Hope swelled with the touch of human kindness, and Baylor saw some light in her future for the first time in years. She presented the estimate to her in-laws, and told them that it took an average of six to eight months to see results. They gave her cash for each visit, not knowing that she was saving every cent in a private account. She also obtained four secret credit cards; viewing each one as another ticket to her freedom. On occasion, she would experience guilt for her deceit, but it only took five minutes of being around Felix or his family to remind her of the necessity of her actions.
After over eight months of lying about her fertility attempts, and saving enough money to be able to support herself for a while, Baylor announced that she was barren. Her hope of freedom was fulfilled when, within one week, she was served with divorce papers. She had not, however, expected the family to remove all the garish furnishings and kitchenware from her home and dump her belongings from storage in the middle of the floor; leaving, of course, all of Felix's old, used and abandoned 'collection' of useless crap. She was also slapped with the responsibility of assuming the rental payments in a lease that could not be broken for another six months.
Neither Felix, nor his family, were concerned about the legalities and her rights, nor did they care whether she had money, a job or a car. Wisely, she retained an attorney with her savings and received enough of a settlement to buy a reliable vehicle and purchase basic camera equipment and a tablet to pursue her dream of photojournalism. She was also reimbursed for her legal fees, and given enough money to make ends meet until she could land a decent job. In addition, her attorney protected her housing situation and negotiated that the deposit paid by the in-laws would be hers in the event she moved.
Fortunately, the rental she was in was affordable, and Baylor did what she could to make the place hers. The furnishings were odds and ends found in garage sales and consignment stores; again, the cheaper, the better. She really did not care about how anything looked. She simply wanted to a place to call her own.
However, she soon ran into problems with the owner. Since she was no longer affiliated with Felix's family, he refused to make repairs. Baylor did what she could on her own, making copious notes and sending emails with receipts to the landlord and requesting refunds or credit to her rental fees. When he did not respond, she submitted her monthly payment, minus the amount he owed her. He then sent certified letters demanding she pay late charges for inadequate funds. Baylor contacted HUD, retained an attorney for a second time, and sued for a refund. Right after she received her money back, she was given notice to vacate under the guise that the landlord was having financial difficulties and wanted to move back into the decrepit old house.
"Are you ready to be nice now, young lady?" Jake asked, jarring her from her memories.
She turned around and nodded, looking at the floor.
He cleared his throat. "Come sit next to me, and let's have a little talk." He waited until she obeyed, then reached for her hand. "I know you think I'm a giant ogre and the most obnoxious person in the world, but there is a reason I am so firm. Every day, I pull some sweet girl out of a ditch after she falls asleep behind the wheel, drives under the influence, or is just in a rage. I can sense that with you, Baylor. You're self-destructive, and are going to hurt yourself if you don't start changing something for the better. Trust me; it is much easier to act like a good girl than a defiant one. Look at me."
Baylor lifted her eyes and stared into the warmth that emitted from his hazel orbs.
He continued. "I don't want to see you dead. You're already broken, honey. Your eyes can't hide how hurt and lost you are. I'm sure Hayden told you that we have been there ourselves. Divorce is a very lonely place, and sometimes makes us do things that are not in our best interest. Tell me what was going through your mind as you stood in the corner."
She began to sob into her hands and shared her story. She felt Hayden rub her back while Jake kept his palm resting on her knee, both keeping quiet as she helplessly related all her fear and frustration of her past.
"I'm sorry," she wept. "I'm just so tired of everything. I'm tired of this move. I'm tired of fighting for everything I want. I'm just tired of life."
"This type of depression is normal in your situation, Ladybug," Hayden said kindly. "We're going to help you get through it. There's a light at the end of this tunnel. I promise."
"Why? Why would either of you want to do anything to help someone like me?"
The two men looked at each other in an uncomfortable pause. Jake nodded to his brother to explain. "Our marriage was destroyed because we didn't act strongly enough when we saw the signs of her depression. She was miserable and, with us being gone for work all the time, we neglected her needs. So she got them met elsewhere."
"Wait a minute." Baylor wiped her face and looked at them with confusion. "Are you saying that you shared a wife?"
"Legally, she was my wife, but we shared a polygamous relationship," Jake said softly. "We were with her for ten years. Things were fine as long as one of us was home with her, but when Hayden was sent overseas for three years, and my rotation in the field became so erratic, it was too much for her. She had an affair and left us without so much as a goodbye."
Baylor dabbed her eyes on a tissue. "I can't imagine sharing a person like that. If it was me, I would be so jealous."
"That was why Jake and I never brought in another woman. Having the one worked for us… until life threw in the monkey wrench."
"There was also more to our relationship than the poly," Jake added. "Hayden and I are heavily engaged in a lifestyle called age-play. We thrive when we have an adult little girl to care for. Our wife decided that being a Little was no longer appealing. The rejection became very personal when she declared that we were no longer permitted to be her daddies."
"It really tore us up pretty badly. We also tend to spoil our girl. Believe it or not, old Jake here is worse than I am about that. We've had a couple of ladies since then, but none have worked out. They did not like the idea of Terry and Matt being involved as extended family members, and that is something that we will not budge on. It's all or nothing in this family."
"Are you serious? I don't mean to sound judgmental, but this is way off the grid. Do you guys have giant orgies or something?" Baylor tried not to look appalled.
"No." Jake chuckled, "I only share my girl with my brother. The other two have their own special place in the lifestyle. Terry fulfills the role of a doting uncle, while Matt is more like a big brother. Hayden and I are, simply said, daddies."
"Why are you telling me all this? Aren't you afraid I'm going to think you are some sort of a pervert or a freak? I'm sure you already guessed my opinion of you is not at its highest at the moment."
"I'm stepping out on a limb here because I trust my instincts. You have a basic, human need to be taken care of and nurtured, Baylor. From what you shared, it's something that you have never experienced from any type of parental figure, and your little heart is crying out to be loved and guided, especially in this time of stress. You might protest, but I can tell that your sweet soul is begging for a daddy to rock you in his arms and kiss away all your troubles. No, don't cry," Jake said softly, stroking her hand. "This is a good thing, honey."
"H-how dare you make such an assumption?" Baylor's lower lip quivered as she tightly crossed her arms to her chest and rocked herself. "I have no such need. I never have, and I never will." Her words were forced. Everything he said was correct, but there was no way in hell she would admit that to him! He was already too arrogant for words as it was.
"We can be there for you when you need that. No strings. I'm not wrong in this. I never am," Jake said calmly, with a strong sense of sincerity which threw Baylor off balance. It was hard not to like him as he rested his warm hand on her shoulder and stroked her collarbone with just his thumb.
She grunted, turning her face from him. "There's a first time for everything, Jake Paterson."
"Would you care t
o put down a wager on that?" Jake asked slyly.
"A wager on what? That you are wrong and that I don't require anything like what you suggested?"
"I'm not wrong."
"Nor are you going to get the chance to find out otherwise," she said.
"I will bet you a trip to Chuck E. Cheese that you'll be coming to either Hayden or me within one week for daddy-care."
"You're insane." Baylor wiped her face with the back of her hand. She stood up and put some distance between her and the handsome, half-naked man. "I have to get going. I have a ton of things to do and another truck to pack."
"I told you that we will be out at your place in the morning, sweetheart," Hayden said. "We'll get you all packed, cleaned up and back home to unload and have the BBQ before you know it."
"I need to get out of here. You guys are already freaking me out enough as it is. You can't hold me against my will any longer. That means you, Officer," she growled, narrowing her eyes at Jake. "Thank you for the hospitality and for breaking into my house to get my keys."
"Your address, Baylor." Hayden ignored her comment as he picked up a pen and poised it to write.
"You are absolutely insufferable! Consider yourself fortunate that I am too tired to give you a piece of my mind right now." She rolled her eyes and recited her address, along with warnings that vehicles without permits left on her street would be towed. Jake chuckled and reminded her that he was a CHP and could elicit any assistance from the local department without a problem.
Baylor's attempts to dissuade them were once again thwarted, and she resigned herself to the knowledge that they would all see the sorry conditions she was living in. Truthfully, the thought of help was appealing, and all those men would keep the neighbors from harassing her. Of course, someone would call Felix and report the activities. That, at least, was a plus.
Chapter Three
Back in her own home, Baylor stewed as she dressed in freshly laundered shorts and a tank top. Jake's earlier comment about how easy it was to behave like a good girl chafed her. Well, he would not make that statement again after he saw how hard she could party. Maybe then he would leave her alone—or, at least, take a couple of steps back.
Her back screamed in protest as she bent over to tie her shoelaces. She smiled as a brief image of Jake kneeling before her, explaining the 'bunny ears' the way she had done to her brothers and sisters, flashed across her mind. She wondered how she herself had learned to tie a shoelace, having no recollection of her mother teaching anything other than how to take over the management of the house and her siblings. She pushed down the bubbling anger. That part of her life was over and done with, and nothing she could do would either change it or restore the loss of her childhood.
Her thoughts returned to Jake and Hayden, and the lifestyle they practiced. They'd caught her off-guard with the explanation about who they were and how they ran their home, yet both were so comfortable and self-assured that Baylor was left with a sense of longing rather than repulsion. True, it was nearly every woman's biggest fantasy to have two men to call her own, and the thought of being a desired part of their odd household of four held a certain appeal. There was also some major sexual tension that Baylor could not deny, what with with Jake being a very attractive and rugged 'bad boy', and Hayden having that roguishly adorable charm.
She straightened back up and closed her eyes to contemplate the other two members of the Paterson home. It would be nice to have male friends to lean on without the usual mess of sexual involvement or expectations. The addition of also having a male role model like a 'big brother' or an 'uncle' might help take the edge off her constant need to be mature and responsible. They would take her to Chuck E. Cheese, and…
"What the hell am I thinking?" she said aloud, shaking her head. "I hate Chuck E. Cheese!" Those boys had gotten to her! She looked at her drawn, pale face in the mirror while brushing her hair into two high ponytails, and barely recognized the two large, doll-like eyes that stared back in haggard exhaustion. Baylor grimaced, admitting to herself that the two ponytails made her look cute and innocent, and quickly rearranged her hair into a single braid lying low across the back of her neck. There was no way she would admit aloud that Jake had hit the nail on the head. She didn't think she could stand listening to him gloat about being right about her and her needs!
By the time she stepped through the door to her old house, her assistance had arrived in droves. Baylor's mouth fell open as a big rigged moving truck arrived, as well as six private vehicles, out of which stumbled two dozen young, eager, and strong men. Any other woman would be delirious with joy at having a yard full of eye candy; Baylor simply took pleasure in knowing that the reports of her attractive and burly help would get back to her ex. She felt a strange giddiness in the knowledge that she no longer had to consider herself to be 'alone'; even if it did mean having bossy, overbearing—but deliciously cute—new neighbors.
"What's this?" she stuttered, as Jake approached her with a pleased smile.
"These are the PCS moving guys from base, and some motor pool, engineering and grunts that Hayden works with in the unit."
"PCS?"
"Permanent change of station," Hayden announced, joining his brother on her doorstep. "Gentlemen, this is Miss Baylor Parish, our new neighbor. Take good care of her for me. Ladybug, this is my crew. My advice is to just step aside and avoid being run over."
Her eyes widened as the men 'oorahed' and swarmed past her with boxes, tape and cleaning supplies. Their excited chattering about the upcoming BBQ filled the air, and she could not help but smile continually as she was surrounded with positive, supportive people.
The house was so full that she could not supervise the packing, and was delegated to handing out ice water to the myriads of helpers. Shockingly, all her belongings were neatly packed, labeled, and stacked against the walls within two hours. The house was being scrubbed clean when Baylor was unexpectedly lifted from behind like a rag doll and placed gently to sit in the fork of a tree. The older giant of a man smiled, reaching up to tap her nose.
"You stay right there, little lady. I don't want to see you get trampled. They're going to start the line pretty soon, and you don't want to accidentally get packed in the truck."
"Hey! Get me down!" she yelled, too high to feel comfortable jumping down onto the sidewalk.
"I told you to stay put. If you're a good girl, I'll whip you up some homemade peach ice-cream with hand-shelled pecans when we get home. I'm Terry, the best cook in the house."
"You're Terry?"
"The one and only." He bowed. He reminded her of a scruffy, older version of 'Mr. Clean'—sans the gold earring.
"I can't stay up here. It's too high, and I'm afraid of heights."
"Are you really afraid of heights or you are just trying to con me into taking you out of that tree?" Terry raised an eyebrow with an amused expression.
She shrugged. "I'm afraid of falling. Come on," she whined, "let me get down. I need to be able to help. These are my things, and—"
"Just hang tight, short stuff. We're almost done here." Terry winked before rushing back to join his friends. True to his prediction, the men began to hand loaded boxes down the line and into the truck.
Just as they were finishing up, a large black car pulled up, containing Baylor's ex in-laws and Felix.
"What is this?" Mr. Kasaab demanded. "Who are you people? This is an outrage. How dare you impose upon the people in this neighborhood for the likes of her? This woman is a disgrace, and deserves no help from anybody!"
"Disgrace?" Jake, Hayden and Terry turned at once, and the remaining men moved to stand behind them.
"This is none of your damn business, Mr. Kasaab. Go away," Baylor shouted from her perch. "I no longer have anything to do with you or your family of assholes. Stop stalking me before I call the cops."
Jake walked straight up to the man and glared down at him. "She already has the cops," he said, flashing his badge. "Disgrace? She told us every
thing that you and your family have done to degrade and humiliate her. You are the disgrace. You are to turn around right now and get out of my face. Push me, and I will haul you into jail for harassment and trespassing on private property."
"She does not own this property. I have every right—"
"What a bloody idiot!" Hayden interrupted, pushing Jake aside. "The lease is in her name and she's still paying the rent. That means that this property is hers at the moment, and you are the one trespassing. And you!" He glared at the nervous Felix. "You need to grow a fucking set of balls, get your bloody head out of your ass, and become a man. The world would consider it a blessing that you couldn't reproduce."
"Mind your language. There is a lady present," Jake hissed under his breath.
Hayden was livid, and glowered at Mrs. Kasaab. "I hope you aren't referring to this woman. The only lady I see is the little girl stuck up in that tree. Other than that, I see no ladies or anyone else of refinement. What your family did to this girl is reprehensible and disgusting."
Jake inched closer to the older man's face. "It's one thing to push your culture onto those who were raised with it, but another when you disrespect someone else's beliefs and rights. For people worried about social standing, you are the most reprehensible bottom feeders imaginable! I have a lot of friends who are very active and influential in your community, and every one of them is appalled by how you treated that young woman. Believe it when I tell you that word is getting around about your behavior, and I promise that it's only a matter of time before every one hears of what you've done."
"We did nothing wrong!" Mrs. Kasaab spouted.
"Trying to shame a girl into getting pregnant so that she would be accepted in your family is more than just wrong. It is unethical, despicable and selfish. You didn't even care about her physical or mental health!" Hayden growled, clenching his fists and ignoring the elbowed nudge given by his brother.
Moving a Little Heart Page 4
