allowed to work behind the bar at the clubhouse.”
“I just turned eighteen. It was why my granddad got me the job at the club.”
“Still a baby,” she joked.
“Nate was good enough to offer me the job and I like hanging out with the MC. It’s nice being here too.”
“You know you’re welcome anytime you want. Holly has a new friend now so she’ll never stop pestering to see you.”
“She’s a real cutie. Nate obviously thinks the world of her.”
“Holly is his daughter in the most important ways and she loves her daddy.”
“Can I ask? What’s happened with her biological father?”
“After Lee attacked me he was sent to prison. He won’t be getting out anytime soon. He never showed the slightest bit of interest in Holly since the day she was born. He’ll never have any contact with her. He isn’t her father, Nate is. We’ve actually started adoption proceedings and it’s looking hopeful.”
“That’s good. Keep him far away from that wee girl. Some men should never be allowed near children,” he ended harshly and Deanna turned to see his face twisted in hatred.
“Jamie, what is it?” she asked as she reached over and he jumped as she touched his arm.
“Sorry. Shit, I should go,” he said, about to get to his feet.
“Jamie, wait. I’m sorry if I said something to upset you.”
“No Deanna, it’s okay. You never said anything wrong. I know I need to speak to someone. My granddad is the only family I have left and I’m no’ that close to him. I know about some of the things you experienced and I thought maybe you would understand.”
“I’ll try. What’s happened to your family? Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I’m an only child, like you. I never knew my dad and grew up with just my mum. When I was eight she met Steven.” Jamie said the name in a harsh whisper.
“What happened Jamie?”
“Everything was alright for a few years, just the three of us. But then she became ill. I begged and pleaded for her to go to the doctor’s but she would say it’ll pass, it was nothing to worry about. But when she became too ill to leave the house I called the doctor’s and arranged a home visit. The doctor arrived and immediately called for an ambulance. Turned out she had cervical cancer and it couldn’t be treated. She was such a beautiful woman. Looked just like me with dark hair and blue eyes. I’ve never seen anyone deteriorate so quickly. She looked like a skeleton within days. She never left hospital and died two months after being diagnosed.”
“Jamie, I’m so sorry,” she said clasping his hand and he squeezed it tightly.
“Thanks. I know what it’s like to grow up without parents.”
“Did you stay with Steven?”
“I . . shit . . ,” but Jamie couldn’t carry on, afraid that Deanna would be repulsed by him.
“Jamie, what is it?”
“I . . I need to go. It’s getting late anyway,” he replied. He was desperate to confide in someone but he just couldn’t speak the words he needed to say.
“Jamie, please talk to me. It’s alright.”
“I can’t. No’ just yet. It’s been a great night, thanks,” he said as he shakily got to his feet and hurriedly left as Deanna followed him to the door.
“Remember, you’re welcome anytime,” she said.
“Thanks,” he said and smiled tentatively as he walked away and she closed the door behind him.
“So, is the big guy treating you alright?” Deanna teased as she stood watching Nate instructing Jamie on how to repair the large custom bike he was working on in his work bay in the garage.
As she looked over at Jamie she could see he was still embarrassed with just running out the previous night, not even having said goodbye to Nate. She’d explained to Nate what had happened and he’d promised to keep an eye on the lad, both understanding that the boy had some serious issues he needed to sort out.
“He’s amazing. Nate works so fast. He sure knows what he’s doing,” Jamie said
“I just turned eighteen. It was why my granddad got me the job at the club.”
“Still a baby,” she joked.
“Nate was good enough to offer me the job and I like hanging out with the MC. It’s nice being here too.”
“You know you’re welcome anytime you want. Holly has a new friend now so she’ll never stop pestering to see you.”
“She’s a real cutie. Nate obviously thinks the world of her.”
“Holly is his daughter in the most important ways and she loves her daddy.”
“Can I ask? What’s happened with her biological father?”
“After Lee attacked me he was sent to prison. He won’t be getting out anytime soon. He never showed the slightest bit of interest in Holly since the day she was born. He’ll never have any contact with her. He isn’t her father, Nate is. We’ve actually started adoption proceedings and it’s looking hopeful.”
“That’s good. Keep him far away from that wee girl. Some men should never be allowed near children,” he ended harshly and Deanna turned to see his face twisted in hatred.
“Jamie, what is it?” she asked as she reached over and he jumped as she touched his arm.
“Sorry. Shit, I should go,” he said, about to get to his feet.
“Jamie, wait. I’m sorry if I said something to upset you.”
“No Deanna, it’s okay. You never said anything wrong. I know I need to speak to someone. My granddad is the only family I have left and I’m no’ that close to him. I know about some of the things you experienced and I thought maybe you would understand.”
“I’ll try. What’s happened to your family? Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I’m an only child, like you. I never knew my dad and grew up with just my mum. When I was eight she met Steven.” Jamie said the name in a harsh whisper.
“What happened Jamie?”
“Everything was alright for a few years, just the three of us. But then she became ill. I begged and pleaded for her to go to the doctor’s but she would say it’ll pass, it was nothing to worry about. But when she became too ill to leave the house I called the doctor’s and arranged a home visit. The doctor arrived and immediately called for an ambulance. Turned out she had cervical cancer and it couldn’t be treated. She was such a beautiful woman. Looked just like me with dark hair and blue eyes. I’ve never seen anyone deteriorate so quickly. She looked like a skeleton within days. She never left hospital and died two months after being diagnosed.”
“Jamie, I’m so sorry,” she said clasping his hand and he squeezed it tightly.
“Thanks. I know what it’s like to grow up without parents.”
“Did you stay with Steven?”
“I . . shit . . ,” but Jamie couldn’t carry on, afraid that Deanna would be repulsed by him.
“Jamie, what is it?”
“I . . I need to go. It’s getting late anyway,” he replied. He was desperate to confide in someone but he just couldn’t speak the words he needed to say.
“Jamie, please talk to me. It’s alright.”
“I can’t. No’ just yet. It’s been a great night, thanks,” he said as he shakily got to his feet and hurriedly left as Deanna followed him to the door.
“Remember, you’re welcome anytime,” she said.
“Thanks,” he said and smiled tentatively as he walked away and she closed the door behind him.
“So, is the big guy treating you alright?” Deanna teased as she stood watching Nate instructing Jamie on how to repair the large custom bike he was working on in his work bay in the garage.
As she looked over at Jamie she could see he was still embarrassed with just running out the previous night, not even having said goodbye to Nate. She’d explained to Nate what had happened and he’d promised to keep an eye on the lad, both understanding that the boy had some serious issues he needed to sort out.
“He’s amazing. Nate works so fast. He sure knows what he’s doing,” Jamie said
Similar Books
