Page 48 of Unveiled Wishes

“Some days are better than others,” I said. It wasn’t a secret that Meredith was having a hard time, but I didn’t want to reveal anything that would set the club further against her. I was hoping today was a good day, and that she’d make an appearance.

Bear clasped my hand in support and went back to cutting the onions. The chatter went on as we worked as a team. Even though they were much older than me, I felt the camaraderie. They had accepted me as their own, and I had welcomed them into my life with open arms.

“Honey, when are you going to get yourself a man?” Dee called out. I turned to see who she was talking to. Kelly had entered the kitchen and was pulling JR from his pen. Kissing the top of his head, she replied, “Never.”

“That’s not what you used to say,” Raven chimed in. Once Kelly had begun to babysit JR, the Old Ladies had taken her under our wing. I thought it would help if they did the same with Meredith, but I wouldn’t push.

“They don’t want me, Dee. Why bother trying?” Kelly sighed as she bounced JR against her chest. “You’re the only man in my life,” she said to the baby.

“You shouldn’t have given away the milk for free.” Dee wouldn’t let up.

“Don’t listen to her. She was giving away more than the milk,” Bear said. She was the peacekeeper of our group. “Honey, when the right one comes along, you’ll know.”

“Like Slate? You let him hit it and quit it. Don’t tell me you think it’s going to go somewhere?” Dee said, turning away from the stove to stare at Bear.

“When do you start school?” I asked Kelly, changing the subject. We’d all been proud when Kelly announced she’d gotten into the local college. I wasn’t supposed to know that Sabre was helping her with the funds. I thought he still felt guilty over how the brothers had treated her when she had been a hang-around.

“The second week of January.” She swayed with JR in her arms. He reached up and tried to grab for her hair.

“Did you get all your supplies?” I was trying to maintain the conversation so that Dee wouldn’t be able to tease her. She thought it was harmless, but the digs had been pretty deep.

“They’re supposed to send out the book list next week, so I’ve just been getting the other basics when I can,” Kelly answered me.

“You’ll have to tell me, and we’ll go shopping. Maybe make a day of it,” I told her.

“I’d like that.” She asked if there was anything we wanted her to do, but we were almost done.

“No. You can take him out to the main room, if you want,” I told her. Gossip flowed in the MC like water, and I’d heard a certain mohawk was interested in Kelly. When I’d turned towards her as we were talking about school, I had noticed a certain pair of spikes right outside the kitchen door. They had floated back and forth near the mistletoe.

“Hey, Kelly,” I called out to her, stalling. “If he needs changed, you’ll have to find Sabre. The diaper bag is in his office.”

“Oh, okay. Come on, Little Man.” As she turned to exit the kitchen, she bumped into a hard chest. I had to give Count credit. He played it off like it was no big deal.

“I am sorry. I didn’t see you,” she told him, trying to move to the side so that he could pass.

“You’re going to owe me,” he said, pointing at the mistletoe.

“Oh.” She kissed my baby on his head and tickled his tummy, making him giggle. Turning towards Count, she went to kiss him on the cheek. As she approached, he turned and kissed her full on.

When he pulled away, he tickled my baby’s tummy again. “Next time, I want mine rubbed, too.”

Bear whispered in my ear, “You’re bad.”

***

“Dinner’s good, but you know what would make it better?” Pretty asked. When no one responded, he answered his own question. “Potato salad.”

“I was going to make you some, but there’s a tray in the refrigerator with your name on it,” I said, spooning a bite of mashed potatoes.

“I thought you were still holding a grudge.” He sat his fork down and put his elbows on the table to cradle his face. He waited until I was paying attention to him before he batted his eyelashes.

“I was, but I figured it’s Christmas, and I should be nice to you. It has your name on it, so I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to serve it.” I shrugged.

“W…eck made it,” Aunt Liz chimed in. She tapped Thunder’s forearm with her good hand. “Tell...’m.”

My dad scowled. He wasn’t happy that my aunt had been paying Thunder more attention than him. I swore he even growled when she touched Thunder’s forearm. I thought that was only a biker trait, and my dad despised the men in the room.

“Wreck made it,” Thunder said, going back to the piece of brisket on his plate.

---