Kale, p.22
Kale, page 22
part #2 of Texas Kings MC Series
“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll keep that in mind.” I rolled my eyes at Daughtry as I tried to get out of the damn car. “What. The. Fuck?”
“Let’s get the dogs in and go make sure they’re okay. I’ll come back and rearrange the car in a bit.” Daughtry put his hand out and helped me slide out of the Bronco. I waited beside him, staring at the large house, as he got the dogs out of the back seat.
“You did good, babe. Kept your calm. Not much else you can do when that happens.” Daughtry put his arm around my shoulders as we walked up the sidewalk. “Shit, it hasn’t happened in at least ten years that I know of. When we were kids the doc said they might never go completely away.”
“Take me to him so I can make sure he’s okay.”
“Can’t do that, babe. He and Mama have a routine. They should. When we were kids it happened every night, sometimes more than once. He’s got this scene locked in his brain and it takes his breath away every single time.”
“What happened to him?”
“I don’t remember it. Thank God. I was too young. About a year younger than him. I was four, he was five, almost six.” Daughtry opened the front door and the dogs rushed past us into the house. “I only know what I was told.”
We walked into the house and I could see Bird, Jenna and an older version of Kale standing together in a room at the end of the entry hall. Daughtry put his hand at the small of my back and urged me down the hall to the siblings and their father.
“Dad, this is Terra. Terra, our Dad, Smokey.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” I stuck my hand out to shake his and he laughed and grabbed me up in a hug.
“Hello, young lady.” He let me go and turned his body to stand beside mine. He put an arm over my shoulders and started walking me toward the back door of the house. “Let’s go sit on the porch and talk while Mama takes care of our boy.”
I went with Smokey to the back yard and saw that it was much more than a porch he was talking about. The back patio had a fire pit that was surrounded by chairs. The cushions on each chair had the Texas flag on them and looked fluffy and comfortable. The dogs had bolted ahead of us out to the dark green grass and were running around the perimeter, marking their territory. To the left of the back door was a wall full of hanging pots. Each one was blooming with greenery. I could tell from the smell that there were mint and other herbs growing there.
Smokey’s arm dropped from my shoulders and he urged me to sit in a chair beside his as he propped his booted feet up on the edge of the stone fire pit.
“Well, it’s an odd way to meet the in laws you have there, darlin’.”
“Yeah. The oddest. I’m not too sure what happened out there but it scared the shit out of me. I mean it scared me to death.”
The large man beside me threw his head back and laughed. His bright eyes twinkled when he looked back at me, the creases at the edges making him look like he did that laugh often.
“Shit was Jenna’s first word. Fuck was her second. And so on. Didn’t say Mama or Dada until probably tenth down the list. She still cusses like a sailor. It happens.”
“What’s wrong with Kale that he couldn’t breathe? It was a panic attack, wasn’t it? What happened to him?”
“You were talking about his Mom weren’t you guys?” I nodded, and he continued. “He does that sometimes when it comes up. How she died, I mean. She was murdered.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Yeah. I was at work and she was home with our two boys. They were little ones, neither one in school yet. A man broke into the house. She heard him breaking in and gathered the boys up and stuffed them in the closet. She covered them with clothes and then went to call the police. She didn’t make it to the phone before he was on her. He stabbed her over and over just a few feet from the closet she hid the boys in.” Smokey took a second to compose himself before he continued. “The last thing she said to Kale was to keep his brother quiet. When Daughtry started to make noise and try to get up, Kale put his hand over his mouth and held him still. He had kicked the clothes off the top of them and Kale could see out the crack in the closet door. Kale watched the fucker killing his Mom and was trying to hold his brother still and quiet while he did it. From what we’ve pieced together, he cut off Daughtry’s air and he passed out on top of Kale. It made it hard for Kale to breathe under Daughtry’s weight. Kale thought he had killed his brother.”
“Oh, my God. That’s horrible.”
“Yeah. Kale laid there in that closet knowing his Mom was dead just a few feet away, thinking his brother was dead at his own hand, and wondering if that fucker was going to open the closet door and kill him too. Fucked with his head.”
“Well, yeah.” I reached up and wiped the tears from my face again. “I figured out this morning that he doesn’t use the closets at his house, but he didn’t explain why. We were talking about meeting you and your wife on the way here and I asked about his Mom.”
“Yeah. It was about an hour before I got home from work, we think. Daughtry fell asleep after he passed out, Kale laid there trying to breathe.” Smokey ran his hand over his face and then down to the end of his long beard. “All four of my boys have things in their head that we can’t take away from them. Those things make them the men they are today. All four of them saw horrible things when they were just babies, really, and some of those things they know they can’t talk about with anyone. That’s why we take care of things here as a family, no shrinks or any of that shit.”
“I saw shrinks after I got arrested. They didn’t do anything but tell me I was crazy.”
“Well, are you?”
“I killed a man and have not one ounce of remorse for it. I guess crazy is in the eye of the beholder.”
“I had one of my men look into your case when I found out my boy was writing to you and planning on bringing you home to us. Into the business.” Smokey looked at me for a second, I guess to gauge my reaction. “Had to make sure you weren’t a thief or a grifter.”
“Neither of those. Just a killer.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I understand if you don’t want me to work for you because of that.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Smokey laughed for a second. “If anything, that pads your resume in this family.”
I looked at him oddly and he got serious again.
“What do you think happened to the man that killed my wife?”
19.
O=O=O=O=O=O
I wanted to go to Kale when his Mom came into the kitchen without him, but she told me to give him some time alone and he would come in when he was ready.
She handed me a stack of plates and utensils and told me to set the table.
There was no greeting, introduction or anything of the sort. She gave me a task and then went on about her business.
Kale did say it might take her some time to like me. I guess he was right.
“She’s got you setting the table? That’s bullshit. I’m her favorite. That’s my job.” Bird complained when he came in from the garage. “Mama! I thought you liked me the best!”
“God made you pretty so you didn’t have to think, son. Don’t hurt yourself.” I heard Martha’s retort from the kitchen and snorted with laughter.
Once I was finished with the table I walked back into the kitchen to find Martha trying to rub the now faint Sharpie marks off of Clem’s face.
“Mom! Do not lick your thumb and touch me with it again.” Clem tried to dodge but the little woman was too quick. “That is gross. Stop it.”
“What is that shit on your face?” She licked her thumb again and held his chin with her other hand. “It looks like some fool drew on you. Did you lose a bet?”
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jenna slip up the stairs quietly before her Mom caught sight of her. She had her hand over her mouth to smother her own laughter. I pulled my lips between my teeth to trying and disguise my smile.
“Did you see Daughtry’s face?” Clem asked her as he grabbed her shoulders and physically moved her away from him. “Did you attack him with your Mom spit?”
“I guess Daughtry showers more than once a month. He doesn’t have anything on his face.” Martha reached up and pinched Clem in the soft part under his bicep and he jumped away. “Get your laziness out of the kitchen before I burn something.”
I moved to sit in a chair at the island beside Bird. Clem sat down on my other side.
“Where is Daughtry?” Bird asked their Mom.
“He’s up there with your brother. Kale had an asthma attack and Daughtry is making sure he’s okay.” My eyes got wide and I turned my head to look at Bird. He shook his head and I looked down at my hands. “So, Ms. Terra. My son moved you into his house.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” I squeaked.
“Can you keep a house?”
“I think so. I mean, I’ve never, yes my Mom taught me how to...”
“What about cooking for him? These boys will starve if left to their own will. Can you cook?”
I looked from Bird to Clem and saw that neither of them had missed a meal recently, if ever. They were both smiling at my look of terror.
“No, Ma’am. I haven’t cooked anything in years.”
“Well, get in here then and I’ll show you a few things. I’ve got some recipes written down. We’ll go through them after dinner and you can copy some if you like. You’ll need to practice now so when the grand babies get here you don’t poison them.” She turned and looked at me for a second and then spun back around to the stove. “Well, come on then.”
I slid off the stool and walked around the island to stand next to Martha.
“Wash your hands, child. Use soap.”
I turned to the sink and saw Jameson leaned against the cabinet a few feet away with a beer in one hand. I mouthed the word ‘babies’ at him and he winked and tipped his head in my direction. I heard Bird snort behind me. Apparently, Martha did too.
“Bird grab the potato bin out of the pantry, please. Clem go find your sister. She thinks I don’t know she snuck upstairs.”
Both men jumped up at her words with a quick, “Yes, Ma’am.”
“My love. I’m about to expire. I need some kisses.” I turned to look at Smokey and saw a slow smile cross his face.
“We can’t have that, sweetheart, now can we?” He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as he dipped down and kissed her neck. “Let the girl stir the pot and I’ll go revive you.”
“Terra. Stir this occasionally and don’t let it burn. Tell the boys to peel and chunk those potatoes when they get back. I need to have a quick word with my husband.”
Martha walked out of the kitchen holding Smokey’s hand. They headed down the hall and I turned to find Bird sitting at the island behind me. He had a potato in one hand and a peeler in the other.
“Did they just go to...”
“They did.”
“But they’re, like….”
“They’re proof that you’re never too old.”
“And they….”
“All the time. All. The. Time.”
“Whoa.”
O-O-O
KALE
“I think dinner is almost ready if you want to go out with the family.” Daughtry was sitting on the side of the bed. He and I had been talking about nonsense for the last few minutes.
“She probably thinks I’m fucking crazy.”
“Nope. Not Terra. That girl’s a keeper. She handled that shit like a champ.” Daughtry stood up and walked to the door. “We need to get out there. You do realize that she’s been alone with Mama in the kitchen for about thirty minutes, right?”
“Oh, shit!” I jumped out of the bed and followed Daughtry out the door.
We walked into the kitchen to see Bird and Clem peeling potatoes and Jenna at the cutting board across from them dicing the ones they were finished with. Terra was standing at the stove stirring a pot.
I moved straight to Terra and when she saw me she put the long wooden spoon down on the cabinet and moved into my arms.
“Feel better?” She murmured into my chest.
“I do.” I kissed her on the top of her head. “Sorry about that, baby.”
“No apologies. I’m just glad we were so close to your parents’ house. And, now, I know we don’t talk about that again. Right?”
“Yeah. That would be okay with me.” I chuckled for a second. “Seems to not sit well with me.”
“I’m glad you’re okay now.” Terra tipped her head up for a kiss and after a few seconds I heard Bird interrupt us.
“Our parents already disappeared down the hall. At this rate we’re never gonna fucking eat.”
“Yeah. Your Mom and Dad went off to the back of the house a little bit ago. Bird said they do that a lot.” Terra blushed a little bit. “I think it’s kind of cute.”
“It’s so fucking gross. They’re like horny damn teenagers.” Jenna snorted. “Can’t keep their hands off each other.”
“At least this one will be a quickie. Mom knows she’s got food on the stove.” I leaned down and kissed Terra on the nose. “Word of advice. Don’t let Mama catch you in the kitchen stirring shit. She’s territorial.”
“Mama told Terra to stir it. Put her in charge of telling us what to do and everything.” Bird looked up from the potato he was peeling and stared at me.
The five of us understood the significance of that. Terra didn’t have any idea.
“Mom told you to stir?”
“Yeah. She said I need to learn to cook so you don’t waste away.” Terra pinched my side. “She said after dinner we could look at recipes and she’d let me copy some to try at home.”
I stared at Terra, stunned. I looked up to see all four of my siblings with the same look on their face.
“What?” Terra asked us as a group. “Is that a bad thing?”
“Even Dad’s not allowed past the island unless he’s invited. She invited you back there and is going to share her recipes with you. That’s fucking huge.” Jenna put the knife down and moved over to me. She threw her arms around me and squeezed me tight. “Aww. I’ve got a sister now!”
Terra giggled for a second until she realized that Jenna was serious.
“Really? She let me in? Just like that?” Terra looked up at me and I shrugged at her. “Aww. I kind of want to cry now.”
“She did mention grand babies. You might want to get on that shit. If you do, you’ll be her favorite forever and ever. No point in any of us bringing some woman home now. Mama’s found the one.” Bird finished the potato he was working on and handed it to Jenna. “Good thing too. I’m never having kids.”
“I think we’re a little too new to get on that right now. We haven’t even talked about kids. We’ll let you know.” I winked at Terra and she looked like she appreciated the save. “What are we having, anyway? I smell bread.”
“We’re having green chile chicken and potato soup with fresh sourdough bread and a salad.” Mom’s voice came from the hall behind us and I jumped out of the kitchen to stand behind Bird. We were serious when we told Terra that no one was allowed in there without express permission. Mom moved into the kitchen and stood next to Terra. “Good job, Terra. Now, we’re going to taste and season. Remember that we’re about to add the potatoes and they will leach a lot of that out. We’ll have to season again close to the end also.”
Mom turned around and pointed the spoon at all of us. “All of you out. Go visit with your father. Terra and I will call you when dinner’s ready.”
I looked at Terra and saw a mixture of fear and elation on her face. I winked at her and walked toward the back door with my Dad and siblings.
As I walked out the door I heard my Mom’s voice behind me telling Terra, “Here, honey. Taste this first. Now….”
O=O=O
Terra
“Your Mom is the sweetest thing. I mean sweet in a really fucking scary way. I have a feeling if she didn’t like me I would definitely know it. Like, I’d probably be in the bottom of a well somewhere, if she didn’t like me.” Kale and I had just left his parents’ house. The dogs were in the backseat, and there was a large bag of leftovers between my legs in the floorboard. “I need you to drop me off there on Sunday morning. She’s going to teach me how to make biscuits and bake bread.”
“No. Not a well. We’re not that kind of people. Water around her is too precious. There are other options.” My eyes snapped over to Kale and he laughed at the look on my face. “Yes. She likes you. I’m so fucking glad. You have no idea how glad I am. Mom can be difficult sometimes.”
“She loves you so much.” As we left his parents’ house along with his brothers and sister, Martha had reached up and touched each of her children’s faces before she kissed them and told them to be careful. When she did the same thing to me I had to choke back tears as I walked away from her. It was good to feel a Mom’s love, even if she wasn’t my own. “You guys are lucky to have her.”
“We are. You ready to head to work?”
“What about the dogs? We can’t leave them in here!”
“Of course not. They stay in my office with me. We’ll take them in the back door and through the dressing rooms. The girls will fawn all over them and they’ll be covered in glitter by the time we get upstairs. Rolo and Leon love coming to work with me.”
“Aww. I like that you can take your dogs to work with you.”
“When you go to work without me, like to one of the other bars or whatever, I’ll have you take Leon with you.” Kale reached over and took my hand. “If I’m not with you, one of them will be. Along with one of my brothers. Having a woman around is new to us. We talked about it while you were in the kitchen with Mom.”
“Okay. I guess. I don’t think I need a keeper.”
“No, you don’t. But there are people out there that don’t like me or my club. Having you around gives them leverage. So, you’ll have someone with you all the time. Jenna and Mom will too from now on.”
“Sounds like a plan. So, when do you go to your club?”
Kale laughed for a second. “It’s not quite like that. Yeah, I’ll run by there now and again, but the everyday stuff is left to Daughtry and Clem. They live there. We have meetings once a week and you can come with me and just watch television or whatever while we’re in church. It would probably be better if you were at home though because you might not be comfortable there.”
