| |
3 years later
Christa
It’s been three years, one month, and five days since Kurt was sentenced to five years in prison. Once a month, I make the four-hour drive to see him for thirty minutes. He has a parole hearing coming up soon, I have everything crossed that my prayers will be answered, and my love will come home to me. Our daughter, Kenadee, doesn’t know what it’s like to be held by him, to be loved by him. She was born after he was already sentenced. Not having him by my side during the birth was devastating. He doesn’t want me bringing her to visitation. He said seeing me and not getting to touch me is hard enough. The prison he’s been in doesn’t allow conjugal visits.
I never thought I’d be in love with a man who is behind bars, but he killed a man to protect me. How could I ever condemn him for saving me? His club has been good to me. Tread makes sure my girl and me never want for anything. At first, I wouldn’t accept his help, I’m stubborn in that way. But with no family on my side, other than JT, I eventually gave in. His wife, Liberty, is a sweetheart too. I get together with her and Truth’s top bitch, Amy, at least once a week for girl time.
Those two are a riot. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like them to be honest, there are some rumors about their marriages being open. As in they share their men. While others say they all get it on. They don’t mention anything and I sure as hell am not bringing it up. Liberty is pregnant right now and emotional enough as it is.
They are supposed to be over later tonight. Liberty is bringing Kyler over and Amy is bringing her twins, Timmy and Tommy.
Going home to my Gram's was hard but when she recovered from her fall and was released from the hospital, I knew I had to take care of her. She passed on last year, leaving the house to me and JT. I thought about selling the house, but after all we went through to keep it, after the shit with Perry, and Kurt going to prison, there's no way I could.
JT knows he always has a home here and that half this house belongs to him. He says he doesn’t want the house or any money for his half. In his eyes this is my home. He has his own, living next to his half-brother, Rebel. I’m so glad he found his way to Kimmie. They’ve had their ups and downs as all couples do, but she’s good for him.
I check in on Kenadee one more time as she naps before the gang gets here. She’s curled up under her Tinkerbell blanket. I love watching her sleep. Sometimes she smiles and it reminds me of her father and the love that we have shared.
I want him home desperately, but I’m nervous.
If and when he’s released, I don’t know how he will adjust to coming home a married man and a father. We were only married a matter of minutes before he began serving his time. He’s had three years to get used to the idea, but he’s not been here. He doesn’t know how hard it's been for me, but I guess on the flipside I have no clue what life’s been like for him.
Of course we talk and I tell him about the good things. Like our daughter’s first words, when she took her first steps...when she said dada the first time and I cried for two weeks straight.
No, it hasn’t been easy, but life never is.
Going to the kitchen I smile every time I see Gram’s spoon hanging on the wall. It may sound crazy, but sometimes I talk to her, as if she lives on inside these walls. It makes me feel not so alone all the time.
A knock sounds at the front door as I’m getting the cookies out of the oven. “It's open,” I call out expecting the boys to come running in. I don’t hear anything after the door opens and clicks shut. If it were the girls or JT, they’d announce themselves.
Fear spikes in my gut as I go for the bat JT makes me keep by the fridge.
I clear my throat and say loudly, “Is someone there?”
No answer.
Creeping to the doorway that leads to the hall, I peer around to see the silhouette of a man standing in my daughter's bedroom doorway.
I don’t think, I don’t process anything but the need to protect my daughter. I tiptoe down the hall, sneaking up on him. I go to crack him over the head when a tattoo on his neck stops me dead in my tracks. I drop the bat with a thump. The man spins around. "Kurt!" I cry out as his eyes meet mine.
I didn't know him with his hair all cut off. Last time I saw him it was past his shoulders.
I smack his chest. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
He doesn’t even respond. Those strong arms I have been missing every night grab me and pull me in as his mouth crashes against mine, consuming my every thought.
My panties have disintegrated as his tongue sweeps inside my mouth. He walks me backward from the way I came, taking me to the living room, and laying me on the couch.
He’s on me, our clothes are flying in every direction in the heat of the moment. Nothing else registers as my husband makes love to me for all of two minutes. In his defense it’s been years, and I am so damn happy to have him home that I don’t even care.
“Sorry, Buttercup,” he says with a sheepish smile, buttoning his jeans.
As I’m sliding my panties up over my knees the front door opens with Liberty, Amy, and their boys staring at my overgrown vagina. I’ve not been shaving with Kurt gone.
I could just fall to the floor and die right now.
Amy covers the twin’s eyes and Kyler looks away laughing so hard his face is as red as a beet.
I finish getting my panties up and run to the bathroom to cry.
A minute later, Kurt is knocking at the door. “Your friends said they’d call back in a few days. They figure we can use the alone time.” I can hear the chuckle under his breath even though he’s trying to muffle the sound.
“Who you?” I hear Kenadee squeak.
My tears fall even harder as I open the door and see her daddy down on his knees holding his arms open as he tells her, “I'm your daddy, princess.”
Her grey eyes mirroring his are wide with shock. I hadn't talked to her about his coming home. I didn’t want to get either of our hopes up, only to be crushed if he didn’t make parole.
“Hi, daddy,” she coos, going straight to his arms.
Kurt’s large, tattooed knuckles cup the back of her brown hair as he cries, hugging her to his chest.
“No cry,” she says.
“Daddy’s just so happy, baby girl,” he croaks.
I go down on my knees hugging him from behind and we stay that way for minutes, maybe hours, I can’t be sure. All I know is my family is finally together.
For the first time in years, this house finally feels like a home again.