Waking up, I head for the shower and turn on the hot water so it can heat up while I’m using the bathroom and washing my hands.As I’m stripping out of Judge’s tee-shirt and a pair of sweatpants from Zach, the door opens and Judge makes his way in.I’m standing in front of the sink as he steps up and wraps his arms around me from behind.He kisses the side of my neck before resting his head on my shoulder.
“Little Bird, I don’t want you takin’ a shower on your own.Your stomach is gettin’ bigger with our twins and you’re not as steady on your feet.It would be too easy for you to slip and fall with no one to help you,” Judge says, his voice soft and gentle so I know he’s not commanding me.“Plus, I don’t want anyone else to see you naked if somethin’ were to happen.”
“I feel fine this morning, Judge.I can take a shower,” I tell him, looking at him in the mirror as he lifts his head and starts to push his pants down.
“I’m gonna take one with you, Little Bird.We’ll save water this way,” he says, a smirk on his face as he kisses the side of my neck once again sending shivers through my body from such a simple touch.
“Judge...”I begin, my words cut off when he kisses me.This time, I’m the one to deepen the kiss as I turn in his arms and wrap mine around his waist.
Judge’s kiss steals my breath as he lifts me in his arms and I feel him moving.Wrapping my legs around his waist, I don’t stop kissing him as he steps under the water and it washes down over us.
“Judge,” I moan after breaking the kiss and pulling back just enough to look at him.
“Braydon, Little Bird.When we’re alone, call me Braydon.That’s my given name and only my family calls me that,” he says, carefully setting me down on my feet but not removing his hand from my body as he keeps my back to the wall of the shower.
Judge runs his fingers through my hair as it gets wet.Once he’s happy all of my hair is wet enough, Judge washes the long strands.He massages my head and I can’t help but close my eyes and moan because it feels so damn good.
“Keep moanin’ like that, Little Bird, and I’ll give you a different reason to moan,” he promises me while rinsing the shampoo from my hair.
Judge puts in conditioner and I stop him from rinsing it out for a second.I always leave the conditioner in my hair while I wash my body.Today, Judge washes me with his body wash.The feel of his hands on my body sets me on fire.His touch seems to linger as he skims his fingers down my body and the path they travel burns as goosebumps cover my skin.Judge doesn’t take his eyes from me as I look at him.For the first time, I watch Judge kneel down in front of me.Even on his knees, Judge is almost as tall as I am.I laugh just a little bit until he runs his hand up the inside of my leg.
“If today weren’t such a special day, I’d devour you in this shower, Little Bird.For now, I’m just gonna wash you and then help you get ready for the day.We’re leavin’ right after the ceremony so you can be ready for your appointment with the lawyer tomorrow mornin’.Tristan and Zach are goin’ with us,” he says, his movements becoming faster as he washes my body before moving on to wash himself.
Judge and I rinse off before getting out.He dries me off and wraps me in a towel before wrapping one around his waist.The two of us enter his room again and I see a black dress laying on his bed that wasn’t there when I got out of bed.Judge lets me know Kelsey brought it up for me because she knows I don’t have anything to wear as we celebrate Leah’s life.I dress and do my hair while Judge dresses in his standard clothing of jeans, a tee-shirt, and his cut.I guess I’m ready to head to the small garden we booked for the ceremony.I won’t be spreading Leah’s ashes because that’s not what she wants.I'm going to take her back home and keep them with me.
***
The ceremony was perfect.Everyone in the club showed up for Leah even if they didn’t know her personally.Death, Judge, Tristan, and Zach are the only ones who ever met her when they came to the diner.Still, every member, Prospect, Bronwan, and Kelsey were there.Even their children who behaved perfectly as they sat and listened to the short ceremony before I stood up and gave Leah’s eulogy.Well, Judge actually spoke because I was sobbing too hard to get any words out.When he was done speaking, Judge carried me to the SUV and drove me back to the clubhouse.He made the decision to leave later so I could take a nap before we made the two hour trip back.
“Little Bird, we have to head out in a minute.Are you ready to go?”Judge asks, walking up to me as I sit on the edge of my bed.
“Yeah.I don’t know why I have to meet with Mr.Vanguard, Braydon.I didn’t know Leah for that long.She told me she had a will, but there’s no reason for me to be in it,” I say, standing from the bed with his help as I look up at him.
“She loved you, Little Bird.Everyone you meet always loves you the second you let them in your life.Your circle is small and that’s fine.Leah considered you her daughter.From the second you walked into the diner, it was gonna happen.Why do you think everyone in the club loves you so much?”Judge asks me as he keeps his arms wrapped around my body and hold her close.“You really don’t see the effect you have on people, but I’ll do everythin’ in my power to ensure you see yourself the way the rest of the world does.I know you were hurt and don’t think highly of yourself because of your past.Little Bird, you havealwaysbeen more than good enough for everyone who ever tossed you aside.They fucked up and didn’t see the true jewel they held.I know that’s true because I was just as dumb as they were.Now, let’s go see what the lawyer has to say so we can figure out what we’re doin’ when he’s done.”
“Okay.”
Lacing our fingers together, Judge leads me from the bedroom to find Zach and Tristan waiting for us by the front door.Tristan hands me a breakfast sandwich and cup of orange juice as I get close to him before we all head out.Zach went out to grab us all breakfast while I was getting ready to leave.Judge already ate so I could have a few minutes on my own.I feel as if I’m doing better than expected after yesterday and now today.I broke down once since we left Briar Glen.When we pulled in last night, I took one look at the closed diner and started sobbing because Leah never closes the diner unless she absolutely has to.Now, she’ll never walk through the doors of the place she loved again.
Judge helps me get in the SUV before fastening my seatbelt and closing the door.The Prospects sit in the back of the SUV because they didn’t want to bring thier bikes on this trip.We got a huge storm last night and would have had to stop if they rode.So, Judge made the decision for all of us to ride together.Pulling away from the diner, we make our way through town.The directions show we’ll be at the office in a matter of minutes.This place is so small and it doesn’t take long to get anywhere.
When Judge pulls up outside the office, I keep my gaze ahead of me, looking out the windshield.My entire body is tight with tension and my hands shake as I release Judge’s hand.I’m sweating and this is the last place I want to be.This is what’s going to be the final part of realizing Leah is gone and will never be coming back.
“The sooner we get inside, the quicker we can leave, Little Bird,” Judge tells me as he shuts the engine off and makes his way around to get me out.“You two stay out here and keep an eye on things.We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
Tristan and Zach nod in response as they remain silent.The two of them get out of the SUV and lean against it as Judge and I walk in the office.Judge stands back while I give my name to the receptionist and am told to take a seat while we wait for Mr.Vanguard.Lacing our fingers together again, I make my way to the seats but don’t take one as Judge follows close behind me.Instead, I look out the large window onto a park.It’s empty right now but I’m not really seeing the park or anything else in front of me.I’m way too anxious to see or hear much of anything right now.
“Miss Thompson?”a man in his late forties asks as he walks up to us.
“Yes.Mr.Vanguard?”I return, turning to face the man and holding Judge’s hand tighter than a few seconds ago.
“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Thompson.I wish it were under better circumstances.If you’d both please follow me,” he says, turning and heading toward a hallway.
Judge and I are led into an office that’s large and warm.There are pictures of the lawyer and his family all over the walls of the room to make it more personal and not as cold as a lawyer’s office usually is.At least in my experience the few times I’ve had to meet with a lawyer for various reasons.
“Miss Thompson, as I stated on the phone, Leah had a will and you are the sole beneficiary of her estate.She’s left you everything.This includes the diner with the apartment above it, her home, both of her vehicles, another property in Italy, and approximately fifty million dollars in an account at the local bank.She also had an investment portfolio that now belongs to you.She’s left you a letter and detailed outline of what she wants you to do with the diner now that it will belong to you,” Mr.Vanguard says as I sit up straighter in my chair.
“Um, are you sure this is right?Leah left me all of that?”I question the lawyer while reaching for Judge’s hand.