As I’m browning the hamburger, my phone rings in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see it’s Stryker calling.
“What’s up?” I ask him, answering the phone.
“I just wanted to know how she likes the house,” he replies.
“She loves it. She’s up sleepin’ right now,” I let him know. “I’m gettin’ dinner started so it’s ready when she wakes up from her nap. You comin’ up to eat with us?”
“Yeah if you don’t care,” he tells me.
“Nope. I’m sure Tommy will end up stayin’ too. He’s goin’ after her shake when dinner is almost ready to go.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you in an hour or so.”
Stryker hangs up the phone and I place mine on the counter next to me as I go back to browning the meat. I continue cooking while keeping my ears open for any signs of Gwen stirring upstairs. I’m not sure if she should be walking down the stairs alone now. She’s gotten bigger and I’m worried about her losing her balance and falling to the bottom of the stairs. Not only will she be hurt, but our babies will also be hurt. That’s one of my biggest fears now.
I continue cooking while Gwen rests. Just before I message Tommy there’s a knock on the door before Stryker strolls inside. He looks around the house as if he wasn’t here earlier today helping me put the finishing touches on it. He gets in the fridge pulling out two beers for us while I pull the stuffed shells from the oven long enough to put mozzarella cheese on top of them. As long as Gwen gets her cheese she’ll be happy.
While Stryker keeps an eye on the food, I go upstairs to wake Gwen up. That’s the only time she doesn’t mind being woken up; when it’s time to eat. Walking up to the bed, she’s already awake, but lying nestled under the blankets. I kiss her and she wraps her arms around me while she tries to pull me down in bed with her.
“Sparrow, we have company downstairs. Stryker is pullin’ dinner out of the oven and Tommy is on his way oven with your chocolate shake,” I let her know.
Gwen instantly lets go of me and I move out of her way so she can slide out of bed. I laugh at her as she moves as fast as she can to get to her shake and food. Taking her hand, I lead her down and she’s engulfed in a hug from Stryker. When I hear a knock on the door, I walk over there leaving them in the kitchen. Tommy is standing at the door with two cups for her. I wave him to come in.
“You can stay for dinner if you want,” I let him know as we walk in to see Gwen standing in front of a plate over filled with stuffed shells and garlic bread.
“Thank you, babe,” she says, already taking a bite of her food. “Tommy, I love you for bringing me a shake.”
We all laugh because she practically lunges at Tommy in her attempt to get her milkshake from him. Once she has it in hand, I grab her plate and we head to the dining room. After setting her food down in front of her, I head to the kitchen so I can make my own plate. The rest of the night we hang out, talk, laugh, and watch a movie Gwen falls asleep halfway through. This is how I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Good food, friends, family, and my wife in my arms.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gwen
KILLER IS BACK to searching on a daily basis for Neil. He starts almost before the sun is up and comes back way past dinner. Rich and Tommy have been taking turns babysitting me. It’s still mainly Rich though since Tommy has been out helping the guys look for Neil. Tommy’s actually spent time in his presence and would be the best one to track his movements or see signs of him the guys would miss.
We’ve been in our new home for almost a week now. Our time has been spent working, Killer searching for Neil, and me watching a lot of TV. And napping. Can’t forget the napping I can’t seem to get through the day without doing it. Stryker is on my ass when I’m at work more these days too. If I look tired or as if I’m not feeling good, he sends me home. There is no arguing with him either. He literally walks to the front door of the shop and calls out for Rich to take me home.
Fox and Rich are with me today. We’re putting the finishing touches on the house today while Killer is gone. I want everything finished before he gets home today. All I’ve been doing is pointing where I want the pictures hung and the guys get them put up. Especially the one I convinced Killer to do of a maternity photo shoot. My big, badass biker didn’t bat an eye when I asked him to do this with me. We did it a few days ago and I just got the pictures back this morning.
Above the fireplace sits a black and white picture of me standing in nothing but my rag with a short pair of booty shorts. My hair is curled and hanging down my back with a few pieces flying in the breeze. I’m looking down at my belly where my hands rest on top of Killer’s. He’s standing behind me wearing a pair of ripped jeans, his boots, the ever-present bandana around his head, and nothing under his cut. While I’m looking at my belly, Killer is staring at me. I’ve never loved a picture more than this one.
Surrounding that picture are a few other ones from the shoot we did. Including the one where our backs are to the camera as we sit on Killer’s bike. The leather jackets Bailey sent for our daughter’s rest on the very edge of the seat so you can see the ‘Property of Killer’ proudly displayed. Each picture is a different pose but does nothing to take away from the one hanging in the middle. Filling the wall hang several other pictures. Some are of Kim and me while others are different ones I took from around the clubhouse.
Every single one of our family members are proudly displayed around the first floor of our home. These men and women have been there for my husband and I when we needed them the most. They’ll continue to be here for us just as we’ll be there for them. Thinking of that, my thoughts turn to Stryker and Sally. I want to help them out with their situation so much; I just don’t know where to even begin. Sally is the one who needs to choose to be all in with Stryker. No one can help her make that decision. The only one who can is her and it will take her finally saying goodbye to her memories of Killian.
That doesn’t mean she has to forget him or their time together. She has a child by the man and needs to keep his memories alive for her. Stryker won’t have a problem helping her keep those memories alive. Sally just doesn’t see it that way right now. I’m just not sure if Stryker will hold out that long. He’s getting frustrated. I can see it in his eyes every time he leaves her or she leaves him.
“What’s next, momma?” Fox asks, walking up to me.
“I think the only thing left is the nursery. I’ll go up and take a look,” I let him know as I get off the couch.
Fox helps me up off the couch and walks up behind me. I guess he’s been told not to let me walk alone upstairs. Or downstairs. We walk into the nursery and see two totes still in the middle of the floor.
“I guess this is all I have left to do,” I tell him, bending over to open the tote closest to me.
It’s filled with blankets and a few clothes that need to be hung up in the closet. I begin pulling items out. Fox hangs the clothes up in the closet where I ask him to put them while Rich makes the beds up for the babies. When I get to the two outfits Bailey sent us, I set them to the side so I can pack them in the bags for the hospital. These are the outfits they’ll be coming home in. I also add some pajamas, onesies, diapers, and wipes to the pile on the changing table so it will be ready to pack up. The last thing I include are two different blankets. They’re pink blankets that say Harley Davidson on them. Little motorcycles fill the blankets too. They’re adorable.