A house is made with walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
On the first Friday in November, afternoon Reese sat in his office with the conference call on speakerphone. The architect, engineer and site foreman were not on the same page. Rubbing his forehead, he wondered if they were even in the same book. Clicking on the calendar on his computer, he looked for a time that all four of them would be available. And soon.“George,” Reese said to the foreman, cutting off the engineer, “go ahead and shut the site down before the city comes in and shuts us down.”“No offense, Reese,” George replied, “with the holidays coming up, my men would rather work until the city shuts us down.”“How many times do I have to tell you, I’m calling it, I’m shutting it down, your crew will still get paid.” He tried to keep his voice calm, but damn it, he was tired of telling them this.“It’s not common in the trades.” George pointed out.“AsFear is a reaction. Courage is a decision. – Gina RodriguezIt was a little after nine when Reese pulled into the back parking lot behind the turn of the century dry goods store that now housed his company offices. The last store at the end was becoming available at the end of the year, and he planned on owning it. Tire of sharing a single office, his project managers had been requesting offices of their own.Most of their work was done on site, and they each had offices in their houses. He contracted with an architecture company and a separate engineering company. The trades were all self-contained within his company. Except landscaping – he had two companies that he contracted with for that. TRAAC took care of the payroll and financial side of the business.For the most part, it was just Willow at the office. And that was how she preferred it. He worried about her, but Neo always had someone keeping an eye on her. Stepping through the back door, he found himself steppi
Human beings make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to invent boredom? – Terry Pratchett, HogfatherNeo walked into the apartment and found Jo sitting on the couch with her knees pulled up almost to her chest. The Nightmare Before Christmas blanket from her childhood covered her legs. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun and she wore a dark blue sweatshirt, and he could barely see the top of the yellow print. He knew what was written on the shirt – PROUD NAVY SISTER.Chuckling, he thought about the day that they had gone to the art museum. If the fact that JD was in a new uniform with hardly any ranks or ribbons didn’t tell people that they were a Navy family, all the sweatshirts and onesies did. It wasn’t anything that was done intentionally. They had all bought the shirts before leaving for Chicago.PROUD NAVY DADPROUD NAVY MOMPROUD NAVY BROTHERPROUD NAVY SISTERI HEART MY SAILORLITTLE NAV
We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses. – Alphonse KarrJolene had not realized how much she had missed cooking with her mom for Thanksgiving. They laughed and joked as she did the prep work and Helen did the actual cooking. Cheryl and Dean helped where they could and Bunny sat at the kitchen island, taste testing everything.Currently Jolene was cutting and peeling apples for her mother’s now famous apple pies. As the knife slid just under the green skin, she thought about how much she nearly lost. Nearly missed out on. Her baby siblings. Her niece. JD’s high school graduation. His graduation from Navy boot camp. Neo. Her mom finding happiness.The apple in her hand blurred and her hands began to shake. The sounds of the other women around her laughing and talking slowly faded away. A warm hand gently took the knife and apple out of her hands. A ragged sob escaped her as she was pulled into a very familiar chest.Neo li
I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book. – J.K. RowlingNeo handed Jolene one of his T-shirts before guiding her into the bathroom. She had prepared for tomorrow to be emotional. Last Thanksgiving was the day that her life changed, her world shattered. Whatever line you wanted to use to describe a life altering event, it would fit.Nearly being murdered by your husband has that effect. Falling apart on your new boyfriend is more than embarrassing. She looked at the shower and thought about how excited she had been only a few hours ago about his promise of a shower together. As water sprayed from the large showerhead on the wall and fell from the rain head on the ceiling, she wasn’t sure that she was ready for this. Not now. Not after confronting her memories of last year. Or facing everything that she nearly lost.It felt like she was in a trance as Neo stripped out of his clothes and then carefully removed her clothes. Taking h
May your walls know joy; may every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility. – Maryanne Radmacher Hershey“Reese!” Cooper called from the front room of the main house. “Reese!” he called again, moving deeper into the house and heading for the laundry room just off the open concept kitchen. “Damn it, Reese!”“I keep telling you, call me JD. Reese is my dad.” He replied as he screwed in the last anchor for the shelves above where the washer and dryer will go. “I’m not used to answering to it, yet.”“Yet?” Cooper chuckled as he propped his shoulder against the door frame. “You act like you haven’t had the name your whole life.”He was a few inches taller than JD and had short dark blonde hair and pale green eyes. Having been a linebacker in high school, he was bulkier than JD was. The deep tan of his skin and dark lines of his tattoos only seemed to emphasize his muscles. Today he wore jean shorts and a dark gray tight Under Armor T-shirt.“I ha
US Navy Seabees – We build, we fight.“That son of a bitch!” The chief muttered with a grin as he looked past the sailors that were cleaning the equipment parked in the large hangar. He gave a small shake of his head as a rare smile crossed his face. “Owen Reese! You sorry fucker! What the hell are you doing here?”Reese laughed as he approached Chief Pollard with an arm lightly slung around Dean’s shoulders. “You salty old bastard, they haven’t kicked you out yet?”“They did, but then they realized that I knew everything and brought me back.” The gray-haired man replied as they shook hands. “This cannot be little Denise.”“Hi, Chief.” She smiled at him as she discreetly looked past him, and her eyes landed on JD.“Damn, girl.” He pulled her in for a hug and she accepted it from the man who she only vaguely remembered. “I’m sorry about your momma.”“Thanks.” She whispered and blinked back tears as he let her go.“So, Chief,” Reese said as he turned them so that their backs were both t
Selecting a wedding dress is more than just a fitting… it’s a process – a memory in the making. - Olivelli Cape TownReese woke up and found himself alone in the large bed. He rolled out of bed and found his sweatpants where he had dropped them before crawling into bed the night before. If his wife was downstairs in the kitchen making more cookies, he was going to haul her deliciously plump ass back to bed.Bypassing the house shoes, he was grateful that the company here agreed to the radiant heating in the floor, he headed to the door and then down the hall. He peeked into the nursery where all four babies were sleeping soundly. Then he continued his way down the hall towards the faint light that was coming from the floor below.Approaching the stairs, he heard the soft voices of the women. “Dad lived in barracks the whole time.” Cheryl laughed. “Drove a god awful old beat-up pick-up and squirreled away the majority of his check.”“But it paid off for him.” Bun
If it wasn’t for each other, I’m sure a lot of us would have gone crazy. That’s where the cohesion comes in. We were brothers. – Clancy LyallThere was a loud pinging noise that preceded the screen of JD’s phone lighting up the dark room with double bunkbeds. There were a few grumbled complaints from his bunkmates as they were drifting back to sleep it did it again. Again, they voiced their complaints, but not too loudly. They had all received messages in the middle of the night from time to time.Cooper was notorious for getting messages from women who had names in his phone such as Gayle – wholesome and Christina – Blonde, tits, waitress, freaky and some were more descriptive. A few even had emoji’s to depict everything the women were willing to do. Or had done.The occasional ping was soon replaced by pings going off back-to-back and the phone screen never going dark. “What the fuck, man?” Cooper asked as JD’s phone dinged with another message. “Tell your gi
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