Temperance pulled into the lot looking for a safe parking spot. The lot was littered with leather bound people and motorcycles.
"What the hell could mom have had in common with these people?"
Temperance put her escalade in park pulling her aviator sunglasses off and letting out a huge sigh, it had been a long week and she just wanted to climb into bed and forget this week ever existed. A week ago she was in New Orleans when she received a call that she thought was her mother but turned out to be Rosa a woman whose family has been working for Temperance's family for the last 27 years. Rosa was so upset she could barely understand her over the phone. The one phrase she was able to decipher was that her mother was dead her car had been forced off the mountain pass leading up to their ranch. Abby immediately boarded a plane and rushed home. Shortly after identifying and collecting her mother's remains from the morgue she was contacted by her mother's lawyer Mr. Carson. Temperance's mother had left a trunk and envelope in Mr. Carson's care with strict instructions that in the event of her death Temperance was to deliver the trunk to a Mr. Clarence Morrow in Charming California before she was to be put to rest. So after driving through the night from New Mexico Temperance has now reached her mother's hometown and the only address listed for a Mr. Clarence Morrow.
Temperance flipped down the sun visor mirror to check her makeup. Temperance used her thumbs to remove any smeared mascara from under her piercing blue eyes and then fluffed her long blue black hair and gave her checks a little pinch for color. She jumped out of her escalade into the dry California air.
The minute she exited her escalade she was on everyone's radar. Everyone stopped working and wandered from the garage to the parking lot to watch her strut her way to the garage office in her four inch platforms and high-waisted short shorts. Even though Temperance was only 5'5" she made up her lack of height with heels. Before she could reach the office door a woman in her late forties with blond streaked hair tight jeans, heels and smoking a cigarette met her in the parking lot.
The women took a long drag of her cigarette blowing the smoke right in Temperance's face "Can I help you with something doll".
Great Temperance thought just what I need a lioness with an attitude. I just want to drop this trunk off get home burry my mom and start my life over.
Temperance gave her best bitchy smile refusing to take shit from anyone. "Yeah Hun I'm here to see a Clarence Morrow."
The bitch raised her eyebrow "Is that so, what do you want with him".
"I'm sorry mam it's private".
Temperance notice movement out of the corner of her eye. The men wearing leather vests obviously feeling the tension were no longer content to watch from a distance. They were slowly moving in for a closer view.
"Well, sweetheart since he's my old man that makes it my business".
" Ummm I'm not sure what him being your old man has to do with this but, my business is still personal."
Temperance could see the smoke start to billow out of the older woman's ears; she flicked her cigarette into the parking lot stepping into Temperance's personal space.
"Look you little tart, I don't know what you bitches don't get about run pussy but you don't come into my territory hunting my old man." The woman shoved Temperance in the shoulder "Now get your road pussy ass out of her before I make an example of you".
Temperance saw red who the fuck did this bitch think she was.
"Look bitch I don't know who the hell you think you are, or who the fuck you are confusing me with. But, I am here to drop of a package for a Clarence Morrow as a last request for my mother." Temperance stepped closer "Now I never disappointed my mother when she was alive and I don't plan on starting to in her death. SO, why don't you just point me in the direction of Clarence FUCKING Morrow? So, I can get the fuck out of here get home a burry my mother". By the end of her speech Temperance was in the other women face and was shaking.
The other women cocked her head to the side "So, you're not road pussy."
Temperance took a deep breath "What the fuck are you talking about".
The women smirked and took a step back turning on her heels while saying " My mistake" she took a few steps before looking over her should " Well are ya coming or not? Thought you wanted to see clay."
Temperance took a deep breath clutching the envelope in her hand and quickened her step to catch the other women. She had to step through a group of leather clad bikers blocking the door. One particularly crazy man with blue eyes and unruly curly hair leaned forward to sniff her hair as she passed. Temperance stopped staring the other man down "The last dog that came sniffing around me like a hound in heat I took to the vet to have him snipped."
The dark haired man smirked " Ummm doll kinky". All the other bikers chuckled as she opened the door and stepped into the office.
The other woman eyed her when the door closed. "I'm Gemma, have a seat and I'll go fetch Clay for ya".
Temperance took a seat in the cracked plastic chair and tried not to shred the edges of the envelope in her nervousness. Thankfully Gemma was back quickly. She was followed by an older man with salt and pepper hair. The guy was huge with a jaw that could only be considered Neanderthal like.
Temperance stood sticking out her hand to greet the other man. " Mr. Morrow my name is Temperance Larkin it's nice to meet you."
Clays hand swallowed Temperance hand while his grip was gentle. He gave Temperance an indulgent smirk "It's just Clay no Mr. Your gonna make me feel old." "Now what can I do for you Mrs. Larkin."
Temperance smiled, finally someone with a bit of manners. "Just call me Temperance." "I'm sorry we couldn't meet under better circumstances but, I'm here to deliver a bit of bad news." Temperance took a deep breath trying to stem off any tears. "I believe you knew my mother Ava Larkin." Clay's brows furrowed. "Her lawyer gave me a package and asked that in the event of her death I was to deliver it to you with this letter." Temperance extended the letter to Clay. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this but, my mother died in a car crash earlier this week."
Clay looked down at the letter in his hand then at Temperance "Well, darling I'm sorry for your loss, can I offer you a drink."
Temperance smiled "Thank you clay but, I really need to get back on the road. I still have a few stops to make before I head out. If you could please get someone to help me unload the package from my car I would appreciate it."
They had all made their way out to the parking lot by this time "Sure no problem" clay let out a piercing whistle "Hey prospect help her unload her car, bring whatever it is into the clubhouse."
Clay and Gemma stood watching the girl and prospect unload a trunk from the back of the girls escalade. Gemma leaned in lowering her voice "Who the hell is Ava larkin"?
Clay looked at his wife "I have no fucking idea"
Gemma looked at her husband confused "Then can you explain to me why are we allowing the little tart to leave her package here"?
Clay shrugged his shoulders "Curiosity, plus there's something about her that seems familiar. I just can't put my finger on it."
Gemma and clay watched Temperance lean into the front of her escalade causing her shorts to rise up and all the guys in the garage to tilt their heads to the side like curious puppies. Gemma chuckled to herself she had to admit the girl did have a smoking body. She turned handing a piece of paper to the prospect to read and he started pointing down the road. It looked to Gemma like he was giving her directions. She smiled at the prospect, sent Clay a little wave climbed into her escalade and headed out of the lot.
Half Sack walked past them heading towards the clubhouse hauling that huge trunk. Tig walked up to Gemma threw his arm around her shoulder "Who was the hot piece of tail guys". Clay Smirked "Now Tigger she had to be at least 27 and alive so I would think that is two marks against her in your book." Tig just laughed while grabbing the prospect by the collar halting him midstep.
"Hey sack what the slit want." Sack shifted the trunk "She was looking for an address over on mockingbird lane 2314 I think."
Clay grabbed the prospects cut " She say what she wanted at that house" half sack swallowed deeply "Umm something about meeting a real estate agent there to sign some papers. Something about putting the house on the market."
Clay turned around and stomped into the clubhouse slamming the door to church. Tig looked at Gemma "Shit Gem isn't that him and his ex old ladies house". Gemma took a deep breath "Yep evangelina's place, say TIg how old you think the little tart was?" Tig's eyes go wide. "Yep that's what I thought".
Gemma heads into the clubhouse looks like they just had a head on collision with the past.