Page 11 of Kimbra
Before I can attempt to stand up with a sleeping Bailey in my hands, Rory’s standing in front of me. “I’ve learned the art of carrying a kid without waking them up. Let me grab her, and you can handle Mister Genius over there.” I look over at Bentley again, and he’s out like a boxer who’s been knocked out. I think he might even be snoring. Kimbra’s telling Branson to get up and head to the SUV. She starts grabbing the kid’s stuff, and Logan gets up and helps her take everything. I go over and pick up Bentley. At this moment, I’m glad he’s not had a growth spurt like his brother just yet and is on the thinner side. We get all the kids and their stuff loaded. I say a quick goodbye and shuttle Kimbra to the SUV, cutting off her longer goodbyes. She’s laughing, and when I open her door, she looks at me. “In a rushto get home?” A growl comes out and I kiss her. “You know why. Get your fine ass in the Denali, Doc. I didn’t have my dessert yet tonight.” Her cheeks redden, and the intake of breath tells me she likes that thought a lot. Yep, it's time to get everyone home so she and I can go to bed and I can feast on my dessert.
CHAPTER SIX
This morning, Bailey asked me if it itches when a girl kisses a guy with a beard. I told her yes, and that’s why she probably shouldn’t do it till she’s thirty. I couldn’t help it.
~Text from Ben to Kimbra~
Ben
These last few months have been great. Kimbra and I are solid. The kids are doing great and love everyone in the club. There are usually a few brothers at each of Branson’s games and sometimes even to help at his practices. Bailey has had countless tea parties with a variety of brothers, though she’s become quite attached to Logan and Asher. Bentley has come to the shop with me as often as he’s been allowed to.
I haven’t technically moved in, but we’ve been talking about it, and she wants me to. I’m basically there every night, and I think she wants to talk to the kids about it when they get home from their dad’s on Sunday. I’m not going to get into my opinion on their dad, but let’s just say this is the first time in the lastmonth and a half that he’s actually taken them on his weekend. Kimbra hates it when he cancels at the last minute because the kids get disappointed, though, to be honest, I think at this point, Branson and even Bentley expect him to cancel every time. Bailey is the one who still holds out hope, and she’s crushed every time he cancels, but then she’s also sad when they come home from his place because she’s been ignored by him for most of the weekend. Luckily, Kimbra plans play dates over at Anna’s the day after those weekends. She’s smart like that. Just don’t ask her for directions because you will end up going in circles. Watching her trying to give directions cracks me up every time.
We’re about to head out for a ride since it’s nice out and almost warm today. Some more of the club is going to join us, and we’ll take the long way around town and a few back roads before we end up back at the clubhouse for food and a bonfire. It’s going to be a good day.
**********
We’ve been riding for a couple of hours, and there’s nothing better than a good ride with friends and my woman’s arms around me. It turns out just usmaturebrothers and our finer halves went riding today. I say mature because I ain’t calling us old or anything else that implies that. We’re young at heart but old enough to know better. Anna, Linnea, and Kimbra havespent the day enjoying the ride and laughing at some inside jokes that none of us guys seem to know about.
At a stop, I ask Jonah and Jackson if they knew what the gals were laughing so hard about. Jonah gave me a look. “That’s not an answer we really want to know. It could be something they shared with each other about one of us. It could be about something they read, or hell, knowing them, it could be because we drove by a spot that looked perfect for some serial killer to do a body drop,” Jackson added in. “This is one of those times where living in blissful ignorance keeps our hair from going grayer or falling out altogether.” I thought about that for a moment and realized how right they are. I mean, I’ve been around Kimbra long enough to know she can go from making dinner while listening to ABBA to taking a bath reading a dark romance book to falling asleep to a serial killer documentary. I also know she knows all the ways to cut arteries, so I strive to be on her good side anytime she’s got a knife in her hand.
Jonah leads our group into the parking lot of the clubhouse, and we all park, with Grant coming in at the end of the group. I wait for Kimbra to climb off before I get off, taking her helmet from her to put on the bike. She’s attempting to revive her hair, but she looks perfect to me. I lean forward and give her a quick peck. “You have fun, Doc?” She leans forward to kiss me and lingers a little longer till some of the brothers start hooting and hollering. “It’s been great. Thank you for getting me out of the house today.I don’t think I realized just how much this was needed.” I grab her hand and squeeze. “Anytime, Doc. Let’s go inside and get a drink and see what they made for grub today.” We walk inside with everyone else, with Grant leading the group. Erik didn’t go on the ride today since he’s still not one hundred percent. I think he might have insisted Grant go because this was the longest he’s left him since everything went down with the fuckers who took over the Sangre Devils.
Taz is still out there, and I know we’re all chomping at the bit to find him and take care of him once and for all. Mike, Tripp, and I are more than eager since we have started to suspect he dispatched our old president, who no one has heard from since he supposedly retired and/or went nomad. The Fed we worked with is still recovering and hasn’t been off pain meds enough to really give us anything. Jonah mentioned having an idea of someone we could reach out to, and if nothing happens this week, I’m gonna ask him about it at church.
Kimbra squeezes my hand. I look over at the woman who’s captured my heart. “Penny for your thoughts?” Focus man. “Nothing serious, Doc. Everything’s good. Want a glass of wine?” She tilts her head, and I can tell she’s trying to decide whether she wants to push about what I was thinking about. She must make a decision because she nods and answers me. “Yeah, maybe a glass of that Moscato that Linnea said she had here.” I leave her and go over to the bar area, surprised to see mynephew Logan behind the bar. “What are you doin’ back there? You’re not a prospect anymore.” He gives me a chin lift in greeting. “Yeah, but we don’t really have any prospects right now besides Leif, and he’s outside getting the cord of wood we just got stacked up. David is probably gonna start soon, but he’s still getting his life sorted and all. Besides, I don’t mind grabbing drinks every so often.” I look at him for a beat, but before I can ask, his husband, Asher, comes up and steals the words right out of my mouth. “What did your sister offer to make you for you to agree to do this tonight?” Logan, attempting to glare at Asher, has me biting my lip so I don’t laugh at my nephew. “She’s making me a pan of her homemade mac and cheese, and I don’t have to share it with you.” Knowing that this will turn into something no uncle needs to hear, I head into the kitchen to grab the wine since I’m sure Linnea put that in the fridge.
Kimbra
Leaning back in my chair in the main room, I wipe the tears from my eyes. Kierstie and Jane’s stories about their little ones peeing on their dads were great. It’s something just about every parent with a boy has been a victim of, but their telling of it had us all in stitches. I know Brian got hit by Branson and Bentley. That’s back when he was an active dad. I still hold out hope that oneday, he pulls his head out of his southern orifice and becomes active again.
The guys are all outside at the fire, getting it going. I think we’ll head out there once the coffee is ready so we can doctor them up. You haven’t had a good cup of coffee till you’ve added some Bailey’s to it. Anna’s sharing her story of the first time Asher got Wyatt when there’s a ringing from my pocket. I pull out my phone and see it’s Brian calling me. He better not be calling to tell me he’s dropping the kids off early. Not after he’s canceled his last few weekends.
I answer the phone, “Yes, Brian—” but I’m interrupted by Branson yelling into the phone. “Mom! Mom!” I can hear the panic in his voice, sending me on alert. “What’s going on?” I hear noise on the other end of the phone and Brian yelling in the background. “Dad’s girlfriend got us pizza, and she didn’t listen to Bent! I wasn’t in the room, or I would have stopped it. She said he was overreacting, so she ordered pizza with tomatoes on it ‘cause she liked it, and he could just pick them off.” I stand up so fast that my chair is knocked back. “Did your dad—” Branson must’ve put me on speaker because Brian comes over the line. “I just gave him his EpiPen, but I remember his last reaction, so we’re heading to the ER now.” I tell him I’ll meet him there in a few minutes.
Someone must’ve yelled out to the guys while I was on the phone because they just about all came hurrying into the room withBen in the front. “What’s goin’ on?” I take a breath to get my voice under control. “I don’t know everything, butthat womanwho’s supposedly Brian’s girlfriend thought we were all being overly dramatic about Bentley’s tomato allergy and ordered a pizza with them on it. She just told him to take them off. Branson wasn’t in the room with them to stop her, and Bent ate a piece. Brian gave him his EpiPen, but last time, he still had to go to the ER for more help, so he’s taking him now. I need to go. I need to go see Bent. I need to go.” Everyone must have heard me because Jon starts speaking, giving directions, but I can’t focus on them. Ben looks at me. “Let’s go now, I’ll get you there as quick as I can.” I don’t wait but hurry out of the clubhouse with him and wait for him to quickly get on his bike. I hop on, putting my helmet on as fast as I can. Ben tears out of the parking lot, and I know he speeds all the way there, but I can’t seem to care. Getting to Bentley is all I can focus on.
As soon as Ben rides into the hospital parking lot, he pulls into a front spot. I take off my helmet as I’m getting off. “You go ahead, Doc, and I’ll be right in.” I run into the lobby and look around when I see someone I recognize. “Maggie!” She looks up at me and smiles. “Doctor Hargrave, what can I do for you?” I walk up to her before she heads back to the exam area. “My son Bentley was just brought in here.” Her smile drops. “I’m just coming back from lunch, but come with me, and we’ll check the desk.” I start to follow her through the doors, but I hear boots behind meand see Ben walking in. I wave him over. Maggie’s eyes go up in surprise, but she doesn’t say anything as I have him come with us. Maggie goes up to the desk, and before she can ask, the nurse looks up, and Nurse Carol recognizes me. “Your boy is in exam one. Doctor Turcich is in with him now. You can go on in.” I thank her, and Ben follows me over to the exam room. As soon as I’m in the doorway, Bailey calls out, “Ben! You came!” Ben gives her a smile as she runs to him, and he picks her up. “I did. Why don’t you and Branson come hang with me in the waiting room? I think there might be some other people you know showing up here shortly.” Bailey and Branson look at me. “Yeah, that would be good. That way, I can talk to the doctor and your dad and make sure Bentley’s good. Okay?” Bailey nods her head eagerly, but Branson looks a little more apprehensive. I think he doesn’t want to leave his brother. Knowing him, he’s gonna feel bad for a while about not being in the room to stop it from happening. I hear Ben talking to Bailey as they leave the room.
Somehow, during the conversation, I moved over to the gurney and took Bentley’s hand in mine. I reach up and touch his hair as he’s knocked out, which tends to happen to him. Doctor Turcich speaks up. “We did give him a second round of Epi. Your boy seems to have one of the worst allergies of this kind that I’ve seen in years. We’re gonna keep him for a few hours to make sure he’s good, but since both of you are physicians, I don’t see why he can’t go home tonight. I’m gonna go and come back in abit to check on him. If you need me, just have one of the nurses page me.” Brian thanks him, and I wait till I know he’s out of the room before I ask the question that Brian has to know is coming. “What in the hell happened? Bentley knows not to eat anything that a tomato has remotely touched, but he also knows to show respect to adults. So tell me, what in the hell wasyourgirlfriend thinking?”
I hear him sigh and look over at him for the first time since walking in the room. He rubs his face. “I had to run to the hospital to check on a patient. I was only gone for about forty-five minutes. I told her I would handle dinner when I got back. I didn’t like the test results the on-call was sending me, and this patient wasn’t responding after surgery like they should and showing some weird symptoms. That’s the only reason I left. I thought they would be okay for an hour. I must’ve arrived within a couple of minutes of when he ate the piece because he was still talking and telling Bailey he was okay. Fuck!” I can tell he’s upset with himself, and yet I can’t seem to feel bad at all. “What I don’t understand is why your girlfriend, or whatever she is to you, doesn’t understand when someone has a severe allergy, you can’t just take it off, and the person be fucking fine! I mean, she’s heard of people with peanut allergies, hasn’t she? I’m sorry, Brian. I know she must mean something to you to have thrown our marriage away for her, but I’ll be damned if our kids can be left with her alone again, especially if she doesn’t get howfucking serious this could’ve been.” He’s about to say something, but then stops and just nods. I continue with my next thought as I look back down at Bentley and see he’s still out to the world. “You need to talk to Branson. When he called me, he was mad at himself for not being in the room to stop it. It’s not his job to do that, and he needs to know neither of us blame him. He needs to hear it from both of us and not just me telling him you agree with me. We may not be together anymore, and both moved on, but we’re parents together, and we need to get to a point where we can do thatandwhere all three of them believe that we really do love them.” He sighs again. “You’re right. The fear I felt when I pulled in and Branson came running out screaming at me isn’t something I want to repeat again, ever. I know I’ve been letting the kids down. Hell, Branson let me have it yesterday. He told me I’d only been to two of his games this season and that your boyfriend and his friends had been to all of them, and he isn’t their kid. I hadn’t realized I had only made two. Hell, I didn’t realize I missed Bailey’s first recital.” I go to tell him that I had given him the dates, but he holds his hand up, so I let him continue. “I’ve been fucking selfish for too long. It’s got to be bad if Bransonandboth my mom and dad have all read me the riot act.” Holy shit, his parents actually did that? I mean, they aren’t bad grandparents, but I’ve never heard them say one negative thing about him. I must show the surprise on my face because Brian continues, “I know my work is important, but they are ourkids. I need to do better. I will.” He starts to move around the gurney. “I’m gonna start right now and go talk to Branson.” He starts to walk out the door, but he stops and turns around. “I know I probably don’t deserve it, but thank you for not threatening to try and get full custody. I know this is my fault, and I will handle this situation. I don’t want to lose them.” For the first time in years, I see an honesty and a sorrow in his eyes. “You handle this and be an active dad for our kids, and that’s all I ask. I will always look for what’s best for them. If you don’t change your ways, and things don’t improve, then we’ll have to revisit that, but we’re all human and make mistakes, I just don’t want you to blink, and they’re adults, and you don’t even know them.” He nods like he is really hearing me and turns back and heads out to the waiting room. I grab a chair and sit down next to my boy. There is no other fear in the world like hearing your kid is in danger and you’re not there to help them. Thank the lord, we both live near the hospital.
Ben
I would love to be back in the room with Kimbra to support her while she has that conversation with Brian, but I think it was smart to get Bailey and Branson out of there. Bailey’s on one side of me, watching a show on my phone, and Branson is next to me, but I can tell he’s worried. I nudge his elbow so I canget his attention without alerting Bailey. “I don’t know what all happened, but I know, without a doubt, this is not your fault, and your brother is going to be okay.” He rubs his face and looks over at me. “I should have been in the room with them. I heard Bentley talking toherand Bailey chiming in, but I didn’t go and see what was going on. I walked in when she yelled out that the food was ready. Bent never said anything till I looked at the pizza still in the box and saw tomatoes all over the freaking top of it. Dad had run real fast to the hospital to check on a patient and had said we’d get dinner when he got back, so I don’t know why she got pizza.” Oh, that woman. I have a feeling my woman might go nuclear on her, and I have no plans on holding her back. This kid needs to get it and understand that his job is to be a kid and let his parents and I do the worrying. “I know you feel guilty, but I still say none of this is your fault. I’m sure your mom and dad are going to say the same thing.”
Before Branson can say anything back to me, the doors to the emergency room open, and I see Mike, Jon, and most of the family walk into the waiting room. Branson’s eyes widen in surprise. “What are you guys doing here?” Jon hears him and walks over to him. He sits down next to Branson on his other side. “You and your brother and sister are family now, and this is what family does.” I can tell Branson feels this, but like the little man he already is, he just nods and leans back in his chair, no doubt getting his emotions in check.
Anna and Linnea both come and check on the kids. They find out that with everything that happened, the kids haven’t eaten dinner. Linnea gets out her phone and is going to message Ry to have him and Nicky bring some food up here when the doors open to the waiting room again. Whoever comes in has an effect on both Bailey and Branson. I look over and see a woman standing there looking annoyed. Her hair and makeup look overdone and exaggerated. I know some guys find that look attractive, but it’s never done it for me. I feel like it’s often a mask to hide who the person really is.
I watch her look around the waiting room, and when she lands her gaze on Bailey and Branson, she huffs and walks toward them. Stopping in front of them, she puts her hands on her hips. “Where’s your dad? You all took off and left me there.” Bailey chimes in from my lap. “Bentley was sick, and Dad had to take him to the ‘mergncy room. You know it’s not all about you.” I duck my head behind Bailey, who’s still sitting on my lap. It’s almost painful to keep my laugh in.
She huffs and ignores Bailey, looking over at us all. She zeros in on Asher, who’s sitting next to me. She bats her eyes and holds out her hand, expecting him to shake hers. “Well, who do we have here?” He gives her a look of disgust. “Someone who couldn’t be anylessinterested and who’s focused on the boy who’s back there because you couldn’t be bothered to listen to his parents who told you he was fucking allergic.” Oh, hadI mentioned that both Logan and Asher have spent time with all three kids and that they’ve even planned for them to have a sleepover at their place next month? No? Oh yeah, the kids love them and have a blast with them all the time.
I decide to nip this shit in the bud. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve actually been introduced. I’m Ben.” When she doesn’t say anything, I continue, “And you would be?” She puts her hands on her hips again, apparently annoyed that I don’t know her name. Kimbra’s never said it, preferring to refer to her as that “bottled blonde” when talking about her—out of the kids’ ears, of course. “I’m Brittani. With an I.” Oh good lord. She continues on, “I’m Brian’s girlfriend, though soon-to-be fiancé.” Branson makes a scoffing noise, and she looks down her nose at him. “What?” He looks up at her with a look of disgust that would’ve rivaled Asher’s from a couple of minutes ago. “You’ll be lucky if Dad doesn’t break up with you. He may not be the best dad, but he takes things like this seriously. You could’ve killed Bentley by making him eat that pizza, even though he told you he was allergic!”
Brittani-with-an-I rolls her eyes at Branson and crosses her arms. “I still think he was exaggerating. I mean, it’s just tomatoes. It’s not like I gave him peanuts or he got stung by a bee. Your mom coddles you kids too much. That’s why your dad doesn’t get you all of his weekends.”
