he would join Snakes Henchmen MC. I doubt that changed as he got older. Bardsville isn’t all that big, so I won’t be able to avoid Connor for long. We’re bound to bump into each other. My only hope is that he can forgive me.

The house could do with being brought into the twenty-first century, but it’s clean, and the furniture isn’t too shabby. It’ll do until I can go shopping for things that are more Greer and me. I don’t have expensive tastes, and I’ve brought Greer up the same way. I’ll take her shopping once we’re settled and let her pick out what she wants for her new bedroom.

“Mommy, can this be my room?!”

I make my way upstairs to find Greer. Memories flood my head as I look around. I rarely stayed here as a child, but when I did, it was good. My grandmother may have been strict, but she was never cruel to me while I was here.

I find Greer in the largest room in the house. I remember this was my aunt Jane’s room. My grandfather adored his little girl, and he gave her everything. The room is a bit outdated, but I’ll soon fix that. Interior design is my specialty.

“Look at this room!”

I can’t help smiling at the excitement emanating from my daughter.

I don’t think my grandmother did anything to this room after my aunt left home. There’s a bed, a dresser, the walk-in closet, and pictures on the lilac walls of old bands from the 1980s. There’s a purple furry lamp on the bedside table and even an old stereo. It’s way outdated for Greer, but she seems to love it. With some new blankets and knick-knacks, this room will look great.

“It’s so retro.”

“It sure is that.” I smile.

“Please, can this be my room?”

Greer wraps her arms around my waist and looks up at me. I stroke the back of her hair with a smile on my face. “Of course, this can be your room.”

“Yay!” She screeches before rushing off to take a look at the walk-in closet.

I stand back and watch Greer for a few moments. She’s so excited to be here, not just in this house, but in this town. Every day of her life, I have told her stories of her father and how we’d all one day be together.

I don’t know if I can ever make that dream come true, but I know that Connor won’t turn Greer away. If I know nothing else about the man, I know that.

It doesn’t take Greer and me long to get the house dusted, the sheets changed, and our things put away. I didn’t bring much with me, just our clothes and a few personal belongings we couldn’t part with. I’ve never been a materialistic person, and Greer is the same way.

After dinner, and Greer is showered, I tuck her up in bed and read her a story. This has been our routine since she was a baby. Neither of us is in a hurry to change that.

“You gonna be okay in this big room all by yourself?”

“Mommy,” Greer smiles. “Of course, I am. I’m eight; I’m not a baby.”

I laugh and kiss her head. “I know you’re not. Just remember, I’ll be right down the hall if you need me.”

“I know.” Greer takes my hand in hers and kisses my fingers, making me smile. “Are we going to find Daddy tomorrow?”

I stroke her dark hair back from her forehead. I see so much of Connor in Greer – the Connor I remember, at least. She has his pale hazel eyes – a shade lighter, yet no less beautiful. Greer has the same dark brown hair as Connor; it’s just as thick and soft. When she smiles, I see Connor smiling back at me. All the years we’ve been apart, I’ve still had him with me through our daughter.

I want to tell Greer that we’ll find Connor tomorrow, but that wouldn’t be fair of me when tomorrow is too soon. I know I can’t put it off for long; Greer won’t stop asking until she finally meets him. But I need to seek him out and speak with him before Connor meets his daughter. There is so much I need to explain before that happens.

“No, sweetheart,” I see the disappointment in Greer’s eyes as she frowns sadly. “Baby, we will find your daddy very soon. But I need to speak with him and explain about you before you two meet.

“It wouldn’t be fair for me to turn up on his doorstep with you. It would be a big shock to him, and he might not react well. I don’t want that to happen and for you to think that he doesn’t want to know you.”

She smiles slightly, and I wish more than anything I could call Connor and have him come over right now. Anything to make my little girl happy, but I can’t do that.

“I know how badly you want to meet Connor, Greer. I know how much you want him to hold you and tell you how much he loves you. That will come true, princess, I promise you. Have I ever lied to you?”

Greer shakes her head. “I just want us to be together. I want Daddy to know that you’re the best mommy in the world.”

I can’t help smiling.

I don’t mean to blow my own trumpet, but I did a damn good job with my daughter. She’s such a sweet and loving little girl.

“Do you know that you’re the best thing in my life?”

“Yes,” She nods her head with a giggle. “I love you, Mommy.”

“And I love you, baby girl.”

“Will Daddy’s family love me?”

I breathe deeply through my nose.

I remember so much about Connor’s family and how amazing they were. Sure, I’d never met a family like them before. Connor’s father could be terrifying at times, yet his mother was so lovely. I often wished for a mother just like Willow Marshall. Connor was close to both his brothers and his baby sister, and they all treated me like a friend.

I know once they meet Greer, they will love her. I have no doubt about that in my mind. Though they’ll more than likely be angry with me. I’ll admit that I’m scared of how they’ll react, but I have every faith they’ll keep it inside until Greer is out of the way.

“They will adore you, Greer.”

“Tell me about them?”

I chuckle because she’s heard the same stories a million times in her life. It seems they never get old, and she asks me at least once a month to tell her about her father’s family.

I stroke my thumb over her knuckles, and I smile at her as she smiles right back at me.

“Well, your grandfather,”

“Hammer,” She cuts me off with a giggle.

“Hammer,” I nod with a smile. “He was a very strong man who rode a motorcycle. His brother, Tank, was also a biker. Hammer and Tank married sisters, Willow and Nova.”

“And Willow is my grandma.”

“That’s right,” I kiss her knuckles. “Your grandma is beautiful and the nicest woman I have ever met. She was always kind to me, and she’d hold me when I was sad.”

I smile at the look on Greer’s face as she listens closely to the story I’m telling her.

“Hammer was scary looking, but wasn’t so scary once I got to know him. Hammer loves Willow more than I’ve ever known anyone to love their wife.

“Then there’s your Uncle Noah; he’s older than your dad. Noah could be quite serious at times, and he was always telling your dad and me to grow up.”

I chuckle because memories fill my mind of Noah yelling at Connor and me for clowning around. Connor and I were always getting ourselves into trouble. Double trouble, as Willow often called us.

“Uncle Curtis is younger than your dad, and he was smart and funny. However, he was a quiet kid, from what I can remember. Your Aunt Hilly was just a little girl when I knew her, but she was a sweet child, much like you.”

Greer brings my hand to her chest and holds it there. She does this all the time; it comforts her, so she tells me.

“Do I have lots of family?”

I nod my head, even though she already knows the answer.

“You do. Your grandfather has two brothers and a sister. As I said, Hammer’s younger brother married Willow’s younger sister. His older brother married a lovely woman named Marnie, and Hammer’s younger sister, Maria, married Willow’s brother, Jett. Tank and Nova have two children, Draven and Marnie have four, and Maria and Jett have three.”

I tuck Greer’s hair behind her ear.

“I know it’s been lonely growing up with just me and Aunt Jane,”

“I wasn’t lonely. I’m never lonely because I have you.”

I kiss her hand. “Ditto, princess. You are so loved, Greer. Very soon, your whole family will show you just how much they love you.”

She smiles at me. “Do you still love my daddy, Mommy?”

“Except for you,” I tap her nose with my fingertip, making her giggle. “I love your daddy more than anything, and I always will.”

“He still loves you, too. I feel it in my heart.” Her little eyes close, and in her sleepy voice, she asks me, “Are we going to be a family, Mommy?”

I lean over and kiss her head. “One day, baby. I promise. Sleep tight, baby girl.”