Chapter Seventy Nine
Moving day for the girls arrived, sunny and cold. Bo drove the moving van, parking it first in front of his house while Aralyn's furniture and things were loaded in. Once done, he moved around the corner to Luke and Honey's, so Tiffany's possessions could be added. Finally, he moved it down the street to Brian's house, where Natala's stuff were loaded. Bo, Luke, Brian, and Dan were all there to help, assisted by Leif and Logan, who were working off punishment for a prank gone wrong. The good natured twins carried boxes and mattresses with running commentary.
Not everyone had seen the brownstone yet, so there was plenty of wandering through the house. Trixie, Honey, Daisy and Diana strolled through, making notes to each other in quiet voices. Between the four of them, and Moms, they had outfitted the kitchen with everything the girls would need. Helen and Peter showed up late in the morning, with a box of homemade goodies from Helen's canning earlier in the fall.
The furniture the girls had already picked out at various thrift shops was such an eclectic mix that Honey had to look twice at some of it. The classic pieces were clearly Tiffany's choices. The 60s throwbacks in orange and green were from Aralyn, and the simple, clean lines of more modern furniture were Natala's.
Each girl had painted her bedroom in her chosen color scheme. The lease was very loose with such things, provided the walls be returned to white whenever they vacated the premises. Tiffany's room was in soft shades of green and sand. Aralyn's had been painted in deep orange and cream, and Natala had chosen a soothing teal and dark blue, not unlike what she had at Brian's.
There would be plenty of time to unpack, and once all of the furniture was in, and the van had been returned, pizza was ordered to feed the group. The mothers helped make the beds up for the girls, despite their protests.
"Let us have this," Honey said with a smile, running her hand over Tiffany's hair. "This is a big day for us as well."
"So we get that extra little apartment, right, with the kitchen and private entrance?" Leif asked hopefully. "It's perfect for us and we'd be out of your way!"
Aralyn snorted. "Not on your life, baby bro. This is the grownups house."
"Then how are you here?" he shot back.
"You boys are not moving out any time soon, son, so just stop thinking about it," Bo told him. "You're stuck with us."
"I think it's more you're stuck with us," Logan smirked. His smirk vanished under his mother's hard stare.
Once the family had departed, Aralyn stretched out on the vintage orange and green sofa.
"Ah, sweet peace and quiet," she sighed happily.
"This is going to take some getting used to," Tiffany commented, curling up in the big chair.
"Think we can do this?" Natala asked.
Her cousins nodded. "We'll make it work," Aralyn said confidently.
***
“Hey, Aralyn!”
She turned, unsure of who had called her. It was Brad, the arrogant jerk from her Math class. Was he going to ask her out again?
“Hi,” she answered, waiting for him to catch up to her. She could smell his cologne when he was still four feet away. His tall, lanky form got up too close and she physically put her arm out to keep him from getting closer. His skinny jeans did not flatter him, and the black leather jacket just looked goofy with his 80s style feathered brown hair.
“What are you up to?” he asked eagerly.
“Going to class,” she answered, annoyed as she started walking again. He fell in step.
“Have you studied for the test in a couple of weeks?”
“Somewhat.”
“We should do a study group, get some folks together.”
“I don’t really have time. I have martial arts tonight.”
“Really? You’re into that?”
“Uh-huh. My boyfriend and I do it together,” she fibbed, hoping he’d get the message this time.
“Oh.”
“Gotta go, Brad, see you later.”
Aralyn mentally shook her head. He reminded of her of Dean in high school, the way he had followed Tiffany around. Now Cam had a stalker, which was clearly Ellen, and Aralyn had a pest. He had hit on her the first day of class.
She had walked into the classroom, her helmet under her arm. She didn’t recognize anyone but there were several open seats. Without looking at the other students, she slid into one of them, setting her helmet under her seat and shrugging off her backpack. Stinky male, musky cologne tickled her nose.
Feeling eyes steady on her, she glanced up to find a young man sitting next to her, staring at her.
“Hi,” he grinned.
“Hi,” she responded, before turning to her bag to pull out her notebook.
A minute later, he said, “I’m Brad.”
She nodded at him. “Aralyn.”
The professor had come in at that moment, and the class fell quiet. After class, as she slid her notebook into her backpack, he stepped closer, and she almost gagged on his cologne.
“Hey, uh, you wanna go get some coffee?”
She forced a smile. She was friendly by nature but wow, this guy was forward.
“No, thank you. I have somewhere to be.” Which wasn’t a lie, she had a martial arts lesson.
“Tomorrow?” he blurted out.
“No, sorry.”
“Maybe this weekend?” he asked hopefully.
She looked him in the eye. “I’m not interested, Brad.”
“You don’t even know me,” he tried to give her a smile.
She stared at him until his smile faded. “All right, well, can’t blame a guy for trying with a beautiful girl.”
“See you later, Brad,” she grabbed her helmet and strolled from the room.
After that he was still friendly, and it was a week before he asked her out again. Even telling him that she had a boyfriend didn’t seem to deter him for long. He was rather chatty, and seemed to worm his way into whatever conversation she was having with a classmate.
Cam was less than thrilled with her new admirer.
“Two stalkers,” he had grumbled pulling her closer as they lay in bed.
Aralyn laughed. “He’s not a stalker. He’s just one those dicks that think he can wear a girl down to get what he wants. He picked the wrong girl.”
“You need to be careful,” he said. “This situation with Ellen is bad enough. Your schedule is so jammed, it would be easy for him to follow you and you wouldn’t even notice.”
Her full schedule was a regular bone of contention between them. Friday nights seemed to be their only time together lately, with her course load, martial arts, and job at the nearby police precinct that Bo had arranged for her.
Aralyn pushed him on his back as she straddled him. “I think he’s harmless. Besides, scrawny guys in skinny jeans don’t do it for me.”
“No, what does do it for you?” he teased. She leaned forward and kissed him, long and slow, feeling his body responding under her.
“Big, strapping men that I can ride all night,” she breathed in his ear. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her.
“Ride away,” he groaned happily.
***
Natala flipped the coffeemaker on, watching the sun start to come up through the kitchen window.
She loved their brownstone, which they had quickly settled in. Each girl had her own space, with plenty of room for solitude, and plenty of room for them to come together.
Aralyn had wanted to bring Dixie with them, but had to admit that with their schedules, they wouldn’t have enough time for her. Plus, Dixie had bonded with Sean, and slept with him nightly. It wouldn’t have been fair to her youngest brother, as Trixie pointed out.
Aralyn would be out for her morning run right now, unless Cam spent the night, which she doubted. Aralyn had had her study group the night before, which meant she wouldn’t have arrived home until late.
Natala was worried about her cousin. Aralyn was burning the candle at both ends, so to speak. When she wasn’t as class, she was at work, when she wasn’t at work, she was at martial arts. In between she was studying, and barely keeping up with school. She had to get top grades if she truly wanted to go into law enforcement and be a US Marshal. All of that together didn’t bode well for having time for Cam. Natala wasn’t certain they saw each other more than once a week, unless it was on campus. Cam had been unusually grumpy lately, and she suspected it had to do with lack of time with Aralyn.
Dean, on the other hand, was here often, if not, she was over at their place. He kept plenty busy too, but he was devoted to her. They had discussed Cam and Aralyn more than once. Dean was also worried about Cam and Aralyn. Cam was spending an awful lot of nights alone lately.
***
“Well, she’s definitely out,” Cam said. “She was released right before Christmas.”
Aralyn frowned. “She completed treatment? Really? She’s busy harassing you within days of being let her out?”
“The police paid her a visit,” Cam answered. “Her parents insist she completed treatment and was released on her own recognizance. They flat out deny she’s had anything to do with all of this, and she swears up and down she’s innocent.”
“So the police won’t do anything?” Aralyn demanded.
Cam shook his head. “They have no proof. They basically let her know they’re watching her, but until they catch her with some sort of evidence, they’re at square one.”
“That’s such crap,” Aralyn complained.
Cam pulled her to him and rested his chin on her head. He inhaled the scent of her hair, the tropical scent always made him smile.
“I don’t want to talk about her,” he said, kissing Aralyn’s neck.
“Her who?” Aralyn murmured.
***
Cam had just paid for the groceries when the hair on the back of his neck stood up. Glancing around, he studied the other patrons, looking for Ellen Murdock. He didn’t see her but that didn’t mean she wasn’t lurking.
Taking his groceries, he headed out to the Jeep, and inspected it carefully for damage. The tires were okay. The hood’s vandalism was covered with duct tape. After buying two new tires, he hadn’t had the money to get the hood repainted.
He could have asked his parents but his father would have lorded it over him and been pissed about any potential scandal that could affect his political aspirations. Cam tried not to talk to his parents more than necessary. His father wanted him to date girls he chose, usually diplomat’s or senators daughters. Cam refused to be a pawn in his father’s political game.
He heard heels behind him on the pavement and turned, but it was just a woman walking to her car nearby. Turning back to his Jeep, he flinched when he saw Ellen leaning against it.
“Ellen,” he said politely.
“Hi Cam,” she purred.
She looked the same; still pretty, still polished. She wore a velvet track suit that clung to her, emphasizing her slender figure.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“Just picking up a few groceries. Aren’t you happy to see me?” she pouted. “It’s been so long.”
“Not really,” he answered. “Ellen, I need to go. I don’t have time to stand here and chat.”
“No need to be rude,” she batted her eyes at him.
“Good-bye Ellen,” Cam said, quickly taking refuge in his Jeep.
Cam exhaled as he pulled away, with her in the rearview mirror. He did not like the expression of mirth on her face.
***
Natala tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Finally she rose from the bed, and wandered over the window. Something was coming. She didn’t have enough images to piece it together yet, but she could feel the storm gathering.
***
The flashing lights of the police vehicle startled Cam and Aralyn as they pulled into the apartment parking lot.
“What do you think is going on?” Aralyn asked. “Something to do with Dean’s text?”
Dean had sent a panicked text to Cam, telling him to get home ASAP.
“Most likely,” Cam replied. What crazed stunt had Ellen pulled this time? It had to be her.
As they approached, they saw Dean outside with two officers, and Ellen with her hands cuffed behind her back.
“You bet your ass we’re pressing charges,” Dean was saying.
“What’s going on?” Cam asked.
“I caught this crazy bitch trying to spray paint the front of our place!” Dean answered angrily.
“He assaulted me!” Ellen wailed.
“I tackled her and pinned her ass down until the cops showed up,” Dean answered.
“I was just knocking on the door!”
“See that black spray paint can? The only fingerprints on that can are going to be hers.”
“This is so unfair! I didn’t do anything!” Ellen shrieked.
“Come on, miss. Time to go,” the officer with his hand on her arm started to guide her away.
“Cam! Cam, tell them this isn’t right! You know I would never do anything to you! Cam!”
Cam ignored her, staring at the black spray paint. It was the same word as on his Jeep, he suspected, but only the C-O-C- was complete.
“You tackled her?” Aralyn turned to Dean. “Man, I wish I had seen that.”
“Crazy bitch! The apartment manager is furious. If he tries to charge us for this…”
Cam sighed and rubbed his temples. “Let’s just hope this is the end of it.”
***
Natala slid into the chair with her ice cream. Aralyn and Tiffany were already seated with Valerra. It was the girl’s day out with their younger cousin, and ice cream seemed like a grand idea, even if it was the middle of winter.
Aralyn had a concoction of sweet cream ice cream with almonds, peanuts, caramel and chocolate topped with whipped cream. Tiffany had a traditional hot fudge sundae. Natala had chosen pineapple ice cream with cherries and strawberries and a mound of whipped cream. Val, feeling shy about ordering until she saw what her cousins were getting, had gone for peanut butter and chocolate with peanut butter sauce and whipped cream.
Val loved to study her cousins. They were so confident, so secure in themselves. And beautiful. Each of them had their own beauty, and she loved to see them together. She knew she wouldn’t be as tall as any of them, but she hoped to have Aralyn’s confidence, Tiffany’s elegance and Natala’s wisdom.
“Val, how’s school going?” Aralyn asked.
“Boring,” Val answered. “I’d rather be out at the stables.”
“I don’t blame you,” Aralyn said. “I never liked being in school either. I always wanted to be elsewhere.”
“When’s your next competition?” Nat asked.
“Three weeks. Regan thinks I’ll win, but that stupid Celeste Morgan is bragging that she’s got the number one trainer in the world working with her.”
“Well, he can’t be better than Regan,” Tiffany answered. “And is Celeste that nasty little brat that that pranced by with her nose in the air?”
Val nodded. “She likes to brag about how rich she is but usually I just have to remind her who Grandpa is, and that shuts her up. I don’t like bragging, but her attitude just infuriates me.”
“There’s always one bitch,” Aralyn commented. Tiffany nudged her. “Uh, brat.”
Val giggled. “Dad called one of Byron’s friend’s moms a bitch the other day. He was on the phone with her and told her not to be such a bitch. Byron punched her son Jimmy in the face a couple of times recently.”
“Why did Byron do that?” Tiffany asked. “Byron’s not prone to swinging a punch.”
Val’s smile vanished. “He was saying really nasty things about Mom.”
“Well, I can understand that, then,” Tiffany smiled at her. “All boys rush to their mother’s defense.”
Val looked down at her ice cream. “Mom hasn’t gotten out of rehab yet.”
The older girls exchanged a glance.
“Well, your mom is really sick, honey. Sometimes it takes people a little longer than others to get better. But you want her to be healthy and whole when she does, so it’s best she stays in until she’s really ready to come home,” Tiffany said gently.
“I don’t think she wants to get better,” Val said sadly. “She’s allowed to call us, but never does. And when I call to see if we can come visit her, she says no.”
“Well, sometimes it’s really hard to hear the voice of those most loved,” Natala said. “And maybe it would make it harder for her to concentrate on getting better.”
Val shrugged.
The cousins looked at each other, unsure how to lighten the mood.
“You know, Daisy told me you’ve been consulting with her on the new teen line,” Aralyn said cheerfully.
Val nodded, her face lighting up. “Yeah, she’s been asking me a lot for my opinions on teen clothing. She thinks she may have some prototypes by the fall. And she said she’s going to want me to work with Rayma a bit, so that I can be one of the runway models!”
The older girls breathed a sigh of relief with the topic safely off of Hallie.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
Author’s Notes
- a giant yee-haa! To Ronda, my lovely editor. All mistakes are mine!
- I never thought I'd be a Jix Author for twelve years, wow!
- A huge thank thank you to you, the community, for all of your support over the years.
- It's been a tuultous year for me since the last chapter of this was posted, but I am back in writing shape, so look for more to come soon, and in other universes!
- A very special thank you to my bff Lori, who helped inspire me to start writing again and is always a great sounding board for ideas, just like the old days. Love you, girl!
- Word Count, 2,913
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