Chapter Three
Skylar
Today has been weird and extremely exhausting. The kids are going crazy, my men are gone for a few days, and I’m trying to do everything for the house and at the clubhouse alone. Each one of the girls is stepping up and helping when they can, but we all have lives and things going on. So, I’m going to take a breath and a few minutes to myself.
Opening my laptop up, I pull up the site and post a question. In my opinion, this is important and needs to be brought up. This isn’t something I want to post in the daily thread, though.
I type out: I feel like I’m going crazy here. My men are gone, the kids are going crazy, and I need a break. What are some ways you all get a few minutes to yourselves? How do you unwind?
Savanna responds: Hi, Skylar! I’ve got some of the girls sitting here with me. Club is having its annual cookout today. Anyways, have you ever tried meditation?
I respond: I haven’t. I barely have time to breathe let alone do that.
Savanna responds: I understand. You must have children and think time for yourself is near impossible, but it’s essential.
Jenalyn responds: Oh, geez, here we go. Skylar, while I agree somewhat with Savanna, not everyone can find the time or is interested in practicing meditation. Have you tried vodka?
Bailey responds: Savanna, Skylar doesn’t just have kids. She has half a football team, three sets of twins. I’m interested in the whole meditation thing though. I think I need it to calm the hell down. Vodka is always a good answer though!
I reply: And to think they wanted to have more kids! I just need a few minutes before I have to head to the clubhouse. The guys want dinner there tonight. When my men aren’t home, they don’t come to the house other than to check on me and the kids. So, I guess we’re all going there tonight.
Savanna responds: Girl, three sets of twins? You need a nanny, meditation, and vodka!
Jenalyn responds: Yes, again, I’m agreeing with Savanna here. Three sets of twins? I’ve got two kids only and I pull my hair out daily! You know what you need? Well, besides all of the above? You need to plan a damn vacation, even if only for one weekend, and just hand the kids to your men! Don’t ask, just do it!
Savanna responds: Skylar, Jenalyn talks a big game, but she wouldn’t just walk up and hand her kids over to my brother.
Bailey responds: We’re all here to help her. And you guys haven’t seen her oldest son. He’s the ultimate protector of the rest of the kids. Especially his twin sister! But, I do think you need to think about taking a vacation, Sky. I think we all do!
I respond: That would be nice. But, I don’t have time for any of that. This is all new and I’m enjoying getting to know the other ladies on here. Plus, there’s a ton to do here everyday.
Melody responds: We do all need to get away for a weekend. Sky, we’re all here to help you. I think that Sami and Whitney are on their way to your house right now to help. And we’re all heading to the clubhouse in a few minutes to help get dinner started over there. You take your time and do what you need to do. If that’s taking a few minutes, you take them.
Jenalyn responds: I concur! Oh, and please forgive my sister, Savanna, for speaking on my behalf. She’s clearly lost her mental balance with all the meditation she’s been doing. Yeah, I’m side-eyeing her right now. Oh, and as far as parking the kids in my man’s lap, watch me. :D
Bailey responds: Sky, don’t make me call my brother! Take some time and let us help you. You still have a few issues with letting us help you out.
I respond: I know I do. I just don’t want to impose on you all. Especially since my men are gone and yours are all here. They need your time too!
Bailey’s response is immediate: They get enough of our damn time! You need us too and we’re going to be there for you no matter what.
I log out of the site when I hear a knock on my door. Looking through the small window, I see Whitney and Sami standing on my porch. Goose isn’t far behind, he’s taking up residence in one of the chairs on the porch. Thankfully, Sami has been helping out when she can with the kids. She’s got her own life though and I hate asking her to come help out. I’m going to have to work on that. Again!
Sami and Whitney helped me get everything done that needed to be finished at the house. Now, we’re all making our way over to the clubhouse. Bailey already called and let me know that all I’m needed for is making the desserts. I can definitely do that. There’s already a bunch of things there in the freezer and pantry that I just have to pull out. I can warm up a few pies and pull out some of the candy and fudge for the kids. As long as the men haven’t raided the stash again. They seem to have a habit of doing that in the middle of the night when they’ve been drinking.
“Skylar, I think that I’m going to start coming over in the morning before work. Then I’ll come over once I get out of work,” Sami tells me. “At least until Cage and Joker get back.”
“What about spending time with Goose and things that you have to get taken care of?” I ask, looking at her to make sure she knows I don’t want to take up more of her time so she doesn’t have any for herself.
“Goose and I will still have time to spend together. You need us right now and we’re going to be there for you. It’s not like you haven’t been there for all of us,” Sami replies, throwing her hands on her hips and looking between Goose and me, daring either one of us to contradict her words.
“Thank you! That would be a tremendous help to me,” I gush, loving that no matter what is going on, I know that these women will always have my back. Just like I’ll always have theirs.
Walking into the main room of the clubhouse, I see men sitting all over the place. Most of them have plates in front of them already. Women are walking back and forth from the kitchen to the main room, they’re making sure all the men have everything they need and are eating. My kids run over to the table reserved for them when we eat here and start talking rapidly to their friends.
“Daddy!” Reagan calls out suddenly.
She takes off running towards one of the tables in the back that I can’t really see from where I’m standing. Just as Reagan takes a flying leap, I see Joker stand up to catch her in his strong arms. He wraps her in one of the tight bear hugs she loves and I can hear her laughter ringing throughout the main room. The rest of the kids take off towards their dads and I follow at a slower pace. They weren’t supposed to be back yet and I can’t believe that they’re here.
“Baby girl, we missed you!” Cage tells me, pulling me close and wrapping his arms around me.
“I missed you more!” I tell him, turning to wrap my arms around Joker.
“Think we need to have a talk again, baby,” he tells me and I know that Bailey ratted me out. “Don’t get mad at her. She knows that you’re feelin’ the strain and wants to make sure that you know every single person is here for you.”
“I’m not mad. I just don’t need you two worried about me when you’re out on business. We were getting along just fine,” I tell him, placing my hands on my hips and facing both of them. “I just needed a few minutes today.”
“Then you take them. All you need to do is pick up the phone and make a call to anyone. Even the guys,” Cage tells me, putting all of his focus on me.
“I know. I’ll work on it again,” I tell him, meaning it.
Sitting down, I’m happy as fuck that my men are home. I plan to show them as soon as we get home just how happy I am! For now, I’m content spending time with our family and watching the pure joy from everyone. Nothing has happened in so long and we’re all content and happy as we grow, find new relationships, move away, and relax in the peace.
Keira
I sit back and watch Skylar and her men interact. She’s so in love with them and wants to do the best she can. What she fails to see is that we all have her back. The girls told me she was like this before, right after she had the girls. I hope that something hasn’t happened and she’s reverting back to that. From what they’ve said, Skylar wasn’t like she is now. She was meek and reserved, always thinking she was going to be getting in the way of what everyone else was doing.
“What are you thinkin’ about so hard over there?” Blade asks, sitting down and pulling me in his lap.
“Just worried about Skylar, I guess,” I tell him, not really wanting to go into detail, but he was here when she was like this before.
“We’ll all keep an eye on her. But, Cage and Joker are back. They can read her better than anyone. If somethin’ is goin’ on, they’ll know and let everyone know what we need to know,” he tells me, knowing exactly what I’m talking about already. He can read me and know what I’m talking about without me saying a single word to him.
I nod my head in acknowledgement before snuggling in close to my man. My head is resting in his neck and I take this time to just think about everything. Our family is growing, our extended family members are still trying to heal after all the devastation, and I have a deadline to meet. However, the people surrounding us right now and our children will always come first!
Before long, I can feel myself starting to drift off. So I pick my head up and go in search of Skylar. She’s in the kitchen with her men. They’re helping her get everything out that she needs. I’m not needed here so I make my way to check on Kenyon and Cory before heading back to the main room.
I think that this site is going to be a very good thing. Skylar has another place she can open up and vent. We all do. There have been several posts that seem to already be helping the other old ladies, as well as our own. I’m so glad that Sky brought this idea to me and we started it. Even better is that the men from all the clubs seem to finally be on board with us keeping it going. They may be monitoring it, but at least we can keep it.
I’m sitting at my computer, the kids are asleep in the living room, and Blade is at work. I have this deadline to meet, but I just can’t seem to get into the story this time. It seems like I’m suffering from writer’s block for the first time and I don’t like it at all. Normally I would go into the site and get caught up, but I don’t even want to do that. The only thing I want to do right now is curl up and take a nap. Maybe I’ll do that and come back with a clear head.
Before I can get comfortable on the couch, there’s a knock at my door. I walk over and look through the peephole. Standing there is a delivery guy holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Opening the door, I fully expect them to be from Blade. I don’t know why he would be sending me flowers though.
“I just need a signature on this line,” the delivery guy tells me, handing me a clipboard.
Signing my name, I hand it back and take the vase from him. After setting it down on the kitchen island, I search for a card. There isn’t one. Blade would more than likely send a card with anything he sent me. Now, I don’t know what to think. So, I go sit down and wait for him to get home. Or call. I don’t want to interrupt him, so I’ll leave it until I know he’s not busy.
I know that I’m not going to be able to sleep now. Might as well get back to work. So, I park my ass back in front of the computer and read back through what I’ve already written. As soon as I get into it, my head clears and the words start flowing from my hands. This story is writing itself.
Losing all track of time, I hear the kids stirring and save my work. I’m done for the day. The only other thing I’m going to do is check the site from my phone once I’m done with the kids. I can do that from the kitchen while I’m making dinner. Blade needs to hurry up and get home so I can make sure the flowers are from him and then thank him properly later.