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
You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. – GoetheSeveral of the girls from TRAAC were going out on Friday night to celebrate Tina getting engaged. Helen resisted Wednesday and most of Thursday. Then, around three, she finally caved. Having agreed, she texted Jolene and Bunny. Jolene said that she was not feeling well. Bunny insisted on getting Helen a new outfit. Looking at herself in the mirror, Helen considered backing out. She was forty-three. A size eighteen. That, she was proud of. She was about to move into a size twenty and now eighteen was getting loose. The wine colored velveteen A-line dress ended just before her knees. Bunny picked out a pair of camel color knee high boots to go with it. The gold necklace with the small pearl pendant hung around Helen’s neck. At the last minute, she added small gold hoop earrings. She had never been to Constellations since it reopened as a bar and was excited to see it. They all met
You taught me how to move the stars, one at a time, until new constellations formed in the sky. – Christy Ann MartineAfter Reese had hung up with Frank from TRAAC, he called Joshua and told him to make sure that they got in and were taken care of. Joshua knew better than to ask questions of his boss. But the next day when they were at the gym, he teased his friend about his crush. “I know you, boss man, it’s those thighs of hers.” Joshua said as Reese watched the woman in question wave at Pinky as she entered. “Me? Those tits.”Reese grunted. He liked the whole package. The thighs, tits, smile, everything. Plus, he had the advantage of having spent time with her. He made way more appointments with Frank than he needed and always showed up early. “I don’t mind charging you for an hour of my time, but don’t you think it would be cheaper to just ask her out?” Frank had asked Wednesday at their appointment about… well, nothing. And when Joshua had flashed his light at the camera, Ree
You are my sun, my moon and all of my stars. – E. E. Cummings“I never saw it moving. My kids did a field trip here and both times the tour guide said that the mechanism was unrepairable.” She said remembering those days. “My youngest didn’t get to come here. His was the first class to go to university planetarium.”“You’ll have to bring them by.”She nodded. “It’s really quite beautiful.”“Yeah.” He accepted a water bottle from Emily. “Thanks.”“Do you need anything else, sir?”“I’m good. Helen?”For the first time, she looked at him and saw his intent gaze on her. Not used to anyone looking at her like that she blushed and shook her head no. Emily disappeared and Reese reached out and touched Helen’s cheek. It was a simple caress with his knuckle. But again, she blushed. “You have three children, grown I’m assuming.” She nodded slightly and he moved his hand to toy with her hair. “And yet, a simple touch makes you blush. Makes me wonder what you would do if you knew what I was thi
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