Page 29 of Tuesday

Looking around the room I notice the closet door is ajar, so I move toward the crack. Sliding to the floor I lean against the wall, letting my head loll to one side so I can see Laney. I watch our daughter, her chest rising and falling gently, little breaths puffing out between her slack lips. The door cracks open a little, but I sit, a strong silent presence to my woman who needs to get her thoughts in order.

Rustling has me turning toward the door to find Gus, Jules and Pops in the doorway. I tip my chin and they move quietly into the room, Mama Debs bringing up the rear. They all find a place on the floor. Gus moves to the wall on the other side of the closet, Mama Debs and Pops lean against the bed and Jules sits, back straight and legs crossed just on the outside of the circle we’ve made. After a moment more people arrive. Ol ladies, brothers, anyone and everyone we hold dear are all crammed into our room, quietly supporting Chewy as she finds her peace after the overwhelm.

I’m not sure how long we all sit, some of us on our phones, others just with our thoughts. Marx is leaning against the far wall, arms crossed over his large chest. His gaze keeps darting to Lovely who is sitting all prim and proper on the bed. I know he has to be feeling like shit after what he said about Lovely, but fuck, he needs to sort that out and fast. A woman like Lovely won’t wait around forever.

“Why are you all here?” Chewy says quietly, standing in the doorway of the closet, her gaze bouncing around the room.

“We’re here for you, babe.”

“But why?” She searches the room again, “You’d be better off supporting Rhodie.” Her brows pinch as she stares at her fingers, “He’s the one that needs support. He’s a good father and I’m, I’m-”

“Don’t fucking say it, girl,” Pops growls, everyone in the room nodding in agreement with him. “You are a fucking fantastic mom, Tuesday.”

“But-”

“No buts,” Mama Debs says. “Laney is two years old. All two-year-olds lose their shit.”

Chewy’s frown deepens.

“It’s true. Bee is a little younger than Laney but she refused her daytime nap the other day. She played all day with the kids and then became overtired and overwhelmed and I was up until midnight trying to get her down.” Marx’s head snaps in Lovely’s direction, concern etched on his face. “She screamed and fought and bit and I felt like the worst mom in the world,” Lovely says. “Then she finally went down and when she woke up the next morning she was full of smiles and my world was right again.”

“This shit happens, Chewy, it doesn’t mean you’re a crappy mom,” Nat adds in, snuggling Rosie in her arms.

“But, I’m hermom. I should know this stuff.” Chewy squishes her bottom lip between her thumb and forefinger.

“You’ve been a mom for a week, baby girl. You’ve got time to learn this stuff,”

“And even then you’ll probably get it wrong,” Flack chuckles, sharing a look with my dad and Pops.

“I don’t like being wrong.” She scowls at the thought of it.

“Well, get used to it, Dayz,” Gus says. “In the meantime, we’re all here for you.”

Her shoulders start to drop and it’s magic to watch her realize that she has all these people at her back. Her face relaxes, her brow smoothing out and I know she’s about to say something out of pocket when her shoulders pull back. “I’m going to get more efficient at torture and dispatch. I’m amom, I can’t spend all night in interrogation. Pops, tomorrow while Laney is having her afternoon nap you and I will do some research. We need fast, efficient ways to interrogate and then get rid of.”

Pops grins and nods “It’s a date, baby girl,”

“Yes. But after Laney’s nap. We can’t have her getting overtired again. It probably puts stress on her brain and her learning won’t be as effective.” She nods once and moves over to look at Laney in her crib. She tugs the blanket up a little, to cover Laney’s shoulders and then runs a hand over her curls. “Mama’s gonna learn everything I need to know to love you the way you need. Promise.”

I smile softly at my woman, and then nod at our family as they all quietly leave, one by one. Moving to stand behind Chewy, I wrap her in my arms as she leans into my chest.

“I love you, Tuesday Tombs. I can’t imagine anyone else I’d want to have by my side.”

“I’d never do this with anyone else,” Chewy huffs out. “I love you too, Rhodes Paxton. I know it’s soon, but I’m pretty sure I love Laney too. When I look at her it makes my chest hurt, right here,” she lifts my hand and places it in the middle of her chest, over her heart. “Do you think that’s normal?”

“I think that’s exactly how we’re meant to feel.”

She nods, her wild hair tickling my jaw, “It’s scary, but I like it.”

“Me too, baby. Me too.”

Chapter 10

Chewy

This is infernal. Sage offered to look after all the babies so the rest of the MC could be here waiting for Tav’s baby. Well, almost the whole MC. Chef decided to stay back and help Sage.

“I think Blanche was right. Tav’s baby is going to be slow getting outta there,” Nat says, snuggling into Savage.

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