CHAPTER FIFTEEN
-:- BLAKE -:-
I’m not impressed at all with what happened last night with Mav, and that disgusting woman. I mean, who the hell walks up to someone sitting at a table with a woman and sits in the man’s lap, then kisses him? It’s low and disgusting behavior, but I am and was angry that he didn’t quickly push her away from him.
With it being Sunday, I can catch up with my own chores and put last night behind me, for now, at least. Getting started, I strip the sheets from my bed and get them into the washing machine. I thoroughly clean the room and remake it with the bedding, I washed them in a new lavender detergent. It’s supposed to help create soothing sleep, so we’ll see if it does.
Finishing the upper floor, I head downstairs and empty the washing machine, throwing it all in the dryer because I want to get done and have all my chores finished today, so I have nothing to do during the week while I’m working.
I make a drink and take a seat at the kitchen table. Tapping my fingers on the table, I wonder if it will be helpful to the Swap Shop. I will ask when I’m passing tomorrow. It’s no good trying to sell it as I don’t have time with Bitty allowing me to have her table and chairs.
Rinsing my cup, I quickly get started on cleaning the living room. I know it won’t take me long as I only have the TV on the wall, a two-seater couch, and a small coffee table. My lack of furniture doesn’t bother me at all. I agree it looks a little empty, but at least it’s easy to keep clean.
Light knocking on the front door grabs my attention, and I quickly check who it is as I don’t want to open it to Yax, and have another screaming match on the doorstep. Well, she does all the screaming, but even so, it is a menace and upsetting for my neighbors.
Seeing it’s the Sheriff and one of his deputies, I’m rather worried but quickly open the door. “Hello, Sheriff, Deputy, what can I do for you?”
“Can we come in and speak with you a moment, Blake? You were a witness to an incident last night and I would like to take your statement,” Sheriff Forest calmly asks.
“Please come in, both of you,” I step away from the door and point to the kitchen. “Would you like a drink or anything?” I ask, more with nerves than anything.
“No, we are good, but thanks for asking,” Sheriff Forest states as he takes a seat at the kitchen table. “This is Deputy Francis, and he’s going to be taking this case. We understand you witnessed an incident where Mav of the Raging Barons MC was sexually assaulted by a young woman.”
“Well, I don’t know about sexually assaulted, but she sat in his lap and kissed him,” I snip and realize my tone is sharp, so give a sorry look before continuing. “We were on a date night, our first date night actually, when from behind Mav where we were sitting at a table this woman walked up and threw herself into his lap.”
“You mean Mav’s lap?” Deputy Francis asks.
“Yes, she threw herself into his lap, or onto, whichever way you see it,” again grimacing. “Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. That’s when I left the table and the club.”
“So, he did not instigate any of that behavior?” Sheriff Forest asks, as he’s writing everything I’m saying on a small notepad with the smallest pencil I’ve ever seen.
“No, he didn’t even see her coming.” Now, I’m feeling bad that I stormed out without waiting to see what would happen. But I’m so edgy about relationships now that I didn’t want to see any betrayal.
“Okay…so, the woman walked up and threw herself at him, then kissed him, and he had no say in the matter? Now, I can see you are not realizing this is serious. But think about it, if it had been a man walking up to a woman and doing that, it would have been seen as assault, wouldn’t it?” Sheriff Forest asks me and I consider it a moment, and have to admit he’s right.
“Yes, I suppose you are right.” I give a sheepish look to them both.
“I hope you won’t hold this against Mav ‘cause he’s a good guy. One that would be an excellent partner for anyone that commits to him. He’s been wanting to settle down for a while and I think you both would suit each other. Maybe get past this, Blake, and give him a chance,” Sheriff Forest states, and gives me a pat on my hand which was resting on the table in front of me.
“I’ll think about it,” I respond, but the Sheriff’s comment has made my anger slide.
Once they have left, I sit in the kitchen for quite some time thinking about what was said. I think it would be classed as assault if it was a woman, and just because it was a man, it isn’t any less significant.
Giving myself a mental shake, I get back to cleaning and while doing so, I wonder if I can give Alf or Heather a call about the meals and my house being cleaned once Yax has gone. No, maybe it would be best to speak to one of them during work hours.
My phone rings and I pick it up and see Ed’s name displayed. Now I’m surprised as I gave my number to Ed in case of an emergency. Taking the call, I quickly say, “Ed, are you okay?”
“I dropped my plate. Do you have a spare meal?” Ed sounds like he’s going to go into a fit of temper any minute.
“Since I haven't had a chance to eat, how about I get some food and we can eat together?”
“Yes, that would be great, thank you.” Ed has calmed a little, I can tell.
“I’ll see you in around an hour. Is that good for you?”
Ed chuckles. “Yes, that is fine. I’ll see you then, bye.” I look at my phone because boy, did he go quickly, he never gave me the chance to say goodbye.
An hour later, I’m at Ed’s carrying an order I purchased from none other than Club Whisky. They don’t usually do takeout, but when I explained to Tony, the Chef, that it was for an elderly gentleman who had dropped his plate, he was more than happy to bag me some fried chicken, ribs and fries. I was more than grateful, and I’m sure he didn’t charge me as much as it should have been.
Twenty minutes later, I’m wiping my chin with a paper napkin when Ed chuckles. “I don’t know how you got this, Blake, but it’s the best meal I’ve had in ages. Apart from the meal you made, of course.”
I grin because he added the latter on to get himself out of deep water, but I don’t care. As long as he’s eaten well I’m not worried he thinks a chef cooks better than I do. “I didn’t know where to get food from, to be honest Ed, then I thought about the meal last night and decided, why not just ask. They could only say no, and if that was the case, then I would have gone to the grocery store and found something to cook for us both.”
“We should do this again sometime.” Ed looks at me hopefully, and I grin while nodding that yes we should.
“Let me clean up, and I’ll make us a drink.”
“Thank you, Blake. It was good of you to do this. My hands are giving me a little pain and the plate just slipped out of my hand. I cleaned up so you wouldn’t have to do that.” Ed is looking at the floor in front of the stove and I can see that it’s not as clean as it could be, but I’m not going to embarrass him. I will be here tomorrow anyway, and I’ll make sure it’s cleaned correctly then.
“Well, you did great. Thanks for doing that. Now go into the living room and I’ll finish up here and come have a drink with you before I have to go home and finish my chores.”
Sitting in the living room, we talk about anything and everything. I give him a little of my life's history, and he tells me a little more about his wife. It’s a very relaxed moment, and I’m enjoying Ed’s company more than I’d like to admit.
My phone pings and I look at it and roll my eyes when I see Bitty has sent me a message. “Excuse me, Ed, I have a message from a friend who is more of a mother these days.”
Bitty: I’m coming over to speak to you.
Blake: Oh, is it important?
Bitty: Of course, it is or I wouldn’t come over on a Sunday!
Blake: OK.
“Is everything okay?” Ed asks, and I look up with a puzzled look, I’m sure.
“Well, it’s my adopted mother, Bitty, and she is coming over to my house to see me. Supposedly to speak to me about something important,” I respond.
“Bitty? Is that the Bitty who is friends with Amelia?” Ed asks, and I look at him, surprised.
“Yes, that’s the Bitty.”
“Oh, my goodness. She’s totally crazy. I’ve known her since we were teenagers. She is as crazy as you can get, and so is Amelia and that other friend…” Now, Ed is snapping his fingers against his chin trying to remember, and I’m watching those fingers and frown, because hey, I thought he was having trouble with them? My mind snaps back to him as he continues speaking, “Yeah, Sybil, that’s the other one. They are like three witches, always in trouble, but always helping where they can. I have to admit that because I’d be doing them a disservice otherwise. So, you have adopted Bitty as a mother?”
“No. She adopted me a few minutes after we met. But I like her. She is rather wacky, but her heart is in the right place. The three of them are living at the clubhouse now from what Bitty has told me, and they love it. They are all selling their houses, too.”
“Well, well, life is a surprise. You take care with those three. They could lead you into all sorts of trouble.”
Laughing, I take our empty cups and wash them as I get ready to head home. “I’ll be careful, but you know Bitty is being so kind to me. Just when I needed a fairy godmother, she appeared.”
“Yeah, witches are like that.” Ed snorts, and I have to giggle at him, referring to them as witches, but I see them as good witches, if that’s what they are.
“Okay, Ed, I’ll see you tomorrow evening. I’ll speak to Alf about the food as soon as I get the opportunity, too.” I kiss his leathery cheek and make my way home. I used the van and hope I don’t get into trouble.
Back home, I’m only inside ten minutes before the front door opens and Bitty walks in. Taking her jacket off and hanging it on the coat rail, just as though she’s done it a million times before. I shake my head and grin to myself.
“Okay, let’s not mess around. This shit with Mav and that horrid woman, Sharon. I’ve found out he was with her once. Yeah, idiot. Men! Honestly, they think with their dicks half the time. Then when they get into trouble because of that dick, they wonder why. It’s a shame God didn’t give them a brain that wasn’t attached to that dick, as it would have saved the world all sorts of crap.” Bitty seems to be on a roll and she’s only just started speaking. I remain quiet as I know that this could get tetchy if I don’t react well. “So, you know Forest is charging Sharon for sexual assault. That should sort the bitch out. She’s been stalking Mav for months and he’s told her repeatedly he’s not interested.
“Now, about last night. You didn’t hang around, did you? Why not? He was on a date with you. What was wrong with you putting that bitch in her place? Now, Blake, if he’s your man, he is YOUR man. You fight for him, you show him he matters, you don’t run away like a little girl in kindergarten, for goodness sake. I can see I’m going to have to toughen you up some. So, what you got to say for yourself?”
“I was shocked and hurt. You know what happened with my marriage, Bitty. The last thing I want is disrespecting again.”
“I can understand that, Blake, but you also have to create your own happiness and future. So, I’ll organize a rerun of the date for the coming Saturday and you can try again. This time you can go to TJs. Now, I’m off, as I have things to be doing.” Before I can say a word, Bitty has kissed my forehead and left slamming the front door behind her.
Shock, I’m in shock. Second date Saturday! Well, I hope it’s better than the last one.