Expose yourself to your deepest fear. After that you are free. – Jim MorrisonTurkeys and pilgrims and Indians.Pearl insisted on doing something special with their nails for Thanksgiving. Bunny was excited about it and oohed and awed. Helen smiled and kept herself from crying. When she got to the counter to pay, Freddie waved her away.“It’s paid for. Your man paid.” He smiled at Bunny. “He paid for you, too.”“Oh, that was really sweet of him.” Bunny said and Helen just gave a smile and a small Uh-huh. Bunny drove them to their regular brunch spot and asked the hostess for a private table. Their regular waitress brought over their drinks and told them that their orders were in.“Spill.” Bunny said over her tea glass. “What?” Helen asked thinking she had missed something. “Something is bothering you. Tell me what it is.”“I… he… it just won’t work.”“Why not?”“He wants me to change.”“That’s all you’ve been doing lately. You changed your diet. Your daily routine. Your dress size
If you want to fly, give up what weighs you down. – BuddhaMonday morning Reese walked into the florist shop with the names of the flowers JD had given him. Well, most of them. Dean had said that they were hopeless since neither could figure what the star flower was. Reese looked around the shop a little bit while the clerk finished up with the other patron. It was in a shopping center that he had recently bought. This would be his second shopping center. It was a huge loss in the beginning. The profit would be in the long game. But he was willing to wait.He could afford to lose some money at the beginning of a project. And it gave others a chance to do just as he did. Start with a small business and let it grow. If he could say that he was part of the process of making someone’s dreams come true, he would consider himself a success. The money was nice. Being able to spoil his family was great. Helping someone fulfill their lifelong dream was the best. Also high on the list, was re
She remembered who she was and the game changed. – Lalah DeliahAfter lunch, Helen continued to look at the large bouquet sitting on her reception desk. Every time that she looked at it, she could feel her eyes water. She fought back her tears and forced a smile.“Helen?” Frank said from behind her. “Why don’t you step in my office for a moment?”She nodded and called Donna. After writing down the appointments, she locked her computer and headed down the hall. Knocking on the door to the inner office, dread filled her when she saw Katherine in the office also. There was also another man that Helen was pretty sure was Geoff, the manager of accountants. Compared to the suits that the two men wore and the expensive maternity dress that Katherine wore, Helen felt under dressed. She was wearing a black wrap dress that Reese had bought her from the P & Q boutique. It was a casual outfit, but professional. Most of her clothes from before she started going to the gym no longer fit her. The w
I believe in you, now it’s your turn. – Natalia HarhajDean and JD texted and spoke often. Each would send pictures and memes back and forth. At one point, he got caught sending a selfie of him at practice.“Who the hell are you texting?” Craig asked.“My girlfriend.” JD said it without thinking and thought that it was the right answer.“Is she hot?” One of the freshmen asked and Deon pushed the kid into the pool.“Is she hot?” Deon asked with a grin.JD scrolled up to the picture that Dean had just sent from her own practice. "Damn!" Craig said as he tried to take the phone from him."Get your hands off my phone before I tell your girlfriend your checking out mine." JD warned."Asshole." Craig muttered as coach ordered them all into the pool. JD got a message from Dean Friday afternoon asking if she could come to Sunday dinner for a few minutes. He told her that they were welcome to come for however long they wanted. It would be at their apartment this time and prepare for a fabulo
Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful. – Sophia LorenBunny ripped the pull tab open and carefully removed the pictures. The one on top was a silhouette of Helen in a doorway with sheer curtains covering her. She was in high heels with one foot on the ground and the other on the door frame at knee height. Her butt and head were on the frame with her back arched. One hand grasped the top of the door frame and the other was touching her chin with just her fingertips.“Holy hell.” Jaxon said. The next picture was the same pose but in color. The black skirt was short enough to show just a hint of the top of the thigh high lace. A black lace bra peaked out under the short fitted burgundy velvet jacket. “Hubba. Hubba.” Ty declared. The next one was a candid shot that Michelle took while Reese was helping Helen up on the high stool. Her skirt had ridden up exposing the top of her thighs. Her hands were braced on his arms and his hands rested on her wai
You’re a fighter. Look at everything you’ve overcome. Don’t give up now. – Olivia BensonJolene had been looking forward to Thanksgiving with her family. It had been weeks, if not months, since she had seen them. The last time that she had seen her family was after Ty got burned last month. Or was it the month before?It all seemed to blend into one long memory anymore.She had her suspicions about the triad. Jolene knew her brother better than he thought she did. She also saw the occasional looks and touches between the three of them. Maybe her mom’s new boyfriend would be there. JD had said that they were talking again but didn’t go into details. But they were all getting the daily pictures of her flowers. Jolene was glad that her mom was finally finding some happiness.Since JD was insisting on making his now famous apple crisp, she could try the dessert that everyone was raving about. At least she could still text and talk with her family. With that thought, she suddenly feared t
The ghosts of all the women you used to be are all so proud of who you’ve become. – Nikita GillReese was helping Dean with the last few dishes for their Thanksgiving meal. They were having it in Dean’s house since she had the double oven. Mary insisted on having a kitchen big enough to cook for large family parties. With nine sisters and way too many nieces to count, they had a lot of family. Even with it just being the three of them. both ovens were going. The turkey was already cooked by the chef at Oar House. Last time Reese had tried to cook a turkey by himself, Mary got a new kitchen. He was not making that mistake ever again.The large kitchen was designed in a modern farmhouse style with dark grayish blue and sea glass green. The countertops were a white quartz that complimented the reclaimed wood look floors. The radiant heated floors meant that Dean was usually barefoot. Just as she was now, with her gray pajama pants and hot pink Elvira shirt. Reese was in faded jeans an
You normally have to be bashed about a bit by life to see the point of daffodils, sunsets and uneventful nice days. – Alain de BottonSheriff Gina Dawson firmly believed that a good leader would lead by example and sacrifice. Not by demands and special treatment. And that is why she volunteered to do a twelve-hour tour on the holidays. Every holiday. She always wanted to make sure that her deputies had time with their families. Especially those with young children.Her own kids were grown and most had kids of their own now. She enjoyed being a grandma. There were times that she wished she was not being a grandma on her own. But fate had its own plans. She learned that when she buried her husband of twenty-seven years. He was killed in a shoot out with bank robbers. Wasn’t that the stereotypical death for a cop? With them both in law enforcement, they always joked that at least one of them would die in a bank robbery. When the police captain and sheriff pulled her into the sheriff’s o
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