Cambria Chapter
Cambria:
We’d been back from our trip to Hunters Creek for two weeks.
I was astonished at how things fell into place.
First, I unpacked my belongings and found spots for most of my things.
The ones that truly mattered to me. My furniture helped to fill empty rooms in our house.
What we didn’t use, I gave the brothers and the ladies a chance to take what they wanted.
The rest was either put in the clubhouse or taken to town for charity.
It was weird in a way, how easily my things fit with Shadow’s.
And the house felt like I’d been living in it for years. It was home.
On the work side of things, I was making my way back to having a full client list. The letter went out to all my current customers, informing them of who I was and why Cambria was quitting, and using it as a means of communication.
I felt bad at the outpouring of sympathy and the number of people who asked if they could do anything.
I assured them I’d let them know if there was.
From there, one by one, clients contacted me to ask if I’d take over.
I assured them I’d love to, and that Cambria had filled me in on their network designs and had left her files and such for me to use.
I hoped by the end of the year, which was about six weeks away, I’d have them all or have replaced those I lost.
I didn’t mind the slowdown because it allowed me to do other things.
One of those was to help plan the holidays at the clubhouse.
Thanksgiving was in a few days. Then Christmas was a month after that.
We discussed the feasts we’d make and how to divide and conquer them.
And the decorating of the clubhouse, as well as houses, would commence the day after Thanksgiving.
Some online Black Friday shopping would be done, but the bigger event would be Betty, Jalisa, and me descending on the clubhouse to decorate. That would happen first.
We’d have help with the climbing and carrying heavy boxes part.
The three new prospects—Vicenzo, Truett, and Kingston — had been introduced to the club last weekend.
They seemed nice enough, so time would tell whether they made the grade.
However, Wrath had told them that the old ladies were to be obeyed the same way the brothers were. The only exception was club business.
Another thing I put a dent in with the slower work schedule was my Christmas shopping.
I was almost exclusively an online shopper.
This year, I had many more gifts to buy.
The guys didn’t exchange gifts, I was told.
However, I would be buying for Shadow. Dora would be spoiled with gifts.
As the only child and it being her first Christmas, I tried to picture it.
And yes, I would be one of the ones spoiling her.
In addition, I had Brae’s Branton, and I always got something for Brae, and she did the same for me.
It was hard to think of what to get my old man.
He was notorious for saying he didn’t need or want anything.
I had to be sneaky to find out what he wanted.
That information came from his brothers, although they had no idea they were giving it to me.
It was crazy the things you learned when you remained still and nonverbal.
We had another celebration planned. It would be between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
This party was for Dylan, although he didn’t know about it.
It would coincide with his being presented with his member-only cut.
I couldn’t wait to see him receive it. Jalisa told us ladies it was his dream, and she could barely stand to wait.
So, with all this club life happening, I wasn’t paying attention to anything that had to do with Cambria Mulally or Journi Brooks. My new identity as Mariette Cambria Aubert was sticking and gaining acceptance from more people each day. That I did monitor. And I knew Shadow and Crusher did too.
With that in mind, I was surprised to receive an email from Everly today.
She greeted me, wished me well, and then told me the real reason for her message.
That’s when I learned who had been the one funneling letters to and from Garen.
It seemed that Smoke and Everly hadn’t been content to forget about it.
It was cliché. One of the prison guards was easily bought for the right price. He could get prisoners anything they wanted, and that included drugs and alcohol. He had been covering for Garen and being paid for it, by the way, handsomely, for the past six years.
The guard’s name was Ansel Brown. He’d been a guard at the prison for twelve years. The information about his misdeeds was sent to the warden so he could investigate and hopefully terminate Ansel. Everly said she and Smoke would keep tabs on him to make sure.
I had to call her when I received the email.
She laughed when I told her I was blowing kisses to her.
Smoke was in the room with her. He mockingly growled that I had better stop kissing his old lady.
We had a nice talk before they had to get back to work.
I was waiting for Shadow to get home so I could share the good news with him.
He had to work at SSS today. Smoke verified they hadn’t sent anything to Shadow.
I was almost bouncing on my toes when Shadow came through the door at four forty-five. I ran to him and impatiently waited for him to remove his cut and boots. As soon as they were off, I jumped into his arms and kissed him.
He eagerly returned it. I was swept up in his arms and carried to our chair in the living room. He sat with me on his lap. The kiss lasted several minutes before I recalled what I had to tell him. I broke our kiss.
“Hey, I’m not done with that mouth yet,” he grumbled.
“I’m sorry. You can have it back in a few minutes. First, I have some news I want to share with you.”
“You’re pregnant,” he blurted out. I swore he wore a hopeful look. I was stunned.
“No, I’m not pregnant. Hang onto that thought, and we’ll come back to it. What I want to tell you is that I received an email today from Everly.” I paused.
“Everly. Really, what did she need?” he asked.
“She had good news for me. It seems she never stopped searching for the identity of who passed letters to and from Garen in prison. I know you wanted to know that and planned to find out. There’s no need.
She did it for us. His name is Ansel Brown, a guard.
He’s been doing it for others for the past six years.
His guilt and the proof have been anonymously sent to the warden.
Smoke and Everly promise they’ll make sure to see what the outcome is. ”
“Damn, those two. No matter how full their plates are, they always go above and beyond for the clubs. I’ll have to thank them. And knowing those two, if the Brown fella doesn’t get an appropriate punishment for what he did, they’ll ensure he does. And I’ll be right there with them.”
“I know you will.” I snuggled into him. “Now, back to the pregnant comment. Why did you go to that without hesitation? I’m on birth control, Shaine. And why did you look hopeful? Do you want a baby?”
He waited a few seconds before he answered.
“I know you’re on birth control, but it’s not foolproof.
Ask a bunch of our friends in the clubs.
Was I hoping you were? The answer is, kinda.
I do want a baby. When we were in Hunters Creek, seeing you with all those babies made me picture you with ours.
I know you’re gonna be a fantastic mom, just like yours was.
Before you say anything else, I know you want to be married before we have a kid.
And I have no problem with that. I can promise you, if you were pregnant, our child will be born in wedlock. ”
Sincerity radiated out of him. I took a deep breath before answering him.
“I want to marry you so much, so don’t worry, it’ll be here before we know it. As for wanting a baby and soon, as well as our Hunters Creek exposure to so many, I have a confession to make.”
I felt him tense.
“It made me realize that I want one, and instead of us waiting a year or two to try, I believe I’ll be ready way sooner. What would you say to us talking it through after the New Year begins? I’m postponing it, not to avoid it, but I have something I want to do right this second that can’t wait.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Taking my old man to our bedroom and ravishing him like he loves to do to me. Would you be willing to submit to my every whim in the bedroom, Shaine?”
His eyes grew slumberous, and his breathing hitched. The hungry expression that crossed his face said it all.
“You bet your fucking life I am. Let’s go, Twilight,” he growled before standing, with me in his arms. Shadow made for our bedroom like a man on a mission. I clung to him and plotted exactly what I had in store for him.