If you are going through hell, keep going. Why would you stop in hell? – Steve HarveyA few minutes later, JD pulled into the parking lot and found a spot. He got out of the car and started to walk towards the building. When he didn’t hear his mom’s door he went back and opened it.“Sorry. I guess I got in the habit of Reese getting the door for me.” Helen said sheepishly.JD put his arm around her shoulders and walked with her into the building. They walked up to the reception desk where a blonde sat looking bored.“I’m looking for Tyrus Johnson.” Helen said with a smile.“One moment.” She picked up the phone and spoke into the receiver.A few minutes later, a nurse opened the door and looked towards the woman with long braids and dark skin. “For Tyrus Johnson?”“That’s me.” Helen said stepping towards
If you want something different, you have to stop accepting what you are used to. – Samantha King HolmesTy was released the following day after the pulmonary specialist was able to assess him. The family dinner was moved to their house to accommodate him. His voice was still a bit raspy but he sounded more like himself.Bunny kept apologizing for the meal. She had pulled out two frozen packages of chili for the slow cookers. And attempted cornbread. The bottoms were burned and the centers were gooey.“You, go sit down.” Helen told the younger woman.Tears threatened to fall as she laid her head on Helen’s shoulder. “I just can’t do anything in the kitchen.”“That’s OK. You can do other things.” Helen assured her. “Come on, let’s go talk up here. JD can you make some cornbread?”“You trust him to cook?” Jaxon teased
Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared. – TupacBunny came back downstairs and grabbed Jaxon by the hand. She pulled him over and sat him down next to Ty.“We did something.” She said handing over a test to each of them.It took a second for it to register and then both men stood up and hugged her. There were hugs and kisses between the three of them.It wasn’t until Jaxon looked over at his mom who was kissing Reese that he realized his secret was out. Ty reached up and turned Jaxon’s face to his own. He kissed the other man.“She knows.”Bunny kissed both of them. “She just wants you to be happy.”Jaxon kissed Bunny and Ty before laying his head on the other man’s shoulder and pulling Bunny into a tight hug between them. “I am happy.”“I’m happy too.” Ty sa
You can’t hesitate about who you are. – Viola DavisHank was tracking her and Jolene did not know how he was doing it. She had stopped on the way home from work to check on Ty. When Hank got home early Saturday morning, he had gone stupid crazy.The new neighbors had called the cops again. Again, he told the men that he worked with that nothing was going on.And again, they believed him.After they had left, Hank gagged her and finished her punishment. As always, he was careful not to leave any bruises. At least, not where you could see them.Saturday, while he slept, Jolene studied and worked on her latest paper. This time it was for history. She was very careful not to make too much noise. Hank had become so irrational and unpredictable lately.The sergeant test was only a few weeks away. Once that was done and, hopefully, he passed, he would go back to being his
Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light. – Brené BrownHelen pulled up to the Queen Anne style house and noticed the other cars in the lot. Somehow, she doubted that all five belonged to employees. When she told Bunny about the appointment, she insisted on doing Helen’s hair and makeup.She felt so weird walking into the house. She had never done pictures of just her before. Sure, there were family pictures and candid shots that the kids had done. But never anything like this.“Helen?” a woman asked as Helen came through the door.“Yes.”“Oh, good. I need a second set of eyes.” The woman with rainbow colored hair said handing her a picture. “Do they match?”Helen took the picture and looked at the adults recreating a childhood picture. Seven were lined up in age or
A hero is someone who understands that responsibility comes with his freedom. – Bob DylanJD had mentioned that he had a school assignment to write a paper about the American elections process. One of the requirements was to interview someone involved in an election. Reese told him that he knew the undersheriff who was running for sheriff.After a quick phone call, the whole family was invited to the election night watch party.JD walked into the hotel ballroom with Helen, both unsure of what to expect. They were immediately stopped by a young woman with a clipboard who after checking their names off the list, put name badges on them.“Awesome!” Dean said rushing over to them. “Uncle Owen said that you were coming.”Helen hugged the girl and noticed that she hugged JD also. JD was not a hugger. But he hugged her back and then kept his arm around her shoulders.“Where i
Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is. – German ProverbSaturday morning, Reese sent Dean to do whatever she wanted. He handed over a credit card and the keys to his recently restored Mustang. She called JD, who she had been hanging out with a lot lately, and they went to do… he really didn’t know. He really didn’t care.Then he went and met Bunny and Helen at their weekly brunch. Bunny had the glow of pregnancy about her and did not notice the nervousness between the other two. The drive back to his house was long and quiet.Unnerving him the whole way. He had not intended to talk to Helen about the playroom yet. She was barely comfortable being partially naked around him. There was no way that she was ready to wear nothing but Shibari knots.Reese parked in the driveway and rounded the car to open the door for her. He unlocked the house and then led her down the hall to the only rooms she ha
If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit. – BanskyAfter their talk, Reese told Helen not to stop going to the gym. She was doing good and should keep up her routine. Monday she didn’t go. Tuesday she almost talked herself out of going. But she went.Pinky realized immediately that Helen was not her usual happy bubbly self. Her heart wasn’t in the workout.“Helen? Why don’t we go talk in my office?” Pinky suggested.Helen nodded and followed her into the small office behind the reception desk. “Let’s go ahead and get your weight and measurements.”She stepped up onto the scale and Pinky wrote down the number. Then she stood still as her waist, thigh and arm measurements were taken. When that was all done, they sat on opposite sides of the desk.“What’s bothering you?”“It’s nothing important.”
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