Keep taking time for yourself until you’re you again. – Lalah Delia“Miss Helen!” Freddie exclaimed when she and Bunny walked into the nail salon. “We were worried!”It had been two weeks since she had been in to get her nails done. Bian was excited to see show off her wedding pictures. And that she had worn the bracelets that Miss Helen had gifted her.“I’m sorry. I had car problems.” Helen apologized with a sincere smile. “Don’t worry, I’m here!” Bunny laughed as Helen entered her phone number on the keypad. “What’s that for?”“Rewards program.” Helen smiled. “Maybe I should sign up for that.” Bunny mused.“Oh, Miss Helen, I have gift for you.” Freddie said pulling an envelope out if a drawer. Helen removed the card and looked at the elegant writing inside it.*Helen, your kindness made my niece’s day so much better. Please accept this small gift as a thank you. Uncle Owen*“Oh, the girl that sat next to me last time.” Helen smiled. “Her date to the fall dance dumped her the day
I love how I look. I’m a full woman and I’m strong, and I’m powerful and I’m beautiful at the same time. – Serena WilliamsReese pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant that his sister, Gina, had set the blind date up at. It was an upscale steak house with valet parking and a cigar bar. And a cognac that he only carried at one of his bars.He knew this because, unbeknownst to his sister, and most other people, he owned it.Everyone knew about his clubs and bars. But under O.A R. Investments, he owned the Oar House, Pier and Beam and this place, Cognac. Under Reese Enterprises he owned his other properties and bars; Dean’s List which was in an old library, Constellation in the old planetarium and Open Air which was at the top of a high rise. He loved old buildings and repurposing them. The architecture and detailing could be replicated, but it wasn’t the same. Sure Dean’s List no longer held the smell of old books, but the old shelves were still there. And Constellation had a wo
While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. – Angela SchwindtAfter Tru left, Reese drove around to the back and parked in the owners spot. He didn’t usually do this, but there was something that he needed to check on.He slipped in through the employee entrance and took the stairs up to the third floor. Two IGYS guards sat at a monitor display watching the various screens.“Any issues?”“None here.” Clayton reported. “Constellations had a fight. Parties have been removed.”“Good.” Reese replied as he headed for the door marked private. Entering his code on the keypad, he opened the door and crossed the office. The second door required another code before opening. The apartment was tucked away and hidden for a reason. Reese was here to make sure that it was ready to be used if needed.It was one of the charities that he supported. The Family Advocacy Center had a side that many did not know about. One that he and several others sup
You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. – Cayla MillsBunny had two phones. Her personal phone and the emergency phone. There were no names to any of the phone numbers stored in the emergency phone. Initials and an eight digit date followed by special characters. Each entry represented a woman, child or family hiding from an abuser.No matter where she was, what she was doing, when that phone rang, she answered. She was sleeping between the two men. Her head rested on Jaxon’s shoulder and Ty was starfished behind her. She and Jaxon were both snugglers. Ty tried, but once he was asleep, he had a tendency to take up as much space as possible. His most common position being the starfish. The emergency phone started ringing and before she could reach over Ty, he was handing it to her. Jaxon got up and went downstairs to fix her a cup of coffee. She had her advocacy uniform set aside to pull on in an event like this. Black denim jeans, dark blu
Everything is within your power, and your power is within you. – Janice TrachtmanYesterday when they had gotten together at Jaxon’s house for Sunday dinner, Helen’s adult children, had told her that she should take some time for herself. It was what she wanted to hear for years. She wanted to be noticed. To be appreciated. And finally she was. Jaxon even gave her a gym bag with goodies. Inside was the outfit that she had bought and two more. There was a cute pink water bottle that declared ‘I’m a mom of three… you don’t scare me!’ There was also a motivational workout and food log. In addition to everything else, there was a gift card to the local sporting goods store. “You’ve got this, mom.” JD told her.Jolene seemed off. More quiet than usual. But midterms were right around the corner and Hank dismissed their concerns. “My girl is going to be the best teacher this town has ever had.” He had boasted and said that he was going to get her the best school ring ever seen. She had
Whether you believe that you can or you can’t, you’re right. – Henry FordHelen laughed as a buff man with a Marine tattoo wrapped his arms around Pinky from the back. “You’re not offering me up as a signing bonus again, are you?”“That depends. Am I cooking tonight?” she asked looking up at him.“What is the correct answer?” he asked. “The correct answer is no, your beautiful wife is not cooking tonight.” She told him.“Very well. My beautiful, intelligent, sexy wife is not cooking tonight.” He gave her a quick kiss. “And neither are you.” Before she could respond, he was dashing across the building. “He’s yours.” Pinky laughed and Helen felt a pang of jealousy. “No charge.”She had never had an easy relationship like that. Bob had married her after dating for a few months because she was pregnant and his father was telling him to settle down. She was barely eighteen and he was twenty-five. He had encouraged her to continue her education and she was nearly through with her degree w
You only have one life. Make sure it’s yours. – Eleanor BrownCoordinating a date night with both of her men was a headache for Bunny. Ty was on shift for twenty-four hours every third day. She was on call for the center almost constantly since they had recently lost a crisis intervention officer. And Jaxon wasn’t ready to be out of the closet. And she wouldn't push.It was a headache. But it was one she was willing to have. The planets had aligned and she took one last look in her mirror. Her hair was curled and styled flowing around her face. Her sea green eyes sparkled with excitement and a little glitter. A pale blue sheer dress clung to her curves and the dark blue sheath dress underneath it. They were so tight that there was no doubt that there was nothing underneath. The only other things she wore were silver stilettos and a silver choker and earrings. Bunny was planning on getting lucky tonight. She went downstairs and found her men watching Thursday Night Football. They bo
Some people are so poor, all they have is money. – Bob MarleyJD looked at the message from his dad asking him to call. He never did this. Certainly never texted him during school. Walking away from the group of friends, he called his dad. “What are you doing?” Bob asked. “I’m at school.” JD replied as if it was the most obvious thing. Which, since it was Tuesday morning at nine thirty, it was.“Oh. I thought you graduated.”“In May.” The teen said as the bell rang. “I’ve got to get to class.”“Oh, well, call me when you’re done. We’ll grab lunch.”JD pulled his phone away and looked at it as if the object was stupid. Shaking his head, he held the phone back up to his ear. “I get out at four. It’s high school.”“Okay. Dinner?”“Fine. I’ll check with mom.”“Why?”“Because unlike some people, I go home every night. Text me when and where.” Rolling his eyes, JD ended the call.Shoving his phone back into his pocket, he walked into the classroom and went to his history teacher and swim
There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved. – George SandWhen Dean had shown them the walk-in closet of wedding dresses, Bunny had fallen in love with the dress that they dubbed the *Big Fat Greek Wedding* Dress. The skirt was so large that her arms couldn’t go down straight by her sides.Smirking, Deam had pointed out that her arms weren’t the only things that would not be straight at the wedding. When she had quit laughing, Bunny threatened to put the teen in pink. They both knew it was an empty threat.Two days before the wedding, Helen had shown up at the two-story house with a new set of petticoats. Even though they would not be seen during the ceremony, it still meant a lot to the three of them. Especially for Jaxon.Although they all knew that Helen accepted Jaxon and his partners, the gift of the rainbow-colored petticoats solidified it. It meant even more to learn that Daphne had helped Helen
I have never met a vampire personally, but I don’t know what might happen tomorrow. – Bela LugosiJD walked up behind Dean and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck as she made herself a sandwich. “How are you going to eat that?”“One bite at a time.” She replied as she sliced the tomato.“Smart ass.” He chuckled.“You want one?”Kissing her cheek, he smiled at her before turning and looking at the sandwich. There needed to be a different word for this … monstrosity. Rye bread with mayonnaise and mustard. Three types of cheeses. Five types of deli sliced meat. Romaine and iceberg lettuce. Sliced tomato, pickles, cucumbers, bell peppers, banana peppers and black olives.“Yeah.” He answered with a soft chuckle.She gave a small laugh as she finished her sandwich and pushed the plate away before grabbing another paper plate leftover from the
As your kids grow they may forget what you said, but won’t forget how you made them feel. – Kevin HeathIt had been a long weekend, starting with Dean’s graduation on Friday night and ending with the babies’ first birthday party today. After the party had broken up, several people had stayed just to play in the pool. Ariel, true to her namesake, loved being in the water and was upset when they finally got out of the pool.She had started to cry, but Ty and Jaxon were there with cuddles. If there was any doubt about her being daddy’s girl, it would only be because the doubter had never seen her light up when either of them came into view.Her favorite place was between her two fathers. She definitely took after her mother in that regard. Most nights she would fall asleep on Bunny’s lap or shoulder, a hand or foot on each of the men.Currently, she lay on Bunny’s shoulder, her hand tightly gripping Jaxon&rs
Some students go an entire day at school without anyone saying their name. be the adult who speaks to each student by name. Everyone loves to hear their name. – Educator Justin TarteEvery night, Jolene sat between Neo’s legs and would read to him. Some nights the passages were nothing more than written porn. Other nights, they were sweet, or amusing. After the first few nights of carefully curated smut scenes, he chose a book, and they would read a few chapters each night.They were on book three of a series of five tonight and she was having a hard time concentrating. The light touch of his calloused hands under her shirt did not help her concentration. Nor did his mouth on her neck.Certainly, the bulge at her lower back was a bit distracting.“Something’s on your mind.” He whispered and then lightly bit her earlobe.“No…” she tried to brush off his observation and he simply chuckled
Because he wants to create a stable, lasting relationship with one person. Brad, believe me, there is nothing in this world so wonderful, so fulfilling, as coming home to the same woman every night. – Tony Randall as Jonathon Forbes in Pillow Talk 1959Cheryl snuggled against Waylon’s chest as they lay in the new bed at their new house. She wore a large National Fire Academy T-shirt that was stretched tight across her large belly. He wore a pair of boxers and kept squirming seeking a more comfortable position between the rough, stiff cotton sheets.The guys from the fire department had helped them move early Saturday morning. She and Waylon left the guys putting together furniture when they went to the unveiling of Dean’s mural.When they returned to the house with pizzas and beers, they found the six men sitting on the back patio with their feet up. On furniture that Cheryl adored but did not remember getting.“I
As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live. – Johann Wolfgang von GoetheReese had told Helen that there was a second restaurant at the Private Club that he wanted to eat at. She knew about the other restaurant. When they had all met for lunch last, Marnie had taken Helen over and showed her the other restaurant. The one with low cushioned tables and pillows on the floor.The lights were up during the day, but for meals, they would be lowered. Lights would shine out from inside the tables, illuminating the sub on display. There were cushions that could be moved to accommodate the person on the table. One under the knees, a small one under the lower back and one to support the neck and head.Marnie had told the older woman that she loved the other restaurant. The meals were finger foods that were served on the sub. Helen had looked at the Brat who smiled at her.“On the sub.” Marnie said again. “Steve
Most of our childhood is stored not in photos, but in certain biscuits, lights of day, smells, textures of carpet. – Alain de BottonReese sat on the outdoor couch on the lower deck watching the girls in the pool with the babies. Cheryl, Bunny, Dean and Allison, the only female Seabee that came with JD, each had a baby in their arms as they bounced and spun. Watching her children and grandchild smile and laugh, Helen snuggled into his side, and he pulled her into his lap.She had lost most of her baby weight, and currently had made her way back into size eighteen dresses, which she was quite proud of. Today she wore the dress that Reese had bought her specifically for the birthday party. A pink satin shift with a cream-colored mesh overdress with pink and blue flowers embroidered on it.Earlier in the day she had also been in the pool in a pink swimsuit with a sheer fish scale skirt that Reese had a hard time looking away from. He had p
Art and love are the same thing: It’s the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you. – Chuck KlostermanThere was a rather large gathering in the closed parking lot across the street from the mural. About half of them were part of the Princess Club and extended family. The large white canvas tarp that covered the wall billowed in the midmorning breeze. JD wrapped his arm around Dean’s waist and pulled her to his side.She wore a knee length black skirt and matching jacket with a white lace shirt underneath. Her hair was pulled up in a tight twist in an effort to keep it contained in the wind. She wore sapphire and silver teardrop earrings that matched her shoes.The leg of JD’s course BDU uniform brushed up against her bare leg as she moved in closer to him. Curling into his chest, she smiled as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Nervous?” he asked quietly.She nodded. “Yes. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done for so many people to see. What if no one likes it?”
I’m the big sister. I want to make sure she has everything, even if I don’t have anything. It’s hard. I love her too much. That’s what counts. – Venus WilliamsLast night, Dean graduated from high school with a large cheering section made up of her family, friends and a small contingent of Seabees. And a cardboard cutout of her mom. This afternoon, they were having her graduation party. It was shaping up to be one hell of a party. JD was home until Wednesday but would be back a week and half later for his brother’s commitment ceremony to Bunny and Ty. The other Seabees would leave tomorrow, only a few planned to stay for the birthday party for the four babies. Although they had all been invited.All the princess club and their families would be there.They had all been upset when they learned that she had got married without them. But then the newlywed couple promised to have a real wedding on their one-year anniversary.Deon and Craig were both home for summer and t