“Play!” Shelby says, having decided she was done. “Outside!” Hotah looks at me with confusion on his face.
“There’s a play area outside in the back. She loves it and that’s where she wants you to take her,” I tell him. I know my man is out there with his grandmother, so this should be...interesting, to say the least.
“Show me, please,” he says. I’m pretty sure he’s not used to using that word. It almost looked like a sour taste rolling off his tongue. I hide my inner smile and think this day is fixing to get a lot more interesting...to say the least.
“This way. Claree, do you wanna come too?”
“Yes. You’re coming too, right, Lakota?” she asks Leah.
“Wouldn’t miss it for anything.” Leah says, grabbing Claree’s offered hand. Looks like the kids are trying to make them comfortable, guess I can join in, and attempt to make a peace offering, on my husband's behalf, then maybe he’ll take his cues from us...anything’s possible...right?
I motion for them to follow me and we head out to the back of the clubhouse where the play area is that Nan had put in during one of Braxton’s runs. I died laughing when Cara told me how that little woman managed to pretty much renovate the whole place while Braxton was gone. That woman is a hoot, but she loves each of the men here like they’re her own children, and with the kids, she’s fantastic. The girls may not have biological grandparents, but in my opinion, Nan has managed to more than make up for their loss. And now...that’s got me thinking about Christmas. I bet it’s going to be chaotic around here!
As we make our way outside, I see Turk stand up and I watch as his eyes follow our daughters and his parents as they make their way towards the playground. He doesn’t take his eyes away from them, even enough to notice me making my way over to him.
“Turk?” I ask, trying to get his attention on me.
“Yeah?” he replies, but never turns his eyes my way. I grab his chin and turn his face to where he has no choice but to look into my eyes.
“You’re a good man, Turk. Use that heart that you’ve shown us and try to mend those fences, the girls deserve to have grandparents in their lives. I’m not saying you have to forgive, I’m just saying to try and move past it, and try to make things better, at least tolerable for our future.”
“I’ll try,” he says on a sigh, but I have a feeling this road will be a long, unpaved one. His eyes leave me, and they return to our daughters. “Doesn’t mean I trust him with my girls,” he says, and I hear the anxiety rolling out with each word he said.
“Boy,” his grandmother starts, “get over yourself, we’re all older and wiser. Give your Chinkshi a chance.”
“What’s a Chinkshi?” I ask.
“It’s the dialect word for ‘father’ in Lakota language,” Turk tells me, finally looking at me of his own accord.
“So ‘Lakota’ means grandmother and ‘Chinkshi’ means father?”
“Yes it does, Thanke.”
“What does that mean?” I ask him with my hands on my hips. Thinking he may be calling me all kinds of curse words in a different language.
His grandmother laughs at me, “It means ‘my wife’.”
“Oh,” I say wrapping myself around Turk. “Sorry,” I bashfully say to him. He chuckles at me and holds me tighter in his embrace. “What is the word for mother?”
“Chunkshi,” Turk tells me.
“Maybe I’m too old to learn a new language,” I mutter under my breath. “I’m really happy your family knows English, otherwise we’d have to go through you to communicate.” Turk and his Lakota laugh at me, hey! I remembered a word, I’m so proud of myself right now. He kisses my forehead and I melt into his arms. I know it’s gonna be a long road, but it’s a start.
“Ugh, I hate to interrupt y’alls family reunion and all, but the old ladies are driving me crazy, we need to start the ceremony because dinner's nearly ready,” Braxton says.
“What ceremony?” Turk’s grandmother asks.
“The girls and Trinity are getting property cuts today,” Braxton replies.
“What is a property cut?” Leah asks.
“It’s basically, Turk coming out and saying that they belong to him in the eyes of the club. He’s responsible to make sure they are taken care of, and the club backs him up and offers our support to his children and wife,” Braxton explains.
“What he's trying to subtly say is that a property patch says we completely, in every way belong to him and our actions reflect upon him,” I tell the ladies.
“It sounds important,” Hotah says, which shocks me into silence. He really hasn’t said much other than to the girls, so the fact he’s entered into our conversation makes me think he really does want to mend the fences.”
“It is, Chinkshi,” Turk replies. “They’re mine until I draw my last breath and I will do anything and everything to ensure their happiness and safety.”
“You’ve grown into a man anyone would be proud to know,” his father murmurs. I don’t think he meant for anyone to hear him, but I know from the look on Turk’s face that he did hear what his dad said.
“Alright people,” DJ says clapping her hands together. “Enough of the family drama, let’s get this celebration started already.” We all look at her wide-eyed, leave it up to her to be so blatantly honest.
We get organized and Braxton stands before me, with Turk standing behind me. “Trinity, by accepting this cut, you are committing yourself to Chief. There will be no talk of divorce or splitting up, if something comes up, you both will work on it until it is resolved. Should something happen to Chief, we, his brothers of the Rebel Guardians, will stand in the gap and ensure yours and the girls’ safety and welfare.
I nod at him and feel Turk slide his cut over my shoulders, gently putting each arm in the hole. He leans in and kisses behind my ear and whispers, “Forever, my wife. Forever.” His voice is raspy, much as it is when he first wakes up and I shiver a little, my body heating up at his minimal touch. He chuckles and lightly smacks my ass before saying, “Later, Thanke.”
“Okay, Claree and Shelby? Y’all stand in front of your parents, please,” Braxton says. I watch as our girls come and stand before us as Twisted hands us their cuts.
“Claree and Shelby, today is a very special day for you both in many ways. First, the adoption this morning gave you both a new set of parents. Parents who will love you and be beside you as you grow into young women. Second, we are giving you cuts that say, ‘Property of our Dad, Chief’. What this means for you is that every man here is now an honorary uncle, and every woman is an honorary aunt to you. We will stand in the gap and protect you should anything ever happen to either Trinity or Chief. They’re behind you because they have your backs. Welcome to the RGMC family, girls.” Once he’s done speaking, we place the cuts on the girls. None of the women have dry eyes and I’m blaming Cara’s hormones for spreading amongst us.
Chief
“May I speak with you alone, Son?” Dad says, shocking the shit out of me. I honestly thought he’d only be here as a bystander to make my mom happy.
“Yes, sir.” I may have issues with the man, but it’s ingrained in me to show respect to my elders. Not to mention he’s my father, and I’d like to see what he has to say. We walk off from the rest of the crowd since the women are setting up the food.
“Son, I don’t...I don’t know where to start,” he says. “But, I want to say that I’m proud of the man you’ve grown into. Seeing you here, with a wife and children, among a bunch of people who are obviously close, makes me realize that I was too hard on you growing up for not wanting to follow the traditions I was used to. That wasn’t fair to you, or your mother. I wish I could go back in time, but all I can do is extend a hand and promise to do better in the future. Please say it’s not too late for us, and that you can see yourself forgiving the actions of a fool?”
I look at him and then look over to see my wife talking and laughing with the other old ladies, as well as my mother and
grandmother. I want what he’s saying more than I want anything. Perhaps it is time to let shit go and look toward the future. “Chinkshi, I think we were both fools then. I was young and wanted to rebel, and as a man I can see how you would have had a hard time with that and me not wanting to bend to your will. If I agree to let bygones be bygones and move forward from here, you have to promise to not judge me in any aspects of my life. I can move forward, but not without a promise of communication instead of judgement. The men here are my brothers. Perhaps not by blood, but by choice and by our commitment to our club. They’ve been my family for years now and had my back.”
“I can see this,” he says. His speech pattern is more formal than most people’s, but I can tell from his relaxed body language that he means what he says. “I have no problem letting you be the man you’ve become, my son. Like I said, I’m proud.”
I hear a commotion coming from where the old ladies have congregated. I look over and see Cara bent over and her face shows anguish and pain. I stand up, not meaning to ignore my father, but I need to go over there and see what’s going on. I rush as fast as my feet can take me and see Cara standing in a pool of water, “What did she do, spill something?” I ask, and everyone looks at me like I’ve grown a second head.
“Her water broke, numbskull,” DJ replies. “You, go get Braxton,” she states, pointing at me.
I run to the back door and open it and yell out, “Axe! Your woman’s in labor!”
“Well fuck a duck, Chief, I coulda done that!” DJ states. “C’mon, Cara, let’s get you to the hospital.”
“Fuck a duck?” my father asks, “I did not realize this is possible,” I can see the confusion marring his face and it causes me to break out into laughter.
“She’s always saying something that makes no sense, pay her no attention,” I tell him, earning a death glare from my woman, of all people!
“She’s unique,” Trinity declares as she tries to downplay DJ’s antics.
“Uniquely insane,” I mumble, but apparently not low enough because I end up with an elbow shoved into my side.
As we’re going back and forth, Axe bursts through the back door and runs to his woman. Before any of us can say anything, he scoops her up and heads back into the clubhouse and presumably, to their vehicle.
“She needs to change first,” DJ yells. Jeez, this tends to be a circus when all these women get together. I get another elbow to my side and realize that my thoughts apparently exited my mouth. Hmm, better work on that one.
Chapter Twelve
Trinity
With minimal fanfare, including letting Cara get changed, we all head to the hospital and now, we’re in a waiting room while Braxton and Cara are admitted. She had a C-section with Luca, so they opted to go that route again. Lily and Luca are beyond excited to meet their new siblings and since neither Cara nor Braxton wanted to know the genders, they’re entertaining one another coming up with names. Turk motions me over and I head in his direction only to have him pull me onto his lap. “Not how I thought our wedding day would go,” he murmurs into my ear.
“True, but it’s a celebratory day, Turk. We got married, we adopted the girls and soon, the babies will be here. Besides, Nan and the prospects are bringing all the food up here. I know we didn’t get to dance or anything, but honey, it’s still a good day.”
“As long as my woman is happy, that’s all that matters,” he replies.
“I’d be happy anywhere as long as I am with you, that’s all I need. You and the girls,” I tell him with a smile plastered on my face. I’m so freaking excited to see and meet the twins!
“Same, baby,” he replies, kissing the corner of my mouth.
DJ comes out from the back where she was with Braxton and Cara, “They’re moving them back to the OR now, shouldn’t be long now,” she says, clapping her hands in joy.
“Will Nan get here in time?” I ask. Now I wish I had stayed behind because she’s the grandma and should be here.
“She is definitely here on time,” Nan says, coming up behind me with the rest of the kids in tow. Hell, even Smokey and Bandit have joined the party. The nurses are giving us looks as Nan directs the prospects on where to put the food and cake. It all gets placed out picnic style on a blanket that’s been spread out on the floor in front of our group. She looks at them and says, “We had a wedding reception going on and we’re not missing it. Y’all are welcome to make plates as well because there’s plenty. Chief and Trinity, y’all come and cut the cake so we can eat.”
“Let me see if we can get you all a table to place the food on instead of the floor,” one of the nurses states, before she picks up the phone and calls someone. Within minutes, we have two eight-foot tables set up by two maintenance guys. We pick up the food from the blanket and make a spread on the folding tables.
I look at them and say, “Please make a plate. We’ve got plenty.”
Turk takes my hand, and we go up to the table so we can cut the wedding cake. It’s gorgeous and I know it’s going to taste as wonderful as it’s gonna look on my hips.
“I see that look,” Turk states as we cut the cake and feed each other a bite sized piece.
“What look?” I ask as innocently as I can.
“You’re worried that it’s going straight to your hips. Well, I happen to like your hips and ass, so if it does, it’s just more to love.” I roll my eyes and want to get on to him for reading my mind, there’s only room enough for one of us to be in there.
“Let’s get the girls fed,” I reply.
“I’ve got the girls, y’all are on your honeymoon,” Nan states.
Turk starts to laugh at her statement because we’re in a labor and delivery waiting room surrounded by his brothers and their women, a slew of kids, and his parents. Who by the way have not left the girls’ sides since we arrived at the hospital. Not exactly the vision either of us have for a ‘honeymoon’.
“Y’all behave. As soon as you’ve mooned over the babies, you can go get your groove on,” DJ states as she helps the kids make their plates.
“DJ,” Turk says, “I found my groove many years ago, it’s never been missing.” I bend over holding my stomach in laughter, because he’s right, he had his groove on since the day he walked into my house and never looked back.
“You think my groove is funny, woman?” Turk asks me.
“Never, I’m laughing because you never had to search for a groove with me, you instinctively knew how to play my body and keep it on instant alert...it’s like a live wire where you’re concerned.”
He leans in close and whispers, “Baby, my groove went to a whole new level the minute we got into bed together. With you, I want to experience everything over and over again. It’s always better than the last time and even when we’re done, I want you again.”
Okay, now his words are turning me on in the one place that I can do nothing! “Just so you know, Turk, you set my sheets on fire, and I don’t think it’s ever been put out.”
“That’s because we’re smoldering,” he says.
“Oh Lord!” DJ replies to our statement, “you two are worse than Cara and Braxton. You need to cool it with the love fest, at least take it down a notch or two.”
“Um, DJ?” I reply, “you’re the same way around Hatch, just so you know.”
“No I’m not,” she states, shaking her head.
“Uh, yeah you are, gorgeous,” Hatch responds, coming up behind her and pulling her close.
“Whose side are you on anyways, lover?”
“Yours always, but I will correct you when I believe you need to be,” Hatch tells her.
“I’m never wrong, so don’t count on that happening anytime soon,” Hatch goes to reply, but DJ grabs his lips between her fingers and says one word, “Hush!” He smiles and makes as if he’s sending her kisses, but the way his lips are between her fingers he has duck lips which causes us all to die, bending over in hysterics.
“Nan Callahan?” a nurse asks. We all
get quiet as Nan goes over to where the nurse is standing.
“Your son and daughter-in-law want you there.”
Nan waves at all of us as she heads toward the delivery room. Suddenly, the room quiets and we are anticipating the arrival of the newest members of RGMC. At least we have good food and cake to keep us occupied.
Chief
I look over at my woman and see her sitting on the edge of her seat. I walk up to her and bend down to where we’re at eye level. “I just wanted to take a moment and tell you, that I love you more than life itself. I know you must be feeling emotional right now, with the babies coming. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I promise to give you a full and happy life.”
“I love you too, Turk. And if we don’t have any other children, you and the girls are more than enough to make my life complete. I don’t need any promises of tomorrow, just a promise of love, laughter and happiness with you at my side.” I bend over and kiss her on her lips. My life has come full circle, I have the love of my life at my side, my daughters in my life and my parents are back in my life. What else could a man ask for to make all of his dreams come true?
We’ve been waiting for what seems like forever when Nan comes out long enough to say, “They’re here. As soon as they move her to her room, we can go in and see them.”
Epilogue
Trinity
It sounds like a herd of elephants making their way down the hallway as we all rush to Cara’s room. As soon as we make it to the doorway, people are fighting to get through the doorway first. Nan clears her throat gathering all of our attention, “I believe you grown people should allow the children in first before you all trample them in your haste.” She doesn’t look happy, and we all skulk back and allow all the kids to enter first. A nurse comes and tells us we all can’t be in the room with the new family, but one look from Hatch and she scurries back and turns and walks away. Lily and Luca approach the bed where Cara is holding the swaddled bundles.
Chief: Rebel Guardians MC Page 18