Erik smiles and nods. “I know, but I think it’s just his excuse since he doesn’t like flying. You have given me an idea, though. Maybe a week at a cabin or something. A good long ride there, and no one around once we get there. Yeah, that might just be the thing. I knew the right thing was to come see you.”
He takes another sip of his coffee and tilts his head like he’s studying me or something. “It’s really great to see you happy again, Ro.”
Huh? “I’ve always been happy with my life. I—”
Erik reaches over and squeezes my hand. “I know you were happy with Mick and your art, but since Mitch has been gone, there’s been a twinkle in your smile that’s been gone. I know he’d want you to be happy and enjoy life.” I must give him a strange look, and he starts laughing. “Okay, he might not love that you’re living with Jason now, but I know he’d be happy that you’ve got your spark back. Just for the record, I’m happy about it too. We may not be in our twenties anymore, Romona, but we ain’t knocking on death’s doorstep either and deserve to enjoy our lives.”
Maybe we both finally got our unspoken Christmas wishes answered this past year. I tip my cup toward one of the best men I’ve had the privilege of calling a friend. “You, my friend, could not be more right. What do you say we call those men of ours and make them take us out to dinner so no one has to cook tonight?”
Erik leans over and pulls out his phone. “I think that’s a fantastic idea, and I think we might have to get a drink there just to celebrate it.”
CHAPTER THREE
December 14th
Jason
The clubhouse is filling up with the brothers as they all arrive for this week’s church. This one Pres is having in the main room because us prospects are joining in to help plan next week’s events leading up to the Yule party.
I’ve pulled bar duty for today, and I know some of the younger brothers are getting a kick out of it. I don’t mind it as the guys are all just drinking beer or coffee today since it’s freezing out. I have a feeling it might actually snow tonight, which is why there isn’t a single bike parked outside the club.
Jon comes out of his office and calls out to the room. “Church! Everyone, find a seat so we can get this shit done before the snow starts. I don’t want to deal with the idiots on the road if it starts to stick.” All the brothers grab seats, and I go around to the front of the bar and have a seat on a barstool next to Leif, who’s currently the only other prospect.
Jon speaks to the room again. “Alright, let’s get things sorted because there’s a lot to go over.” Jon spends the next fifteen minutes or so reviewing club business, including a couple of additional prospects who are joining the club. Luke’s going to start his prospecting now while he’s on leave. Once he’s out in a few months, he’ll come back and prospect full-time. I was surprised that he decided to join the club, but then again, he had been friends with Micah, Mick, and Jameson since he was a teenager. The other name isn’t one I recognize, but some of the younger generation look surprised.
Jon sets down his papers and looks at the group. “So, one week from today is our Yule celebration. We all know that most of the planning is done by Ma and Anna with help from the other women in the family. We will pick up the tree this week and bring down all the boxes of decorations. If you’re asked to help with the decorations, please follow their directions. We don’t need another Tinselgate this year. Yes, I’m looking at you, Asher.” Chuckles from multiple brothers fill the air, and Asher’s glare in the direction of Pres would make a weak man crumble. “Fucker, that was over a decade and a half ago. I was fifteen years old. Let. It. Go.”
Now I know a lot of the stories from when some of the younger brothers were teenagers, either from my boys or because I was called out for any number of things over those years, but I’mgonna have to find out about this Tinselgate. Sounds like a good story.
Jon brings the group’s attention back to the matter at hand. “Now it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. If Ma, Anna, Romona, Jane—just any of the women who are doing the hard prep work for our celebration ask for help of any kind, just do it. You’re gonna get asked to pick up thirteen packages of Jell-O or four things of tape. They will be specific and, for all that is holy, get what’s asked for. If you aren’t sure what it is they need, call a brother. Hell, call as many as you need to figure shit out. We rely on the women in our lives to pull this shindig off every year, and they do it so well. It is our job to be their runners, grunts, and muscles to use as they see fit.”
Jon sighs and continues. “As we all know, every year we seem to be adding little ones to the family. We’ve got some babies, toddlers, and some newer additions that are a bit older. On that note, Jane, along with Ma, Kierstie, hell, all the women brought up the idea that we need to have a Santa so the kids can get pictures and do the whole sitting on Santa experience.” Several brothers nod their heads in agreement. I suddenly realize most eyes are on me. Jon looks at me with a raised eyebrow. Oh.Ohhh.“You want me to be Santa?” Jon nods at me, and I can see Rory, Juan, and a bunch of the brothers smiling and nodding. Fuckers.
“I mean, I love kids, but I’m fucking bald and don’t look like Santa.”
Ry speaks up. “Ma had me get a full costume, with a beard and wig to go with it all. If this ain’t a job for a prospect, then what is? Plus, your short beard is already gray and white, so it will blend in.”
Juan, who I swear still holds a grudge since I gave him a speeding ticket two years ago, speaks up. “You gonna say no to your president, Prospect?” Before I can respond, Ry adds in a snarky comment. “Come on, Prospect, don’t be a tinseltwat. I didn’t think you were a Grinch.” I glare at Ry before I answer Pres. “No, I’ll do it. Just maybe let me take the suit home for the night afterward.” I get approving nods from Jackson, Jonah, Mike, and Grant, but I hear a groan and look across the room to a glaring Mick. “Come on, man, that’s my mom!”
Erik, who's sitting next to Mick, bumps his shoulder. “How the hell do you think you came about? There weren’t no Virgin Mary involved. Your mom is your mom, but she’s also a woman and she’s gotta lotta life left to live and sex is a part of that.” Mick continues to glare at me for a moment before he shakes his head. “I get that. I just didn’t need that image in my head.” Fair point, as I wouldn’t like to picture any of my kids that way. I mean, I’m pretty sure my Shelby hasn’t—my thoughts are interrupted by none other than Saxon speaking to Mick. “At least youdidn’t walk in on them bumping uglies. I think I’m gonna have nightmares after what I saw today.”
Grant pulls Erik in close to him. “We were in our own home, son. Maybe that will show you to fucking knock before you come barging into a house you don’t live in anymore.” Leif, the quietest of their four boys, speaks up. “Maybe you’re put out because you’re a little jealous that our dads have finally found love and you’re still in the friend zone with Shandy.”
In a heartbeat, Shane is standing behind Saxon and holding him in his chair as he stares down Leif, looking like he’s ready to kick his ass. Jeremiah is next to Leif, looking like he’s gonna jump in to back up Leif. Grant looks like he’s about to say something when Jon bangs on the table in front of him and speaks. “Both of you, knock that shit off. You’ve been friends your whole life, are club brothers, and are basically stepbrothers now. It’s the holiday season. Maybe keep that Scrooge attitude outta here and remember how happy you are that your dads are happy.” He rubs his head just like I know I did when my kids were teenagers. He sighs and continues with a little twinkle in his eye. “Straighten up or I’ll let Ma know what you two are doin’ and she’ll come at you with her lefse stick. She was just sayin’ she hasn’t gotten to use it in a while.”
That gets chuckles all around, and Jon refocuses everyone and spends the next ten minutes or so finishing up church. The last bit doesn’t really concern me, so my mind wanders. All I canthink is if Mick walks into our place like Saxon did to his dad’s, then he might just see Mama kissin’ Santa Claus.
Romona
While the guys are at church, I’m having some of the girls over. Anna is coming and bringing Daisy. Kimbra is bringing Bailey over, and Linnea is hitching a ride with them and bringing snacks. I called Thomas and invited Zaria over to help us make and decorate cookies. I think he was surprised, but said he would drop her off. I know she’s met Daisy before since she knows Anna, Wyatt, and Jackson, as Brett is their nephew. I’m still not sure if Thomas, Brett, and Trent are something…or just friends. Doesn’t matter to me. I’m just…curious.
I baked a couple of batches of sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies ahead of time, so after we make the first batch, they can start decorating the finished ones, since I know attention spans are short at that age. I also know we need to make enough to send home to these girls’ houses, as they’re gonna want to share.
Madison is gonna come, though I think she’ll be the one decorating since Mikayla is still working on sitting up by herself. Jane and Kierstie had to decline as they both have little ones who are under the weather, and getting them healthy for the big shindig next week is much more important.
I’ve got frosting and all the Christmasy decorations a person could dream of. This is my wheelhouse. Not the baking but the decorating—it’s art, just uses a cookie as its canvas. I love that there are little kids around again, who I’ll be able to do this with for quite a few years. I’ve missed it since Mick and his friends all grew up. After the age of about eleven, I couldn’t convince any of them to do this with me. I cherish the memories of the years when this house was full of kids and frosting everywhere.
I’m just pulling a batch of gingerbread men out of the oven when I hear a car pull up outside. I look out my window and see that both Anna and Madison are parked and getting out of their vehicles. I go to the front door and head out to see who needs help. “Hello, ladies! Need any help?” Linnea gets out of Madison’s SUV, and I see more than Daisy getting out of Anna’s car. Anna looks over to me. “When I was talking about cookie decorating, both Mary and Christy mentioned they never decorated Christmas cookies. I figured you wouldn’t have a problem with them coming and getting to enjoy the chaos that is today. I also invited Shandy and Brandy. Brandy made some excuse as to why she couldn’t, but Shandy said she’s coming.”
