Page 34 of Slice

Winnie giggled more and motioned for Beth to take over. Willa was giggling so much she couldn’t contribute to the conversation even if she wanted to.

“They discuss quietly what they should do while the popcorn finishes. So I pulled the popcorn out and opened the bag for a snack. Candace decides to be brave and walks into the kitchen. When she sees us, she stops and stares. Doesn’t say a word, just stares at us. Prim comes in and then immediately starts babbling, asking us if it’s because they pinched Faith. Which we didn’t know anything like that had happened. We were just scaring them because of the bullying. I looked at Winnie and Willa because I didn’t think our original scare was enough since they’d escalated to physical abuse. Which, by the way, you owe Winnie time in the gym now so she can show you easy ways to stop someone from doing crap like that,” Beth said.

“It pissed me off that they even considered it was okay to get physical with another teacher, so I decided part of their punishment on the fly. I told them the bail bonds and the MC didn’t appreciate bullies. I made them each pinch each other’s sides thirty times. That little bitch Candace was crying after the third time. Then I explained that not only were Faith, her family, and kids under the protection of Bluff Creek Brotherhood MC and the bail bonds, but so was everyone else in town.”

Beth laughed. “Oh yeah, Prim looked at Candace likewhat the fuck, which made us wonder who else they’d been bullying. I pulled out my stun gun and made Candace get a piece of paper and write down all the things she’d done to you and anyone else. Then we made Prim do the same and sign them. I explainedthat if I heard one more instance of anything they’d done, I’d visit during the night and they’d not know when I’d come, but I’d make them pay. Then we told them they had to verbally apologize to you and all the others and change how they acted. I might have implied that we had cameras that would know if they behaved or not. Candace got so upset she peed on her kitchen floor,” Beth said, snickering.

Faith tried to feel some sense of empathy for what Beth, Willa, and Winnie had done to Candace and Prim, but she had none. She couldn’t decide if knowing they’d done this to others made her feel better or worse. What made them want to tear other women down instead of helping to build each other up?

“Thank you for scaring them. I love my kids in my class, but it had gotten to where I hated going into the school,” Faith said.

“I want to take some classes with Winnie too. When my son pushed me around at Christmas before Rose and Locks took him away, I realized I wanted to know enough to be able to help myself and Benji get away if I had to face that again,” Hope said.

“I think it’s a good idea. I’ll come and watch since Mr. President believes me being pregnant means I shouldn’t be going on skips. At least I could watch something fun,” Remi groused.

“Oh, like you’d want to have to deal with a skip. You know, you’d be worried that some big three-hundred-pound jerk could hurt the baby,” Jesse said.

“Yeah, but I want War to think I’m giving it up for him so I can make him get up and get me chips when I’m hungry at night. I mean, I’m carrying around his spawn. The least he can do is get me stuff when I don’t want to get up,” Remi said.

Faith giggled, but she was taking notes because these women handled their alpha men at the same time as still being strong themselves. Willa was newer, like she was, and Faith felt a little closer to her since Cruise and Slice were such good friends. Willahad already promised a helicopter ride for Faith, Slice, and the kids on a pretty day.

“What type of wedding do you want, and what type of timeline, Faith, would you like it accomplished in? I’m happy to steer Slice to the correct answer,” Regina said.

“I just want us to be married, and I’m ready to move onto the compound. The boys love all the kids, and I feel so much safer,” Faith said.

“The house we’re in will be free,” Rose said.

Stella, Rose and Tasha’s mom, turned to look at them. “Why will your house be free?” she asked.

Rose looked toward Tasha. Tasha stuck her tongue out at her sister.

“I love that you’ve all found a home in Bluff Creek, but I want to travel some and use my skills. The ER was busy where I was at. It’s such a slower pace here,” Tasha said.

“Okay, do you know what you want to do and where you want to do it?” Stella asked.

Faith was impressed by how calm Stella was with her girls. They were adults, but Faith figured being a parent to adult children was just as hard but different. Not butting in but offering advice or help when they requested would be a tight wire to walk the balance.

“Not for sure yet, but I have some feelers out. Until I do, Rose and I talked about taking a trip. Rose already asked Remi for some time off. We’re going to take a road trip,” Tasha said.

“Well, you’re adults, and it’s not like I can say anything because I adored traveling for a while. Do you know when you want to leave?” Stella asked.

“Soon,” Tasha said.

“So we could easily move into one of the suites at Locks’ until we do leave, which would free up the house,” Rose said.

“Well, looks like it’s decided. We can help everybody pack and probably get everyone moved no later than Monday,” Remi said.

Faith couldn’t believe how fast it had been decided. “I don’t want a big wedding. I just want to be married. I don’t like dressing up, so if it could be casual, I would love that.”

Regina nodded. “Leave it to us. We’ll get a plan together and check with you before we tell Slice.”

Willa leaned close to whisper, “They move fast here, but the family we get is so worth it.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Slice picked up Isaiah as he ran by the kitchen island. “Watch out, buddy, the floor has just been cleaned, and it’s slick in your socks. Do you like our new house?”

“Yes, and the swingset outside too. When can we have Grant and David spend the night?” Isaiah asked.

---