Lyon's Heart

by Jordan Silver

  “Now, this never comes off your wrist okay. It’s like your rings, after I put it on... it stays on. I got one for the baby to match. Hers stays on her hand too and I have one to match.”

  She stared at that thing with a big silly grin on her face for a good five minutes. I’m glad she liked it, because it was going to be a part of her until death. I couldn’t wait to try it to make sure it worked, but I wasn’t about to do that in front of her, that’ll defeat the purpose.

  “You gonna open the rest of your stuff babe or look at that thing all day?” I’d gotten her some handbag that cost about a year’s mortgage because mom and Carol swore every woman wants one, and some other female crap that she went nuts for. She flew at me and covered my face with kisses and the little one wanted in on the fun, so she pushed her way between us to get in on the action.

  She gave me some new embossed Harley leather with my name across the back and boots and a kickass helmet. I made out like a lark. The rest of her gifts were just more jewelry and shit that was under mom’s tree. I got her a spa date for her and her girls and some other shit that women like so much because her mom and mine swore it was the way to go. It turned out to be a pretty decent morning after all, no lingering feelings from the day before, just what I’d wanted.

  “Colt, I’m sorry…”

  “It’s dead babe, leave it. Today, we don’t let anyone or anything in that we don’t want. It’s all about us and this moment and the ones we’re going to have from now on. We spent way too much time on her already. I don’t want to even hear her fu…uh name again.”

  “Okay.” She gave me one of her sweet smiles and we went back to watching our kid try to stick the bows to her head.

  We were on the road an hour later headed for moms and the pothead’s. It was going to be a long day. Elena had invited everybody and their mama, literally. I just hoped there weren’t any last minute runs to be made because my ass is dragging and chances are Daniel will be too high to go take care of his wife’s last minute pickups.

  ELENA

  “Daniel, we have to get up. We’re going to have a houseful of people in a few hours and I need to get started cooking.”

  “Just one more and I’ll let you go down.”

  “Okay, but just one more and then we really have to go.”

  I rolled around the bed with my horny husband for another thirty minutes before we headed for the showers together where he got frisky again. He’s still got it.

  I had a smile on my face the rest of the morning as I got ready for the day and night to come. It was going to be a great day. We were going to have all the family and some friends over for the holiday and my daughters and daughter in law were going to be helping me cook for forty people.

  Tina was coming over in a while to lend a hand as well. She was turning into a really good friend, which was good since my son was totally gone over her daughter. It helps that we all get along so nicely. Drake and Daniel were as close as two men their age could be, and then we have Cy. I’m so proud of my little family and how great everyone was turning out. Aside from the little trouble here just lately, things have been just swell. I got my new daughter in law and granddaughter in one year thank you very much, and all was right in my world. Colt was a little nuts but he was cute with it. He was so gone over his family, it did a mother’s heart good to see. After years of despairing that the boy would ever settle down, it did me proud to see the man he’d become. I don’t think he sees himself though, and it was fun listening to his father tease him, but he himself hadn’t been much better. Like father like son, but I wasn’t going to be the one to tell them. The tree was overcrowded with gifts, half of them for the baby. I admit I might’ve gone a little overboard with that one but who can blame me? She was my very first grandbaby and I don’t know how long it was going to be before I got another one.

  I got breakfast ready for Carol and Daniel before I set about getting things ready for the big dinner. I had goose, duck and turkey, along with tenderloin and some Cornish hens. Everybody had different tastes, and when you invited a whole host of people over for such an important occasion, you have to cater to their needs.

  “El baby, what you got going on here?” Daniel came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my middle. It still gives me butterflies to be held in his arms after all these years. This is what I want for my kids, that love and joy that transcends everything. Char had given me an early Xmas gift when she told me the night before while at Colt and Kat’s house for the impromptu party, that those two were going to be happy for a long, long time. I couldn’t ask for more than that.

  LYON

  “Mom, we’re here.”

  “Ooh, where’s my sweet girl? Come give nana some sugar.”

  She came running, the baby hog with apron on at the ready. I walked into the house where she had the Xmas music on low. The lights on the tree were blinking and there was a mountain of gifts that came into the middle of the room. I didn’t have to look to know that more than half of them were for my little girl. The women were already gabbing away about something or the other when dad came into the room.

  “Hey son, merry Xmas.”

  “Merry Xmas, dad.” We exchanged a hug before heading for the couch. Unless mom needed something from outside, that was pretty much our spot until dinner. We weren’t allowed in the kitchen during prep, which was fine by me. Apparently, we only got underfoot and our services were only needed for heavy lifting and fetching.

  “You want some coffee boy?”

  “Nah, I’ve had enough. Where’s Carol?”

  “She hasn’t come down yet, as far as I know. Stacey and Emory should be here any minute. I think Drake and Tina are coming early too. Did you see what your mother the sneak did?” He pointed to the rocking horse in the corner that hadn’t been there the last time I came.

  “She’s trying to outdo my gingerbread house.”

  “You two need to stop. I’m not putting my kid on that thing anytime soon. What if she falls off and breaks her neck? What; why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Boy, you’ve got to get some control. What are you going to do when she starts walking? You do know kids fall a lot right?”

  “I’ll deal with that when the time comes but she’s not getting on that thing until she’s at least five or six years old.” What the fuck was Elena thinking? I’m going to have to keep a close eye on these freaks before they kill my daughter with their competition bullshit.

  “Why can’t you two be more like Drake and Tina? You don’t see them competing against each other do you?”

  “That’s what you think. I don’t trust the copper one bit.”

  Great, another day in crazytown.

  “Where’s Cy? I thought for sure Elena would’ve dragged him over here by now.”

  “I’m sure that’s next on her list. You know she has half your crew coming here today right?”

  “Yep, single mothers and fathers. I think she’s up to something but I’m staying out of it. I gave up asking for you two to be normal a long time ago. I just sit back and watch the show as long as you don’t try dragging me into whatever the hell it is you’re doing.”

  “Uh huh, so son I gotta ask. Did you do it?”

  “Do what?”

  “The chick in the hospital. I spoke to security late last night and they’ve got nothing. Somehow the tape doesn’t show anyone going in or out and there’re no glitches that they can see on there. What gives?”

  “What’s with you people and thinking I’m running around offing people? I was at the house when you got there, remember?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t know. I saw crazy Travis there too, and I know for a fact that boy’s a brick short of a full load.”

  “Leave my friends out of this. Who knows what the crazy bitch did. Maybe she offed herself. I’m not spending my daughter’s first Xmas thinking about her ass, change the subject.”

  “Fine, you think your mother’s gonna need anything from outside? I do
n’t understand how the woman could make ten runs to the grocery store and still forget shit.”

  “I don’t know, why?”

  “Haven’t had a hit yet this morning. But sure as shit, as soon as I hit the pipe, she’ll be needing something done. Fucks with my high.”

  What could I say to that? The man was completely out of control.

  Chapter 18

  It turned out to be one of the best Xmases I’ve ever had; my little princess just basked in the glow of all that attention from her grandparents and her aunts, not to mention her da da. She had a mountain of gifts, but again the wrapping paper ruled the day. It was a fun time, which I captured on camera to add to my other one hundred videos of her. Kat was having a good time too, which at the end of the day is all I really cared about, that my two girls were enjoying the day. Mom really had invited half my crew over for dinner, and the others swung by later in the evening for coffee and dessert. Everyone was in a festive mood. There was no mention of the day before, and I could rest easy that I’d pulled it off. My daughter’s first Xmas had been a beaut. Now I can relax until at least the New Year before my Angel started some fuckery to run my ass ragged.

  “She’s beat Colt, poor thing, she can hardly keep her eyes open.” She dropped down next to me on the couch where I’d been sitting watching my daughter destroy the room.

  “It’s all that running around and cake, look at her.” My daughter’s face was covered in chocolate, and so was mom’s couch, but she didn’t seem to care. If I remember correctly, when I was a kid, I wouldn’t have gotten away with a stunt like that, but apparently grandkids could do no wrong.

  “I better go clean her up. It’s almost time to be going but I hate for this day to end. You were right Colt. I’m glad you went crazy trying to make this the most perfect day for our girl, thank you.”

  “You see that feeling you have right now?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Please try to hold onto it for at least the next week before you start your shit.”

  “Oh Colt hush, you know I don’t start anything…trouble just seems to, I don’t know find me I guess.”

  “Yeah, well maybe you need to change your damn address.”

  “Whatever, now this is over we still have to plan Cy’s road trip and then we can relax for a while. I’m beat.”

  “We better start saying our goodbyes now. You know it takes Elena damn near an hour to let us out the door.”

  I loaded up the truck with what I could at the end of the night and dad promised to bring the rest over the next day. He was going to need a Uhaul for that one.

  That night, after we put the baby to bed, we laid in front of the fire and took back our living room. Now whenever she looks at the fireplace, she wouldn’t have the memory of being held at gunpoint by a mad woman but she’d see me loving her slow and sweet.

  “I’m so in love with you Kat.” I love the way her eyes lit up whenever I told her that. She lifted her mouth to mine as our bodies moved together. We stayed in front of the fire making love all the wee hours of the morning. I took her up to bed because she was too weak to move, and after washing us both off, we dropped into bed tired and wiped out. She was dead asleep but I couldn’t resist mumbling to her. “Kat for love of heaven, please don’t start any shit for the rest of the week. I’m beat.”

  EPILOGUE

  “Kat, what the fuck, what’s she wearing?”

  Oh Mylanta, I’ve been hearing that same refrain for the past year now.

  “Clothes.” And I’ve been giving the same damn answer for just as long.

  “Cute, either fix it or neither of you are gonna like when daddy goes shopping.” I gave him the stink eye because he was being ridiculous but you can’t tell him that. Caitlin just turned thirteen, and like all thirteen year olds, she’s starting to assert her independence. At least she’s trying to, but her dad won’t let her. He’s going to have a coronary if he doesn’t calm down.

  “Where are your hooligans Colt, why don’t you go round them up instead of making me crazy?”

  “My sons are with their grandfather doing who knows what. Don’t change the subject Angel.”

  “Colt, it’s what all the kids are wearing these days. There’s nothing to get all hot and bothered about.”

  He gave me a glare, which I knew meant he wasn’t going to let it be. In the past thirteen years, life has certainly been an adventure. Five kids, twin boys born nine months after Colt swore he nailed me, followed two years later by another little boy, and then four years later another girl. Still Caitlin was her daddy’s girl; the two of them were thick as thieves. Thank heavens I got Catalina because the other four were all about their father.

  THE LYON

  Kat and her damn kids are trying to drive me crazy. Well not my boys, it’s the girls. Just like their mother, there’s always something with them. Now it’s this dress thing. I’d be fucked if my daughter is going to leave the house dressed like that. Next thing you know, there’ll be boys and shit sitting on my couch.

  “Caitie bear come in here.”

  “Yes daddy?”

  “Where is it that you’re going anyway?”

  “Me and Annalissa were gonna go to the movies.” Annalissa is Stacey and Emory’s daughter. She was born the year after Caitlin and the two girls are thick as thieves. I don’t see how, because Anna is a girly girl, while my little princess is like her old man. She likes bikes and grease, and that’s just how I like it. At least she used to be until this summer when she discovered something. And that something had better not be boys. Whatever it is she’s lost her damn mind. Instead of jeans and tees, now it’s halter-tops and shorts, fuck no. Kat’s all excited talking about she’s finally got her little girl back. Since she turned four and could dress herself, Caitie refused to wear anything resembling a dress. I had to hear about that too for a long time. Apparently, it was my fault that my girl wanted to look like daddy. I don’t know what the fuck she expected me to do about that. Wear a dress? Anyway, my little princess was a tomboy all the way. No matter what stunts her mom and aunt Carol came up with, they didn’t work. Now she’s trying to give her old man a heart attack with this shit.

  “What movie?”

  “You don’t know it daddy. It’s a young teen movie.” She twitched all over the place, so I knew there was more going on here than she was telling.

  “Uh Caitlin, who exactly is going to this movie?”

  “Well, me…Anna…and Ralph and Todd.” The last two were said as one word but she wasn’t slick enough. Calm down Colt, it won’t do to have a heart attack and die. You have a wife and five kids to look after. She must’ve got scared by the look on my face because she started backing up, but I knew who was behind this little coup. Still to be fair…

  “Who gave you permission to go to the movies with boys, princess?”

  I kept my voice nice and even, and pretended interest in the papers on my desk.

  “Well, mom said it was okay as long as we were doubling up, and it was just a movie and maybe ice cream later?”

  “Okay, thanks for telling me. Could you tell your mom I need to see her?”

  “Daddy…” Now she’s wringing her hands and fretting, too late.

  “Nothing to worry about, I promise, just send her up here.” She high tailed it out of the room and I got myself under enough control not to bite my wife’s head off as soon as she entered the room.

  “You called?” She came into the room all smiles, still the same beautiful girl I’d married fourteen years ago. Not much had changed about her. In fact, she was even more beautiful now than she was when we first met, if that were possible. Our life together has been one for the books, I’ll tell you that. Never a dull moment, she’s still getting up to her shit every other week, but now she has help.

  “Did you tell my kid she could date?”

  “Uh Colt, did you forget something? I carried her for nine months remember? You were there.” She gave me a saucy look with her hands on her hi
ps.

  “What’s your last name Kat?”

  “Huh?”

  “Name Katarina, what is it?”

  “Um, Lyon?”

  “That’s right, and everything with that stamp on it belongs to me. You see those?” I pointed to the framed copies of the kids’ birth certificates. Other people have their credentials and accomplishments on their office walls; those are mine.

  “They all say Lyon. That means they belong to me too, everything in this bitch belongs to me. Now I repeat; did you tell my kid she could date? Don’t roll your eyes at me woman, you’re skating on thin ice.”

  “Well, I didn’t say she could date exactly.”

  “What exactly did you say?” She started wringing her hands and biting her lip. I knew what was coming next, the little sneak. The hand came up and the finger trailed down the middle of my chest.

  “You know Colt I was thinking. Why don’t we leave the kids with their grandparents and go to the cabin for the weekend.” I kissed her hard once and then moved her back.

  “Fine, we’ll do that. Now answer my question.”

  “Oh alright, I said she could go with a boy as long as Annalissa was bringing someone along.”

  “Does Emory know that his daughter is dating?” She gave me a guilty look and then looked everywhere but at me.

  “I see, so this is something you and my sister came up with. Lets get something straight, my daughter isn’t dating anyone anytime soon and after this little stunt, she’d be lucky if she ever sees the outside of this house again. As a matter of fact, I’m going down to the shop. I have some commercial grade padlocks down there that would keep her little ass locked in her room.”

  “Oh Colt, you can’t be serious, most of her friends have dates. Things are not the way they were when you were growing up. In fact, it’s not even the same as when I was growing up.”