Page 78 of Sin

“Just some food for my son. You can’t keep making masterpieces if you keel over from starvation, now can you?” She says with a smirk.

“True.” I wipe down the metal that I'm polishing, smoothing the seams.

“Is Savannah still out?”

“Yeah. She and Jenni, along with Lick, have been out shopping for baby stuff.”

She finally relented and gave into my demands for her to start purchasing the necessities for the baby. Since then, she’s dragged both Jenni and Lick out almost every day hunting for the best deals on everything from diapers to a rocker. I’ve only had to go twice and it wasn’t so bad.

*****

“What do you think of this?” I watch as Savannah runs her hands over the deep cherry wood of a sleigh type crib.

The store she’s taken me to smells like baby powder. It’s bright, airy and I’ve noticed that I’m the only man in here that looks out of place. Wearing my Fury shirt and boots is a drastic comparison to the other men who are either wearing polos and khakis or plaid button up shirts. Funny thing is, before it would have bothered me. The looks that I’m getting from the men, the gawking from their pregnant wives. It would have rubbed me the wrong way, but now? Now the way Savannah is lit up I couldn’t care less for the constant leering eyes. My girl is glowing with happiness and I’m glad that I’m the one who’s partly responsible for that. “Whatever you want, sugar.”

Standing behind her, I place my hands on her shoulders. She leans into me instantly; I love how her body fits perfectly into mine. I nuzzle my nose into her neck and she lets out a soft giggle. Placing soft kisses on her skin, I watch as her flesh pebbles beneath my touch. “I love you.” I tell her. I’m not stingy with telling her. The feeling consumes me. Sometimes I feel like my chest is going to burst, and other times, it’s frustrating because I feel that I’ll never be able to show her how much she means to me.

She turns in my hands and her eyes meet mine. She runs her hand up over my chest, up my neck and she threads her fingers through the nape of my hair. “I love you too.” She gives me a small smile but her eyes are what tell me everything I need to know. This woman is mine and no one else’s. Our love is new, but no less as important as others who have been with their soul mate for years. Savannah and I had this bond. We were once lost in the life we were both simply existing in. Neither of us living until the moment we found each other.

“May I help you?” The voice of the saleswoman breaks the connection. Her interruption almost makes me want to snap at her, but the smile on Savannah’s face calms the best within.

“We’ll take the crib.” I say without taking my eyes from this gorgeous woman standing before me. I hear some sort of agreement from the sales lady but I pay her no attention.

“You’re going to spoil her.”

“Damn straight, sugar.”

*****

“She’s doing well; don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I do. She’s so much different from when she first got here.” I wipe my hands on the shop rag and throw it over the seat of the bike. I rip open the brown bag and find a couple of foil wrapped burritos.

“You are too. Oh, mijo, your father would be so proud of you.”

I can’t say that his approval doesn’t mean anything to me because it does. He was my father, a man who loved his family. But I know if he were alive, I wouldn’t be living my life to please him. He taught me to be my own man, and I believe I’m doing that every day now. I know what my mother is speaking of; it’s how far I’ve come since I found Savannah. I know that I’m not the same man who first found her behind that convenience store. “I agree with you.”

“What are your plans?”

“We still have time, Mama. She’s only twenty-five weeks.”

“It’s going to go fast and the baby is going to be here before you know it. I thought we were going to speak with your brother about taking claim to one of the houses here.”

“I had planned on it, but I’ve been busy and haven’t had the chance.”

“Your brother loves you, Devin will support whatever–”

“What will I support?” Cut’s voice comes from over my shoulder.

“Ah, mijo, here. I made you a burrito.” She takes the second burrito from my bag and hands it to my brother.

“You think you’re sly, don’t you, woman?” I question her.

She cocks her eyebrow. “I don’t know what you mean?” she lies. “Anyway your brother and I were just talking and I think that he needs to open up one of those houses and get it set up for when Savannah comes home with the little one. I don’t want her to have to bring that baby home to that room. The clubhouse is no place for a baby.”

Cut turns towards me. “You agree with that?”

“I agree that I don’t want Savannah to have to bring the baby back to that atmosphere. That’s no place for a baby. You and I both know that.”