| |
“How are you feeling?” Wylla Mae questions as she hands me a pack of Saltine crackers.
“Happy but nauseous. Can’t keep a thing down.”
“Wedding jitters?”
I shake my head. “The pregnancy. One whiff of whatever Sandman was cooking up in the kitchen did me in. I dry heaved all morning before your dad brought me home. I don’t think I made a good first impression on Jameson, but you should’ve heard his Old Lady, Sadie, teasing him about how she was gonna catch my bouquet so he’ll have no choice but to marry her.”
“I don’t think I’ve met him yet. He’s the Prez from New Orleans, right?”
“Mmhmm.” I take a sip of water and nearly gag.
“You need to eat something. You don’t want to be sick on your wedding day. I still have that medication I was taking when Mila hated everything I tried to eat. You should take it. It will help.”
“Hey, sweet pea, who is the mom here you or me?” I squeeze her hand. “Does it weird you out that we’re going to, pregnant at the same time?”
“Should it?”
I shrug. “Most would be.”
“I think it’s kinda cool. I know we have had a lot of differences, but I like this whole new relationship we have. You’re both different when you’re together. Better. Everyone sees it. You complete each other and I’m glad you have it. Though a part of me wishes you could’ve gotten your shit together years ago.”
“You and me both. The journey while hard has been worth it though. I got you and my beautiful granddaughter out of the deal and now this child.”
“Dad thinks it’ll be a boy.”
“I sure as hell hope so. If not, he may want to try for another, and this kid is gonna be it for me.”
“Like you’d tell him no.” She grins and fiddles with the wrapper on my crackers. “Now eat something. You have a big day tomorrow.”
“Listen to your daughter. She’s a smart one.” Lily enters the kitchen with flushed cheeks dressed in tight jeans and a pretty red sweater, smelling like food.
“And where have you been all evening?”
“Out with an old friend. Catching up.” She moves to the cabinets by the sink to get a glass of water.
“This old friend happen to be a silver fox who goes by the name Slick,” I tease her and Wylla snickers.
“You’ve been spending too much time with Pam.” She wags a finger at me. “Speaking of, how is she anyway?”
“I’ve not spoken with her since last night.”
“What’s going on with Pam,” Wylla presses.
“I don’t want to gossip.” I make the motion of locking my lips and throwing away the key.
“You know Jules will tell me anyway.”
“Fine but if you breathe a word and Pam traces it back to me, I won’t tell you anything else.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Ugh that sounds so old,” I grumble with a pout. “Last night when we got to the clubhouse there was an incident.”
“What happened?” Lily whispers. “Slick’s in the living room by the way.” She smirks.
“I knew it! You can’t fool me ya know.”
“Back to Pam and Link,” my daughter urges.
“Right. Well, we go in and there Link is all slouched in a chair with a whore going to town on his dick.”
“What did Pam do?” Lily settles at the chair on the other side of Wylla Mae.
“Nothing. East talked to her and James sent me upstairs. When he came up, he told me he left Pam at the bar with Link.”
“That’s fucked up,” Wylla says low, but I can hear the disdain in her voice. Like me she thought Link was one of the good men. I think East must be fucking rare and I’m glad Wylla has such a good man looking after her.
“Not all men are bad. You married one of the best,” I tell her.
“Yeah, I did. Poor Pam.”
“Or poor Link depending on how she reacts. Pam is a plotter. He will get his. Best believe she won’t take this easily. She may play nice for now, but that man is in for a world of hurt.”
“Did you want me to have East bring over those stomach pills?”
“If you think it’ll help. I made my first doctor appointment for after the honeymoon.”
“I’ll ring him.” Wylla Mae excuses herself to dial her man.
“Have you tried ice?” Lily questions me.
“I don’t want to talk about me I want to hear about this dinner you had with Slick.”
Lily cranes her neck toward the living room. “He took me to the Japanese place. It was nice and he’s going to drive up soon to visit me back home.”
“You ever think you’ll move home?”
“No. I’m needed at the center.”
“You could always open up a location here. I’m sure there is a need.” Lily is still running Lily’s Hope her center for abused women in need. There was a time she took me under wing briefly when I had my whole ordeal before I got pregnant with Wylla Mae.
They’ve got this whole secret network. I don’t know much about it personally, but James and brothers from other chapters of Royal Bastards MC do their part.
“Maybe. It’s something to think about. James said you’re selling this place.”
“Yup.” I just hope that shit with the shooting hasn’t screwed up the sale on his house.
“You have a buyer yet?”
“You offering?”
“It’s a nice house.”
“Would make a nice home for you and Slick or to set up a new location.”
“Would you stop it. We’re old friends.”
“Old friends who like to bone.” I smirk and she gets all red in the face.
“You ladies in here talkin’ ‘bout me.” Slick struts into the kitchen all big, muscled, tall, tattooed, and silver haired.
“You know it. I’m trying to convince my sister-in-law to come home to Charleston.”
Slick shoots me a wink. “Got coffee?”
“I’ll make it. You like it black, right?” Lily shoves her chair back and moves around my kitchen as though she’s lived here for years.
I nibble on a cracker and pray I can keep it down. Being hungry makes me cranky.
“East’ll be here in ten. Wha’d I miss?” Wylla plops back down next to me holding my grandbaby.
“Come to Lala.” I take Mila from Wylla and kiss the top of her soft dark head. Mila lays her head on my shoulder as I rub her back. There is nothing purer than a baby.
I glance around the room at Lily, Wylla, and Slick and a peacefulness washes over me. Nothing is going to ruin this weekend.