Mick: We’re about to be on our way. Diaper blowout situation right as we were walking out of the house. Oh, and I invited Micah to join us for dinner. He was looking a little down.
Me: Be glad it was before you got in the truck. That was what you liked to do. You know Micah is always welcome here. See you soon.
Arms envelop me from behind. Jason kisses my neck. “About the only thing I’m going to miss about working is coming home to you like this. I love seeing you in your element, whether it’s here getting ready for our family to come over, or in your studio. Both make me have some very naughty thoughts.” I turn around in his arms to be able to look at him and kiss those lips that always call to me. I give him a quick kiss. “You know, you still might come home to that, just you’ll be coming from doing errands and such for the club, Mr. Prospect.” I love the grin he gets on his face when he’s thinking something naughty. “This prospect needs to remind you just who you belong to. I can picture a few different ways to do that.” Oh my, that sounds so hot. Jason pushes his body up against me, and I can feel how aroused he is. He kisses me with emotion and enough heat that if I were in one of those books the girls read, he’d be ripping my panties off me.
The slamming of a couple of truck doors interrupts the mood. I break the kiss and peek around Jason. “It would seem our kids are never too old to intrude.” He lets out a growl. His forehead hits my shoulder. “Who’s outside?” I look through the window. “Thomas and his gang. Looks like Mick just pulled up, andLuke’s parked next to Thomas. I think Shelby rode with Luke, so that’s all of them, our grandkids included.”
Jason groans. “I thought my days of being cockblocked by my kids were long over. Guess it’s just a gift that keeps on fucking giving.” I laugh and move around him to open the back door to greet everyone. I know he’s gonna need a moment to solve a math problem or remember the rushing yards of his favorite player on the Seahawks.
I open the door and see Mick grabbing the car seat as Madison gets out and gives me a wave. I see just about everyone is out of their cars. “Why, it’s so good, y'all could come for dinner tonight. I love having a full table.” I watch Jason’s kids, Thomas, Luke, and Shelby, walk toward the house along with Thomas’s kids, Zack, Jack, and Zaria. Brett, who is Thomas’s best friend and roommate, gets out with someone I don’t recognize. Zaria, a charismatic six-year-old who has never met a stranger, comes bounding up the steps to me and hands me some flowers she obviously picked from their yard. “I brought these for you, and we brought Trent with us!”
I take the flowers. “These are so beautiful! Thank you, sweetie. Your Papa is just inside if you want to say hi.” She runs past me, and Thomas comes up. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask ahead of time, but we didn’t know Trent was going to be home on leave. He said it was next week and just surprised us.”
I’m not quite sure what the dynamic is between the three of them, but Jason says they’ve been best friends since freshman year. I know Brett is one of Anna’s nephews, so I’ve seen him over the years.Pay attention, woman.
Smiling at the new guest in greeting, I say, “I’m always happy to welcome more. In fact, my boy Mick’s best friend, Micah, is joining us for dinner as well.”
I could swear that when I said Micah’s name, Shelby did a stutter step. I’ll have to ask Mick about that later. “Come on in, everyone. Dinner’s almost ready.” The twins and the guys all head inside. Shelby pauses and holds up a tray. “I made some dessert, if that’s okay?”
I nod at her. “Absolutely, it’s alright. I want you to feel comfortable here and with me, Shelby. You’re always welcome here and to bring anything you like.” She gives me a small smile and heads inside. I have to remind myself that small steps are still steps forward.
Mick brings me back to the present by engulfing me in a one-armed hug. He’s got the baby’s car seat in his other arm. He kisses my temple. “She doesn’t hate you, Mom. She’s just got to adjust to you and Jason living together.” My boy, always trying to look out for me. “I know, I know. Now let’s get inside so I can hold my grandbaby for a few minutes before dinner is served.” Mick chuckles at me just like his dad used to when I tried to change the subject from something that dealt with my emotions.What? I don’t love talking about them. I’d rather paint my feelings.
We’re walking through the door when the sound of a motorcycle approaching fills the air. Madison takes the baby from Mick and tells him to go talk to Micah. We leave him outside. I look over at Madison, and she shrugs her shoulders. “Mick said Micah always gets down around the beginning of December. I don’t remember anything happening then, but it’s obvious he needs a friend.” I lead her inside. “That’s his story to tell, Darlin’, but let’s just say that his willingness to come to dinner and be around people right now is a step in the right direction. Maybe he’s finally moving forward. Now let’s get inside. It’s too cold for my granddaughter to be outside this long.”
Jason
Looking around the table, my heart is full. I’ve got my kids and grandkids here, enjoying a great meal made by the woman sitting to my left, the one who’s made my heart whole again. She’s just served dessert and is bringing a fresh pot of coffee to the table. The grandkids are off to play outside, or on their tablets in the other room. Grace is in the playpen next to the table. Time to see how my kids are going to take this next change.
I wait till Romona sits back down next to me. I take a sip of coffee before I drop the news. “So, as you all know, as of today, I’m officially retired from the sheriff’s office. Well, I’ve decided to do something with my retirement. I was asked and decided to accept joining the Knights Wrath as a member… er, brother.” I watch my kids to gauge their reaction. Thomas rubs his chin and lets out a breath. “Well, shit, Dad. You can’t do anything half-assed, can ya? I mean, some retired guys take up bird watching.” He shrugs his shoulders and continues. “Honestly, you’ve always told us they were good, decent guys. I mean, we’re sitting at the table with two of them, who I know are good guys. As long as you’re doing what makes you happy, that’s what matters.”
Luke nods his head in agreement. “I agree. I went to school with some of the other brothers besides these two, and I think that as long as you’re doing what’s best for you, I don’t have anything to add. Although, does that mean we get some of that lefse I always heard Ry going on about in school?” That gets Mick, Micah, and Madison laughing, with her promising to save some for him.
I look over at my little firecracker, and she gives me a smile I know is not genuine. “You gotta do what makes you happy, Dad.” I decide to let her be since we’re sitting at a full dining room table. I feel a squeeze on my leg, and I take Romona’s hand in mine. It always amazes me how she knows how to give me support without even saying a word.
“Well, you’re all invited to their annual Christmas celebration. We have a big family dinner with white elephant gifts and all sorts of fun. We spend the evening together, and it’s always memorable.” I look around at Mick’s invitation, and both my boys are nodding and seem to be agreeing to come. I can’t tell what my little girl is thinking just yet.
Romona adds to the invitation, “We always do it on Yule, which is the twenty-first, so those who have commitments on Christmas Day don’t miss out. On Christmas Day, I was planning on making a big dinner here, and everyone’s invited if you don’t have other plans.” Mick and Madison immediately say they’ll be here, and Micah nods and confirms his attendance. I watch Thomas do that silent communication shit with Brett and Trent that they’ve done since high school. “We’re going to Brett’s family thing on Christmas Eve for dinner, so we’ll be here.” Luke gives me a chin lift. “I ain’t got plans till after New Year's, so you’re gonna get tired of me, old man.”
I glare at him, and he gives me that shit-eating grin he’s had since he was ten. “A little less of the old there, son.” He gives me that damn grin again and takes a sip of his coffee. The brat knows I’ll take as many looks like that as I can while he’s home. We need to have a chat. Gotta see where he’s at about staying in for the full twenty or if he’s gonna get out at the end of this deployment. The last few times we spoke, I got the impression that he was considering getting out earlier. I think he sees thatTrent is about to retire in a year and be home, and as much as Luke won’t admit it, he misses home.
Conversations take over the table, and I get distracted by Brett asking me a question about the club. He’s been around the club for some time, as his uncle is Wyatt, but he hasn’t attended the Yuletide party before. Mick and Micah both add to the conversation. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Madison and my princess head outside to the porch with their coffees. It takes all my restraint to not follow them and listen in. I think I lasted all of five minutes.
Shelby
I follow Madison out to the porch, not sure exactly why she suggested we talk outside. She and I haven’t had an actual conversation since high school. It wasn’t like we had a falling out or anything. We just hung out with different people and only talked in class. She sits down in the far rocking chair, so I follow suit and sit in the other one.
We sit in somewhat awkward silence for a minute or two before she speaks up. “I know you and I weren’t particularly close in high school, but I’d like to think we were friends.”
She glances over at me, and I nod in agreement. “I think we were.” Madison takes a sip and continues talking. “I know we’re all trying to navigate here with your dad and Romona datingand living together. You and I are most definitely outnumbered, which means I think we need to stick together.” She’s not wrong. I’ve always been outnumbered by my brothers. Throw in my dad and nephews, and it was just me and Zaria for the last few years. “You’re right, we are very much outnumbered. I’ve always been outnumbered.”
Madison gives me a smile. “Same girl.” She looks like she’s studying me a bit, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. She reaches behind her, opens a chest, and tosses me a throw blanket and takes one for herself. “It’s cold enough to freeze the tits off a fish, but I know out here we can avoid certain ears for a bit.”
I wrap myself in the warm throw and ask her the question I’m not sure I want answered. “So what is it you wanna talk about without ears around?” She wraps herself up and gives me a grin. “So what is it with you and Micah?” I can’t help the groan that comes out of me as I slump down in the chair. It doesn’t stop Madison. “I mean, I know you always thought he was cute in school, but he was with…” I nod ’cause we all know who he was with and what happened a couple of years after they graduated. “I’m not saying anything’s wrong with it. You’re single, he’s single, and I gotta say, you weren’t the only one stealing glances at the table tonight.” I think my head turns faster than that little girl’s head turned inThe Exorcist. Madison bursts out laughing. I can’t help but glare at her. “You know, I think you were nicer in high school. Bitch.” She slows her laughter and shakes her head.“I’m sorry, but with how fast your head turned,I thought it was gonna spin off.”
Before either of us can say anything more, the front dooropens and Dad peeks his head out. “Sorry to interrupt, but there’s a pair of lungs that belong to a little girl that are letting everyone know she’s hungry.”
Madison stands up. “That girl can tell time better than anyone I know, I swear.” She heads inside, and Dad steps out and moves to sit in the seat that was just vacated.
