Epilogue
Jules
“ S o why are we here?” I grumble. It was meant to be date night but Vi postponed because she needs to be at the clubhouse.
“Because I have stuff to do with the ladies,” she says.
“What kind of stuff?”
“Oh, the Girl Gang has been tasked with a couple of projects so, you know, we want to have a meeting about it.”
I nod and lean into the car to unlatch Juno. Blanche and Lovely’s new community center opened two months ago and the goal is to help women, and some men get back on their feet. Whether they’ve escaped religious cults or abusive relationships or even been medically discharged from the military, it’s a place for people to rebuild their lives. The women have made contacts with people in Rose Grove willing to help with training or jobs. Vi’s sisters Jazz and Lil have been helping with literacy, while Flora has two jobs open for anyone wanting to learn floristry. The community center is more important than me taking Vi to the movies, so I get it .
“Come on little Miss Grumpy Pants,” I coo to Juno, who still hasn’t outgrown frowning all the time. Vi says she’s perfect the way she is, and I agree. Besides, she saves all her smiles for her mommy and daddy so what do I care if she stink eyes everyone else?
“Yo, has anyone seen Chewy?” Rhodie’s voice booms out in the common room as we open the door to walk in.
“She mentioned something about having an errand to run,” Ana says, rocking Chomper in his stroller.
“What kind of errand? Did she say where she was going?” Rhodie’s voice rises and I know that something is wrong.
Vi reads me so well that she holds her hands out for Juno so I can get a read on my sister. We transfer Juno, who places her head on Vi’s shoulder and snuggles in. I use my thumbs on both hands to tap on my phone screen, bringing up our tracking software.
“Why the fuck is she headed toward Roxburgh?” I ask, confused at my sister’s movements?
“What the fuck?!” Rhodie explodes, “She never said anything! Her phone is off and her go bag is gone! Pops!” he yells, looking around the room wildly.
“Keep your hair on kid, shit. What’s your problem?” Pops growls.
“Fuck, you’re here. I figured it was some bullshit idea you came up with,” Rhodie says.
“Gee, thanks asshole,”Pops rolls his eyes.
My sister has disappeared, her go bag is gone and her phone is off. “She’s hunting.” I raise my eyes, catching Tav’s gaze first, then Gus’s. Both nod, knowing full well that’s what she’s doing.
“Yesssss,” Vi says under her breath, a little fist pump action going on. “What?” she asks, wide eyed.
“Tell me where she is, I need to get to her, what if she needs help?”
“I saw Moss leave with her,” Lil says, looking confused over what’s happening.
“What the actual fuck!?” Rhodie explodes.
Before he can demand that someone call Moss, Jazz holds up her hand. “His phone is off, too.”
Marx stands in the doorway, hands on hips, watching the whole scene go down. He turns to look at me, “How long did you let her hunt before you stepped in?”
“She knows to check in after 6 hours. Then 12, 18, and 24. If we hadn’t heard from her we’d go in,” Tav answers.
“Well, let’s let her hunt,” Marx says, nodding.
“But-”
“No buts, brother. Your woman is dangerous, fearless and a fucking genius. She knows how to do this. You need to trust her,” Marx says, staring his younger brother in the eye.
Rhodie’s body deflates slightly. “She doesn’t need to hunt anymore because she has me to do it for her.”
“We love when our big, strong men do things for us, but sometimes we like to do it for ourselves.” Ana says. “Chewy is more than capable of doing this, Rhodie. Trust her. Besides, if she’s left you here, it’s for a reason.”
He nods, but looks heartbroken nonetheless, leaving down the hall, his shoulders tight.
Gus steps up to my side, Tav beside him. “She hasn’t done this in a long time,”
I nod in agreement. Since she’s been with Rhodie she’s been a lot more settled.
“Something either spooked her, or pissed her off,” Tav says, eyeing his very pregnant wife.
“Whatever it is, it’s going to need the Rev Room,” Gus sighs.
“I’ll get it ready.” I move to press kisses on the cheeks of the two loves of my life and make my way outside.
I have work to do.