Page 86 of Bits and Pieces

“Didn’t you hear? One of them lost a foot and fell off a deck.”

Laughing at Wynonna’s teasing, I cuddle with Brooklyn who decides I need my hair fixed.

“Look, here’s how it works,” Wynonna explains. “You graduate high school with a bunch of gal pals. Then, one or two go off to college or want to try life in the city. Off the bat, you’re down a few friends. Next, several will get into serious relationships, meaning they can never go out. Soon, they’re married, and their husbands worry about their wives’ slutty high school friend being a bad influence.”

Wynonna rolls her eyes, clearly holding a grudge about that one. “Next thing you know, the friends you barely speak to anymore have kids. When you do see them, all they want to discuss is little Jimmy’s soccer match or how Jenny no longer shits her pants. Suddenly, you’re riding solo. Making friends as an adult is tricky shit especially in a small town. I ended up spending a lot of my time around the Pigsty with my brother’s friends. Once I got married and had kids, I became the boring bitch bragging about shit-free pants.”

Grinning at her eloquence, I admit, “I haven’t had a friend since junior high. Rosemary is sweet, but I want to please her. We’ve got a weird auntie-niece vibe going on. Often, she seems more comfortable when treating me like one of the kids.”

“She’s cranked up to a weird level,” Wynonna says before explaining when I frown. “Rosemary doesn’t want kids. Most women have kids. She ended up listening to poopy-pants stories until she decided maybe she’d rather just hang out with dudes. I should know. When she first moved to McMurdo Valley, I was pregnant with Ralph. We were friendly and had a good time together. But then, I gave birth and everything was about the baby. She slowly pulled away. It’s just how she’s wired. Rather than pull away, she’s turned you into one of the kids so she knows how to bond.”

Brooklyn gets down from the couch and walks over to Beau who goes still. He waits to see if she’ll touch his stuff. I feel her wanting his blocks. Wynonna watches me watching them. I exhale with relief when Brooklyn returns to me.

“Play with Beckett?”

Nodding, I get to my feet and then look at Beau. Wynonna waves off my concern.

“I’m right here. You’ll be right back. No worries.”

Brooklyn and I walk down the long hallway to the playroom. I find Blair running the kiddie restaurant with Beckett and Ralph playing waiters. Esther looks at the menu and acts bored. Brooklyn runs over to help her sister.

“Go have fun,” Rosemary reassures me from her spot nearby.

Grinning, I waddle my ass back to the family room. Beau is still working on perfecting his line of blocks. He’ll be at that for at least another hour. Wynonna smiles at my return.

“When I was toward the end, Hoyt sent me to a spa to relax.”

“That was sweet of him.”

“Not really. I was being a tyrant, and he needed a break. Still, it was fun. We should do that. Get you all beautified so you feel sexy for your giant bully.”

Recalling the Copper women beautifying me, I caress my hair and frown. Wynonna doesn’t notice. She’s on her phone, texting someone.

“We could invite Selene and Yazmin,” she suggests without looking up. “They aren’t mommies, and I doubt they need to beautify since they look like models. Yet, it’ll be good for them to be around someone other than each other. They’ve got an oddball twin-brain thing happening.”

“How much would a spa cost?”

Wynonna looks at me and then around the house. Smirking, she replies, “He can afford it. You have no idea how bare basics those assholes lived at the Pigsty. They made so much money and barely spent any of it for the longest time.”

“I don’t want Silas thinking I only like him for his money.”

“No, he gets how you’re into his hot body and how he kills people for you.”

Smiling at her teasing, I sigh. “I want him to love me and the kids. This house is great, and his money makes things easier. But to have someone who cares about us is better.”

Wynonna’s dark eyes soften as she studies me. “I can’t say what’s in a man’s heart. Nomad was gaga over that moron Kati. But I noticed how he didn’t really pay attention to her. Like she was there, but he couldn’t look too closely or he’d notice all the stuff he disliked about her. Kourtney claimed Nomad couldn’t stop looking at you. Like he was afraid you’d disappear if he kept his gaze off you for too long.”

“She said that?”

“Yeah, she’s a cunt,” Wynonna says and laughs. “Like, I can only stand her in short doses. We fought a lot in high school. She stole two of my boyfriends. I kinda hate her. But we’re also family since my brother and her brother ride together. Anyway, when she heard about you and the kids, she said she thought Nomad went off the deep end. She talked about putting him down like a rabid dog. But once she met you, she claimed you two were the real deal.”

Seeming insane, I both giggle and sob. Wynonna just smiles at my emotional crap.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble, trying to control myself.

“If I was pregnant and had four kids, a dead shithead husband, and a giant biker stalker, I’d be an emotional wreck, too. Hell, I once lost my mind after opening a bag of chips with too much force. The damn thing exploded. Just imagine me nine months pregnant, eating chips off the floor like a damn dog. Hoyt found me like that and sent me to the spa. It’s his go-to move. I’ll know Selene is overly wacky when he asks me to take her there.”

Wiping my eyes, I try to be sensible, but I’m overwhelmed. “I thought living here would be enough,” I mumble as I cradle my belly and watch a relaxed Beau. “My kids are safe. I’m not getting smacked around. We aren’t broke. Silas being sweet to me was the cherry on top. But he’s also getting help for Beau and buying all this stuff for the kids. He organized the playdate and talks about me having friends. I feel like I’m being greedy.”

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