“How about I take my girls out for something to eat?” he asks as he expertly buckles Shelby into her toddler seat. His care and affection towards not only me but the girls makes me feel like I could melt at any given time.
Shelby claps her hands and Claree grins at him. “Guessing that’s a yes,” I say as he helps me into my car. I don’t think he really has to do it, but whenever he’s near me, he’s touching me somehow. He smiles and gives me a quick kiss on my forehead, something that Claree notices.
“I’ll follow you,” he says, before he gets the door shut all the way, he pulls it back open when he hears Claree’s question.
“Why did you kiss her?” she asks.
“Because I like her,” he replies, once he’s made sure I’m buckled in. “I’ll follow y’all over to the diner, okay?” I nod at him and start the car, then giggle when the soundtrack to Trolls comes on. Claree must have decided Shelby needed to hear it since she’s watched the movie every day on the portable DVD player that Chief brought up to the hospital. Shelby squeals in excitement and next thing I know, Claree is singing to her which makes Shelby delighted and she begins to sing in her baby babbles. I feel light, and happy, these girls bring something special into my life that I hadn’t been aware was missing...exactly. I knew I was lonely, but I wasn’t aware that it would take a couple of kids to fill the void.
Before I’m aware, I find myself pulling into the parking lot of the diner. As soon as I put the car in park, my door is being opened for me and he even undoes my seat belt before helping me get out of the car. Then he opens Shelby’s door and unbuckles her while I walk around to the other side of the car and assist Claree. She’s still a little off balance, but it only seems to hit when she gets up from a seated position. It doesn't help things that she still has her cast on her arm and wears a soft brace on her leg. At least she doesn’t have to sleep in it any longer. We walk inside, and he tells the waitress we need a table for four with a highchair. She nods and has us follow her to a corner booth. Within minutes, we have menus and each of the girls have a pack of crayons and a coloring page to play with.
“Before you two start, let’s figure out what you want to eat, okay?” I ask. I see Shelby’s eyes widen and belatedly remember that she’s never eaten out. “Claree, what does she like the most?”
“She likes macaroni and cheese and chicken tenders.” I quickly look at the menu and see they have that under their kid’s selections, along with a fruit cup.
“Does she like fruit?”
“We didn’t have that very much,” she murmurs.
“Well, that was then, and this is now,” I gently remind her. “So how about we get her the one with mandarin oranges, I think she’ll like them.”
“Okay.”
“What about you, sweetie?” Chief asks her. “Feel up to a big steak and a baked potato?” When her eyes grow huge, he laughs before saying, “Do you like chicken tenders too?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What about macaroni and cheese? Or would you rather have french fries?”
“French fries. Then I can share some with Shelby.”
“I bet if we asked, they’d let you share the fries and macaroni and cheese,” Chief states just as the waitress comes up to the table.
She looks at us and I can tell she can see that the girls are underweight because she says, “Absolutely. You let me take care of that part. Do you girls like chocolate milkshakes?”
Normally, I wouldn’t go with that, but I’m trying to get their weights up, so I let it go. “Yes, can they each have one, appropriately sized, of course.”
The waitress grins at me before asking, “And what about you two?”
“You first,” Chief says, pointing at me. Shit, now I have to figure out what I want to eat. I was so focused on the girls and helping them decide that I didn’t even take the opportunity to look at the menu.
“Chicken and dumplings and a side of green beans,” I reply. “And can I have a glass of sweet tea?” Normally, I drink water or diet Dr. Pepper, but I’ve had my caffeine allotment for the day.
Chief places his order and instead of listening to what he orders, my eyes are drawn to his lips as his mouth moves.
“Trinity?” he says.
“What? Did you say something?” I respond.
He must be reading my mind because one side of his mouth lifts in a smirk and he says, “Later,” to which a blush crosses my face.
He turns to Claree and asks, “How’s school? Have you made any friends yet?”
Her face glows at the attention he’s giving her, and she says, “I love my new school. And I’m ahead in reading and in math. Oh, Miss Trinity, my teacher wanted to know if I could try out for chorus.”
I look at her and say, “You’ve got a pretty voice, sweetie, so I don’t see why not.”
“Oh, goody!” she exclaims. “Talon is trying out too. He’s two grades ahead of me so I don’t see him much, but I’ll get to if we both have chorus together.”
The rumble I hear next to me sounds like a growl and I look to Chief with my eyebrow raised. “She’s too young,” he mutters.
“She needs a friend, one who understands the hell she’s been through,” I softly reply.
“She needs girls for friends,” he states and puffs out his chest. I’m just waiting for him to pound on it and announce he is man we are women, we do as he says.
“She’s a child, Chief. She can have boys as friends,” I say, getting serious.
“Please don’t fight,” Claree says in a whisper.
“We’re not fighting,” I tell her.
“This isn’t a fight, Claree. It’s a discussion,” Chief tells her.
“Sounds a lot like a fight in the making,” she says looking up at us from under her eyes. Shelby must be able to feel the tension, because she starts to cry. I go to pick her up, but Chief beats me to it. Once he has her settled on his chest, she lays her head down on his shoulder and puts her thumb into her mouth. This must be a defense mechanism she picked up from living with her dad, because this is the first time I’ve seen her put anything in her mouth that wasn’t food or a drink. Chief looks at Claree and says, “Sweet girl, adults sometimes disagree but that doesn’t always mean they’re fighting. Miss Trinity and I will likely have differences of opinions from time to time, but you will never have to worry that it will carry over to you.”
“Adults sometimes get on each other’s nerves,” I say pointedly, looking at Chief. “Just like your friends will sometimes do to you. That doesn’t mean there’s going to be a fight break out. Discussions can get heated when there is a difference of opinion, but that’s a part of life. If you’re afraid of it getting physical, I’m here to tell you that will never happen,” I say to her.
“Never,” Chief states. “I will never lay a hand on a woman or child. You, your sister and Miss Trinity will always be safe with me around. My job is to protect you, not harm you.”
“O... okay,” she murmurs. Somehow, I get the feeling that there was a lot of yelling in her household and make a mental note to watch my tone if I disagree with the caveman sitting next to me in the future.
“I hope y’all are hungry,” the waitress says, coming up with a tray ladened down with our food. “I made sure each of you girls got your own macaroni and cheese and french fries.”
“Thank you,” Claree shyly says. “I didn’t mind sharing, but sometimes, she eats all of my fries.”
We all laugh at her statement and I reach over and grab the ketchup to put on their plates.
Lunch is a fun, relaxed affair, with both girls chattering away, even though a lot of what Shelby says still isn’t clear. As we go to leave, Chief says, “I have to go in tonight, one of my other supervisors is out, so I won’t be by.”
Disappointment fills me, even though I know I’ll have my hands full with both girls. “It’s okay, I understand.”
“I’m walking you to your car, sweetness. Gotta have something to keep me going.” I k
now my grin is splitting my face wide open when he winks at me. We get to my car and he helps get the girls inside, and my heart melts when I see him lean in and kiss Shelby’s forehead. “You girls mind now, y’hear?” he states.
“We will, Mr. Chief,” Claree replies. “I’m gonna help with Shelby.”
Before I can get into the car, he pulls me into his arms. Gently cupping my face he says, “I hate I have to go in tonight, sweetness.”
“Me too, but I guess I need to get a routine set up for the three of us,” I tell him.
“Hoping I’ll be a part of that routine moving forward,” he murmurs before he leans closer and kisses me. Hell, if I get kisses like this all the time, he can move in as far as I’m concerned.
“I’ll call later if I get a chance,” he says when we finally break apart. And all I can think about is that fact that I’d like to experience my first-ever phone sex conversation with him. Knowing I’m blushing at the thought, I nod my head and get into the car.
“Wait a minute!” he calls out, I stick my head out and he bends over, “later, you’re going to tell me what put that blush on your face.”
“Maybe,” I tell him, shutting the door.
He just smirks at me and somehow, I just know he knows where my thoughts went. Psychic biker-cop! What is it with him? I can’t seem to concentrate on anything or anyone else, I need to get with the program. The ones who should be important right now, are in the vehicle with me. I close my eyes, count to ten, and put the car in drive and head home.
Chief
I grin as I leave my woman. She’s such an innocent in so many ways and has no clue that her thoughts show up on her face like they’ve been written on a billboard. Pulling out my phone, I call the local florist and order three bouquets, one for each of them. When I tell the woman what I want, she tells me that they have the perfect one for a pre-teen girl as well as for Shelby. For my woman, I tell her I want daisies and daffodils, things that remind me of her. Light, airy and full of life. “Let me describe the one for the pre-teen,” the clerk says. “It’s got spring flowers, but also has lip balms that are made into roses, and a chocolate cellphone.”
“I think she’d like that,” I reply. “What about the baby?”
“We’ve got one that has a teddy bear holding some hair bows, with suckers and flowers of your choice.”
“Let’s use the same flowers for all of them. It’s a new beginning for all of them in many ways.”
“I like that,” the clerk says. “When do you want them delivered?”
“Today at your earliest convenience.”
“I need an hour to put the arrangements together, but I have a truck that can deliver them around four-thirty or so.”
“That will work for me, thank you so much,” I tell her.
“You’re very welcome, sir.”
I hang up the phone, and am wishing, I could be there and be a fly on the wall when they receive them. I know they’ve never received anything like this before, which puts a spring in my step at doing something I’m positive will put a smile on their faces. As I head into the station, I make a mental note to state my intentions at our next church meeting. She will be my old lady; the timing just depends on her and how accepting she is to my claim. Either way, she will be mine. She’ll be wearing my cut, my ring, and the mother of my children...the girls, and any others we take in. I want a houseful, don’t even care if they have either of our blood running through their veins.
“Captain?” At the question, I turn and see Morales, one of the officers who showed up that fateful day for Claree and Shelby.
“Yeah?”
“We got him. Busted in a routine traffic stop. He’s already lawyered up, so we couldn’t do much, but those girls are safe now.”
Thank fuck. I can’t wait to call Trinity and give her the good news. She’ll be ecstatic that she and the girls won’t be watching over their shoulders everywhere they go. It’s definitely a relief for me, since I can’t be with them every minute, of every day. “Great news, Morales.”
I give Law a call to let him know the bastard has lawyered up, maybe he can have a chat with him once we have the details.
“Yo,” he answers the phone.
“Law, man, Cliff Connell, Claree’s stepfather and Shelby’s father, has been captured and lawyered up.”
“With the charges that the state will be levying against him, for what he did to those two girls, I don’t think he’ll be getting out any time soon.”
“That’s music to my ears,” I tell him. “And I know it’ll make Trinity breathe a little easier as well.”
“She yours?” Law asks.
“Absolutely. Gonna bring it to the table to make her my old lady. Plan to marry her and adopt those girls with her if she’ll have me.”
“Do you love her?” Love? It’s kinda early days for that but I can see myself with her until we’re both old and gray. Hell, the first time I saw her when she came to the clubhouse I was taken by her, of course that was more of a physical reaction. Then again, the longer I’m around her, the more I see how well we fit with one another. The fact that she’s okay that I can’t have kids is something I never thought I’d find.
“Thinking it’s headed in that direction, yeah,” I reply.
“Good. Hold onto her if she’s the one, man,” he tells me. “And let her know, I’m working on making sure she’s good to go as far as adopting the girls.” Adopting? I hope we’re not overstepping, because I know that’s where it’s leading, not sure she’s quite there yet, however.
He hangs up and I make my way into my office to see what shit I have to sort through.
Trinity
We’ve made it home and have settled in. Hearing the giggles from the family room, I go in and see Shelby clapping at something Claree is doing. “What’re y’all doing?” I ask.
“I’m going over Shelby’s ABC’s and we’re singing songs. Want to come join us?” Claree asks me hopefully. How can I resist? We sing the wheels on the bus, some monkey song that has to do with one falling down, and then I remember little bunny foo-foo. By this time, we’re all laughing, something I think has been lacking in the girls’ lives.
“More, more,” Shelby says clapping her hands.
We sing one more song and then I ask, “You girls want a snack? It’s nowhere time for dinner, but it’s been a bit since we ate.”
“I can help,” Claree states, getting up.
“Why don’t we all work together?” Heading into the kitchen, I watch her help Shelby get into the booster seat that has mysteriously appeared. Thinking my posse has something to do with all the little extras that have been showing up. Those women and shopping! I don’t know how they do it, I’m exhausted just thinking of it. I've been on several shopping expeditions with them, and each one leaves me with blisters on my feet and leaves me knowing I need to work out. I never realized how out of shape I was until I went with them on an entire day’s adventure. We’re sitting there, debating what to make, when I hear my phone ring. Grabbing it, I see Deanna’s name come up on the caller ID.
“Hey, Deanna,” I say once I’ve swiped to answer the phone.
“You get her home okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. We’re sitting here, getting ready to eat a snack.”
“Do y’all need anything? I know you’ve been running back and forth between home and the hospital and getting Claree squared away in school.”
“No, surprisingly. My friends are shopping queens and got me fully stocked up. Our choices are many which is why we haven’t started snacking yet.”
“I’d go with fruit. Listen, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Fuck. I hate those words. “What?” I ask.
“Well, I know you’re using all your vacation time so you can be home with the girls. We’re starting a pilot program, and I think it would be perfect for your situation, plus it would allow you to be at home with them.”
“Tell me more.” I have hated the thought
of going back to work, but also know that I need to have an income.
“You’d have a laptop and a printer and what you’d do would be take the incoming reports and create a computer file that will ensure we get everything done, as well as a hard copy file. I’ll come by or you can drop off the binders once you’ve got them made. It would help us become more consistent, y’know? You can have a form at the front that the case worker would check off every time they got something needed for the case file.”
“Would that keep me busy enough?”
“Could you also do some home visits, if we keep them during the day when the girls are at school and daycare?”
I think about what she’s saying and realize that this would be a huge gift. “I don’t see why not.”
She starts laughing and says, “I thought you’d do it so I have a laptop and printer and the rest of the supplies being shipped directly to you. But, you’re not to start until after your leave is up.”
“How is that going to maintain consistency?” I ask.
“Oh, I’ll be doing them until then, so I can see if any details need to be worked on.”
“Are the others okay with this?” Our office is rather small, and I get along with everyone so the last thing I want to worry about is upsetting one of them.
“They’re the ones who pushed for it, Trin. They know these girls need you and would rather you be able to be with them, than for them to go into foster care, and possibly be split up. Especially now that Shelby has been diagnosed with epilepsy.” The part I’m looking forward to the most, is no more midnight emergency call-outs. Those are the worst ones, and they tear me apart.
“You know I want to adopt them, right?” I ask Deanna.
“Kinda figured as much from everything you’ve shared when you’ve called in.” I haven't told Chief yet that that’s where my head is at, I wonder how he’ll react? “Okay, Trin, won’t keep you any longer because I know there are two little girls waiting on their snacks. I’ll pop by one day this week and help get everything set up and also see the girls since I’m their caseworker.” I’m relieved knowing Deanna will be my caseworker, instead of one of the other ladies who doesn’t care for me too much.
Chief: Rebel Guardians MC Page 5