Blackjack

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 

Addie looks at me with a concerned look on her face “Mom where are we?”  

“This is the Blackjack MC’s clubhouse” 

“What does that mean?” 

“The Blackjacks are a Motorcycle club. Your Grandfather is the President of the club” I say with my heart pounding so loudly in my head wondering if I'm doing the right thing. 

“My Grandfather? but I thought you didn’t know your father either? You always said we had that in common.”  

“Not my father Addie....Your dads father” I say training off. 

Her eyes as wide as saucers “My father.....he’s, he’s here?” she asks nervously 

“He is here and your grandfather, but you don’t have to meet them.”  

“Your father was hurt and he needs my help, I helped him last night after work. The phone call I got in the car was your grandfather telling me that something was wrong and he needed my help.” I just stare at her for a minute watching her try and process everything.  

“Ok.....well go help him then if he needs your help.” Is all she says before opening her door and getting out of the car. 

“Hello Hayley, Hello little miss” Ray says nodding to us 

“Hey Ray, this is Addie. We best get inside” Ray leads us into the clubhouse Addie is holding onto my arm staying very close and very nervous. We walk down the hall to the closed bedroom door and I stop Addie before I open the door. 

“Addie you can’t come in here with me.” 

“Well where am I supposed to go?” She asks 

“This room right here across the hall” Ray replies 

“I’ll be right here in this room if you need me Addie, I promise I will come for you as soon as I'm done.” 

“I’ll be right outside the door little miss, if you need anything let me know.” Ray says with a smile on his face. This seemed to relax Addie a bit and she nodded her head.  

“Addie do not under any circumstances come out unless Ray or I tell you to ok?” 

“Ok Mommy, I'll stay in there I promise” Addie says. Ray opens the door for her and I give her a smile before he closes the door and stands guard outside. 

“Thank you Ray, so very much.” 

“Of course Miss Hayley” hey says. I take a deep breath before opening the door to see Alex propped up on the bed with a very bloody bandage and a very worried Greg standing next to him. 

“Hayley thank you for coming” Greg says 

“Of course Sir” I reply with a smile. 

“Greg is fine dear” he says with a smile and I just nod in acknowledgment. 

“Well lets see what is happening” I say as I start taking the bandage off. I get the bandage a dressings all removed and see that a couple stiches have come undone.  

“It looks like a couple stiches didn’t hold but looks like everything else is ok” I say with a reassuring smile. 

“Thank you Hayley” Alex says grabbing my hand and smiling at me. I can’t help the excitement in my heart and butterflies in my stomach. This man still has a hold on me. 

“Of course Alex, this won't take long to fix let me wash my hands and grab my supplies.” I head into the adjoined bathroom and realize Greg is standing at the doorway.  

“Everything ok Sir?” 

“Really Hayley Greg is fine” He says chuckling. “But I should be asking you if everything is ok, you seem a bit nervous. Is his condition more serious then you originally thought?” Greg says the concern very noticeable in his voice. 

“No Greg, Alex is going to be ok he just needs to take it easy and rest.” 

“Good, so then what is the matter?” 

I let out a sigh figuring I might as well tell him because as soon as he leaves this room everyone that saw us walk is is going to say something to him. “I wasn’t able to get ahold of my friend that cares for Addie while I’m at work. Soooo Addie is here, in the room across the hall.” I say nervously. 

“Oh wow she’s here” he says with an excited smile on his face. 

“Your not upset I brought her here?” 

“Of course not! She’s welcome anytime. I promise that you both are always safe and welcome here” he replies. I smile at him and head out into the room to re-stitch Alex. After I get him all stitched back up and cleaned up I decide I need to talk to them. 

“Can we sit and chat for a minute?” I ask them both 

“Is everything ok Hayley?” Alex asks concerned. 

“Yes I just need to talk to you both about something” 

“Alright” Greg says as he takes a seat on the edge of the bed and I sit in a chair next to the bed. 

Letting out a nervous sigh I finally say “Addie is here, she’s in the room across the hall.” Looking at Alex I say “When your father called I had just picked Addie up from school and I couldn’t get ahold of Mandy to meet me in town to take her home. She knows you both are here and I told her she didn’t have to meet you guys if she didn’t want to. She also knows your hurt but nothing about what happened just that you needed my help last night and now. I just wanted to talk to you about it incase you guys don’t want to meet her or aren’t ready. Or if she does want to meet you I didn’t want it to be a surprise. 

“Hayley look at me” Alex say’s. I pick my head up and look him in the eyes. 

“Since the moment you told me we had a daughter I have spent every second dreaming of meeting her. If she doesn’t want to meet me that’s ok, I'll wait until she is ready but I certainly won’t pass up the opportunity to meet her.” He says with the biggest smile I have ever seen. I smile back at him a nodded as I let the room to talk with Addie. 

“Hey Addie how are you doing?” 

“I’m fine momma” She say’s smiling at me as I close the door. 

“Is...is he ok?” She asks concern in her voice. I walk over to the chair she is sitting on and kneel down to look her in the eyes. “He is fine sweetheart, just needed some new bandaging” I say reassuringly. 

“Oh good” she nervously smiles. 

“Do you want to see him?” 

“I don’t know, what if he doesn’t want to see me?” she asks in a sad tone 

“Addie, look at me. He knows you’re hear and would love to meet you, but understands if you're not ready. Take your time and think about it. If you're not ready its ok.” I give her some space and go sit on the chair on the other side of the room while she decides what she wants. This is a lot for a child to process and a very big decision.  

“I....I think I'll meet him.” She finally says with a nervous half smile. 

“Ok we can go whenever you're ready.” 

“I’m ready” she say’s standing from her chair and walking over to me. She takes my hand and we walk out the door standing in front of Alex’s room. I look at Addie “You ready?” she just nods as a reply as I open the door.