Selecting a wedding dress is more than just a fitting… it’s a process – a memory in the making. - Olivelli Cape Town
Reese 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.” BunIf 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
Well, maybe a tired bunny could sleep in a bed… just this once. – Just Go To Bed by Mercer MayerDean looked at the ring on her left hand and couldn’t help but smile. JD knew her so well. She loved her skull and would not want to replace it. Even if it meant that she was now Mrs. Jonathon Daniel Reese.Sy had done the wedding ring by himself and to JD’s specifications. Her pearl that was carved into a skull with tiny emeralds in his eyes was now encircled with a silver wreath with tiny white and black diamonds flashing.It wasn’t big and gawdy like some would expect with who her uncle was. But if anyone truly expected that, they did not know Owen Reese at all.He was well known for spoiling the women in his life. He took care of his employees. Protected his friends. Supported other local businesses.Sure, she had heard the rumors about him. And yes, he had a few former employees that were now incarcerated. There were some felons and parolees on his payroll.O
It’s not what’s under the Christmas Tree that matters … it’s who’s around it. – Charlie BrownReese grunted an objection as Helen slid out of bed at an hour that was way too early for him to be awake. A year ago, he would not have thought twice about staying up all night after working at one of his clubs. There were many days that he would close a club in the early hours, go work out and run a half marathon around the park, stop at the job sites, have breakfast with a few of his princesses and check in at the office before finally heading to bed.Now he was quite content to let someone else close his clubs. He still got in a daily workout and runs and had even done the local Jingle Bell Run before they left Morgan City for the holidays. His foremen and site managers still checked in with him daily but were glad that he no longer started the workday on site. Most of his meals were with Helen and the triplets, Dean and Gigi joined them most mornings and evenings. And he s
What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven’t even happened yet. – Anne FrankThis New Year’s Eve was completely different from the one a year ago. No one was in the hospital. There were no wives or stepmoms trying to escape an abusive relationship. As far as they knew, Cheryl was the only one that was pregnant. Although they all teased Jolene and Dean. Both took the good-natured ribbing in stride.“Come on,” Bunny grinned as she poured more champagne into her flute. “It seems that we can’t have singles. Even our little princess had to share her birthday with three others.”“It’s going to have to fall to you.” Dean nudged her new sister-in-law with her shoulder. “I’m not even out of high school. O would probably kill me.”“Without a doubt.” Reese agreed with a smile. “Although, I am partial to all of my princesses. I might just make JD disappear.”“Bury him in a concrete foundation?” Jaxon suggested.JD shook his head and
I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source. – Doris DayEarly on Saturday, February fourteenth, Monster was curled up behind Dean. Since JD had left, the dog had not slept in his room. Then his girl and the rest of the family had been gone for a week and a half and Monster had to stay with Gina.Monster loved going to Gina’s. His mom and two of his sisters lived with Gina. And there were always treats. His favorite were the homemade treats from the dog bakery café that also served dog friendly ice cream.But what he loved more than all the treats in the world, more than all seven flavors of ice cream and more than all the ear scratches and belly rubs that his Helen could give him with her nails, was his girl.From the moment that she walked through the door after swim practice until she left for school the next morning, he didn’t let her out of his sight
Society has placed a taboo surrounding periods and menstrual health as if we should be ashamed of this natural and miraculous process that ultimately kept the human species alive. – Tracy LockwoodHelen had agreed to have lunch with Cheryl after her morning lecture. Walking into the lecture hall with stadium seating, she had expected to see a female version of Indiana Jones. Floppy hat, khaki pants and loose fit shirt covered by a dirty brown vest and hiking boots beat all to hell. Maybe even a whip at her hip.The professional woman in a dark purple skirt suit and knee-high black boots was nothing of what she had anticipated. Cheryl sat on the large black table at the front of the room. There were three screens behind her with a mural of caveman life projected on them. Curiously, there were two stationary bikes by the long table. One at either end. A small table sat next to each one.The overhead lights were dim, giving just enough light for the students to see as
Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone, but still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, you didn’t grow under my heart but in it. – Fleur Conkling Heylinger“I feel like I need to explain,” Cheryl said as they sat down at the table at the window overlooking the lake at Pier and Beam. “Most of the classes do not turn into a pro woman, anti-man bashing session.”“Even the class about how we should be a matriarchal society?” Helen grinned.Cheryl laughed. “Even that one.”The waitress approached and took their orders before leaving them to enjoy the view and each other’s company.“Michael has taken the class both semesters that it’s been offered. He failed in fall and is failing spring.”“Is it a required course?” Helen asked as the waitress brought them their drinks.Cheryl shook her head. “It’s an elective. Most of the students are archeology or sociology majors. There’s a few of the guys that signed up thinking they’d find a hook up.
In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. – Abraham LincolnGoing to the Cowboy Cabaret was bittersweet for all the princesses in attendance. Mary had planned to be here for her daughter’s eighteenth birthday. Had planned to watch her daughter grow into a young woman.But life had other plans and there was an empty seat in the large gathering.As if they understood, and missed their friend, none of the dancers or waiters sat in the chair. They would sit in a chair and pull one of the women into their laps. Or drag a chair over to the grouping of tables. A fresh daquiri sat in front of the empty chair all night, replaced as it began to melt.Even without any alcohol in her system, Dean was having the time of her life. Every so often, she would look at the pink icy drink next to her, sadness would fill her to the point that it would leak out of her eyes and down her cheek. Her aunts and cousins seemed to understand and would g