Chapter Five No Sweat, No Glory
Fate
I knew my sister well. Glory was not your average girl. Growing up with four brothers had made her wiley, tough and extremely clever. The girl had a reason for everything she did. So yeah…I asked her why she wanted to go with me and Liberty. It wasn’t like she hung out with us every day.
Again, the kitchen had gone quiet and I could feel everyone in the room staring at me, especially Briget.
“Why not?” Glory answered me as she raised a brow.
I shrugged. “Just thought you would stay with dad maybe?”
“Are you kidding?” she asked then raised her hand at me before I could even open my mouth. “And don't give me that Daddy’s Girl crap either. I’m getting too old for that.”
“Who says?” I joked. “You are still a kid, Glory.”
“Um, someone needs to wake up and take a closer look at me,” Glory retorted.” You and Dad need glasses I think. I’m all grown up now, Fate boy .” She braced her hands onto her hips and glared at me.
Ok, so she was all grown, but I still saw her like Dad did, I guess?
Ma chuckled. “Jared’s been driving the poor girl crazy ever since she was rescued.”
Rapidly nodding her head, Glory motioned at Ma in agreement. “She’s right. He barely lets me go outside. I mean I love him and all but I need to breathe too, ya know?”
Liberty crossed his arms over his chest and asked, “It wouldn’t be because Legend is coming with us too, would it?”
I nodded and said, “You saw us talking with him just before we came into the kitchen.” Legend had been in our MC for several years. Our doctor in fact. We all knew Glory had a crush on the guy.
Glory looked over at me and asked innocently, “What difference does that make?”
“Wow,” Liberty exclaimed.
I agreed, “You are something else, sis.”
“Look,” Glory snapped. “If you hate the idea of me coming, then just say so!”
“They can just shut up right now,” Belle finally spoke up. “You are very welcome to come with us.” She turned to scowl at Liberty. “Shame on you. She’s your little sister, for Pete’s sake.”
Liberty’s jaw dropped as he looked surprised. Raising both hands up, he defended, “I never said no.”
“Good,” Belle said. “Cause she’s coming with us.”
Briget stuck her hand out to Glory in introduction. “I’m Briget. Welcome to the Walker Brothers Circus.” She made a point to raise a brow at me then she glanced at Liberty.
Belle laughed and nodded at Glory. “Briget’s my BFF and you can see why. I call her BB.”
Glory was grinning now. “I can see my brothers finally met their matches.”
“I’m not matched to anyone,” Briget said. “Liberty and Belle are matched though.”
Glory shrugged. “I just meant that you two seem to be like take no shit kind of girls. And I like that!”
I rolled my eyes and looked over at my brother. “This ought to be fun.”
He scoffed. “Travelling with three mouthy women? I hardly think so.”
“Watch it, honey bear,” Belle warned him. “These mouthy women are perhaps smarter than you are.”
“Perhaps?” Glory exclaimed. “Oh no, it is a fact. When I get done telling you about the prank war? You will KNOW that these two aren't clever at all.”
My head shot up as I now stared at my sister. “You were paid off.”
Glory smirked at me. “Who says?”
“We do!” Liberty interjected.
Belle looked back and forth at me and Liberty. “Uh-Oh, is there something we should know about here?”
“NO!” Liberty and I both shouted.
All the three women stared at us.
Briget laughed and said, “Wow! You hit a nerve there, Belle.”
“Oh, my stars,” Ma commented as she walked by while carrying some plates. “Looks like the men are in some trouble here.” Laughing, she went over to the cabinet area.
We paid Glory a couple hundred dollars some years back. It had been pure extortion at the time. On Glory’s part, of course. The events we wanted hidden were to never see the light of day. She was to never speak of those events. To never ever tell anyone what happened during the Prank War .
Liberty crossed his arms over his chest and said, “See? You're already causing trouble.”
“No, she’s not,” Belle said as she looked over at Glory. “And I, for one, am dying to hear about the prank wars.”
“Me too,” Briget agreed with a firm but rapid nod of her head.
I shook my head in response and explained, “Well, that’s too bad, because she took an oath of silence about this entire subject.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Glory replied with a small, devilish smile. “I think the statutes of limitations are up on that deal, brother of mine.”
Liberty and I both glared at her.
I did not like where this was going at all. Our little sinister sister was again, up to no good. “Justice knows. This was all legal and binding, Glory,” I said. “He officiated over that little deal, remember?”
Rolling her eyes, Glory scoffed. “This was like seven years ago guys and he wasn’t a licensed attorney at that time.” She smirked at us. “Besides, you two are full grown men now. It isn’t gonna hurt you for these girls to know how naive you were at twenty.”
“So is this like more blackmail?” Liberty asked her.
“Blackmail?” Glory asked as she looked insulted by the idea. “For what?”
“So, we’ll let you go with us,” I replied.
“But she’s already going,” Belle interjected. “I mean I really would like to hear about Liberty before he was this huge MMA star. So she can tell us all the stories about you two that she wants.”
“I admit you saying that makes me feel awesome, Belle,” Liberty said. “But these stories are not…” He looked over at me.
I slowly shook my head. They weren’t flattering if that was what he meant. But it did look like we were gonna get ousted on the prank thing.
Briget agreed with Belle, “Depending on how long the trip is, this could even be like entertainment on the way.” She raised her palm up to Belle.
Belle slapped it with her open palm as they both exclaimed, “Road trip!”
Glory did a little clapping herself and danced on her feet a bit as she laughed.
All three girls then did high five slaps to each other.
I let out a frustrated breath and grumbled to Liberty, “I feel like at any minute I'm gonna hear that song.”
He gazed over at me while looking as disgusted as I felt. “What song?”
“ Come on Barbie, let’s go party.”
Liberty snorted. “This is what happens when chicks take over, man.” He then looked over at Belle and asked, “Since when do you even know Glory?”
“Since she gave me the very advice that got us together.” Belle leaned close and told him, “She said that love wasn’t waiting on every corner. But if you do find it and it is the real thing, hang onto it for all you are worth.”
Liberty and I swung our gazes over at our sister.
Her face went a little pink but she grinned at Liberty. “See bro, I helped you to get your girl. Be grateful.”
Liberty shook his head and smirked. “Ok for one, when you start using the term bro, we know you’re up to something. And for two: I earned Belle the hard way and I did it all by myself.”
Belle laughed. “Ok, I admit it was the hard way.”
“You mean cause he’s such an insufferable ass, right?” I questioned.
Belle glanced at me and laughed. “Ok, that's somewhat true. But Glory also talked about the walls.” She glanced at Briget.
Briget looked confused.
Hell, I felt confused. “What walls?” I asked outright even though I knew I would probably be sorry I did.
Glory nodded at me and explained, “Some people let walls stand in between them. Not just normal house walls but huge gigantic things like the Wall of China or the Walls of Jericho. But often, those walls don't have to be there. It’s just stupid…” She looked away as she went on in a quiet voice, “It takes courage to love someone I suppose?”
We all knew about Legend. But the problem seemed to be that the man was entirely unaware of how Glory felt about him. I secretly suspected that he did know but he did not take it seriously. Or, he took it very seriously and he figured that dad and us brothers would kill him if he touched her.
Sensing that something preoccupied her, Belle and Briget moved closer to her. Then all three were whispering together.
Liberty took this opportunity to step closer to me and whisper, “We cannot let her talk about the pranks, man. Do we have any dirt on Glory that we can use?”
I slowly shook my head and replied, “Nothing she would care about. And we might look like bullies if we divulge some stuff?” This was all turning out to be a real headache. I was interested in entertaining Briget but not like that. These stories were not great memories for Liberty and I, even though they might be amusing episodes for everyone else.
Glory seemed to convince the girls that she was okay. “To be honest, I’m sort of excited to get away from here. I mean it's great with all the family and all, but wow...I need to get into a car and watch the road fly by.” She then winked at the girls.
Smiling hugely, Belle looked up at us as she rubbed her hands together in wicked glee. “Me too. This is gonna be so much fun.”
“Taking a trip while fleeing a madman who wants to kill us, doesn't sound like fun,” Liberty said.
“I don’t think he wants to kill Briget and I,” Belle replied. “But we can at least try to be normal and have a little fun.”
“Fun?” Liberty groused.
“Yes and at your expense maybe?” Belle teased him.
“And here I thought you were gonna be nicer to me,” Liberty whined. “I mean since I’m such a great kisser and all.”
I scoffed at my brother’s sickening attempt at flirting. “We don’t even know if we’re going yet.”
“I think Talon, Dad and Liv have decided that we need to play it safe and leave,” Glory informed us.
“How do you know that?” I asked Glory.
Looking away from me, she bit at her lip.
“You eavesdropped?” Liberty exclaimed.
“I was just waiting for Dad and that was what they were saying.” She shrugged.
“So, we are going?” Briget asked.
“We need to find out for sure,” I suggested. “They will call another meeting about it.”
“Ok…” Belle looked around. “So what else is going on today?”
“What do you mean, babe?” Liberty asked her.
“Like is there anything else we can do? You know, like some activity?”
Liberty grinned at her and smirked.
Belle laughed as she slapped his arm. “Besides that, you beast.”
“Some of us don’t have personal lives, Liberty,” Briget added with an eye roll. “She means something we can help with.”
I shrugged and told her, “They’re washing cars and SUVs out in the far parking area. We could help with that before lunch?”
Glory looked over at Ma across the kitchen and smiled. “I got lunch duty, so I’ll have to pass on that.” She waved at the girls then wandered over to talk to Ma.
Looking over at me, Briget shrugged. “I’m good with a car wash. Haven’t done that since high school. And It’s not super hot today, so it shouldn’t be too bad.”
“Not super hot?” I asked in disbelief. “It's a shirt soaking 80 degrees out there.”
Briget laughed. “Hey, you should be used to that. You’re from Texas, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, but LA is the true South and that means hot and humid.”
“Okay, we’ll go and change,” Belle said.
“Change into what?” Briget asked her.
“Like shorts and maybe a bikini top?” Belle said.
“A bikini?” Liberty chuckled. “Oh, wow…Well, we’d better hurry then.”
Belle chuckled. “Look who's eager to wash cars now.”
He laughed with her. “Sure. And seeing you in a bikini is the cherry on top.”
“Boo! On the cheap joke, Lib. Come on, man!” I scolded him.
“I agree. That was corny as hell.” Belle smiled and shook her head. “I’m just gonna wear what I have on, I guess?” Briget said as she wore jean shorts and a t-shirt.
I shrugged as I wore some old jeans and a T-shirt. “Me too. I don’t see any reason to change just to wash cars. But I will get us some drinks.” I looked over at her and asked, “Coke, Dr. Pepper or water?”
She laughed. “Always Dr. Pepper.”
I chuckled too. “Yeah, the southern drink.”
“People who aren't from the South think the top beverage here is iced tea,” Belle said. “But they would be wrong.”
“Blasphemy!” Ma exclaimed as she walked by. “Dems fightin’ words here, sweet pea.” She laughed.
Glory followed behind her while carrying a big serving bowl. “Hands down, Ma's sweet tea is the best!”
“Way to suck up to the Ma Boss , Glory. I admire that,” Briget teased her.
Glory laughed. “Hey, now…I’m not stupid, girl. I know where my bread is buttered!”
“Smart young woman, she is,” Ma agreed. “And pretty as a China tea cup too.”
“Yep, just like a pink tulip on a Sunday mornin.’ ” Briget nodded.
Ma actually stopped in her tracks to turn and look at Briget. “Where did you learn southern speak?”
Briget shrugged. “My Mama. She used to rule the roost with her ways.”
Ma paused and took a closer look at Briget. “Your Mama? Now that I look at ya, I see the resemblance.” She looked surprised now. “Don’t know why I never saw it before. You are a spittin image of her when she was young! We went to school together too. Grace was a good soul. A righteous woman and as lovely as spun sugar.”
Briget looked a little upset as she replied, “She woulda felt real proud to hear you saying that. She used to tell me how much she admired you and your husband. Always trying to help the families of the town.”
Ma came over and opened her arms.
Briget moved into her embrace. “I miss her terribly,” she whispered to Ma as tears filled her eyes. “Life just hasn’t been the same without her.”
Belle looked like she might cry too.
Looking troubled, Liberty took her hand.
“She was a woman after my own heart and a pillar in this town,” Ma said. “The church organist and a damned good one too. Her voice as a singer was beautiful enough to make the angels stop and listen.”
Briget let out a little sob as she admitted, “I still cannot listen to Amazing Grace without crying my eyes out.”
“Yup, me too,” Ma said as she gently patted Briget on the back. “Her voice reached the heavens alright. No one lovelier than Gracey.”
Both women then cried loudly as they hugged.
I shook my head as I really didn’t know what to do. Maybe hand them some tissues?
Walking by the other way now, Glory tossed me a washcloth. Then she grinned and mouthed at me, “You like her!”
“Yep, it is true,” Liberty agreed with her.
I caught the cloth then rolled my eyes at Glory as I ignored my brother entirely. Why did she make a point of saying she was grown while continuing to act like a teenage girl? I did feel bad for Briget. I knew very little about her, but I intended to rectify that very soon.