The Squad

“Incoming boss.” The same guy opened the door again just as the Flanagans entered the room. On the monitor, I watched as my kid met theirs for the first time. The two little girls hugged like long lost friends before mine took the other’s hand and dragged her to the house. I’m not sure about that alliance, but no one else seemed too worried. Then again, they don’t know my kid like I do, and I’m not sure about this Lily-Anna. If she’s anything like her mom, then we’re fucked.

KAT

“The men seem kind of distracted to you?”

“When are they not distracted? If you ask me, it works perfectly with what we have to do.”

“I’m not sure Ginger-Lee; it seems a bit risky right now, don’t you think?”

“What’s risky, Illyana? Look, now is the perfect time. Look, who’s not pregnant among us has just given birth, what exactly are you afraid they’ll do to us?”

“She’s got a point, and besides, I told you, your dad is throwing his hat in the ring to run for president. If we don’t do this now, it might be another four or eight years before you get the chance again. Do you really want to wait that long?” Illyana looked down at her baby girl and kissed her curly hair.

“No, I really don’t, I’d like him to meet her. I didn’t have him in my life; I’m not even sure he’d want me, want us, but…”

My heart was breaking for her. It seems every time we get close to a solution where her dad was concerned, something else cropped up. This latest pebble might be the biggest obstacle we’ve faced so far, though.

There’s a good chance that with her dad, who doesn’t even know she exists running for office, security around him will be tighter than it was when he was just a senator. It’s hard enough trying to get to him now even by phone, but if he should run and win, it might be damn near impossible.

I feel kind of guilty since I’m the one more or less who has been keeping them back from going forward with their plans, but I know my husband and, by extension, his friends. If we don’t do this right, there’d be hell to pay. Not to mention we stand the chance of screwing over the senator if things don’t go as planned.

It’s times like these I wish my husband were less… just less than he is. The man hasn’t changed one bit in all the years we’ve been married. No, that’s not quite accurate. He’s changed, alright but for the worst. I’ve never seen anyone so set in his ways. He claims that the reason he dragged me, our kids, and both sets of parents here along with Cy is because of the pandemic, but we were all perfectly safe at home, so I’m not buying it.

Add the fact that he’s been shut up behind closed doors with his pals since the minute we got here, and I’m doubly sure something else is going on. I can’t ask Catalina to spy on them again because they’re onto her tricks, and Colt threatened to tan my hide the next time I do it, so there’s that.

“I don’t think we have to worry about them for the next little while.” We all looked at Cierra, who was feeding her baby daughter. She didn’t look like someone who’d given birth not too long ago.

Her body was almost back to its original shape, her skin glowed with health, and her hair and nails looked like she’d just walked out of a salon. Colton wouldn’t hear of me going to get anything done, not even when they loosened up and let some places open in our town.

“Why do you say that?” Illyana asked as she put her own daughter over her shoulder to burp.

“I gave Hank something to sink his teeth in just before you all arrived. I’m pretty sure he and the guys will be too busy to worry about us and what we’re getting into. As long as we all keep our cool and not give anything away.”

All eyes went to Dana-Sue, who squirmed in her seat. “I don’t know why you guys are looking at me? It’s best if you don’t tell me anything because Law always finds a way to get it out of me.” From the way her cheeks reddened, I’m thinking we all knew his modus operandi.

Poor thing, I can’t help her there because Colt is pretty much the same. “But you should be safe; you just had the kid.” Melissa, her sister in law, piped up as she rubbed her tummy.

“Yeah, but my six weeks ended yesterday,

and he’s already been dropping hints.”

“Oh shit!” That was Susie, Cord’s wife’s take on the situation.

The whole room erupted in laughter, and even Danielle, the most reserved of the bunch, was nodding her head in understanding. It’s a shame that all these grown women, myself included, were victims of the same thing—asshole husbands with way too much testosterone.