Sending out a message to the rest of the girls, I let them know that some of the other old ladies are slowly posting letting us know that everyone is accounted for. Most of them don’t know the true extent of the damage yet, but they’re hoping to be able to go home soon. Well, some of them are anyway. After sending the message, I put my phone in my pocket and decide what I want to do first. I don’t usually have time to myself and I’m going to take full advantage of this.
Sami is taking some of the kids for a while so I’m taking advantage of having the house to myself. I go into the bathroom and start the water for a hot bath. Then I’ll take a nap. Goose and Sami have the kids at the playground behind the clubhouse and then they’re going to have a picnic. So, I have at least three hours to wind down and try to get this queasy feeling to go away.
Skylar
Everyone has left and I’m sitting at the island putting together another list of everything that I can include in the bake sale. I have certain baked goods on hand constantly, the ones that sell really well at my little stand by the road. Yes, I still have it and continue to stock it daily. Now, the prospects help keep an eye on it and refill things as needed throughout the day. It doesn’t take me long to make my list because I know what people in town like and what will sell out in no time.
Since we still have a few hours before the guys are going to be done with club business and the kids are with Sami, I’m going to work on cleaning a little bit before starting dinner. Since we’re having the meeting with everyone, the girls and I decided to have dinner at the clubhouse tonight. It’s nothing new considering that a few nights a week we typically all eat together.
Just as I finish cleaning the downstairs, I refuse to touch the kid’s bedrooms when they can do most of the cleaning themselves, a prospect shows up to see if I need anything for the dinner tonight. I give him my list as he tells me what’s getting low on the baked goods at the road. So, I make a mental note to make sure to add those items to the list of baked goods I’ll have to be making in the coming days. The girls are definitely going to have to help me out here.
The rest of the day went by uneventfully as I count down the hours until we need to meet at the clubhouse. Summer came and spent some time with me and the kids. She’ll be leaving soon with Dozer and I know that she’s going to miss being here, but there’s too many bad memories of late for her here. For all of us really. She’ll still be coming around with whatever her new role for the club is though. So, I’m happy for her. Summer deserves to have her happily ever after and Dozer is the one to do that for her. Too bad he’s a nomad.
“Dad just called. Said they’d meet us at the clubhouse,” Jameson tells me. He sounds so grown up these days and he’s not even a teenager yet. Like his dads, he’s a person of few words. Jameson spends his time watching what’s going on around him.
“Thank you, honey,” I tell him, coming out of the bathroom. Haley and Brandon decided that they wanted to paint and got more on themselves than the paper. “I’ll be ready to go soon.”
Haley goes in her room to put the clothes on that I laid out for her. I take Brandon in and help him get dressed so that we can walk over to the clubhouse. I’m sure that we’ll run into some of the girls on their way over there, and we don’t mind the walk.
Within five minutes we’re out the door and making our way along the paths that connect my yard to everyone else’s. Along the way we don’t meet anyone else, but that’s okay. The kids enjoy looking at all things nature and pointing out different things. Jameson is bringing up the rear of the line so that he can watch over everyone. It’s nothing new, he is his father’s son.
Keira
We’re all sitting down for dinner so that we can have our meeting with the guys afterwards. Alice volunteered to watch the kids so that we’re not interrupted, but I think she wants to say a few things at the meeting. So, Sami and Goose are going to watch the kids so that Alice can have her say too. She might not be an official ‘old lady’, but she has been spending all her time with Pops and is at the clubhouse on a daily basis. The rest of the girls also agree that she should have a say in this meeting too.
“Sami, I think we’re just about done with dinner. Why don’t you and Goose take the kids down to the game room and we’ll let you know when we’re done?” Grim asks, looking at her after seeing the kids starting to mess around instead of eating.
We wait until the two make their way with the kids out of the main room. As soon as they’re gone, Bailey and the rest of us stand and situate ourselves so that we can see all the men. For now, Alice remains sitting and lets us have our say.
“So, you all know that the friends we’ve made in other clubs have been hit by a horrible storm. We’re not sure the extent of the damage as of yet, but we want to help. We’re going to help,” Skylar begins, making sure to look at each one of the men before us. “We have a list of ways that we can raise money and you can look it all over and decide which ways that you’re going to let us accomplish this.”
I hand out the lists so that each one of the men can take a look at our ideas. There’s smirks on some of their faces and I’m ready to beat it off of them. Alice watches everything and stands up to say her peace before the men have their say.
“I’ve heard about their idea and I’m going to be putting up a donation jar in the diner as well. All the money in there will go to you ladies and you can add it to whatever money you raise,” she tells us, sitting back down and leaning in to Pops’ touch.
After a few minutes, Grim looks at us and I can’t help the nerves that ratchet through my whole body. “Girls, we already figured you’d want to help them out somehow. You can do whatever you want on the list to help raise money to help them. And, we’re willin’ to lend our services as well. If they need us to go there and help rebuild, we’re fully prepared to do that,” Grim tells us, holding up his hand when he can see that we’re about to start celebrating. “You can also come with us and have an opportunity to meet your friends in a somewhat controlled environment.”
We all look at one another and can’t help but get excited at the prospect of finally meeting the rest of the women that we’re becoming friends with. Each and every one of us goes to our man and shows him a little bit of appreciation for their willingness to help us. And let us meet our friends face-to-face. Other than hearing an update from the girls, I don’t know what could make today any better than right now!
Seven
Bristol
Things are finally settling down around here and we were allowed to go back to our homes last night. Nothing major happened to my home, I have no cable, internet, and have some fallen trees in the backyard. Other than that, everything is normal at the homestead. Ghost and the guys, are out today helping some of the business owners board up shattered windows, and helping in the clean-up effort around town. We can’t get our network providers out here anytime soon because they are overwhelmed with things needing to be repaired, so instead of letting my man scare them into putting us at the top of the list -- which he wanted to do, but I didn’t allow, I find myself picking up a paperback book for the first time, in a very long time.
I forgot about how much the smell of a paperback could get your senses excited about the pages you’re about to be turning...riding the journey in a make-believe-world. I get lost in the adventures of a shifter book, the love story is astounding and I can’t seem to put it down. I love the way these authors can make the human body turn into something that some individuals would view as hideous creatures, and turning them into the hero, and heroine, of a story. Werewolves, vampires, big cats...oh my! This book is about a big black panther, and I’m mesmerized by the grace and beauty that the author was able to capture. I find myself at the edge of my seat, so when Lizzie comes strolling in yelling my name, I nearly fall out of the chair and flat on my ass. How embarrassing would that have been?
“Where you at, bitch?” she hollers.
“In the library!” I call back.
“Bitch, please,” she says coming into the room, “this is an office, stop using fancy terms like ‘library’ when it’s anything but.”
“It’s part library,” I reply, “that half is Ghost’s office, and this half is my corner where the lounger is so I can read my books. He even got me a set of shelves last week...see,” I say pointing at my bookshelf that needs to be filled more, it’s actually pathetic looking now that I am inspecting it.
“It’s so nice of him to give you a corner,” she states, and I give her a go to hell look. He didn’t have to give me anything in here, but he loves it when we spend time together. Even if we’re only in the same room and not speaking or...well, other things. “I know you don’t have internet yet, and how cheap you are about using the data on your phone. I came to tell you everyone is slowly but surely beginning to check in. No physical casualties that I’ve been informed about as of yet.”
“Thank goodness, I’ve been so worried because parts of Texas have a big fatality rate. I’ve been praying that none of our friends have suffered a loss.”
“I believe there has been some structural damage for some when it comes to their homes and clubhouses, but those can be rebuilt, they can’t be replaced in our lives.”
“That’s true, have you heard from your sisters or parents, are they okay?” I ask her.
“They’re fine, unfortunately father wasn’t hurt either.” I begin laughing, because her face has a sour look to it. To say Lizzie and her father have a tormentous relationship, is putting things mildly. She and I could write a book about our parents and their lack of parental skills. Why either set had children is beyond me, they never wanted us, or cared for or about us to any extent.
“What are you and Justice doing for dinner? Wanna BBQ here?” I ask her.
“Sure, why not? It beats sitting at home watching television. I think the guys are going to be late again tonight. Might as well get a menu put together and get things prepared. That way if we need to, we can man the grill.” We look at each other with her last statement and burst out laughing...us man a grill...yeah right! We’d burn the damn house down.
“Okay, maybe we should stick to things we can actually cook,” I tell her, “how about we pick up some steaks and I can cook them in the cast iron skillet, we’ll bake potatoes and grab a bag of salad. That’s easy enough and we won’t need to call the fire department.”
“911, what’s your emergency?” the dispatcher asks me as I watch the flames get higher with each passing second. Ghost is going to kill me! We just updated the kitchen for Christ’s sake!
“I need help, I think I may have accidentally started a fire in my kitchen,” I tell her. Ashton has been trying to teach me to cook, but apparently the lessons aren’t taking. That’s what I get for growing up with maids and cooks.
I hear the front door open and Justice and Ghost simultaneously scream out, “Where’s the fire?”
“In the kitchen!” I tell the dispatcher my man’s home and I think we have it from here. I disconnect the call as I notice Justice has some baking soda in his hand, putting it all over the steaks and pan, and Ghost has a towel and a pitcher of water.
“No water!” Justice screams at Ghost, “it’s a grease fire, that won’t do shit but help spread it, we need to put it out with baking soda. Open some damn windows!”
Lizzie and I both jump into action and open every window in the house as well as the front and back doors. I look sheepishly at Justice and can feel the tears welling up inside. No, I won’t cry.
“Trying to cook again I see, sweetlips,” Ghost states more than asks.
“I just made this last week with Ashton, I really thought I could handle it!” I whisper into his chest.
“Until you’ve got this down, I’d say no more unsupervised cooking for you, missy,” Lizzie says.
“But you were right here!” I exclaim, which has Justice doubled over in laughter.
Lizzie slaps his shoulder, but he manages to wheeze out, “She’s worse than you are in a kitchen, I wouldn’t use her as a supervisor of any sort.”
“Shut up, asshole!” Lizzie screams out at him. “I have no need to cook, I have you,” she states proudly.
“That you do, beautiful. And I’d never allow you in our kitchen anyways, unless you’re making a sandwich, you’re hazardous and I would like to keep the roof we have over our heads,” Justice replies.
“Hardee-har-har,” she saucily says. “I’m so impressed by your putting me down, that you’ll be lucky if I ever make you another sandwich again!”
“Oh come on, beautiful, I was only jokin’ with ya!” Now he looks like a puppy who’s lost his best-friend.
“Okay, now what are we going to do about dinner?” I ask them.
“Order takeout, sweetlips,” Ghost replies, leaning down and kissing me.
“We can’t always eat out,” I tell him.
“Oh, we can if you’re in the kitchen,” Justice sticks his big foot in his mouth. This time, Lizzie, Ghost and I all slap him. Hmm...maybe that will slap some sense into him and make him think before speaking next time.
“Ow!” he growls out, “that fuckin’ hurt! One at a time if you three are goin’ to abuse me.”
“Aww...poor baby,” I say walking past all of them and grabbing my purse, “well! Come on, let’s go find somewhere to eat.” And that’s how I find myself eating at damn McDonalds of all places!
Ashton
I’m in the kitchen at the clubhouse making my Ol’ man something to eat when Ghost and Justice come strolling in.
“Is there enough there for us?” Justice asks me.
“Always,” I tell him.
“Bristol needs more cookin’ lessons,” Ghost states, and Justice is bobbing his head up and down like one of those annoying as hell bobbleheads.
“What are you talking about? She’s doing great!” And she is, she’s gone from someone who barely knew how to boil noodles to someone who was pan frying steak last week. Then they go on to tell me about the night before’s adventures featuring their women in the kitchen.
“We had to eat at damn Mickey D’s!” Justice puts out there, “I hate that place, have since I used to have to take Kid and Riley’s munchkins there when I was daunted with the task of watching over them.”
“Let me get this straight,” I say pointing my finger in their direction. “Not only did you most likely embarrass the shit out of her when she tried really hard to make you a home cooked meal, but now you’re groveling about what and where you had to eat? I bet she was so upset, that she didn’t show either one of you her tears...huh?”
“She didn’t cry,” Ghost responds.
“Are you sure about that? Because I know that girl, and as soon as your eyes were asleep, I guarantee you she went into the bathroom and balled her eyes out.” If I know her as well as I think I do, and I’m promising you I do, I’d bet money on the fact that that’s actually what she did.
“Fuck!” Ghost hollers out.
“I’m sorry, brother. Now I feel like shit,” Justice says.
“As well as you should, get your own damn food!” I tell them, as I gather Wasp’s and take it to him. Let them stew on that for a little while. They know their women didn’t have a mother who loved them and taught them about these sort of things, and I’m trying to teach them as often as I can. But a person can only learn so much, so quickly. I’m livid on my girls’ behalf.
I slam Wasp’s plate down in front of him. “What?” he asks me, looking up at me petulantly.
“Ask them!” I say, pointing at the men who’ve just joined us in the main room.
“What did you shitheads do now?” he asks them, but I don’t stick around to hear what they say, I need to call my girls and make sure they’re okay. I need to get something organized, these women need a break from their men.
“Oh hell!” I hear Wasp call out, “I’m gonna hear about that shit for days, you fuckin’ morons!” And I smile, because he’s probably right. Serves him and
all men right for always taking what we do for them for granted.
Sometimes, men suck!
I get to our room and grab my phone, I dial Bristol and as soon as she answers the phone I say, “Talk to me.” and she bursts out in tears. She tells me all about the night before, we’re on the phone a good hour before I get a word in edgewise. When I do finally get to speak I say, “Fuck ‘em! Let’s get with the other Ol’ ladies and plan a getaway. Let’s see how well these men do without us for a few weeks.”
“Yes, please,” she gets out between her sobs.
“I’ve got you,” I tell her before ending our call. Looks like it’s time for me to get into planning mode. These men won’t know what hit them once I’m done...game on!
Eight
Jenalyn
We rode in the boat almost the entire way to the clubhouse. Cami thought it was funny according to her giggles and facial expressions as she held on tightly to her daddy. I cradled Leo closely in my arms as I took in the devastation that has now become our once beautiful town. The place I grew up. The town my parents were married and made a life in. Hell, the town my father chose as the permanent home for this club. I had to hold back the tsunami of tears that begged to be set free as the realization of the destruction hit me. It seemed like an eternal ride, but eventually, we made it to something I recognized as a road. It wasn’t flooded and is about a quarter mile from the clubhouse. I see an SUV parked and know that it’s one of ours. We’re the last ones out of the house and to make it here.
Old Ladies Club Book 3: Rebel Guardians MC (The Old Ladies Club) Page 4