Trailer Park Princess (20 page)

Work is wonderful as always. After shooting off a few witty texts to Mando, I spend the rest of the day on busy work. Tomorrow is Saturday, and I am excited. We plan to take everyone to Pizza House tomorrow. It’s been forever since we all went out as a group. It just costs so much to feed so many kids, and then, at a place like Pizza House, you have to get tokens for games. The place is a money pit. Denver starts school soon, and this is the one thing he requested for his birthday, so we saved enough money to make it worthwhile. I finish filling the napkin holders and return them to the tables. “See you guys on Monday. Call me if you need anything,” I holler through the cook window as I untie my apron. I’m ready to get to my kiddos. It’s been weird not having them hustling around here today. Rome rarely gets a Friday afternoon off.

The night turns out to be a quiet one. The little ones have crashed already, and Thax is at his friend’s house. He rarely stays away from home, so it’s extra quiet. He is usually stuck up Rome’s butt these days. I can only assume it’s because Rome is the only father figure he’s ever had, always teaching him how to do things and the proper way to handle certain situations with the opposite sex. I laughed so hard when Thax told me he had a crush on a girl. He is still my baby brother, after all. Rome pulled him to the side, shooting me a nasty, scornful look, and the next thing I knew they were high fiving and laughing. I got a good fussing at over it later that night, and he was right. Thax needs to know he can talk to us about things like that so we don’t end up raising a kid of his, too, for him to finish school. It’s hard to believe he is getting curious about sex already, but it was bound to happen eventually.

(Pizza get’cha pizza here)             

With all six of us piled into the Tahoe, we pull into the Pizza House parking lot. The little ones ar
e squealing with excitement. “OK, before we go in, we need to go ahead and get a few things straight,” I say, turning to look at them over the passenger seat. “First, what kinds of pizza do we all want?” I am overwhelmed by all the answers being screamed at me. I hold up my hand. “Hang on, guys. OK, raise your hand if you want cheese? OK, now, who wants pepperoni?” I write it down and look over at Rome “We OK to get both? I mean, you know I just want a slice of regular bacon; that’s it.”

Rome smiles and nods his head. “We can have whatever we want tonight. I’ve saved for a while.” Then, he winks at me, and I think I just melted to the seat. How did I never notice how beautiful he is?

Turning back to the kids, I say, “OK, now in order,” I point at Rio, “What do you want to drink?” I get requests for two root beers, one Diet Coke, and a chocolate milk before I am scared to death by the pop at the window. I jump back around and look out the window, seeing Clay standing outside it wearing a shit-eating grin. “Gesh, Clay, you ‘bout made me pee my pants!” I say with a soft laugh. “What are you doing here?” He does the roll down motion with his hand, and I laugh again.
DUH, Rory!
I roll down the window.

“Rome said you were doing a like birthday/big school celebration, so I wanted to hang out with you
guys. He thought it would be OK.”

I turn back to Rome, who is wearing his own cheeky grin. “Of cou
rse it’s OK,” I say with a smile. And into the building we go…all seven of us.

“The noise is so loud,” I say to a giggling Saige. She loves the lights and games. I look over and see Clay helping Denver start up one of the driving games. Searching a little further, I see Thax and Rio with two big helmets on their heads in a fighting machine. I smile. These kids will be on cloud nine for days. They don’t have a hard life, but they sure don’t get all the stuff other kids do. They are grateful all the same. I see Rome at the counter with a tray, so I round up all the kids. “Time to eat,” I say to each set as Saige and I pass them. We all pile into a big, red vinyl booth. Rome sets the tray down and turns to go grab the drinks.

“Pass out their plates. I’ll be right back with the sodas,” he says as he leans down to kiss the top of my head. Then, he’s gone. All the kids are giddy and laughing, playing around. Clay takes a plate and slides it around as each kid calls out his order. Once everyone has a plate, I set Rome’s down at his seat. Where is he? I turn towards the counter and see him talking to a guy. I can’t make out who it is because his back is to me, but I’d know the girl anywhere. Why is Rome chatting with Ashley? Clay must notice, too, because he breaks into my thoughts, asking,“Why’s Rome talking to Zac?” I turn to look at Clay, then back at Rome and realize it
is
Zac. That’s weird…

(Rome)

I turn with my tray full of drinks. The whole family is having a blast, and it warms my heart to see them so content. Rory makes a wonderful mom to the four pod, even if she doesn’t see herself as that. She is the only mom they know, though. I am so entranced by the scene I nearly slam right into the guy behind me. “Sorry, man,” I say and move to step around him.

“Hey, I know you. You’re Rome, right?” He sticks his hand out, and I look down at the tray as explanation for not returning the gesture.

“Yeah, who are you?”

He drops his hand and steps a little closer. “Name’s Zac.” I don’t know the name,
 but I do know the girl at his side. Ashley has been a thorn in Rory’s side for years. She doesn’t look up, so I don’t acknowledge her. It’s for the best because I may just give her a piece of my mind if she tries to spoil our night. I hear the kids laugh, and I look over to see Clay making a funny face behind his pizza.

“Look, I gotta get the kids’ drinks over.” I turn to walk off, but Zac’s next words stop me in my tracks.

“You know, it’s funny you don’t know me when I know everything about you. Bum from the park, a couple kids with no mom, not to mention you were fucking my best friend’s girl behind his back…You’re a real piece of work, bro.”

I turn back to him, and Ashley is now looking up with an expression on her face that can only be described as fear. My knuckles are turning white from gripping the tray so tight.

“I mean, Toby told us all about how she was a freak and liked it rough. It’s obvious that baby ain’t yours, either. I mean, come on, dude; she doesn’t look anything like you.” And he just keeps on. “He even told us how that weird red hair of hers is actually natural, you know what I mean.”

That’s it. I am about to lay him out. No one talks about my girl, especially when it’s nothing but lies. “YOU MOTHER…” A tight squeeze on my arms stops me. I look down and notice Rory gripping my arm.

“Rome, he’s not worth it; he don’t know crap.” Then, she looks Zac straight in the eyes. “Zac, you think you’re better than someone? You sell drugs to freshmen and sleep with them. You still live at home with your momma, and as far as my kids go, it’s none of your business what I set my twat on as long as it’s not you! You will end up over the tracks before it’s all over, sleeping with the super’s wife like everyone else.” She steps even closer, letting go of my arm. “And if you don’t shut your fucking mouth and stop making a scene in front of my kids, I’ll use that tray he has to bust your nose just I like I did hers.” She flips her hand over her shoulder and Ashley reaches up to cover her crooked nose as her eyes bug out. “You piece of crap,” Rory spits out as she turns to walk off, taking me with her. I look back at Zac one last time and smile. I know most men would get mad at their girl for an outburst like that, but I love knowing Rory can stand up to someone like him.

“To answer your question, she’s as much mine as she is Rory’s,” I throw over my shoulder before giving him my back.

We make our way back to the table, and I notice Clay waving at Ashley with a concerned face. “She OK?” he asks as we sit down. I look back at her.

“Yeah, she’s fine. Rory just laid into Zac and brought up the fight they had a few years ago.” Clay laughs. No doubt he was there that day and saw it all.

“Dude, that was epic! No one saw it coming!”

Rory shakes her head and cuts her eyes letting us know to close it while the kids are there.

Another twenty minutes pass, and all the kids are back at the video games using up the last of their tokens.  Saige, in true form, is asleep with a slice of half-eaten pizza stuck to her cheek. Clay breaks the silence.

“Ashley’s not so bad. I know she was mean to you in school, but Toby was really to blame for that. I mean, one day he was so sweet to her, whispering  things in her ear, touching her arm, and making her laugh; then, he would see you coming and shove her off, calling her names and stuff. He was so hot and cold with her. She was heartbroken. Hell, she still is.”

I am stunned and instantly infuriated. I can’t believe he just sat here with us and said that.

“Dude, seriously, she almost made Rory lose Saige when she was pregnant. She tricked her into drinking alcohol at a party.”

Clay’s face turns white as a ghost, and he looks at Rory. “I’m so sorry, Rory. I never knew that.”

She doesn’t say anything, just keeps drinking her soda.

“Yeah, so forgive us if we hate the tramp,” I say, still pissed.

“She couldn’t have known. Ashley is mean, but she would never do anything like that.
EVER
. I learned more about her after high school. She wouldn’t do something like that to anyone.” I don’t respond, just stare at him. “Look, Ashley is a good friend now. She wasn’t in school, but afterwards, we started hanging out. Everyone moved off except us. She’s a good girl; trust me. Maybe Rory should talk to her?”

I shrug my shoulders and stand. “I’m gonna take Saige to the car. Round up the boys, will ya?” I walk off. I cannot listen to that. Ashley treated Rory so bad, and I was the one who held her while she cried so many times because of that horrible girl
.