“Me too, Ang, me too. He gave me a best friend and sister. One that I couldn’t have done without over the last few years.”
We both get a little teary and laugh as we wipe our tears away. Finishing our coffee, we change the subject to something lighter before moving onto business and what still needs to be done. We’re moving down the list at a rapid pace, so I think we’ll be good to do a soft opening in two months on November first and get things in for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
We spend the rest of the morning putting together a to-do list and ordering stock for delivery a week before opening. Excitement fills me. I’m looking forward to what the future is going to bring.
Done for the day, I’m closing down my laptop and gathering my things, getting ready to leave for the day when I get a call from Jake.
“Hey, Jake.”
“Hello girlie, everything okay?”
Hearing the concern in his voice, I smile. Siera said she’d let him and Fern know about me reconnecting with Garret.
“Yeah, Jake, everything is fine.”
“I’ve looked into him,” he admits.
Chuckling, I sit back down. “I’m not surprised,” I say. “Kind of figured you would when you checked out the MC.”
“Was worried you’d be angry with me.”
Running my fingers through my hair, I think before replying. He’s right. I probably should be, but my situation has always been different. “Maybe I would have been if I’d had a different background to what I do but I know you’d never do anything to hurt me, only protect me.” I hesitate before asking. “Did you find anything I should be concerned about?”
Jake lets out a surprised and relieved breath. “Thank you for telling me that sweetheart, and no I didn’t. He’s surprisingly clean for being in an MC. There’s a drunk and disorderly from when he was in his twenties, but that’s about it. Like I said, they’re good at keeping their more illicit deals away from prying eyes. They should be though, considering they have an ex-CIA operative as a member.”
“They do?” I ask, surprised.
“Yep, they caught me snooping. I had to explain who I was, and why I was looking. I had a long conversation with the president and assured them I had no issue with them as long as my girls were kept safe. We came to an understanding.”
Laughing under my breath I reply, “Of course you did. Love you, Jake.”
“Ah, sweet girl. I love you too. Hated what brought you into my life, but I’m also grateful. You completed mine and Fern’s family. All I want for you is to be happy.”
Emotion fills me, and I blink back tears. Seems all I’ve done for days is bawl my eyes out. I’m so over it.
“I think I can be now,” I whisper. “He looked for me Jake, twenty-eight years and he never stopped looking for me. Makes me feel so guilty. If it wasn’t for us moving here, then we’d never have re-connected because I’m a coward.”
Jake lets out an unhappy rumble. “Enough of that. You’re not a coward. You made a tough decision and in the process, you made two people very happy. You gave them a gift they hadn’t expected. You need to stop punishing yourself, sweetheart. Does your man blame you?”
Hearing the ire in Jake's voice, I hurry to ease his worry, “No, he said I did the right thing.”
“Huh, I’m liking him more and more.”
“I think you will. You’ll meet him soon. At least you will if you and Fern are still coming this way for the opening.”
“Of course we are,” he says. There’s a slight note of disbelief in his voice when he says it, as if he can’t believe I’d think any differently.
“Good, give us a few days’ heads up, and we’ll get everything ready for you.”
“Okay girlie, love you. Give my other girls hugs and kisses.”
“I will Jake,” I assure him. I’m about to end the call when his next question stops me cold.
“Do you want me to check on her?”
My breath hitches, and then wooshes out of me. I don’t know. Garret and I haven’t had a conversation about it.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “Maybe. Yes, maybe. I don’t know.”