Yeh want me to feed how many people? On Thursday? Yeh should know we can do that with no issue. – Nessie
Zee from Nessie’s Kitchen was overseeing lunch for the daycare employees. When Karan went to Nessie about the luncheon, she was sure that the other woman could do it. Probably with a hand tied behind her back. Possibly both hands.She left the menu up to Nessie and the Scottish beauty did not disappoint.There was a salad of mixed greens, with fresh strawberries, feta cheese, sliced almonds, and balsamic dressing. The main course was chicken penne pasta with spinach and bacon in alfredo sauce, parmesan cheese was placed on the tables. Yeast rolls were in the daycare ovens and the fruit was being sliced by the girls who came to help.Karan had worked for Nessie for a year and her organization skills still scared her. They were still looking for a full-time kitchen manager for the daycare. But for now, it was being split between Nessie, Karan, and Winona. Winona couGood morning, ladies! I brought fresh donuts and piggies. – ChanceEver the flirt, and sometimes all-around good guy, Chance showed up early with donuts and pigs in a blanket. Most of the women, married and single, flirted with him. It was friendly and fun. There was nothing expected. Except for the girl with the gray patch in her black hair. She continued to glare and give him the patented Three Step Look. He was quite sure that she would have no problems with him dying another time or two while he was in hell. It was a good thing that he was a Devil’s Saint. They were already friends with devil himself. Chance snickered at the thought as the woman in question gave him another go to hell look.“Leave her alone.” Karan warned softly as they stood just outside her office in the communal area. “I’m not doing anything.” He objected as the nine teachers kept tight reins on the controlled chaos. Approximately a hundred and fifty kids played in the large a
Chance, Theresa Johnson just called. She has the twins in Rye’s class. Isn’t she Cookie’s sister? – JordanIt was six-thirty and most of the kids had already been picked up. Rye still had two children in her class. Four-year-old identical twins Gavin and Graham. Chubby cheeks, mahogany brown eyes, dark chocolate skin and black curly hair. They both wore blue jeans, gray t-shirts with smiling cars and black tennis shoes. Rye sat at the short table coloring with the boys. Their chubby little hands wrapped around the fat crayons. Two of the coloring pages of the letter A had multicolored scribbles on the pages. The third had the bubble letter colored purple with green grass. Rye was coloring the sky when Chance entered the room. “Why don’t you go ahead and go?” Chance suggested to Rye. “I still have kids.” Her smile was bright and her voice cheery. But her eyes were cold and filled with hate. “Theresa just called, she’s on her way. I know you want to get to your
I don’t even know who the father is of you. I barely know who your mother is. What right do I have to judge? – RyeChance went to his sister’s house for dinner after his encounter with Rye. He listened to the twins and played with the baby. When Mia asked him what was bothering him, he just shrugged and said that the first day was busy.Celt rode with him back to the clubhouse, Pop’s Place. Over a beer, the large red head called him out.“Okay, spill it.” Celt sat on the opposite couch and handed him a bottle of beer. “What the hell is bothering you?”Celt was enjoying his leave and his wavy red hair was now to the middle of his back and his beard was barely controlled. He wore faded jeans, a plain black t-shirt and lace up motorcycle boots. Just like their brethren, he and Chance wore their leather cuts. Black leather with their road names on a black patch with white writing. On the back was the club patch of a red devil with huge angel wings rode a motorcycle.
I told you before, I don’t want or need your help. Thanks. But no thanks. – RyeKaran took another bite of her apple as she scanned over her paper. The alarm chirped notifying her that the back employee entrance had opened. Glancing over at the screen on her wall and saw Rye enter the door held open by Chance. Forgetting her paper, she turned and watched the daily lunch time show. Reaching for the remote, she started to unmute the TV. Setting it back down, she decided that the silent movie was better. Eating her apple and drinking her lemon water, Cookie better realize the sacrifice she was making for their wedding, Karan watched the couple. What they could argue about every damned day, Karan didn’t know. What she did know was that at this point it was a choice. Rye had a set lunch time. Chance did not. The fact that he still continued to come back from lunch the same time she did, spoke volumes. What it said was that it was his choice. He wanted this daily i
I can do domestic stuff. I even know how to bag groceries. Eggs. Cookies. Bread. Seventy-pound frozen turkey. – ChanceIt was Saturday and the Lowery men had already done their weekly workouts. They got together every Saturday for a workout, which was just an excuse to beat the hell out of each other. Werewolf was called into the office and asked Chance to go help his wife, Charlotte, do her Saturday errands. Although she could do them herself, he felt better if someone was there to help. Especially with the large bags of dog food. Chance rode out to his brother’s house and took his brother’s family to lunch at his sister’s restaurant. He made several jokes about driving the minivan that the kids had dubbed Wilbur from Charlotte’s Web. The back window even had a spiderweb in the corner with amazing written in it.After dropping the four kids off, they headed back into town in Werewolf’s dark blue extended cab pickup with bed cover. Chance had tried to convince her that
I’m not afraid of the dark or even what’s in the dark. I’m afraid of what the tazer can’t keep away. – RyeRYE’S MEMORIESIt had been two and a half years since her father died. Rye lay on the makeshift palette of blankets and clothes on the closet floor hiding from the noises in the bedroom. She wasn’t stupid, she knew what was happening. She knew it was only a matter of time before she had to do it to. That thought scared her. Rye had been offered up once before. She fought and Leigh Anne took her place. Her mother was beaten. They ran after that and lived in the car for nearly a month.It was how Donna Leigh paid for things once the monthly check ran out. It ran out sooner and sooner every month. Which is why Rye slept in the floor of the closet of the small one-bedroom apartment. Leigh Anne made her sleep there. She had gotten a locking doorknob and only she and Rye had a key. Rye didn’t ask how she got it or if she even paid for it. She was just grateful f
I’m sorry. I just needed somewhere to go for a few minutes and calm down. – RyeInk opened the front door to find Rye standing there in tears. He called for Evie over his shoulder as he opened the door further for her. The petite brunette came down the hall carrying an infant. “Ink, take Camden.” She handed off the fussy baby.“Come on, little man.” The large, tattooed man took his son and headed towards the basement. “Let’s go do some manly things. Maybe a beer will get rid of that colic.”“I promise, he’s not going to give his son a beer.” Evie said leading Rye over to the living room couch. “What can I get you to drink?”Over coffee and crumble cake, the two women talked about various things until Rye relaxed and told Evie about the incident at the grocery store. At some point, Tank and Ink both joined them, each with an infant. They also heard about the man grabbing Rye. “I know that he probably didn’t mean anything.” Rye admitted. “But after so many ye
She still infuriates me. It’s just… different. – ChanceKaran looked at the clock and knew that it was nearly time for her favorite daytime show.Chance vs Rye If anyone was keeping score, Karan was sure that Rye was winning.Grabbing the tablet, she changed the cameras to the employee backdoor and back hallway. Then she went back to her lunch and her latest homework. Right on time, the alarm chirped. She turned to watch the little squares. Admittedly, she missed Werewolf and his commentary. Today she had Jax from Pop’s Place. He might get a kick out of her favorite show too. Karan didn’t know him and therefore did not know if he would keep his mouth shut. Reaching behind her, she closed her door to the reception area. Then she picked up her cell phone and acted like she was on a personal call. As Chance and Rye stood by the backdoor, Karan turned on the audio. “-insist on us meeting here every day?” an exasperated Rye asked. “Damn good ques