Page 23 of Colton (Raging Barons MC #17)

-:- NYX -:-

Walking into the house which is work, but doesn’t feel like work, I have to admit, I give a shout out. “I’m here ladies!” Right away, I hear the scurrying of feet and Joan walks into the kitchen.

“Morning, Nyx. We’ve put laundry in the washing machine, and we’ve cleaned our rooms.”

Now, that is darn suspicious. I turn from where I was running the tap to rinse the breakfast dishes left on the drainer. “Why?”

Joan flushes a little, which tells me easily that something is going on, and I just hope it is not something serious. “Well, we wanted a trip to the store. We are going to make quiches and cookies.”

Oh, well, that isn’t so bad. That is a relief, in fact. “Okay, we can do that.” I’m wondering why they make it seem so mysterious!

Two hours later, we are in the middle of the store and we have a cart half filled with baking supplies. Flour, butter, chocolate chips, and more. Then they start on what they need for quiches. “Tina, how many quiches are you thinking of making?” I can’t help but ask.

“We’ll make one each. Can you not see we have new dishes in the cart? Come on, Nyx, wake up, girl,” Tina chuckles as she walks away, leaving me I’m sure, with my mouth open.

These ladies are getting cheekier and cheekier.

I’m going to have to up my game to keep ahead of them.

Or just stay even with them. Shaking my head, I push the cart to the end of the aisle and look left to right as I try to spot any of my charges.

Honestly, it’s like looking after naughty kids that won’t stay in one place even after you told them to.

After the ladies all come together at the checkout, I give a sigh in relief, but the damn cart is overflowing.

They have much more than items for baking I’m sure.

But, as they have a card they use for all things household they and I at this point don’t care.

We just pay the bill and load up the truck.

I’m more than thankful to Alf for loaning me the use of the truck. It’s made my life so much better. I can take the ladies out, shop, and get home no matter what time of day and not worry about walking the streets.

The group of kids seem to have disappeared, and I’m happy about that as they were spooking me some. Taking everyone's money and even taking groceries being carried just isn’t happening anymore. If they come back, I’m going to call the Sherriff’s Department.

After carrying everything into the house and getting them set up to bake, I leave them to it and clean bathrooms, empty the washing machine and throw things into the dryer.

General household chores don’t take me too long as I make sure I stay on top of things.

I can hear the ladies as I’m working, talking, laughing and sometimes having disagreements.

On the whole, the ladies get along very well, and they support each other better than their individual families.

Stepping into the kitchen, I pause a moment as it looks like a bomb of flour dropped.

I’m saying nothing as I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and step outside where I take a seat at the picnic table next to the pretty flower border that we have made.

The garden is beautiful now I have to admit, but that damn gnome is an eyesore if you ask me.

It’s like it’s smirking at you all the fricking time .

My phone rings and I take it out of my jeans pocket and see my father's name. Sighing, I just know he’s going to go off on me about the house again. I take a deep breath and take the call.

“What do you want?” I ask, with no preamble.

“Nyx, this is Nicole…”

Now, before she can say more, I snarl. “What do you want, Wifey?” Yes, I am being disrespectful because I owe this woman nothing. She is nothing but a lazy gold digger, in my opinion.

“There is no need to be nasty, Nyx. I know you have never liked the fact that your father and I got together, but how long did you expect him to be alone?”

“Well, over two minutes. Let’s face it, we all know you two were cheating behind my mother’s back. You are both disgusting and I will hold it against you until I watch the earth cover you for the last time.”

I hear her gasp at my nasty comment, but you know, I don’t care anymore. I’ve played nicely while gritting my teeth for years, but not anymore.

“We were not cheating on your mother.” Nicole tries to cover their asses, but I can hear the hesitation as she speaks. Telling lies always comes back to bite you on the ass, and it’ll come out eventually that they were together while my mother was ill and dying.

“You know I don’t care anymore. You can both rot. Now what is it you want? You gonna try to get me to sign over MY house? Not happening, Wifey, the house is mine, it’s staying mine. So, I suggest you mind your own business. From this point on, I want nothing to do with my father or you. ”

“Nyx!” I hear her shocked voice, but I close the call and turn off my phone.

I know that is why she called, and I’m not going to allow her to make out she’s here as a friend, or some sort of mother figure.

I can’t help but grin when I think about Nicole on the other side of the ocean stamping her feet and giving my father hell.

“What are you smirking at?”

I look over my shoulder and give Alf a smile. I’m surprised to see him, but I like him as a person and a boss. “I just gave my father’s wife a shocker, and it feels good.”

“Oh, I see.” Alf smiles and takes a seat, checking out the garden as he does. “Wow, the garden looks great. I’m not sure about the gnome, though.”

“No, that is a bit much. Seems they got that to piss off the neighbor.”

Alf looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “Did they now?”

I just nod, finish my water, then ask, “So, what are you doing here today?”

“Well, I’ve had a few minutes with the ladies.

They love you to pieces. I hope you know how much they appreciate what you do for them.

They told me last time I called that you had taken them to the store and the garden center.

They have enjoyed every time you’ve taken them out.

I check with all our clients, and make sure they are well, and that their person is looking after them.

Your ladies gave you a glowing reference.

With their comments and the way they speak of you, I’m more than happy to lift the trial period.

I’ve spoken to Heather, and we’ve agreed to give you the job on a long-term basis.

” Alf gives me a nod that he’s serious when I stare at him .

“Wow, that is fantastic, thank you so much.” Now I am relieved, as that means I can rely on the salary I receive each month. I can also start planning my finances correctly, and even put a little away in a savings account.

“Keep the truck for the time being, Nyx. It’s better to be used than stand doing nothing. We can speak about it at a later date. It’s ideal, as I said before, for helping the ladies get around.”

Again, I can’t believe how lucky I am, but what I won't do is take any of this for granted. “I am more than thankful for all you have done for me, Alf. I wasn’t in a good place when I jacked the job at the shoe store. I am fortunate that you gave me the opportunity to work for the ladies, and yes, I love them, too. They are so bright and thoughtful. They make my days interesting, not always in a good way, but nonetheless, it’s not boring working for them.

As for the truck…well, it has made an enormous difference to me getting back and forth to work.

It saves me time and energy taking the ladies where they’d like to go.

Just this morning we went to the store, and they bought more baking stuff than should be necessary.

But, you know, seeing them glowing with enjoyment makes everything worthwhile.

Without the truck, I’d not be able to do that for them, so thank you. ”

“I’ve spoken to Heather about the truck, and we are discussing turning the truck into a work vehicle. If we do that, it’ll go to Hot Hogs and Cages for a spray and to have the company logo added. That way when you are driving around it’ll be advertising the company, too. A win-win.”

Sandy rushes outside and grabs both mine and Alf’s attention. “Oh, you need to come and see what we have made.”

That sounds ominous, but I keep quiet and follow Sandy into the kitchen, with Alf right behind me. Wow, they have not made a quiche each; they have made ten by the look of it. They have cookies on a cooling rack, too.

“Holy cow, ladies! You have cooked up a storm.” I clap my hands to let them know I’m amazed at them. “What kind of quiche have you made? Come on, tell me. The smell in here is wonderful.” I give them all a beaming smile, which encourages them.

Sandy quickly points at a quiche. “I made mushroom, asparagus and ricotta.”

“Salmon and dill,” Carol proudly states as she stands in front of her creations.

Joan has the largest smile I’ve seen on her face. “Spicy sausage, and I’ve added chili powder just like my Sydney liked it.”

“Oh, that sounds good. I hope you’ll let me take a portion of each home with me.

I can share it with my friend who is coming tonight.

” I quickly get bombarded with yesses, and questions of who is coming, but I have not forgotten Tina hasn’t presented her quiche yet, so I quickly ask. “Tina, what is your quiche?”

“Spinach and bacon.” She proudly picks up her quiche and takes a sniff, sighing as she places it down. Showing how satisfied she is with the result.

“They all look amazing. Are you sure I can take a slice home with me?” I ask, and although I’m not a mushroom fan, I think these quiches look amazing and I’m going to enjoy them I’m sure.

“Yes. We will all give you some to take home. We are making cookies next.” Sandy turns and grabs a bag of flour, which puffs as she picks it up, and I am not sure if I should laugh or rush over to her as she looks like a ghost with flour covering her face.

She blinks a few times before a smile stretches across her face and she laughs.

The others rush to her and help her clean up while I look at Alf with a grin on my face.

Parking the truck at home later, I look at the amount of quiche and cookies I’ve got sitting on the passenger seat and in the foot-well. What the heck am I going to do with eight slices of quiche which, by the way, are a quarter of the dish they were baked in.

“I wonder?” I mumble. Locking the truck, I jog over to Penny’s place and knock on the door.

It only takes a moment for her to answer, and she doesn’t open the door all the way, which gives away the fact she is nervous about who could be on the other side.

“Hi, Penny. Have you the room at your table for some quiche slices and a bag of cookies?”

Penny looks shocked at my question before giving a small smile. “Well, I sure could. I love quiche and cookies.”

“Come on, you can grab some from the truck. It’ll only take a minute if Arabella is safe?”

Penny steps out of the house. “She is in her crib, so she’s fine. She’ll sleep another hour, then be ready to be fed, and ready for the evening.”

We rush to the truck and I give her four of the eight pieces.

She’s going to freeze some, so she has meals for another day.

I’m sure she’s living on the edge and I’m going to help her if I can.

I know what it’s like to feel alone and struggle.

I was never in the situation Penny is, but I was alone even when living with my father and the wifey.

“I’ll bring you other things when they have them because Penny, they are beyond stopping. I can’t eat everything they send home with me. I’d be so large I’d never walk.” I puff out my cheeks and pretend to lumber along, which has Penny laughing. I’m pleased I could give her a moment of fun.

I look at the table an hour later and smile at the sight. I have quiche and salad spread out, and a selection of the cookies. That’ll do, I think to myself before rushing upstairs for a shower and change before Colton arrives.

Although I’m not a girly girl, I decide to wear a summer dress.

It’s a pretty pale blue with a sweetheart neckline.

I wear a pair of ballet flats that are a slightly darker blue than the dress, so it works well.

As we are not actually going out of the house, it doesn’t matter how well things match. But it makes me feel good.

Colton arrives on time, pulls me into his arms and kisses me senseless. He takes a huge lungful of my hair before kissing me on the top of my head. “I’ve missed you. Never thought I’d get myself a woman, and sure not one as classy as you.”

“Hey, I’m not classy. I’m just me, and don’t you forget it.

” I smack his arm playfully. The last thing I want is him thinking that he’s not good enough for me.

I have never had as much as most, but I’ve never truly been penniless.

I think that’s why I feel so much for Penny.

She’s doing a lot for her baby, and she’s doing it alone.

Turning, I kiss Colton on the cheek. “Come on, our meal is ready. I’ll tell you all about how we came about it, too.”