Chapter 16
Grace
The dinner was surreal. Passing around plates of food, chatting and laughing. No yelling, no tense silences, or underhanded digs. Just a loving meal shared with Kai’s new family.
I’d wanted this. I wanted to become a part of this so desperately. To have a family full of love and kinship was not something I’d ever experienced before.
Our table, when I was growing up, had always been stiff and proper; usually ending with yelling and a punishment for Lexi, but when she was gone, the punishment shifted to me. It didn’t matter how good I was or what I did. A lesson from Daddy was a nightly inevitability by the time I was fifteen.
When I’d married Cain, the first few months had been nice.
Not being confined by my role at home and being able to cook freely.
Those first few months felt like a dream.
It only took one dish, one perceived mistake, one misaligned fork, and the yelling, berating, and eventual beatings ensued.
I’d married my father, only worse. There was never a reason for Cain’s cruelty, just that it was his right as my husband to keep me in line.
Daddy’s lessons became routine, and expected.
It was different with Cain. It was as if he became two different people.
The lovely, doting, upstanding husband and the malevolent, cruel, and sadistic religious zealot.
No matter what I did, I never knew who I was coming home to, or which version I would wake up to in the morning.
I’d lived in a constant state of fear and anxiety as we navigated life as a married couple.
After the first year, he’d stated we were to have a child, and that was when things went from bad to worse.
He expected me to be ready to serve him on every whim, and after the second month of not getting pregnant, he controlled my food, then forced me to take vitamins and supplements.
He escorted me to and from work, and eventually brought his father in to pray over me to get pregnant.
I felt sick now, knowing how vile Reverend Stone was.
Thinking back on those prayer sessions, it shamed me that I had stayed so long.
I whipped the cream on autopilot as Kai checked the cobbler and got out serving dishes and cutlery.
After whipping the cream, Maisie wandered in to grab her stashed ice cream, and everyone came over to serve themselves.
Thankfully, I’d had the foresight to make two large pans, as these men could eat.
They finished everything. Not a morsel was wasted.
“That was the best cobbler I’ve ever tasted,” Gramps boomed, rubbing over his full stomach. I blushed at everyone’s ready agreement.
“It was delicious. Maybe you should do all the cooking from now on,” Maisie added with a wink.
“Maze,” Ev replied, his tone full of warning.
“What? How are we supposed to follow this? We should work to our strengths, and cooking like this is not one of ours.”
“Well, thank you. Honestly, I’d love to cook for everyone again. I really do enjoy it,” I asserted as I glanced around at everyone’s smiling faces. “And your kitchen is a dream.”
“You’re welcome in the kitchen anytime,” Ev declared with a smile.
Everyone helped clean up, and the kitchen was spotless in no time.
“I’ve got to get this one to bed. Thanks for dinner, Grace. It was amazing,” Ollie said, rubbing a dozing Everly’s back as she snuggled into his shoulder.
“No worries. It was great to meet you both,” I said to Everly and nodded at Ollie.
“I’ve got some more chores to do, so I’ll catch you all later,” Oakley told us as he grabbed his tan Stetson from the row of hooks by the door and his coat. With a wave to everyone, he disappeared out the door.
It was still early, and cooking so freely had given me a surprising burst of energy, making me not want the night to end.
As if reading my mind, Kai and Maze spoke at the same time.
“Why don’t we…”
“Are we gonna…”
“You go,” Kai offered with a nod to Maisie.
“Are we up for smores around the fire?” she asked those who remained. “Maybe our musical La-La can show off for his new girlfriend.” The teasing note in her voice made Ev and Hunter chuckle.
Kai turned to me with a shrug. “What do you think? You up for more with this crew?”
“I’d love to and I need to witness this surprising musical talent of yours.” I bumped into his shoulder, playfully.
“Can I borrow your Valencia?” Kai asked Ev. “It’ll save me going back to get my Ashton without my prosthetic.”
I had no idea what types of guitars they were, but I was excited to hear both Kai and Ev play.
There was something about the strings of a guitar around a fire that was comforting, and the idea of Kai playing had butterflies squirming in my belly.
I hadn’t known he had any musical inclinations when we were growing up, so I was interested to see what he could do.
“Sure thing. I’ll go grab it. Maybe I’ll bring out my four-string bass, and we can do some cheesy duets,” Ev said with a chuckle as he disappeared up the stairs, and the rest of us followed Maisie outside and down the deck ramp.
We followed a lit garden path down the sloping backyard to the edge of the creek that ran through the property and became the Riverrun River.
The path weaved down to a raised and level concrete slab that had a circle of outdoor lounges and chairs surrounding a rustic brick fire pit, already stacked with logs, waiting to be lit.
It was far enough away from the back deck, you couldn’t see the lower level of the house, only the second floor and gabled roof.
There were inground lights glowing all around the edges of the slab, and string lights were hung over the wooden paneled backing that was dug into the hill.
It created a magical and somewhat romantic atmosphere for what was essentially a team of recovering vets to shoot the shit around a fancy fire pit. But it was beautiful all the same.
“Is this part of your doing?” I asked Maisie as she flicked a switch on the wall, and all the twinkle lights glowed with a soft yellow hue.
“Yeah. We needed more lights down here, but nothing too bright, or it takes away from the fire.” She flopped sideways onto one of the single-seat lounges.
“The guys used to bring their military torches down here with them, and it was like they were signaling jets with how bright those things are, so I fixed that before they blinded each other or brought down a passing plane.”
“We’re not that bad. And a torch can’t blind you,” Walker said as he moved from his chair to one of the two-seater lounges without armrests.
As soon as he seemed comfortable, Hunter moved Walker’s chair behind his seat, so it was out of the way but still in easy reach, and came to sit beside him.
They interacted so effortlessly; it was as if they were an extension of each other.
Hunter’s current military service dog, Willa, lay down over both Hunter’s and Walker’s feet.
She was a beautiful Belgian Shepherd Malinois mix with an amber-colored coat and black ears.
Her right ear had a slight kink, so it flopped down and gave the serious dog a playful look when she was sitting at attention.
Hunter and Willa worked unobtrusively and seamlessly, which amazed me.
Willa was like another member of the team and even had a seat at the dining table.
Hunter had mentioned having fun teaching her to sit on a human seat.
He wasn’t supposed to, but it had made everyone laugh, at a time when these men needed that moment of happiness and careless joy.
“She’s beautiful,” I said.
“She is,” Walker agreed as he reached down to scratch her belly. “When she isn’t working, she is the most playful and carefree dog I’d ever come across, and she eats up all the attention whenever she can.”
Kai approached and sat beside me on the two-seater, opposite Hunter and Walker, and wrapped his arm over my shoulders before kissing my cheek.
Ev came thumping down the path with a guitar case in each hand.
He set the black fabric case down in front of Kai as he passed and took his seat on the last solo chair next to Maisie, already opening his dark brown leather case.
Both Kai and Ev situated their guitars and played a few strings as they fiddled with this and that.
I knew next to nothing about guitars or instruments, so I was happy to watch the whole process.
Once they seemed happy with their tweaks, they stared at each other, having a silent conversation before Kai shifted over to give himself a little more room, and played the opening riff of Riptide by Vance Joy.
Soon Everett joined in with his bass guitar and started singing.
His deep, gravelly voice added a country twist to the pop song.
I was in awe of both of them. Once the chorus hit, everyone joined in, with Maisie tapping out the beat on her leg.
This seemed like something they did often, as they went around the circle and each sang a verse before all joining in on the chorus.
It was chaotic and out of tune, but I couldn’t remember a time of such freedom and creativity.
Riptide turned to Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty, then Bad Moon Rising, with everyone joining in for Hey Jude.
It was comfort, family, and joy around the fire.
Once they exhausted what must have been their usual set list, they each threw out more and more obscure requests.
From Teardrop by Massive Attack to Creep by Stone Temple Pilots to It’s Been A While by Staind.
It got more and more ridiculous. By the end, everyone was laughing and no longer able to sing.
I was wiping tears from my eyes when Kai gathered himself and started to sing You Make It Easy by Jason Aldean.
As he sang, his voice took on a soulful depth, and silence fell over the group.
His gaze hypnotized me as he sang every word to me.
Tears gathered in my eyes for a very different reason as he finished the song and smirked at me.
“Get a room, you two,” Maisie scoffed, breaking the tension and making everyone laugh. “Damn, I need to find my own serenading cowboy. Malachi, that was impressive,” she said as she fanned herself. “I didn’t know you could sing like that.”
Color flooded Kai’s cheeks as he fiddled with his guitar.
“That was amazing,” I declared softly into his ear and kissed his cheek.
“It’s all for you, Wildflower. I meant every word,” he whispered right back and placed the guitar back in its case before pulling me onto his lap for a hug.
“Kai! What are you doing?” I hissed. “We’re in public.”
“No one cares. They need to get used to it as I plan to have you with me, on me, or…” He nipped my earlobe and causing shivers to dance down my spine. “…be in you, taking you, every chance I can get.”
Now it was my turn for my cheeks to flush at his bold words. “Kai!” I gasped as he nuzzled my neck. “You can’t say things like that.”
“No one can hear me. I think we should call it a night so I can ravish you in private. What do ya say?”
My cheeks were on fire, and I could only nod as I gulped past the lump in my throat as my core throbbed in anticipation.
Who knew Kai would have such a dirty mouth and that I’d like it so much?