Page 87 of Chubs

My phone rings, and I answer it.

“What’s up, Axel?”

“The guys are on their way home. Chubs is with them, and so is his brother.”

“Everyone’s safe?” I ask in a near whisper. “He has a brother?”

“Yes. They should be here late tomorrow afternoon.”

“Thank you for letting me know.”

“The women at the ranch are his mom and sister. They’ve asked if they could meet with you. It’s completely your choice. If you want to, I can ride out with you, or they can meet you at the clubhouse. Whatever you decide, I can be there.”

“I’ll meet with them at the clubhouse tomorrow morning, say at 10am. That work?” I ask with trepidation.

“Perfect. See you then, little one.”

“What was that about?” Lisa asks.

“The women are his mom and sister, and they want to meet me. I don’t know why, and I’m not sure I should have agreed to it,” I answer honestly.

“You can always cancel or go and see what they want. If you don’t like the feeling of the meeting, leave. You don’t have to stay, and you don’t owe them anything. Remember that,” Lisa advises.

I nod in agreement, but my stomach is doing slow flips at the thought of the meeting.

Walking into the clubhouse the next morning, I’m tempted to have a few drinks, regardless of the time. I don’t, but my shaking hands are begging me to rethink that decision. Instead, I start a pot of coffee brewing and tap my fingers on the bar top while waiting.

The door opens, and my eyes shoot in that direction, but only Bella walks inside. Coming to a stop on the opposite side of the bar, she eyes me carefully.

“You okay?” she asks.

“Yeah. No. I’m not sure. It doesn’t matter. What are you doing here? Don’t you have school today?”

“No, it’s a teacher in-service day, so we got it off. I was looking for Gee. Ava said she let him out this morning, and he hasn’t returned yet. I thought maybe he came here and somehow got locked inside. Have you seen him?” she asks.

“No, I haven’t. Did you check Pooh’s house? Gee goes there a lot knowing Craig will give him treats.”

The door opens again, and Axel walks in with Gee on his heels, Prissy on his shoulder, and Alex holding his hand. Bella sighs in relief and bends low to give Gee some love. His bright blue t-shirt today reads, “Go Pig or Go Home.”

Holding up the coffee pot, Axel nods, so I pour two cups and push one toward him.

“Hi, Priscilla. How are you today?” I ask while booping Alex on the nose.

“I’s good and you?” Prissy coos in her beautiful southern accent.

“Good, thank you. Have you plucked any more of Mac’s feathers?”

“Yes, she has, and that’s why she’s not allowed back at my house for a while,” Ava says as she comes out of the kitchen to join our group.

Duffy, Ava’s temperamental cat trails behind her, then drops to his side on the floor and closes his eyes. I’m guessing the walk to the clubhouse exhausted his overfed self.

“Plucking Mac,” Prissy says with a cackle.

“Self-defense, Ava. You know Mac’s been stalking her,” Axel admonishes. “And he’s plotting my death, and Prissy’s protective of me.”

“Prissy’s been as evil as Mac lately,” Ava says. “They both need a bird timeout.”

“Change your mouth!” Prissy screeches and stands her bright yellow mohawk crest on end.

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