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Chapter Seven
Night had fallen as Great Grandma and I sat down to dinner with Uncle Joe and Great Aunt Rosie, a woman I had never met before. They said grace and I sat giving lip service. They didn't need to know my religious beliefs. As I took the first bite I heard motorcycles in the distance and, feeling it would be prudent with Mayans around, promptly hit the floor.
"What are you doing?" Great Grandma asked nonchalantly.
"Sorry, we're in the dead center of Mayan territory I thought it would be a good idea to hit the deck." I got up and sat back down, feeling foolish.
There was a knock on the door and my Juice senses started tingling. I knew he was there, probably with a few of the boys. Nan looked at Rosie and she heaved herself up to answer the door.
"Sorry to disturb you ma'am but is this the Wallace residence?" She simply moved aside and he walked in, relief clear on his face when he saw me.
"Baby, god, I was so worried." He pulled me out of my seat and kissed me for all I was worth. In that minute I didn't care what I was told, I knew he hadn't been with anyone else.
"Hey Nana, been a long time." My dad came in the door followed by Tig and Bobby.
"Bought time you came to visit me boy, you're not too big for me to tan your hide." She shook her fist at him and he lowered his head to give her a peck on the cheek.
"I know Nana, I'm here to get Milla, she needs to come home." He looked to me and I nodded as Juice held me.
"Not until morning, I won't have you driving at night. Not with that precious cargo." She nodded to me and I gave her a small smile.
'I'm sorry Nana, but we're in Mayan territory and it'll only be a matter of time before they figure it out." He looked at me in exasperation.
"I drove here, what are we going to do with the jeep?" I asked as Juice wrapped his arm around my waist.
"I'll drive you back baby. We were going under the radar so Tig and Clay drove their bikes and Bobby and I took one of the cars from the shop."
Great Grandma nodded and stood in front of us. She smiled and touched Juice's face then mine and pressed our heads together.
"There, that's better. You can take the baby Clay, just let me talk to her and her boy before you go."She started walking toward the back of the house and Juice and I followed behind.
"Sit." She commanded as we got to the porch swing and we did so. Juice pulled me into his arms and I melted.
"Put out your arm girl." She held her hand out to me and I put my hand in hers. She turned my hand and looked at my wrist.
"This crow means she's your woman right?" She asked Juice as she looked him sharply in the eye.
"According to the club, Ma'am." He said nervously.
"It also means that she's loyal, she'd die for her family and for you. Crows are creatures who can work and survive alone but thrive in groups. By marking her with this symbol you are ensuring that she knows where she belongs. That is the importance of crows. Will you make sure she never has to merely survive young man? Are you going to make her thrive?" She held her hand over my tattoo and I started to tear up again.
"Yes ma'am, she's everything to me." He held my other hand.
"Good, and remember, she's my precious baby and if I hear about you getting sweetness somewhere else I'll track you down and put a cleaver through your little man." He nodded and looked sufficiently afraid.
"Ma'am I promise you, I will never do anything to hurt her and ruin us." He gave her a smile.
"In that case, it's Nan, not Ma'am. Now go, before Clarence makes trouble for Joe." She went in the house and Juice pulled me up into his arms again and simply held me.
"We should go." I reluctantly pulled away from him and he pressed his forehead to mine.
"Never, Never, do that to me again baby." He pressed a kiss to my lips before he let go.
"I won't, never again." That was all Juice needed and we moved into the living/dining room with the rest of the family.
"Ready to go brother?" Bobby asked Juice as we entered the room.
"Yeah, thanks for your hospitality Ma-uh Nan." He gave her a kiss on the cheek and I followed suit only going further and kissing Great Aunt Rosie's and Uncle Joe's cheeks too.
"Thank you so much for taking me in. I needed this, I needed you." I gave Nan an extra hug.
"Don't be a stranger, come back precious. I don't have long in this world. I know that boy's gonna be giving you a great-great grandbaby for me and I get to see it at least once before I die." She caressed my cheek and poked Juice in the chest.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it Nan. I love you." That was the last thing I said before I left the house and climbed in the Jeep. Dad and Tig were on their bikes and Bobby had already pulled out of the driveway.
As Juice and I pulled out next, she waved and I felt all the love she had for me. Maybe she'd be alive when Juice and I had our first baby, maybe not. Either way I knew that I'd have her love with me forever.