Chapter Twenty-Three
Josie
Although I no longer lived at the motel, I was vested in its success. When I’d first arrived, everyone had their own room, and the population was relatively manageable, but as our reputation grew, we got so many new females showing up at the door, we had to make the rooms semiprivate.
Never ones to let anyone have less than the best, my mates began a remodel with each room being painted and the bathrooms upgraded.
New bedding and towels as well, and furniture as needed.
The kitchen had new appliances and all sorts of helpful things for Thea and Suzie to use to create healthy, tasty meals for the residents.
As I learned more about how to run a shelter like ours, Thea had handed the reins to me more and more and now primarily stayed in the kitchen doing what she loved best. She was the main cook, and Suzie, of all people, had elected to stay here and be our pastry chef.
Somehow, one of our biggest worries had blossomed and let go of a lot of her trauma.
Since a therapist visited three days a week, she’d grown a lot in her time here and now was a full-time employee.
As to me, my desk plaque said manager. My mates had insisted that I didn’t need to work, but I begged to differ.
“Maybe later. It makes me feel good to help others. After all, I had you three to help me when I arrived, and I want to return the favor. It’s the least I can do.
Each one of them has been through something awful. They need us to be there for them.”
“All right, mate.” Aries stroked my hair. “But anytime you want a break, tell us, and we’ll hire someone to fill your shoes.”
“I don’t see that happening.” After all, even if we decided to have a family later, I’d be able to bring my baby to work anytime I wanted.
They wouldn’t be the only child in the building, and Thea would be such a good person to be around them.
But, I wasn’t even sure if the guys wanted babies, and that would be far down the line.
For now, I was just happy to have a job I loved where I could take care of people and a home filled with even more love.
When I ran away from the forced marriage in my pack, I didn’t know if I’d even survive the flight.
If they’d drag me back or kill me for daring to leave without permission.
“Josie, can I talk to you?”
I looked up from my desk to see our newest resident, Betsy, her baby in her arms and toddler clinging to her skirt.
She’d been widowed from her fated mate and instead of understanding her grief, her pack alpha had “assigned” her to another male.
One who was no more interested in her than she was in him and who was twice her age, but since his mate had also died, leaving him with five children to rear, the math added up for the alpha.
“Of course. Come in and sit down.”
“Thank you.” She moved so carefully, as if a wrong step would bring down someone’s wrath on her. “I hate to bother you.”
“You aren’t bothering me. What can I do to help you?”
“I don’t know what to do. My mother wrote me and said I should come and live with her. She is in another pack and has room for us.”
“I see. That’s generous of her, I suppose.”
“Kind of.” She settled the baby girl on her lap and lifted the toddler to her other knee, cuddling them both. “I mean, at least I wouldn’t be taking charity.”
“Charity! Since when is what we have here charity. You have two tiny children and still manage to do your share to help out a lot. Don’t let people use buzz words to make you feel less than.
You should be thinking of what your dreams are.
Not simply where to find a roof. You have a roof here, and we love seeing you every day.
In fact, I wanted to talk to you about an idea I’ve been working on. ”
“You do?” She tilted her head. “What is it? How I can I be more helpful?”
“We have been getting more moms in here, and when they are starting to go out on job interviews or have appointments, they need child care.”
“Oh, I’ll babysit anytime.”
“I was thinking of something a little more formal. We have that conference room at the end of the first-floor hallway. It’s never used at all, and it might make for a good daycare center. Would you find that useful?”
“Oh my gosh.” She bounced both little ones, eliciting a coo and a squeal. “One of the reasons besides the guilt trip that I considered Mom’s offer, was that I hate asking the other ladies to watch the two of them. They’re so active, especially since little Delilah has begun to crawl.”
“And we don’t even have a nice playroom for the children.
There’s so much to do. Of course, you’d have to take some classes at the community college, but we definitely could find other moms to help out with the few that aren’t available online.
I really want your ideas though. While you are taking the classes, we can get the room all ready.
You sure you want to do this? I know people have been trying to make decisions for you, and we don’t want to do that too. ”
Her eyes sparkled, and she kissed the top of her baby’s downy head.
“I cannot imagine a better thing to do. Getting more of an education has been a dream of mine, and I love working with children. To tell you the truth, Mom is a little controlling, and even though I love her, I really don’t want to live with her. ”
She left, heading for the conference room to figure out what needed to be done, humming under her breath and with a spring in her step. I had the best job in the whole world. Helping people rocked.
“Ready to go to the club, mate?” Carver stood in my doorway. “The guys are waiting outside.”
“I sure am.” My mates were taking me dancing then home to our big bed for snuggling and whatever came after. Yeah…my life was the best.