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