“If everyone would let me get to a table I will, but I’m not setting you down until then. You’ve been through too much shit and need to keep up your strength,” Peirce grumbles, pushing his way forward and finally plants my rear in a chair as Ela places the bowl in front of me.
“Shoo, Pit, let me talk with my daughter while you go do what you need to. Carson why don’t you go get your gramps and show him what you were telling me about. I know nothing about skateboarding,” Ela states waving them away.
“Okay, Grams,” Carson says already turning on his heel heading to Peirce’s dad who was grinning at my son.
God, I feel like the worst mother in the world for denying my son, as well as his father and grandparents, this opportunity for so long.
“Tiny, Nora, Brielle, why don’t you join us?” Ela suggests then turns to look at me. “I’d ask Faith, but she wasn’t feeling well, and Axel took her home.
Um, okay? “Is she okay?” I ask.
“Oh yes, just nearing time for her to have the baby,” Ela says smiling. “I swear it’s been so long since we had kids here and now they’re multiplying. Pitch Black, shoo now,” she says using her mom voice. I remember her using it when she needed to be stern with Peirce or his sister.
Tilting my head back, I meet Peirce’s eyes as he turns his focus from glaring at his mom to meet my gaze. “Eat,” he commands and turns on his heel and heads to his brothers as the girls take seats at the table.
“Now that I’ve gotten my overbearing son away for a few minutes. Eat while we chat,” Ela commands using the same tone with me.
Gingerly, I lean forward and take the first bite of heaven. God, I have not had sancocho soup in what feels like forever or rather since the last time Ela made it for me. Closing my eyes, I savor the taste.
“When was the last time you ate?” Tiny asks. “You look so much thinner than the last time I saw you.
Bowing my head, I try not to let the embarrassment take over. I knew I’d lost a lot of weight, but to have it pointed out hurts.
“Tiny,” Nora says with a slight warning.
“Sorry, it’s just that I know what it’s like to not eat and what it does to your body. I just want to make sure you’re okay,” Tiny murmurs softly.
Lifting my head, I notice the sincerity in her eyes.
“I don’t eat but a slice of bread most of the time,” I admit mutedly.
“Angelina, child, you cannot do that to yourself. My son has been hurting for far too long and to see the colors surrounding him not diminished, makes my heart soar,” Ela states, reaching out to hold my hand.
The four of them remain silent for a few moments after Ela’s words. While I finish eating the soup, she’d made for me, I let her words about Peirce sink in. The four of them converse between each other allowing me to have this time. Glancing over my shoulder I look to see Peirce standing there talking with Chains, Breaker, and Tyres. He must sense me staring at him. Lifting his head, he gives me a jerk of his chin in acknowledgment.
“Oh lord, the strays are coming out of their corner,” Brielle mutters, drawing my attention back to the women sitting with me.
“Ugh they better behave themselves. My kids are asleep and I’m trying to have a nice time since I’m not exhausted for a change,” Tiny grumbles, her eyes narrowing.
“Don’t worry about those women. Those women are nothing but woody-stuffers.” My eyes widen in surprise at Ela’s blatant words. Glancing from her to the other women, we all burst into a fit of giggles.
“Woody-stuffers? That’s a good one,” Nora giggles.
“I’m going to have to use that one. Like ooo baby you want to stuff your woody inside.” Brielle laughs, shaking her head.
“No, wait here you go. Woody needs the stuffing so open up and let him in,” Tiny says in a fit of giggles.
“Oh my God, that is too hilarious.” I laugh, then wince at the pain in my rib cage. “Woody-stuffers or better yet poker-holes. I mean you get a bad hand in poker you’re going down the hole.” At this all four of the women sitting with me burst into laughter all over again.
“Now that’s also a good one,” Tiny says wiping her eyes as tears fill them.
“What’s going on over here?” Chains asks, brushing his fingers through his ol’ lady’s hair.
We’d been laughing so hard none of us saw the men approach our table.
“Oh nothing, we’re just joking about poker-holes and woody-stuffers.” Tiny giggles setting us all off again.
“What the fuck is a woody-stuffer and poker-hole?” Peirce asks then holds up a hand. “Wait, I do not want to know. I think I’ve got it.”
“You want me to be your woody-stuffer?” Nora jokes looking up at her ol’ man, Breaker.
“Fuckin’ hell, woman. You all are going to ruin stuffing for me by saying shit like that. Then again, I am famished,” Breaker says, leaning forward he lifts Nora out of her seat and throws her over his shoulder. “Time for you and me to go play hide down the rabbit hole.” As Breaker says this, he sets off another round of laughter along with chuckles from the men.
“Okay, on a real note. Angelina would you like me to take Carson to our house for the night so you can rest?” Ela asks, sobering me up.
“Um, I suppose. As long as Carson’s up for it. He’s never stayed away from me unless it was a night I had to work,” I say, clasping my hands in my lap.
“It’s understandable he’s never done that before. You didn’t have the support you have now, and you could use a night of sleep not having to worry about if your son is going to be taken from
