She will always return to the man who gets her, the man who lets her be wild, the man who doesn’t act like she’s too much. – S. McNuttReese drove Jolene to Neo’s new house. The one that he told his friend nearly two years ago not to buy. The one that required all new plumbing and electric. Got held up with asbestos removal. And lead removal. Termites. Just when he thought that he was good, the foundation cracked. It was still under construction in part of the old house. But the bottom floor was ready, or at least livable. The house was a turn of the century manor house with ten acres, two ponds and space for an airstrip and helipad. Not that he had either, but Neo had plans.The only reason Reese had agreed to back the venture was a rent-free hangar. His six-seater Cessna was not that big. It got him where he wanted to go. And any further than its range, he rented a charter plane. “Wow.” Jolene said as they went through the large masonry and wrought iron archway. He slowed the Te
We’ve been trying to reach you about your car’s extended warranty…There was a feeling in the back of his mind that Reese could not shake. When he and Helen got home from their weekly date, the kids were on his couch watching a movie. Not a slasher movie, so JD must have chosen it.“Your mom call?” Reese asked. “No. But last week she said she might not be able to.” Dean said. Her voice told him that she was more worried than her words said.All night, he had been restless. He got up and worked for a little bit. The shopping center would be starting the revamp next month. He had plenty of concerns with it. But he loved projects like this. The thrill of it wasn’t there today. No matter what he did, he could not get into the project. Reese decided that he needed to take a break. Go for a run. Lift some weights. Take Helen out for lunch. Looking at his watch, it was only nine thirty. Was brunch a thing during the week? Or was it reserved for weekends and holidays? Shrugging at his in
Grief is the price we pay for love. - Queen Elizabeth II“Mr. Thompson, Mr. Reese is on line two.” The temporary assistant said over the intercom. Once again he wondered why he agreed to let Emily go on a two week cruise. He missed her efficency and thoroughness.And her coffee. The stuff he was making could not pass as coffee on the best of days. And today was not the best of days.“Tell him that I’ll call him back.” Frank said absently.The intercom went silent and then it buzzed again. “I’m sorry, sir. He says that it’s an emergency.”“Fine.” Frank growled and sat the proposal aside. He grabbed up his handset and pushed the button to connect the call. “Hey, Reese, I don’t have much time today.”“I need Helen.” Came the reply and Frank could hear that his friend was upset.“Did they transfer the call wrong?”“No. I need her to come home. I know that she just started this position, but I need her for a few days.”“Reese, I can’t let your sub off every time you want to play.”There wa
It’s not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters. – J. M. LaurenceTy showed his driver’s license and official FD credentials. The secretary gave him a strange look and he just smiled at her. He knew the look. He got it a lot when he was holding hands with his wife. Sometimes at the club, they got looks when he was with Jaxon.Even this day and age, people thought that he should date a woman “like” him. His response to that was usually pointing out that he had a boyfriend. And a wife. Yeah, he was the three B’s. Big, black and bi.“She is my sister-in-law.” He decided that was a much easier explanation than telling the whole truth.She’s the niece of the man that mine and my wife’s lover’s mother is dating and she’s also dating my lover’s younger brother. And my wife is pregnant. It might be mine. It might also be his. Either way, the baby was going to be spoiled.Thankfully, Dean came into the office before anything else could be said. The teen headed straight
There is something about losing a mother that is permanent and inexpressible – a wound that will never quite heal. – Susan WiggsDean sat on the couch in absolute shock. The whole room around her was completely silent. Or maybe she just couldn’t hear anything over the soft roar in her ears of her own pulse.Looking up, she saw Helen in front of her. Her lips were moving, she couldn’t hear anything that the other woman was saying. Then a small tumbler was pressed into her hands. Dean looked at the amber liquid and then raised the glass to her lips.The whiskey burned on the way down. Shaking her head, as the alcohol seemed to spread instantly through her, she handed the glass back to Helen. Dean began to cough, and that single action broke the dam that was holding back her tears.JD sat down next to her, and he placed an arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into him. Grabbing his shirt, she gave into the sobs that began to rack her body. Reese sat on the other side of her and rubb
The most important thing will always be the people in this room. Salute, mi familia! – Dominic Toretto, Fast FiveReese walked down the hall and passed Dean’s room knowing that she would not be there. Just as expected, she was curled around JD in his bed. Completely against the rules, Monster was also on the bed. JD opened his brown eyes and met the older man’s light green ones.Quietly, he moved into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached over and brushed some hair out of Dean’s face before stroking Monster’s head.“When did she finally go to sleep?” Reese whispered.“Maybe a few hours ago.” JD whispered back and then soothed Dean as she moved in her sleep.“The princess club is coming over in a little bit.” Reese said softly. “I’m going to tell them upstairs. She doesn’t need to come up if she doesn’t want to.”JD nodded as the other man stood up and kissed his niece on her head before walking out. He had dreaded telling Dean that her mother was dead. Now he had to do i
The lesson of history is that no one learns. – Steven Erikson, Deadhouse GatesThe courtroom had wood paneling all around the room except for the six-foot space behind the judge. The stone façade had the state seal in the center flanked by the American and state flags. The judge had a monitor on either side of his desk. His assistant sat on his right and the witness stand was on the left.A short wall with swinging gates separated the gallery from the working area of the court. The prosecutors’ table sat in front of the witness stand and the defendants table in front of the clerk. A bank of windows lined the far wall with the jury box in front of it. In place of the jury, prisoners sat in the box.Hank knew the room well. He had sat on the witness stand many times and spoke for the prosecution. He had helped put bad guys away. He had been Jolene’s hero in blue.Now he wore an orange jumpsuit and sat waiting for his name to be called like some common criminal. His mother and father wo
I sat with my anger long enough, until she told me her real name was Grief. – C. S. LewisIt was Friday, and Dean was still in JD’s bed, refusing to get up. Once a day, he made her get up and take a shower. So far all she had done was sit in the bottom of the large shower and cry. Each day during her shower, JD changed the sheets and got her fresh pajamas from her room.JD took the tray to the kitchen with the remnants of their breakfast on it. He looked at the princess in the kitchen. She was tall, probably close to six feet, so he knew she was a Reese. But he wasn’t sure which one. Or if she was a sister or niece. No wonder Reese simply called them all princesses.“Amelia.” She supplied at seeing his confused look. “Gina’s my mom. Does that help?”“Yes, but I’m going to go ahead and apologize, I will probably forget again.” He admitted.“Princess works.” She smiled. “I’m pretty sure that O has a spreadsheet to keep all of us straight. If he doesn’t, he probably should.”“I might do