“Now that the clowns have been tamed, let’s call this meeting. I want to get home and have a conversation with my woman.”
I stand up to leave, because going home sounds like the best thing we talked about the entire time the Wrigley Brothers were performing.
Walking back in the house, I notice it’s quiet so I head down to the bedroom. Opening the door fully, I see my woman and Emma still sound asleep and decide curling up with them is another great idea. I’ll call the real estate agent once we’re up. After laying here for an hour with no sleep in sight, I decide to get up and make that call and start dinner for my little family. I make the offer and the agent states that she will take it to the owners and I should expect a counter offer. I was anticipating that, but I have a counter in mind so I hang up the phone and look through the freezer to see what sounds good. I find all the things I need to make a stir-fry, one of the meals I make the best, and begin chopping up the broccoli and carrots to go with it. Once I have it sizzling, I turn around to grab a beer and notice I have an audience. “Afternoon, ladies,” I say and they both repeat it. Seems I have two parrots this afternoon.
“What’cha making?” Cassarah asks me.
“Just some stir-fry, thought it would be more filling than pizza and it sounded easy to make.”
“No begetables, Lah,” Emma states. “No like begetables.”
Before I can say anything, Cassarah looks at her and states, “Emma, he’s cutting up baby trees, see?”
“I like trees,” she says, all smiles.
“D’you want steak or chicken, buttercup?” I ask.
“Both, actually. And do we have some shrimp?”
“Baby, you need to watch the seafood intake when you’re pregnant.”
“Wait, what? What the fuck? How is that possible in this day and age?” And she’s off and running, uncaring that Emma’s eyes have grown wider and wider while watching her aunt pace and rant while nestled in her arms, making me want to take her so she doesn’t trip or something with Emma’s weight.
“Haven’t you read any of the pregnancy books?” I ask, stopping her long enough to grab Emma.
“I just got my brain wrapped around the fact I was pregnant, for fuck’s sake!”
“You do realize that the tuna fish you love so much is completely off the table, right?” I ask skeptically.
Her shoulders slump a bit at my words before she straightens and says, “I’m gonna go order a book so I know what I can and can’t have.” I bite my tongue to hold back the laughter, she’s so damn determined that it’s fucking cute.
“Alcohol’s a no-no too, buttercup.”
“I know that much, Elijah, not totally stupid.”
“Limited caffeine.”
“What? What is this fucking madness? No, I cannot accept this at all,” she states, coming back in with my tablet. I make a note that I need to get her one of her own because I often have case-sensitive shit on mine.
“Fucking madness!” Emma shouts out. I see Cassarah smack her forehead as her shoulders slump.
“Thinking we’ll be the ones who will be funding your college education and not your uncles, love bug.” And I make a mental note to get several swear jars started, here and at the club.
“Elijah? Can you log me in?” she asks, pushing my tablet closer.
I quickly enter my password then go to my shopping bookmark and before she can say anything, put a tablet for her in the cart. “Not a word, Cassarah. You need one of your own because I use this for work sometimes,” I tell her. “Now, we need some pregnancy books. What about a computer thingy for little Miss here?”
“No, I don’t want to start her on the electronics age too early. And anyhow, I can buy my own damn tablet, Elijah.”
“I know that, Cassarah. This is me taking care of you and Emma. And I think we should get you both your own e-readers. They’ve got them specially designed for kids and she can learn. We’ll limit how much time she spends on electronics. I don’t want her or our own child to be chained to their phone or tablet or anything else like that.”
“Am I gonna win this one?” she asks.
“Nope.”
“Fine, then do what you want,” she replies. Yeah, she’s feeling kinda sassy this afternoon, that’s for sure. She’s got her hip popped out and her hand fisted on it and all I can think about is the fact that I can’t toss her over my shoulder and take her to bed.
“This is not about me overriding your independence in any way here. This is me being me, and I like to spoil you now and again. You should try and get used to it now.”
“I can deal with being spoiled, and Emma too, as long as you don’t go overboard.”
“Listen, I’ll go overboard, underboard and walk the damn plank. I’ll do anything to see a smile on either of your faces.”
“You’re a bit stubborn, aren’t you?” she asks. I can see the glint in her eyes and realize she’s teasing me.
“Just a little,” I reply, pulling her close and kissing her. “Love you, buttercup.”
“Love you too. But, you need to realize the spoiling goes both ways. If I find something I want to give you, I expect to see a smile on your face and not a word out of your mouth except for excitement...got it, buster?”
“Got it, buster?” Emma shrieks, causing us both to break down laughing. She’s something else, this little girl, and I’m glad to see her coming out of her shell. Even if she is a little foul-mouthed parrot.
“Got it,” I reply. “Now, let me finish up dinner and we’ll talk about when we want to go get your things.”
Cassarah
After dinner, we sit around watching television while Emma plays with her doll between us. I’m not comfortable with her being on the ground while she’s healing, but I know that her play therapist does sit her on it while they’re doing their thing. When I notice she’s passed out on Elijah’s lap, I go to pick her up but he stops me with what he says.
“So, I made an offer on the salon today,” he says.
“Oh my, this is really happening isn’t it?” I ask him.
“It’s definitely happening, the club backed it up and we’re going to be funding the startup for you.”
“So you’ll be my boss?”
“Think of us as more partners than owners. You’ll run it, hire the employees and maintain all things shop related. But there is something I need to speak to you about,” he says.
“What’s that?”
“Hannah’s sister, Bridget, has started school for cosmetology. I’d like you to interview her and see if she’d be a good fit for you. There’s also an apartment above it that she could rent from you. She’s been living at the clubhouse for a while now and has been in therapy. It isn’t my story to tell, but her therapist believes she needs to branch out and live on her own and learn some independence and survival skills. Would you think about it please?”
What’s there to think about? I look at him and say, “I had no clue there was an apartment above the salon. If this is something she needs, then absolutely. Plus, she can do some of the easier things around the salon while she’s in school to build her skills.”
“Have I told you how amazing you are? Capone will be eternally grateful, along with Hannah, if you took her under your wing and help her out.”
“I’m nothing special, Elijah. Just me paying it forward is all,” I tell him. He slowly shakes his head at my words.
“Yeah, you are. You’re the most special thing in my life, baby,” he whispers, leaning in close and capturing my lips. Baby, he called me baby instead of buttercup and I’m loving the switch up. “Let me put this little imp to bed and I’ll show you just how special.”
“I can deal with that,” I reply and send him a little wink like he does with me.
“Minx,” he says, standing and picking up Emma. “You,” he states, pointing to me, “need to go to our room and get naked.” And...he’s pulled out the growly voice I love so damn much! I think I just soaked my panties in anticip
ation of what is to come.
Much later, after more orgasms than I can count, I’m laying across him with our legs entwined. “Elijah?” I ask.
“What’s up?” he responds as his fingers sift through my hair.
“I’m glad the condom had a tear. Otherwise, we might not be here right now.”
“Even if it hadn’t, I was coming back for you. We get along so fucking well, Cassarah, and I love you so much, there’s no way I could’ve kept on without you by my side. You’re gonna be my old lady and as soon as you give me the word, my wife.”
“Is that a question there, or are you telling me?”
“Right now I’m telling, but I’ll be asking too,” he replies before rolling me over onto my back. “You ready for some more?” he asks. Hmm, pregnancy hormones that have me hornier than hell, uh, yeah, sign me up.
“Yes, to all of the above, you don’t even have to ask me,” I tell him and he literally attacks me causing me to squeal out.
Law
Waking up the next morning, I look at my woman. The pregnancy hormones are something I wholly approve of, because she’s completely insatiable. Deciding to let her sleep, I get up and grab a quick shower then head into Emma’s room. “Good morning, love bug,” I say, when I see she’s awake and quietly playing. “Want some breakfast?”
“Hungy, Lah.” She still has problems with some of her letters, but for the most part, we can tell what she’s saying.
“Then let’s take care of the morning stuff and I’ll get you fed, okay?” Lifting her up, I carry her into the bathroom. I’m getting better with this whole parenting gig and I smile when she reaches behind her and flushes the toilet.
“Done, Lah. Eat!” she commands. With all the things we have to do for her, I’m afraid we’ve created a bit of a monster.
“Please, Emma. You need to remember your manners.”
She looks at me, her lips wobbling and says, “Hungy, Lah. Please eat.” We’ve found out from Cassarah the reason she didn’t talk much when we first got her is because she wasn’t ‘allowed’ to talk unless ordered to do so from her father. It explains a lot about why she’s a bit behind in her verbal skills, but we, along with her therapist, work with her daily. She’s improved by leaps and bounds, but we still have a long way to go. I make a mental note to speak with Axe about who they’re using for a speech therapist where Luca and Lily are concerned.
We make it down to the kitchen and I sit her in her booster seat and strap her down. As I turn around and head for the fridge I hear Cassarah making her way to us. “Morning, sleeping beauty, are you hungry?”
“Starved,” she says, rubbing her belly.
“Sit down, I’ll make us all something healthy,” I all but demand. Her feet have been getting swollen lately, and I’d like to keep her off of them as much as I possibly can.
“Don’t forget, Emma has a doctor’s appointment today,” she reminds me. I look at the calendar and sure enough she has an appointment at ten-thirty. I look again at the calendar and notice that Cassarah also has an appointment at the OB/GYN shortly after Emma’s. I point to it and she almost becomes giddy, I’m guessing she likes going and checking on the baby.
“Why don’t you go grab a quick shower while I get breakfast going? By the time you’re done and dressed, it should be ready. Looks like we’ve got a busy day.” And...it’s another day I’m not on my bike, dammit. I already miss the days of having her sitting behind me, with her arms wrapped firmly around my waist. She nods and heads back to our room and I decide to text Axe.
Me: Man, we need a ride or something. My other girl misses me.
Axe: I hear ya. Wanna go with me later today to organize Mom’s birthday thing?
Me: Yeah. Emma and Cassarah both have appointments, but I’ll drop them off here and head over to the trucking company when I’m done.
Axe: That’ll work. Later, brother.
Satisfied that I’ll get a little wind therapy, I set about working on breakfast for my girls.
Leaving Emma’s doctor, we’re both excited about how the doctor stated how well she’s healing. He sees her getting out of her casts, and into air casts, within the next couple of weeks. She’ll require some physical therapy, but other than that she’s thriving. She’s also hit some milestones since our last visit and now we get to go see about our baby. I’m pushing her in her wheelchair towards the other side of the building where Cassarah’s appointment is, Emma is pointing out all the flowers and birds she sees and her excitement about the smaller things in life reminds me how inconsequential the things are that I wrestle mentally over on a daily basis. “You excited, baby?” I ask Cassarah. Since she came back into my life, I’ve noticed the little changes and today, she’s positively glowing.
“I am, yes! Are...are you, Elijah?” I hear the hesitancy in her voice and vow that she’ll realize soon enough that this baby isn’t a burden or a hindrance and I’m not going to let her think otherwise.
“Over the fucking moon, babe.” Shit, I swore around the little parrot. I hold my breath waiting for her to repeat it, then notice that she’s so focused on the birds and flowers, she didn’t even glance our way.
“I’m glad, honey. It’s still somewhat surreal and I worry that you’re doing all of this because of the baby.”
“Told you before, Cassarah, that I was going to come back for you. Never ever doubt that, okay?”
“I hope we get to hear the baby’s heartbeat today, it’s my favorite part about coming into my visits.” I’m just as anxious as she is to hear our little one’s life’s force beating. “Can I ask you something?” she hesitantly begins.
“You can ask me anything your heart desires,” I respond.
“I’ve read a lot...and I mean a lot, of MC romances and I’ve read about the activities that most motorcycle clubs get into. You guys, y’all are more of a family than a bunch of bad-ass, Harley riding, motorcycle men.” I laugh at her description of MC’s and us.
“Babe, we aren’t a one-percent club, we are family-based more than anything. You’ll never find us involved in shoot-outs, robbing convenience stores or anything of that nature. When Axe decided to start the club, his primary goal was to help this community thrive again. Slowly but surely, we’ve been adding businesses that provide jobs to people who have been struggling for years. And by the way, we are bad-asses, I’m as fucking lethal as they come when it comes to protecting my family and friends. But I also believe in justice, and the law handles that better than any single man or men could ever do.”
“Yeah, you’re pretty lethal alright,” she replies, giving me a wink as she glances down at my crotch. Fuck, she keeps that up and I’ll be sporting a hard-on at her appointment. Then again, that’s how we ended up with a baby on the way, so they can suck my big fat cock if they have a problem with it!
Chapter Ten
Cassarah
Sitting in the doctor's office listening to the thump...thump...thump of our baby’s heartbeat, I’m suddenly very happy that my man’s club is not a hard-core one. Whereas I don’t condone anyone’s life choices, if I fell in love with a hard-core biker, I’d bite the bullet and carry on with life. But when you hear your child's heart beating inside of you, you do everything you can to protect and preserve that life, it becomes your one and only reason for living.
“Beautiful sound,” he whispers in my ear.
“I know!” I reply as tears of joy fall down my face.
“Nice and strong, you have a very healthy baby,” the doctor informs us. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Her feet are swelling more,” Elijah states.
“Your blood pressure is a little high. We need to watch that, young lady. Don’t want you on bedrest, especially not with that little one over there,” the doctor states, pointing at Emma, who has dozed off in her wheelchair.
“What can we do?” Elijah asks. Leave it to my man to take charge.
“Watch what you’re eating, get plenty of rest and fluids. Make sure you stay as
stress-free as possible.”
“Do you have a preferred diet for your patients?” Elijah asks him. I roll my eyes, because whatever the doctor recommends I’m sure my man will make me stick to regardless of my cravings. I get lost in my thoughts of what my baby may end up being and picture different scenarios for a boy and girl. Different things I can teach him or her, I picture Elijah playing football and dolls and a smile lights up my face. By the time I come back to reality, I see Elijah on his phone looking up the references of the preferred diet from my doctor. He’s lost in his research and the doctor hands me a paper towel to wipe the gel from my exposed belly. The doctor leaves the room, I’m clean, and he’s still on his phone. I clear my throat to get his attention and he looks up at me and smiles. “Looks like we need a trip to the grocery store,” he states... no, demands.
“Whatever you say, honey,” I reply, practically ignoring him. I want our baby healthy, but I’m not going to let him go overboard and control all of my food intake. A girl has needs...mostly chocolate! I have such a sweet tooth since becoming pregnant.
Law
I went ahead and fed my girls before we hit the grocery store, figuring we might get out of there cheaper if we weren’t hungry. I know Cassarah isn’t crazy about a ‘diet’ while she’s pregnant, but I want her and the baby to be healthy. Thankfully, it’s not too restrictive. We’ll be eating a lot of chicken and turkey, but she can have red meat twice a week to help keep her from becoming anemic. She loves her sweets now, too, so we compromised and I found sugar-free chocolate ice cream. And she can still have her bread, just one or two pieces, not the four or five she’s been eating. I’m glad she likes fruits and vegetables too, because they were on the list and we got plenty. Once we got home, I helped her put everything away and then told her that she and Emma were going to nap while I took care of some things with Axe. She rolled her eyes at me, but then admitted she was tired from all the running around. Our little monkey was still drowsy and with everything the doctor did to her, in a bit of pain, so we gave her a half dose of her pain medicine. “I’ll be back before you know it,” I say as I tuck them both into our bed. “Love you, Cassarah.”
Law_Rebel Guardians MC Page 11