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Walking into the house, Porsche saw all the moms and kids. Preacher Girl was on the couch with Matthew in his infant car seat and all the kids were sitting around him. The baby talk was on high with Maisie, as expected, directly in front of the infant with his fist curled around her finger. Creature and Bailey were on nanny duty, having each been through it before with their own charges that could and were running a bit wild now. Contented in the soft gurgles and coos, they were laying at the head of the carrier. Creature, the expert at this point, had her eyes closed, while Bailey was sitting up, angling his head to sniff and verify the baby was okay every few minutes.
Syd walked over to them and knelt down next to Maisie and Callum. Porsche didn’t know if Matthew was the catalyst or if the few interactions at the clubhouse had made the three older kids friends Syd was able to feel comfortable with. Either way, those were three very big steps and even before the day started it was a success.
“What are you doing?” Syd questioned Maisie who’d swapped her finger out for a bone from the pile between the little boys feet.
“We gave the dogs treats, but they put them in with Matthew because they are nanny dogs now.”
“And they think he’s hungry?” Sydney questioned.
“Either that or they think his drool is from teething,” Maisie reasoned. “So, we’re giving Matthew bones to give to Creature and Bailey.”
Maisie’s innocence was apparent. She didn’t know that the dogs may be on patrol and would go near, but would never take a treat from a carrier with a baby in it. Though Bailey was rethinking his donation of a bone as Matthew shook his fist as if it were a rattle. When Bailey whimpered and moved to get a chew toy in the shape of a bone and meekly placed it at the top of the carrier above Matty’s head as if deifying and anointing the child.
Preacher Girl chuckled as Nightingale stepped up and shook her head. “Oh my gosh. I think Matthew’s nickname should be Bones. Look at him, he is enjoying himself so much.”
Preacher Girl laughed as Matthew let out a round of raspberries. “His dad will love it. Bones it is.”
“Come on everybody. The eggs are ready.” Maggie walked into the living room.
Porsche offered her hand to Sydney. “You ready to get some eggs dyed?”
“This is going to be so much fun.” Syd skipped into the kitchen, holding onto Porsche’s hand, and wrapping her far hand on her forearm. She wasn’t so much clinging as keeping close as Porsche brought her arm around the little girl’s shoulders and pulled her tight.
The emotions flowed through Porsche in ways she hadn’t before. Protecting the littles like Mayhem and Chaos, or Harlow and Beno and now all the babies starting to toddle around. Even the new ones Nightingale brought into the mix. Their lives sacred to all, but Porsche wondered if this was how Mountain felt about Maisie and Callum. Getting attached to the little girl was about Sydney and who she was as she swore in her heart nobody was ever going to hurt her again.
Porsche’s phone rang and she looked down and saw that it was Mike. Maggie was cutting holes in garbage bags as Camille helped slip them over the kid’s heads. Porsche tapped Sydney’s shoulder to urge her to go over and get fitted as she quickly made her way back into the living room to answer the call.
“Everything is fine, Bugs,” she said. “We held Syd upside down in the bowl and she’s now partSmurf. You good with that? If not we’ll toss her in the yellow and make herThe Hulk. Dreamer said we’d have to make the choice quick, you know mixing colors while they still are dripping. Did I say we were dying the children or eggs?”
“I’m only thirty seven percent sure you’re bullshitting me, Turbo.”
“Ah my manipulation skills are on point then,” she said, warming in her chest. “But I fear for the security of our country that a SEAL would believe me.”
“I was just calling to see if when you bring Syd back that we could sit down for a bit. I really need a to talk to you.”
“Sure. We’re just starting to dye eggs.” Porsche leaned and looked into the kitchen.
Everybody was looking at the table with the leaves in place to make it big enough. Maggie had bowls set up, some with dye already and a few where they kids could do the swirling mix. Sydney had her lips pulled in and eyes wide at the selection and the stack of six by six egg cartons three high letting all the kids know even with the eight bigger kids, the three between one and two and little Bones, there were more than enough eggs. Maisie leaned over with her sleeves pushed up and black plastic garbage bag hopefully saving the shirt to whisper nefarious plans for sure with Sydney the final wish came true. The sound of little girls laughing set off a reaction pulling everyone in the room together.
Porsche came to stand behind Syd and absently pet the top of her head and kissed the crown. She turned to glance up at her with stardust in her eyes.
“What’s your favorite color, Turbo?” Sydney asked and Porsche froze for a moment, but settled in when no one seemed to react.
“A good bright pink,” she said.
“With mermaid swirls like the carwash,” Sydney said as she plucked a boiled egg from the carton.
It took a few hours for them to dye the four and a half dozen eggs Maggie had hardboiled for the kids. Everyone had a lot of fun and at some point Saturday night or early Sunday morning depending on the weather, the men would find a way to hide them. But for Porsche a mix of anxiety starting to spike high and soreness had her tired. She wasn’t used to being a mom figure to anyone, having only sat back and watched as Lil’ Mama and Nightingale made it seem effortless. The responsibility was taxing and she wasn’t sure she could go that direction.
“Come on Syd. I think we should head back to the trailer now.”
Porsche had said goodbye to most of the women and the children. Only a few remained at Maggie’s and those were more direct family like Roadkill and Cream allowing the grandmothers to soak up their grandbaby snuggles.
“Thank you Maggie for letting me dye the eggs.” Syd slipped from the chair where she’d been shifting between kneeling and sitting at the table and walked over to Porsche.
“You’re so welcome. You can come over here anytime you want.” Maggie smiled and continued to clean up the mess on the table as Porsche stripped the garbage bag over Sydney’s head.
“You sure you don’t need any help Maggie?” Porsche asked.
