by Megan Smith
Mr. Cahill knew my mom never went to the police because she feared for our safety. The next time it happened I was home, but I hid in my bedroom closet until Mom came to get me. He knew Mom packed us up in the middle of the night and disappeared.
Mrs. Cahill told my mom that her husband was an FBI Agent and that she knew for a fact that he’d help keep us safe. Mr. Cahill wanted to take my mom into headquarters but she’d refused to talk about it. He made a promise to her for that as long as she lived near us; he would always look out for us and protect us. No family should ever have to go through something like that.
After Mom confessed everything to the Cahill’s, they instilled the need to always protect CC in Jackson, Mason, and Cooper. When I hung up the phone a couple of hours later, I felt a sense of relief that I wasn’t the only one looking out for my family. This whole time it was like two families had combined into one, forming a stronger bond, a bond that would never be broken.
My only problem was that CC didn’t know about any of this. Just like Mr. Cahill never wanted what he did for a living to touch her, I didn’t want my past to touch her either. However, now that my dickbag of a father was back in the picture, I wasn’t sure I could make that happen, but I was damn sure going to try my hardest.
I was thankful that Mrs. Cahill said she was coming over for a visit today; I really wanted to go and check up on my mom. She’d been acting really strange lately; she kept telling me everything was fine, but I knew her better than that. I stopped there before going shopping.
“Ma!” I called out when I walked into the house. I was going to have to talk to her about keeping the damn doors locked.
“In the kitchen.” she called back.
I walked in and took a seat at the island, “Hey Ma.”
She was standing at the sink, washing the dishes, “Hey Hunter. How’s my grandson doing?” She asked over her shoulder.
“You’d know if you came over to see him.” It came out harsher than I wanted it to but damn it, it was the truth.
“I know, I’m sorry. With Jason showing up, I’m all out of sorts. I don’t know how he found us after all these years, Hunter. Why now? Why, when things are great does he show back up?” she pleaded.
I took a deep breath, I knew this was what had been bothering her, and she hadn’t wanted to tell me over the phone because she knew I’d have been over here in a flash. “Ma, I don’t know. Try not to worry about it, ok? Mr. Cahill has it covered. I talked to him last night and they have someone watching each of our houses.”
She dried her hands with the dish towel and took a seat next to me. “I’m sorry that you have to go through all this bullshit now that you have your own family to take care of. Are you going to talk to MacKenzie about this?”
I stood and went to the fridge to grab two bottles of water, “No Ma, I’m not going to tell her until I don’t have a choice.”
She took the bottle I offered her, “I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”
I really hoped I was doing the right thing. No! I knew I was; I wasn’t putting my family in the middle of this shit storm unless it was necessary. CC would understand why I hadn’t told her this was going on, if she didn’t I would have to make sure she did. She and Ryder were my life.
After Hunter came home from shopping, three hours later, Mom joined him in the kitchen to make dinner. We’d invited my dad to join us since he hadn’t had a chance to stop over because he’d been so busy with work. I asked Mom not to say anything to Hunter about my little melt down earlier, but I knew she would anyway.
I could hear them whispering in the kitchen, “So I think you need to gather everyone up and have a date night or something, Hunter. That girl in there is missing everyone. She’s so used to everyone coming and going all the time and she said she’s barely seen anyone.” Mom told him.
I heard the sink turn on and some pots and pans being banged around, then the stove clicking from the pilot light. “Yeah I know. Everyone’s trying to avoid her. I don’t think they mean it, but Kenzie’s starting to notice. Did she say something to you today?” Hunter asked, concern lingering in his voice.
I was staring at the TV mounted on the wall above the fireplace, but I could feel Mom’s eyes on me, so I made sure to keep my face neutral. I heard her sigh, “Yeah. She had a bit of a meltdown earlier. She’s ok now, but things are really bothering her. She sees more than we think she does.”
Hunter dropped something on the stove harder than he needed to, “Damn it.” He didn’t speak for a few minutes. “Alright, I’ll see if I can get everyone over here. I think she misses them, even when they pick on her.”
I heard a crackle of someone opening a can of soda, “It’s not just them, Hunter. She’s worried about you. She doesn’t see herself like she used to, she’s afraid that you’re going to run.”
Damn it Mom, I told you not to say anything!
Hunter cleared his throat; this was making him uncomfortable, “Mrs. Cahill…”
Mom cut him off, “Hunter please we’ve asked you to call us Elle and Andrew, or Mom and Dad.”
“Right, sorry, Elle. I told her last night, I don’t see those things. To me they are memories and reminders of what happened. She protected Ryder when she crashed. If it wasn’t for that…he probably wouldn’t be here right now.”
There was some rustling around and then Dad appeared in the doorway leading from the hallway. I put my finger up to my mouth to keep him quiet. He looked at me questioningly before coming over and bending down next to my recliner, “What’s going on?”
I missed Dad. I didn’t spend nearly enough time with him anymore. His hair was getting whiter on the sides, not that it looked bad but it was a sign of his age. He also had some serious bags under his eyes. “Mom is running her trap. I told her not to tell Hunter about my meltdown earlier.” I answered pouting my lips.
Dad chuckled lightly, “Wonder how long ‘til she notices I’m here?”
We both glanced over towards the kitchen and they were both still doing their thing in there. Ryder started fussing, “Well, someone noticed you were here, Poppy.” I winked at Dad.
“That’s my boy.” Dad stood up and went over to Ryder who was still in his swing.
Mom came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on the black apron tied around her waist, “Oh, hi honey. When did you get here?”
Mom kissed Dad’s cheek and I groaned. “Please! Don’t do that shit.” I begged.
Dad, laughing at my reaction, picked up Ryder as Hunter came over to help me to the kitchen table. Mom pulled out the chair and Hunter sat me down. Damn, I can’t wait to be able to do shit on my own! I really needed to pee, but I didn’t want to have to ask anyone. Oh well, guess I’m waiting until after dinner.
Mom dished the salad in my bowl. Hunter was getting Ryder’s chair from the living room so he could join us for dinner, and Dad was shoveling food onto his plate. Now if the rest of the crew were here, I’d be a happy girl.
After everyone was situated and eating, Hunter announced, “I’m going to have everyone over Saturday night for dinner, CC. Is that ok with you?”
I glanced over at Mom and gave her an ‘I know you told him’ look and said, “Yeah, sounds good to me, if it’s not too much trouble. The girls can hang out with the babies and you guys can do what you want in the man cave.”
Hunter had converted half of the basement into his man cave; it was all decked out with New York Giants memorabilia. I had to give it to him, the cave was pretty awesome. The bottom half of the walls were painted blue, the top half grey with a red strip in the center. He had a few jerseys that he’d had signed, framed and hung along the back wall. There were also a few helmets, signed as well, that were placed on each side of the two windows. We were able to find a Giants rug that was checkered red and blue with the NY logo on it. Then there was the TV, Hunter had to have the 70-inch. He just couldn’t settle for a normal TV like any other person. Oh, and let’s not forget to mention the surround sound, I sw
ear that the neighbors three houses down could hear when the Giants or even the Yankees were on. We also had a black leather sectional, pool table and a mini bar down there as well.
“Baby girl, why don’t you let me and your mom take Ryder for the night or even just a few hours if you aren’t ready to leave him yet?” Dad said, smiling at Mom. Damn those two and their silent conversations. Yeah, I could read Hunter like a book most of the time, but my parents had it down to a science.
I looked over at Hunter; I’d be ok for a few hours, but overnight? I’m not so sure. “What do you think?” I asked him.
“Let them keep him overnight.” Hunter reached over with his hand under the table and squeezed the inside of my thigh.
With my face starting to flush I answered, “Okay, but if I can’t handle it, I’m coming to get him.”
Mom smiled at Dad, then to me, “You have your key baby girl.”
The rest of the evening I had a smile on my face, finally things were starting to get back to normal, or as normal as it could get with a new baby.
After we finished up dinner, CC and her mom were upstairs bathing Ryder before they put him down for bed. Andrew, it still felt wrong to call him that, was in the kitchen helping me load the dishwasher.
I was placing a cup in the rack when he asked, “How’s she really doing?”
I shrugged, “I thought she was doing ok until Elle told me she fell apart this afternoon.
He nodded, “Yeah, MacKenzie told me she’d asked her mother not to say anything to you, but I know my wife. She’ll do whatever she has to do to make her family happy.”
I put the last plate in the dishwasher, there was so much I wanted to talk about with him but I didn’t want to do it in the house with CC here.
Andrew cleared his throat, “I have to hand it to you Hunter. I admire you; I think if one of my boys were in this situation, they’d have run for the hills. You two are still so young and have your whole lives in front you. Not many can hang in there.”
That meant a lot, coming from the man standing before me. I’d never had a real father figure in my life; the closest I’d had was my grandfather. After the shit that went down with Jason, Mom had moved us in with my grandparents in the Tennessee Valley Mountains. I’d looked up to him and learned a lot from him. He was a great man. He passed away due to lung cancer the year we moved to Jersey and my grandmother joined him within a few days. Mom said she’d died of a broken heart, since she was healthy before she passed. Mom never went back there; I on the other hand, try to get up there whenever the house isn’t being rented out. Mom didn’t have the heart to sell it and it’s not like we needed the money since they’d set Jaylinn and I up with a trust fund, so she hired a realtor and rented it out. When I’d taken CC away with me last year, I knew that was the place I would bring her. Some of my greatest memories took place in that house.
I was a lucky son of a bitch to have had these people in my life. “Thanks Andrew. I told you when I asked for her hand in marriage, that there was nothing I wouldn’t do for her, and I meant it.”
He let out a deep breath, “I know you did son.”
I finished wiping down the counters and sent a group text to Mason, Hailey, Jaylinn, Cooper, Chloe and Jackson.
Group 9:20p.m. : Get together at our house tomorrow at 3. No deep shit, all fun
Mason 9:22 p.m.: K
Jaylinn 9:24 p.m.: sounds good. Coop and I will be there
Jackson 9:28 p.m.: We need to find a sitter
Me 9:29 p.m.: Check with ur mom. Hails ?
Hailey 9:36 p.m.: Yeah yeah I’ll be there
I was really starting to worry about Hailey; I’m going to have to pull Mason aside tomorrow and figure out what the fuck’s going on.
CC, Ryder and I hung out together most of the day. Everyone would be showing up soon and we were just waiting on them. The plan was to meet here, have pizza, and then CC’s parents were going to take Ryder and Alex back to their house for a sleepover.
Everyone had shown up, except for Hailey, so far. I kept looking at Mason when I knew CC was occupied, he just shook his head. I knew things were rough with them but this was for CC, she could put that shit aside for one night. Just as I was about to call her, she showed up with a big ass bottle of vodka.
When CC noticed Hailey, her face lit up. “It’s about damn time.” She said, joking around with her friend.
“Don’t even start,” she giggled, “My ass has been at work since seven this morning. Damn inventory control.”
I walked over and took the bottle from her and she threw her arms around CC. “I miss your face bitch.” I heard Hailey’s muffled voice.
“Miss you too.”
CC, Jackson, Chloe and I, all said goodnight to our boys before they left with their grandparents.
CC spoke up from her seat in the recliner, “Now listen to me. I don’t want to hear one damn word about the shit that’s gone down these past few weeks. Not. A. Word. Tonight’s going to be fun. Us girls are letting our hair down, so hold on to your hats boys.”
All the guys raised their eyebrows and shook their heads; the girls looked at each other and winked. We were in for a ride tonight.
I was determined to have a good time tonight; I hadn’t taken any of my pain medicine so I’d be able to drink with everyone. Mom and Dad promised they’d be fine with Ryder for the night and I’d told myself there’s nothing I needed to worry about.
“Kenz, shot?” Hailey asked me on the way to the kitchen.
“Hell, yes!” Hunter was watching me; I smiled and blew him a kiss, causing Cooper to throw a pillow right at the back of his head.
“Knock that shit off.” Mason groaned.
Hailey reappeared with eight shot glasses, a lemon, knife, cutting board and my sugar bowl. She put everything down on the living room table and chucked the lemon at Mason. “Make yourself useful, Ace.” Hunter, Jackson and Cooper started hooting and hollering. Jaylinn, Chloe and I threw our heads back and started laughing.
As Hailey started pouring the shots, she informed us, “We’re playing a game. It’s called Ask Me About…” Hailey and her games. I shook my head, shit never ended well with her games.
“How the hell do you play that?” Jackson asked as he adjusted Chloe’s legs across his own.
Hailey smiled at him, “You ask one person about something, anything at all. If they don’t answer they have to take a shot.” She chuckled and rolled her eyes. “I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of drinking tonight. I’ll go first.”
Hailey was giving Mason the evil eye; this was not going to be pretty. “Mason. How many girls have you slept with?”
See! He was staring her down; I didn’t think he was going to answer. “Eleven.”
Cooper coughed out the word “bullshit.”
Mason diverted his eyes to Cooper. “My turn,” Mason said.
“Jaylinn, did you hand in your v-card yet?” Jaylinn cringed and Hunter went stiff as a board next to me. I needed to fix this so things didn’t get out of hand and ruin my night. I reached over and ran my finger up his thigh, on a path to his zipper. It’d been more than a month since Hunter and I had made love. I knew he was trying to patiently wait those six weeks. I was going to try and push those boundaries tonight, even if I was secretly doing it for Jaylinn.
When I reached the zipper he sat back and pulled the covers that were draped over my legs over his lap. Now he’s getting it. I shifted so I was angled towards him and reached for his zipper. He looked at me, eyes hooded.
Jaylinn answered, “No.” Hunter sighed, so much for my plan. Oh well, it was fun anyway.
“Kenzie, have you ever been caught having sex?” Jaylinn asked.
I rested my head on Hunter’s shoulder for a second, trying to contain the laugh that was bubbling up. “Hell yeah,” I glimpsed over at Hailey as she shuddered. “How many times now Hails?”
She picked up a shot and downed it, “Too many to count.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her
hand. “I’m still trying to figure out how you were bent over with your stom—” Three pillows were thrown at Hailey cutting her short, while Hunter and I laughed hysterically.
After I was finally able to calm down enough to talk, I knew who I was going after, I just hoped she kept it clean for my sake. “Hailey,” she smirked, “craziest place you’ve had sex.”
Her mouth fell open, oh shit, here it comes. She didn’t look in Mason’s direction once, no eye contact, no nothing. Something was going on with them. “In my Jeep, while we were driving.”
“How the hell did that work?” Jackson asked. Clearly he was thinking really hard about this.
Mason piped up, “It just does.” Hailey still never looked in his direction, while he stared a hole right into her.
“He’s right, when you want it enough, you make it work.” Finally she glanced at him, but only for a second. That statement had so many meanings, especially for those two.
“They’re just lucky enough their crazy asses didn’t get pulled over when the cops passed.” Jaylinn said in a fit of giggles.
This is what I missed; no one had a care in the world right now. I wanted to bottle this time up because I knew it was going to be short lived once the night was over. I was content in Hunter’s arms, these people were my family. Some might not be blood, but I loved them just as much.
“Chloe, you’re up girl.” Jaylinn said. Chloe’s eyes widened. I didn’t know why, she knew how crazy things were going to get. “Have you ever faked an orgasm?”
Jackson narrowed his eyes at Jaylinn.
Chloe didn’t answer at first, she looked at Jackson and the answer flashed across her face. She looked at me, then reached for the shot glass, dipped a lemon slice in sugar, and downed her shot. Everyone was quiet until Cooper snickered first, and then everyone lost it. I had pains in my stomach from laughing so hard. I’d pay for that tomorrow.
