CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
-:- Paisley -:-
Walking through the common room to the kitchen for a bottle of water, I notice Axel is smirking at me. This isn’t the first time in the last few days he keeps smirking. What the hell is going on with him, I don’t know, but I shake my head, and pass Sybil coming out of the kitchen as I walk inside.
“Meat, are you making soup today?” I ask. I wait for his reply as he is chopping up a hunk of meat, and he looks dangerous with that cleaver in his hand.
Grunting, which I presume is his reply, I give him a bright smile and take a bottle of water from the fridge before walking out the back door to work on the crib for the last time.
I check the crib over carefully, making sure I didn’t miss painting anywhere. It is stunning and I am more than happy with the way this has turned out.
Leaning the headboard against the wall, I pick up the transfer and get to work. This is the last piece before I carry all the pieces of the crib to Silver and Eden’s room in the clubhouse. I’ll need to get help to put this together. I don’t want it falling apart if I don’t get everything screwed tightly enough.
Picking up the footboard, I carry it carefully through the kitchen and common area and up the stairs. I’m exhausted by the time I lean it against the wall outside Silver’s room.
“What are you doing, Pais?”
Ahhhhh, embarrassingly screaming like a little girl, I whirl around and give Wings a filthy look. “You scared the shit out of me, Wings. Don’t be doing that.”
“Sorry, Pais. What are you doing?” Wings is grinning, knowing he gave me a scare. I’m thinking this man has no shame.
“I’m carrying all the pieces of the crib up here, then it needs to be put together.” I eye Wings as it comes to me that maybe he will help with that.
“I’ll help you assemble it. Let me grab the rest of it. You hang about here and I’ll be back in a minute.”
Giving Wings a nod, I lean against the wall and watch him rush away. Damn, he scared the pants off me. I’ve got to learn to be more alert.
“Yeah, you do, Pais. You also got to learn to stop talking out loud.”
“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” I rub my forehead as I turn my face and look at Heather, who is grinning at me with more than a little twinkle in her eye. “Yeah, I need to learn not to do that, but it”s such a habit. It stems from living and working on my own for a long time. I could go days without speaking to anyone, unless it was at the Swap Shop. I started talking to myself rather than thinking when I was at home. It was nice to hear words being said even if they were from myself to myself.”
“Christ, Pais.” Heather surprises me when she gives me a hug. “You don’t need to do that anymore. All of us are happy to talk to you, and I’m sure TwoCents will enjoy listening to you, and having conversations. From what I know of TwoCents, he’s a good man, and he easily sits with the brothers talking, so I’m positive he’d be like that with you.”
We both turn and see Wings, along with Buzz, carrying the crib. “Oh, here you are, Pais, your Knights in shining leather.”
I can’t help the giggle at her comment, and giving Wings and Buzz a smile, I knock before opening Silver’s room. I know he’s not here, but it’s still polite to knock first.
“Open the door, Pais. Silver and Eden are not here, so let’s get this shit done,” Buzz firmly states.
Heather gives me an eye roll before walking away, and I sigh as I walk into the room and turn to wait for my Knights to cart in the crib.
These two quickly have the crib built. I stand back, happy with the result. The transfer, which is a motorcycle with puffs of smoke behind it to represent speed, is flying over grass with spring flowers popping through. It’s bright and cheerful, with a softness to it although it is a motorcycle.
“I like what you’ve done with this, Paisley. For the first one that you’ve done, you’ve done a fucking good job,” Buzz states as he’s standing next to me with his arms folded over his chest.
“Thanks, Buzz. I did it without asking Fox for help, too.”
“I’m sure Silver and Eden will love it.” Wings gives me a kiss on the forehead before walking out of the room with Buzz on his heels.
Well, I suppose that’s that then! I’ll have to contact Eden and tell her I have a gift for her. Now, onto the next gift I have to give…Rushing to my room, I pick up the package from the dresser where TwoCents had placed it.
Opening the package, I take out the album and flick through, smiling at the photographs that are placed carefully inside. Then I unwrap the bubble wrapped framed photograph and my face lights up. The photograph of the twins sitting back-to-back and looking at the camera is perfect. They both have lopsided smiles on their faces, and they are identical to the one I’ve seen Axel give. I’m positive Mia is going to love this gift.
Taking a piece of the package, I wrap the two gifts as carefully as I can. It’s not perfect, but it’s not the packaging that counts. Although it is awesome to see the way some people can wrap gifts and make them look stunning. Sadly, that’s not me, but I hope the gifts will be worth the shitty wrapping.
Picking up the gifts, I walk out of the bedroom, close the door behind me, and make my way to Axel’s office. I’m a little nervous, I have to admit. I’m always nervous when I give out or deliver my work to people. It’s one of the reasons I don’t want to continue being a photographer. My love is taking the photographs, capturing a moment in time, then giving it to someone just to see the delight on their face.
Knocking on the office door, I hear, “Enter.” Opening the door, I walk inside and give Axel a small smile.
“What can I do for you, Paisley?”
“Well, I actually have something for you and Mia. Do you think you could ask her to come here for a moment? It won’t take long, I promise,” I blurt.
Smirking, Axel picks up his phone from the desk and sends a message to Mia. “Mia will be here in a few minutes.”
“Okay, that’s great.” I place the two gifts on Axel’s desk and he eyes them like a child on Christmas morning. If it was anyone but Axel, I’m sure I would giggle at his eager look, but it is, so I won’t.
Mia bustles into the office, giving me a bright smile when she sees me standing in front of Axel’s desk. “Hi, Pais. Is anything wrong?”
“No, nothing wrong. Paisley has something for us,” Axel says, and his eyes eagerly take in the two gifts.
“Oh.” Mia notices where Axel’s looking and rolls her eyes. “Are these for us, Pais?”
“Yes, they are for you both, and I hope you like them. It’s a small thank you for taking me under your wing and becoming my family.”
Axel scowls, “Don’t be fucking crying.”
“Axel, stop that,” Mia scolds. “Be nice. Pais has brought gifts, and you snap at her.”
I’m keeping my mouth closed, but it’s damn funny to see Axel look sheepish because he’s just been told off by Mia.
Grunting, Axel grabs the top gift, and unwraps it with a speed that has me worried because it’s the framed photograph. I don’t want him to break the glass.
Axel and Mia say nothing as they stare at the photograph, and they stay that way for a few minutes. I’m getting worried as they’ve said nothing. Maybe they don’t like it? I open my mouth to say I’ll take another photograph if they don’t want that one, but before the words come out of my mouth, Axel speaks.
“Fucking hell, Pais…”
That’s the first time I think that Axel has shortened my name! “This is stunning. I can’t believe how you got them to sit still, turn their heads and give that smile, which we all know is mine.” Now Axel has puffed his chest out at this point and Mia has covered her mouth with her hand, looking at me with eyes full of laughter. “Thank you. I’ll get this put on the wall when I get home tonight.
“I love it, Pais. It’s stunning. I know just where I want it hung.”
Axel is ripping into the second gift, and once open he looks up at me before opening the album and studying each page thoroughly before turning the page and checking the next.
Mia walks over and gives me a huge smile and hug. “Thank you, Pais. I love both of the gifts. I would never have thought to get a photographer to take professional pictures, but this is amazing, and something I’ll cherish all my life.”
Axel surprises me by walking around the desk and wrapping his arms around me, hugging me tightly. “Thank you, Pais.”
I leave both Axel and Mia looking at the photographs, and at each other softly, and I make my way to TwoCents” office where I want to give my man a hug.
“What’s up, Pais?” TwoCents asks as I walk into his office.
“Nothing. I’ve just given Axel and Mia the gifts I had for them. But I thought I’d come and have a hug and cuddle with my man.” I grin, climbing onto TwoCents lap. As I expected, he wraps his arms around me without a word., then kisses the top of my head and relaxes back in his seat to enjoy the moment.
“I’ve done the crib. It’s in Silver’s room. Wings and Buzz assembled it for me. Do you think you could ask them to come to the clubhouse so I can give it to them?”
“I will, but they may not come today.”
“Okay, just let me know because I’d like to see their reaction when they see it.” I kiss him softly, climb from his lap and sashay my way out of the office, blowing kisses over my shoulder.
“You’re playing with fire,” TwoCents chuckles, and I can hear the heat in the tone of his voice.
Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket, I take it out and see the realtor is calling. “Hello.”
“Hello, Mrs. Wilson. I wanted to ask if you can stop in at the office at your earliest convenience. I just need your signature and the house sale can be completed,” Tony Markham quickly says.
“Oh, that was fast.”
“Yes, I pushed it through, as the couple needs to be in before the baby arrives.”
“Okay, I’ll come in as soon as I can.”
“Any idea when that will be?”
“As soon as I can. Later today, tomorrow, as soon as.” I’m getting a little snippy because did he really think I’d just drop everything I am doing and run into town this moment?
“Okay, thank you. I don’t mean to pressure you, but the couple are desperate.”
“I understand, but I can’t say exactly when. I will try for later today or tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Wilson.”
I hold the phone a few more minutes before putting it into my pocket and walk back to TwoCents” office, where I fill him in on my need to sign the paperwork for the house.
That’s how I ended up being rushed into town in the club’s truck with Wings, driving me to the realtor’s and back again. I don’t know if it was done on purpose, but shit, Wings drove like the devil was after us and had me sweating a little. I wanted to live to see another day, after all.
That is another thing completed from my list of things to get done and dusted. I want to get the crib gift given to Silver and Eden, but if they see it when I’m not around, so be it. It’s done, and that’s what matters.
Walking into the common room after freshening up, I’m surprised to see Silver, Eden, and baby Harrison. I give a smile as I walk over to them, taking a peek at Harrison in Eden’s arms.
“Oh, my, he has grown since I last saw him.” I look at Silver, who is bursting with pride.
“I have a gift for you. It’s in your room. Would you like to go see it?” I ask with a little nerve showing.
Silver looks at me cautiously, but Eden grins, “Yeah, come on, I love gifts.”
I follow Eden and Silver, who has taken Harrison from Eden, up to their room. Opening the door, Silver stops and Eden bumps into him.
“What’s wrong with you?” Eden snaps while stepping around Silver into the room, and comes to a halt. “Oh, my, this is beautiful. You didn’t have to buy us a crib, but it’s gorgeous. I love it, and the picture is perfect.”
I’m pleased I made up the crib, because Silver places Harrison into it before taking a step back and giving it a good look. “You didn’t buy this, did you?”
I look at Silver and wonder if he’s annoyed it’s not a new one. “No, it was one of the twins” cribs. Mia gave it to me so I could restore it for you both and Harrison. I thought it would be nice to have a crib here and one at your house.
“I cleaned it, stripped the old paint, and did everything as I should. I got a tutorial to follow and Specs made sure I had all the right paint. Even Fox said if I got stuck he’d give me a hand, but I told him what and how I was going to do it.”
“Pais, stop worrying. You did a great job, we love it. Thank you so very much.” Silver gives me a hug, and Eden dashes over, hugging me so hard I think I hear my ribs creak.
“Thank you, Pais. We love it. You did a great job. Maybe you should work with Fox,” Eden giggles.
“No, definitely not. I enjoyed doing this for you both, but it’s not a thing I want to do for life.” I leave them with Harrison and close the door as I leave the room. Happy that the crib was a success.