“Hungy, Daddy,” she says as she takes another bite of her breakfast.
“I’m sorry, guys.Cali was tryin’ to let me sleep in a little bit,” he apologizes while taking a seat across from me and starting to fill his plate with food.
“Nothing to worry about.Dakota helped me make the pancakes and chose our breakfast this morning.She even went out with Kreed so Oreo could go to the bathroom,” Annistyn says as she starts to eat her own breakfast with smaller bites than normal.
I’ll have to keep an eye on her food intake today because this is usually a sign she’s reverting back to the days she hardly ate anything at all.Looking at Caleb across the table, I know he realizes what’s happening and keeps an eye on Annistyn as she continues to eat small bites.Dakota honestly has more food on her plate than what my girl took for herself.If she doesn’t finish it all this morning, I’m going to have to make sure she snacks in a little bit.
“Why didn’t you let Mommy know you were comin’ over here, Dakota?”Caleb asks his daughter to keep the attention off of Annistyn.
“She in bath,” Dakota answers as she finishes her pancake and smiles at her dad.
“I see.Next time, you have to let one of us know before you leave the house,” he tells her with the voice he tries so hard to make sound hard but doesn’t affect his daughter at all.“Bryce isn’t home.He’s been gettin’ up with Dakota in the mornin’ because she wakes him up instead of one of us.Right now, Bryce is her person and he loves it.He’s just not home today.”
“It’s really okay.I sent a message to Cali as soon as I got Dakota in the house.I don’t mind spending time with her at all.She’s good for my soul,” Annistyn says while looking at the girl in question.
Annistyn is so good with Dakota and the other kids.I can see the look of love in her eyes as she watches the little girl who has captured the heart of everyone around her.Dakota has several uncles who won’t hesitate to hurt anyone who dares to even look at her the wrong way.Annistyn will be among those who protect her and I love seeing those instincts in her because I know she’ll be even worse when it comes to our own children.
Even though Annistyn still has things to work through with Debbie, she has a heart full of love to give to those she lets in her life.I honestly can’t wait until she’s pregnant with our baby.I want to watch her stomach grow round with the life we create and help her through morning sickness and rush out for anything she craves no matter what time it is.What I’m really looking forward to is holding our son or daughter in my arms and knowing they’ll be loved unconditionally from one of the best women I know.Annistyn will show up for our children and guide them in the ways she wished she had growing up.It’s because of her past that I know she’ll be such a great mom.
By the time I finish my breakfast, Annistyn is pushing her food around her plate and hasn’t taken a bite in quite a while.Caleb reaches over and gently nudges the plate closer to her as she looks at me before turning her attention to him.We get a small nod in response from her before she starts eating once again.Her bites are a little bigger as she understands what she was doing.Dakota doesn’t notice anything going on around her as she drinks her milk and finishes her food.Thankfully, Annistyn ends up eating everything on her plate and drinking most of her milk before she pushes everything away from her.She’s done a good job and I know she’ll still want a snack in a little while.
“I’ll take Miss Dakota home,” Annistyn says as she stands from the table.“I’ll clean up when I get back.”
“I got it, Pixie.You cooked breakfast so I can clean up,” I tell her, standing and gathering the plates as Caleb helps me.
We listen to the girls leave the house before he turns to me.
“How’s she doin’?”he questions me while I rinse the dishes and he loads the dishwasher.
“Not great.She had nightmares all night long.I don't know how long she’s been awake if I’m bein’ honest.Roger messaged me a few times throughout the night, ready to show up if she needed him.Debbie was ready to come over too.She’ll probably see them today.Dakota showin’ up really helped her.Those smiles were genuine and she could forget what happened for a while,” I answer my best friend as he grabs more dishes from the table and brings them over to me.
“What were the nightmares about?”he asks and I know he wants to see where her head is about holding her aunt and uncle at gunpoint.
“Honestly, it’s not what you’re thinkin’.The part that hurt her the most yesterday was her hittin’ her uncle with my belt.She’s worried she’ll turn into him because that’s all she knows.I don’t see it happenin’ because of her reaction though.I imagine she’ll talk to Debbie about it and get her opinion on the situation,” I tell him as I remember the worst nightmare she had last night.
“Damn.I think we all know Annistyn would never treat anyone else like that.She wanted to make him hurt the way he hurt her all those years and stopped after six hits.I don’t know that I’d have been able to restrain myself the way she did.I loved punchin’ that fucker in his face,” he admits and I can’t help but laugh because I’m sorry I didn’t get my own hit in.“David called Master a little while ago.The judge saw them first thing this mornin’ and he refused bail.Thinks they’re a flight risk and with all the pendin’ charges he doesn’t want them loose.Annistyn won’t have to worry about the two of them anymore.Master is also diggin’ more into those who might come lookin’ for her.We’ll find them all and come up with a plan to get them taken out.”
“I’m there when it happens.I want Annistyn as far away as possible when it happens.That’s the last thing she needs to learn.She knows she’s been sold and how many assholes bought her.That’s more than enough information for her to have.She doesn’t need to have a visual of those pricks to have even more nightmares,” I say as we finish loading the last of the dishes and I add the detergent and then start the dishwasher.
“If you need me for anythin’, I’ll be home.Not goin’ anywhere today except for maybe outside with the kids.I’m sure Dakota will convince Annistyn into takin’ more pictures of her because she loves it.My girl loves bein’ in front of the camera.If Annistyn needs Cali, give her a call and she’ll come right over.She kind of knows what happened yesterday and is worried about her.I’m sure that’s why she hasn’t come back home yet,” Caleb says as I walk him to the front door.
“We appreciate it, Caleb.More than you know.You’ve both been there for Annistyn when you didn’t have to and I know she values you both.She just doesn’t know how to tell you,” I say as we walk on the porch and I find Annistyn walking up the steps.
“Did Dakota go inside?”Caleb asks her with an indulgent smile on his face.
“Yeah.Cali just put her in the tub so can get cleaned up from the syrup.We’re meeting outside in a little bit to play.Oreo has to be there,” Annistyn answers him as she walks to my side and wraps her arm around my back.
“We’ll see ya soon.I think we should cook out tonight for dinner.Just us and the kids, not the entire club.We can hang out and just enjoy the day,” Caleb suggests and I know it’s so Cali can hang out with them since she’s still kind of weird about going to the clubhouse.She hasn’t really been there since the night no one would answer her about me.
“Sounds perfect.I can make a few salads today and bake something for dessert.There’s a few recipes I want to try.The kids can help me if they want,” Annistyn says as Caleb walks down the stairs and we turn to head inside.
I lead Annistyn to the couch and sit down with her in my lap.Right now, the only thing I want is to hold my girl and let her sleep if she wants to.Annistyn deserves a nap after the night she had and I wouldn’t mind one myself.I’ll even set an alarm if that’s what she wants.As long as she rests and doesn’t exhaust herself, I don’t care what she does.She can sleep all day long if that’s what she wants to do.She’s been doing really good and actually sleeping at night, but it might change for a while after the confrontation.We’ll have to wait and see what happens with her.
