Page 39 of Property of BamBam
“Did I show you what Issy brought by for Theo to wear?” I ask, standing up and heading into his bedroom. I come back into the living room, holding up the little outfit that’s made up of a western-style onesie, a pair of leather chaps, and a cowboy hat with a strap on it to keep it on his head. There’s also a small pair of boots and I can’t wait to see how he looks once the ensemble is put together instead of in pieces.
“That’s got to be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” Beth muses, taking it in her hands to look at it more closely. “Now, what are you going to wear?”
“She brought me a club support T-shirt, so I’ll wear that, along with jeans and boots,” I reply. “Plus, BamBam said that whilehe’ll be everywhere that day, there’ll be plenty of his brothers, as well as prospects, around keeping an eye on me as well as the girls from Hope House. So, while I’m a bit nervous about there being so many strangers around, I’m not worried.”
Beth bursts out laughing then says, “I suspect Marge is fully capable of handling anything that comes up on her own.”
Nodding, I reply, “She can, but I want her to enjoy the day too. She’s softening or something, and I know you can’t talk about your patients, but ever since she started working at the laundromat and mothering Buddy the way she’s been doing, she’s not as harsh and unapproachable as she was when I first met her.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I want you to keep journaling and if there’s anything that comes up before our next session, call me, okay?” she asks as she stands. After handing me Theo’s outfit, she leans in and gives me a hug before she picks up her purse and heads to the door of my apartment. “You’re going to make it, Livy. I’m so proud of the work you’re putting in to overcome what you went through.”
“It hasn’t been easy,” I murmur as I follow her to the door so I can go back downstairs and get Theo.
“Nothing ever worth having is truly easy,” she replies.
After closing and locking the door, I follow her down and into absolute bedlam. Someone apparently brought in a huge load of clothes that they need quickly. Rush jobs are never any fun, as a matter of fact, they’re panic inducing. Hearing Marge bark out instructions to Buddy, I move to one of the carts that’s ready to be folded and get to work.
Two hours later, we’re caught up, Buddy has cleaned the machines that were used, and I’m ready to go upstairs and take a nap since Theo’s due for one. The hardest part about the therapy, for me, is it brings up feelings and emotions that replay in my head at night, making it difficult to sleep. I know I have to go through it in order to overcome it, but the lack of sleep between the nightmares and dreams, and working all day long is catching up to me.
“You look like shit,” Marge says as she walks over with another basket that needs folding.
“Well, fuck you very much,” I retort. “Next to the night I had Theo, everything that Beth and I talk about has stirred up so much garbage that I’m sleeping like shit, to be honest.”
“Why don’t you head on upstairs and take the rest of the day off,” Marge suggests. “Buddy and I have it handled, and you wanna be ready for the rodeo tomorrow.”
Sighing, I nod, setting the folded towel on the counter. “That sounds like a great idea to me. Sorry I snapped at you.”
“Girl, the fact that you did it says a lot about how much the therapy is helping. Maybe not with your sleep, but you know it’s going to get easier,” she replies. “Because just a month ago, if that, you wouldn’t have said a word.”
I shrug, too tired to care at this point. Therapy days always wipe me out. Picking Theo up from the playpen in the office, I wave to Buddy then head to the back and the stairs that’ll lead me to myapartment. I definitely don’t want BamBam to see me with the bags I’m currently sporting, that’s for sure!
It doesn’t take long to get Theo settled for his nap, and I snuggle underneath the throw that Mongrel got me when they found me several months ago. With the television on low, the ceiling fan on high, and thoughts of BamBam in my head, I drift off into a dreamless sleep.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
BamBam
“Are y’all ready for this?” Rio asks as we stand at the gates just before they open to let the rodeo attendees inside.
“Not really,” I mutter, my eyes constantly roaming the crowd. “I’m worried that Livy won’t be safe here after I promised I’d always keep her that way.”
Riptide, Rio’s cousin, is standing there and he decides to add his two cents to the conversation. “Between all of y’all, my guys, and the brothers who made the trip from the other chapters, if anyone decides to start shit, we’ll end it, plain and simple. Plus, while Icer is focused on Elodie and little man, he’s got a soft spot for kids, so if he knows your woman has a baby, he’ll be keeping an eye on them as well.”
I hold back a slight shudder because Icer is what I’d call a loose cannon. While I don’t know his whole backstory, I know his past fucked him up, even though he grew up around the compound since his grandfather was Paps’ enforcer. Now, his father was a piece of shit, abusive as all get out, but he wasn’t a club brother,so outside of Icer’s grandpa keeping him around us as much as possible, he kept a wall up around himself. Still, he’s a loyal brother that I don’t mind having my back. Hearing that he’s got a protective streak when it comes to kids has me breathing easier. Woe to the fucker who trips his switch, though, because they’ll find themselves on a one-way trip to Hell by the time he’s done.
“Good to know. I’ve shown Livy around, so she knows where the restrooms and stuff are, but she’s aware that I’ll be busy watching out for shit.”
As the enforcer, it’s one of my jobs and I take it seriously. I’m positive that she’ll be fine; she’s currently with Issy at the clubhouse, but she’ll be sitting with the other women from Hope House. Regardless, I know I’ll be touching bases with her frequently throughout the day because I honestly can’t stay away from her for too long without my body feeling as if it’s going through withdrawals. I noticed this morning, when I went to pick her and Theo up, that she didn’t shy away from my closeness, although her cheeks pinkened adorably when I helped her up into the truck once Theo was safely ensconced in his carseat.
“We’ll keep an eye out for her, brother,” Abyss promises. Turning to Rio he asks, “Was Issy responsible for the most adorable little wranglers I’ve ever seen?”
Rio smirks and says, “Yeah, she bought an outfit for Van’s boy, too. Hopefully, it’s not a sign she’s getting baby fever. Not quite ready to add that to our lives, but if it happens, I’ll deal.”
I burst out laughing. “Brother, your woman moves to the beat of her own drum. I suspect she’ll hold off on adding to the chaos that is our lives, at least until she’s done barrel racing. Kindahard to keep the equilibrium just right when you’re carrying a basketball.”
My words have the rest of the brothers chuckling as Rio shakes his head. “Okay, y’all, here we go,” he states, opening the gates so the attendees can enter.
