Page 4 of Spook’s Honor

Laughter erupts before I can hold it back. “I guess we’re both a little scared,” I admit.

Jake grunts. I shake my head. My dad used to do the same thing.

“I get it,” he says. “But, please know that she’s never forgotten you.”

I hesitate before asking my next question. I’ve always wondered if I had other siblings out there.

“Does she have any other children?”

“No, sweetheart. Just you.”

“Oh,” I’m surprised, and a little sad for her. If I get the chance I’ll have as many as I can. Naturally or not. “Um, Jake, can you give me a few days to think about it?”

“Of course, sweetheart. My wife, Fern, and I are touring around different states at the moment but will be making our way to the Dakotas within the next week.”

“Is that where she lives?”

“It is. Angel, my other daughter Siera, and my granddaughters have recently bought a garden centre there and are fixing it up. Your biological father is in an MC there.”

“Oh.” My heart sank. I knew, realistically, that not all clubs were bad, but you don’t grow up the daughter of an ex-marshal and not learn things.

Jake laughed having heard the worry in my tone. “That was my first reaction. And while they are a one-percent club, they’re actually pretty clean compared to most one-percent clubs. They’ve got their fingers in a few legal ventures. One of them is a garage. Your father is the manager there. I wouldn’t have allowed my girls to move anywhere near there if I’d been worried. There are other reasons I am confident in the MC, but they aren’t something I can discuss on the phone. Just know that if you do decide to meet your biological parents, you’ll be safe. They wouldn’t want you in any danger either.”

Relief fills me. I would have hated it if they had been in danger although, why I was worried when I didn’t know them, I wasn’t sure.

“That’s good to know. Give me a few days to think about it, and I’ll let you know what I decide.”

“Okay sweetheart. No problem. I’ll give you a call in a few days.”

“Perfect,” I agreed. “Bye, Jake.”

Ending the call, I sat thinking. I didn’t say anything, but I was currently at a campsite near the Black Hills in South Dakota. It was almost like I was being drawn here all along. The Dakotas hadn’t been on my itinerary for this year, but about six weeks ago I’d suddenly changed course and slowly made my way here, taking time to stop and see sights along the way.

I would do what I told Jake. I needed time to think about whether this was something I wanted to do. Meeting my biological parents was a huge, scary step, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready.

***

I’m not sure who I was kidding. It didn’t take me more than a day to call Jake back and tell him that I would like to meet my biological parents.

In the end, curiosity won out. Am I like them? Do I look like my biological parents? Do we do things in a similar way? I just couldn’t stop wondering.

That’s how I found myself following behind the large RV that Jake and Fern Monde were in. I liked them. Each time we would stop somewhere to stretch our legs, they spent time with me. Telling me stories about my parents, what they knew about my mom, Angel, and my dad, who’s road name is Axle. I heard how they’d reconnected. It was something that’s for sure. Star-crossed lovers. Like a story right out of a romance novel.

It soothed my romantic soul that they’d found each other again. I loved that for them. I’m glad they were happy after so many years of sadness. I was stunned to find out how Axle had never stopped looking for Angel. He’d looked for her for twenty-eight years.

I swear that made me hope that there was someone out there for me that would love me so much he didn’t stop looking for me no matter how many years passed by.

I hope they like me. I am so nervous my hands are a sweaty mess on the steering wheel as we approach a large gate and a guard shack. Inhaling a deep breath, I let it out slowly. Jake stops by the guard shack at the security gate. He talks to the dark-haired guy wearing a leather vest that comes to his window. The guy waves us through, giving me a smile and a wink as I drive by. I shake my head, but my lips curl up in an answering smile.

Not sure what I was expecting, but the tidy parking area with designated parking for cars and motorcycles wasn’t it. Nor was the clubhouse. It was a beautiful log building with a long porch along the front that had a few well-maintained chairs and tables on it. There was a lawn to the side and in the distance, I could see a children’s play set complete with swings and slides.

Parking next to Jake, I put the brake on and wipe my hands down my skirt one more time before I open the door and slide out.

Closing the driver’s door I walk around the back of my van to reach Jake and Fern. Jake opens his door and smiles down at me.

“Ready sweetheart?”

Exhaling, I shook my head, “No, but I know this is the right thing to do.” I look past him to Fern, who is giving me an encouraging smile. “You’ll both be there, right?”