You’re about to get kicked out of here. Stop this bullshit. – Sid
Scott and Tony went home on Thursday as they both had to go back to work. Tilly and Anthony flew out the next Saturday. Geo stayed having decided to transfer to the local university.And to prospect under Trigg.He didn’t mention that part to his parents until they called to say that they had arrived home.Monday night the two men rode their bikes to the clubhouse and Rye took Michael in her car. Sid and the other old ladies loved seeing the baby. Rye was opening up more and more, no longer feeling like she needed to be prepared to run.Sid was rocking a sleepy Michael and Rye went to rinse his bottle. She was putting the bottle back together when she heard someone enter the kitchen wearing heels.“What are you going to do when he gets tired of coddling you? A man like Chance needs to fuck.”“Our relationship is none of your business.” Rye said, trying to sound confident.“Sure, itI’m going to make the suggestion to you first, we may discuss it in couple therapy next week or so. – CarlyIt was the second Thursday after the confrontation at the clubhouse. Rye had talked to Carly about how it felt more like playing house than being married. Carly had made some suggestions for her. “Start small. Invite Chance to sleep with you. Let him know that it’s going to be platonic, nothing physical.” Carly had said it as if it would be normal for a wife to make this request. “He knows your fears. He understands them. Be patient with yourself. They may be small actions, but they are big steps for you.”Rye had thought about those words a lot over the last few days. Once again, they were rattling around in her brain. Along with her insecurities and fears. For once, curiosity and want were bigger than the fears.Currently, she was laying in the large bed tossing and turning, with sleep eluding her. The soft teal and pink floral print comforter seemed heavy o
I envy you, baby sister. You have a future. I’ve seen where I’m headed. – Leigh AnneChance looked up when he heard the lobby door open notification from the alarm. Rye had her interview with the principal today. At Karan’s insistence, she had taken the day off. But had promised to come by when it was over.Instead of Rye, he saw another familiar face. It was almost skeletal under the bruises. She was having a tough time keeping herself upright. “Leigh Anne, are you okay?” Chance asked walking out to her. Karan stood in her doorway, phone in hand. As expected, it rang, and she told the Wolf Pack rep that everything was fine. “You’re baby sister’s friend.”“I’m her husband, Chance.” He said gently. They had been married for about a month. Sharing a bed for a week. It still thrilled him to say that he was married. “Good. She deserves a good guy. A good future.”“So do you. We can help you.”“Can you?”“There’s a treatment facility that
Sobriety is for quitters and I’m not a quitter. – Donna LeighRYE’S MEMORIESThe cop followed Donna Leigh home. Leigh Anne had gone to the food bank the day before. Both girls had cleaned the apartment; meaning they poured out the alcohol and flushed the drugs. When the officer walked through the apartment, it appeared to be a normal home. Not the house for a drugged-out whore and her two teenage daughters. Leigh Anne told him that it was their parents’ wedding anniversary. They convinced him that she was not typically like that. They painted a picture of a kind and loving mother. A grieving war widow.In a moment of desperation, Donna Leigh said that they were moving in with her cousin. It was three in the morning, so he didn’t make her call Anthony. But he said that he would be back before nine and wanted to talk to her cousin. At seven, a somewhat sober Donna Leigh called her cousin Anthony. He had always said that he would help them. Readily, he a
Honey, if you trust him, you’re halfway there. Now, just trust yourself. – KaranIt was the third Thursday of July, just after Chance left for the daycare to go to his veterans’ group, when Rye got a call from the principal, Mrs. Mason. Hiding her excitement, she agreed to the teacher position for a kindergarten class. She would be with the teacher for the first semester and then have the class on her own for the rest of the year.After that call, she called Alana and Geo and invited them to dinner. She had also called the clinic and checked on Leigh Anne. So far, she was doing well. The doctor expected that visitors would be allowed next week. Rye was in the kitchen cooking meat for tacos. Music played on the TV. Michael sat happily in his bouncy seat with his toys dangling from the bar above him.Chance stood unnoticed and watched as she danced around the kitchen. After setting the meat aside to drain, she leaned over the baby on the floor to sing the next line of
Never thought I’d say these words to my mother. Thank you for buying lingerie. – ChanceChance walked out of the bathroom and found Rye in the bed with the covers pulled up to her chin. She looked so innocent like that. He had to remind himself that despite everything that she had been through, she was still very innocent. “Are you shy?” he asked, approaching the bed. “I love you in my t-shirts.”She blushed but never took her eyes off him. He chuckled softly as he pulled back the comforter. Suddenly, he was choking on his laughter as lavender lace came into view. Pulling the teal and pink gloral blanket off her, he sucked in a deep breath. “Ryanne.” He sighed out. “I don’t have the strength to walk away-”“I don’t want you to.” She whispered. “I want you to… fuck me.”“No.” he whispered back as he settled into the bed next to her. Caressing her cheek, he smiled at her. “I’m going to make love to you.”“What’s the difference?”“Fucking is just to ge
I never doubted you. And Karan will be proud of you. – ChanceKaran glanced up and saw Chance coming to his office through the large communal area. He stopped to admire a drawing that one of the girls drew. Squatting down to her level, he smiled brightly as he spoke with her. Some of the other kids at the table had to show him their pictures also. Karan knew that he was coming from the nursery where he would have dropped off Michael before coming to his office. Even if he rode his bike, he came in with Rye and was the one to take him to the nursery. It shocked most of the bunnies how attentive he was as a father. She had seen him with his nieces and nephews. Even if he hadn’t realized it, he wanted to be a father. He wanted to share those same memories that he had of Coon with his own children. After two more stops, Chance finally made his way into his office. Before anyone else could pounce on him, Karan did. She stepped into his office from the opposite door tha
I hope she sees it through, but to be honest, I don’t think she will. – RyeLeigh Anne finished her thirty days of rehab and moved to a residential apartment. She still had therapy and daily drug tests. The apartment was on the campus, and she shared the quad with three other patients. They each had a small dorm like room with a twin bed, dresser, and desk. They each had a small bathroom and shared a living room with kitchenette. She had a curfew of nine and had come to a family dinner last week. Rye was excited about her coming over again later that day. They were at the grocery store Saturday afternoon to get ingredients for dinner. Rye wanted to make chicken cordon blue, but Chance talked her into doing a pasta recipe that Mia gave her. Chance was putting groceries in the back of the Kia as Rye put Michael and his carrier in the backseat. At six months old he was starting to look like a full-term newborn. Rye finally stopped calling him her nephew and started saying
That locker is yours. Don’t ever tell mom about it. – Leigh AnneRYE’S MEMORYFriday night, Rye had graduated with the rest of her class. After the ceremony, she returned the borrowed cap and gown, not even keeping the tassel. Then she got in her recently bought new-to-me car and drove to Savannah.There was a fear in the back of her mind that the locker would not be there. Or that the contents would be gone. But it was still there. Thankfully. Using the key that had become so much a part of her, she opened the locker and found a black duffel bag. It looked like one that Anthony had bought for them to put clothes in when they moved to Tampa. Vaguely, in the back of her mind, she remembered that one disappeared after they left. Shortly before Leigh Anne ran away for a few days.Rye had gone on a school trip and Leigh Anne ran away during that time. She didn’t remember the trip very well. She didn’t even remember where they had gone. What she did remember was the