While Brittani-with-an-I was spewing her bullshit, she failed to notice that Anna and Linnea had stood up and were working their way over to her, both looking like mama bears ready to pounce. Anna, who’s gotten particularly close with the kids since Bailey often plays with her granddaughter, Daisy, speaks first. “What in the hell are you talking about? First off, allergies like that can be for almost anything, not just peanuts and bees. Second of all, where do you get that she coddles her kids? She’s an amazing mom, and they are great kids.” Brittani takes her life into her own hands when she rolls her eyes at Anna. “Of course, you bikers and people inthatclub would back her up no matter what, but I know she overreacts about every fucking thing about her kids. I don’t know why Bentley’s still here. He’s fine and would be fine if people didn’t coddle him.” This woman really doesn’t pay attention to her surroundings. While she was spewing her latest bullshit, Brian had come out and was standing behind her, listening to her dig her hole of bullshit deeper.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Who needs theater when you can watch it live in front of you. Brittani-with-an-I turns around so fast that I’m surprised she didn’t fall off her high heels. “Oh! You’re out. I just…I mean…I think your ex overreacts about your kids. I mean, it was just an allergy. I—” Brian puts his hand up. I don’t really know the guy, but anyone with eyes can see he’s livid with her and done with her antics. “Just go home.I can’t deal with you right now. I have to take care of my kids and make sure Bentley is good. You need to leave before I say something I can’t take back. Go toyourplace tonight. I’ll call you when I’m ready to speak to you.” I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a grown woman stomp her foot and pout just like a five-year-old before, but that’s just what Brittani does before she stomps off.
Brian looks at his kids, and before he can say anything, Bailey speaks up. “Her mommy should send her to bed with no dessert for stomping her foot like that.” These kids are going to have me biting through my lower lip at some point because damn, if that didn’t make me want to laugh. I can hear quite a few people trying to hide their laughs. Even Brian is biting his lower lip, though he finds his voice pretty quickly. “Thank you all for caring for Bentley so much. He’s going to be fine and will be going home in a few hours.” He looks at me, and I know whatever Kimbra said to him hit him hard. He glances over at Branson. “Will you walk with your dad for a few minutes so we can talk?” Branson's face gives away his surprise. He nods, stands up, and follows his dad. Bailey squirms in my lap, reminding me she’s there. I look down and see her concerned face. “Is Dad mad at Branson?” I shake my head. “No, he just wants to talk to him, but he’s not mad. Did he look mad to you?” She shakes her head. “No, but Dad never wants to talk to us. We’re supposed to have quiet time when we’re with him.” Anna swoops in, picks up Bailey off my lap, and sets her down nextto her. “How about you and I go get something to drink at the cafeteria? Ry is bringing some food to eat for dinner, but I’m sure he won’t remember a drink.” Bailey excitedly takes Anna’s hand, and they go off toward the cafeteria. Jon leans forward, places his elbows on his knees, and looks over at me. “I know you want to go over there and punch that fucker in the gut, but you gotta remember two things. One is that there are way too many witnesses around here, and second and more importantly, that man, no matter how good or bad he is, is their dad. If you are as serious about their mom as I know you are, you’re going to have to get along with him for years to come.” Fuck, he’s right. I lean back and glare at him. “Does Jane appreciate it when you point out useless things like facts in a conversation?” Jon bursts out laughing. “She does when she’s not pregnant.” Fucker. I stand up. “I’m gonna go check in on Kimbra and Bentley. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Jon gives me a chin lift as he’s still chuckling at me. Jackass.
Kimbra
Last night was more eventful than I care for. Brian didn’t argue when I wanted to bring the kids home with me. He actually agreed and told me he would stop by today with their backpacks. I really do hope he does make some changes, but only time will tell. I slept in longer than I meant to. The other side of the bedis cold, so I know Ben’s been up a while. I have a feeling he’s made the kids breakfast, as that has kind of become a weekend tradition of theirs. I get up and go to the bathroom, running through my morning routine and putting on some leggings and a sweater. I slip my slippers on, walk out of the bedroom, and head down the hallway, where I can hear voices. The question I hear Bentley ask has me stopping at the end of the hallway to listen in. What? You would do it, too, if you could. Don’t judge.
Bentley must have said something before that I couldn’t hear. “...and I think we need to work on the treehouse since it’s nice out. Ben?” I hear shuffling around, and Ben answers him. “Yeah, Bud?” Bent must be figuring out his words because it takes him a moment to speak up again. “I know you and Mom talked to us about you moving in here, and we all think that’s good …but are you gonna marry Mom?” Bailey chimes in. “Yeah, we think you should ‘cause then Mommy and I can wear princess dresses!” I can feel the eye rolls of my boys without even looking. Bentley ignores what his sister says about dresses. “I think you should because then you would be like our dad. Well, I mean, we have a dad, but if you marry Mom, we’ll have two, and that’s twice as good!” I love his logic sometimes. Other times, it gives me a migraine. I hear shuffling around. “I was thinking I’d like to marry your mom, but I have to ask her first, and I was looking to get help from all three of you.”
Branson speaks up for the first time. “You have to make it special. Asking her and the wedding. I’ve seen the pictures from Mom and Dad’s wedding. They just went to Vegas, and it was just them. She likes people, so you need to invite them.” I realize I don’t want to overhear them planning everything and that I’d rather be surprised, but I’m also a little shocked at the knowledge that if I walked out there now and he asked me, I would say yes without an ounce of hesitation. Somehow, he’s worked his way into my heart and my world. I don’t want to think of our life without him because he belongs here with us.
CHAPTER SEVEN
This morning’s question from Branson - why is an orange called an orange, but a lemon isn’t called a yellow?
~Text from Kimbra to Ben
Kimbra
This last month has been surprisingly good. Brian’s been taking the kids on his weekends and has been communicating when he’s needed to change things. He just came by my office and asked if he could come get the kids after dinner tonight because there’s a board meeting he was just informed he needed to attend. Since I work at the same hospital, I happen to know of that board meeting. You couldn’t pay me to have to go to that stuffy thing. It’s so much better he has to go than me, though he didn’t exactly look thrilled.
I’ll happily stick to my neck of the woods. I love working with my patients, and I really do have the best nurses, though I haven’t figured out how to get Maggie or Carol over to our part of the hospital. I know I shouldn’t be greedy, but they’re great nurses,and I’d love to have them along with Darius. Darius has been informed that he’s never leaving me, and since he and Ben have become almost friends, I think he has no plans to move. Ben drops by at least a couple times a week and brings me a coffee. Turns out he’s found out Darius’s and my receptionist’s favorite drinks and brings them as well. Man knows how to get in good with the right people.
I’m ready for this week to be over. I love my patients and working in a smaller county, but we’ve got a big enough caseload that we really do need to hire another doctor. I know the process has started and that Dr. Ferro drew the short stick, so he gets to conduct the initial interviews, haha, the sucker.
I’m in my office going over charts for my patients for this afternoon, as I just finished updating the ones from this morning. There’s a knock on my door, and it opens. Dr. Ferro walks in, falls into the chair across from me, and slouches. “You want to do these interviews, don’t you?” He sighs and gives me a pout that rivals my kids. “I swear some of these young kids…did they even pay attention in medical school? I’m glad the first interviews are on video chat because they can’t see my knees bouncing in frustration.” I can’t help but laugh at him. He’s just a little dramatic. “You know you’re only meeting with the top candidates. Did they make you feel old?” He sighs again. “Uugghh. Yes, one of them was born when I was in college! I’m old enough to be her dad. When did we get this old?” Laughing,I don’t help him any. “Hey, you’re five years older than me.” He glares at me for a moment, then responds like he always does when I throw that at him. “Yeah, and my wife is four years younger than you.” Why are my work friends such assholes at times? He couldn’t just let me have that one. How rude.
There’s a knock on my door again, and it opens. Darius sticks his head in and sees Doctor Ferro slouching in the chair. “That one sales rep that drives you nuts brought in subs for lunch for the department. I snagged some for both of you and some chips.” He walks into the room with two plates piled high with food. He is the best ever. “Oh, you are awesome.” Dr. Ferro nods in agreement. “You are. I’ve had enough of people who grate on my nerves for the day. You are going to make some man very happy one of these days.” He flutters around and starts to leave the room. “Oh, I know. Till then, I’m happy having a revolving door full of men makingmehappy. Your next appointment is in twenty minutes.” I shout my thanks as he closes the door. We both are quiet for a minute, each taking a bite to eat. Doctor Ferro looks over at me with a grin. “You know, I can’t even imagine the man he’s going to end up with. I just know he’s going to have his hands full.” I nod. “He definitely will, and I bet you he’s out there somewhere in complete blissful ignorance. He’s not gonna know what hits him when they cross paths.” I can’t wait to see that happen.
**********
I hadn’t had anything planned for dinner, so instead of cooking, I picked up our favorite Mexican place. I mean, who doesn’t love chips and salsa? Ben’s at the club for church tonight, so the kids have to suffer with just me. He’s officially moved in, and the kids all seem to have accepted him living with us.
I look at my kids around the table as we eat. Branson didn’t even try to come to the table with his headphones on, and both Bentley and Bailey have used their napkins as they eat. I’ve only been trying to get them to do that since they were toddlers, but Ben’s gotten them to do it within a few months. He and the brothers have told them stories about family dinners, and apparently, since all the brothers have to have manners, then that means it’s okay for them. Apparently, that’s a much cooler reason than because Mom told you to.
We’re all just finishing up eating when the doorbell rings. I stand up to go answer the door. As I get close to the door, I can see it’s Brian, so I yell out, “It’s your dad. Clean up your plates and go get your stuff together.” I open the door just as the crashing of chairs, plates, and kids running around fills the house. I gesture to Brian. “Come on in. They should be ready in a couple of minutes. Meeting didn’t go too long, did it?” Brian walks in with his hands in his pockets. “No, thank God. Director Spann had plans and hadn’t realized it was a board meeting night till aboutthree this afternoon, so he sped through everything. I don’t think he got one complaint. I for sure wasn’t gonna say anything.” He follows me to the kitchen as I set the last of the dishes in the sink. I look up and see him leaning against the counter. I can tell he wants to say something else. “I broke up with Brittani, so you don’t have to worry about her being around the kids anymore.” If he’s expecting me to say I’m sorry about him breaking up with the woman he cheated on me with, he’s gonna be turning as blue as a Smurf in a minute or two. Thankfully, he continues with his train of thought. “I realized in the last couple of weeks just how much she tried…tried and succeeded in taking up my time and tried to get me to rarely see the kids. She succeeded, and then when I told her that it wasn’t going to work anymore, she slashed one of my tires.” I look at him, and he looks more annoyed than hurt. “She’s not going to end up stalking you or something, is she?” He rolls his eyes and shakes his head at me. “No, from what I’ve heard she’s already trying to get a date with that new doctor over in Internal Medicine. I think she might be out of luck because I saw your nurse, Darius, talking to the lead nurse over there, and I’m sure he’s warned her all about her.”Didn’t seem to stop you,I think. Notice I said think. I can keep some thoughts inside my head at times, though with Brian lately, that’s not been the case. Brian sits down on one of the stools and puts his elbows on the counter, and watches me put the dishes in the dishwasher. Come to think of it, this is more time he’s spentin the kitchen with me than in our last year of marriage. That’s a sad thought. “I really fucked us up, didn’t I?” I can’t stop the look that comes over my face, but I do manage to hold my tongue. Twice in less than five minutes should earn me an award, damn it. Brian lets out a laugh. “You’ve never been able to school your face when we’ve talked, and I’m glad to see that hasn’t changed.” He pauses for a moment and looks at me like he’s really seeing me. “If I had gotten my head out of my ass a year ago or so, would there have been a second chance for us?” I think for a second before I answer him. “Honestly, I don’t know. I realized after you left that it really didn’t change my day-to-day much because you had already checked out a while ago. I was doing everything with the kids, and you were nowhere to be found. I let you get away with it, too. Hell, you barely made it to Bailey’s birth. Like it or not, I think we’d been drifting for a while. I don’t know if at that point I would have even been willing to think about it without serious therapy.” He looks at me again and surprises me by calling me a nickname he hasn’t used in more years than I can count. “You happy, K? I mean, really happy?” The answer comes out without thought, but I know in my soul it’s the truth. “Yeah, I am. Work is great, the kids are doing great, and Ben…Ben is great, and I love him. I’m in love with him.” The conviction of my answer must satisfy whatever it was he was looking for because he nods, stands up, and calls out to the kids. “Pack your swimsuits! We’re going to the Great Wolf Lodge firstthing in the morning.” Cheers and shouts of surprise ring out through the house. My face must show my surprise at his announcement. He shrugs his shoulders. “Turns out there are two other doctors on my floor who are divorced dads, and they do this sort of thing every so often together. We’ll spend all day Saturday there, spend the night and come back Sunday. I guess one of them has an assistant who insisted that they go out and do things with their kids, and it’s kind of morphed into a thing. There are a few other doctors who come sometimes. Some of them aren’t divorced, but it’s a way for them to give their wives some kid-free time.” Color me surprised. “I think that’s great. They’re gonna have a blast. Your wallet won’t, but they’ll love it.” He shrugs his shoulders. “I know at some point you’re going to marry Ben, and I’m good with that. I also know he’s great with all of our kids. I just finally realized I don’t want them to come over on my weekends because they’re told they have to. I want them to want to spend time with me. Hell,I wantto know my kids better. I don’t want to just be the dad who pays for things and contributed to their DNA. I want them to know me, too.” Hallelujah! I wait to see if I hear angels singing. “I think that’s great. I think if we can co-parent like we’ve been doing this last month, it will make things easier for all of us. I don’t want to hate you or be angry with you, Brian. We had some great years, and we made some great kids together. That alone is a good foundation for a friendship. I’d like to get to a point where we’refriends.” Brian smiles as he catches a flying princess. “Ooofff! I’d like that too. We’ll get going and get out of your hair.” I say goodbye and watch them pile into his car and take off.
They say miracles don’t happen, but I think the last twenty minutes would prove that they do. Maybe grown men can learn new tricks. Maybe.
I turn to go into the house, a bottle of wine and a bath calling my name, when I see a small package on the porch that I don’t remember seeing when we got home earlier. I pick it up. It’s addressed to me, but it hasn’t been shipped through the mail or anything. Someone had to drop it off. That’s slightly unnerving. I take it inside and set it on the counter to open it. The scream that comes out of me the second I open it could rival any of those horror movies they made when I was in college. Looking inside, I see an ear, a finger, and I think under the ear is a tongue. What in the ever-loving hell is this? Who is it? Looking at it, it looks like maybe they’ve been frozen. Whether they were frozen after they were cut off a dead body or cut off a frozen body, I don’t know. My medical background doesn’t help with that, and damn it if my crime shows aren’t bringing up any random knowledge on it, either.
I know I’m not supposed to call Ben when he’s in church, but I think this calls for an exception to the rule.
The phone rings and goes to voicemail. I call him again, and the same thing happens. Makes me think he’s got it on silent, so hewon’t know it’s ringing in his pocket. Well, shit. I look through my phone and decide maybe I’ll call family and see if he answers. I dial Tripp, and it rings a few times. I think it’s going to go to voicemail, but instead, I hear Tripp answer. There’s surprise in his voice. “Hey, cousin, to what do I owe this phone call? I know you know we’re in church right now.” I might have let out a little huff. “I’m quite aware of that, but being thatyour frienddidn’t answer his phone and I’ve got what I think is an emergency going on, I thought I would give you a call.”
Ben
We’re all in church, in deep discussion about how we can find Taz and the last of his crew. Jon’s been throwing out some ideas, and we’ve been going through the pros and cons when I see Tripp make a face and take his phone out of his pocket. Jon looks over at him. “Man, you know we aren’t supposed to take calls during church.” Tripp nods. “Yeah, but it’s his woman, Kimbra, calling me.” What in the hell is she calling him for? I grab my phone out and see two missed calls. “Answer it. She’s called me twice, so it’s gotta be somethin’ big.” Jon gives him a nod, and he answers it but doesn’t think to put it on speaker so I can’t hear what she says in response to his greeting. “What’s going on? The kids okay?” His question has me on edge. Kimbra wouldn’t call unless it was an emergency. I watch him listen, and his facegoes still, the kind of rage that makes a man stop before he blows up. “Some of us will be over in just a few minutes. Lock your doors and stay inside unless it’s one of us who knocks. Got it?” Tripp hangs up the phone and looks at me. “Kids are fine and off with their dad. She found a package on the porch. Sounds just like the package that was delivered here last weekend. Kimbra said there’s an ear, a finger, and she thinks under the ear is a tongue, but she hadn’t moved it to get a better look.” I stand up so fast my chair falls back. I look at the brothers sitting around the table and stop at Jon and Jonah. “I think it’s fucking time for us to attempt to contact your person with the Norse Rebels. This needs to end. That package could’ve been found by one of my kids. One of my young and innocent kids who don’t deserve to lose their innocence in this fucking way. I know church ain’t over, but I need to get home and get home now.” I take off out of the room and head for my bike. I need to see that Kimbra’s really all right. The urge to go find Taz and the few fucking minions he has is stronger than ever.
Jon
We all watch Ben tear out of the room. “Tripp, you, Ry, and Mike follow him. Call me when you get there.” I watch the guys get up and leave and turn to Pa to ask the question that I’ve been wanting to know the answer to since Ben spoke up. “Now,what was he talkin’ about? Since when do we have a contact in the Norse Rebels? Aren’t they the drug and gun running MC over in Watson?” Pa looks up at me. “Son, sit down.” I know he won’t continue till I do. I may be the president now, but he’s still my dad and elder. I sit and wait for him to continue. “I’ve had contact with them for decades. Their original president went to high school with us for a couple of years before he moved to Watson. We weren’t close but were always willing to help each other out should the need arise. He passed away a few years ago, and his son, Maine, is the president now. I haven’t spoken with him since he became president, but I know his dad mentioned our club to him. He’s not our only contact within the club, though. In fact, we have a much stronger one these days.”We do? “How’s that?” Pa grins, which tells me he enjoys still knowing things that I don’t yet. Smug man. “Noah is their VP.” I hear gasps from my brothers in the room. Juan speaks up. “Noah, Noah?” Pa nods. Juan continues on, “Noah, as in was almost adopted by you and Ma, but the court system let him down, and we lost track of him, Noah?” Pa rolls his eyes at Juan. “Of course that Noah, son. Do you know anyone else named Noah? He goes by Riff now, but he’s been their VP for a few years. He keeps saying he’s gonna come visit, but then things come up. I think we should give him a call and see what they might know about the whereabouts of the last few Sangre Devils.” I couldn’t agree more. “I agree. I don’t want Jane oranyone else to get a package like what Kimbra got today. Pa, do you want to make the call?” He nods at me. I look at the room full of brothers, all of who are chomping at the bit to take care of this menace that hangs over our heads. “Let’s call church for now. I know we don’t normally have church on a Saturday, but whoever can make it, let’s reconvene tomorrow and see what Pa finds out and if we’ve gotten anywhere with what was delivered to the good doctor’s house.” I watch and wait as the room clears out, leaving just me, Juan, Rory, and Pa. Time to find out more answers if we can. “Pa, make that call.”
Ben
I know I sped through the back roads to get home, but I need to make sure Kimbra is okay. I know some of my anxiety is from my past. The last time I claimed a woman as my own, she was taken from me barely a year later. I don’t think I could recover this time.
