BLAZING IN INK (BOOK THREE)

B3/C5

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Cleo

My knee bounced up and down as I rubbed my hands on my jeans. I was nervous. I was always nervous when it came to see the doctors. “Jesus Cleo, calm down. You’ll be fine” my brother Kip said from beside me. 

“But what if it’s not… what if it’s back?...” I mumbled, biting my thumbnail when I looked at him.

“If it’s back we will get through it, just like we have before. Stop worrying so much, you're starting to get wrinkles sis” he said, touching my forehead. I slapped his head away making him chuckle before we heard the doctor call my name out. “Your okay sis” Kip said as he placed his arm over my shoulder and kissed my forehead before we followed the doctor to her office.

Leading up to this point, I had taken X-rays and blood tests. So when the doctor asked all sorts of questions about how I was feeling, I started to worry more. “Cleo, did you hear me?” She asked me. 

Shaking myself out of the daze I was in, I looked at her “no sorry… can you please repeat it"

She chuckles, “That’s okay, I have some great news,” she said with a smile. “You are finally out of remission.” I was literally out of my seat hugging her as I cried happy tears. 

As we left the doctors office, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I was over the moon, not even the stormy weather could ruin my day. While I waited for Kip to go get the car, I was waiting just outside the doors. “Miss Johns!” I heard someone yell, when I looked towards them I saw Diego rushing towards me. 

When he got to me he wrapped his arms around my waist, hugging me. I was surprised at first. “Hi Diego, what are you doing here?” I asked him. 

“I broke my arm today at my daddy’s work,” he said, he showed me his blue cast. 

“Oh no,” I crouched down, “How did that happen?” I asked him. 

“He was being silly and tripped over things in the garage.” I looked up to see Jesse standing there in black jeans and a hoodie and leather kutte. “Wasn’t watching where he was going, isn’t that right bud?”

“Yes dad,” he nodded his head “but I’ll watch where I’m going next time.” Diego smiled up at his dad. I stood up and ruffled his hair. 

“What are you doing here, Miss Johns?” Diego asked me. 

“Oh I had a doctor's appointment,” I told him, when I looked at Jesse I saw he had a busted-up lip and frowned slightly. 

“Nothing serious I hope,” Jesse said, I shook my head no. 

“No, all good news. Thank god.” I chuckled as I ran my hand over my hair and ponytail, I looked over to see my brother's car pull up next to us. “I better get going before my brother has a hissy fit” I rolled my eyes, Jesse nodded his head.

“See you at school, Miss Johns” Diego waved goodbye when I got to the door of the car. 

“Jesse, make sure you put some ice on that lip” I smiled at him over my shoulder before I climbed inside the truck and waved goodbye to Diego. 

“Put some ice on that lip?” My brother raised his eyebrow at me before he started to drive away. 

“What? He has a split lip…” I shrugged my shoulders. 

“Mhmm” my brother hummed, making me roll my eyes. 

********

Skinhead's Pov

I helped Diego into the truck before I climbed in myself "Dad..?" I heard Diego when I started the car.

"Yeah, bud?"

"Do you think Miss Johns is pretty?" He asked me. I looked over at him for a second before driving out of the parking lot of the hospital.

"Yeah Miss Johns is pretty, why do you ask?" 

"Do you think mama would have liked her?" My hand clenched the steering wheel as I stopped at the red light. Today was the day that I had lost Lotty. I knew it was going to be hard for both of us, so I took Diego with me to hang out at the clubhouse and the garage. Keeping ourselves busy, Diego had tripped over some tools in the garage and landed on his arm wrong which ended up being broken. 

I looked at my son and saw the red circles around his eyes, he had cried for a while but he was a brave little boy. I reached over and ruffled his hair. "Yeah, bud. Your mama would have liked her." 

"Can we go see her?" He asked me, I nodded my head and drove towards the flower shop. 

Once we got the flowers we drove towards the cemetery. I had parked the car and helped Diego out of the truck. I pulled my hood over my head and helped Diego with his before he grabbed my hand while I carried the flowers in the other. It took us five more minutes of walking through the cemetery before we got to Lotty's grave, Diego let go of my hand and took off towards her. My heart started to race just like it did every other time I came to visit her. 

I felt the lump in my throat when I watched Diego for a few minutes before I joined him. I laid the flowers down once I crouched down, I touched her headstone for a moment. "I miss you mummy" I had to clench my jaw when I heard Diego. Even though it has been years since Lotty has been gone, it just doesn't get any easier. 

After 30 minutes of listening to Diego speak with Lotty, I told Diego it was time to go. It was getting late and getting colder by the minute. "I love you, sweetheart" I whispered before I touched Lotty's tombstone once again. When I climbed into the truck with Diego in the passenger seat, I looked towards the black gates of the cemetery and sighed before I turned to look at Diego.

"How about we get some pizza for dinner? Give Pop the night off" I asked him, Diego smiled wide as I pulled out my phone for Diego to call his grandfather. 

On the drive home I wondered what Diego meant about his questions before we went to see Lotty...

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Enjoy!