Chapter Sixteen
Tania watched as Carter smashed potatoes into the tray of the high chair that looked like it might be as old as she was.
Not that she was worried about it. She’d checked it herself to make sure it was sturdy.
If the thing had become wobbly in all the years it had been around, then someone had done a good job of repairing it, as it was easily more sturdy than most of the chairs in the common room.
And somewhere in time, someone had added a strap so once the baby was big enough to start trying to get out of it, he would have a harder time.
She glanced around the room, wondering where Smokey had gone. He’d stuck so close to her for most of the day that it felt weird for him not to be there. Plus, Carter was going to need to be cleaned up again and she didn’t have the energy for it.
It had been less than a day and yet, she didn’t hesitate to look around for his help.
She marveled at that. Rod had helped with nothing.
His philosophy was that he worked, she should take care of the home and everything in it.
Including the baby, the yard, the housework. It was all her responsibility.
Smokey seemed to want to help. He didn’t seem to think it was all her job.
And after a very short amount of time, she was swiftly coming to rely on him.
How could she be used to something after less than a day?
And what a day it had been. She wanted nothing more than to climb into a nice, soft bed and sleep for about seventeen hours straight.
Okay, so maybe seventeen was a bit of an exaggeration, but she’d take eight. Hell, she’d be happy with six hours uninterrupted.
“How’s things going?” Taylynn’s voice brought Tania out of her daydreaming.
“They’re going.” Tania stole a glance at her son. He was happily squishing the mashed potatoes into tiny mountains, then smashing them as he giggled. He was making a mess and she should stop him, but she loved hearing his giggles.
“You look like you’ve been run over by a Mack truck,” Taylynn gave her a wry smile as if she was trying to cushion the harsh words.
Tania knew the other woman was just being honest. She appreciated it. “Thanks,” she said, lifting one corner of her mouth in a wry smile. “I feel like it too.”
Taylynn watched her for a few seconds then twisted around and yelled.
“Smokey!”
“What?” came his voice from down the hall.
“Come get your boy. I’m stealing your woman.”
Tania started to protest, to say she could take care of Carter. That she wasn’t Smokey’s woman but Smokey appeared around the corner.
“Look at her,” Taylynn motioned to her. “She’s had a long fucking day after a miserable night. I’m going to take her to relax a bit so hopefully she can sleep tonight."
“She’s right, Shell.” He looked down at their son for a moment, then grinning, shook his head.
He leaned over and kissed the top of Tania’s head.
“I’ve got him. Go with Taylynn. She’ll take good care of you.
I’ll get him cleaned up, changed, and laid down.
Are you okay with my setting up the portable crib in the sitting area? ”
“Sure.” She planned to sleep on the sofa anyway, that would keep him nearby so she could wake up when he did so he didn’t disturb Smokey.
Moving after sitting for so long reminded her of every single bruise.
She bit back the groan that fought to escape and followed Taylynn upstairs and to a room she didn’t recognize.
“This is our room, I mean, the one I share with Raven. I just want to grab something for you.”
Tania looked around, noting that the room was similar to the one she was sharing with Smokey.
A living space, with a bedroom to one side and door on the other that she assumed led to a bathroom.
Taylynn disappeared into the bedroom for a moment then returned, holding out a handful of fabric to Tania.
“Here, go put this on.” She gestured toward the restroom door. It took Tania a second to realize it was a swimsuit.
“I couldn’t.” Tania couldn’t imagine wearing anyone else’s swimsuit; it was too much like used underwear. She had to fight back a shudder at the thought.
“It’s new. I haven’t worn it yet. You could go without anything, but I think the guys would find that to be a bit too much of a show to keep their mouths shut.”
Tania’s eyes went wide as she wondered for the first time if maybe she wasn’t safe here.
“They’d never touch you,” Tania said quickly, obviously seeing her panic.
“And if anyone even tried, Raven and Smokey would make sure they never tried a second time.” She shook the handful of fabric, prompting Tania to take it.
Hesitating a moment more, she did. Shaking it out, Tania saw it was two pieces but not a string bikini.
It wasn’t modest, but she’d worn smaller suits. Just not since Carter had been born.
“I can’t.” Tania shook her head. “My stretch marks will show.”
“So the fuck what? Those are battle wounds you won bringing that beautiful boy into the world.” She waved toward the bathroom.
“Go put it on. I’ll change in the bedroom.
” Taylynn watched her until the bathroom door closed, only then did Tania hear the bedroom door close.
Resigned, Tania changed into the suit Taylynn had given her, then folded her clothes neatly to take with her.
She didn’t have many and she didn’t want to lose what she did have.
Clothes under one arm, she opened the bathroom door and looked around.
Taylynn must still be changing. Before she had a chance to wonder what to do next, the bedroom door opened and Taylynn stepped out.
She had far more scars, all over her, than Tania’s stretchmarks, or even the bruises she’d tried hard to ignore as she put the suit on.
The proof of the other woman’s pain made Tania feel bad for worrying someone would see them, especially since Taylynn didn’t seem to care.
She would never ask Taylynn what happened but she could use the other woman’s strength as an inspiration.
“Good. Here.” Taylynn handed Tania a large towel, still folded.
“Give me a sec, I’ll grab a bag for your clothes.
” She moved to a cupboard and pulled out a grocery bag.
“I should have given you that with the suit.” She waited while Tania put her clothes in the bag, then picked up the other towel she’d brought from the bedroom with her and went to the door.
Tania fell into step behind Taylynn as she led them down the stairs. Surprisingly, at least to Tania, none of the men in the common room said a word about how little the two of them were wearing.
“Hey, we’re headed outside.” Taylynn’s voice made Tania look up. She noticed one of the other women she’d seen around the common room talking to the president’s wife. “Change and come join us. It will be some nice girl’s time.” Taylynn turned. “Tania, have you met Andy yet?”
Tania shook her head. Taylynn made the introductions.
“Andy is Dagger’s woman. Delilah is around her somewhere too, have you seen her?” Taylynn asked Andy.
“In the kitchen, last I saw.”
“I should have known.” Taylynn shook her head. “Can you invite her? This will be a great chance for all the old ladies to get to know each other.”
“Sounds good,” Andy said with a nod. She hurried away, leaving Tania staring after her.
“Come on, I want to get out there and get warm.” She headed down the hall where Raven’s office was, and that other room with the huge table.
She passed those doors and went to the solid metal door at the end, the one that had a push bar.
Tania had assumed that went outside and hadn’t messed with it.
When Taylynn pushed the door open, a blast of cold air made Tania shiver.
Did they really want to go out in that, especially dressed like this?
Why had Taylynn said they were going to get warm?
Tania forced herself to take a deep breath and continue following the other woman.
Smokey seemed to trust her so Tania would too, at least until she couldn’t.
Tania shivered, resisting the urge to unfold the towel she carried and wrap it around herself, she looked around.
It didn’t take long to realize they weren’t outside, like she’d thought, but in some kind of glassed-in room.
The glass let them see the outlines of the mountains around them since it was almost dark.
In the center of the room sat a huge hot tub.
She felt her eyes go wide and she was frozen in place as Taylynn folded back the cover and set it aside before turning the knob to start the jets.
“What are you waiting for?” Taylynn asked as she climbed the steps built along one side and stepped inside.
“You can hang your clothes there,” she pointed to a row of hooks on the wall.
“You can put your towel there too, but I like to keep mine a little closer.” She waved one hand toward where she’d set hers on a chair a few feet away.
Tania draped hers over the back of the same chair, then hurried up the stairs and into the steaming water.
“Oh.” Tania sighed as she moved to the far end and took the seat next to Taylynn, “This feels so good. I had no clue it was here. I can’t thank you enough for this.” The heat relaxed her muscles, easing away some of the soreness from the bruises still covering her.
“It’s still new. I’ve been asking Raven for one for a few weeks.
None of the rooms have tubs, only those showers.
It’s fine for the guys but I like to soak.
Plus, as the weather started to cool, my aches got worse.
I’m told they’ll get better for a while, as in they won’t hurt so bad, but if I get to live to old age, then they’ll start hurting again.
I guess it’s the universe’s way of reminding me of all I’ve been through. ”
Tania didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know anything about the other woman’s injuries and was afraid to ask for fear of bringing up a trauma. Instead, she leaned her head back against the edge of the tub.
“I’m glad you were able to convince him. though I didn’t know they came this big.” The two of them were on one end, and there were seats for seven more. She’d counted on her way to sit next to Taylynn.
“I didn’t either, but when Freud backed me up that the hot water would help me hurt less, he decided to try it.
We had a couple of trips where we stayed in a hotel, they had a hot tub and he decided to try it.
The heat helped him enough that he decided it would likely help some of the other brothers too.
” Taylynn looked away. “We just got it done a week or so ago because things stopped completely for a while when Spider got hurt. Once they realized that a hot tub might help him once he'd recovered enough to come home, they got back to work on it. Now it’s ready for him whenever he can come home. And we can enjoy it any time as well.” She looked back at Tania.
“This is nice, but I’m really going to miss having a tub inside. Carter’s a bit big to bathe in the sink, and while Smokey’s fine with showering with him now, that’s going to get old quick. I need to come up with another solution.”
Taylynn watched her for a few moments and Tania wondered what she was thinking.
“That is a problem. Let me think about it a bit and see what I can come up with.”
Tania nodded. There was more she’d have to figure out, but she was so tired, she didn’t want to even think about it right now.