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River: I can’t see the stream.
I roll my eyes.
Bella: Connect yourself to them. I know you’ve thought about it if you haven’t done it already.
River: I did want to.
Bella: You have my permission.
River: You didn’t answer me.
Bella: Was an ex-boyfriend. Came to tell me that he’s married.
River: He comes back and I’m taking care of him.
Bella: How?
River: Depends on my mood.
If he can use my security cameras, it will save them some manpower having someone driving around here doing boundary checks. He’s overbearing, but at the same time I’ve never felt safer.
And in a motorcycle club, that is worth more than gold.
Chapter Four
River
My mother, Lisa, lives about an hour away from the clubhouse, and I try to make it out there at least once a week. I know I should probably visit her more, but it’s not always easy to get away, and I have to make sure that no one is following me.
My mother has had a hard life, and it makes me happy to know that the rest of her days will be peaceful. I bought her a town house and pay all of her bills, so she never wants for anything. She volunteers in an animal refuge and spends her time looking after them and drinking coffee in her garden.
And as for my father, well, we don’t talk about him.
“River!” She beams when she opens the door. She’s wearing a patch over her right eye, the one that she lost sight in years ago. “Come inside. You have to see the foster kittens I have right now.”
She takes my arm and leads me to the lounge room, where four little ginger kittens are playing. “Look how cute they are.”
I sit down and place one in my lap. “They are pretty damn adorable.”
“Do you want something to drink? Coffee?”
“Sure,” I reply, petting another kitten that tries to climb up my jean-clad leg.
We have coffee together, and she tells me about her week. I don’t really tell her about mine, and she doesn’t press.
“How’s Bella?” she asks, her one visible green eye filled with curiosity. Ever since I told her I met someone, she always asks about her. I know I should bring Bella here to meet her, but I’ve been keeping this side of my life separate. I love my mom, but Bella would have questions that I don’t want to answer about my childhood, and my father. I’m not ready to have that conversation, especially with Matthew gone, too. My family is full of sadness, and I just don’t want to bring that to Bella.
“She’s good,” I say, smiling at the mere mention of her. “She told me I need to act like more of a boyfriend and tell her where I am and when I’m going to see her.”
Mom laughs. “That’s more than fair, River. I’m glad she’s speaking up and telling you what she needs from you. I’d like to meet her.”
“I know, I’ll have to bring her sometime,” I say, before changing the subject. “Is there anything you need done around the house? Anything I can help with?” Last time I upgraded her security system, and the time before that I fixed her fence so her foster dogs couldn’t get out.
“Actually, yes,” she says, perking up. “My chain saw stopped working on me yesterday. Would you mind looking at it?”
“Of course,” I say. “And next week I’ll bring some extra firewood for you, too. We should start stocking up for winter.”
I fix the chain saw, cut some wood for her and then take her out for an early dinner. I don’t like that she’s so far away, but she has a lot of friends here, and this is where she wanted to retire. People still stare at her eye patch, but it doesn’t seem to bother her. She’s a brave woman, my mother.
