Page 39 of Mav

I better put this phone down as I’m getting everything ready for the meal I’m holding for the seniors. I have a pot roast cooking and all vegetables prepared. The house is spotless and I’m setting the table ready.

It’s still early, and they won’t arrive in the cab I ordered to pick them all up and bring them here for another two hours. I have plenty of time to have a nice shower and do the last chores I need to finish so I’m clear for next week when I’m back at work.

Checking the kitchen two hours later, I place the apple pie I purchased from the bakery onto a serving plate and leave it near the stove. I know they all like apple pie, as I’ve seen them all eating it heartily when it’s been provided from the service Alf uses for them.

The door opens and in burst four seniors, all talking between themselves excitedly. Ed, of course, is leading them in as he still has a key to the house, and now I call him PawPaw he is using the title to the fullest.

“Hi, Blake,” Ed rushes over and hugs me tightly, kissing my cheek. “I brought all the old coots with me, as you can see.”

“Hey, look who you are calling an old coot, Ed. You are older than I am,” Pru states with a touch of sass to her voice. “Now, is there anything we can do to help, Blake?”

“No, you all take a seat and I’ll be serving up in a minute.” I hug them all as they pass me and again they talk between themselves excitedly. It shows I did the right thing by bringing them here for this meal. They are all glowing, and it is the first time I’ve seen Robert smile.

Ed, of course, didn’t take a seat. He’s still hanging around me, trying to see what I’m doing, taking lids off the pans on the stovetop. Tapping his hand, I give him aleave it alone look,which I’m sure has a flush rush into his cheeks.

Quite a while later we are all eating dessert, talking about life in general when Robert asks, “Why do you work at the coffee place as well as the cleaning job, Blake?”

“It’s a long story, Robert, but if you want to hear it, I’ll tell you all what happened.” That is how I end up giving them the story of my life and how I ended up at this point in time.

“So, are you dating that biker now?” Audrey asks.

“I suppose I am. We’ve been out twice. The first time wasn’t so good, but last night we went to TJs and it was a great night. I really enjoyed the evening.”

I watch as Ed leans forward and gives me a piercing look, but he says nothing for a minute or two. “I’ll need to see this biker man of yours. As your PawPaw, I need to make sure that you’ll be safe with him.”

The other three at the table are all nodding in agreement, and muttering words like, ‘sure,’ ‘unruly,’ ‘noisy bikes,’ ‘handsome,’ but it’s such a mixture I’ve no idea if they like or dislike the idea of me dating a biker.

“Okay, how about I bring him around to Ed’s one day and you can all visit and meet him? But that is only after I know if it’s getting serious,” I ask, giving them all adon’t arguelook. They all quickly agree thankfully, and Ed puffs up that he is the one everyone will have to go to.

I’ve noticed more and more that Ed’s hands are not bad nor is his walking. The old shit has had people blinded with this health thing. But, I’m keeping the fact I know to myself, for now at least. I see it as ammunition I can use against him in the future if need be.

I’m amazed when all four pitch in to wash dishes and clean away from our meal. We all laugh and joke along as we do so, and I am so happy to see them all enjoying themselves. I will definitely do this again. Not every week, but maybe once a month! We’ll see how things go because it’s an expense at the moment that I cannot do too regularly.

I really need to get Yax out of that house and get it sold. I am sick of paying for something I don’t need. Bitty’s man getting rid of my debts has been great and I’ve got some money in my account for the first time in a long time. It has me feeling safer knowing in time I’ll have something if hard times come around again.

-:- BITTY -:-

“Now people, are you coming with me or not?” I ask everyone who is in the kitchen at the clubhouse.

Meat grunts, and Star jumps up and down shouting, “Me, me, I’m coming.”

“Okay, dear, that’s great. You and Meat can be my right-hand people.” I turn to my right when I hear a snarled voice.

“I’m your right-hand person and have been for years. So, Star, you can step back, girl.” Amelia is standing in front of and pointing her cane at Star, who has a huge smirk on her face, not intimidated at all.

“That’s okay, Amelia. I don’t mind being a left-hand person. But make sure when we get to the house we all get inside.” Star once more jumps up and down, doing some sort of jig. Meat is watching her with a heated look on his face, and I have to turn away because honest to goodness, it’s enough to burn anyone within the vicinity to ashes.

When I hear, “I’m coming,” I turn, just in time to see Axel scoop Mia over his shoulder and slap her ass before announcing, ”No, you’re not,” before disappearing out the door with her. Well, we all know where he’s taking her, and it’s a good thing Sybil and Jo offered to be on kids duty this morning.

“I’ll come because Blake won’t be happy if she finds out I allowed you to go on your own, without me that is.” Mav grabs a cookie from the counter and stuffs it into his mouth without taking a bite, the whole damn thing disappears.

I hear a few more, ‘Yeah, I’m in,’ ‘I’ll come,’ ‘Me too.’ And grin to myself because Yax and her man do not know what is heading their way. But as we all climb into the SUV and the van, Graham rides into the compound, leaves his bike and quickly jumps into the truck that Meat and Star are in. This could turn into a shit show, I’m thinking at this point.

Arriving at the house, we all pile out of the vehicles and I lead everyone up the garden path, hammer on the front door andwait. But after a minute nobody answers, so Meat runs toward the door and kicks it hard, which has it flying open to show the utterly disgusting mess that these people are living in.

Star steps up to the side of me and states, “What a filthy bitch she is. Who in their right mind lives in a squalor like this? I wouldn’t want to take a shit in this place, because, Bitty, my shit is cleaner than this place.”

Amelia laughs and I turn to look at Star, who does not know what she’s just said, I’m sure. Things just fall out of her mouth as she says whatever she thinks and however she sees it, and looking around, I think I have to agree with her. I wouldn’t want to drop my drawers in this place for any reason, either.

---