Road to Peace Read online

  My stomach roiled. I rushed into the bathroom again, but all I could do was dry heave. It felt like my heart was trying to come up. Hatch hunkered down beside me and held my hair back as I leaned over the toilet. I couldn’t wrap my mind around what Hatch said. Couldn’t do it. I didn’t think I even wanted to try.

  My cell phone pealed in the other room and Hatch rose to his feet. “I’ll get it.”

  “Thanks,” I said into the bowl.

  The phone had stopped ringing by the time Hatch walked back into the bathroom, but he handed it to me and I leaned back against the wall and checked my voicemail.

  “Maisie, it’s Ryan…” I squeezed my eyes shut. God, he sounded wrecked. “Can… ah… can you… do you have… would you be able to help with Merrick and Grace? I called my Mom. I just need them somewhere safe until I can… well… fuck. Call me if you can. Please?”

  I dropped my phone on the bathroom rug and buried my face in my hands. “Ryan. He needs help with the kids.”

  Hatch slid down the wall, sitting beside me and wrapping a hand around my thigh. “What do you want to do, Sunshine?”

  “They don’t have any family here.”

  He waited.

  “I don’t know what to do, Hatch,” I whispered. “I don’t have room for them.”

  “The kids can come here,” he said. “We’ve got plenty of food and there’s nothin’ planned tomorrow, so it’ll be quiet, but we can have a few of the brothers around for coverage. We can stop by your place and grab a few things for you and Poppy.”

  “So you can make sure we’re safe too,” I deduced.

  “Yeah, Sunshine, that’d be good.”

  “God,” I breathed out. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

  “You can say no, Maisie.”

  I dropped my head to the wall and closed my eyes. “I don’t think I can. Those kids have no one.”

  “Whatever you decide, I got your back. We all do.”

  I gave him a sad smile. “Thanks, love.”

  “Mum?” Poppy called.

  “She’s in here.” Hatch rose to his feet and stepped into his room.

  “Be right out, Poppet.” I didn’t really want Poppy to see me sobbing on his bathroom floor, so I picked myself up and washed my face. I found an unopened toothbrush in his medicine cabinet and used it, then peeked into the room. “Can I get my jeans, please?”

  “Why don’t you have your jeans on?” Poppy asked.

  “I skinned my knees, so I needed to clean them.”

  “Are you okay?” she asked, the worry in her voice heartbreaking.

  “Yes, darling. They’re all good now.”

  Hatch handed me my jeans and I pulled them on as quickly as I could. Contrary to his opinion, they were ruined. He might be fine with wearing jeans that were ripped up (and looked good in them), I, however, was not. I shook my head.

  Again! What the hell was wrong with me? Who the hell cared about jeans when my best friend had just shot herself?

  I felt tears escape. God, Alison. What the hell?

  “Baby?”

  “I’m okay,” I lied, and turned to face Hatch.

  He took my hand and squeezed it gently, and I stepped out and pulled Poppy into my arms. I filled her in on what was going on (filtering heavily), then we sat down and discussed options.

  Poppy settled her chin in her palm and looked at Hatch. “Is Gracie safe?”

  Hatch nodded. “Yeah, baby girl, she’s safe.”

  “If she and Merrick are here with me and Mum, everyone will be okay? I mean…”

  “What, Poppet?” I pressed.

  “Will Uncle Ryan let them come here?”

  “He asked me to look after them, so I think he’ll be okay with it,” I said.

  “Well, if he’s not, will you make him let them come, Hatch?”

  “I’m gonna do my best,” he promised. “Do you feel comfortable staying here with Cricket? Your mom and I might be gone for a few hours.” I whipped my head toward Hatch and he shook his head. “Grace and Merrick will want you, Sunshine. They’re gonna be freaked. There’s no safer place than here for Poppy.”

  “He’s right, Mum,” Poppy said. Her maturity shining as it often did in surprising ways. “I’m fine.”

  “You’ll need to take care of Sparky,” I said.

  “I can do that,” Poppy promised.

  “I’m gonna call Jax on the way,” Hatch said, and we headed downstairs.

  Maisie

  “DO WE HAVE time to stop at home so I can change and pack a bag first?” I asked. “We should probably get Sparky’s bed and food.”

  “Yeah, I think we can do that,” Hatch said.

  “And do we have time for me to completely freak out?”

  Hatch smiled, reaching over take my hand. “Yeah, Sunshine. We got time for that too.”

  I held myself together while we drove into the parking garage and parked next to my Volvo, and I even held myself together as we rode up the elevator and walked down the hallway to my door. But the second we crossed the threshold, Hatch’s arms wrapped around me and I fell against him, bursting into ugly tears and sobbing into his chest.

  He slid his hands into my hair and held me close. “I got ya, baby.”

  Bending down, he lifted me and carried me into the family room, sitting in the big chair and settling me on his lap. We didn’t speak; there was nothing really to say. I just cried and Hatch held me, stroking my hair while I mourned the loss of my best friend.

  I’m not sure how long I sat there, but when I felt like I could function in polite society again, I sat up and wiped my face, leaning down to kiss Hatch. “God, I love you.”

  “Love you too, Sunshine,” he said. “You okay?”

  “Not really, but I need to help those kids. I reserve the right to get snotty on your chest later this evening, however.”

  He smiled. “Not a problem.”

  I climbed off his lap and, after washing my face, changed and packed a bag for me and Poppy while Hatch got Sparky’s stuff together. We then headed down to the garage, opting to take my car instead of his.

  “Ali’s house is the other way, love,” I said, as Hatch hit the freeway.

  “Jaxon said we should head to the hospital. Grace is being checked out, so Ryan and Merrick are there for the moment. Ryan wants to get back to the house, but he’s waiting for you,” Hatch said.

  “Does he know the kids are coming back to the compound?”

  Hatch shook his head. “He and I are havin’ a conversation before anything happens.”

  “Okay.”

  Hatch reached over and took my hand. “You good?”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted. “But you know when shit’s coming down and you have someone beside you that you know you can face anything with, and it gives you this strange sense of calm?”

  Hatch’s eyes got soft. “I do now.”

  “Me too,” I whispered.

  He squeezed my hand and we continued to the hospital.

  We walked in to find that Grace had been taken to the pediatric wing for observation and my name had been put on the list of approved visitors, so I was granted immediate access to her. Hatch was only allowed as far as the waiting room which he wasn’t happy about. I assured him he was close enough for me to get if I needed him, before leaving him to walk into the brightly painted area.

  I saw Ryan immediately, pacing outside a closed doorway, Merrick sitting in a chair his head in his hands. Ryan caught my eye and rushed toward me, stopping a few inches in front of me and looking wholly uncertain as to how he was supposed to act. I was right there with him. After a few awkward moments ticked by, I opened my arms, which he readily walked into. “I’m so sorry, Maisie.”

  “I know, Ry.” I rubbed his back. “Me too, love.”

  Ryan pulled away and I reached for Merrick who’d walked slowly over after his father, his face void of emotion which concerned me. “Hey, Mer.” I stroked his hair and held him close.

  “
Hey, Auntie.”

  “You need anything?”

  He shook his head.

  “Is it okay if I hug you?” I asked.

  He nodded.

  “Okay, thanks.” I gave him a squeeze. “I really need it.”

  He wrapped his arm around my waist and held on. Ryan seemed to relax a little bit and I saw a tiny smile, albeit a sad one.

  “Where’s Gracie?” I asked.

  “Doc’s in with her now,” Ryan said, nodding toward the closed room.

  We started back toward Grace’s room just as the door opened and a female police officer walked out. “She’s all set, Clark.”

  Ryan gave her a chin lift and stepped inside. I hung back with Merrick, but Ryan waved me in, indicating Merrick should stay outside. “I’ll be right out, buddy, okay? You just have a seat.”

  Merrick nodded and sat where he had been before while I walked into Grace’s room.

  I forced back tears at the sight of my sweet Gracie sitting on the oversized hospital bed, her eyes vacant, and her body shaking as medical staff poked and prodded her.

  The doctor met Ryan and I at the door. “Grace has not sustained any physical trauma, however, her emotional trauma will manifest itself over the next days, weeks, months, years, as I’m sure you’re aware. She’s going to need some intensive counseling, but in the meantime, I can prescribe some sedatives to help her sleep over the next few days until you can get something set up. I’ll be happy to recommend a few good psychiatrists and should you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call my office. She’s a very brave girl.”

  Ryan nodded.

  “Thank you Doctor,” I said.

  “Maisie?” Grace whispered.

  I rushed to her side and took her hands. “Hi, sweetheart.”

  “Mom… she…”

  “I know, baby,” I whispered.

  “You saved me.”

  “What?”

  “She had the gun aimed at me, but you said something to her… she turned the gun on herself… she didn’t…”

  “Okay, love, we don’t need to talk about this right now. Do you want to take a shower?”

  She nodded.

  “I brought you a change of clothes,” Ryan said.

  “Get out,” Grace hissed.

  “Baby—”

  “Get out!” she screamed. “Get out! Get out! Get out!”

  I rushed to Ryan and pushed him out of the room, my heart breaking for him as tears streamed down his face. “I’ve got her, Ry. I will take care of her. Give me her clothes and I’ll make sure she’s okay. I will watch her like a hawk, I will love her and hold her and do my best to help her keep her sanity. I don’t know when any of this will be okay, but we’re going to figure it out, okay?”

  He dragged his hands down his face and nodded. Merrick stood and wrapped his arms around his dad. I cupped Merrick’s face. “Thanks for being so strong, buddy, but it’s okay for you to cry as well and if you need a hug, you come find me or you dad, okay? Don’t bottle this up and don’t try to be strong if you don’t feel it.”

  Merrick nodded and burrowed further into his dad.

  “Clothes, Ryan,” I prompted, and he handed me a duffel bag. I headed back into Grace’s room and found her staring at the wall again. “Gracie?”

  She turned toward me, but I didn’t really get any kind of acknowledgement. “Do you want a nurse to help you shower?”

  “No. Just you,” she rasped.

  The nurses nodded and filed out (after one of them provided shampoo, soap, and towels for Grace), and I made sure the door was closed.

  I helped Grace undress and then we shuffled into the bathroom.

  “Okay, sweetness, I’m going to give you some privacy. I’ll be right outside and once you’re done, I’m going to take you to Poppy.”

  Grace nodded and I left the bathroom. Peeking out of the room, I saw Merrick sitting alone and frowned. “Did your dad leave?”

  “Yeah. He had to get back to the house.”

  “Okay. I don’t think we’re going to be much longer. Are you hungry? Hatch is in the waiting room. I can have him take you to cafeteria.”

  “Um…”

  “He’s a really good guy, Mer.”

  “Okay, that would be great, Auntie. Thank you.”

  I found the call button for the nurse and pressed it, grateful someone came quickly. “What do you need?”

  “There’s a man waiting out in the waiting room and I’m wondering if someone could bring him back. Merrick should really get something to eat.”

  “I can do that for you,” the nurse said. “What’s his name?”

  “Hatch. Long hair, tall, beard, biker. You can’t miss him.”

  The nurse walked away and I stayed where I was, straddled between Merrick and Grace, waiting for Hatch to relieve me. I took a second to text Poppy and check in, receiving a quick response letting me know she was fine and asking about Grace. I let her know we’d be there within the hour and then slid my phone back into my pocket.

  Hatch arrived with the nurse and I introduced him to Merrick. “Merrick hasn’t eaten in a while, so I was hoping you might be able to find him something.”

  “I can do that,” Hatch said.

  Merrick looked up at Hatch with wide eyes, no doubt taking in his badass biker appearance but I trusted my man to win him over, just like he’d won over Poppy.

  I took a second to stand on my tiptoes and kiss Hatch gently, whispering, “Thanks, love,” so that Merrick could see how I felt about Hatch. Hopefully, that took some of the fear away from him.

  “You got it, Sunshine,” Hatch said, squeezing my hand. “Talked to Ryan. Everything’s set.”

  “Thank you.”

  Hatch nodded. “Okay, Merrick, let’s head to the cafeteria. I’m starvin’. How about you?”

  “Yeah,” Merrick said.

  “Maisie?” Grace called, and I stepped back into the room.

  * * *

  Later that night, Hatch and I lay in his bed and I tried to calm my mind. I couldn’t.

  “I should check on the kids,” I said, and sat up.

  Hatch pulled me back down. “They’re fine, Sunshine. Bunk room’s across the hall, Devon said he’d come get me if Merrick needed you. Cricket’s in with Poppy and Grace. You’ve spent the whole day takin’ care of them. It’s time for me to take care of you.”

  “Why hasn’t Ryan called?”

  “Takes a while to clear a scene like that, Sunshine.”

  “You think he’s clearing the scene? Wouldn’t someone else do it?”

  He stroked my back. “I get the feelin’ Ryan’s kind of pain in the ass and is tryin’ to insert himself anyway.”

  “Well, you got that right.” I sighed, snuggling closer. “I don’t know what he’s going to do now. He loved her so much, Connor. She was his world. He loved her more than his kids… not to diminish his love for his kids, but she took a lot, you know?”

  “I get it.”

  “This all seems so surreal. First the accident, now this.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “I’m having a hard time associating my best friend for the past fifteen years, with the woman who cut my brake lines and was going to shoot her own daughter. I can’t figure out when the switch flipped. Ryan has always been so on top of her illness, Hatch. Neither of them wanted her to become a statistic. Her mother has the same issues, but her father hadn’t been as patient as Ryan. They divorced after he had her institutionalized against her will. Now Phyllis is shacking up with some guy out on in a farm in the mid-west and is this whacky, hippie, hopped-up on who knows what, drunk lady who looks like she should have been dead a long time ago.”

  “Yeah? Is she happy?”

  “I have no idea. I’ve only met her once and she was high, so I couldn’t tell you if she remembered me or not. Ali had to cut ties with her because she wasn’t safe to be around the kids.”

  “Makes sense.”

  Blood-curdling screams and a dog’s barking had me knifing off the
bed and running for the room Grace was in. Pushing open the door, I found her thrashing on the mattress while Poppy tried to soothe her, but since Grace didn’t appear to be awake, she wasn’t having much luck.

  Devon and Merrick rushed into the room as well, but Hatch ushered them into the hallway, while Cricket pulled Poppy who was holding Sparky into the corner and hugged her.

  I wrapped Grace up in a motherly hug and crooned to her as calmly as I could, “Gracie, it’s Maisie. I’m here. Auntie’s here. Can you open your eyes, love? I’ve got you, sweetness.” She began to relax in stages and then her eyes opened and she buried her face in my neck and burst into tears. “It’s okay.”

  “You need to get out of my way. I want to check on my sister,” Merrick ordered.

  “It’s okay, Hatch,” I called. “She’s okay now. Aren’t you, love?”

  Grace nodded and Merrick stalked to the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress.

  “I’ll give you two a minute,” I said.

  “I’ll take Sparky out,” Devon offered, and Poppy handed her dog over.

  Pulling Poppy in for a few minutes of comfort, we walked into the hallway and I lifted her face, wiping tears from her cheeks. “You okay, Poppet?”

  She nodded. “That was really scary.”

  “I know.” I hugged her again.

  “Is it true that Alison was going to kill Gracie?”

  I scowled at Hatch over Poppy’s head and gave him a look of desperation. I really wish Gracie hadn’t told her that, but I suppose I couldn’t shield my daughter from everything.

  “It looks that way,” I confirmed.

  “Oh my gosh,” she breathed out.

  I lifted her face again. “But you understand that Alison was deeply troubled, right? This had nothing to do with Grace or even Alison to a certain degree. Grace didn’t do anything wrong, and Alison wasn’t fully in control of her actions.”

  “Grace said that Alison drank a big bottle of Vodka,” Poppy whispered. “She had it hidden in the laundry basket.”

  “That must have been really scary for Gracie.”

  “Grace wanted to go with Uncle Ryan and Merrick to the movie, but Uncle Ryan said she should stay with Alison. He said that Alison needed some one-on-one time with Grace.”

  I forced tears away. This explained Grace’s reaction to Ryan at the hospital.