When you lose one of the most important people in your life what do you do?
Do you drown yourself in tears and stay hidden from the world or do you live your life to the fullest?
Losing my dad at 28 was something I had thought I had prepared myself for, boy was I wrong. That man held our family together and after losing him we all went downhill for a good while. Who was supposed to be our protector now? Dad took care of his girls. My mom, then me, then my daughter Rayne. We were his girls and we soaked it up. It's been almost 6 months now since he passed and we're just now getting back to semi-normal. It's finally time to get all of the will and assets taken care of.
Dad always wanted to make sure we were taken care of and that he did.
: Reading of the will
"Mrs. Bennett, thank you and Kathryn for being here today, I wish this would have been under better circumstances." Mr. Hall my father's lawyer said.
I nodded my head and took a seat next to my mother across the table from Mr. Hall.
"Well, ladies you know John always wanted to make sure after he passed that everything was taken care of. He had it set up that the money was already taken out for funeral and burial costs. So any money that was left over he wanted to go to you." Mr. Hall said flipping through some papers.
We knew Dad had everything figured out and had saved for years to make sure everything was paid for.
He was always one for saving money, any little extra he had he put back.
"With that being said, Crystal, John has left you with the house and truck of course. Along with $500,000."
Mom and I looked at each other confused wondering where in the hell he got that kind of money, oh but that wasn't it we was really surprised when he read the next part.
"Kathryn, He left you and Rayne $1M and his 1967 Oldsmobile cutlass."
I spit out the drink of water I had just taken.
"Excuse me? Did you just say one million dollars?" I asked making sure I heard him right.
"Yes ma'am I did." He said with the biggest smile on his face.
"He also already paid for the lawyer fees so everything is all caught up. I'll get you ladies your information for the banking account number and you can be on your way. Oh, and he left you this note, Kathryn." Mr. Hall said handing me an envelope sealed with Dad's signature gold wax crescent moon emblem.
My darling Kathryn,
I couldn't be more proud of the woman you have become. You have given me two of the biggest blessings of my life. You and our precious little Rayne. Now it's my turn to bless you. You work so hard for that girl that sometimes I think you forget how to stop and enjoy life and watch her grow. I know it's always been your dream to open your bar and restaurant, you've taken that after me. Now you take this money and go and do it. I want you to get the three of you out of this no-good town and make your name known. I love you three more than you'll ever even know. Take care of your mother and make sure she enjoys life. You best not mourn my death but celebrate my life. Smoke-fat doobies, drink all the liquor, and dance until you can't anymore. I'll be there with you so save a dance for me. I'm sorry that I won't be there to walk you down the aisle but know that day will come I feel it in my bones, you'll meet a man who will make sure you have everything you'll ever need in a partner. He'll be as stubborn as you and won't take your shit, so you better be prepared for that. He'll love Rayne like his own. Make sure you know when you find him, don't look over him. Take care of my baby, Don't be speeding in her…too much. I love you my darling Kathryn, make sure you tell your mother how much I've loved and appreciated her over the past 50 years. She is and will always be the love of my life.
Make sure Rayne never forgets all the love and happiness she brought me in life. I love you forever.
Love Always,
Pops
After reading the letter I couldn't hold back the tears. They poured out of my eyes. I had to do what he told me, I had to get us out of here. I had to follow our dream!
"What did the letter say, hun?" Mom asked breaking the silence.
"We need to talk. Let's go get some lunch and talk about the future" I said wiping my eyes and grabbing my purse, walking out the door.
We walked down the street a couple blocks from the lawyer's office to a small café.
"How are you ladies doing today?" A young girl asked as we took a seat at a small table by the window.
"Good. You?"
"Good, Can I start you off with a drink?" She asked.
"Yes, please. I'll have a water with lemon." I said still looking over the small lunch menu.
"And I'll have a sweet tea."
"Okay, do yuns need a minute to look over the menu more or do you know what you're wanting?"
"I think we're ready. I'll have the avocado bacon toast. Please." I answered.
"And I'll have the bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit," Crystal said.
"Okay ladies I'll have it right out!" the chirpy young blonde said turning on her heels and making her way back to the kitchen.
"Mom, I know this is sudden and will come off as a shock but after reading Dad's letter we have to do this," I said as I played with a packet of sugar.
"And what's that dear?"
"In Dad's letter, he told me to take that money, go follow our dreams, and open a bar and restaurant. He said to get out of this town and go out there and do it." We were silent, both of us just taking in what was said. " I think we should," I told her finally looking up from the packet in my hands.
"You're dad always wanted to get out of here. I think we should go for it. What do we have to lose?" She said as the little waitress came back with our food.
"Here ya go ladies."
"Thank you. Looks delicious!" I said taking a bite out of my toast.
"Okay then we'll get the houses on the market and I'll start looking to see what I can find building-wise and we'll get this moving along before Rayne starts school in the fall."
"Damn, we're doing this huh?" I said sitting back in my chair letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
"Well, what else do we have keeping us here? We only have each other, Rayne hates the school here, and I don't need that big ass house now." Mom said.
"You have a point. And I've always wanted to go out West. Maybe I'll give Kate a call and see if she's still on the coast and maybe she could help us out."
"Oh, honey that would be great. I'm sure she'd love to have some family out there. I know I'd love to see her."
Going home that night I had a lot to get started on. I made Rayne and me dinner, put her to bed, and sat down to start on all the work I had to do.
Find a realtor. Check.
Get Rayne unenrolled in school. Check.
Calling the salon and telling them I was leaving. Check.
Call Kate, in the works.
It was close to 1 am and I was getting nowhere trying to find houses on my own. I figured Kate was up so why not give her a call, maybe she could help.
: Phone Ringing:
"Hello," Kate said answering.
"Hey babe, is now a good time to talk?"
"Rynn, It's always a good time to talk to you, babe. What's up" She said as she made her way out of the clubhouse.
"Well, I'm at a crossroads and need your help. I know you've been living on the west coast for a while and was wondering if you knew of any houses for sale out that way? Maybe a bar?" I asked her while I was scrolling through Zillow.
"I may know someone that does. Wait does that mean you're coming out here?" she asked getting excited.
"Yes ma'am! We need out of this town and where better than where my best friend is!"
"Oh my God! I'm so excited! So I'm guessing you're finally going to open up that bar that you've always dreamed of!" She asked lighting what I assumed was a cigarette.
"Yeah, Dad left me a shit ton of money and told me to follow our dream. So where are you staying now? Still in Cali or have ya moved on?" I asked.
"Hell Yeah, girl! I'm so excited for you! Right now I'm in Tacoma but will be back around Cali within a week or so. Just up here with Tig, he had business to take care of up here so I decided to come with this time." Kate said.
"Oh yeah, how's that going?" I questioned her.
Kate always had a thing for older guys and I knew she had daddy issues but this one I didn't see coming.
She had sent me pictures of her and this 'Tig' on a Harley and I wasn't sure what to think of him, he was a handsome man but had this crazy ' I'll slit your throat and piss down it' look to him. He was a good 20 years older than Kate making him around 50ish. Kate was a gorgeous girl, she was a medium size build with big fake tits and a smile that would get her anything she wanted with a bat of her eye. Her tan skin, long brown hair, and big brown doe eyes also helped along with that. She looked so different from him she looked like she belonged with some frat boy at a college party but here she was happy as hell with this older man who looked like he belonged in an asylum. Who was I to judge though I hadn't been with anyone since I got pregnant with Rayne and she did look as happy as she had ever been. The only thing that worried me was that he was in some kind of motorcycle club..and I knew how Kate was with danger, she got off on it any chance she had.
"It's amazing! He's honestly the most amazing man I've ever been with. He treats me like a queen. And it's the best and freakiest sex I've ever had!" Kate said and you could just tell she had a shitty ass smirk on her face as she said it.
"I think you'll really like him and the guys. We're family here. Like me and you are We're just a bunch of misfits that somehow fit together."
"I can't wait to meet them! When do you get back to Cali?" I asked her.
"We get back the day after tomorrow. Why don't you come out and I'll show you around the town and have Juice find a couple of places for you to look at. See what ya think." She suggested.
"Juice?" I questioned.
"He's the tech guy. He knows how to do all the computer stuff and has all the hookups. So he'll find all the good stuff. I'll call him tonight."
"Gotcha! Sounds great! Thank you so much for helping me, babe! I really need it."
"You know I'm always here babydoll! I love you and I'll call you tomorrow I gotta get to the ring Tig's about to fight and I can't miss it!"
"Okay babe, I love you Talk to ya tomorrow, go support your man."
After the phone call with Kate, I felt a little more at ease. Knowing I had someone to help me and a start to all this was a big help. I closed up the laptop and finally laid down for the night.
The next morning after getting up at 5 and getting dressed for the day I got started on packing our house since I knew mom would have way more to pack than us. I was only taking the absolute necessities. No furniture was going, no dishes, nothing like that. Clothes, pictures, sentimental stuff was it. I wanted a fresh start with everything and I knew mom felt the same way.
By now it was 9 o'clock and I had already packed up most of our stuff, talked to the realtor letting her know that the furniture was included in the asking price of the house. All that was left was to pack some clothes and Rayne's room.
"Rayne, when you get done eating I sat boxes in your room. I want you to pack your clothes in the suitcases that are on the bed and everything else in the boxes."
"Okay Mom, I'll get everything started in a second," Rayne answered looking up from her tablet as she ate her cereal.
I honestly was so blessed with Rayne. She was such a good kid.
"Thanks, baby, I'm gonna finish in my room so just holler if you need me. I'm going to Facetime Nanna while I pack."
I grabbed the cup of tea I made and headed to my room calling Mom in the process.
"Well, Good morning darling." Mom said greeting me.
"Morning. How did you sleep?" I asked.
"Better than I have been. How about you? I know you were probably up late doing your 'homework'." She said knowing how I was.
"That's good. Yeah, I made a phone call to Kate. She's gonna help find a place out there. We're gonna fly out on Friday. That's what I was calling for. We have to have everything packed by then. I hired a moving company that will drive everything out."
"Kathryn! That leaves us today and tomorrow to get 2 houses packed up!"
"I know. I'm not taking half of my shit. We'll be packed up by this evening then we'll be over to help you. Are you wanting to take any furniture?"
"No, not really. I can do the same here just bring what I like and have to have." She said relaxing.
"I've got a realtor coming tomorrow to take care of all the house stuff. She knows we'll be doing a long -distance sell. I'm taking my car to the dealers today to sell, figured we'd rent one at the airport when we land until they bring the cutlass and the truck out. I'm hoping to have at least an apartment or townhouse within a week of being out there."
"Sounds like a plan. I knew you'd have it all figured out." She said laughing.
"I can't help I take after Dad," I said laughing along with her.
"Okay, well go finish packing, I have to finish my shit here too. I'll call you this afternoon, I'll need you to pick me up at the dealership."
"Okay, babe just let me know. Love you."
"Love you, bye," I said as we hung up.
-Tacoma, WA-
Everyone was sitting around the bar bullshitting and drinking after having a rough run yesterday everyone needed to let off some steam. Kate was sitting on Tig's lap on the couch watching Happy and Kozik play pool.
"Hey, I forgot to ask who called you last night. And why did Juice call me and say you were looking for houses and bars for sale in Charming?" Tig asked Kate.
"Remember my friend Rynn that I talk about all the time?"
"Yeah."
"Well, she's looking into moving out here. So I said I'd help her out and make a call to see what I could find."
"She just lost her dad a couple of months ago, he left her a shit ton of money so she's looking to buy a bar and start a new life out here. They'll be in Charming the day after we get back. Kate said to Tig but knowing Happy and Koz was eavesdropping wanting to get all the info on this new person.
"They?" Koz asked.
"Her, Momma Crystal, and her daughter Rayne."
"Daughter?" Koz asked again.
"Yeah, She's 7. She's a spitfire too. Gets it from her mom. You know you're awfully nosy Herman." Kate said laughing.
"Where's dad at?" Happy asked piping in now.
"Fucking sperm donor. He bounced as soon as she said the word baby. Hasn't had shit to do with her don't even know where he is, never seen Rayne or anything. She has Rynn's last name he ain't even on the birth certificate." Kate said getting off Tig's lap to pull her phone out of her back pocket.
"This is them. Rynn sent me this picture at Rayne's last birthday." She said showing the three guys that was now huddled around her. Happy more nonchalantly peeking over Koz' shoulder.
The picture was of Rynn, Crystal, and Rayne in front of her dad's cutlass all smiling from ear to ear.
"Wow! She's hot!" Koz said earring a slap from Kate.
"Boy, you have no idea. She is way too much of a real woman to deal with all your bullshit. She'd make the perfect ol' lady. I owe everything to her, she's the one who taught me how to take care of a man and be there through thick or thin. Her boyfriend when we were younger was in an MC back home, she lived and breathed the ol' lady life." Kate said getting a sad look on her face opening up old wounds.
"What happened between them?" Tig asked.
"He got into some bad stuff, drugs, beat her so bad you could barely recognize her because of the swelling and bruising. He took off with a crack whore and no one ever saw or heard from him again. Probably the best thing for him cause she was out for blood. She slept around for a while after that, she got pregnant with Rayne and she stopped everything, Her world now revolves around her. She hasn't been with anyone since she had her." Kate said starting to get a smile back on her face.
"Damn, girl seems like she's been through it," Tig said pulling Kate back down on his lap.
"She has and she's just such a good person."
"Let me see some more pictures of them," Koz said sitting down beside us on the couch, and Happy pulled up a chair.
Kate pulled up some pictures she had taken the last time that she'd seen Rynn.
The first was a picture of Kate, Rynn, Crystal, and John smoking a big joint for 420.
Rynn is a beautiful woman. She has long black hair with streaks of caramel blonde running through, plump lips, and a smile that just made you feel like everything was going to be alright in life. Her bright green eyes stood out against her light olive skin. She had an hourglass shape bigger hips and ass smaller midsection and a nice size rack. Yeah, she had a little belly and was bigger than most women but she was absolutely beautiful.
"Granny looks like a Hippie," Tig said laughing.
"Oh, she is! She'll out smoke all of."
They all started laughing.
"Well, babe I can't wait to meet them," Tig said kissing Kate.
"I can't wait for them to be here, I honestly really need them." Kate said.
-Pennsylvania-
Packing was done. Flights were booked, and everything was running smoothly. Our flight left at 3 am so we had a long day ahead of us. Rayne was so excited she couldn't sleep so that meant neither could we.
We finally got on our flight and were heading to our new home. Kate had texted me yesterday with some info for a couple of places we were thinking of taking a look at, we just wanted to get into our place as soon as possible. I didn't want to be any more of a bother than we already were. If everything stayed on track we'd end up at the clubhouse at around 4 pm which according to Kate was perfect. There was a patchover party happening and I was told I HAD to be there. I hadn't been to a party in so long I didn't know if I even knew how to 'party' any more. What would I wear? What would I do? Would it bring up old memories or would it make happier new ones? I had so much going through my mind that the 11 flight with a layover seemed to literally fly by. Next thing I knew we were landing in California and starting our new chapter in life.
We got our bag and our rental car and headed off to find out what our new home had to offer. The ride over to the clubhouse was silent Mom and Rayne were both sleeping as I mostly slept on the plane. I got to take in the scenery and just jam out and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was like a breath of fresh air. I finally was leaving everything behind. I didn't have to worry about running into Rayne's sperm donor or my ex's parents and having them blame his drug use and disappearance on me. The dude did that all on his own, cause if I had gotten ahold of him it would have been a lot worse. I was so excited for this new adventure, maybe I could find myself again out here, and maybe I would find everything I was ever searching for.