CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
-:- BLAKE -:-
Last night was awesome. We had a great time and I love the other women, or Ol’ Ladies, as they are called. I didn’t get to wear my new jacket that Mav gave me, which claims I am his property. It was a bit of a shock, but he is showing he’s a caveman just like the others I’ve met so far. He is, however, sensitive, loving and mine…and I know that I’m feeling possessive, but if he says I’m his property, then he has to be mine in return.
I was watching Winter at the bar last night and she has a fantastic relationship with her man, Target. Winter, I’ve noticed, is held in high regard by everyone. I decided I’m going to have lessons with her to learn to use a weapon. I keep thinking that I want to be Winter when I grow up. Hm, saying that Raven, Star, or Eden…Grief, I think I just need to get the confidence all of them have, and I’ll be as sassy as they all are!
My phone rings, which pulls me from my thoughts, and seeing it’s Alf, I quickly answer, “Hello, Alf.”
“Hi, Blake. I wanted to let you know I’ve had Pru checked, and she has bronchitis. She’s now on medication and I’ve arranged a carer to be with her for the next seven days. She’ll live at the house with her, make sure she does as she’s been told.”
“Oh, I’m pleased I mentioned it to you now. It would have been bad if it had turned to pneumonia. Shall I still go on my shift or wait until the carer has finished living with her?”
“You can take her a cookie now and again, in the day or evening, but it’s not working. The carer is doing all the chores, so you just get a smile out of her and leave,” Alf chuckles, “She loves you going on your shifts, and taking cookies, cupcakes and other treats.”
“I’ll do that, and Ed is popping in to see her, too. I’m sure he’ll keep her on her toes.”
“Oh, my, he will. Anyway, you won’t be working for Pru this next week, but I’ll not be taking anything out of your week's salary. It’s not your doing that she has someone else with her. She’ll be delighted to get you back, I’m sure, because she already told me this woman is a battleaxe,” Alf is chuckling to himself, and I grin because I can imagine Pru saying just that. Alf excuses himself and cuts the call.
With it being Sunday, Mav is at church, and I would never have thought he was religious, but I’m saying nothing, because they are a cult, after all!
Ed walks into the house, pours himself a cold drink from the fridge and takes a seat at the table across from me. “Morning, Blake. I’ve come over to update you on what I know.”
“Morning, PawPaw.” Now, before I can say more, Ed launches into his report, which has me silently wanting to laugh.
“Okay, first off I went to the clubhouse where Mav was living to see what it was like and to see this house he’s having built. Because if it was shit, I was going to tell him to take a hike and leave you alone. As your PawPaw, I take your health and safety seriously.”
Nodding to show I’m following along, although I’m not sure why he thinks I may have a safety problem. It seems Ed just wants to get everything off his chest he continues.
“The place seems okay. I saw nothing that either you or I needed to worry about. Bitty, and her witches have the place covered, so I’m not worried at all about you going there. I also saw the plot for the house Mav is building, and the foundations are solid. It looks like it will be a large place, and he told me it will have a front and back porch.”
“It sounds lovely, and I’ve not seen it yet. Mav has shown me the plans and what it will be like finished and I’m excited, but want to wait until I can walk inside.”
“I’ll keep my eye on it as your PawPaw, just to be sure nothing goes wrong,” Ed states proudly, and I give him one of my sweetest smiles, then he continues, “I’ve visited Pru, and she has this woman looking after her. I had to stop myself from laughing because she was rather harsh in manner and looks. Poor Pru looked like she wanted me to take her home with me when it was time for me to leave.”
Giggles pop out before I can stop them, and knowing I’ll be visiting next week, so I best be ready and don’t upset this woman. But if she’s harsh with Pru, I will tell her. Thoughts of Winter cross my mind, and have me steeling my backbone, ready for anything this woman may throw at me if I have to stand up to her.
“Oh, did you hear anything yet from the realtor?”
“Yes, I’m just waiting for the paperwork to be done. The realtor will let me know when that’s done, and then I’ll get the money from the sale. I’m not worried about the money, PawPaw. I just want it gone and done with.”
“Yeah, but it won’t take long, I’m sure.”
Later that afternoon, I set up the grill and place a table next to it where Mav can stand the tray of meat I have for him to cook. He does not know I’m doing this, but I feel like sitting outside at the patio table and enjoy the fresh air. Of course, Ed decided it was a good day to stay and eat with us, so he is talking to Mav now about anything and everything he can think of. Mav is so good with him, patience flows from him when dealing with Ed’s constant stream of chatter.
Turning as though he can hear my thoughts, Mav gives me a huge smile. “I forgot to tell you that Hammer is organizing for resin to be laid in the front yard. I’ve given him the finances, so you don’t have to worry about that either.”
“Oh, I can give you it back when the house sale money comes to me.”
“No. I’ve paid for it. If we lease this place it’ll pay for itself given time. I think one of the brothers may be interested in leasing it which will be perfect.” Mav throws ribs I marinated earlier onto the grill and the sizzle and steam has my mouth watering in anticipation.
The evening is enjoyable, Mav and Ed get on well, and I enjoy listening to them bantering about cars, houses, and even the price of groceries. The loneliness I had been feeling has been washed away and I think I’m so lucky to have these two men in my life. But not only them, Bitty too, who has shown what a mother should be like. Constantly calling, checking I’m alright and including me when she has been going shopping, well if I’ve been available that is. But it is so nice to have these people in my life that I count my blessings daily.
-:- MAV -:-
What a busy week this has been, what with Ed always being around at our place and Bitty popping in and out too. I’ve been twice with Blake to visit one of her clients called Pru, and she’s a great senior, one hell of a sense of humor. She needs that humor with the carer she has because that one must have lost her humor when she graduated from diapers. I’ve yet to see her crack a smile no matter what is said to her.
Saturday afternoon and I’m taking Blake over to Nell’s. She is one of the girl gang, and she’s just learned how to drive a trike. I thought they would get on well and I want to catch up with Graham to make sure all the trash had been taken out.
Walking into Nell’s kitchen, I can’t help but take a lung full of the gorgeous smell that is hanging in the air. “What is that smell?” I can’t help but ask.
“Cake…chocolate, red velvet, carrot. You name it and Nell has been baking it,” Tank replies as he hands me a beer and a soda to Blake.
“Why? Is she okay?” Blake asks.
“She’s fine. Graham had contact with their father, and they both hate his guts, so it wasn’t particularly pleasant. Now Nell wants to get rid of him once and for all. But it’s left her with a bit of a temper. She’ll be pleased to see you both, and maybe Blake can cheer her up.” Tank cuts an enormous chunk of red velvet cake and hands it to me just as Nell walks in through the back door.
“I told you to leave those cakes alone. Now look what you’ve gone and done, fucking men, I think I’m going to like women… get married to a woman, that’ll piss off all you men.”
Blake giggles, attracting Nell’s attention, but when Blake walks over and gives Nell a hug, links arms with her and leads her outside, I think both myself and Tank are relieved.
“Fucking hell man, she is upset. I’ve never seen Nell like that.”
Tank chuckles, “Oh, she can be fiery like a dragon, but when she’s upset, she lets everyone know it, but never, and I mean never, do you want to see her cry. It breaks your heart to see that, and I’ve only ever seen it once, and I will kill the next fucker that makes her shed a tear.”
“What did her father want?” I can’t help but ask.
Graham walks into the kitchen just as I asked, so he shakes his head as he grabs a chunk of cake as he replies. “Fucker wants to bury the hatchet. Be family again. He’s still with the gold-digging whore, so he has no chance of either of us being family again. I hate her, and I hate him. He can stay away from us. We don’t want or need him.” After eating a couple of bites of his cake, he continues, “Nell wants to grab him and feed him to Jaws, but I told her to ignore him. He isn’t worth it.”
Nodding and handing Tank my empty plate, I lean back in my seat. “Family… sometimes you just have to let them go.”
“Yeah, I agree. Oh, did I tell you Vitale has had Nell on another date? It’s fucking hilarious how he’s trying to win her over. You’d never know he could cut someone’s throat and never look back, but if Nell scowls, he wants to know why and who did it,” Graham chuckles.
“He’s not giving up, is he?” I can’t help but smirk because we’ve all seen Vitale trying to get round Nell.
“Not sure he’ll win, but it’s fun to watch,” Tank laughs.
Hearing an engine noise we all run out the back door and look out over the back of the property, and there is Nell driving a trike with Blake in the back seat laughing her ass off. We all three stand with our mouths dropped open to our chests, because these two are going for it. Nell is laughing right along with Blake, and you know I have this awful feeling that my Blake may have found her BFF, as they call them. But fuck, couldn’t she have found someone calm and you know, sedate?
Later that evening, we are sitting in the kitchen at the clubhouse eating and enjoying the camaraderie of the brothers and their Ol’ Ladies. Mia has taken one of the twins outside, and it looks like she’s not amused about something.
Ten minutes later, Axel walks past with Drag and Buzz, and it’s the shit-eating grin on his face that catches your attention. But when he loudly states, “The fucker asked me if I wanted a nice purple cock just like his…” that I spit the mouthful of beer I had been about to swallow. The room cracks into laughter as we all know that is the twins talking because they’ve asked nearly every one of the brothers at this point if they want a green or purple cock, just like theirs.
Blake looks around and smiles, then loud enough for everyone to hear states, “It is a cult, isn’t it? But I don’t mind, I quite like it here.”
Again, the room is in an uproar with laughter, and I wrap my arms around my woman, kissing her silly. I don’t give a fuck if she thinks we’re a cult or not. Life is good, and that’s all that matters.