Author Note: First, thank you to all who have reviewed and added the story to your alert or fav list. Your support is greatly appreciated.
In this chapter I introduce more of the Tacoma Charter (and a few old ladies).
Sara is married to Bob (the pres of the charter in my universe). So she's sort of a Gemma, but that's all explained below. Happy reading.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, and make money off of nothing.
Chapter 4
After spending three days trying to decide what to bring I figured it was high time the boys were introduced Tiramisu. I mean how can you go wrong? Coffee soaked lady fingers, mascarpone cheese, kholulah, and heavy cream whipped and chilled.
Carrying the frozen concoction in a Tupper ware container, two large grocery bags, and a case of beer, I rang Sara's bell and waited, hoping that my arms didn't give out, before someone got to the door.
"Hey," a familiar gravelly voice greats me.
"Hey" I say, unable to see him over the groceries.
"Need a hand," He asks taking the bags from in front of my face.
"Thanks," I say readjusting my grip.
"Where do you want these?" he asks hefting one to into his arms, dangling the other from his hand.
"Kitchen?" I shrug. "I hope," I add with a smile.
He turns and leads the way, I my smile spreading upon hearing the bee hive hum of kitchen appliances and woman's chatter. I can smell the chicken baking before I've even hit the hallway.
"Hey Hap," Sara says pushing her bangs out of her eyes, as he walks in the kitchen. "Need something?"
"Delivery," He says setting the bags on the counter, and moving to the fridge for a beer.
"So not just food I see," She says grinning "But help, set that stuff down and dig in honey. It's rough cooking for fifteen,"
"Sixteen," Cheryl says. "Koz brought a friend," rolling her honey brown eyes towards the ceiling.
"Seventeen," Marlene adds as she comes in carrying a large casserole dish, full of baked beans.
"Is that punishment?" I ask "Those poor girls," I sigh.
"Poor girls?" Marlene asks raising an eyebrow at me. "Their blood sucking leeches, only after one thing,"
"Hence the sucking," I say setting the beer on the kitchen table. "Who's seventeen?"
"Some tart Mikey met at the convenient store on the way over here,"
"Really?" I ask Sara, surprised if that's the truth. She isn't too fond of strangers poking around in her home.
"Her name is Michelle," Sara says chopping potatoes. "She's a good girl. I work with her mom on the beautification counsel,"
"He met her at the gas station?" I ask washing my hands.
"Ran into her there," She shrugs "They went to high school together, and god that makes me feel old,"
"So what makes her a tart?" I ask Marlene.
"Who gets on a bike with a guy she barely knows, to have dinner at the house of someone else she barely knows," She slides the beans into the oven. "Just isn't right,"
"I told her it was," Sara said, stabbing her knife into the butcher block she was using for the potatoes. "Let it go," She warned. "As for the sweet butt, nothing we can do. Koz is family and he's entitled to bring who he wants into my home. They've all been told as much and so have each of you,"
The women lapse into silence. Each going about their tasks to prepare dinner, thinking over what Sara has just said. I had finished putting the groceries away, and was wondering what to do with the beer. There was no room in the fridge.
"Where do you want this thing?" I ask Sara.
"Cheryl; take that out back, load it into the ice tub," She says.
Cheryl complies, having finished her part of the preparation.
"Marlene? Why don't you go check on the kids?" Sara suggests.
"Which ones?" Marlene smiles at her. "Big or little,"
"Both," Sara smiles back at her, and all is forgiven between them.
Marlene wipes her hands and ducks out of the kitchen into the fray in the living room.
Thankful that I wasn't sent into the trenches, I step up to the counter across from Sara.
"What can I do?" I ask.
"All this has to be chopped up," She motions down the counter.
"Do they actually eat salad?" I ask raising my eyebrow at her.
"No, but they do eat their veggies, even if you have to trick them into doing it," she replies.
"And just how do you do that?" I ask.
"Grab and knife and learn baby girl," She says.
We fried collie flower, boiled corn on the cob, buttered potatoes to within an inch of their life. Mushrooms, onions and peppers were pan sired with the steak and baked with the chicken. Beans were covered in bacon and smothered in barbeque sauce. Carrots, scallions and celery were baked into stuffing, and it was all consumed at a table that seated twenty.
Sara had asked me to make Michelle feel welcome, since she knew that Marlene and Cheryl weren't capable of that with her yet. So I sat myself next to her during dinner and chatted her up.
Turns out she's a librarian, just graduated from Washington State with her Masters degree in Library Sciences. She had come home to get her bearings while looking for a job. Much to her delight she had been hired at the Tacoma Public Library near her childhood home. She'd been there for three months now and was looking for a place of her own now that she knew she could afford one. She didn't want to move to far from her parents who were getting up there in years. Not that they were old, by any means.
She was sweet, caring, considerate and totally smitten with Mikey. I wish both of them the best of luck with that.
The life these guys lead is a hard one, full of pain, hurt, and violence. It was dangerous, for them, for their families, the people they cared about. Families and women are supposed to be off limits, but the enemy, whichever one that turned out to be at the time, doesn't always play by the rules. I just hoped Michelle knew what she was getting into.
Tank and Ant are chiding Mikey about his new girl, quietly enough that she doesn't catch on, thank goodness. Poor kid, if they didn't lay off soon, his ears look like they're going to pop right off his head. It always strikes me as strange that these tough guys, these manly men, blush, stutter, and fumble just like everybody else. When it comes to women who matter, and their children, these brutes, these warriors morph into Teddy Bears. Okay teddy bears with really big teeth and razor sharp claws, but teddy bears none the less.
Sara and her husband Bob, the Tacoma Charter president, were sitting at the head of the table. Marlene and her husband Torch sat to Bob's right, fitting Torch's place as Sergeant at Arms. Happy sits on Bob's left as Vice President of the club, looking totally relaxed, hands folded across his stomach as he leans back in his chair. His plate scraped clean. Koz, to Happy's right, was rambling on about some recent escapade the boys had had on a run, completely ignoring the chick he brought.
Cheryl and her husband Tank, the club treasurer are on Torch and Marlene's right, next to Ant. Clutch, his girl Marcy, Digger and Hammer round out the other end of the table. Everyone has fallen into conversations, and is pretty much done eating. Glancing at Sara, she nods at me and we start to clear the table, loading our arms with plates and cutlery.
The guys pile back into the living room, while I help Sara start coffee and put away leftovers. We make up containers to be taken to the shop for the guys tomorrow, stacking them in the fridge. Once that's done I get out the Tiramisu while Sara grabs the bowls. We fill the bottom of each bowl with lady fingers, add an ice cream scoop of Tiramisu, a dollop of whipped cream, and a drizzle of chocolate sauce before loading trays and taking desert to the living room.
The couch, that normally seats five comfortably, is packed, holding Bob, Torch, Marlene, Koz with his date on his lap, and Digger. Digger taking up enough space for two average sized people.
He's thirty, six feet three inches tall, Samoan. Dark eyes, black hair, and the kindest smile of anyone I've ever met. He's at least two of me wide; his thigh is as big around as my waist. Not someone I would fuck with.
Hammer, mid-twenties prospect for the club, is whipcord thin, with stringy brown hair, soft gray eyes, and a handle bar mustache (don't ask me why), is sitting on one of the smaller couches Sara likes to call love seats, with Clutch and Marcy.
Clutch and Marcy have been together for a little over a year, having hooked up right after Clutch was patched in. No one could figure out why he hadn't made her his old lady yet, but it was understood that she was off limits. They were a nice contrast to each other; Marcy with her soft sweet face, while Clutch was all sharp angles. Marcy was petite and while Clutch has long almost gangly limbs. Her hair is a soft brown, his, a striking red. Both are pale as paper. I imagine that the dislike of direct sunlight was common ground for them.
Cheryl and Tank took the other 'love seat' with Ant, Mikey and Michelle, who perched on the arm of the sofa. Happy was leaning against the wall, standing a little bit apart from everyone, just watching as the various group interacted.
Sara and I passed out desert.
"Here honey, take is over to Happy," She says handing me two bowls and spoons. I assume one is for me.
"Here ya go," I say handing him the dish.
"What is it?" He asks tilting the bowl left then right, while glaring at its contents.
"Tiramisu," I say.
"Like ice cream?" He asks.
"More like custard. Try it," I say spooning some up for myself. "There's liquor in it," I add as an insensitive.
He eyes be dubiously, but takes a taste. Not saying a word he takes another, and I just shake my head as I walk back over to the couch, sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table. I chat with Barbra ("just call me Barbie") the girl Koz has brought.
I've seen her at the shop before and know that Koz isn't the only member she is currently sleeping with. But she seems to know the rules as far as that is concerned. She's respectful to Sara and the other wives and old ladies, and is always down for the guys if they need a hand (and not just in their pants).
She works at Total Beauty, the local salon, doing hair. She likes her job, and the people that she works for, has been there for several years.
"You should come in sometime," She says eyeing my hair. "I could give you a trim, make you look uber hot. Maybe some high lights," Her eyes start to lose focus and I know that she is planning a whole "day of beauty" probably involving hot wax, hair dye and emery boards.
"Sure, sounds good," I say grabbing my bowl as I stand up. "Can I take that for you?" I ask, pointing to her desert.
"Oh sure," she says passing it to me "Koz, you done with that?" She asks taking the empty bowl from his hand, while he continues to talk with Torch. Marlene and Torch pass their empties down as well and before I know it I'm carrying nearly all the dirty dishes back to the kitchen.
After loading the bowls into the sink I turn on the water, and grab the sponge, fully intending to wash the dishes. My mind drifts as I stare out the window, while scrubbing out the first few bowls.
Tonight was a good night. I had fun cooking with the girls, I got to know two new people, and reaffirm my feelings for each of the guys I work with. They were all like brothers to me. I would do anything for them. They had taken me in and given me a chance when I was down and out. Not that they knew just how down and out, but Sara had a pretty good idea of how it was.
I can't believe that I've been here for over half a year. I can't believe I stayed after Max left. Well it wasn't like I had the money to go home after he cleaned out half of our joint checking account and all the cash stashed in the apartment. Something else I never told Sara, she'd have had him shot. And while I love my family and miss them to the point of aching sometimes, it's better that I get through this shit here. There's no reason to drag them through more than they already have been through on my behalf.
Thanks to the internet and camera's built into computers we can see each other any time. While it isn't the same as physically being there, it's the next best thing. And Carly said she'd be coming out for a visit this spring. Things were strained between her and Pete right now, and she thought a little vacation from him and the kids was just what she needed.
Planning where we would go and what we would do while she was here, I didn't hear Happy come into the kitchen. He stepped up behind me, laying a hand on my hip, while the other deposits a bowl in the sink. I stiffen at his touch, my gaze flicking to his reflection in the window.
"You okay?" He asks my reflection. I manage to nod, still holding the sponge, soapy water dripping from my hand into the sink.
"Just startled me," I say smiling at him. "Guess I was daydreaming,"
"You looked like you were a million miles away," He says, his hand still resting on my hip, the warmth from his palm seeping into my skin through my jeans. "What were you dreaming about?"
"Friend of mine is coming to town after winters over with. Just thinking of all the stuff I want to show her," I dunk the bowl in the water and resume KP duty. Looking at Happy in the reflection from the window is making me jittery and I wish he would back up; only to feel regretful when he does. What the hell is wrong with me?
Instead of leaving the kitchen he leans again the counter next to the dish strainer, crossing his arms over his chest, and his feet at the ankles.
"So what have you got planned?" He asks.
"Huh?" I can't seem to remember what we were talking about; all of my attention had shifted to the spot on my hip that was now cooling. "Oh um, well defiantly have to go to Woodbury Park, Meteora's, Petey's Sweeties and Cheryls," I say.
"What do they sell at Meteora's?" He asks.
"Books, usually rare, hard to find stuff, vintage stuff," I shrug. "Susanne the owner orders stuff for me. She's really nice. The shop is cozy without being cluttered. And the smell," I inhale thinking of the smell of book bindings, old paper and ink. That earthy smell that accompanies any book that has been well used, and handed down through the years.
"What smell?" He actually wrinkles his nose at me.
"Old book smell," I sigh "Earthy,"
He smiles "Yeah I noticed you liked to read," He says "How many boxes of books did we carry up those stairs?"
"Oh, just twelve, thirteen at the most," I say smirking at him.
"Have you read all of them?"
"Yeah, most several times actually,"
"Koz was right," He says "You need a life,"
"I happen to like my life, thank you very much," I say rinsing another bowl and placing it in the strainer. "You know you could dry those dishes instead of just standing there,"
Much to my amazement and amusement he actually picks up a dishcloth and starts drying the dishes. We work in silence for several minutes.
"Do you read?" I ask, my curiosity finally getting the better of me.
"Yeah," He says "But it's mostly magazines, repair manuals," He shrugs. I nod.
"Got a favorite kind?" He asks me.
"Favorite Author is Christopher Moore," I say "His work is hard to classify. It's funny, but there are a lot of supernatural undertones throughout his body of work. His characters are sarcastic, but relatable, since usually they're your average Joe,"
Happy nods this understanding "What's your favorite book by him?"
"Oh, tough one," I say handing him the last dish, and draining the sink. "Right now Fool, before that Lamb, but anything staring the cast from Pine Grove is good too,"
He raises and eyebrow as if to say "Pine Cove?"
"Fictional place invented by the author. They have a pot smoking sheriff, a psychotic ex-b movie star currently off her meds, the rusty old bar patroness, the blues player from down south, and several assorted Demons, Genies, and Monsters," I explain "Oh and an Angel just to balance the scales,"
"Sounds like quite a place," He says.
"I'll loan you a couple of the books if you want," I offer.
"Sure," he says "We still on for Friday?"
"Picked up the stuff for dinner when I went shopping tonight for desert," I dry my hands and hang the towel on the handle to the oven door. "I can't remember the last time I spent this much time in a kitchen," Leaning against the counter I pull out my pack of cigarettes and light one, tilting the pack towards Hap.
He steps forward and takes a smoke from the pack, leaning down as I lift the lighter to the end.
"Need me to bring anything?" He asks.
"Nope," I shake my head. "Got it covered," He nods, but still hasn't stepped back, and doesn't, even when I reach around him to ash in the sink. He continues to stare down at me as we smoke, slight frown lines peeking out around his eyes, and on his forehead.
I take a drag and look down at my feet, uncomfortable.
"Kira," He says, stepping closer. My gaze returns to his face, and I can feel my eyes grow wide at the struggle I see in his.
"Happy?" I say, wondering what's about to happen, and thinking I know. His free hand comes up and cups my cheek as he steps closer. My breath catches at his touch, and my fingers twitch, longing to run up his chest and lock together behind his neck. My heart pounds in my chest, as he leans in…
"Hey Hap ready to…," Koz swings into the kitchen "Well, well, well," He says catching us as Happy steps back. "What have we here?"
"Nothing," Happy says, his eyes never leaving mine. "Let's go,"
"Didn't look like nothing," Koz says as Happy walks over to him. "Looked to me like you were about to…," Happy shuts him up by grabbing the front of his shirt and dragging him out of the room.
"Fucking Idiot," Sara mumbles as she steps out of the pantry. "Just when things were starting to get good too,"
"And how long have you been there?" I ask hoping taking a drag will calm me down. Christ he didn't even do anything, and I'm all stirred up.
"Well I know a lot more about Christopher Moore then I ever cared to," She says resting her elbows on the counter and leaning on her crossed forearms. "Why didn't you tell me he was coming over for dinner?"
I shrug "It's just dinner,"
"Honey, if it was just dinner you would have told me about it," She shakes her bangs out of her eyes. "And from what I just witnessed I don't think he wants it to be just dinner either,"
Trying to hide the blush on my cheeks I turn away.
