Stepping under the water, I let the heat soothe my body. While I don’t have the body aches or anything, I’m so completely drained, the hot water seems to help. A little bit at any rate. So, I take a few minutes to simply let the water rain down over me. I wash my hair and condition it before moving on to my body. I’ve got new body wash and absolutely love the smell of it. It’s a honeysuckle scent with a light hint of vanilla added in. I never used it until a few days ago, but I can certainly say now that I’m in love with it. This will be my go to now.
Once I’m done with my shower, I get out and dry off while rubbing the excess water from my long strands with another towel. I brush out my hair and forego putting on any make-up. There’s no reason for me to wear any. It wasn’t something I did before being with Vince, and not something I like wearing now. Heading for my room, I quickly dress in a pair of loose fitting jeans and another oversized tee-shirt and then toss my long hair up into a messy bun on the top of my head. The easiest way to deal with it while at work and around my son. Brent is in that hair pulling stage and has gotten me more than once.
Waking Brent up, I change his diaper and feed him some baby food. Making him a bottle, I grab the diaper bag and make sure it’s ready to go. The club is letting me use an older SUV to get around town with for now. I’m grateful I don’t have to walk everywhere, though I don’t mind walking. Just not with Brent when it’s horrible outside. As soon as I’m done getting my son ready, I carry him and the diaper bag out, having stuffed my wallet and phone in the side pocket of the bag so I’m not carrying multiple things around. Death is waiting on his bike, not saying another word to me after earlier. Though, I can feel his eyes on every move I make. Great! I just want to get through this day and hope I don’t have any further need for the bathroom quickly while also staying far from Death as I can be.
Chapter Two
FOR THE LAST few days, I’ve been watching over Kelsey. Something I requested after seeing her getting sick so violently in her bathroom. Every fucking day since then she throws up multiple times and looks absolutely horrible. The worst I’ve ever seen her since she got stuck in Braedon months ago. Her long black hair looks as if it hasn’t been washed in days despite knowing she takes more than one shower every day. Kelsey’s mossy green eyes have lost their brightness and appear withdrawn and almost lifeless. Her normally pale skin is even paler these days making her look sick as fuck. I know she’s still getting sick multiple times a day and refuses to go to the doctor to find out what’s wrong with her. Even Jaelyn has finally noticed what’s going on and asked her to go see someone. Kelsey, the little shit, refuses to do as we ask. Well, what I demand of her.
I’ve watched her dote on her son who’s not even a year old yet and bust her ass at the shop to help get everything in order for them to open in a few days. They have a little bit left to do in order to get the shop up and running. It’s mainly putting the final touches on things, preparing things to display and sell when the doors open, and making sure everything is set up on the computer so everything connects. They’ve got a system set up so every item they sell is automatically withdrawn from their inventory. They won’t have to take a manual count of things on a regular basis like they would if the computer wasn’t going to help them keep track of everything. It’s a pretty nice system they’ve put together if I’m being honest. Though, they did have help from Zeus. He essentially just put their idea together in a program they could understand and work with.
Sitting at one of the new tables in Rebellious Sweets and Catering, I’ve got a plate of food and treats in front of me. Over the last few days the girls have been baking, cooking, and making all sorts of candies and other goodies. Whoever’s here during the day, or just happens to stop in, gets to be their taste testers to see what they like or think needs more work on. So far, I haven’t found a damn thing that needs any kind of improvements. None of the other guys have either. Kelsey and Jaelyn are going to do fucking amazing with this shop. If Kelsey sticks around that is. I have a funny feeling that’s not her plan of action.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize the little half pint is about to pull a runner. Oh, I have no doubt she’ll stick around until Jaelyn has the babies and is able to return to work. Kelsey isn’t about to leave her, or anyone she befriends, in a lurch like that. However, once Jae returns, that’s an entirely different story. Kelsey is working on something behind the scenes and she’s being completely secretive about it. Jaelyn certainly hasn’t heard anything about her leaving or heading off on her own. I thought I would have gotten through to her when I mentioned being on her own with no backup with her son to worry about. Instead, it appears she was just buying herself some more damn time. Iwillfigure it out one way or another what her plans are.
Kelsey might not have realized it just yet, but I’m the observant one of the club. I’d prefer to hide in the shadows and watch everyone, and everything, around me. It’s part of what makes me such a good Sergeant at Arms. I can usually predict someone’s move before they make it. I’m the one who sees the smallest twitches a person makes. Whether it’s their fingers, clenching their hands into fists repeatedly, or the smallest tick of a muscle letting me know something is about to go down. Kelsey has all the tells of someone preparing to not only run, but who is about to go behind our backs to ensure her plan goes off without a hitch. I’m just not sure what to feel about this new development with her. Or figure out who she’s going to get help from. This time she won’t be able to pack up and leave like everywhere else because she’s become part of several people’s lives here. She’s not an unknown any longer.
“How is everything over here with you, Death?” Jaelyn asks, sitting down across from me while rubbing her large stomach.
“It’s good, Jae. All this shit is some of the best food I’ve ever tasted before,” I tell her honestly. “I know you’ve both been puttin’ up all sorts of flyers and shit around town advertisin’ as well as usin’ that social media bullshit. Have you gotten any clients booked for caterin’ yet?”
“We actually just got our first party booked this morning. I got a call when I was getting ready to leave the house. It’s an engagement party for two hundred people. They’re sending over their menu and all that stuff tomorrow morning. We’ll have two weeks to prepare for this event. We’re so damn excited, Death,” Jae gushes, her excitement filling the short distance between us.
“That’s really good to hear, Jae. Are you gonna be around to help Kelsey prepare that much food and desserts though? I mean, we’re on an any day now thing for you goin’ into labor. I know everyone will help Kels out with this shit, but it’s a lot to take in for the two of you. Especially when you have no clue if you’ll be around or not,” I bring up the one thing I’m sure neither woman has been thinking of for the last few days.
“I know, Death. I’m not going to leave her here all alone. I mean, even after the store opens and we’re just here I’m not going to leave Kelsey alone. The ol’ ladies will help out as she needs them too. Everything will work out. It has to,” Jae says, getting that glint in her eyes as if she can determine the outcome of a situation by simply making her mind up about it.
Too bad that’s not how real life works.
Before I can respond to her, Kelsey goes racing from the kitchen into the bathroom down the hallway. Closing my eyes, I know she’s in there getting sick. Again. This fucking shit ends. Now. Standing from the table, I leave Jae to head into the kitchen where Brent was left. I know he’s in his playpen, but they don’t leave him alone in any room if they can help it. Something Kelsey does without fail unless she’s getting sick. This woman will listen to me today. If she chooses not to go get checked out, then I’ll toss her ass in the SUV and take her there myself. She’ll have no choice in getting checked to find out what’s making her so sick. Kelsey could really have something wrong with her needing immediate medical attention and she’s avoiding going for some reason. For someone who loves her son the way she does, that’s very fucking selfish if you ask me.
I make my way to the bathroom to hear Kelsey getting sick. She didn’t shut the door all the way as I push inside the small room. Today I don’t have to pull her hair back since it’s already up. So, I lean against the small counter and wait for her to be done. Anger fills me at the thought of her not properly taking care of herself. This is something she could have gotten taken care of days ago yet refused. Yes, I’ll harp on that fact until I can no longer breathe. Kelsey is so much fucking smarter than how she’s currently acting.
“Death, what are you doing in here?” Kelsey asks, walking out of the stall toward the sink I’m currently blocking from her.
“Heard you gettin’ sick. Again. This isn’t gonna fuckin’ keep happenin’, Half Pint. Wash the hell up so I can get you to the doctor,” I tell her, not giving her a choice in the matter anymore.
“You don’t understand, Death. Not a single fucking one of you do,” she growls out, showing a hint of the fire buried deep down inside her. “I can’t go to the doctor and give them my name. It’s just one of the many ways for Vince to track me. Did none of you think about that shit?”
“I didn’t,” I answer honestly, realizing why she’s been so adamant about not seeing someone now. “I’ve got this. I’ll take you to see Doc. She works for the club and won’t take your name or anythin’. We can pay cash for the visit and no one will know.”
“The fuck? Death, I don’t have any money to go see someone. That’s the entire reason I haven’t gone to see someone. Well, besides not giving them my name. I’m a single mom who is in the process of trying to start a business with Jaelyn. Every penny I haven’t put into this has gone toward what my son needs. There is no extra money for anything else. I barely have food for myself because Brent willalwayscome before me. I don’t have any other choice in the matter,” she says, her voice small and weak.
“I’ll cover the fuckin’ visit, Kelsey. You’ve been gettin’ violently sick for over a week now. Yeah, I’ve fuckin’ noticed that shit even when others didn’t. You have two choices in the matter. Either you go with me now. Or, I’ll throw your ass in the SUV and drag you there kickin’ and screamin’. One way or another, you’re bein’ checked out. Today. Or do you want somethin’ serious to be wrong and you to leave your son here all alone?” I question her, knowing it’s a low blow to bring her son into this. However, I know it’s the one way to get her to do this.
“Fine, Death. I’ll pay you back as soon as I can,” she mumbles as I finally move from the sink so she can wash her hands and face before brushing her teeth.
It’s been so bad, Kelsey is now carrying around her toothbrush and toothpaste with her. That should’ve been everyone’s first clue something was going on with her. Like I said, I’m the most observant one of the club so it’s not something I wouldn’t notice.
I’ve gotten Kelsey to Kathy’s office. I called Kathy, the club’s doctor, to let her know I was on my way in with someone while Kelsey was finishing up in the bathroom. Sabotage thankfully showed up to the shop so they’re keeping Kelsey’s son for her while she gets checked out. I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do with him when Kathy had her in the exam room. I know next to nothing about kids and there’s already too many around the clubhouse for me to get involved with. It’s one thing to spend time with my niece and nephews, but I don’t know anything about Kelsey’s son or how he’d even react to being with me.
I’m in the exam room with Kelsey despite her not wanting me with her. With her ex out there, I’m not about to leave her alone. Including a damn doctor’s office. So, I’ve heard everything that’s been going on, watched them check her vitals, and take some blood before sending her to leave some sample or some shit like that in the bathroom. We haven’t said a word to one another or anything in the time we’ve been waiting for Kathy to come in or on the ride here. I took care of checking her in when we got here. Let the lady at the desk know this was for the club and to be kept off the books as I handed over the necessary cash to make it happen.
There’s a small knock on the door before Kathy walks in the exam room with a folder in her hand.
“Death, good to see you again. Glad you’re not the one I’m patching up again today,” Kathy greets me, a smile on her face before she turns to face Kelsey. “Kelsey, I’m Kathy. Or Doc as these lug heads call me. Can you tell me what’s been going on with you?”
“Well, I’ve been getting sick for about two weeks now. I’m constantly having to run to the bathroom and it doesn’t matter if I’ve eaten anything or not. There’s no fever or body aches to make me believe I have a flu or some type of bug. I’ve had my period, but my boobs have been sore during this time too. I’ve got a young son and haven’t had sex in a very long time with one exception,” Kelsey says, her face turning red as she keeps her eyes off me.
