Lucky Forever - Cee Bowerman Page 0,47
the girls.
“Can we?” Leia asked.
“I don’t see a problem with it,” I shrugged. “Works for me.”
Both girls squealed and bounced in their seats and I just shook my head and got out of the big truck. I waited at the hood for them to join me and then walked between them up to the front doors of the store.
We had picked them up from Grunt’s house last night soon after Marcus left. Rowdy and I had s’mores with Grunt’s family and then the four of us walked together back across the field to his house. Our house.
We sat the girls down and told them what was going on. I saw the relief in Lexi’s face when I told her Jackson was dead and could never hurt us again. And then I saw the worry on Leia’s face when we told her that her mother was out of prison.
“Sometime later, can I call you ‘Mom’?” Leia asked me out of the blue.
“Honey, you can call me whatever you want.”
“I want to call you Mom so that everyone will quit calling that woman my mother.”
“It’s just what she’s called because she’s the one that gave birth to you, baby,” I said as I stopped and turned to look at Leia. “It’s just a title, like sir or ma’am. If it makes you feel better, we can just start calling her by name.”
“Voldemort.” Lexi said as she came to stand beside Leia. “She’s your Voldemort.”
Leia laughed at Lexi and I was glad to see her mood lighten.
“She who shall not be named,” I told them. “We’ll just talk about her in Harry Potter references from now on.”
“So, she’s from Slytherin,” Lexi decided. “I think I’m a Hufflepuff.”
“I’m definitely Ravenclaw,” Leia declared. “I think our parents are both Gryffindor.”
I held the door open for the girls and waited on them to go through as I listened to them talk about their friends and what ‘house’ they would be in if they were characters in the series. I glanced up and saw that Kari, Carlie, and Lisa were all here and they had a rack of dresses waiting for me.
“Did you get my message?” Kari asked, sounding worried. “I am so sorry, Sierra, but I needed that apartment for the new girl; she’s in a really bad way. I knew you’d be moving out, I just had to hurry you along.”
“You packed up all my shit and knowing you, it’s all wrapped and folded perfectly,” I laughed. “I don’t have to pack anything at all now and you think I’d be upset about that? I don't think so.”
“I’m so glad you understand,” Kari told me with relief. “I just didn’t want to have to send her away. She’ll be here tomorrow evening, so I’ll get your furniture and dishes out tonight and then we’ll bring them all out to your new house next week.”
“Leave the dishes and the furniture,” I told her. “I got all of it second hand and I don’t have any sentimental attachment to any of it. Let her start with it or add it to your stash of stuff you keep for those who don’t have anything.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive,” I smiled and hugged my friend. “Rowdy’s house is full and I’ll find things I love to add to it over time. I don't need any of that furniture, even Lexi’s stuff can stay. As a matter of fact, we’re meeting Rowdy at the furniture store when we leave here so we can get new stuff for both girls rooms and a new mattress for us.”
“Thank you, Sierra,” Kari told me. “That’s very generous of you. Are you ready to see your dresses?”
“I am,” I admitted. “I’m excited. It’s finally getting real, you know?”
“Rowdy is a good man and you know I don’t say that lightly coming from the situations we do. He’s one of the good ones.”
Carlie, Sarah, and Lisa walked up, all three of them with champagne glasses in their hands.
“Did you know that they give you complimentary champagne while you shop for a wedding dress?” Carlie asked Kari and I. When Kari nodded, Carlie continued, “Why is this the first time we’ve heard about this?”
“We eloped, you igmo,” Lisa giggled.
“Igmo?” Sarah raised a brow. “Is that a word?”
“I wanted to say dumbass, but Brighten is picking up everything we say. If I quit cussing, I can blame every swear word she says on either Zeke or Kale, so I’m inventing new ones.”
“That sounds like an ingenious plan,” Carlie looked like