by Bijou Hunter
Falling for Court is effortless, but being a mom is harder than anything I’ve ever done before. Court isn’t much help since he doesn’t know anything about little girl’s hair, cold medicines, or night terrors. He’s been a part-time parent in Felix’s life, meaning we’ll need to figure things out together.
Though Court is one sexy father, we don’t rush to add to our brood. I like tucking the kids into bed by nine and spending a few hours alone with my stud. We can also leave the kids with Christine and Journey for the evening and enjoy a private dinner. I’m not ready to share Court more than I already do. I also refuse to feel guilty for being selfish. I’ve spent most of my life without Court. I’d like to have a few years of wedded bliss before we add poopy diapers and late night feedings to the mix.
Despite his addictive nature, I don’t spend all of my free time with Court. Eventually, I make friends in Tumbling Rock, which isn’t easy because of my snitch reputation. Every other Tuesday, I play Yahtzee with Peg, Glenn, Art, and Babs. Other nights, Court meets with the club while I walk the kids to Christine’s house and enjoy time with the rest of my family. Jared even gets into the routine by stopping by on Sundays to grill food, so no one dies of salmonella.
All those years in Indianapolis, I never felt as if anything was missing in my life. Boy, was I wrong. Never could I have prepared for the bounty life offered me in Tumbling Rock. The most unexpected gift is finding the best man in the world who loves me in a way I didn’t even know existed.
Epilogue
Court
During labor, Justice begs for me to use a plunger on her when our baby gets stuck in the birth canal. I can only hold her hand and endure her finger-snapping grip. Journey stands threateningly behind the doctor while he uses a vacuum thing to suck the baby free. Before Henrietta appears, Justice howls in pain and fractures my pinkie. In the corner, Christine sobs at the sight of her daughter in pain while Poppy keeps making the sign of the cross even though she isn’t Catholic.
The horror ends with Henrietta’s blood-curdling cry. Justice collapses in relief and then releases my hand. After a few minutes, the feeling returns to my fingers. Christine’s sobs shift into tears of joy while Poppy fake barfs at the sight of the baby covered in afterbirth. The only person still on edge is Journey, who follows the doctor around to ensure no one fucks anything up.
“I never want to do that again,” Justice says later when we’re alone in the recovery room. “Promise me you’ll never knock me up again.”
“I promise,” I whisper.
“Sorry about your finger,” she says, kissing the splint on my pinkie finger. “I didn’t hurt you on purpose.”
Kissing her forehead, I stare into her tired, blue eyes. “I know. You were a little busy delivering our perfect baby.”
“She is perfect, isn’t she?” Justice asks, staring at the hospital bassinet where Henrietta sleeps.
“Gorgeous like her mama.”
“Are you going to cry?”
“No.”
“Can I?”
Once I give her permission to let loose with her tears, Justice cries off and on for months. She cries when Henrietta cries. She cries when Matilda cries. She cries when Felix begs me to make the three of them stop crying. She even cries during sex because I’m so sexy, and she can’t believe how lucky her vagina is.
Eventually, the hormones taper off, and she returns to the forever optimistic person I love.
Henrietta is a sweet baby with a bad temper. Our little Miss Jekyll/Hyde keeps me on my toes, but Justice expects nothing less from her offspring.
“I’ve given birth to a new Poopy,” she says one day before leaving for work and ditching me with the screaming child.
At some point, I go from badass enforcer to house-husband and stay-at-home dad. Justice considers quitting her job until she learns a Burger King is finally coming to Tumbling Rock. With her dream job in reach, she promises she’ll change all the dirty diapers when she’s home if I let her apply.
“Let you?” I ask, nearly laughing at her sincerity.
Justice smiles at me from the couch where Matilda is glued to one of her arms and Henrietta rests on her lap. She’s the picture of domesticated bliss, but I know how much she wants this job.
Having missed a lot of Felix’s early years, I enjoy staying home with Henrietta. We run errands together, and everyone dotes on my temperamental little princess. By the time she can walk, Henrietta insists on helping with everything. She wants to be in charge. Demands it really, and I’m all for her kicking ass.
Twice after her conviction, I try taking Felix, Otto, and Matilda to see Becca. Even locked up, their mother hides none of her rage.
“I’m caged because of your fucking father and his stupid whore,” she tells Felix every single time.
The kids always cry, and Becca ends up dragged from the room by a guard. Astrid has no better luck during her visits. We decide to give Becca time to get her shit together before we force the kids to see her again.
Before Henrietta comes along, I introduce fresh blood into the club. While Joe does make good on his threat to drive me off the road, he also pushes me to take more of a leadership role. He knows the club will die without younger guys joining, and I know too many good men worked too hard to build this organization to let it fall apart now.
Nearly every weekend, Justice and Matilda stay home while I take Felix and Henrietta fishing. After wearing herself out catching a fish, my little girl usually naps under a big floppy hat.
Those quiet moments allow Felix and me to talk about guy stuff. He’s starting to notice girls in a serious way and is about as smooth as I was at his age. We joke about lame pickup lines and how to romance the ladies. Felix doesn’t worry too much about his lack of skills. After all, his father was a queef all through high school and wasted time with crazy women like Becca. Somehow, I still ended up with Justice. Felix has hope he’ll one day find a chick like his wild step-mom.
THE END
About Bijou
Living in Indiana with my three sweet sons, three wacky cats, one super mom (and her ugly dog), I love writing, cats, Denny's, 1970's rock, Beanie Boos, and sitcoms canceled before their time.
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Bijou Hunter Books
Rawkfist MC Series
Black Sheep * Snake Charmer (coming soon)
Serrated Brotherhood MC Series
Bourbon Blues * Whiskey Blues (coming soon)
Damaged Series
Damaged and the Beast * Damaged and the Knight
Damaged and the Cobra * Damaged and the Outlaw
Damaged and the Dragon * Damaged and the Bulldog
Damaged and the Saint * In the Wind * Sunday Morning
Little Memphis MC Series
Little Memphis * Broken Memphis
Ramsey Security Series
Thunderstruck * Live Wire * High Voltage
Standalones
Gator * Used * Rebound Biker * Junkyard Dog