Chapter 26

Lug Nut
Viper called a club meeting for the entire club which is odd. When we have a meeting it is usually just the patched members and we have it in church. Not in the main room of the clubhouse with patched members, ol’e ladies and the bunnies. I see Neil walk in and go up to Prez. Prez tells him something and Neil goes up stairs. What the hell is going on? Why are there so many of us here? Are we about to go into another lockdown? It has been over a year since the last one. But if it was a lockdown Neil wouldn’t be here so it can’t be that.

Luckily I don’t have to wait for answers. Prez steps into the middle of the room and yells “ Shut it.” The room goes quiet. “ I know this was called on short notice so thanks for coming. I want you to listen carefully. I don’t want to repeat myself.” Viper looks around the room but no one dares to say anything. “ As of fifteen minutes ago Lilly was brought here and is resting upstairs.” A round of cheers goes up, me included. She is finally home. “ I know you have questions but they will have to wait. Lilly needs time and help to recover.” I hear a bunny say “ Great, we have to babysit that fat cow.” Viper yells loud enough to shake the rafters “ Shut it, whore. You bunnies will not go near Lilly if you value your place here. Go near her door and you are out. Now all of you bunnies leave. I didn’t call you here.” They scatter like they are being chased by the hounds of hell. He waits until all the bunnies leave before he talks again.

“ Anyone that wants to help Lilly let me know when I'm done. But before you volunteer this is what you need to know. It won’t be easy. On you and especially on Lilly.” Then he tells us about her injuries and how to care for them. “ That’s not so bad. We can handle that.” Merigold says. Viper turns to her with a sad smile “ No, princess. That part isn’t bad.” Merigold must sense that something is wrong. She gets up and goes to Viper’s side wrapping her arms around his waist. He puts an arm around her shoulders. He looks at all of us again then lays out how Lilly’s vision was permanently damaged in the accident and will never see normal again. How she has to learn to do everyday things in a different way. How she has to wear special sunglasses because certain light bothers her. She will never be able to drive. He tells us the precautions we have to take when we see her so we don’t scare her. How she is relying on her other senses more than her sight. What it adds up to is that Lilly is legally blind. Holy fucking shit. I want to kill everyone of the fuckers who thought they could hurt Lilly and get away with it. Merigold has silent tears running down her face “ Haven’t they done enough? What more are they gonna take from her?” Viper is just about to answer when he turns his head towards the stairs. It takes a minute then I hear it. Singing. Lilly is fucking singing again. I want to shout to the roof. I press my hands to my eyes to keep the tears from falling.

I pull my hands away and look around. Anne, Trina and Merigold are bawling their eyes out but are smiling. Most of the patches are smiling, even the fucker Tank is grinning with pride. When Lilly is done it is quiet again. Viper looks back at us “ That right there.” pointing to the stairs `` Is a woman who has been knocked down hard. But she isn’t out. She is going to need all of us, but Lilly will be back on her feet. Lilly is family. Has always been family. And around here we take care of our family no matter what. I want those of you who want to help to remember it is going to be a rough road ahead for us but it is so much worse for her. Now, any questions? Any volunteers?”

Patches, prospects and ol’e ladies all volunteer to help. It makes me proud of my club for coming together. And it shows what an impact Lilly has been on the club. And I don’t think she even knows. “ You said Lilly uses her other senses, what did you mean?” Rowdy asks. Viper answers “ Lilly uses her hearing to know when someone is coming. With enough exposure to someone she can tell you just by the way you walk or the noise your shoes make on the floor. Or what cologne or perfume you are wearing. She uses touch to guide her in eating, dressing,even moving.” Wow. Viper explains how the nurses would cut up her food for her then tell Lilly where things were on her plate. They kept things in the same exact places at all times so Lilly would know where to find them. “ You said something about certain lights bothering her?” Thor asks. Viper explains how fluorescent lights and several others cause Lilly pain. He is having the lights in her room replaced to make it better for Lilly. By the time Viper is done explaining all the ol’e ladies have offered to help as well as Anna, most of the patches and a couple of prospects. The one that surprised me the most is Tank. I don’t think Lilly is going to like that one bit but for some reason Viper allows it.

I know I’m definitely helping. And I’m going to get her back on stage as well. We have to do things differently. Maybe even change things around a bit. We will do several walk throughs so Lilly can get a feel for the stage with her not being able to see. I know I sound like I’m pushing someone who just got out of the hospital. But I know Lilly. She isn’t going to be kept down long. And being on stage is her life. She has never been happier than when she is singing. And I’m going to help her achieve that happiness again.