“Is that what you need from a relationship? You need me to stay faithful and not cheat?” Eli asks me.

  “I need both of us to not only do that but want to do it,” I answer honestly.

  “Being faithful has never been easy for me Jenna, but you make me want to do exactly that. I need to get that shower now, but we will be talking about this again and soon,” Eli answers me. I am looking forward to that talk.

  16

  Grinder…

  As soon as I turn the shower water off, I hear the shouting. I get dried and dressed within five minutes and then I realize if the voices are outside the door it must be Candy and D.D.. I go ahead and take care of the rest of my grooming and then sit on the bed and put my socks and shoes on. I can pick out both their voices now and I don’t hear any other voices. I guess it’s time to face the two of them. I unlock the door and walk out into the hall. I look at the two women and they look completely different. I must admit D.D. has pulled out all the stops tonight with her looks. Then there’s Candy and she’s dressed like a damn club girl. The short blue jean skirt and barely-there shirt is inappropriate for her age. It seems the woman would cover herself up coming to a family dinner. Don’t get me wrong, Candy is a beautiful woman, but the revealing clothes and thick makeup take away from her beauty.

  I look at both the women. “Can I help you two with something? You two belong in the kitchen and family room areas, not at my door yelling at each other. What the hell do you two want?” I step out of my bedroom but then I take a half step back and lock the door and pull it closed.

  “That woman said you were showering, and I thought you might need someone to scrub your back. I’ve have never seen your bedroom, so I thought I would give you a hand and then you could show me around the room.” Candy tries to sound so innocent. I look at D.D..

  “I was making sure she didn’t steal anything,” D.D. says in a catty voice.

  “D.D., drop the bitchiness for tonight. I have cameras in my house, I don’t need you keeping tabs on anyone.” I look at Candy who has a grin on her face now. “Wipe that damn grin off your face, Candy. I have someone to scrub my back and she’s sharing my room and my bed. I just don’t think Jenna knows you well enough to want you around her things or our room.” That leaves them both speechless. I turn and head for the family room.

  “Why are you being so mean? Aren’t you going to explain yourself?” Candy whines. I walk into the family room and I see Ryder and Trace looking at the photo album that Jenna made for me. It’s filled with photos of the Whiskey and Ryder. Max is standing behind them. I see Liam has shown up, but he’s sitting in a chair away from everyone. Whiskey, Lexi, and Seal are talking over by the bar. Dixie is sitting by the window in a chair staring out the window. She looks like she’s been crying. I go to her and give her a hug. I want to ask her what’s wrong, but I don’t want to seem pushy about it.

  “Are you alright, munchkin? Need a little dad time?” I ask her in a soft voice.

  “I always need your hugs, Dad. It’s nothing, just crap with Mom. She is fit to be tied. She got served a court summons for our custody before we came here, and she almost didn’t come with me. I thought I was going to need to call for a ride.” I glare at Candy who has plopped her ass in the middle of my sectional. D.D. has gone to stand by Liam.

  “I’ll try to smooth it over before you leave, but I won’t back down from filing for full custody of you and your brother. I want you living here with me at least until your mom gets some sense in her head. Is that so bad? Now dry that pretty face of yours and let’s have a good time tonight,” I tell Dixie.

  “I’ll try, Dad,” Dixie tells me in a soft voice. Something is bothering her, but I won’t get it out of her tonight. “I need to go have a word with Liam. Have you talked to Whiskey and Ryder yet?”

  “Not yet, Dad. Lexi and Seal have been occupying her time and Trace was talking to Ryder. Then Mom and D.D. started arguing in the hall. Liam keeps glaring at everyone. I just don’t know where I fit in.” I know Dixie can be sweet at times, but she gives as good as she gets at times too. Whatever is bothering her has her feeling vulnerable. I need to trust that when she’s ready to talk, she’ll come to me. “When you’re ready to talk about whatever is bothering you, just come to me and we can talk about it. I know it’s something big and I am always here to support you and help you.”

  “I will, Daddy, when I can.” I kiss Dixie’s forehead and I let her go and walk to Liam.

  “I see you have all your whores here. Look at you Dad, all high-and-mighty with all your women doing your bidding. It looks like your new whore is settling right in.” I open my mouth to say something, but I’m pushed out of the way by two very pissed off children. Ryder has Liam out of the chair in seconds with Whiskey right behind him.

  “My mom is no whore. I don’t know who taught you your manners, but we can go outside and then I’ll teach you what you will get every time that you disrespect my mom.” Ryder has Liam up by his throat and Whiskey is standing right behind him.

  “Do you even care that you just called your own mom a whore? What kind of son calls his mom a whore?” Whiskey is outraged.

  “Ryder James and Whiskey Rose step away from Liam. This is not how we handle a situation like this. Liam has two parents in this room that can handle him.” Ryder looks at his mom and then to Liam and lets him go. “You insult my mom again and no one will be saving your ass. Remember that.” Ryder shoves him back in his chair. I look at Liam.

  “Apologize now or I will take you outside and give you the ass beating you deserve. You don’t need to like everyone in this house, but you will have a civil tongue in our home. You disrespected three mothers in front of their children. Does that make you feel like a big man?” Liam looks at me with contempt in his eyes. I see D.D. and she has tears in her eyes. How did we let Liam get so out of hand?

  “Does it make you feel like a big man to add another woman to your harem of women right in front of my mom’s eyes? You don’t care I called Mom and Candy a whore. All you care about is your new woman that kept your bastard children away from our family. You can really pick them, Dad.” I move toward Liam, but Jenna stands between us and puts a hand on my chest but turns toward Liam.

  “Liam, I understand that you are hurting for some reason but taking it out on everyone that loves you isn’t a proper way to deal with it, and it won’t be tolerated. I invited everyone here tonight because you are my children’s family and that means for the rest of each of your lives, you will be connected. If you want to be the man always looking into the family unit from afar by all means do that, but no one needs to be as miserable as you insist on being. I have made mistakes just like everyone else in this room, but you are eighteen years old and not a child anymore. Your parents’ decisions are between them and you have no say whatsoever. Suck it up and deal with it. If you want to be included, then act like the young adult you should be and respect everyone’s feelings.” Jenna is soft-spoken but firm. She has no maliciousness in her voice at all. “Now it’s time to eat so let’s get it done.” No one says a word. Jenna turns to go. We walk over to the bar and I see Jenna has brought in a long table for us to eat at. I hadn’t even thought of that. She must have found it in the garage. We use them at the clubhouse. It’s set very nicely with a cloth tablecloth on it with napkins to match. Fancy for us. We usually eat at the kitchen bar. The next thing I was going to finish is the dining room area. They must have put my weights somewhere else because that’s I kept them. The bar is lined up like a buffet and the food is mouthwatering. “The dessert is banana pudding and Italian cream cheese cake so save some room,” Jenna adds. We all go to sit down and both D.D. and Candy hurry to the table to sit on each side of me. “Ladies, I have your places designated with a rose on your plate. I thought it would be best if each of us sit with our children. Seal, your seat is next to Whiskey, Ryder and me. Max your seat is at the other end of the table. Each seat has a name on the card beside it, so everyone knows where their seats are.”

  “Why does Max get the seat at the other end of the table? Eli has more than one son,” Candy pops off. I look at Jenna.

  “Max isn’t a child anymore and he is the oldest son, so he deserves the spot at the other end. This isn’t a contest between children but, when we come together to eat there needs to be order,” Jenna says directly to Candy. That shuts Candy up. “The rose is to thank you for cooperating with having this dinner tonight. It takes a village to raise a child and this is that village.” Candy wants to argue but she doesn’t say a word.

  “Why are you in charge of this little get together?” D.D. speaks up.

  “Because I’m the hostess tonight. I invited everyone. I didn’t want to wait for my children to get to meet their brothers and sisters until after we found a house and Eli said I could do the dinner tonight. I know both you and Candy are a part of this family as much as I am through our children, so I wanted to offer an olive branch and hopefully we can work together for the good of this extended family instead of fighting. If you would like to host the next family dinner at your house, then please do. I think it would be a great idea that once a month we bring everyone together and we can take turns hosting. Let me know what each of you think of the idea. We can coordinate a family calendar of sorts. Each of you will be welcome at our home as soon as we find the home right for us.” I pay attention to how everyone reacts. Max and Seal can barely contain their smiles. “We do have house rules that I have brought my children up by as I am sure each of you do as well.” I can barely keep my laugh at bay. If Jenna only knew.

  “Lady, where do you get off coming in here and telling us what we need to do?” Candy asks sarcastically.

  “Candy, I’m not telling anyone what to do, it’s a suggestion and if you don’t wish to participate in the family dinners then that’s your choice, but the children are still invited with or without you. I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out, so they feel slighted.” Candy is the last one to sit down between Dixie and Trace.

  “Thank you, Jenna. I think a monthly dinner sounds amazing. Having all my children under the same roof for a meal is rare for us. It will make us a stronger family,” I tell Jenna sincerely. “We’re having a cookout at the clubhouse soon if any of you ladies want to lend a hand. That includes you Candy but only for the family cookout. You’re still banned until you stop stirring up trouble, but a family cookout is different. When family time is over, then you’re gone.”

  “I would love to help out. Let’s fix our plates and eat while the food is still warm enough.” Jenna cuts us off before we have an argument over the clubhouse. We all make our way over to the bar and make our plates. I walk up behind Jenna and kiss her neck. I hear a gasp behind me, and I turn and see both Candy and D.D. standing there and I see the contempt in their eyes. I smack Jenna on the ass and walk away. Tonight, I couldn’t care less what those two women think. I walk back to the table and sit down and realize I left my glass of tea at the bar. Jenna looks at me and she sees what I’m looking at. She has her plate in one hand and picks up my glass with the other one and brings it over to the table. She sets her plate in her spot and walks the glass over to me.

  “Thank you, darlin’.” Jenna smiles at me and walks into the kitchen area and gets herself a glass of water.

  “You’re welcome, Eli,” Jenna says on her way back to the table. “Would you like to say grace?” That one throws me for a loop. I haven’t said grace in years. “Let’s all join hands.” I bow my head.

  “Bless this food and thank you for my entire family being here tonight. Amen.” I keep it short.

  “Amen,” Jenna says along with Whiskey and Ryder. It’s quiet for a few minutes with everyone eating. I am enjoying the first home-cooked meal I’ve had since coming home from northeast Texas. The food is delicious.

  “Since we’re being the happy little family tonight, I need to share since we are being so understanding and open.” Liam has my attention and Jenna is looking at him. “I’m gay,” Liam says in a soft voice.

  “And? What’s your point? You’re gay and we love you,” I say without skipping a beat. “Does anyone have a problem with Liam being gay? Say it now or don’t say it at all.” I look around. D.D. has a guilty look on her face. No one says anything. “You see, Liam, no one gives a rat’s ass and if this is the bug that has crawled up your butt for so long then that’s on you. You could have come to us and talked it out. We would have helped you or even just listened if you needed us to. We’re a family and family loves you because you are you. Love has no limits or restrictions. The club is the same, Son. We’re bikers because we want freedom from restriction. Telling someone who to love or be attracted to isn’t freedom.” Liam is left speechless and then he looks at D.D..

  “You said Dad wouldn’t accept me. You said he would be disappointed in me.” D.D. has tears running down her face.

  “I’m sorry, alright. It’s the only way I could at least have one of my children close to me. Max and Lexi worship the ground your dad walks on and they always wanted to be with him, and they still do. I just wanted you for myself. I didn’t know how your dad would react, but I knew you would leave me if I didn’t take the steps to make sure you needed me more. I’m sorry,” D.D. tries to explain.

  “I will always accept each of my children as they are. I don’t want them to be something they think I want them to be. Love and let love. There’s too much hate in this world. I’ve said it over and over. I love you, Son.” Liam seems to relax a little.

  “If we’re making confessions, then I need to speak up too,” Dixie says.

  “Dixie Sunshine James, you better shut that mouth of yours. We will fix your problem.” I look at Dixie and then Candy.

  “Candy shut your trap. Dixie say what you need to.” I try to reassure my daughter.

  “I’m pregnant and Buzzard is the father.” I see red. I will kill that asshole. He touched my fifteen-year-old daughter. “He’s been staying at the house with us.” He’s a dead man walking. I see Seal and Max are both already texting on their phones. Buzzard will be taken to the clubhouse and I will deal with him tomorrow.

  “You don’t know the can of hurt you just opened up for Buzzard. Dixie you just signed that man’s death warrant. Good luck being an ol’ lady now.” I can’t believe the words coming out of Candy’s mouth.

  17

  Jenna…

  I have had to bite my tongue nearly in two tonight. These two women are crazy. If for just the time tonight, they would put one of their children first. I’m in no position to judge. I get from my chair and go to Dixie and pull her up into my arms and try to sooth her. I decide to sit back in her chair and pull her into my lap. “It’s alright, Dixie. Somehow your dad will fix everything he can. I know he has more questions, but I think that would be better done in private with just you and him. You heard what your dad told Liam. He loves you no matter what. He may be pissed right now but he still loves you. I think we should finish dinner and then you two can talk but no matter how that goes, if you need someone to talk to, I’m here with no judgement,” I tell her softly.

  “Alright. Your food is delicious. Thank you for being nice to me and not yelling at me for ruining your dinner.” I smile at Dixie and I see just how young she is. This little girl is going to be growing up fast.

  “Thank you, sweetie.” I stand up and Dixie goes with me and I move aside, and Dixie sets back down. I see Candy glaring at her with contempt. “Dixie and I would like to finish our meal. I think this might be a conversation that Eli and Dixie should have by themselves later.”

  “Over my dead body. That’s my girl there and no one is talking to her without me, and your hoity-toity ass can stay away from her.” Candy doesn’t know when to quit.

  “I know some people don’t know when it’s true that less is more, but Candy cut the crap. The children are acting more like adults here than the adults are. Over your dead body? I can make that possible if you insist. I have a shotgun and it fits in my hands very well. We will all support Dixie as a family so stop stirring the pot.” I look around the table and everyone agrees. “Would anyone like me to get them anything while I’m up?”

  “Mom could we have the basket of rolls in here?” Ryder asks me. I walk over by the bar and get the roll basket, butter, and a butter knife. I take and set it on the table in the middle.

  “Thanks Mom,” Ryder says. We all sit and eat in silence. I see that Eli is still trying to deal with his anger. I also see Dixie has gone quiet and Liam keeps glancing at Eli out of the side of his eye. Lexi has been quiet all night and Trace has stayed close to Ryder. Ryder doesn’t seem to mind at all. Whiskey and Seal have been talking with Max from time to time. Eli stands up.

  “I want to thank Jenna and Whiskey for putting this dinner together. This has been the only complete family dinner we have ever had, and I’m grateful.” I smile at Eli’s mega-watt smile. “I hope you ladies can come together and make this happen more often.”

  “Your welcome, Dad,” Whiskey speaks up.

  “You’re welcome, Eli,” I tell him and that’s when I notice Candy is laughing.