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“It’s also close to the kitchen where all the damn snacks are, you gutless wonder.”
Trigger shrugged. “Food’s better there anyway.”
“Prez,” Monk said, walking over shaking his head. The enforcers, along with the rest of the club, trailing behind him. “You need to talk to your woman. She’s in the clubhouse ordering all of us to pack our shit and move into those damn apartments. Gotta say Prez, she was scary too, but I’m not moving in there. That place is a mausoleum. Besides, the pussy is at the club. Not walking across the street to get laid.”
“Me neither,” Lips, Angel and Ashe said, while the rest of the brothers nodded in agreement.
“Just give her the damn place,” Blackjack grinned, knowing that I would eventually cave.
Fuck. My. Life.
Sixteen
Kali
The nerve of that man thinking the city would take care of those kids. The city had its hands full with more important things, like new road construction or the new investor for the mall that they were trying to entertain. The fact was that while I loved everything about the city of Lawton, it was stagnated. It needed a boost, not only in revenue but cosmetically. And one way to help clean up the city and make it profitable again was to get the homeless off the streets.
Oh, I wasn’t stupid. I knew it was damn near an impossible feat, but without the proper services and places the displaced citizens could go to, it left them to wander the streets and sleep where they could. Living in New York City, I saw my fair share of homelessness. It was heartbreaking. In a city where money and perception mattered, New Yorkers tended to look the other way when it came to the homeless situation I’ve seen it many times. People hurrying about their day, ignoring the old man, young woman or child huddled on a street corner, begging for food or work. No one cared.
It always broke my heart seeing the displaced. In a way, I felt a lot like them. Though I had a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my belly, I felt out of tune with my surroundings. Like I wasn’t wanted, more of an obligation than anything else. Even when I married John, I still felt out of place.
It was an odd feeling. Not feeling wanted or cared about as if I was an afterthought. Everyone in my life, for as long as I can remember, treated me that way. Even Kansas at first, not that I would tell him that. It wasn’t easy being a grown adult with four small kids, displaced and relying on others for help. I knew that more than anyone. I could only imagine how these kids felt. To have their whole lives reduced to living on the streets, wondering where their next meal would come from. Would they be warm and safe when they closed their eyes at night? No child should ever have to feel that way and I was going to make damn sure none of them did.
My whole life I grew up listening to my grandfather talk about giving back, making a difference in the world. Well, I was a Vanderveer. My name held weight and I had the money to back me. I was going to do something about this, without or without Kansas’ help.
Walking into my newly remodeled home, I smiled as I heard the kids laughing in the kitchen. Heading that way, I found my babies all sitting around the breakfast bar eating lunch as Mrs. Worthington fed little Tanner. God, he was getting so big.
“Hello, Kali. How was your meeting with Chief Longfeather?”
“Good. He agreed to come out to the house this weekend. I was also thinking that we could invite the club out here and have a barbecue of sorts. Like an impromptu housewarming party.”
“Can Tig come?” my daughter shouted.
Smiling, I nodded. “Yes, Trigger will come.”
“Have you given any thoughts about what we talked about the other day?”
A few days ago, Mrs. Worthington brought up the fact that the house needed a housekeeper. Considering how big the place was, I knew she was right, but I didn’t like the idea. Housekeepers, maids and such had been part of my upbringing and I found the divide it created to be intolerable. I had no problem hiring someone to help around the house. I just didn’t like the idea of lording over them.
Scrunching my nose, I muttered, “I’ve thought about it and you are right. This place is too big for me to keep clean, but I’m not sure. I don’t want to come off as some high-class snob who has to pay people to do what I can do.”
Mrs. Worthing laughed. “Kaliope Vanderveer, I hate to tell you this, but you are that woman. Honey, you can’t do what you need to do and take care of this place. You pay me to teach and look after your children. I don’t think any less of you. I see a warm, loving mother, who only wants the best for her kids. You built this big home, sweetheart and now it’s time to hire someone to help maintain it. If you are worried, I’ve already put out some feelers and I know of someone who would love to work for you.”
“Who?”
“My best friend’s niece. She just got out of the Navy and is looking for something that isn’t quite nine to five. She was a cook in the Navy, so she’ll know how to handle feeding your brood and the club brothers if they show up. Plus, she’s a neat freak. Girl is always cleaning Angie’s house.”
“Does she know the position is live in?”
“Yes, I told her and she likes the idea of moving out of her dad’s basement. She’s a little high-strung but proficient. She’ll have this place shipshape and running like a well-oiled machine in no time.”
I knew Mrs. Worthington was right. Looking around the large kitchen, it would be nice to come home to a home cooked meal and know I didn’t have to cook it. I mean, I could cook if I had to, but if I was going to take on this new project, I was going to need help.
Sighing, I agreed. “Okay. Have her come by so I can meet her.”
“Already texted. She will be here in twenty minutes.”
Shaking my head, I grinned as I headed upstairs to change.
