Nefarious MC #1 - Nobody's Ol Lady (32 page)

Donna Reed closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her daughters looked at each other in shock; by the look on their mother’s face she was clueless or seemed to be.

Willie spoke next, “Mother, we don’t mean to hurt you but daddy has been having an affair for over twenty-four years and it is hard to believe you don’t know about it. The whole damn town knows Althea is his daughter by Laura!”

Opening her eyes Donna looked at her daughters. “I knew he cheated on and off during our marriage but I never knew about Althea. It makes sense; she does look like quite a bit like Willie. However she was always a rotten, spiteful child and I hated her. I never understood why Roberta was always so friendly with her. How did you find out about it? Don’t tell me your father has a file on her too?” Her hand went up to her forehead.

Black Dog decided it was time to lay it all out for Donna Reed. “There are files on many people in that cabinet. Willie never had a baby either but Althea did and used Willie’s identification. Your husband knew that and turned a blind eye to it seems. Now that child happens to be my daughter from what the birth certificate says.

“You have a choice to make here, stick by your husband or help clear up this mess he’s made. Think very carefully, because some of the things that have been done to Willie and to me are very illegal. You may think I’m a biker and I break the law but I’m a smart biker and I have a lawyer on his way over here right now as we’re clearing the air so to speak. I use the law whenever I can. I love my country, guns and all that shit. And I’m not about to let any child of mine be taken from me without knowing if she is mine or not. Now would be the time to speak up if you’re aware of Althea’s baby.”

      Donna looked at all of them in horror. “No, I am not! I was so angry when Roberta gave her son up. Then, when my husband told me Willie had given her child up for adoption, I was heartbroken. I tried to reason with Roberta but Willie was away at school and my husband and Roberta wouldn’t let me talk about it to her. They said Willie was doing the right thing and I finally gave up trying to understand any of my daughters!”

She glared at Teddy. “Roberta is in a hospital bed with a concussion, broken ribs and God knows what else. Beaten up supposedly by burglars, which I do not believe for one minute! Willie is living in sin and you, Teddy; I don’t even know where you live!”

“I don’t want you snooping in my life, mother. I’m the middle child and middle children are different. Since we’re clearing the air, I’ll tell you about myself, but you aren’t going to like it. I am a dancer; I take fashion design courses because I wanted to design clothes.

“Daddy said that was frivolous and refused to pay for college for me. Do you recall that? I design costumes for dancers and I sew them too. I make good money at it but I’d like to do more with my life. I don’t have any babies and I don’t have a steady boyfriend. In fact I think I’m your most normal daughter although some would say otherwise!” She looked at Black Dog and Willie with a grin.

     “Teddy, I know you have your issues and have every right to have them but I’d like to find out where this child is and to clear my name. I paid for college with scholarships and a loan. Roberta was the only one daddy put through college.” Willie wasn’t happy the subject was turning toward Teddy’s issues.

    “I know Willie, I’m sorry but she did ask so I told her”, replied Teddy

     Black Dog’s fist crashed on the table. “Enough! I think we all agree Willie didn’t have a baby and that your husband is a scumbag. Now that you know Althea is your husband’s child, what do you plan to do?”

Donna looked blankly at all of them. “I don’t know what to do. All I ever wanted was to raise my daughters and be a good wife and I’ve failed miserably at all of it. What am I supposed to do now?”

Willie took pity on her mother. “I think a divorce and a new life with a decent man would be a good idea. I don’t want daddy in my life at all! He isn’t a nice person and Roberta is just like him. You need a lawyer, mother and we’ll help you if you want to make a fresh start.”

Teddy shook her head, “She won’t leave him Willie, and she will kiss Roberta’s fucking ass until the day she dies. There is no hope for her. Mother, you’d better keep your mouth shut about what was said at this table. The police are going to be very interested in what I found in that filing cabinet. Unless we, meaning Willie and I sell the contents to the highest bidder and I like that idea.

“Your husband continues to blackmail people in our town. He supports Laura and even bought her a house. I don’t intend to ever speak to daddy again. You’re going to lose your two daughters and everyone is laughing behind your back, I bet. You don’t deserve it because you’ve always tried to be a good person.

“I wish you’d listen to Willie and move from this damn town. Roberta owes that motorcycle club money for drugs. That’s why she is with that Wolf. Nothing good will come of that either. At least Black Dog is a decent man. I’ve had my say so now it is up to you to do what you want with everything we’ve told you.”

      There was a knock at the door and Black Dog greeted Peter Evans, a local lawyer. Teddy stood up with the file and went downstairs with the lawyer and Black Dog.

W
illie looked at her mother, “I don’t know what else to tell you. I love Black Dog, and I don’t want Roberta in my life at all, ever again. If Althea used my name you know Roberta knew it, mother. And don’t you dare
ever
ask him to help Roberta
.
I won’t do anything to help her, Roberta is dead to me. I hope you understand me and won’t try to change my mind. Roberta has always been mean to me and I don’t have to take it any longer.”

     Sadly her mother nodded. “I do need a lawyer; I am not going to spend the rest of my life living with that man. I thought people didn’t know and to find out he shoved his bastard under my nose all these years? Willie, I am so very sorry. I don’t know how to make you see that I am …” She wiped the tears from her eyes.

“I can’t give up on Roberta just yet, when you have children of your own, you’ll understand. Roberta hasn’t been a good sister to you, I’ve known that and I looked away, hoping she’d change. Although I’d like to think she will change—I doubt she will. I suppose you’re going to see Dr. Rayne? I’m sure she has the answers you are seeking. I saw her with a toddler and I thought it was Althea’s in the supermarket a few days ago. She pretended not to see me and quickly went down another aisle. Do you think she knows about all of this too?”

      Willie took her mother’s hand. “I most certainly think she does and what she did or is doing is illegal too. We’ll find out when we go over there. Black Dog is talking to the lawyer because we plan to get that child if it is Black Dog’s. Now I know she isn’t your blood granddaughter but if you want to be a grandmother, here is your chance. There is no way in hell Laura is getting near that child.”

     “I can tell you this, that little girl has his eyes and looks very much like you, Willie. Dylan has the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen and so did that child. I’d like to be with you when you confront Doctor Rayne too.”

Donna eyes flashed in anger as she thought of the pain that Willie was feeling. “I have a few things to say to a doctor who was supposed to be my friend since she set up her practice in this town. I never trusted her husband much either, you know he is your father’s attorney also, so I’m sure they all were in this together. Ocean View sure hides its dirty secrets well doesn’t it? How am I going to hold my head up and be able to live here? I’ve lived here my entire life!”

“Change can be a good thing mother. I don’t think anyone is laughing at you. I think most people dislike daddy or are afraid of him. You have your church and those people do care for you. Father Paul will help you if you ask, you do have faith left in the church don’t you? I think a good lawyer will take daddy for a lot of money and you’re young enough to start a new life. Or I could find out if Black Dog has any older biker friends. I’m not kidding mother, you may find out you like riding on a motorcycle.” Willie smiled at her mother and finally her mother smiled back.

“Wilhelmina I do not see me with a tattooed biker, not ever, but I will admit your Dylan is a handsome man. Now I hear them coming upstairs. Maybe this lawyer can give me some advice on what I should do next?”

“You can ask him, he is a lawyer and please stop calling me Wilhelmina, I hate it, and even grandma was called Willie!”

Both of them stopped talking and watched the door to the downstairs open, Black Dog came through the door first and had a grin on his face. Even Teddy and the lawyer were smiling.

“We’re going to be giving the files to Peter to hold, they’re locked in his car now. We can go confront Doctor Rayne later today. It seems with the birth certificate which is authentic as long as the child is there; we have every legal right to take her. Dr. Rayne has to give up where she is, if we ask or face criminal charges.

“Peter is going back to his office to make some calls to a judge he knows. He’ll call us when he thinks we should meet him at the Rayne’s house. We’re doing everything legally and Peter shared some news with us. Mr. Rayne was disbarred last year; people think he had that stroke over it. The baby has been living with them since Althea gave birth. Her neighbors were told it is a friend’s granddaughter who isn’t ready to care for her at this time.

“Nobody really believed that story and Althea doesn’t visit her. From what Peter was able to find out and he found out a lot in a short time, Althea got herself into some legal trouble and headed to Canada. If she comes back here, there are quite a few warrants out for her arrest. I don’t think we’ll have any problem with her in the near future and by the time she comes back—
if
she does—we’ll have filed all the papers legally. Peter’s firm handles divorce cases too.” Black Dog looked at Donna.

      “I believe I need to make an appointment immediately, I’m Donna Reed and I want a divorce from my husband Robert. I don’t know what he has been doing that is illegal but I was not a part of any of it. I plan to be right by my daughter and Dylan’s side and if you need payment, I will write you a check right now.” Donna moved toward her pocketbook.

      Peter Evans spoke up, “The only check you need to write is for your divorce retainer. My payment was already taken care of by interested parties who wish to remain anonymous. As a favor to another client, who already spoke to me about your problems, a lawyer in my firm is willing to see you immediately. Dylan, I’ll give you a call as soon as I can.” Peter got his briefcase and was headed out the door as Teddy called to him.

    “Peter, can we follow you back to your office? I want to be there with my mother when she talks to a lawyer. I don’t think she should be doing this alone. Willie, do you mind if I go with mom?” Teddy was going to make sure her mother at least spoke to a lawyer.

      Black Dog answered for Willie. “I think that is a great idea. Your mother could use all the support she can get. Willie and I are going to lie down until Peter calls. You better check up on Roberta too.”

   Willie and Teddy glared at him and he just shrugged. Before Teddy and her mother left, Donna kissed him on the cheek. It seemed Black Dog had won over another Reed woman.