Chapter 31
-:- VICTORIA -:-
Once I had dropped Corey at school, I stopped by the bridal shop to try the fit of my suit. As I walk inside the shop, the seamstress Colleen greets me.
We quickly get down to trying on the dress.
“The fit is perfect. I don’t think it could have fit you any better than it does, Victoria.
Take a look in the mirrors.” Colleen points to one end of the fitting room where a mirror is on either wall.
It gives you a back and front view of what you are wearing.
Perfect. She’s right. The dress fits beautifully, and the jacket gives it the look I need for the wedding. The dress itself I can wear to go out for restaurant meals, or just as a summer dress. I really love it.
“It’s gorgeous, Colleen. Can I take it with me today?” I ask, hoping that I can, because I don’t want to have to come back before the wedding.
“Yes, take it off and I’ll wrap it for you.”
I quickly remove the jacket and dress, check out the shoes that Colleen had handed to me, and get dressed in my black pants and blouse that I’d picked for working in today.
After paying the balance on the outfit, I give Colleen a hug of thanks and carry the box to the truck.
I’m hoping Chaos will get me the SUV soon so he can have his vehicle on hand again.
I know he swaps from his bike to the truck depending on what he has going on, and me having the truck could be a problem.
I’m feeling happy and excited as I walk into Specs’ office a short while later. “Good morning, Specs.”
Specs turns and gives me a crooked grin, “Well, aren’t you a happy one this morning?”
“I am. I’ve just collected my outfit for the wedding.” I place my purse on one side of my desk and take my seat. Rubbing my hands together ready to get started.
“Are you not going to show me?” Specs asks with amusement in his voice. I laugh while shaking my head that nope, I definitely am not showing him.
My mind closes out everything around me as I delve into the code I’m writing. I love this part of my life. Coding engrosses my thoughts, and building something from nothing, it feels like creating a living being when I hit the key to give it life.
My codes are in demand due to the reliability and safety they possess. My experience includes working with banks, corporations, and small businesses. The club is like family to me, thanks to Chaos, so helping is easy for me.
I nibbled the sandwich that Specs placed at the side of me on the desk. I sip at the bottle of water, which is room temperature at this point. Specs doesn’t speak to me, knowing what it’s like to keep your concentration on the job at hand.
Sitting up straight and rubbing my lower back, I look over my shoulder at Specs. “I’m ready. Do you want me to send you the password for it now? Then, when you are satisfied you can launch it.”
“That would be great, Victoria.”
I write down the information Specs needs to get to the code as I’ve locked it down tight on the server. The last thing we need is anyone finding this code. I step over to Specs’ desk and place the note in front of him.
“Thanks. Go get a fresh drink and stretch your legs for a few minutes.”
I pat Specs' shoulder and walk out of the office, taking my warm bottle of water with me. I head into the kitchen and throw out the bottle before heading to the coffee machine.
“Are you having a good day, Bitty?” I ask as she’s working at the counter near where the coffee machine and I are.
“I’m okay, thank you for asking, Victoria.”
Now, I’m not sure why, but her quiet answer doesn’t sit well. I look at Amelia who is working alongside Meat. Sybil isn’t in the kitchen at this point. Stitch is sitting at a table working and making notes on a pad while reading a medical magazine.
Taking my coffee mug, I step closer to Bitty. “Bitty, are you okay?” I ask keeping my voice low.
Bitty looks at me and she has sadness in her eyes. “Yes, I’m okay. Are you ready for the wedding?”
“Well, I am sort of…” A thought flashes across my mind, and I look at Bitty, thinking this might be a good idea. “You know, I don’t have a mother to be with me in the morning, before the actual wedding.”
I pause and watch Bitty nodding, but not saying what I expected, which was her immediate offer to be a stand-in mother for the morning.
Amelia must have heard what I’d just said to Bitty as she steps closer and loudly offers. “I’ll be a stand-in mother for the morning.”
I see Bitty close her eyes and shrink into herself a little, and I turn, giving Amelia an honest smile. “No, thanks, Amelia. Bitty is going to do it for me. Aren’t you, Bitty?”
Bitty’s head swivels to me so fast it’s a wonder she isn’t dizzy. “You want me to do it?” she asks me, and you know it sounds timid, which isn’t like her. All three of the Stooges are bright, forward, and rather naughty. Under-confidence isn’t one of their traits.
“Yes, I do.” I wait for her reply. Amelia huffs and walks away. That’s when I notice Mia has entered the kitchen at some point and is watching all this happening.
Mia gives me a small smile before stepping closer, “Wow, what a compliment that is, Bitty. Being an honorary mother for the morning. What are you going to wear? You’ll have to make sure Victoria has something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
That is the mother-of-the-bride's responsibility.”
Bitty takes a deep breath, then turns to me with a huge, bright smile. “I’d be honored, Victoria. I’ll make sure you have everything you need. Let me know what time and where you want me to be. I’ll get a nice bouquet for you to carry. It’s my gift as a mother to a daughter.”
“That would be great, Bitty. Thank you so much. You know Bethy would have been with me as a sister, but you as a mother figure means such a lot to me.”
Bitty has tears in her eyes, and she hugs me fiercely before walking out of the kitchen with purpose. Mia looks at me and grins. “Well, I think you got her out of her funk.”
Both Mia and I turn when Amelia mutters something under her breath, but Mia steps closer and I see her hands clench, so something has pissed her off.
“You think you can do better, Amelia? You want to take the moment of happiness from Bitty, just because you can? Don’t piss me off more than you and Sybil have already.”
Amelia turns to Mia with shock on her face, and I’m thinking I should have brought the popcorn. I lean on the counter and wait to see what develops.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Amelia snaps, stepping a little closer to Mia.
“It means you undervalue Bitty. I’ve watched you throw her ideas in the trash every time she makes one.
You’ve not noticed, you or Sybil that your friend is stepping away from you.
It won’t take much longer before she leaves the clubhouse and the club,” Mia is gasping for breath because she’s said it all so fast.
“I don’t know what you mean?”
Mia slams her hands onto her hips and leans forward, so she’s inside Amelia’s personal space. “You need to come with me and have a talk. In fact, get Sybil and let’s make it a real talk. Meat, take charge of the kitchen.”
Meat, who had said nothing but hadn’t missed a thing, grunts and nods in response. It’s enough for Mia. She storms out of the kitchen with Amelia right behind her. I look at Meat and give a wide-eyed look, but can’t resist asking, “You want some popcorn?”
Meat stares at me a moment before a tiny tick of his top lip tells me he’s smiling, then he grunts and turns back to the job at hand.
I turn and make my way back to the office where I’m going to tell Specs to watch the kitchen camera feedback, and yeah, I grab a bag of popcorn out of the cabinet for him.
The popcorn worked as Specs shoveled a handful into his mouth while watching Mia’s showdown with Amelia. He could watch what’s happening now, but we know not to invade spaces we don’t belong in.
The code works and Specs is delighted. My first job, and I did it well.
I’m thankful that I’ve made a good first impression.
Because of that, Specs tells me he is handing over the monitoring of all the club's businesses to me.
Starting Monday, they will be my responsibility, and I will report to him if anything untoward happens.
Otherwise, they are my babies to coddle. His words, not mine.
After collecting Corey from school, we go back to the apartment.
“Okay, we are moving out on Saturday after the wedding. Let’s get things packed up and ready to move.
We can do a few things each evening. Old clothes we’ll take to the Swap Shop.
I think we can ask Sentry if he’ll pick them up, if we have a lot of things to give him for the shop,” I mumble, more to myself than Corey.
“Mom, what about toys? I have some things I don’t play with and I’d give them to Sentry.”
“That’s a good idea, Corey. I’m sure the shop would take them. Let’s have just a half-hour packing before Chaos arrives. He’s taking us to the house so we can walk around and see what it’s like.”
Corey rushes to his bedroom, and I open the kitchen cabinets to check what is mine to take, and what I need to leave because it was here when I leased the place.
An hour and thirty minutes later, Corey is running around the house shouting out when he sees something he particularly likes.
I’m amazed at how much furniture has been left inside the house.
The kitchen is fully stocked and has a small kitchen table and four chairs.
The dining area has an eight-seater table and chairs, and honestly, it’s immaculate.
It’s oak I think, and is highly polished.
The woman who owned the house loved it, and she loved everything in it.
It must have been hard to walk away and leave everything behind.
I must have said the last out loud as Chaos replies. “She took photograph albums, some glassware, and other trinkets she loved. You know special ones to her. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her days here alone, but sent a message that she hoped we would love the place as much as she did.”
Nodding, even with a tear in my eye as I feel emotional for the lady that I didn’t know, but had the kindest of hearts.
I am getting more and more excited as I enter each room. Laundry, mudroom, living room, dining room, beautiful welcoming kitchen, and that is just downstairs.
Once we walk outside, I can see Chaos spending time in the yard. He’s pointing out where he’s going to place a bike shed, a double garage and a shed for gardening equipment. He even asks where I’d like him to build a cookout area.
“Dad, there is a woman standing outside the house. She’s spying on us!” Corey is peeking through the sheers, and I giggle a little but place my hand over my mouth to try trapping it.
“That’ll be Mrs. Lincoln. She’s the nosy neighbor. Don’t be rude to her, Corey, if she says anything to you. She’s just a miserable old woman who has nothing better to do than mess with people,” Chaos states, as if it’s just a matter of fact.
“Okay, Dad,” Corey replies, and calling Chaos Dad has come easier and easier to him. I’m loving it when he calls me Mom.
Corey picks the bedroom he wants with an adjoined bathroom. I tell him he has to keep it clean, or he’ll be in big trouble. He gives me a huge nod and a sincere “I will, Mom,” which has my heart flipping in my chest.
Chaos and I decide that the master suite is the one for us. It has an en-suite, and a great walk-in closet that will be large enough for both of us.
“The new beds will be here tomorrow, and Sentry is coming to take the old ones as he knows a single mother who needs them. He’ll make sure the new ones are put in place. He even said Paisley was coming and would make the beds with the new bedding I had Heather buy.”
“Wow, you have everything organized. There’s nothing for me to do here except move in.” I wrap my arms around his waist and lift my face for him to kiss me. He knows when I wrap my arms around him I expect that, and he does so eagerly every single time.
“Not long before you become Mrs. Vincent Styles,” Chaos announces.
“Well, it’s Mrs. Victoria Styles actually,” I grin, then run away when he growls and chases me around the house.
“You two are not kissing face again are you? You know I’m a kid and I’m not supposed to see and hear all this lovey stuff don’t you?
” I don’t respond because I’m not sure if I should be shocked or laugh, but Corey continues, “If running around the house is going to be how you do things can you not run into my bedroom. I don’t want kissy stuff happening in there. ”
Chaos laughs and heads into Corey’s room. Me? I go into the kitchen and laugh to myself.