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My daughter doesn’t budge. “I’m possessive of people seeing my man’s wang. You get how I’m private that way.”
“Are you happy, baby?”
Sister Sass immediately turns off her bravado and offers me a genuine smile. “Yes. Jester’s really mine.”
“Did you doubt that?”
“Yes. Didn’t you?”
“Of course.”
Sister Sass smiles softly and eases in for a hug. Back in the day, my daughter was a cuddler. She lost that interest when Betty Boop died.
Now, she offers me a tight hug. “I’m going to be okay.”
“I know.”
Sister Sass releases me and smiles wider. “So will Jester. But he’ll need your help, especially now that I’m knocked up.”
“He’s always been prone to forgetting how he isn’t alone. I’ll remind him again.”
“I sometimes forget, too. But I remembered to ask Bomber for help. I also asked for help with my beaver issue.”
“Is that last part something I need to ask a follow up question about?”
“No, probably not. You’re going on vacation. No reason to give yourself nightmares.”
Chuckling, I look around the Sanctuary. “I haven’t been away in a long time. Can’t really imagine not checking on everything for two weeks.”
“It’ll be good for you and Lady Bug,” Sister Sass promises. “Overlord, too. He’s always got you at his side, ready and willing to save his ass.”
“I can’t help wanting to protect my people.”
“I know, but we’re going to be okay. You’ve more than protected us all these years. You also taught us how to handle things.”
Sister Sass’s words calm me. I keep thinking there’ll be a moment when everyone is perfectly safe and happy, so I can lower my guard. Kraken taking part of our club was a jolt. Losing Betty Boop so suddenly is what left me worried over the future.
I thought I handled things well enough. I didn’t go nuts when Sister Sass and Dire were nearly killed. I stayed calm when Connor was gunned down. I kept the Sanctuary from closing its doors after Virginie and Caroline were murdered by a castoff.
Despite my outer calm, I had become more than a little paranoid and pessimistic. I assumed bad things were always coming, so I couldn’t truly back off.
Now, I accept life will always be painful and scary. Though the Sanctuary offers a home to broken and lost people, all communities have their ups and downs. So do people, and I’ve gone too long without splurging on Lady Bug and myself.
The Sanctuary is bigger than one man with a dream. This place will stand long after I take my last breath. For the first time in years, I feel the burden lift off my shoulders and let me breathe easier.
