I’m a fighter. I believe in the eye-for-an-eye business. I’m no cheek turner. You kill my dog; you better hide your cat. – Mohamad AliReese received a message from Steve requesting a meeting. In private. Grinning, Reese sent back a message stating that he was about to leave the gym and would be home in twenty minutes. At twenty-one minutes, as he pulled into the driveway, he received a new message from the private investigator.You’re lateHe parked next to the nondescript sedan and got out of the Impala. “You’re impatient.”“And?” The younger man asked stepping out of his own car.Reese laughed as he walked over and unlocked the door to his house. Steve followed him and went straight to the office. Automatically, he searched for bugs before turning on the white noise machine that Reese kept on the shelf behind his desk. Reese entered and handed a bottle of water over to Steve before sitting behind his desk.“Fargo has a girlfriend.”Reese took a deep breath before responding. “Why d
Sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in your heart. – Winnie the PoohThe first thing Monday morning after she and Reese first had sex, Helen called her OB/GYN and asked for the first available appointment. That was not until December twenty-third. She had told him that she had an appointment and he asked if she wanted him there.Blushing everywhere that he could see, and he could see a lot of her, she shook her head no. Now, as she walked into Jolene’s room, she wished he had gone. Helen smiled at the two guards that were at the door of her daughter’s room.“Is everything okay?” Helen asked as they both stood up.Nichols smiled at her. “Yes, ma’am, Miss Helen. The family is in there and we were just giving some privacy.”“Oh, thank you.” She said placing her hand on the handle.“Miss Helen,” Nichols said nervously. “I want to apologize.”Turning towards him, she looked at him, confused. “For what?” She was already emotional and was afraid that she would start crying.“
You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. – Desmond TutuThe ornate grandfather clock from England chimed the midnight hour in the formal living room. Or as Dean called it, the special guest living room. Other than a few special occasions, she couldn’t think of a time that they had used that room. Unlike Reese’s house, this one was two levels. The top floor was the more formal part of the house. It had formal dining and living rooms, chef’s kitchen, billiards and game room, a mother-in-law suite and a media room. All precisely decorated and rarely used. From the front, it looked like a single-story house with the second story being built inside the hill. The lower level was where they lived. Except for the large deck that extended the length and about half the width of the lower level. Whenever they had a princess party, it was typically on the deck. The perpetually decorated deck was large, mostly covered and looked over the pool. The heated poo
When everything goes to hell, the people who stand beside you without flinching – they are your family. – Jim ButcherNeo knew that Shelby would be pissed at him. And he was willing to live with that. He was also certain that she would eventually forgive him. Pretty certain that she would. Or she would kill him. It was a fifty-fifty chance at this point. Then again, that was just about every day of his life. It was a good day when everyone made it home at the end of the day. While he was a police officer in the Marines, there were several days that not everyone came home. Those days still hung heavy over him. But today, Christmas day, was not going to be influenced by those days.Today, he was going to focus on the woman who kept his office running so smoothly. And the little boy who can make his whole staff pitch in to guarantee the best Christmas ever. Although, right now, it probably seemed like the worst.Neo knocked on the black door with the green wreath on it. Shelby opened
Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticize anyway. – Eleanor RooseveltIt quickly became obvious that the hospital president did not know Reese as well as the administrator did. Jon, the president, told him it was a logistical nightmare. Robert, the administrator, asked for an apple pie.It was an all-volunteer staff from his three restaurants and two of his clubs that prepared the meals. Between them, they made enough food for every hospital staff member to receive a full Christmas dinner. And an apple pie just for Robert. Reese made sure that all his princesses knew that Helen and her family wanted some time to themselves. Early in the morning, he went to wake up Dean and she wasn’t in her bed. He found the two teens snuggled up together in JD’s bed.Before Reese, Cheryl and Dean went to join them at the hospital, nis niece crawled into his lap and again he was reminded that she was still a child. “How are you doing, princess?” he asked as they sat on his
The jolliest bunch of elves this side of the nuthouse. – Clark GriswoldAs was their tradition, they held the Princess Christmas Party the day after Christmas. It made it easier to coordinate all the families and other events. Office parties. School plays. Church pageants. Holiday concerts. And they all tried to attend as many of the events as they each could.When the princess club started, it was to help a single mom. They became the village that Mary needed. In doing so, they all became the village that each other needed. Even if they had not realized that also needed. The princesses were there to celebrate during the good times, both big and small. High school and college graduations. Babies being born. Birthdays. Weddings. Athletic wins. Promotions. Business openings. Adoptions.And they were there to support each other during the bad. When Gina lost her husband. Two divorces. A few miscarriages. Athletic loses. Business failures. Chemo treatments. First love heartbreaks.Throug
It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters but who’s around it. – Charlie BrownThirty minutes after Monster invaded, Reese’s princesses were still laughing at JD as they gathered around the pool. The sun sails stayed up year-round protecting the pool and sitting area. The heat in the pool was turned up slightly causing it to give off a little steam in the cool air. The outdoor fireplace was roaring, and the portable heaters kept the whole area cozy.Reese walked out with his arms loaded with presents, he was followed by his princess’ husbands and boyfriends who were also carrying presents. Starting with the younger girls, he handed them out. Once the gifts were all distributed, the men went inside the big house and played pool and darts upstairs.Each gift, or more accurately, each stack of gifts, was picked for each princess. Even the wrapping paper matched their personality. Disney characters were abundant. As were snowflakes, reindeer and snowmen. Dean received a new
Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. – George AddairThree days after the Princess Party, Cheryl and Waylon flew back out to Colorado. Dean and JD had gone over to Jolene’s new apartment to paint the walls with Jaxon. Certain that they would not be disturbed, Helen walked into the living room carrying a large gift bag. She sat on the couch next to Reese and sat the bag in his lap. He placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Smiling, he kissed the top of her head. “What do you have there, Kitten?”She blushed slightly. “I didn’t know what to get you.”“You don’t have to give me anything.” He tipped her face up to him and kissed her lightly. “All I need is you.”“Good. That’s what I got you.”“Are you telling me that you put yourself in this bag?” He asked as he ran his finger along her day collar.“Not exactly.” She blushed brighter. “You’re blushing, sweetheart.” Reese murmured softly. Her blushes drove him crazy. Every one of them sent his i
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