Page 54
After hugging Vanessa, Goldie asked for us to help her mount the cherry-red Sportster motorcycle. She rested her head against the bars and teared up.
The Sorority House had given Goldie a false sense of security. As she sat on her motorcycle, she was forced to reckon with how close death came to claiming her.
An edginess clung to her on the way to the doctor’s office. Goldie barely spoke until her cast and stitches were removed. The room was crowded with Blackjack, Yarrow, and me watching every little thing. Our paranoia fed off her unease until we likely seemed dangerous to the doctor and his staff.
Goldie’s demeanor mellowed once she wore the more comfortable walking boot. The doctor also seemed optimistic about her progress.
Despite the better mood in the SUV as we left the doctor’s office, the Chester family remained stressed about driving to Baton Rouge in two days. Plus, Goldie’s parents clearly missed their home. Yarrow had grown especially restless after Hazard and Anise returned to Rawlins.
“We’ll see Skylar and Lyric at the party this afternoon,” Goldie reminded her mom as we drove to the mall. “Rowdy’s boys will be there, too.”
Yarrow nodded in the front passenger seat, but she couldn’t shake her homesickness.
Once at the mall, Goldie used her knee scooter as we visited several jewelry shops. At the second one, Blackjack picked up a wrapped gift for Yarrow. She carried it in both hands, admiring the red box with childlike glee.
At each jewelry store, Goldie didn’t like how feminine the women's engagement rings were designed. However, at the final place, she was instantly drawn to a white gold-and-black diamond band meant for men. Since the style also fit my tastes, I bought us matching rings.
We didn’t linger at the mall, where the echoing noises made my head hurt. Blackjack walked us to a table outside and asked Yarrow to open her gift.
While Goldie’s eyes glowed with anticipation, Yarrow seemed nervous.
“What if I don’t like it?” she asked her husband.
“I’ll buy you something else, and you’ll get another box to open.”
Yarrow smiled at Blackjack and nodded. She opened the box to find a gold necklace inside. The heart-shaped charms read “Skylar” and “Lyric.”
“We can get new charms to add once the new baby is born.”
Yarrow looked ready to burst into tears but giggled instead. “I’m a grandma.”
Blackjack grinned at her response while Goldie eyed me like she was thinking about us giving her mother another charm.
“We can try after the wedding,” I said and scooted closer to her chair. “But first, we need to figure out the living situation.”
“So, if I want a baby, I have to move to Baton Rouge?” she asked, trying and failing to seem pissed off.
“Or you can talk me into living here.”
“Why not live in Rawlins?” Yarrow asked as she played with her necklace. “Why doesn’t anyone want to live in our town?”
“York’s club is in Baton Rouge,” Blackjack said as he tugged Yarrow into his lap. “It’d be like you living in a town away from the Everything Nice Crew.”
“I wouldn’t like that,” she said and kissed his throat. “Being a grandma is cool. I don’t have to stay up all night, but I get to play and enjoy the fun stuff.”
Goldie watched her parents make out before turning to me and stating, “I think we can do the part-time thing like Exile and Lula.”
“Because he spends more time here?”
“No, because I refuse to give up everything, but I can give up fifty percent of my living situation.” A shadow crossed her warm gaze, and she sighed. “What if I don’t like your house? Is that a dealbreaker?”
Her question pissed me off. We wore matching engagement rings. I had spent two weeks playing house with Goldie and her parents. I was willing to live part-time in Little Memphis. Yet, she questioned my loyalty?
Scowling, I muttered, “Are you asking if I’d pick a fucking house over you?”
“Yes.”
“I’m insulted by the question.”
