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Eve
Surprisingly, Kingpin didn’t come back around. My cruelty had worked. I could scarcely believe it. I’d turned around so many times expecting him to pop up on me, but he wasn’t there. But what did I expect?
I expected him not to give up so easily.
His newborn came home just days later. No one knew the reason he’d been in the neonatal unit other than being too small. Kingpin and Sky were proud parents. They seemed happier than ever. Hallow and I went to a welcoming home party for the baby. They’d named him Beau but spelled it Bo. Of course, they would.
“Have you thought about a name?” Hallow asked me as I refused the cake they just cut.
“No,” I lied. I’d thought about Beau. I’d also thought about Adam. I hadn’t known until this week how it would all turn out.
“I think he should be named after his father,” Hallow said, confusing me more. “So, which is it?”
“Huh?” My guilt threatened to show on my face.
“August or Adam?” Hallow offered his first and middle name.
I blew out my breath. “I can’t decide. Your choice.”
Kingpin’s brother had come with Sky’s mom, Maddie Mae. In their finest, they looked practically regal for Nashville, in matching white cowboy hats. And out of place. But even amongst the bikers in their leather, you could tell they were family.
“I can’t believe Bubba’s here, and no one is throwing a punch?” Hallow remarked at one point.
Another time, Maddie, the new grandmother passed the little bundle to me. Maybe on the account of me being pregnant myself. Wrapped in a soft blue blanket, the baby seemed so small. A burrito, its fresh pink face was the only thing sticking out. I bounced him a little on instinct. Sleeping, he looked plumb angelic. He was the spitting image of his mother. Looking at Maddie, I saw her too.
I didn’t see much of Kingpin or his brother in him, but I was sure it’d come later. I started to worry my baby would look like Kingpin. Sure, with his once broken nose, the piercings and dark beard, one could never be sure, but with his brother showing his clean shaven face around Royal Road so often, folks would know. Not that they couldn’t Google him if they wanted to, but what if people noticed.
Paisley would be looking for similarities surely. What if my baby came out looking like Bubba? What if my baby had his dimples, dark hair, and dark eyes? Hallow had green eyes and light brown hair. I was completely towheaded. Lighter, my brown eyes weren’t anything like Kingpin’s.
It's as if the thought of him summoned him to me. He came over to take the baby from my arms without giving me the time of day. I’d half expected him to ask me to sing because his brother was here. But he hadn’t. Bubba had brought the entertainment, a group who opened for him on the road, the Wicker Valley Fowl. They didn’t play until the baby was far away from the noise, over at the Big House with Sky and Maddie. Hallow and I stayed to listen. They were really good.
Although almost all the ladies followed the baby over, I could not. I didn’t want to be in their house and see where their baby slept and such. I leaned into Hallow swaying to the band who played strictly to the bikers and me until the party was over. Hallow disappeared with the other officers to help the band load up their van.
After almost everyone had gone, Kingpin did reintroduce me to his twin brother. “You remember, Eve, and her angelic voice.”
Country music superstar, Beau Strick, who was actually Bubba puckered like he was trying to remember. “I’m just pulling your leg, of course, I remember. How could I forget that voice? Eve Newberry.” He shook my hand. “If you were able, I’d ask you to come on the road with me. We leave next week.”
My hand on the obvious, I said, “Yeah, unavailable for a bit longer.”
Bubba replied, “Next time then. If my brother will give you up.”
Kingpin chimed in, “Eve’s not mine to give.”
“Well, alright. We’ll talk.” Bubba tipped his hat at me and left out, leaving Kingpin and I alone.
He locked eyes with me, asking, “How’s everything?”
“Me and Hallow? Right as rain,” I said. It was the truth. “Actually, better than ever.” That was more like it. It’d only been a few days, but I was letting myself love Hallow again, properly in my heart even though I’d not had sex with him yet.
“I meant the baby. It’s been over two weeks.”
“Appointment times ain’t exact. I don’t go in for a couple of days.” We were staring at each other. “How are y’all?” I asked. “You, your Ol’ Lady and your baby, Bo?”
“Junior,” Kingpin corrected me. “Bo Jr.”
“Just like my baby. A junior.”
“August or Adam?” Kingpin asked, not breaking the stare.
