by Shade, S. M.
“Relax, V,” I pull her down beside me on the couch and wrap my arm around her. “They are going to love you.”
“Do they know about me?”
“Of course. The last time I visited, my dad said we were both dumbasses for keeping things distant because of the kids. I guess I’m going to have to admit he was right.”
The corners of her mouth tilt up as she peeks up at me. “They knew we were seeing each other before?”
I run my fingers down her arm. “I knew then I wanted more. I wanted to wait until after we moved to say anything because I thought it’d be easier on Bailey, not to have so much to adjust to at once. But this was always going to happen, V.”
She lays her head on my shoulder and picks up my hand. She always loves playing with my hands. “I’m glad you didn’t wait.”
“Me too.”
“They’re here!” Bailey crows, darting through the front door.
Veronica swallows and takes a deep breath. Chuckling, I pull her to her feet and we head outside. “Come on. Time to let my mother fawn all over you while my father embarrasses me.”
Mom and Dad are barely out of the car before Bailey is blathering away to them, telling them all about the new house and how Veronica and Aiden are moving in with us. I hadn’t really mentioned that yet.
“Mom, Dad, this is Veronica, and her son, Aiden.”
“Moving in together?” Mom says, her face lighting up as she stoops down to talk to Aiden. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.”
Aiden smiles at her. “I can ride a bike with no training wheels. Neal taught me. Want to see?”
“Ade,” Veronica lays a hand on his shoulder. “Not right now. Let them come in. They’ve had a long drive.” She smiles at Mom. “It’s nice to meet you…”
“Holly, and this old man is Charles,” Mom says before she grabs her in a hug. “I’m so happy to meet you! Neal has told me so much about you and your little boy. And Aiden is all Bailey talks about. But I didn’t know you were going to be living together. You have to tell me all about yourself!”
Dad grins at me and slaps me on the back as we walk toward Veronica’s apartment. “Looks like you pulled your head out of your ass. She’s a beauty. Got to watch those redheads though. They have those fiery tempers.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You’ll have to excuse the mess. We’ve all been staying here while we get the house ready,” Veronica says. “Only a few more weeks and we’ll be out of here.”
After an hour or so of conversation and laughter, Veronica gives me a smile filled with relief. I hope she’s seeing the same thing I am. We can do this. We can make a family.
My parents only stay a couple of hours since they have such a long drive back. It’s the first time I’ve seen Bailey hesitate or seem upset about going home with them.
I give her a big hug and reassure her, “Have fun. We’ll all be moving into the house by the time you get back.”
Aiden bursts into tears when she gets ready to leave and she hugs him. “It’s not for long and then you’ll have a room right across from mine. We can read a story every night,” she promises him.
“Even if it’s the dino babies story that Mom said she’d rather run naked through a herd of porcupines than read again?” he says with a sniffle.
Veronica covers her smile and shakes her head while my parents try to hide their chuckles.
“Even that one.”
“’Kay.”
We watch them pull out of the parking lot, then Aiden turns to me. “Is my room really across from Bailey’s?”
“It sure is.” I wink at Veronica. “The place is a mess right now, but we can go and see it if you want. I need to know what color to paint your room.”
Aiden’s eyes light up. “I can pick?”
“Within reason,” Veronica inserts.
Yeah, she knew where he’d run with this. “I want blue and red stripes! No, the whole room black with those sticky yellow stars! No, wait…”
Laughing at his excited suggestions, we climb into Veronica’s car to show Aiden the new house.
I’m spending most of my free time at the new place, but Veronica has only been in here once. Since it’s not safe for the kids, she usually keeps them while I get the carpentry and other work finished. I have a little surprise for her in the kitchen and I can’t wait for her to see it. It’s one of the things she complains about not having in her apartment.
Once we get inside, Veronica heads to one of the bathrooms she’s been working on, to check the measurements for some curtains, and I take Aiden upstairs.
“It’s dusty here,” he says, waving a hand in front of his face.
“Yeah, it’s pretty dirty, but we’re going to fix it up like new.” I open the door to what will be his room. “This will be your room.”
He walks inside and a grin spreads across his face. “It’s big!”
It’s twice the size of his tiny bedroom at home. I walk over to one wall. ‘See, we can put your bed here, your dresser and desk over there, and you’ll have a big space to play with your toys.”
“And my cars will roll! No carpet!” he announces gleefully. Staring around the room, he says, “Can the walls be red? Eddie says red is a girl color, but I like it.”
“There are no girl or boy colors. What kind of red? Like your shoes?” I ask, touching his bright red sneakers with my foot.
“Like a firetruck.” His eyes widen. “And I have a poster of a firetruck!”
“Do you want a firetruck room?” Just a few days ago, I saw a unique set of bunk beds that were made to look like a fire engine at a local flea market. They need some work, but it’s nothing I can’t do.
“Yes!” He dances around like he always does when he’s happy.
“Sounds good to me, buddy. Let’s run it by your mom.”
Veronica’s voice filters up through the floor vent in Aiden’s room. “Neal! Oh my god! Are you serious?” I guess she found her surprise.
“Come on. Let’s go tell her.”
On the way back downstairs, I show him where Bailey’s room is, right across the hall from him, and the master bedroom where Veronica and I will stay. “Do you like the house?”
“Yes! Can we move right now?”
Laughing, I lead him through the living room. “Not until I fix the place up, but it won’t be long.”
His gaze catches the expansive backyard through the window. “Can I go see the backyard?”
“Sure, stay inside the fence, though.”
He darts outside, and I walk into the kitchen to see Veronica crouched down, reading the back of the large box. Her face is pure happiness when she looks up at me. “You bought a dishwasher?”
“I did. Sorry, I know how much you loved washing by hand, but this just seemed more sanitary.”
She tackles me in a hug and drops a kiss on my lips. “You don’t hate hand washing. I know you got this for me. Thank you.”
I tighten my arms around her, and quickly glance around to make sure Aiden is still outside. “The less time you’re in here, the more time you’re in my bed. Or bent over it.”
She chuckles and steps back to admire the box again. “As long as you aren’t paddling me.”
“Oh, not you too,” I groan.
“Well, I found a big plastic paddle on my car seat this morning.”
“Fucking Frat Hell,” I murmur.
Aiden flies in through the back door. “I smashed a ginormous anthill! This place is awesome! I want to live here forever!” He runs back outside.
Veronica smiles after him. “Well, we have his seal of approval.”
* * *
Veronica and I haven’t spent much time together lately. She has been working more since it’s the hotel’s busy season, and my time has been split between work and remodeling the house. Our days are long, and we both fall into bed at night, exhausted.
It’s early on Sunday morning when I get woken by a phone call from the lawyer who is trying t
o help put a stop to the multitude of offenses committed by the Violent Circle management. A call on a Sunday morning seems a bit foreboding, but it turns out to be good news.
“Neal, I have some news. Since Orchid Apartments are funded partially by the Federal Housing Department, they were also served papers with your complaints, and they plan to investigate. Are there tenants who would be willing to talk to them?”
“Yes, I’m sure they would. I have copies of the most recent threat letters as well, that I can share with them.”
“Good. We need to pull no punches here. If they find enough violations, they’ll pull the management back in line. They won’t risk losing federal funding. There’s no way that place survives without it.”
“Okay, tell me what I need to do.”
“They plan to show up for a surprise inspection tomorrow. They’ll go door to door, inspecting apartments and asking the tenants about how they’ve been treated. First, you should let your neighbors know what’s coming. Make sure they understand they aren’t there to judge their housekeeping like the previous inspections carried out by the management. They want to see that the units are up to code, and livable. The more the tenants cooperate, the better the chance of the department intervening and helping your cause.”
“Second, I was contacted by a young man named Noble Bradley about the local news station covering this story. I think now would be the best time. It should get the public on our side and put even more pressure on them. Do you think the neighborhood would react favorably to be interviewed on camera?”
“Some of them,” I reply, hesitating a bit. “You have to understand that some of these people will be homeless if this doesn’t go our way and the management decides to retaliate against the whistleblowers.”
“I do understand. I’d suggest getting together a list of those willing to talk to the reporters and informing the station. But when it comes to the inspectors, please try to get as many people as possible to tell the truth about the daily struggles there. I’ve been assured, the questions won’t be asked with any member of management present, nor will the answers be shared with them.”
“I understand. I’ll get on it.”
Veronica lies beside me and she cuddles up to me when I hang up the phone. “Is everything okay?”
“The shit is about to hit the fan.”
After I explain everything to her, she climbs out of bed and starts getting dressed. “Everyone needs to get their places clean and neat, though. The more responsible we look, the more we’ll be believed. I’ll call Emily and warn her.”
“I’m going to talk to Noble and see if WFUK is still interested in the story. Then I’ll make sure everyone knows what’s up.”
Veronica shakes her head. “I’m sorry I have to work today, or I’d help.”
I plant a kiss on her lips. “I’ve got it covered.”
The next two days are stressful, but hopefully, it’ll be worth it. I was surprised how many tenants are more than willing to talk to the reporter, along with the inspectors. The inspectors show up first, and after only a few apartments, it’s easy to tell they aren’t happy.
“You received this letter because your child drew a hopscotch on the sidewalk?” one of the inspectors asks, to clarify.
“Yes. Freida also stopped my daughter to tell her that she would get her family kicked out if she did it again.”
“And how old is your daughter?”
“Seven.”
It goes on like that for each apartment, and I look up to see the news van rolling in just as the inspectors finish the last apartment. The reporter asks one of them a few questions, but she keeps her answers brief.
“A few complaints have been filed about the living conditions here, so we’ve launched an investigation. I can’t comment any further on the matter.”
The tenants can though.
The reporter spends over an hour listening to tales of the inspections, the draconian rules, the threats made to our children and us. I don’t know how much will actually make the news once it’s edited down, but I have no doubt it will make an impact.
Chapter Sixteen
Veronica
The last few weeks have flown by. We’re still waiting to hear from the housing management, and everyone has been on edge waiting for them to retaliate on the scathing piece the local news station aired a few days after the surprise inspections. Since that day, there hasn’t been one threat letter placed on anyone’s door, and they’ve been scrambling to make repairs that should’ve been made long ago.
None of this is really going to affect us now, since we’ve just finished moving our things into our new place. We’re officially free of Violent Circle, but that doesn’t mean we don’t still care about our friends and neighbors still living there.
Noble, Jani, and Emily have teamed up to throw us a goodbye party, and I’m looking forward to one last, crazy night on the Circle. Aiden barely listens when I tell him he’ll be staying with Neal’s parents tonight. He’s glued to the step, watching for them to bring Bailey home.
“Bailey!” Aiden yells and runs to hug her, almost knocking her over.
Laughing, she hugs him, then kneels to open her backpack. “I got you something at the zoo.” Aiden’s eyes light up at the plastic hippo she produces.
“A hippo! And its mouth opens! It can eat people!” He makes chomping sounds, opening and closing its mouth on Bailey’s arm, making her giggle. Grabbing her arm, he pulls her toward the house. “Come and see your room!”
They disappear inside, and Holly laughs, hugging me. “What I’d give to have half that energy,” she says.
Charles approaches behind her, carrying their suitcases, and Neal grabs one from him. “We don’t have all the work done yet, but the house is coming together,” he says, as they follow us inside.
We give them a tour, and they ooh and ahh over everything, admiring the work we’ve done. Holly and I lose Charles and Neal when we start going room to room, talking about décor. I’m not that great at decorating, so I’m not going to miss a chance to pick her brain for ideas and opinions.
“I was thinking yellow for the kitchen,” I tell her.
“Oh, I just saw the most beautiful sunflower print curtains that would look amazing in here.” She pulls out her phone and shows me a picture.
Neal winks at me as he and his dad settle in the living room.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” I ask Holly, and she accepts. We sit at the kitchen table chatting and laughing. It’s amazing how easy she is to talk to, and I envy Neal for growing up with a mother like her.
“So, we’re watching the kids tonight?” she says, sipping her coffee.
“Only if you don’t mind. Violent Circle is throwing us a going away party.” I chuckle. “They take any chance to throw a party.”
Holly grins at me over her cup. “Would you be okay with leaving the kids with Charles?”
I sit back, confused. “Of course, if you have something you’d like to do or if you aren’t feeling up to it—”
“Oh no, dear. I want to go with you. I can’t remember the last time I went to a good party. Charles can be such a stick in the mud.”
Oh hell. She has no idea what she’ll be walking into. “Uh, you’re welcome to come, of course, but…their parties can get pretty crazy.”
A gleam appears in her eye as she replies, “So can I.”
Neal isn’t going to like this, but he’ll get over it. She deserves to get out and have fun, too. “All right, then. Do you want to go shopping for a costume? The psychos have decided to have a Halloween party in the summer.”
“What are you going as?”
Sighing, I finish off my drink. “Your son chose our costumes.” I get to my feet. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
When I told Neal he could choose whatever couples costume he wanted, I expected some cartoon characters or zombies or something. But, really, who could have predicted he’d come back with an electrical outlet costume for me and
a plug for him. The costumes fit together, but showing his mother that his prongs go in the ass of my outlet costume was uncomfortable at best. Though she finds it hilarious.
“Oh lord. You can’t let him choose in the future. He once dressed up as a condom when he was a teenager. My boy’s not normal,” she laughs.
“That’s okay. Neither am I.” I put the costumes away and turn to her. “There’s a costume shop in the next town, about half an hour away.”
“Let’s go.” Her excitement is adorable.
I peek my head into the living room while she fetches her purse. “Neal? Watch the kids for an hour or so?”
“Sure, where are you going?”
“I’m taking your mom to find a costume. She’s going to the party with us tonight.”
Neal’s mouth drops open, and his father’s laughter follows us out the door.
Holly is so much fun to hang out with. We spend over an hour in the costume store, trying on different things until she settles on what she wants. On the way home, we stop and pick up dinner at a fast food chicken place, so no one has to cook.
“What did you get?” Charles asks when we return.
“You’ll see,” she taunts him.
“Woman if you come out here in booty shorts with your hooters hanging out, we’re going to have problems!” Charles calls as she carries the bags to the guest room.
The kids and I die laughing, especially because Neal looks like he wants to climb under the couch.
“What are booty shorts?” Bailey asks, and Aiden quickly follows that with “What are hooters?”
“Owls,” Bailey replies, making everyone laugh again. She gets on her phone, and I know she’s looking up booty shorts. A second later she heads upstairs to the guest room. “Grandma! You don’t really have those shorts, do you?”
Neal moves to sit beside me on the couch. “V, tell me my mother isn’t going to come out of there dressed like a slutty butterfly or something.”
