Page 25 of Patching Over

“I’m pissed that your mother never taught you! Or hell, another girlfriend. Now, I know you have a list because youalwayshave one with you, so go ahead and add the following to it; a heating pad, a pain reliever, and chocolate.”

“Chocolate?” I question, jotting the other two items down. The cramps this month are horrendous, but I’ve always just sucked it up because what else was there for me to do?

“It makes everything better. Oh, and a stain remover for when you do laundry, because accidents happen. My mom told me to put a towel on my sheets to keep them clean, but I found those pee pads I used for my puppy work even better, so write a box of them down too.”

I shake my head but do as she says. “Seems like an awful lot of fuss for something that doesn’t last too long,” I murmur,looking at my expanded shopping list. I can definitely handle the extra purchases, but still, it kind of seems like a waste to me.

“I can tell you’re in pain and bet you haven’t taken a damn thing, you’re just pushing through, right?” she asks, glancing in my direction.

I smile, but suspect it looks like a grimace as my abdomen feels like it’s in the grip of one of those pinching machines, the ones that kids play to try and win a stuffed animal. “Mmhm,” I respond, unable to vocalize anything due to the pain ripping me apart.

“So, I’m going to make sure you’ve got my tried-and-true items to make it through Auntie Flo,” she replies. “Oh, and I’ll give you the name and number for my female doctor. You’re going to want to get checked out once it’s over so you can get on birth control.”

Feeling like an absolute dunce at this point, I repeat, “Birth control?”

“Girl, if what you’ve told me about Brick is true, when you finally come to your senses and let him claim you, you’re going to be going at it like two rabbits.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sex. Fucking. Doing the horizontal mambo. Playing hide the salami.” When I don’t respond, she looks my way and sees my mouth agape. “Let me guess, you never got the birds and the bees talk, did you?”

Shaking my head, I feel tears well up in my eyes. I’m so unprepared right now I feel like an utter failure. She grasps my hand in hers and shakes it. “None of that. Put some wine coolers on your list. It’s gonna be a long night because I refuse to let you be unprepared for what’s bound to be coming your way.”

“No way!” I gasp out after she finishes telling me what happens between a man and a woman. Or, as she said, between couples of the same sex, which I wasn’t aware happened either! “I think you’re pulling my leg right now, Cassie.”

“With the right person, it’s positively stratospheric,” she replies, opening another wine cooler and handing it to me. “How are you feeling right now?”

I take mental note of how my body feels then shrug. “Kind of numb but the cramps don’t feel as though they’re tearing me apart.”

“Told you the pain reliever I recommended is the bomb. I’m sure the two wine coolers you’ve had so far don’t hurt either. We should probably order a pizza or something so you’re not hungover tomorrow for work.”

“I don’t even know what that is.”

“You will if we don’t slow down and eat something, plus drink some water,” she sagely replies.

CHAPTER

THIRTEEN

Brick

As the group makes their way toward us, I’m hit with a sense of unease. The only reason Madame Laveaux would come is if there’s more to what happened to Rayleigh than we already know. “Brothers,” I say, standing to give each one a man hug before turning to her. “Madame Laveaux, it’s an honor and privilege to have you here.”

“You don’t know why I’ve come. All I’ll say is everything will be revealed in its own time.” Glancing over at Voodoo, he shrugs at me.

“Brother, she says that all the time. I just know she called and told me it was imperative she be here to meet Rayleigh’s parents before we dealt with them.”

“Let me show her to a room so we can go ahead and have Church. Ma’am, how did you know we got them? That's club business.” I feel pretty confident Voodoo wouldn’t utter a word, none of the brothers would.

“I have my ways, dear boy.” She smiles at me, and I find myself returning the gesture. If I didn’t know some of the storiessurrounding her, I’d swear she was a harmless senior citizen, who bakes cookies and spends time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rooster walks over, sees the Ankeny brothers along with her and his face pales when he realizes there’s a woman standing in their midst. “Ma’am, I can show you to a room so you can get settled if that’s okay.”

“Dear child, I will follow you once I’ve made a cup of tea. Can you show me the kitchen first?” she asks.

“Yes, ma’am. Please come with me.” I watch as he gently takes her elbow then leads her toward our kitchen, chattering away as if he’s known her forever. Seems she has that effect on folks if his reaction is any indication.

“Let me send out a text to the brothers announcing Church. Seems we need to get to the bottom of things, Brothers,” I state, pulling my phone from my pocket. Once the message is sent, I sit back down since I know it’ll take about thirty minutes or so before everyone shows up.

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