Road to Peace (13 page)

She hopped off the bed and rushed to the door. Alison and Hatch walked back in and I settled myself in the wheelchair.

“We’ll meet you in the parking garage,” Alison said.

Hatch nodded. “Okay. See you in a minute.”

“Someone’s got a guardian angel, huh?” Alison mused as she drove.

I smiled sleepily. “Seems that way.”

“Ryan says he’s totally clean. His club’s clean too.”

“That’s good, right?”

“Yes, but you just never know with these motorcycle club types… they’re glorified gangs.”

I sighed. “So far, he’s been nothing but a stand-up guy, so I’m going to take him at face value. I like him… so does Poppy, and that means something.”

Alison nodded. “Fair enough.”

We drove into my garage and parked, Hatch followed in his truck and pulled into my guest spot. Before I got my door open, Hatch was there, virtually lifting me out of the car.

“I
can
walk on my own, Hatch,” I bossed as he wrapped an arm firmly around my waist.

He grinned. “More fun for me, though.”

Alison’s phone buzzed in the car, so she leaned in and grabbed it. “Alison Clark. Hi. He did? Hmm. Okay. Either myself or my husband will be there as soon as we can. Thank you.” She hung up with a frown. “Merrick got tackled during P.E. He and his buddies were messing around and he did something to his knee.”

“I got Maisie if you need to be somewhere,” Hatch said.

“You okay with that, hon?” Alison asked me. “Because I’ll call Ryan.”

“It’s fine, Ali. Seriously.” I smiled. “You’ve done so much for us over the past few days. Go take care of your family. I’ll call you later.”

She hugged me and Poppy and then climbed back into her car, while Hatch helped me up to my condo.

I settled myself in Niall’s chair and closed my eyes while Poppy showed Hatch around. A gentle touch on my cheek had me jumping awake. I didn’t realize I’d even fallen asleep.

“Sorry, baby,” Hatch said with a smile. “I think you should take some meds.”

I nodded. “Probably a good idea.”

He opened my prescription bottle and handed me two pills. I took them and closed my eyes again.

“You want me to go?” Hatch asked. “Or stay tonight?”

“Stay,” I whispered as I succumbed to sleep again.

* * *

Hatch

Hatch covered Maisie with a blanket just as Poppy walked back into the living room and frowned. “Is Mummy okay?”

He nodded. “The meds make her sleepy. Want to see what we can find to eat?”

“I don’t know what we have. Mum doesn’t do much cooking.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I do.”

Poppy nodded and led him into the kitchen. “There are a couple of restaurants around the corner. We have them deliver… a
lot
.”

She showed Hatch where everything was and Poppy wasn’t exaggerating. There wasn’t a whole lot in the way of prepare-able food. At least they had milk, cereal, and coffee for the morning, but nothing as far as fresh veggies, fruit, or meat.

“Our housekeeper comes on Fridays and usually picks up groceries on her way. Mum gives her a list on Thursday.”

Hatch nodded. “Well, that’s a few days away, so I’m going to call Cricket… have her pick up a few things.”

“Who’s Cricket?”

“My sister.”

“Is that her real name?” Poppy asked, her eyes wide.

He shook his head. “Christina. We’ve just always called her Cricket ’cause she doesn’t stop hoppin’.”

“That’s such a cool name.” Poppy sighed. “I wish I had a cool name.”

“Beautiful name for a beautiful girl, Poppy,” Hatch countered. “Your mom and dad did right by you.”

She blushed. “Thanks, Hatch.”

“Now, what do you want Cricket to get you?”

“Can she get Pop Tarts?” Poppy asked hopefully.

“Yeah, baby girl. What flavor?”

“S’mores.”

“Got it.”

Poppy glanced over her shoulder to a sleeping Maisie. “Don’t tell Mum. I’m not allowed that much sugar.”

“Life ain’t worth livin’ without sugar.”

“Right? I knew I liked you for a reason.” She beamed and then helped Hatch make a more substantial list.

“What time do you need to go to bed?” Hatch asked. “I feel like I should make you stick to the schedule your mom set up.”

“I’m not going to school this week, so I can stay up until ten.”

“Yeah?”

“I think so. I’ll check with Mum when she wakes up.” She leaned over the kitchen island. “You’re gonna keep Mummy safe right?”

“Yeah, baby girl.” He smiled. “And you.”

“Thanks, Hatch.” She pushed away from the island. “I’m gonna go call Grace.”

“I’ll let you know when Cricket gets here, yeah?”

She nodded and headed down the hall. Hatch texted a list to his sister, then settled himself on the sofa next to Maisie.

He found the television remote (stuffed in a side table drawer) and hit the power button, making sure to turn the volume down low.

About an hour into the slowest baseball game he’d ever watched, his sister texted that she was in the building lobby with groceries. He headed down the hall and knocked on Poppy’s door, pushing open the door at her quiet, “Come in.”

“Hey, Cricket’s here.”

“I’ll call the front desk,” she said.

“Thanks.”

Poppy led him out to the kitchen and called down to give Cricket permission to come up.

“Who’s here?” Maisie asked sleepily.

“My sister Cricket’s bringin’ some food, baby. Don’t get up,” Hatch said.

“I don’t think I could if I wanted to,” she complained.

Cricket arrived with a door man who helped her with her bags, and seemed to be eyeing his sister, which Hatch didn’t particularly like much.

Hatch grabbed the bags out of the man’s hand and nodded. “Thanks. We’ll take it from here.” 

“Thanks, Mark,” Cricket said, all flirty and shit. “It’s was really nice meeting you.”

“You too.”

“She’s gotta go,” Hatch said, and closed the door.

“Well, that was rude,” Cricket complained. “He was nice.”

“He was eyeing you like a Rottweiler eyes a steak,” Hatch countered.

“Well, he was a really nice Rottweiler.”

Poppy giggled and Hatch glared at his sister, then introduced Maisie and Poppy to Cricket. “Let’s get this stuff into the kitchen,” Hatch said.

“I’m gonna help Mum,” Poppy said.

“Sounds good,” Hatch said, and led Cricket into the kitchen.

He watched as Poppy helped Maisie out of her chair. “You okay, Sunshine?”

Maisie smiled. “I’m fine, love.”

It was the first time she’d used an endearment with him and he felt it all the way in his dick. He grinned and went back to helping Cricket.

Poppy walked out… alone… about ten minutes later just as Hatch pulled pork chops out of the fridge. “Where’s your mom?”

“She’s really tired, so she’s in bed.”

“Harder to watch her if she’s not in here, baby girl.”

Poppy smiled. “I won’t repeat what she said to say if you said that.”

Hatch nodded. “I’ll go talk to her.”

“Why don’t you help me with dinner, Poppy?” Cricket suggested.

“You just transfer ’em from the packagin’ to the plate, sissy… no tryin’ to do anythin’ more,” Hatch demanded, and headed down the hall. Every time Cricket tried to cook, she burnt something… luckily, she was past the stage of setting things on fire, but since the kitchen was unfamiliar to her, Hatch wasn’t taking any chances.

Knocking on Maisie’s slightly open bedroom door, he whispered, “Maisie?”

“Unless you’re here with chocolate, wine or drugs, I don’t want to talk to you.”

He pushed the door open wider and found her lying on her back on a huge bed, on top of what looked like fuckin’ expensive bedding, her bandaged arm cradled on her stomach. “You in a lot of pain?”

Her head flopped to the side and she raised an eyebrow. “Me?
No
… what would give you that idea?”

Hatch chuckled closing the distance between them, leaning over her with a smile. “I’m gonna make dinner, but let’s get you some meds for now, yeah?”

She reached up and stroked his cheek. “You cook?”

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he wrapped an arm around her upturned knees. “Yeah, baby, I cook.”

Her eyebrows dipped together in a concerned expression. “Are you a secret serial killer or something, because you seem way too good to be true?”

“If I tell you, it won’t be a secret,” he whispered.

Maisie giggled and Hatch couldn’t stop himself from kissing her gently. “Love that sound, Sunshine.”

“I really like you, Connor.”

Fuck. Her saying his real name was like a punch to his gut. “You know my real name?”

“Yes, sorry, is that not okay? Kim’s husband mentioned it in the park.”

“It’s fine.”

“Please don’t turn into yet another bastard who tries to kill me and my daughter.” Her inept effort to blink back tears broke his heart.

“Okay, first,” he shifted so he was closer to her, wiping her tears from her cheeks, “I love that you know my real name and you can call me Connor anytime you want. Second, you and Poppy are safe with me. Always. Even if you and I don’t work out, you’ll still be safe with me. I like you too, Maisie, so how about you worry about getting well and leave the rest to me?”

She sat up and looped her arm around his neck. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

“You don’t have to find out, baby, I got you.” He slid his hands up her back and pulled her close.

Maisie’s lips slid along his neck, then his jawline, finally touching his mouth gently. Hatch stroked her cheek and deepened the kiss, his tongue connecting with hers, the minty taste of toothpaste combining with the gum he’d been chewing earlier. He forced himself to break their connection when she whimpered. He didn’t want to hurt her further. “Baby, you need to take something for the pain, yeah?”

“This is helping.”

He chuckled. “Yeah?”

She leaned back and nodded. “You’re a really good kisser, Hatch. Not that I have much to compare you to, but you really are.”

“Back atya, Maisie.” He slid her hair away from her face. “Are you hungry?”

“Starved.”

“Pork chops okay?”

“Perfect.” She pulled him close again. “But can we stay like this for a little while longer?”

“Sure, baby.”

After a few more minutes, he slid off the bed, then lifted her and carried her back out into the living room. This time, she had the good sense not to resist (much… there was one minor comment about her legs not being broken, but he ignored it). He settled her into the overstuffed chair she was in before, handed her a dose of her meds, and went about making dinner with Poppy and Cricket’s help.

Maisie

I
WATCHED HATCH as he joked around with Poppy and Cricket, his gentleness with my daughter filling my heart with ooey gooey goodness. It could have been the drugs as well, but I didn’t think so. Poppy was enraptured by everything he said, and I got it… learning how to properly season a pork chop was interesting, but learning how to properly season a pork chop by Hatch, was fascinating. And sexy.

I couldn’t seem to fight sleep, so I didn’t force myself to, but when I felt a tickle on my cheek, I opened my eyes to find Hatch smiling down at me. “Hey.”

“Hi,” I rasped.

“Hate to wake you, but the chops are done and we’ve eaten. You should really get some food in you.”

My stomach rumbled in response and I chuckled. “My body agrees.”

“Okay, I’ll grab your plate. Stay put.”

This was my life for the next week. Hatch catering to my every need, me growing stronger and healing at record speed (according to the doctor), and Poppy falling in love with my motorcycle man… okay, maybe it was me falling in love with him, but she was close behind, and I couldn’t blame her.

Alison was also warming to the idea of me and Hatch. Friday night we’d planned a double date, with Cricket hanging out with Grace and Poppy at my place, while Merrick went to a friend’s house. It would be an early one, just a quick meal at Serratto, but something to get me out of the house, which I desperately needed, however, Friday afternoon, Ryan called, his tone frantic.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ali’s missing.”

“What do you mean, ‘she’s missing’?” I demanded.

“She didn’t show to pick up Grace from school and no one can get hold of her. We’ve got a BOLO out, but so far no luck.”

“I take it you’re tracking her cell phone and car?”

“Her car’s here and her phone’s off,” he said in frustration.

“Have you checked Somer’s Place?” I asked, just in case she lied to me about not staying clean and was self-medicating with alcohol again.

“Yeah, the bar’s closed.”

“What about—”

“I’ve checked every fucking bar in Portland, Beaverton, Gresham, and Vancouver, Maisie, she’s nowhere!” he snapped.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry. I just… fuck, I can’t find her anywhere.”

“As soon as Hatch gets back we’ll go look, okay?”

“Yeah, that’d be great, Maisie, thanks.”

He hung up and I called Hatch. “Hey, Sunshine.”

“Hey. Am I on speaker?” He was picking up Poppy and I didn’t want her to hear what I had to say.