Chapter Six
Braxton
“Are you okay?” Cara asks me as I climb into our bed. We finally got moved and settled in the new house, thanks to my brothers. Now with everything Hatch is going through, we’re trying to find a house big enough for him, DJ, Ralynn and the little girl he never knew about.
“Yeah, sweetheart. Just tired. We’ve had a lot going on around here and I’m worried about you and the baby and Hatch and his situation. I need to have church tomorrow.”
“Why don’t you text the guys about that and then let’s try and get some sleep. The kids will be up before you know it.”
“Good plan. C’mere, sweetheart, let’s exhaust ourselves.”
“I approve of this plan wholeheartedly,” she agrees with me.
At the clubhouse the next morning, I’m sitting at the table looking at some pictures that Cara found that she wants to do for the kids’ rooms while I wait for everyone else to show up.
“What’s that?” Twisted asks, coming in with coffees and some donuts. I swear, since we let Mom into the clubhouse to do a little remodeling, all the guys have gotten spoiled.
“Cara found these and thought the kids would like them in their rooms. Lily’s would be pink, of course.”
“Damn, those are cool. Y’know, we could likely make them and put a bigger bed inside, so they could grow into the bed itself.”
“I like that idea. Dammit, where is everyone? We need to meet and then get on with shit at the trucking company.”
“Cool your jets, the other guys were pulling in when I was walking in the door.”
I look around and see that everyone is, in fact, now here. “Okay, church is now in session. Y’all know what Hatch has going on right now. We’re waiting on Miss Adams to get back to him regarding whether or not Maysen is his little girl, but we’re going on the presumption she is and if that’s the case, we need to find Hatch and DJ a house that’s big enough for four.”
Hatch looks at me and says, “I need to make things official with DJ too. I’m claiming her as my old lady and need to get a vote. Also gonna put a ring on that finger, although since neither of us have never been married, thinking she’ll want something more than the Justice of the Peace.”
“I second the nomination to make DJ Hatch’s old lady,” Chief says. He doesn’t say much, but I’ve noticed he’s been around a bit more since the caseworker has shown up. Mom better not catch wind of it or the next thing I know, she’ll be trying to fix the two of them up. I think she needs a hobby.
“Any nays?” I ask. When no one disagrees, I say, “Motion approved. Twisted, go ahead and get a cut ordered. Speaking of, we need to set up Cara’s cut ceremony since we haven’t done that yet.”
“Do we wanna do a family cookout?” Smokey asks.
“We could, yeah. Let’s check the calendar and see what weekend is free because you know Mom is going to want to cook, and she’ll pull you in, Chef,” I say.
“Hey, Axe?” Smokey asks.
“Yeah?”
“I stopped to gas up my truck today and saw that the truck stop is for sale. Thinking it might be a good investment for us, don’t you? We could expand the small diner on it and add more on the convenience store side.”
“Yeah, but who’s gonna run it?”
“I wouldn’t mind,” Smokey states. “I don’t mind helping out at the trucking company, but now that you’ve got some more drivers, would rather do that.
“What the hell are these?” Hatch asks, seeing the pictures of the beds that are on the table.
Oh for fuck’s sakes. Sometimes, having church with these guys is like herding cats. On catnip.
“Cara found this somewhere and wants to do beds like these for Lily and Luca. Now that we have the room, I agree.”
“Thinking my little princesses would like them too,” Hatch murmurs. He doesn’t even know if she’s his but he’s already making plans to include her. That’s why he’s one of my best men. No matter what that little girl has gone through, he’s going to do whatever he can to make it right for her and I know the rest of the brothers will do their part.
“You know we could make them,” Bandit says.
“Thought you were our IT guy?” Law asks.
“Uh, yeah, but I paid my way through college working in a custom cabinetry shop. And I think if you made it bigger, like for a full-size bed, the kids could grow into them.”
I’m about to try and get the meeting back on track when there’s a knock on the door. Now what? The women are working, or at least they’re supposed to be working, so who on earth could it be?
“Yeah?” I yell out. When Mom pops her head in, I want to groan out loud. How on earth will these men ever respect my position when my own mother fails to remember that we’re not to be interrupted when church is in session?
“Uh, Braxton? Sorry to interrupt, but Hatch has a phone call from Trinity.”
The room immediately feels wired, each of the men in here now worried about the little girl we’re all just waiting to officially bring into the family. I nod to Hatch and he leaves the room.
Hatch
“Hello?” I ask, grabbing the clubhouse phone.
“Hatch, this is Trinity. I’m sorry to interrupt your day, but I have some notes from the play therapist I thought you should know about.”
“What did she say?”
“Well, from her notes, Maysen is a very smart little girl. She does display some hesitancy when around men, but during the therapy itself, she expressed that she had always wanted a daddy like her friend has. I need you to come into town and get the DNA testing done. I took Maysen this morning for a check-up and got hers done already. We should get the results back in just a few days and then, we’ll start working on introducing her to you, DJ and Ralynn. Also, I need to know if I can come out to your house this evening and do a home study.”
I mentally think of what we have going on and decide that this is far more important. “What time do you want to come by?”
“Is four o’clock too early?”
“No, since I’ll be leaving shortly to get the testing out of the way. DJ is normally home by then for Ralynn.”
“Then I’ll see you around four.”
I hang up after she says goodbye and don’t even notice that Nan is still standing there until she says, “Hatch, you know however you need me to help y’all, I’ll be there.”
“I know. I think this little girl is going to need all of us, Nan. Something tells me her life was kind of sucky before.”
“Yeah, well, that’s going to change.”
I walk back into church so we can finish up since I now have an appointment to get my DNA testing done. I know that this little girl is mine even without the test, but I understand that the state has to be one hundred percent sure. “Everything okay?” Braxton asks.
“Yeah, gotta go into town and get my DNA test done and she’s coming by the house tonight to do the home study, so I can do a few of the local runs, but will have to cut out around three to make sure I get home and cleaned up.”
“No problem, we’ve got your back on this, Hatch,” he says to me. “Okay, so to get back on track, we’re going to see what weekend works for the cut ceremony for Cara, Twisted is ordering a cut for DJ, and we’re now on a house hunt for Hatch and DJ. With regard to the businesses, we’ve picked up some more contracts at the trucking company and Cara has interviews set up with the local technical school to hire a few more drivers. We’re going to need some more warehouse folks as well, so she’s putting an ad in the paper this weekend. Smokey, you and Law check into the truck stop. Going to want to know the specs of the place, as well as what they want, as far as the purchase price goes. I want to know what their finances have been like these past few years, all that shit. Once y’all have that, let me know and we’ll meet again to see if that’s what we want to do. I agree with it in principle, just need to make sure that we’ll get a good return. Do we have anything else?”
“How is it going with DJ working at the complex?” Bandit asks.
“She’s gotten the office organized and up-to-date, and already has appointments set up for the remaining units. We’re being a bit selective because we don’t want a heavy turnover.”
“That makes sense,” Chief says.
“If there’s nothing else, this meeting is adjourned,” Axe says banging his hand on the table.
The day flies by, and the next thing I know I’m in the waiting room waiting to be called back for a swab sample. I can’t help but worry about this little girl and what her mental and emotional state will be like once she comes and lives with us. I pull out my phone and text DJ seeing as it’s nearing on four o’clock and I’m nervous about the afternoon visit with Trinity.
Me: Baby, is the house ready for the home visit?
DJ: Yes, Hatch baby. Nan came over today and cleaned while we were at work. It’s spotless and she even stocked the fridge and pantry for us.
Nan, damn I love that woman. She’s a mother hubbard to us all and I couldn’t ask for a better woman at all of our backs.
Me: We owe her a huge thanks.
DJ: It’s Nan, she would wave it off and tell us we’re crazy.
“Mr. Hatcher,” I hear my name called.
Me: Being called back, gtg.
DJ: K, love you
Me: Love you back
As soon as my cheek is swabbed I ask the nurse, “How long does it take to get the results back?”
“Normally it takes six to eight weeks to get results, but the child’s case worker has put a rush on it, making it a priority so we should have the results in just a few short days.”
“Thank you,” I tell her as I get up and walk out of the room. Six to eight weeks, there’s no way I would’ve made it that long without knowing if that little girl is mine or not. Not that it matters, I would’ve done whatever it takes to bring her into our home. No child deserves to grow up without the feeling of being stable and surrounded by loving, nurturing parents. DJ and I talked this morning in the shower, and we decided regardless of the results, she was coming to live with us. Neither of us can fathom letting her get lost in the system when there are two willing adults to stand by her and help pave her way in life.
When I walk in the front door, I see Ralynn talking animatedly with Trinity. She’s telling her something and using her hands to accentuate the story. I hear Trinity laugh and thank the stars above for this little treasure who has wormed her way into my heart. I can’t help the laugh that bubbles from my chest which gets Ray’s attention.
“Daddy, you’re home!” she says running at me and leaping into my open arms. She asked me this morning at breakfast if she could start calling me Dad. As soon as I said yes, Hatch became non-existent and was replaced with that amazing word...Dad. I never realized what hearing that word from her mouth where it comes to me, would make me feel. A piece that was damaged and buried a long time ago has now opened up, and the void has been filled by this tiny little munchkin of a little girl.
“I’m home, I’m home,” I say as I playfully twirl her around causing those beautiful, giggling sounds to leave her. I pull her into my arms and hers go around my neck and her legs wrap around my waist.
“Guess what?” she asks me excitedly.
“What?” I ask her back just as enthusiastically.
“Momma says I’m getting me a new sister!”
“You are?” I widen my eyes acting surprised.
“Yes! And I’m gonna shares my toys and room with her.”
“Wow, that’s awfully nice of you to do.”
“That’s what sisters do,” she tells me matter of factly.
“Is that what they do? I thought they did each other's hair and painted each other’s nails.”
“I’m not allowed to play with nail polish,” she whispers to me.
“You’re not?” I ask even though I know she’s telling me the truth.
“Nope,” she says popping her ‘P’ like the little diva she is. “Momma says I’s is too messy, she does my nails for me or we go and gets them done.” Trinity laughs at our banter causing me to come out of my Ray and me time. We do this every afternoon, so I completely forgot she was sitting there waiting to speak with me.
“Sorry,” I tell her as I go sit on the other end of the couch. I have a little monkey attached to me, so I ask her, “Where’s your mom?”
“She’s in the kitchen making tea,” Ray tells me.
“I’m here,” I hear my woman say as she enters the room. How I missed her is unbelievable, considering I can see everything from the living room. I stand up removing Ray’s limbs from me and go relieve her of some of the glasses in her hands.
“Hey, baby,” I say as I grab a couple of the glasses. I lean over and give her a quick kiss on the lips. “How was your day? Sorry I was distracted and didn’t see you standing there.”
“I get it, babe, and no hard feelings.” she says with a wink. We sit down on the couch, on the opposite side of Trinity. Ralynn climbs up on my lap and lays her head on my shoulder. This act alone centers me for the conversation about to take place.
“So, Hatch,” Trinity begins, “I’ve been getting to know your family a little while we were waiting on you. It seems to me that you have a strong family unit behind you.” I’m hoping there isn’t a but in there somewhere. “DJ already gave me a tour of your place, but she’s informed me you’re currently looking for a larger place so that Maysen can have a room of her own. Whereas I can appreciate that, it is acceptable for her to share a room with Ralynn for the time being. I’m putting in a positive evaluation for her to come and stay with you pending the DNA results.”
“We would like to speak with you about that,” DJ says to her.
“Okay, tell me what you’re thinking,” Trinity says to us.
I pick it up from there, “Whether she’s mine biologically or not, we’d like to be considered for placement of her. We would like to welcome her into our home no matter what the test determines,” I tell her looking in her eyes so she can see the truth of my words.
“Wow, and that right there tells me exactly the kind of people you are. Let’s take it one step at a time for now, if the results come back that she isn’t yours biologically speaking, we will take the next steps in getting you a foster parents license. You’ll have to take classes and pass evaluations—however I don’t see it being an issue.”
“We just want to give her a home and foundation to give her a chance at a successful life,” DJ tells her.
Trinity smiles and says, “I really misjudged you. I need to apologize for that. I would place kids with you in a heartbeat.”
“As you were told earlier, we’re looking for a bigger house. Once we’re married we may check in with you about helping some kids out,” I tell her.
“You two are getting married? That’s great news!” Trinity says clapping her hands together.
“We are,” I tell her proudly pulling both of my girls into my arms. “Does that make a difference?”
“It will definitely help your case when the Judge reviews the reports. While there are parents who are in relationships and not married when they gain custody of their kids, judges like to see a stable family unit when it comes to a decision on permanent custody placement.”
“Sounds reasonable, but we’re going to plan our wedding out. I don’t want a shotgun wedding, but it will happen,” I tell her while looking at DJ.
“I agree,” DJ adds, “we want both girls there when we commit to each other. It isn’t just us, they are involved as well. I want a family ceremony after the I do’s are said anyways. I want the girls to be part of it all, so they know we each love them both and are accepting them both into the fold.” And that right there, is why DJ is mine.