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1685 Words
She woke the next morning to Lukas’s gentle coaxing her awake. She looked up in worry, "Lukas, what's going on?"
"The girls are here," he whispered as he helped her get dressed.
Stilling as he did up the last button on the back of the bodice, she twisted to look at him, "You're not coming?"
He looked her over, contemplating the need for him to intrude on her hard-won freedom. Her teal eyes shimmered in the lamplight as he rubbed his hands over her arms. “No. I promised I would babysit Kennedy’s son, Francis, while you guys were gone. By the way, here’s a quick rundown of the team dynamics. See, we’re like one big, happily dysfunctional family, so all the kids call me Uncle Lukas. I get that you're nervous about being in a new place, but I know you're in good hands with the girls." He told her.
Kissing the top of her nose, he moved over to his desk, and picked up a plate. “Here, eat up. I cooked breakfast while you were sleeping. By the way, we’re going to need to sit down with Mark and Dad to iron out house chores now that you’re here. We all take turns with everything. Today is my day to cook, dad’s day to change the trash, and Markus’s day to sweep and mop. Until we hash out the responsibility chart, just help where you can.”
“Okay.” A small, shy smile curved her lips upwards as she started eating. He grinned, watching her cut into the piece of ham he'd fried up with some eggs and toast.
"Don't force yourself to eat more than you can," he reminded her. Gathering her hair, he gently ran a brush through it before letting it cascade down her back. "I have a present for you, too. Something I said you would need."
She sighed, not knowing what to do with herself now that she'd come this far. She looked up as a small shadow darkened the doorway moment after Lukas left. Standing there was a tiny dark-skinned boy with big brown eyes. His little arms were locked tightly around a stuffed bear that was almost as big as he was.
"Well, hello," she murmured, setting the box in her hands aside. "What's your name?"
"Fwancis," he said with a toothy grin.
Giggling at how adorably cute he was, she pat the bed beside her. "Ah, yes. Lukas told me about you. Call me Anna, okay?"
"Uh, Oncle Lukas is really nice. Um, why are you in his woom?" The boy asked as he crawled up onto the bed and snuggled into her side.
"I'm his wife." She answered cautiously, unsure of how much the boy understood about the world around him.
"Oh," the child commented. "Mommy is Daddy's wife, too. She gets weally mad when Daddy messes things up. So if you are Oncle Lukie’s wife, are you my new Auntie?”
As she went to answer him, his eyes spotted the brightly-wrapped gift beside the woman. He pointed to the box, his eyes mischievously bright. “Is that a present from Oncle Lukas? Let’s open it!"
Happily indulging the child, she slowly pulled the ribbon off the box. Lifting the cover, she spotted a brand new phone.
Picking up the device, Francis opened the flip phone, and started pressing numbers. She stared at him in confusion as he called someone. "Hi, Mommy! Now you have Auntie Anna's number. No, I'm in Oncle Lukas's woom."
Not even a minute later, the red-head from the day before stopped in the doorway. "Francis! I told you – oh! Crap. Another dress-wearer. Do you wear pants or jeans at all?"
Johanna replied. "I'm not even sure how to shop for myself, but he told me that you and the others would help."
"Oh, we will," Kennedy answered. "I’ll be keeping Sky in line with Luke’s usually tastes. Francis, go eat your pancakes.”
"I'm not hungwy, Mommy."
"Then eat it later. You are not wasting food," the woman said sternly.
******
A few hours later, Kennedy groaned as Skylar launched into another gushing fit over what she called a cute little nightie. "Sky, stop it. You know what Luke is like."
"Johanna," the woman named Andromeda giggled. "I'm a conservative person, but that negligee really would drive him wild in the bedroom."
Grunting in agreement, Skylar hauled a few more pieces off the racks around her and grinned.
Johanna pointed to the mini-skirt in Skylar's hand as she shook her head, "I won't wear anything that doesn't cover much."
"Oh, but-"
"Back off, Sky," Kennedy snapped. "Hey, Anna, want to grab lunch? My treat."
Biting her lip again, she looked down at herself and sobbed. Her current clothes weren't as flashy as the other three women, and she felt out of place in her dirndl. "Can I wear a different outfit?"
Andromeda laughed as she hooked her arm in Johanna's, "Of course, you can! Come on, let's pay for this, so you can change in one of the dressing rooms. Oh, I know! We can all get our hair and nails done today!"
Kennedy grunted, shaking her head as she complained about girlie-girls. "I'll cover lunch if you cover us getting pampered, Rom. Sky?"
"I'm game." The brunette woman laughed.
Turning to Johanna, Kennedy said, "What about you? Willing to get pampered on your hubby’s dime?"
Uncertain, but happy she was being included, Johanna nodded. As promised, except for the scattered phone call to see how she was doing, Lukas didn't try to take back the new-found freedom he'd gifted her.
While waiting their turn at the salon, she stared at the phone in her hands, her eyes tracing the name ‘Storm’ in her contact list, knowing it was Lukas’s code name. When she’d asked the girls how to use it, they added their numbers to the growing list, but under their mafia-issued code names rather than their real ones.
"Earth to Johanna," Kennedy waved her hand in front of her face. "Where did you go? Sky asked if Lukas hurt you last night."
Johanna's face felt like it was on fire as she blushed bright red. The faint scent of lavender from the salon products drifted around her, adding to her sensory overload. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she shook her head. "W-we were too tired to... I mean, he..."
"Hey, it's cool. I get the gist of it, so no worries," Kennedy murmured soothingly, her voice as calming as the soft music playing in the background. "So you're both virgins, who cares? I'm guessing he promised to wait until you were ready. It’s his normal method, so it’s not surprising."
Johanna couldn't help but feel a surge internal strength and gratitude for her new friends. She glanced around, noticing the soothing pastel colors of the salon and the pleasant floral scent filling the air. It was a stark contrast to the anxiety she’d felt earlier.
The manager walked over, "Mrs. Callumsson, your father-in-law just called. He ordered a full beauty treatment for the four of you. He said it was a wedding present for Mrs. Roberts. Is there anything that you ladies don't want to have done?"
"I should have known that my father-in-law would pull something like this. Fine. We’ll take whatever you offer, Marcy," Andromeda said with a wave of her hand.
"Is Callum really this kind?" Johanna asked as she tried to understand the man she’d met the day before.
"Like his father, he loves spoiling women and children," Skylar commented as she told the manager she wanted a facial as well. "Ooh, Johanna, you should get one, too! It's really relaxing, and leaves your face soft and clean."
Not wanting to make a decision without his input, she called Lukas. She frowned when he didn't pick up, but Kennedy, her voice dripping with humour, told her to give him time.
"My son can be a handful, so just wait a moment. He'll call back." The red-head advised.
Sure enough, her phone rang a few minutes later. The name storm flashed on the screen and she felt her heart ache for his comforting embrace. "Lukas?"
"Sorry that I missed your call, but I had to give Francis a bath," Lukas groaned. "He spilled juice all over himself. Did you need something?"
She bit her lip, "Would you mind if I cut my hair? Um, the manager here told us that Callum is paying for it."
"Hey, if Cal's footing the bill, go for it."
"Are you sure?"
The line went quiet, and she heard him take a breath before he spoke again. "Johanna, listen carefully to me. hold to your boundaries, but do whatever you like, okay? You do not, in any way, need my permission to trim or style your hair. It’s your body, your choice, my sweet girl. Did you get yourself some clothes?"
"Um, yeah," she answered. "Kennedy made sure Skylar didn't go overboard, then we all went to lunch at a cute little bistro."
"That's why I wanted her to go with you. Kenni’s stubborn, and won't let Sky have her way with anything. Shoot! Honey, I got to go tend to Francis, so you have some fun, okay?"
Again, Johanna hesitated, "Lukas, when do I have to be back?"
"Whenever; it doesn't matter. You're safe with the girls, so just go have fun, relax, and enjoy yourself." He told her before disconnecting the call.
Kennedy watched as Johanna put her phone away. She'd heard most of the conversation, but seeing the young woman having to ask for Lukas’s consent had her by the proverbial lady-balls. "Hey, are you okay? You know you don't need to ask him for approval, right? I mean, it was a nice gesture, but he won’t care."
Johanna nodded, "I had to ask permission for everything back home, and Lukas knows this. I think it’s why he is so patient with me."
"No, that's just Lukas being himself," Andromeda laughed. "He's always patient with women and kids."
- Writer
