We all laugh once again as my husband and sister get ready to truly reveal the gender of our second baby. They each wait for our countdown once more before twisting the ends of the poppers. Pink confetti flies through the air and covers us all as I continue to snap photos. Especially of Stryker. He’s the only club member besides Killer who guessed the gender of each baby. I’m not sure how he knew when no one else did. Everyone else believed I was having two boys or one of each.
Killer walks up to me again and wraps his arms around me.
“You’re givin’ me two little princesses?” he questions, placing a kiss against my lips.
“Yes I am. We’re gonna have two little girls. Are you ready for this husband?” I ask him.
“Yep. They aren’t datin’ until they’re either seventy years old or I’m dead and buried in the ground. Even then I’ll come back to haunt whoever the man is that thinks he’s good enough for my angels,” Killer deadpans as Stryker walks up to us stuffing a wad of money in his pocket.
“And Uncle Stryker will be there to help,” he adds in.
“Oh boy!” I say as I roll my eyes at the two men standing before me.
Within minutes I’m being wrapped in arms from all of the ol’ ladies at the same time Killer is pulled away by the men. There’s laughter and picking on Killer for knocking me up with girls and not a sign of a boy in sight. I have to admit, Killer’s complexion has paled slightly at the thought of having two little girls to love, care for, and raise. He’ll love them unconditionally; there’s not a doubt in my mind about that. I’m sure he’s just not relishing the prospect of having to chase off boys and everything else that comes with raising little girls instead of boys.
“Now,” Shy begins, “While the men are out grilling the meat and getting the rest of the food ready, we have a surprise for you.”
“What do you mean?” I question the women surrounding me.
“We’re throwing you and Killer a baby shower today. There’s no better time than when we’re all here together already,” Jennifer responds, a smile lighting up her face.
Turning my head, I look at Killer who’s watching me. He knew about this. We each had a secret for today. My heart fills with love at the thought of these people doing this for us. They’ve already done so much for me and I’ll never be able to repay them. They don’t expect me to either. That’s what family does for one another and how we operate as a club.
I’m walked over to the rocking chair where Sam helps me sit down. Shy and Kim are ushering the men through the back door of the clubhouse so we can have some time to ourselves in here.
“Since we know the men won’t stay outside and you’re going to want to eat soon, we don’t have all the games and things planned for today. You’ll be opening gifts before we eat and then I know Killer is gonna make you rest,” Sally tells me as she sits down on the edge of the chair next to me.
Sally looks beautiful today. She’s wearing a multi-colored maxi dress with her hair pinned up on her head. Loose tendrils fall here and there. The only thing taking away from her natural beauty is the sadness filling her eyes and haunting her. The death of her daughter’s father, Killian, still haunts her to this day. Stryker’s been by her side since she moved here, and I fear one of them are going to get hurt because Sally doesn’t seem ready to let go of Killian’s ghost yet.
“Are you doing okay?” I ask her, reaching out to place my hand on her own as the rest of the women begin to bring all the gifts over to me with the help of Tommy and Rich.
“I’m okay. There’s still good and bad days,” she answers, unshed tears filling her eyes. “Today is about you and those two princesses you’re going to bring into the club family.”
“I’ll let you get away with it today. Just please know I’m here if you ever need to talk or anything,” I offer her.
“Thank you, Gwen,” she replies as Kim hands me the first present to open.
For the next hour and a half, I open one present after another. Killer and I have been given everything a baby, or two, could ever need. We’ve got clothes, blankets, sets for the cribs, mobiles, bath stuff, diapers, wipes, different creams for diaper rashes, laundry soap specialized for babies’ tender skin, bottles pacifiers, boppy pillows, swings, and some toys. Tears have filled my eyes at each new item I remove from the bags and boxes. Especially when I see little shoes for girls and headbands.
“Um, we’re not done yet. There are some special gifts we have to go outside to see,” Shy tells me, helping me out of the rocking chair.
“Why would we have to go outside?” I question her as Killer makes his way into the common room.
Everyone steps back as we walk out the front door. There’s an enclosed trailer parked in the middle of the parking lot. Stryker and Tommy open the door and tears fill my eyes. I know exactly where Stryker and Killer went today. They went to Clifton Falls. Sitting inside the large trailer rests two identical cribs with the Phantom Bastards colors burned into them. Two dressers and a toy box also fill the trailer. Killer walks to the truck hooked to the trailer and opens the back door. He brings me back a large box.
Raising my eyes, I have a feeling I know what this is. Having been at the Wild Kings in Clifton Falls, this box is from Bailey. I open the package while Killer hangs on to it. Resting inside sit two outfits. One onesie is white while the other one is black. Each one says Phantom Bastards Princess on them. Little skirts and black booties rest in the package along with the onesies. There are two little black leather jackets. Pulling one out of the box, I turn it around and the tears I’ve been holding back fall down my face. The back of the jacket says, ‘Property of Killer’. When I go to place it back in the box, two little red bandanas lay at the bottom. They’re made to resemble headbands that will fit a baby’s head. These outfits are so cute.
“I hope those are happy tears, Sparrow,” Killer says, wiping them away.
“They are happy tears. I’ll have to call Bailey and Pops to thank them. Along with the rest of the club,” I tell him as we walk back toward the truck.
Sitting in the backseat is another box. I look at him with questions filling my eyes. Killer lets me know she sent home boxes for either gender. That way she covered her bases. Once the box is safely placed back in the truck, Killer leads me inside. We get food and eat until I’m so full I feel as if I’m going to burst.
Once we have cake, Killer leads me back to our room. My time in the common room is done for the day. Honestly, I’m exhausted and ready to climb in bed with him. Killer helps me undress and slides one of his tee-shirts over my head. He pulls the covers back for me and I slide in bed as gracefully as I can. My husband chuckles at me before getting undressed himself and getting in bed behind me. As with every night, he wraps his arms around me and pulls my body close to his. Sleep claims me after the work I did today and the excitement of an impromptu baby shower.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Killer
GWEN’S SURPRISE BABY shower was almost a week ago now. She’s been washing everything even though we still have months to go in her pregnancy. I guess it gives her something to do until we find Neil and she can freely leave the clubhouse once more. Once the clothes are clean and folded or hung, she places them in large totes to remain covered up until we get a new nursery set up.