by L. Ann Marie
I'm starting to wonder if he's getting desensitized by all the fuckin violence lately. The drug wars were brutal but staying fuckin clean is a fuckin full time job for our fuckin army. Rich goes to see Tess. I let Peg know what happened and that Derrick is coming to clean up then I tell Tess what's happening. She's so fuckin cute. She's excited about Jess giving her a job. I hug her and she leaves with Patches.
Kate calls me as I'm walking out the side lot door. I roll my eyes. "He's not over here." I tell her.
"Ok. We have the planning dinner tonight." I can hear her smile.
"Saw it on my schedule today. I'll be there baby." I look around to make sure Danny isn't anywhere around. "I have to go Kate. Danny's picking you up with the kids. I'll meet you there." She tells me she loves me and lets me go. I call Danny. "Stay away from the Bakery for at least an hour."
"I was just thinking that I need coffee and a piece of meat pie." He says. I can hear him smiling.
"Fuck Brother she's finally not pissed at me." I run my hand through my hair.
"I like the big bed. When you're not in it I can stretch out."
"Fuckin sadistical bastard. I already spent a week on the couch. I hate the fuckin couch." I look around and see his fuckin truck at transport. "Don't even think about coming over here. I'll have Steve drag you're fuckin ass right out."
He fuckin laughs. "Come to Transport. I got you a grinder from the Sub Shop. Peg is keeping me updated."
I walk over deep breathing to calm the fuck down. He's in Tiny's office. I sit and open my grinder. He got my regular. He always knows this shit. "How do you know my regular order but not what size Kate is or what she puts on her face? You see it every day."
He looks at Tiny and laughs. "It's food Brother. I know what meal Kate eats at every place we go. What she wants to drink. When she'll need my coat so I take one of hers for her. I know what guys are supposed to know. Never buy her clothes unless she's with me so I don't need to know her size. Never buying makeup so I don't care. I like her without it anyway."
"But you know what I eat too." I say taking a bite. I'm glad he does.
"Know Tiny, Patches, Rich, Bob, and Steve's too. It's food Brother. Guys stay with the same thing, easy enough to remember." Fuck he's right.
"Thanks for staying out of the Bakery. She called me when she saw trouble. I just finished telling her you weren't there." I tell him. He nods.
"She's still pissed at you? Fuck that's got to be a record." Tiny says surprised.
"Doc told her about the first billboard blowing and Danny needing the plate adjusted. She's pissed at me but not him. I don't fuckin get it. He helped Steve run the fuckin wire." I shake my head. It wasn't my fault he was too close to that one.
Tiny looks shocked. "You fuckin ratted him out?"
Danny laughs. I give him a look but he ignores it. "Fuck no! It wasn't like I dragged his ass there though. He went on his own. She blames me for the whole fuckin thing. She even talked to Steve before she even looked at me. He's the one that duct taped me to the fuckin pole."
"I don't get why you didn't just do one or two. You fucked with him for fuckin months. You know how fucked his head is when he gets something in it. You shoulda stopped after the first or second." He says. I fuckin take it. He's fuckin right. I just eat my sandwich.
"You're doc cleared you. Why's Kate calling checkin on you?" Tiny asks Danny.
"Why the fuck are you smiling?" I can't believe he finds this funny.
He laughs. "She never calls me for a check on you. Your job is the safe one. King Ben." They crack up.
What the fuck? "She doesn't call you? Seriously?"
"Hasn't called me yet. Don't know why she calls you." He's fuckin smiling.
I stand up. "What the fuck is up with that?"
"Where you going?" Tiny asks as I walk out the fuckin door.
"To find out why the fuck she calls checking on him. Like I'm his fuckin keeper." They rush out the door behind me. "Fuckin Brothers."
I go right in her office and sit in the chair opposite her. "How come you call every time something's going on to check on Danny but you never call him to check on me?"
She fuckin laughs. "I never ask you about Danny. You always tell me he's fine or where he is but I never once asked. I just keep letting you do it. What happened this time?" I think about that. She's right, holy fuck! Danny and Tiny are laughing hysterically at the door.
"Fuckin Brothers. Prospect put hands on Tess." She jumps up. "She used her moves on him and Patches took her home after beating the fuck out of him." She sits down.
"Why do you keep thinking I'm checking on Danny? Every freakin time I call you give me an update."
"You always call when shits happening." Is she for real?
"I don't know why you need to tell me. He calls me if he needs me to know something."
"You already blame me for the billboard blow ups." Fuckin Danny and Tiny are still laughing.
"Three freakin weeks ago! Everyone's over it Ben. You feel guilty so you keep putting it on everyone else."
"You’re not still pissed?"
She shakes her head no. Danny tells us he's out. I don't even look at him. He's been fuckin with me. He knew and didn't tell me. Fuckin Danny.
"I slept on the couch for a fuckin week." I run my hands through my hair.
"I thought you felt guilty. I was just waiting for you to be over it." She says looking right at me. I shake my head. Fuck. "I'm glad you got over it before me or Danny had to talk to you. He didn't like that idea." He fuckin knew? I get up and kiss her.
Walking back to transport I'm trying to figure out a way to get him back. When I walk in they look at me. "Get it right the fuck out of your head. You almost got me killed trying to save your sorry ass. We're not even close to being even." Danny says.
I drop my shoulders and sit the fuck down, he's fuckin right. "You could have told me. I hate the fuckin couch."
"Wasn't my place. No one told you to sleep there. Get fuckin Tracy out of your life and start living the new one Brother." He finishes his sandwich then stands up. "See you at Sam's." He throws chin and leaves. Fuckin Danny.
"Fuckin Brother." I mutter.
"He gives you time to fix your fuckups before he steps in. Fix your fuckin mistakes and he won't be part of your solution." He smiles. "Saw it on Dr Phil."
Danny
We finally order dinner. I'm fuckin starving. Patches and Ben get their fuckin shit together. The two of them with fuckin lists and books for every-fuckin-thing. How the fuck didn't I see it before? I look at Rich. Poor bastard. I see Tess freeze. She has tears running down her face. Fuck. Both Rich and Patches notice. I go around and squat down by her seat. Rich pulls her out a little so I can see her face.
"Get who out?" Rich says softly. "Jessie, don't let him come back."
I put my hand on her arm. "When Tess?" I ask.
"I don't know; don't let him come back for Devan." She starts crying.
"Where are they?"
"In the Diner, they have to go into the back." She's breathing heavy.
"Can you see the clock Tess?"
She looks over the counter. "It's seven forty, he can't come back in, you have to keep him in the back!" She's shaking.
Ben gets the women and kids out. I take Devan and hand him to Jess who's just inside the door. The women made a chain handling the kids and sending them back. Everyone moves. I take Tess from Patches and she screams bloody murder. Holy Fuck! The windows explode. Patches tackles me and Tess. My head hits the floor. Fuckin great. Patches is fighting to get Tess in the back. She's a fuckin hellcat fighting him; finally Sam pulls her in the kitchen doors. I yell to Patches to keep the kids safe.
"Fuckin Prospect." Steve says.
"Who's armed?" Ben asks. Steve, Tiny, Rob, Rich, Sam and me. "If you have a shot take it."
Everyone is moving. Rich stands up and walks to the front door. He shoots and doesn't stop until the Prospect falls. "Clear!" Everyone fuckin laughs.
Sam starts yelling at him about the doors. Then man hugs him. I'm still shaking my head from hitting the floor. Steve comes over and pulls my patch. Oh fuck, not another day like that one. "Don't fuckin laugh!" He yells making me smile. He remembers it too. He has Sam get the first aid kit and fixes me up before Kate sees. Sam brings a towel so I can wash the blood off my face. Thank fuck my shirt is black.
Kate comes out and watches us. "You think we could move the dead guy so I can get my kids home and into bed?" We laugh again. Fuckin Kate. "With all the bullet holes in him what the heck happened to his face?"
"Not what, who. Patches." Steve tells her. She nods, talks to Rich and goes back to the kitchen. My Beautiful K. Ben gets transport set up to get the women and kids home.
"I didn't know what you need. I called three from the crew and ordered a bunch of shit. It will be right over." Ben says. Fuck. He doesn't know fuck about building or material.
I ask, "Did you tell them who you were?" He nods looking confused.
"They'll take back anything I don't use if you ordered, they know you down there." I tell him everyone laughs.
"That was just wrong Brother." He says looking at me like I kicked him.
"Ben you ordered enough fuckin clay tiles to do six fuckin McMansion roofs. We don't even use clay tiles."
He shrugs. "Would have looked better than the black shit."
"Can't put solar on the fuckin clay Brother. It's too fuckin heavy and can't hold the snow load."
"You didn't tell me that."
I smile. "Nope I didn't tell you."
We're moving wood and tools into the Diner when he asks. "How come you didn't tell me?"
"Don't need you doing my job for me. If I give you a little information you'll try to build a fuckin house. Better off doing my job before you need it and living without the headache of Kate killing me because I let you die in a collapse." I watch for his reaction.
He thinks about that. "Good plan." He says making us all laugh. Fuckin Ben. We get the first door done and finally the morgue picks up the Prospect.
I think it hits Ben right then. Jessie could have died if Tess didn't warn us. I put my hand on his shoulder. He looks at me. The guys are talking about Tess. "She did it though. She's saved Rich, Ally, Brenda, Amanda, Kellan and Jessie. Her parents were so fuckin wrong. They missed out on seeing how sweet she is and how happy she makes everyone. On top of that, she's like a fuckin angel saving people with her visions. Thank fuck she's ours. Our family is ok because she's here and has no fuckin embarrassment over her visions despite what her parents did to her. Thank fuck she's ours."
Steve smiles. "Jess on money and bakin. Kate on the Center and takin in strays. Nancy on clothes and jewelry. Mary on cakes. Peg on every-fuckin-thing. Kelly on salvage and websites. And Tess, our own angel. Strong women beatin the odds, makin life good. Who's next? Bob, Geek, Rob, Doc, how many more? This shit keeps up, tellin Jess to buy into ammo companies. Maybe ask Tess who the fuck is next." They all laugh. I laugh because Ben still won't let him get any C4 and Jess made him promise not to touch it again. Bet he thinks he can get it that way.
Rich leaves and we finish getting the Diner cleaned up. I have to send the crew to the storage yard with all the fuckin shit Ben ordered. We get home after twelve. Kate's sound asleep.
Twenty Seven
Christmas Eve
Ben
I love Christmas Eve. The seniors get the bags set for us. We each have a bag and an address. We have so many fuckin bikes and Brothers we only need one trip to finish the deliveries. The old ladies have the Center set up and are waiting for us. Danny is helping Patches, Tess and Petey with the Little Brothers.
I have HS delivering to the Little Brother's houses that have single moms or are just struggling. They drop, hit the bell or knock then disappear into the shadows. Jessie, Darren and Little Ben helped keep me informed about who has what so we can keep all the kids even. It works well.
On my way to the Center I think about church. We met earlier and finally had a quorum to pass the amendments. I'm so fuckin relieved, I can order Kate's new vest now. I have it to show her but I didn't order it before because some of the Brothers are still avoiding me. I didn't know if they would actually vote to approve it. Thank fuck they did. We can take on new Officers and assistant Officers too. Everyone liked the concept and approved it unanimous. I got everything I wanted passed. Maybe the Brothers aren't so pissed at me anymore. I'm smiling when I pull into the lot.
Fuckin Tiny and an old timer that's been showing up lately, Box are arguing by the side door. Walking up to them I hear them and fuckin laugh. "I'm Santa; you'll scare the fuckin kids away." Box tells Tiny.
"You're too fuckin skinny for the suit." Tiny growls at him.
"Brothers. This was decided. Bull is Santa." I tell them. They look at me as if I'm crazy.
"Pres, no disrespect but the fuckin Brother's too young and don't have a beard." Box says.
I laugh. "He's in a fuckin costume; it has a beard that covers his face. It has the padding too." They walk in muttering about young fucks not knowing shit. I laugh following them in.
The Center is full. The seniors are having fun with the kids playing games and caring for the babies. It's a fuckin sight. I find Steve and Danny.
"Stop fuckin smilin like that. Kelly's got a fuckin camera." Steve barks out.
Danny fuckin laughs. "Not a fuckin person here will ever take your fuckin picture Steve. After trying to blow Ben up and hanging Geek from the fuckin third floor window; everyone's afraid you'll kill them."
"Shouldn't have tried to run, stupid fuck. Office is on the first floor. Was only there couple hours. Brother’s a drama queen." He says pissed. We just laugh at him. He mutters something about pains in his ass and walks away.
"He needs to lighten up about fuckin pictures." Danny says watching him.
"Kelly is going to take some group shots. I have her blurring out his face." I tell him.
"Oh fuck! You had to fuckin tell me? I'll fuckin kill you myself if his fuckin picture is on any-fuckin-thing!"
"Relax Brother. It's just for the club wall." I tell him. "He can't get pissed if you can't see him fuckin smiling. Like that's a fuckin crime against nature or something." I don't get why it fuckin pisses him off.
"I'm not talking about Steve and pictures one more fuckin minute Ben, find a new fuckin topic." Danny's getting pissed now. Fuck no ones in the Christmas spirit.
"Got all the amendments passed. We can plan for the new Officers. I got Keith looking at schedules after the first so we can meet and get that moving." I tell him hoping he'll lighten up. He nods. I follow his eye. He's watching Kate. "What did you get her?"
He looks at me. "Guess I can tell you now, pink diamond jewelry and some clothes."
"Clothes? You don't shop."
"Didn't shop, stopped by Nancy's last month. She orders shit for Jess and Kate all the time. Told her to order shit. She did. Me and Steve picked up the orders last week when you took her out. We got it all wrapped at the mall and Steve came and got Jess' shit earlier today." He says still watching her.
"Fuckin Brothers you could have told me." I spent hours fuckin shopping.
"Your first fuckin Christmas and you want to get the same shit I do? Thought you were the fuckin sensitive one?" He says looking at me again with a smile.
I walk away, fuckin Danny.
Danny
I smile as I watch him walk away. I got Kate a new cut with the changes following the amendment wording. I knew it would go through but he was nervous. I figure it's for him as much as her. I'm giving it to her tonight so she knows he's all in. This was her deadline; even though it doesn't matter anymore I want her to know it’s a sure thing. She's changed her name on paper, now everyone else will know. It's been a hell of a fuckin year but it's ending the way I hoped it would. Thank fuck!
Twenty Eight
Christmas
Kate
I'm so glad the guys didn't go overboard. With t
his many kids we need to make each gift mean something to them. I'm glad Rich, Tess and Patches came over to open presents too. I'm saving the vest for our first ride so they don't know about it. I crack up when Ben opens the jersey they got him. It matches the cut Danny got me. My sexy badass pirate is so freakin thoughtful. We agreed to open one present from each other with the kids. The rest we'll do tonight. I'm not really a present person but it's Christmas.
After Ben puts his jersey down, me and Danny give him his present. He opens it and is stunned. He hugs us thanking both of us. I can hear the emotion in his voice. Danny calls to the kids and let's Ben tell them. Jessie reads the paper then jumps on me. Danny gives him a package.
He moves up to open it. It’s a picture of me. He tells him it’s for his bed. Of course I cry. "You're really my mom now?" He's says crying.
I hug him. "I have been since you moved in." He holds onto me. "I love you Jessie."
"I love you too mom." He makes me cry more. Freakin kids. Rich makes us laugh. "Fuckin Kate." He hugs Ben. "Welcome to the family, officially Ben! I'm so fuckin glad we got the shirt now." He laughs. The kids start hugging everyone they can reach. "Mrs. Kathryn Marie LaPonte-James, I'm so fuckin happy for you." The kids put their hands out. Everyone laughs.
Ben hands an envelope to Tess saying it's the last present. She opens it with the boys looking over her shoulder. They look up at him surprised. "You gave us a fuckin house Ben." Rich says.