178 - Wake
*Even drunk, she wins at trivial pursuit. – Athos*
After all the tattoos were done, the Saints and the others headed back to the hotel where they were staying. When they had checked in, the ballroom was rented, and the open bar and buffet were booked. All of Becks’ favorite foods and what she was known for filled the two portable buffet lines.
Without a doubt, there was a never-ending line of chicken nuggets and bottomless pit of macaroni and cheese. Her chili recipe had been given to the kitchen and the staff balked at first. Then a man with gray at the temples of his short hair stepped out of the office.
Looking at the paper, he took a deep breath before asking, “Do you have a picture of Becks?”
Tammy used her phone and pulled up the picture of the woman from her original wedding day. It was the same one that had been sent to Mary for the large pictures to be made. The man looked at it and smiled.
“She trained under me over at the other kitchen. Worked hard, but you could tell that she was not happy. One weekend, she called in and said that she was getting married and moving to Maryland.”
“Massachusetts,” Tammy corrected gently with a little smile.
“Did she find her happiness?”
Nodding, she fought back her tears, “She did. I’m going to miss her so damn much.”
With a comforting hand on her arm, he nodded in understanding. “Come into my office, we’ll figure out everything that we’ll put on the line.”
Many of her recipes were used to fill the large pans on the long buffet tables.
Surrounded by her food, the ones she loved and loved her and lots of alcohol, the large group was sitting in the hotel ballroom doing the last thing that Becks had asked for. A Saints wake.
Once they knew that Becks was not going to survive this round of cancer, she planned her death, her final goodbye and her family’s future. They were continually surprised by how much she had thought about and planned out.
Before she got so sick that she could no longer go, Becks had made multiple trips to Vegas and Atlantic City. Since before Priscilla was born, she had made these trips at least twice a year. After her death, Ryder had come to Molly and his remaining pretties with details on all the savings accounts.
College funds for each of the littles. Enough in each account to cover a four-year degree at any college of their choice. All set up in such a way that they would continue to accrue interest and not be taxed.
Another fund to cover the upkeep of their large house. One to cover their portion of the large Lowery car and motorcycle collection.
There seemed to have been nothing that she had not thought of. Becks did not want to die at home. The house that she had built for her family was filled with love, hope and wonderful memories. She did not want to take that away from the ones she loved.
She also did not want to die at the same hospital that all her babies had been born at.
Becks checked herself into a luxury hotel and hired the sexiest nurses she could find. Instead of going to the assisted living center or hospice house, she rented an entire floor of rooms for her family and staff. Two weeks had been reserved. Not quite a week was needed.
The last few days, one of her nurses even wore the skimpy Halloween costume. Not to be outdone, her male nurse went shirtless and wore spandex bootie shorts. They both sat among the Saints and other friends, mourning their patient just as the others were.
Sheer will, determination and stubbornness had kept her alive through the holidays. In early January, it had become too much. Everything was hard. Becks checked herself out of the hospital and into the hotel.
Ever efficient, she had everything planned for her final goodbye. She refused to call it a funeral. She emailed the lyrics to ‘My Mother’s Savage Daughter’ to the women of the Saints. She knew that Camille would not want to be up in front of people. Becks ordered the women to sing where they sat.
So, they did.
The memorial tattoo had been a compromise between herself and Dino. Becks had an idea, and he drew it up. The one thing that she refused to budge on was the color. Even Dino had to laugh at the idea of bikers with a pink tattoo.
Most of the Saints now had a pink tattoo. Even Cookie had a bright pink B. A few of the Mongrels that knew her also got it. When Camille moved to sit in the chair, Darkness sat down first and pulled her into his lap. When Tats was done with her wrist, he changed needles and moved to the other offered wrist.
Camille currently sat in Darkness lap at a table in the ballroom. Her tears had finally subsided, and she sat quietly in the warm embrace. Tammy stopped in front of her, and Camille stood up and hugged the other grieving woman.
“I’m so sorry, momma T.”
“I know.” She kissed Camille’s hair and held her close. “I know that Becks would be proud of you. You did really good, and I know it was hard.”
“I hate when people see me.” Camille quietly admitted.
“Which is why we think you deserve a shot.” Michaela said, offering her a shot glass.
Yolanda plucked the small glass out of her hand and sat it on the table. “She doesn’t drink tequila.”
“It’s Mezcal.” Molly said, handing Camille a shot glass with a pale-yellow liquid and a worm in it.
“What’s the difference?” Michaela asked as Camille downed the shot, worm and all.
“The worm.” Camille said. “The type of agave plant. But I like the worm.”
“Wait, you’re not called Worm because you’re a bookworm?” Swamp Thang asked.
Molly chuckled as he hugged Camille to his chest. “She is a bookworm, but she really likes her mezcal worms. And can still win at trivial pursuit.”
“I miss her, Molly.” Camille whispered.
“Me too, little pretty.” He admitted as he buried his face in her hair.
They stood there for a moment and then Camille pulled back and pressed up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Love you, Molly.”
“Love you, too, little Camille.” He kissed the top of her head and then settled her in against his side. Appraising the younger man that stood up and accepted Camille’s hand, he smirked. “Going to introduce us?”
“Hell, no,” she laughed. “I’ve got enough assholes cock blocking me.”
Tipping his head back he laughed before looking down at her grinning face. “Thank you, little pretty. I needed that.”
“You’re welcome.”
“But just as a reminder, I have a total of six women that I am married to. I’m the last person who will cock block you. Besides, your brother has money on this one.”
“Seriously?” she stepped away from him and looked around until she found the brother that she wanted. “BOOK!!!”
“Oh, shit!” the skinny man with wire rim glasses looked at her with complete terror in his eyes. “Oh, fuck me!”
A booming laugh came from the other side of the room before Cookie’s voice followed it. “Brother, you are too white and too small for that girl. She’s Team Black the whole way!”
Molly laughed at the shocked looks on the Cajuns’ faces as the Saints all bantered with each other over Camille and her virginity. It wasn’t until someone said something about the back hallway activities that Toad put a stop to it. The room fell silent for a moment and then Book peeked out from behind Trevor and pointed out that she had a room upstairs.
Gator, Trigg and Toad all stood at once and ordered her to sit.
She remained standing defiantly until Brute stood up and looked at her. As the president of the mother house, he had a little more authority than the other two. “Worm.”
Her road name was said in warning, and she knew that it would be the only one that she would get. Silently, she sat in an empty chair. Molly saw the defeat in her face as Brute issued his next order.
“Athos, you’ll stay with your sister tonight.”
“Yes, sir.” Athos replied.
Molly leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Talk to your mom.” He softly suggested as he walked away to go talk to the Saints presidents. Sooner or later, they were going to have to admit that their little girl was now a woman.
He knew it was hard, and his oldest daughter smiled at him. It had been hard to let Priscilla become her own person.
States away from the club and her family, Camille was still searching for her own space.