Chapter 44
They opened the doors and there was a line of people who crowded in. Half of it was the MC, but the other half are Kim’s long-time customers. After about thirty minutes Ginger came over to Kim.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
“Ok so I already got the first two weeks booked. I know you said only walk ins today, but some are begging to make an appointment to make sure you get them in today.” Ginger replied.
“Just tell them to sign in, and I will get to them. But 7pm is my cut off. No names added after that. As that time frame will put me in here till probably midnight.” Kim explained.
“Ok boss.” Ginger replied.
“Please. Just Kim.” Kim pleaded.
“You can call me boss.” Ice grinned.
Kim smacked him in the chest shaking her head no.
“Hey, don’t get funny with my Old lady!” I. T. warned.
“Ok enough! I gotta get back to hair. Now all of you scoot and make yourself useful. Help Ginger with customers and help make them comfortable while they wait. We’re gonna be here awhile!” Kim commanded.
“I’ll get the drinks.” Raine offered.
“I’ll get the snacks.” Sam chimed in.
“I’ll entertain the ladies.” Smokey laughed.
“And tonight, at the bar, I’ll entertain the guys.” Sam warned.
“Babe! I was just kidding.” Smokey replied.
“I wasn’t.” Sam retorted.
“Ah, come on babe, you know I was just joking.” Smokey pleaded.
Sam walked away with Smokey following behind her pleading with her. The others just look at each other. Everyone hung around to help out except for Raine. Her pregnancy was making her tired and Jax refused to let her stay long.
Kim finally finished her last client after 11pm. She sat down in one of the office chairs. Ice was sitting behind the desk.
“Dang, I’m out of shape! My feet and back are killing me.” Kim stated rubbing one of her feet. “And thanks for all the cleanup. I’d be here for another hour cleaning up if you hadn’t got it done.”
“It was the least we could do. Besides, I want my woman home in our bed asap!” Ice growled.
“Any word from Raine? When she left earlier, she was complaining with her back hurting. I worry its beginning labor signs. I had warned her to just come and sit. I specifically told her that was the only way I’d allow her to come.” Kim replied.
“Jax said she took a bath and went to bed early but was fine.” Ice replied.
“She only has a couple weeks to go. So really she could go anytime now.” Sam explained.
“Yeah. Jax is on edge.” Ice explained.
“I am so glad I am closed tomorrow. I need it to recover!” Sam laughed.
“I’ll massage all your aching parts when we get home. And even a few on the non-aching ones.” Ice grinned.
“That sounds nice. Let’s go.” Kim replied.
RAINE AND JAX A week later.
“Jax! Wake up! Jax! Did you hear me?” Raine shouted.
“What? What time is it?” Jax asked.
“It’s a little after 6am.” Raine replied.
“I don’t go to church till 8. Let me sleep a little longer.” Jax groaned.
“Fine. You stay here and sleep. And I’ll go to the hospital and have our child by myself.” Raine huffed.
“What? You’re in labor? Why didn’t you say that?” Jax jumped up out of bed.
“Well, I’m too damn old to wet the bed!” Raine replied.
“Ok, ok I got this. Get dressed. I’ll get the bags and the truck.” Jax replied while running into the closet.
“NO! We are taking the Buick.” Raine retorted.
“Before you’re released, I’ll switch out the truck with the Buick to bring you both home.” Jax replied happy with himself.
“Ok fine. I guess you want amniotic fluid all over your cloth truck seats right? My seats are leather.” Raine grinned to herself.
“Buick it is.” Jax agreed.
He grabs their stuff and put it in the Buick. He came back to the bedroom and found Raine sitting on the bed on her cell phone.
“Ah baby? Shouldn’t you be changed, and we be going?” Jax asked.
“Yes. I just had to send out a text to my girls. You want to text the brothers?” Raine asked.
“Baby we need to go. I ain’t delivering no baby! I’ll text after we get to the hospital!” Jax assured her.
He picked her up and carried her to the SUV. They got to the hospital and got in a room. A little over seven hours later, their son came into the world screaming his lungs out.
“Meet baby Maverick.” Raine told everyone who’s in her room later.
“Oh my God! Come to aunty Kim!” Kim cried.
“No! Aunty Sam!” Sam argued.
“Ah, Kim? Don’t get any ideas, ok?” Ice asked skittishly.
“Oh shush! I’ve got my hands full with the salon, too much going on getting it up and running to even go there yet.” Kim assured him. “Or have you forgot the ten-hour days I’m putting in?”
“Sam? You got any ideas? Making them is lots of fun.” Smokey laughed.
“We can have that same fun without making one.” Sam smirked.
When they were ready to go home, Raine dressed baby Maverick in a black onesie, with black leather looking pants and a small black fake leather jacket.
“Where in the world did you find that jacket that small? And are those leggings you put on my son?” Jax demanded.
“No, Jax. They’re baby cloth pants.” Raine explained.
“Uh huh, not convinced.” Jax grumbled.
It’s been six months and the salon was a major hit. Kim had to hire two more stylists as she couldn’t keep up. She was working twelve-hour days six days a week and still couldn’t keep up with the demand.
“I think I’m going to have to hire another stylist and a receptionist. Since Ginger got her license, she’s been staying booked up with nail appointments. And someone is having to constantly stop working on a client to answer the phone and make appointments.” Kim explained.
Ice groaned. “You are so picky it took you forever to hire last time. But you’re right. I’ve noticed you haven’t been able to do walk ins for a while now.”
“I have to be picky. It’s my name on the line. My reputation.” Kim huffed.
“But babe, you take picky to a whole new level! I mean three months! That’s how long it took to find Sherry and Celeste.” Ice explained.
“And look how great they turned out! Perfect fit, and they are both very talented!” Kim replied.