Chapter 317: New House
*I just want to give the girls a normal life. OK. Normal for us. – Pagan*
Pagan’s lease was up and the buyer for Cookie’s flip house fell through. It was a perfect match. And the girls each had their own room.
*That* was worth everything to Pagan. The three years difference was becoming more and more like the Grand Canyon with every year. Their difference in personalities resembled the Marianas Trench. With the Grand Canyon inside.
He didn’t remember his siters fighting this much. Then again, Ciara never took a pair of scissors and magic markers to Samara’s Barbie doll’s hair. And Samara never had to retaliate by putting Monster High dolls in the oven a la Hansel and Gretel.
At least his girls were creative.
Pagan just hoped that the turn of the century Queen Anne in the historic district of Monroe was still standing when they moved out. Alyssa declared that they were moving into the Addams Family mansion. Ashlyn thought that it was a palace. He was just hoping for no bloodshed.
The old carriage house had been converted into a two-bedroom apartment that Cookie and Karan were living in. The east side of the street was residential only. The west side was residential and commercial.
And the historic district had strict guidelines on what could be done. Outside colors, ornaments and even plants had to fall in line. It wasn’t so bad as living in an HOA. But it wasn’t far from it.
Paint colors had to be approved. Replacement windows had to meet certain specifications. The wrought iron fence and gate had to be approved. Even the electric front porch lights had to look like turn of the century gas lanterns.
From what Cookie had told Pagan, it was even worse on the west side. Signs for businesses had to be time period appropriate. Unless they were grandfathered in before the rules were updated in 1976.
Across the street from them was a large parking lot that belonged to the old funeral home. Cookie and his crew were finishing up on that one. He had raved about the little fiery owner. Karan loved the woman too.
“Not like that.” Karan had quickly clarified “Not going to say no if she offered, though.”
Pagan had laughed as his girls kept asking Karan if she was OK. Fanning herself because of illicit thoughts about their soon-to-be neighbor quickly turned into embarrassment.
“Oh! Are you going through the change?” Ashlyn asked and every male in the house abandoned ship.
“Our grandmother gets hot because of the change.” Alyssa added. “It doesn’t look like much fun. I’m staying just the way I am.”
Pagan sat at the table holding his stomach from laughter. He was certain that Karan was plotting his death, but he really didn’t care. This was a moment that he didn’t want to miss. All his club brothers suddenly found somewhere else to be. Even Cookie left his wife on her own.
“No, girls.” Karan said as she watched all the men disappear out of the kitchen. “I am not going through the change.”
“Are you sure?” Ashlyn asked. “Grandma is and she gets hot like that.”
Pagan stifled a laugh as he too made a quick exit and headed for the front porch.
“I’m sure.” Karan replied as she guided both girls out behind their dad. “I’m too young for the change.”
“I don’t want to change.” Ashlyn declared as she sat down in the porch swing. Pagan made a mental note to lower the swing a little bit. “I’m going to stay the same forever.”
“Not me. I’m going to grow up and marry Cooper.” Alyssa declared.
Celt slapped Pagan on the shoulder, “Let me know when you want me to drop the bridegroom off.”
“Don’t get to confident, last week it was Colton.” Pagan warned.
“Wouldn’t be the first poly in the family.” Sticks pointed out with a grin.
“What’s a poly?” Alyssa asked Karan.
“Don’t worry.” Karan smiled at Pagan. “Your daddy will explain it all to you. The birds and the bees and everything else.”
Yeah, he caught the evil gleam in her eyes. Pagan was a dead man walking. He also knew that every time his mother was around and had a hot flash, he would remember this moment and would probably bust out laughing.
And at the same time, Karan reminded him of the conversations that he was not looking forward to. Alyssa was already starting to ask questions. Her teacher last year advised that he get ready for them. Even recommended some books and websites.
The schools did not cover sexuality until sixth grade. By then, half the girls had already started their periods. And Pagan knew that his daughter would be one of those.
Not just because he was a single dad who didn’t know how the female body worked. Although, he had learned a lot in the last year and could answer most of their questions.
But he knew she was approaching her period because his daughter had gone into the fourth grade wearing a bra.
Which is why when Cookie offered the house, right next to him and Karan, Pagan took it. She had already taken Ashlyn to get bras. He also knew that he couldn’t expect her, or any of the other old ladies, to raise his girls.
And now, after a long day of moving, he was happy to sit on the couch with his girls and watch a movie. He had an arm around each of his girls as they snuggled against him, half asleep already.
They each had his wavy light brown hair and their mothers almond shaped eyes. Alyssa wore a t-shirt with a unicorn skeleton and matching pajama pants. Ashlyn wore a pink nightgown with hearts and rainbows.
Kissing the top of their heads, he toed off his boots and propped his feet on the coffee table. His cut for the Devil’s Saints hung by the back door. He wore jeans and a dark red t-shirt. If he’d known that this was how they’d end their night, he would have changed into sweatpants.
As Luke and Leigha fought to save the galaxy, the three of them drifted off to sleep.
