Page 18 of Omen's Bombshell

I look at the twins and see the large smiles on their faces as they look around the fair. Their eyes are wide as they listen to all the sounds surrounding them while taking in the rides, games, and happy people. Music fills the air from one of the rides while the scent of various foods and drinks permeates the entire area. My mouth waters from the scent of all the food. I look around after taking my attention from the twins and find a tent selling barbeque chicken and everything that goes with it. Looking at Melissa, I point to the tent and let her know I’m heading there for some food. Without leaving me alone, my best friend follows as I stand in line to get tickets for the delicious smelling food.

Buying tickets for all of us to get food, we move over to a new line to wait for our food.

“Is this your first time at a fair? I mean other than the last one we went to before you moved to live with your aunt and uncle,” Melissa asks me as I hand over our tickets for food and drinks and answer the workers questions.

“Yeah. I mean, I went out and had fun, but I never went to a fair with anyone. I knew I’d never have as much fun with anyone else as I did with you. There are just some things that you know won’t ever compare to when you’ve done it in the past. I mean, it was always fun and we did nothing but laugh when we went to fairs growing up. With someone else, I’d probably have a good time, but it wouldn’t be the same as when we used to go together. I’d get upset thinking of everything we used to do and how much fun the two of us had,” I answer her honestly as we get two trays of food set down in front of us.

Homicide moves in to take the trays from us before following us to the closest picnic table. He leaves long enough to grab two highchairs someone brought here for the kids so they can eat with us. Once they get the kids settled and ready for dinner, we dig into the food and I watch as my best friend feeds her children. They love the meat, potatoes, and rolls they’re given, devouring every bite of food placed in front of them without hesitation.

“So, what do you want to do first?” Melissa asks, as we clean up the garbage from the meal and load it back onto the trays to dispose of.

“Whatever you guys plan on doing. I’m not picky and will go along with anything you want to do,” I answer her knowing this is more about the twins than any of us.

“What about a few games so we can let the food settle in their stomachs before we do anything else?” Homicide suggests, his voice softer than normal as he talks to his wife and looks at her as if she’s the center of his world like normal.

“That sounds good. I think the games for kids are down at the other end,” I point out, not paying attention to much of anything as we turn around and head for the games while passing food trucks of cotton candy, fried dough, and all sorts of other food and drinks.

For the next hour, the twins laugh and let out happy squeals as they pick those rubber ducks out of water to win prizes. We toss rings over bottles and Homicide wins each twin a giant stuffed animal as they laugh while holding them close. We play that game where you have to squirt water into a little hole to make some kind of animal race across the length of the wall. Of course Homicide also wins that game as loud laughter fills the air around us and I can’t help but turn and look to see who’s making a commotion.

As I let my eyes drift over the area, they land on a group of guys from the club. Jace and Omen are standing among the group as they talk, laugh, watch all the women around them, and drink their beer. I know they’ll only have one drink while they’re here so they remain alert and can ride their bike home. My eyes land on Omen as I take him in from head to toe.

Tonight he’s wearing a black tee-shirt that stretches tight across his chest. His cut is worn over his shirt allowing the ink on his arms to be on full display. Dark jeans hug his thick legs and his standard boots cover his feet. He’s standing toward the back of the group with his arms crossed over his chest and a beer held in his hand. His eyes are constantly moving as he scans the area surrounding them. When he looks in our direction, I immediately turn my attention back to the game in front of me and realize I’m back at the beginning because I haven’t been paying attention. Melissa is laughing her ass off as Homicide scowls because he just lost to a kid who can’t be more than ten years old. Meanwhile, the twins are clapping in the stroller while I feel a set of eyes watching my every move.

“I’m done with games,” Homicide pouts after accepting his defeat and standing from the stool he’s been sitting on. “Let’s take the kids on a few rides so we can get them their fried dough. Not gettin’ cotton candy when they’re this little.”

This is an argument they’ve had daily over the last week. Melissa wants them to experience every single thing about the fair. I get where she’s coming from, but the twins don’t need to be completely hyped up on a treat that’s nothing but sugar. So, I happen to agree with Homicide and Melissa knows this. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I’ve never really liked cotton candy. I’d rather have a piece of fried dough over any of the other delicious treats a fair has to offer.

After buying tickets for the rides, we make our way over to the small section with rides specifically for the kids. Melissa has talked to her doctor about going on a few of the slower rides like a carousel and gotten the approval. Once again they’re clapping their hands and laughing as we get closer to the merry go round. Melissa and Homicide get the kids out of the stroller while I stand back and watch them get on and prepare to take the twins on their first ride. They’re going on a carousel Pulling out my phone, I once again feel eyes watching me and know without turning around it’s Omen. The guys will follow us around the fair for safety reasons as they normally do. No one is ever left alone as they go out in public in a crowded area like this.

For each ride the kids are on, I take a million pictures. Especially for the ones Homicide and Melissa go on. These moments are memories in the making and if I can help record them for the couple I’ve known for years, then that’s what I’ll do. The kids love each ride and don’t once show an ounce of fear as they experience each one for the first time. I think that comes down to how well Melissa and Homicide are raising them and have protected them since they were born. They always know Homicide is there to catch them if they fall and it won’t ever change. That’s how I want my child to be raised and it’s what I’ll do regardless of Omen’s role in our child’s life.

Chapter Eleven

Omen

WALKING AROUND THEfair was the last thing I wanted to do yesterday. However, none of us were about to let Homicide take his family and Oaklynn there on his own. Too many things can happen in the blink of an eye and we’ll always be there for backup for each of our guys. No, I didn’t have to go to the fair, but the second I heard Oaklynn was going, I knew there wasn’t a chance of me being anywhere else. I want to be the one there in case she gets hurt or in trouble. The overwhelming need to be there for her has been consuming me more and more each day. So, I found myself at the fair walking around and keeping a close eye on Oaklynn as she laughed, took pictures, and looked as if she was about to fall asleep where she was standing more often than not.

---