Chapter Nine
DJ
I’m in the kitchen cooking dinner when I hear Hatch come in the front door. I look over my shoulder and give him a smile. “Hey, baby, how was your day?” I ask him.
“Busy, how was yours?”
“Same, did you get a chance to speak with the realtor?”
“I did, she’s going to speak with the owners, give them my offer and get back to me,” he says as he enters the kitchen. “Lips, woman,” he tells me indicating he wants a kiss. I pucker up with duck lips and he chuckles at my child-like antics. He leans down and kisses me, only I open my mouth so he can give me a welcome home kiss properly. “Where’s our girl?”
“Upstairs playing with her dolls.”
“Gonna go check in with her, I’ll be back.” I notice some bags in his hands that he’s trying to shield from me. I hide my smile not wanting to let him know I saw them. He rushes up the stairs and I turn back to the stove to finish cooking the noodles. It was a long day so I went with an easy dinner of spaghetti. I have the garlic bread ready to go in the oven when the noodles are nearly done. I can hear Hatch and Ralynn having a conversation, I can’t hear what it is exactly they’re saying, but it warms my heart to know that this is the time of day that he pays special attention to her. Daddy and me time, something she’s never had before, and soon he’ll be adding another little darling to the mix. Most women would be jealous of their man raising his daughter that has a different mother, but to me, it’s just one more person, an extension of him, to love.
“Dinner almost done?” Hatch asks coming down the stairs with Ray on his back, I’m so happy she has someone else to play cowboy and horse with. My poor abused back has enjoyed the break it’s had since he entered the picture.
“Almost, I’m fixing to put the bread in now.”
“Ralynn and I are going to go into the living room and work on her math homework, that is unless you need my help for anything?”
“That would be helping me out, thank you, Hatch.”
“Anytime, gorgeous,” he says grabbing Ray’s backpack from the back of the kitchen chair. A short time later, as I’m pulling the bread out of the oven, I overhear them counting dots. She hasn’t taken to addition as easily as some of the other kids, so her teacher suggested that she make dots and count them. It seems that it is easier for her to pick up and she’s done better since we started doing this. Eventually, it will kick in her brain and she will no longer need those dots to assist her.
“I talked to Trinity today,” I say as I walk into the living room.
He looks my way and asks, “Oh yeah, what about?”
“She wanted to know if she should bring Maysen to the house Saturday morning so we could go shopping. I hope it's okay with you, but I told her to bring her and we’d make a girl’s morning of it with Cara and Lily. I didn’t mean to exclude you, but I thought she could use some new clothes to wear at the BBQ.”
“I don’t feel left out, gorgeous, if anything it makes me happy that you want to spend time with her away from me. Maybe you should go ahead and grab the bedding and extras while you’re at it. That way we aren’t shopping in the evening time with two tired little girls.”
“I can do that, but are you sure you don’t want to be the one to help her pick out her bedding?”
“I can find other things to do with her over the weekend that I would personally prefer over shopping.” I can’t help but roll my eyes at him, what is it with men and shopping trips?
“You do realize you’re going to have two little girls, don’t you?”
“Yeah, and?”
“Two girls who are going to want to shop—a lot.”
“That’s what they have a mother for, baby.”
“I don’t even know how to respond to that, Hatch.”
“That’s because you know I’m right.”
“Fine, I’ll do the shopping with them and you can do the rest.”
“Can do,” he says smugly.
“Deal?” I say holding my hand out.
“Deal,” he says. Knowing I’ve got him, I can’t help but to smile.
“Good, Ralynn wanted to go get a pedicure done Sunday morning, you can take her and Maysen.”
“Wait, isn’t that part of a woman’s thing? Can’t you do that while shopping Saturday morning?”
“Nope, I do the shopping and you do the rest,” I tell him walking back into the kitchen.
“But, baby,” he whines.
“Nope you made a deal, Hatch.”
“Please don’t make me do this,” he begs me with his eyes.
“Are you a man of your word, Hatch?”
“Of course I am,” he says puffing out his chest.
“Well, you made a deal with me and I expect you to keep it.”
“Fine,” he mumbles under his breath.
“Yay! We’re going to have so much fun, Daddy!” Ralynn screams and Hatch looks at me with puppy dog eyes.
“No way are you getting out of this, mister, I need to work on my book and you need to spend time with your daughters.”
“Maybe we can renegotiate later,” he says to me. Hmph, if I know him, he’s going to try and use his body to get me to change my mind. Nuh-uh, I really need to get the edits I’ve got done and get into my new manuscript. I’ve been using every spare minute to write, a fact that my hands have let me know. They ache so badly I wish I hadn’t set this particular deadline, but like Hatch, I keep my word, so I’ll push on.
“C’mon, Ray, let’s get washed up,” Hatch says as I bring out the pot of spaghetti. Once I have it set on the table, I pull out the bread and slice it up. With everything in place and Hatch taking care of Ralynn, I take the opportunity to pour myself a glass of my favorite Chardonnay. I listen as Ray and Hatch talk to each other, and I can’t help but smile, for once I got one over on Hatch. It’s usually the other way around.
“Daddy, I can’t waits until we gets our nails done!”
I see his grimace and hide my smile. I’ll let him have his play later, but there’s no way I want him to miss out on a manicure and pedicure! He needs to bond with them, and what better way than having his toes painted?
“I’m not getting my toes painted,” he yells out. Oops, guess I said that part out loud.
“Maysen and Ralynn will think you’re the center of their universe,” I say to him.
“Whatever,” he replies, walking into the kitchen, Ray’s hand in his. “Let’s eat, woman,” he says as they sit down. I go over and join them, the entire meal he gives me the stink eye. I pretend I don’t see him, but I’m secretly dancing inside of my head.
Hatch
The next day I wake up and call Axe.
“Hey, thought you were off today to take care of some things?”
“I am, that’s why I’m calling you instead of walking into your office right about now.”
“Smartass.”
“Dumbass,” I reply to his remark.
“What did I do to deserve a phone call from you this damn early?”
“I need an extra set of eyes,” I tell him.
“On?” I tell him about the kid Talon I met the day before and my suspicions. He tells me he’ll have Law make some inquiries on the kid and the foster family. Knowing I’ve done what I can for now, I hang up the phone and start my day.
Two hours later, I receive a phone call that I’ve been waiting on. It’s the realtor who wants to meet with me so we can go over contracts. The owners accepted my offer, so I pick up the phone and shoot a text off to DJ at the office.
Me: We need to meet the realtor in an hour. Can you make it happen?
DJ: Yes! I’ll have things wrapped up for the day in thirty minutes. I’ll meet you at home.
Me: See you soon
I go to the bank and get a certified check to take to the realtor’s office. Even taking out that chunk of money, my accounts are still healthy. I need to set up a house account and get DJ put on it, but I’ll wait until she’s with me so she can sign the signature card. I don’t want to wait until we’re married since I’m sure she’s going to want to buy shit for the new house. Not to mention, we’ll have to have utilities turned on at the new place before we can move in. I want her to have complete access to funds needed to ensure she gets everything she wants.
Once I’ve left the bank, check in hand, I head to the house to pick up my girl. There has been this weight sitting on my chest for years, ever since Anniston left me. As I’m getting into my truck, I realize that feeling is gone. I’m still filled with anxiousness, but it’s not heavy, it’s light and full of love and expectations. I turn the key over and fire up my truck, reach around to grab my seat belt and strap myself in, ready to begin the next chapter in my life.
“DJ, get a move on, woman, we’ve got reservations at six-thirty!” I call out to her for what feels like the fiftieth time. I’m ready to get this evening started, and get my ring on her finger. My brothers and family already know that she’s mine, but I want the entire world to know she’s taken...by me.
“I’m coming, Hatch, hold your damn horses,” she says coming down the stairs, and when I see her I lose all cognitive thought. Holy fuck she’s beautiful! She’s got on some red dress that shows off all of her curves, it’s sleeveless and has some strap that’s tied in the back of her neck keeping the dress in place. If one of those straps breaks, or unties, her breasts will pop out for all to see...maybe I should go to the closet and get her jacket...I don’t like the thought of others seeing what’s mine. “What’s that look for? What’s wrong?” she asks coming up and standing next to me.
“Do you need a jacket or something?”
“Why? Hatch, dammit, there’s nothing wrong with my dress.”
“Didn’t say there was, gorgeous.” I move around to her back and check the straps out to make sure they’re nice and tight. When I’m satisfied I walk back around and see her roll her eyes at me. Instead of saying anything, because tonight is not a night for arguments, I grab her hand and walk her out the door and to the truck. What I really want to be doing is bending her over the couch while I ravish her from head to toe. When we get back, I think to myself. I open the door and help her into the truck. Her legs look long and luscious when the bottom of the dress rides up as she gets situated inside. Not being able to help myself, and needing to touch her, I glide my hand up from her calf to mid-thigh.
“We have a reservation and don’t want to be late, remember?”
“Yeah,” I say as I move back to shut her door. When I’m satisfied she won’t have a limb get caught or hit with the door, I shut it and run around the hood to my side of the truck. I say a silent prayer that everything goes smoothly and according to plan. I want her to look back on this day when we’re old and gray, and have it be one of the best memories of her life. When we pull up to the parking lot of the Barnhouse, I get a case of the nerves and it doesn’t go unnoticed by DJ.
“What’s wrong with you, why are you all fidgety?”
“I’m not,” I say as I climb out the truck and pat my pocket to make sure the ring is still there. I then go around to open her door for her. She gives me a look, but takes the hand that I put out for her. We walk into the restaurant and I tell the hostess our name and she escorts us up the stairs to the eating portion of the place. We go to the corner booth and I’m suddenly thinking Gino needs a pat on the back. The table not only has the candles and chilled wine waiting for us, but there are rose petals strewn over the top of the table.
“Oh, Hatch, this is beautiful,” DJ says taking her hand from mine and holding both of them over her mouth in awe. I would do the same, but then I’d have to turn in my man card. I walk her over and help her slide into the booth across from where I’ll be sitting. Once we’re seated, our waitress comes over and asks us, “Would you like for me to pour you a glass of wine?”
“Yes, please,” DJ tells her.
As she’s pouring our wine she states, “My name is Kimberly and I’ll be serving you tonight. Would you like to start off with any appetizers this evening?”
“No thank you,” I say to her, “Gino has our order already and it should be ready for us.”
“I’ll head to the kitchen and check on that right now, if you need anything just let me know,” she says as she heads away from our table.
“This is very romantic, Hatch. What’s the occasion?”
“We’re celebrating tonight,” I tell her as I reach across the table and grab her hand. I place a kiss on the back of it and intertwine our fingers together.
“Yes, I can’t wait to bring Maysen home and begin the process of making her feel a part of the family.”
“Right,” I say clearing my throat. “But tonight isn’t about the kids, it’s about us. I love both of those girls, but tonight they aren’t a topic of conversation.”
“No?”
“No, not tonight, gorgeous. Tonight is all about you and me.”
“Wow! I don’t think we’ve gone an entire night and not talked about them in one way or another.”
“True, but that’s because they’re the center of our universe.”
“They are, but you’re right, we have to have time away from them and concentrate on us.”
“That’s a fact, I want to make sure we dedicate at least one night a month for us. We’ll work something out with Braxton and Cara to where they’ll watch ours for us, and we’ll watch theirs. And we’ll check with Twisted and Paisley too and see if they want in on this. It’s important to me that we keep what we have strong.”
“God, Hatch, that means the world to me that you’d say that. I was thinking the same way but wasn’t sure how to bring it up without sounding selfish.”
“We need to be a little selfish when it comes to us.” Just then the waitress comes over with our meals ending our conversation. As we eat, we talk about what we want for our future and where we want to be both financially and personally in the next five years or so. We don’t bring up kids, as per my request, but I can tell it’s weighing on her mind. I distract her by leaning over the table and grabbing her face between my hands and kissing her lips gently. “Babe, just to say, you know we’re going to have a houseful. Let’s leave it like that for tonight at least?”
“How did you know what I was thinking?”
“Because I can read you like an open book.”
“Hmmm... and here I was thinking I am a mystery.”
“To others, baby, but never to me.”
“Well, then, I need to keep things more interesting and get a little harder to read,” she says cheekily to me, she may think she can hide things from me, but honestly, I pay attention to every aspect of her.
“Gorgeous, as long as I draw breath, no matter how well I know you, you’ll always have that mystique surrounding you.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m wondering how in the fuck a guy like me found a woman like you to love him.”
I see the sheen in her eyes and she starts rubbing her hands. She’s been doing that a lot lately so I ask, “Your hands bugging you?”
“A little,” she replies. “Been burning the oil whenever possible because I’m trying to get this latest book done, but I’ve had a few new characters who wanted to talk as well. I keep this up and they’ll be all gnarled.” I get up from my seat and go over to her, I stand next to her and grab her hands. I start to rub and massage them, hoping to help alleviate any pain she may be experiencing at this time. Thinking now is the perfect opportunity, I get down on one knee and pull the box holding her ring out of my pocket.
“Hatch, what are you doing?” she asks looking at me with wide eyes. I grab her left hand in mine and look into her eyes, here we go, I think to myself.
DJ
Holding my hands in his, he looks at me and says, “DJ, these hands right here? When we’re both old and gray and they’re spotted with age and gnarled with arthritis, I’ll still be reaching for them. I’ve got you and I’m never letting go, will you marry me?” I can feel tears trickle down my cheeks, I can’t believe it! My dreams are all coming true where he’s concerned. He’s giving me a family, a home and security.
“Yes, yes I’ll marry you,” I tell him. He puts a beautiful ring on my finger and stands up pulling me into the embrace and safety of his arms. Our lips meet in the middle, and I hear people cheering around us. When we finally break apart, he pulls me into his side of the booth and wraps me in his arms.
“This is the beginning of forever,” he tells me.
“To putting an end to the past and moving on with our future,” I say to him holding up my wine glass. He clinks his glass together with mine, and we both take a drink. I can’t help but watch him and I see the happiness radiating from him. Making me feel like I’m sitting on top of the world, I do this, I make him happy and free. Me, no one else, just me. I can’t describe this feeling, but knowing that no matter what the future holds, we’ll always have each other has me almost giddy. I want to jump up and scream out loud, he’s mine!
Gino walks over to our table sporting a smile on his face. “Congratulations you two, dinner is on the house.” He then shakes Hatch’s hand and kisses the back of mine before he walks away. Hatch, being the kind of man he is, shakes his head before pulling his wallet out and pulling out several twenties to lay next to our plates for the waitress. I can’t help but smile at my soon-to-be husband’s generosity.
He looks at me and asks, “You want dessert, gorgeous?”
Hmm, no, I want him and me, naked in bed, for dessert. I guess my eyes communicate what I’m wanting because he chuckles before helping me up. Holding my hand, we walk back through the restaurant, stopping by Gino. “Make sure your waitress gets her tip,” Hatch tells him. “And we appreciate the dinner. You didn’t have to do that for us, but it means a lot.”
“What, no dessert?” Gino asks, a smile playing on his lips.
“Got that at home,” Hatch replies. I know I must be the shade of a tomato right now, since I know that Gino has read between the lines. We leave the restaurant and get settled in the truck. On the way home Hatch’s phone rings and he frowns when he sees the number.
“Yo.” I roll my eyes at the way he answers his phone.
“Talon, kid, is that you?” Talon, that’s a new name that I don’t recognize.
“Wait a minute, hold on, tell me what’s going on.” I watch his face as it clouds over, making me concerned about what is being said on the other side of that conversation.
“Where are you?” I hear him ask. “Are you safe? I can be there in ten to fifteen minutes, kid, but need to know you’re safe first.”
“Do you need to keep talking, kid? I can stay on the line with you until we get there.” Now my curiosity has turned to concern. Whatever he hears has him nodding. “Okay, we’ll be there soon, if you need me, call me back.”
“DJ, I need you to call Trinity and have her meet us at this address. As soon as you’re off the phone with her, I’ll tell you what’s going on.” I see him pull up his contacts and make another call. While he’s doing that I pull up Trinity’s name and press the call button. I can’t hear his conversation because I’m talking to Trinity, but think it’s probably Braxton. As soon as we both end our calls, he takes my hand in his and says, “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Hatch
I hadn’t told DJ about the kid before, because then I would’ve had to explain where I’d met him. I didn’t want to explain what I was doing at a jewelry store before I asked her to marry me. “When I went to get your ring, there was a kid, no older than fourteen years old working there. He’s actually the one who helped me pick out your ring. I noticed how stiffly he was walking and he was always looking over his shoulder as if he was waiting for someone to come out and yell ‘boo’. I offered him my business card and told him to call me if he ever needed anything. I told him day or night, I couldn’t help but want to help him out of whatever his situation is. I know that I might be putting you in an awkward position, so I’m going to ask you now, do you want to go with me, or do you want me to drop you off at home?”
“Oh no, buddy, I’m going with you. Don’t stop, let’s go help this kid.” This right here, is why she is my perfect match in every way.
When we pull up to the kid’s house, Braxton is already there on his bike waiting for us to arrive. Now, all we have to do is wait for Trinity to get here and assist us with removing this kid from his home. I notice her pulling up, but she isn’t alone, a police cruiser pulls up behind her. She gets out of her car and runs up to us. “What’s going on, guys?” I tell her the story about how I met Talon and the phone call I received from him on our way home. She pulls out her phone and calls who I’m assuming is her supervisor by the conversation I’m hearing from this side.
“Alright, yeah, I’ll take care of it,” she says, hanging up the phone. “Talon and Jasper Carson are brothers. They were both placed here a little over three months ago. Talon is fourteen years of age, and Jasper is nine. They are biological brothers whose parents were both killed in an automobile accident. This is their first placement, before this they were in a group home. The parents were killed six months ago. It is advised that due to Jasper’s anxiety since the parents’ death that the two boys be placed together. Mr. and Mrs. Johanson were the only ones with enough space to take them in together,” Trinity tells us, then continues what she was saying. “I have been given permission to place them in a temporary emergency approved home.”
“We turned in our paperwork, can we be considered for their foster parents?” I ask her.
“You’ve already been approved, you just need to begin your classes right away.”
“I already started the process of the classes online,” DJ tells her.
“Do you have any certifications from the classes?”
“I do,” DJ says to her.
“Hatch, you need to start yours right away, both of your background checks already went through. It helps that you both are bonded and have gone through an extensive check before you ever had an interest in fostering. I’ve already done a home study and approved it for Maysen, but you need a bigger place if you plan on keeping the boys long term.”
“We were going to announce this weekend to everyone that we just purchased a place today. The boys could either share a room or have one of their own,” I inform her.
“That’s wonderful news, how soon are you moving in?”
“We have a fifteen-day closing, as soon as I have the keys to the house, we are going to start the move-in process.”
“Do you think you can get your first class completed before you move in?”
Braxton pipes up in the conversation, “He’ll get it done, we’ll give him time off from work until he has it completed.”
“Well then, let’s go get these boys, find out exactly what’s happening and get them out of there,” she says leading us up the walkway with the officer in tow. She knocks on the door and a man, who’s well-dressed answers the door. The anger on his face is there making me want to knock it off him.
“Can I help you?” he says to us, exasperation evident in his tone.
“Yes, sir, we’re here to do a well check on Talon and Jasper,” Trinity tells him.
“What for?” he angrily asks.
“Sir, please let us inside of the house,” Trinity tells him. He huffs, but holds the door open wider so we can enter.
“Why are these guys here?” he asks, pointing at Axe and me.
“They’re here for assistance,” she tells him.
“I don’t want them in my house.”
“Too bad,” the officer tells him. “Step aside, sir, this isn’t about what you do or do not want. This is about those kids you have inside.” I’m guessing the guy didn’t want to verbally spar with the cop, because he does as he’s told.
As we scoot by him, it takes everything I have not to grab his puny neck and slam him into the wall. I grab DJ’s hand not wanting her anywhere near the asshole.
“Call the children out, please,” Trinity tells sir asshole.
“Boys! Get down here,” he hollers out, seconds later you hear feet moving down the stairs. As soon as they enter the room, I want to go nuclear. Talon has a bruise on the side of his cheek, and the boy who I’m assuming is his brother has visible fingerprint marks on his upper arm. My tension must grab DJ’s attention. She squeezes my arm with her hand, I look over at her and she has tears in her eyes, making my anger rise.
“Boys,” Trinity says, “come sit down with me for a minute.” Talon looks over at me and I nod my head letting him know to do as she says. He grabs his brother’s hand and walks him over to the couch. I notice the boy is limping. Knowing I need to keep my mouth shut, for now, I close my eyes and count to ten.
“Could you tell me how you got those bruises?” Trinity asks them once they are all seated. They both look over at dickface and I see hesitation on their faces. Not wanting the man to intimidate them any, I step in front of him to where they only see me. I’m not worried about having my back to him, because my brother is here and I know he won’t let anything happen to me while I’m not able to watch my six. I nod at Talon once he looks at me, as if asking for permission to speak. I look him right in the eyes hoping to indicate that I won’t let anything bad happen to him or his brother.
“We, uh...we uh,” he stammers out.
“Oh for Christ’s sake, they got into a fight.”
“With whom?” I ask.
“Each other,” the man replies. I won’t vindicate him by using his name, to me he’s dickface or asshole. I turn on my heels and stare him down.
“There is no way they did that to each other, I suggest you keep your trap shut or I’ll do it for you,” I growl out.
He turns and speaks to the officer, “Are you going to just stand there and let him threaten me?”
“I didn’t hear anything,” the officer replies.
“This is ludicrous, I’ll be contacting my lawyer!”
“Hey, that’s a mighty fine idea. Why don’t you call yours and I’ll call mine and they can play kick the can with each other?” I know it’s childish, but Law would wipe the floor with this guy’s attorney. And boy would I love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.
“Gentlemen,” Axe says, “this is about the kids, so let’s concentrate on them, shall we?” I turn my back again on dickface and nod my head in agreement. I notice the boys are leaned in speaking quietly with Trinity. I bet a dollar to donuts they’re afraid to speak up where he can hear what they’re saying to her. She says something to them and they both relax, sitting back on the couch. Trinity calls the cop over and they too have a whispered conversation, making me antsy. The cop comes over and pulls out his handcuffs and starts reading the man his rights. I look at Trinity, something just occurred to me “Where’s the wife?”
“Apparently, she’s out of town visiting her sister. I’m escorting the boys upstairs to get their things, Talon has expressed interest in staying with you, so that’s all sorted. Do you have a bed for them to sleep in for the time being?” Fuck! I didn’t think about that, I was only concerned about getting them out of here and home with us.
“I’ve got that trunk with my camping gear in it,” Axe says to me.
“What’s in it Braxton?” DJ asks him.
“It has a king-sized air mattress, two pillows and two sleeping bags. It’s not ideal for them, but it will work for now until we get you into your new place.”
“Sounds like a plan, I need to go up and get their clothes and personal items,” Trinity says as she goes and gathers up the boys. I watch as they walk out of the room, still concerned about Jasper’s limp. It looks as if he’s in pain, I wonder if the cop will let me have five minutes alone with dickface?
Before I have a chance to go ask, I hear DJ say, “I wonder if we can get in sooner.” She’s speaking in a murmur, more to herself than us. I look up at Braxton and I notice him pull out his phone.
“Let’s call Law and see what kind of magic he can work,” he says leaving the room with the phone to his ear.
I look at DJ, “Are you sure you’re okay with this? It’s a lot of change to our family all at one time.”
“A change that I’m onboard with and want just as much as you do. We’re giving these boys a home and keeping them safe. That’s all that matters, Hatch. The rest is just icing on the cake,” she says as she winks at me. That’s my girl! I lean down and kiss her, I can’t believe what a lucky son-of-a-bitch I am. Not only do I get to go to sleep each and every night with the love of my life in my arms, but I also get two very special little girls to call my own and now two boys to help mentor and guide. Yeah, I count my blessings each and every morning when I open my eyes.
“Law’s gonna give the realtor a call and see what he can do. He suggested offering an extra incentive on top of the already paid for purchase price on the home. Since it’s empty, he may be able to make it happen. You’ll just have to have the inspections done and pay to have everything expedited.”
“Not a problem,” I tell him. And I mean every word, it will be worth every extra dollar to have us under a roof with plenty of space for all of us.