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
Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful. – Mary ShelleyHendricks came around the corner in the complex and saw Pawlowski standing next to his patrol car. She got out of the car and switched on her camera giving the older man a not so nice greeting.“I hate these fucking calls.”He agreed and they hurried up the path. “With a damned fucking passion.”From the other side of the door was a loud crash followed by a man yelling “I own you, bitch!”“Ladies first.” Pawlowski motioned to the door. Twenty years ago, he could have taken the door down with no issue. Now he let the younger officers have the pleasure. He stepped to the side, with his tazer drawn and aimed at the ground, with his back to the outside wall, he nodded at the younger officer.“Thanks.” Hendricks replied with a smirk. She did two well-placed kicks to the door, and it burst open on the second kick. With quick movements taught by the army and perfected in the department, she drew her tazer as she entered the
You are one decision away from a completely different life. – Mel RobbinsGina watched her brother drive away before approaching the Morgan City police officer. She could see the smoke coming out of his ears and hear the wheels turning. She wondered what the excuse that he came up with would be.Stress from the job.Kink got out of control.Holidays.Pick a pile of bullshit and that would be the line that he would try to feed her.“Sheriff Gina Dawson.” Gina said extending a hand as she stopped in front of the local cop.“Sergeant David Wells. One of my officers lives there.”“I’m aware. He’s currently in custody.”“I want to speak to him.”“No.” Gina said flatly resting one hand on her gun and the other on her cuffs.“Professional courtesy.”“No.” She shook her head slightly. “Come on. I’m his boss.” “If you arrested someone off the street and their boss showed up, would you let them talk to their employee?”“No.”“Good. You know my answer.”“He’s entitled to legal representation.”
Breathe, darling. This is just a chapter, not your whole story. – S. C. LowerieReese knocked on Helen’s door and it was opened almost immediately by JD. Reese nodded at the teen as he entered the apartment. Helen was pulled into his arms and the tears began again. “I’m here, baby.” Reese murmured as he kissed her hair. Helen wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. She had missed this, way more than she thought she had. His heart pumped under her ear bringing her comfort. “Jolene’s being taken to Mercy.” Reese kissed her temple. “Let’s go to her.”Helen nodded and let herself be guided out to his Impala. After putting her on the bench seat next to him, he drove them to the hospital. Seeing Bunny and Dean in their cars behind him was not a surprise. But as his sisters and nieces began to fill the waiting room, he could only assume his daughter and Dean had something to do with it.The emergency waiting room was packed with women when the ER doctor walked ou
It’s OK to speak up for yourself, be assertive and refuse disrespect. It doesn’t make you a bitch. It makes you someone who is setting healthy boundaries. – Karen SalmonsohnHelen was made to go sleep in the hotel room for a while. Reese was able to get her to stay in bed for about four hours of exhausted sleep. She was back at the hospital before five on Friday morning. The nurses made sure that both Jolene and Helen were comfortable. Willow showed up around seven with breakfast for everyone that was staying at the hotel and hospital. At nine, Colleen came and checked on Jolene before sending her down for surgery. Along with Helen and her family, Reese, Dean and Cheryl sat in the surgical waiting room. His sisters rotated through, making sure everyone had everything they needed. They had weathered many storms before and were prepared for anything. JD and Dean were watching a movie on a laptop in the corner. Cheryl was talking with Bunny about her pregnancy. Jaxon was half-heartedl
Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. – Theodore Newton VailJD needed to burn off some energy. It would be so easy to take Dean into an empty room and use her body. He could easily convince her to give up her virginity. That would make him no better than the man who put his sister in the hospital. It would make him no better than his father. He was better than both men.After changing into their school swim team uniforms, they went to the indoor pool at the hotel. Back and forth. Back and forth. JD swum lap after lap after lap. He pushed his body as far as it would go. With rubber arms and legs, he pushed himself out of the pool. A few long strides took him to the hot tub that Dean sat in. He sat next to her, and she snuggled into his side. He pulled her in close and took comfort from her. “Tell me about your parents.”“Well, my dad, Dennis Coppell, was a doctor with Doctors Without Borders. That’s where they met. It was mom’s
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