Page 82 of Ghost

Goose’s home was a small ranch with an ornate yard that stood out from the rest of the homes on the block. His green thumb was obvious, as his yard was filled with greenery, flowers, and various shrubs that only he could get to grow in Southern California’s climate.

We walked up the drive and to the gate that led to the back yard. As soon as we came into view of everyone in attendance, all eyes were on us. I’d warned the fellas not to swarm her, but I feared they would, regardless. Partially due to her celebrity status, and in part because I had settled down with one woman, I suspected we’d be the center of attention.

Twenty feet into to the yard, Tito stepped off the deck and greeted us.

“Tito,” he extended his hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m Abby,” she said. “Are you the cook?”

He shook his head. “Brother Goose is the cook.” He gestured toward the back deck. “He’s the one wearing the apron with the lobster on it.”

Abby glanced in Goose’s direction. He stood beside the grille, talking to Baker and Cash.

“Oh,” she said. “Whatever he’s cooking smells wonderful.”

“He’s not cooking seafood, is he?” I asked.

“It’s kind of a hodgepodge,” Tito said. “Baker wanted seafood, and everyone else wanted barbeque. So, we’re having oysters, lobster, turkey, brisket, and grilled fish of some sort. Maybe trout, I don’t know.”

“I love seafood,” Abby said with a smile.

Baker, Cash, Goose, and Reno craned their necks in our direction. Baker’s girlfriend Andy, and Cash’s wife Kimberly stepped off the deck together, and began walking in our direction.

“Hi,” Andy said. “I’m Andy.”

Andy was as solid as any woman on earth. She’d entered the club through an odd series of circumstances, but had proven her devotion to the club, and to Baker repeatedly through her actions. There weren’t many people on earth that I’d give my endorsement, but Andy was sure one of them.

“Abby,” Abby said. “Nice to meet you.”

Kimberly shook Abby’s hand, and commented on her new Converse, saying that the shoe had made a recent comeback.

“It’s all I wear,” Abby said. “Chucks and a dress have become my signature outfit.”

“It looks great on you,” Andy said.

Abby smiled. “Thank you.”

“Come on,” Andy said. “I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

“I can introduce her,” I said.

Andy gave me a look. “Go hang with your brothers and let the girls have their time together.”

“Fine.”

I didn’t consciously hold back on my relationship with Abby, but for some reason, I hadn’t introduced her to the club. After being given a clean bill of health, the first thing I wanted to do was bring our relationship to light.

I suspected an inner fear of dying prevented me from outwardly admitting that I was in a relationship, and that I was sick. Admitting one required admitting the other. Keeping my diagnosis from the club was easier if I kept Abby from the club.

“So, this is what you’ve been doing with your time over the last two months,” Tito said.

“Pretty much,” I responded.

Seeing Abby interact with the girls opened a new window of opportunity in our relationship. As I watched her meet the rest of the fellas, I envisioned trips across country with her on the back of the bike, sharing one of my favorite activities.

Connecticut in the fall with Cash and Kimberly would be quite an experience. During the trip the women would develop a bond that would be unbreakable, comparable to the bond the men had developed since childhood.

Since Cash and Kimberly adopted their child, Cash’s mother moved from Montana to San Diego to be closer to the baby. She was a loving grandmother, a babysitter, and the club’s voice of reason.