Page 41 of Always My Fate

Glasses and bottles clinked. Laughter rose again as Rook and Oaky joined the conversation, trading stories about the fight and the cleanup. Duane wasn’t able to be with them, but the great news was that he’d be able to walk and ride again, even if not soon enough to make the big biker happy.

The kids ran through the yard under Randi’s watchful eye, their happy shrieks mixing with the adults’ voices.

Peaches leaned her head against Blackie’s side, soaking it all in. The sincerity of real friendship, the strength of the club family, and the steady love of her man standing beside her.

For the first time in a long while, the future didn’t feel heavy.

It was hopeful.

She looked up at Blackie, smiled, and whispered just for him, “We’re gonna be okay.”

He kissed her again, slow and sure. “Damn right we are, woman.”

The gathering continued around them, warm, grounded, and full of the kind of quiet strength that came only after surviving the storm.

***

Randi

Randi sat on the back steps outside the circle of light, knees pulled up to her chest, watching everything.

Mom was smiling on the porch swing with Glenna. Dad was laughing at a joke Gunny told near the grill. The little ones were running around like nothing bad had ever happened. But Randi couldn’t shake the heavy feeling that had been sitting in her stomach for days.

What if Mom got sick again?

What if the doctors were wrong and the baby came too early?

What if Dad had to choose between staying with Mom and helping the club, and something terrible happened?

She’d been quietly spiraling for almost a week, all while helping with Punkin and Lil Bit, and keeping Tater and Possum out of trouble. Sure, she could smile when anyone looked at her, but inside she was drowning. Carrying the fear that her whole world could crack apart again.

“Randi.”

She jumped at the sound of her dad’s voice. He stood at the bottom of the steps, studying her with that sharp, knowing expression he sometimes got.

“You’ve been awful quiet tonight, kiddo,” he said, climbing the steps and sitting down beside her. “What’s goin’ on in that head of yours?”

Randi shrugged, staring at her sneakers. Her voice came out smaller than she wanted. “Nothing.”

Dad clearly didn’t buy it. He stayed quiet for a moment, then wrapped one big arm around her shoulders and pulled her gently against his side. “Try again, baby girl. I know that look. You’ve been carryin’ a heavy load for days. Talk to your old man.”

Tears burned in her eyes before she could stop them. “What if Mom gets really sick again?” she whispered. “What if the baby—I mean, what if a bad thing happens and you have to leave? What if I can’t help enough and everything falls apart?”

He exhaled slowly, then turned her so she was facing him. His scarred hand cupped her cheek, thumb brushing away a tear.

“Listen to me, Randi,” he said, voice low and steady. “I understand from Momma you’ve been frightened. You’ve been helpin’ take care of your brother and sisters, keepin’ things together while your mom’s been stuck in bed. That’s a lot for an eleven-year-old to carry. But you don’t have to tote it alone.”

He pulled her into one of his best hugs, his big arms wrapping around her torso. “Your mom’s gettin’ stronger every day. The doctors are watchin’ her close, and she’s tougher than all of us put together. Daniel’s a fighter too. Just like you. And me? The club’s important, without a doubt, but you, your mom, your brothers and sisters? I can tell you that y’all come first.”

Randi buried her face in his chest, clinging to his cut. “I was so scared, Dad.”

“I know, baby,” he murmured, holding her tighter. “But we’re okay. We’re all gonna be okay. And when you get that scared again, you come find me. No matter what. I got you.”

They stayed like that for a long time wrapped in a quiet embrace while the sounds of the gathering drifted around them. Randi felt the heavy weight in her chest finally start to loosen.

When she would have moved away, Dad pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his gruff voice warm. “Love you, kiddo. More than all the bikes and patches in the world.”

“Love you too, Daddy.”