Chapter Nine
Jenalyn
Tess and I are getting the kids together for a playdate, but it looks like the weather is going to force us to make that happen inside. Leo is content underneath his little play gym as I hold Cami on my hip.
Looking outside at the dark clouds beginning to form and circle around my house makes me nervous, especially when Justice isn’t home. Grabbing my phone, I call Tess to tell her about the change in plans.
“Hey,” Tess answers.
“Looks like this weather’s going to decide the day for us. The guys are having an important meeting today, so I’m sure they won’t be home anytime soon. Honestly, though, I hate being alone in this weather, so if you still want to get the kids together, I’m definitely down for the company,” I tell her.
“Yeah, this weather lately has been crazy. California doesn’t get this shit. I’ve almost got all of Carter’s stuff packed, and I’ll be over. Need me to bring anything?”
“You’re my bestie, so I can say this honestly without you getting all butthurt...but, are you new? You know we have enough food and drink for an apocalypse, right? I have an entire room dedicated and stocked with just about anything a baby or small child could want or need too.”
Tess laughs on the other end of the phone. “Yes, I realize this. Our fortress should be ready in less than two months,” she tells me.
Excitement overcomes me. “Oh, girl, you know what that means?”
“That you want to take over decorating the inside of our new home?” she replies.
Rolling my eyes, I tell her, “No, I was thinking housewarming party. But, now that you mention it, we could do some online ‘window’ shopping when the kids take a nap. If you want, of course.”
“You totally just rolled your fucking eyes, didn’t you? Is my bestie feeling butthurt?” she asks through a giggle. “As long as the power doesn’t go out on us, I’m up for some online shopping,” she finishes.
“One word. Generator,” I remind her.
“So true! Okay, we’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Love ya!”
“Love ya back!”
Hitting the end button on my phone, I tuck it away in the back of my jeans pocket.
Cami just finished lunch, and I normally let her play for about an hour before she starts to get cranky for a nap. Today however, she’s already beginning to fuss, so I grab her sippy cup, and make a failed attempt at trying to get her to go potty before I change her pull-up and lay her down. Great, it must be the weather throwing her mood off because she doesn’t feel warm, so I know a fever isn’t to blame. Closing her door, I flip on the camera monitor to see that she’s already fallen asleep. Damn, that girl is her father’s daughter. Head hits the pillow, and she’s out.
Moments later Tess arrives and it’s already beginning to pour down rain. Leo’s in my arms, but I help her with all the stuff she has. Traveling with a child is no easy feat, you basically have to pack half your house. At least that’s what it feels like.
“Thanks,” she tells me after I grab Carter’s diaper bag and a brown paper bag.
Carrying them both over to the counter, I set them both down. “What’s in the brown sack?”
Closing my front door, she toes her shoes off because, yes, I’m picky about that. She looks up at me and says, “That’s my wine. You’ve got your vodka and shit, and since I’ve cut way back on the hard stuff, wine is how I treat myself.”
“Spoken like a true housewife. Sure you haven’t turned into one of those stepford wives?” I tease her.
“I can see it now. The Real Housewives of Sundown,” she says jokingly.
“Oh, we’re no ordinary wives, we’re ‘Ol ladies. That’s a whole new level of crazy I’m not sure the world is ready for. Hell, could you imagine? We barely got the men to agree to the site. Plus, that is just a no-brainer anyway. Too much exposure would put a target smack dab on our backs, and not just from enemies, if ya catch my drift?”
“I know. But a Cali girl can dream, right?” Tess replies, obviously still joking. “Where’s Cami?” she asks me, looking around the living room.
“Crashed as soon as we hung up. Must be the weather,” I tell her and she nods, accepting what I just told her.
We both lay out baby blankets and place our boys on their bellies. They’re roughly six months old now, so tummy time it is, at least several time per day as the pediatrician suggests. It’s so cute to watch the both of them roll over and get up on their knees while holding themselves up as they rock back and forth. Any Day now, they’ll be crawling all over the place and getting into everything. Oh, the joy of parenthood that Tess is about to experience. It’s both a milestone, and maddening at the same time. We place several toys around them and sit down on the floor next to them.
The ping of our security alarm is set off and I look up at one of the cameras and see Clara running up to the front door. “What the hell? She has the day off,” I say out loud and puzzled before I jog to the front door and open it before she scans her eyes for recognition.
The wind nearly pushes me back with the door as I open it. “Come in, hurry,” I tell her.
Poor woman is drenched. “Justice called and asked if I’d come over and help, you know, because of the weather,” she tells me.
“I’m going to go ahead and open this wine,” Tess says from across the room.
“I mean, Christ almighty. Does he not think I’m capable of caring for our children during a storm? I’m insulted actually,” I blurt out.
Clara just shrugs. “I don’t know, sweetie. I do what I’m paid to do.”
Again, the sound of the alarm goes off, alerting me to the security camera. It’s a Mercedes SUV, which tells me it’s Sidney. Out of her vehicle climb Vanna and Stormie as well.
“Guess we’re having a ladies day!” I say out loud as I open the door for them. “Hello, come on in, and let me go get some towels for y’all. Don’t forget, shoes off by the front door.”
As I head into the hallway to grab some of the extra towels we keep in there, my phone rings. Looking down, I notice it’s Justice. Perfect timing I suppose for my own personal babysitter.
“Yes, warden?” I answer. “What crime have I committed now? Am I getting put in solitary confinement later?”
His deep serious tone greets me on the other end and he doesn’t sound impressed with my humor as per usual. “First, stop calling me that. Second, never, and I repeat never, again ask me if you’re getting the hole later. That entire image makes me cringe, and the only one getting any hole later will be me, but only if you behave yourself today.”
“Don’t threaten me, Paine, or I’ll withhold every available hole on my body until further notice,” I warn him, as I stack dry towels in my arms, holding the phone between my cheek and shoulder.
“We’ll see about that, Jen. Anyway, you need to listen to me. The weather’s bad, so I asked the guys and everyone agreed our house is safer given the fact that we’re under a tornado watch. It might be nothing, but I need you to take this weather seriously. You know how crazy this Texas weather can get and fast. If you hear the sirens, or get an alert on your phone, y’all go into the master closet. It’s big enough for everyone. We’re trying to finish up here so we can all go home. Ty, Vault and Joker will come with me, but we’re gonna have to bring one of the SUV’s for obvious reasons. Look, I’ve gotta go, but please, Jen, keep a close eye on the weather. Oh, and kiss my mini’s for me,” he tells me.
“Fine,” I huff out. “We’re fine. Just do your meeting stuff and get home. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” he replies before ending the call.
Savanna
Jenalyn comes around the corner with fresh towels for us to help speed along the process of us drying off.
Stormie doesn’t seem to mind and plops herself down on the leather sofa.
Jenalyn scoffs. “Storm, I know, Lord knows I can relate to how tired and miserable pregnancy can make you, especially toward the end...but you know how obsessive I am about my furniture and house,” she says, extending a towel to Stormie.
“Okay,” Stormie replies, as she momentarily stands before she places the towel underneath her ass and sits right back down. “Better?”
“I forgot to mention moody,” Jenalyn says while rolling her eyes.
“Looks like we’re all going to be here a while, so, how about I make us some snacks?” I offer. “I know my way around this place well enough.”
Jenalyn looks over at me and says, “Oh, yes, that sounds good. I’ve got half of a leftover chocolate cake from that new bakery in town. It’s to die for. Triple chocolate sin is what they call it, and the only sin I see is that delicacy going to waste.”
That girl is always eating her junk food, but still has the figure she did when she was eighteen. Of course, I know she keeps lots of fresh fruits and vegetables alongside a variety of cheeses and organic crackers. After I showed her and Justice all the toxic ingredients in processed foods, they both insisted that they would only feed the kids fresh and organic. That being said, they both still keep junk food around because Justice isn’t ever giving up his Mountain Dew, and Jenalyn isn’t giving up her chocolate cake. I’m sure there’s more, but it’s really not my business and at least they’re committed to giving their kids nothing but the best.
“I’ll get the cake out and slice it. I’m going to get the paper plates and utensils out to cut down on the amount of dishes,” Clara tells Jenalyn as Leo begins to cry which in turn causes Carter to chime in.
“Thanks, Clara,” Jenalyn says, as she and Tess both pick their babies up.
“Where’s Cami?” I ask as Jenalyn and Tess begin to retreat to Leo’s nursery.
She points to the baby monitor. “Napping still. I’m going to wake her up here shortly so she isn’t up all night.”
Nodding, I let her know that I heard what she said. Making my way into the kitchen, I begin to pick items from the refrigerator and prepare a spread for us to snack on. Of course, preggo goes straight for the chocolate cake.
Sidney and I begin to munch on the fruits and veggies while Stormie inhales her piece of chocolate cake.
“So, things any better with Mila lately?” Sidney asks. “The two of you seemed cordial at the cookout. Given everything that’s happened, I think the actual fallout has been minimal. I’m just relieved the tension has lessened.”
“You know,” Stormie chimes in, “some days I can’t wait until I’m not pregnant so I can kick her ass for what she did to Joker...then days like today? I secretly laugh inside and mentally high five her ass.”
About that time, Jenalyn and Tess round the corner with their kids in tow laughing.
“I know I didn’t carry or birth Carter, but some nights when he’s kept me up crying, I fantasize about slapping Ace wide awake,” Tess says. “Hell, I work too, he thinks he’s the only one it feels like sometimes, so it’s as if he gives himself a pass. Not cool, and we’ve had several arguments about it. It’s silly really, because those are the very things I used to envy about Jenalyn. I’m just beyond grateful for my son,” she finishes as she kisses his little forehead.
“Mhmm,” Jenalyn mumbles. “I know that one all too well. Justice is still working on coming around to Mila. You know how long he can hold onto things. Hey, he acknowledged her presence at the cookout, I’ll take that as progress,” she says, as she places Cami in her highchair and Leo in his bouncy seat while Tess puts Carter in his.
The storms are relentless and have been for hours now and we’re well into the evening. All the kids have been bathed and fed, and the babies are fast asleep. Sidney wanted to read Cami her bedtime story, so she’s in there now attempting to put her to sleep.
“Anyone heard from the guys?” I ask. “Thought they were going to try and hurry so they could get to us?”
“Eh, I’m enjoying this time actually,” Jenalyn says. “I can’t wait until we know for sure when and where...and if we’re going to get to meet the other ladies from the site.”
“Same,” Tess says, “well, about enjoying my time without our men around.”
“Joker can stay away from me forever at this point for all I care,” Stormie begins, “Between the snoring, his overbearingness, and the fact that he’s a walking inferno, no thanks.”
“Speaking of,” I blurt out, attempting to revert the attention back to the subject at hand while Stormie plots Joker’s demise, “we should log on while all, well, most of us are here.”
Jenalyn’s eyes light up, and Tess’ do as well as she sips from her glass of wine.
We gather around the laptop, and Sidney comes in. She grabs her glass of wine from the counter and joins us. Jenalyn and I fill the other women in on who is who, and how much we enjoy conversing with them. Stormie is the least enthused at the moment, but we all understand as she takes up residence on the sofa and curls up.
Suddenly, the power begins to flicker on and off and we can hear the wind and rain pick up as it beats down on and around the house.
“No worries, remember we have a generator if we lose power,” Jenalyn reminds us.
Then our cell phones start sounding off an alarm in unison causing me to panic inside, but I know we need to try and remain calm. It’s a tornado warning for our area and we’re being advised to take shelter immediately.
“I’ll grab some candles and flashlights just in case,” Clara tells us. “Go grab the babies and head to the closet. I’ll wake Stormie up and tell her to go.”
“I’ll help Clara,” Sidney tells us. “Master bedroom closet?” she asks, looking at Jenalyn.
“Yes!” Jenalyn hollers out over her shoulder as we jog down the hallway toward the kids’ rooms.
Tess, Jenalyn and I each race to the nurseries and grab the children.
“I’ve got Cami,” I yell out, while Tess and Jenalyn both grab the boys from Leo’s crib and we race to the closet in the master bedroom.
The kids are crying as we’re scrambling around trying to calm them. We weren’t anywhere near prepared for the utter chaos that ensued next. This night seemed to turn from one nightmare to another.