“I’m not the one giving the orders on this ship today, but I need to finish up those potatoes. How’d you like to keep an eye on the triplets?”
“I’d love to!” Rosa said. She’d always loved babies.
“Follow me.” He led them down the hall toward the living room.
“Come on, Teresa. Let’s find ourselves a quiet room to talk.”
“Feel free to use my office,” Dad called after them. Damián nodded.
As Dad found seats for Rosa and Doctor Mac—er, Mac—Damián and Teresa made their way to the office at the back of the house. He couldn’t wait to hear what was up. Teresa had made great strides in healing from the trauma of what Julio had done to her a year ago. Savannah’s counseling in Solana Beach and at the clinic here had helped, but Teresa’s rape experience would never go away.
Savannah still suffered from flashbacks and triggers and probably would to some extent for the rest of her life. At least Damián could help Savannah find ways to minimize and control hers better through their Dominant/submissive lifestyle. But Teresa only had Savannah and her family’s support to overcome hers.
Rather than sit behind the desk, Damián took one of the two seats in front of it, and they rearranged them to face one another.
Teresa drew a deep breath, still seeming too somber. “Uncle Damo, I need your advice.” She glanced down at her hands, which she twisted in her lap, before meeting his gaze again. “About a boy.”
Damián smiled. He’d hoped this day would come where she’d put her trust in a boy again, but she hadn’t seemed interested—until now. “Tell me about him.”
“He’s in my music class at school and recently signed up for the same vocal trainer that I use.” Ever since Teresa had met Karla, she’d wanted to be a singer, too. “He’s super shy, but I think he might like me.”
“Why wouldn’t he? You’re a nice chica.”
“No, I mean like, really like me. The way boys like normal girls.”
“Who says you aren’t normal?”
“Well, you know I’m different from the other girls at my school.” She glanced down again, realized her knee was bouncing, and pressed her hand on her thigh to forcefully stop the nervous response.
“Here’s what I know. You’re smart and kind. You love to sing, and you bring a lot of joy to your family and those around you.”
She glanced back up and smiled at him. “Thanks, Uncle Damo. But you’re my uncle. I don’t know if that’s how non-relatives see me. Except for Jonathan. He’s different with me than with the other girls.”
Damián tamped down the overprotective dad mode—or tried to. “What’s he saying or doing to make you think he’s interested?”
“Well, he always tries to sit next to me in music.”
Ah, that kind of thing. Damián relaxed somewhat.
“And sometimes we sit together in the cafeteria.” She glanced away again. “That’s where he asked me on Tuesday if I’d like to go see a movie with him tomorrow night.”
Go on a date? Was she ready? Taking a play from Savannah’s bag of psychology tricks, he asked, “How do you feel about that?”
“Well, we’ve been getting to know each other for nearly three months.” Her knee began bouncing again.
Sharing classroom space was no comparison to sitting side by side in a darkened movie theater with a guy she hardly knew. Damián wanted to meet and size up the boy first, but Teresa wasn’t asking him for permission to go out with Jonathan. What exactly did she need from Damián?
Teresa bit her upper lip, avoiding his gaze. “I don’t know what to talk with him about other than music.”
Damián had no clue what young people talked about on dates. Maybe Rosa could help out here.
“Have you told your mamá about him?”
She shook her head. “Mamá hates all boys, except for you, José, and Doctor Mac,” she corrected with a smile. “She doesn’t know how to relate to guys any more than I do.”
That Teresa, who’d suffered trauma at the hands of the same man Rosa had, was in a place where she was ready to move on was a testament to the ability of the young to put the past behind them. He did want her to find happiness when she grew up and to have a family someday, which meant eventually she’d have to go on a date with a guy. She’d turned seventeen in September, so she was plenty old enough to date.
Then he thought back to when he was seventeen and what he’d been doing with teenage girls in Solana Beach, and that only convinced him that she was too young to go out on dates. But if she didn’t take these first steps, would she have an aversion to men her entire life? Still, while he worried it might be too soon, it warmed his heart that she was ready to lose some of her fear of the opposite sex.
He remembered she’d asked him a question before his mind had taken off down that path.
“What do you talk about in school?”
“Music mostly.”
“Obviously, that’s something the two of you have in common. It shouldn’t be so different when you’re out on a date. There won’t be much talking in a movie theatre, anyway.” But he’d better keep his hands off her.
“He wants to take me out for Mexican after the movie.”
Damián’s first meal with Savannah was at a cantina. Right after they’d had sex, both of them nineteen. Mierda, I’m not ready for this girl to grow up and start dating.
“Would you like me to meet him and have a little talk with him when he comes to pick you up?” If he got a bad vibe from the kid, he’d kick his ass right out of Rosa’s house.
Teresa laughed. “I don’t think he’d survive having you grill him. And when word got out, I’d probably never get another boy to ask me out—ever.”
“Who said anything about grilling? Just want to ask him some questions. Get to know him a little.”
She rolled her eyes but continued to smile. “I’m seventeen, Uncle Damo. And thanks to my self-defense classes, I can take care of myself, if necessary.”
True. He’d made sure she could fight off anyone who threatened her physically. Time to let her stand on her own. Hell, she’d be heading off to college in nine months, and he sure wouldn’t be able to screen her dates there.
“Then why don’t you tell me more about him now so I don’t have to give him the third degree?”
“Well, he’s well-liked by other students, both boys and girls. He does better than I do at math, but I score better on music exams. And he ran for and won a seat on the Student Council.”
“Sounds like a good kid.” So what advice should he give her that would keep her safe? “Okay, when you go out, trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, listen to your intuition. You’ll have your cell phone. Call me, and I’ll come and get you.”
“I appreciate that, Uncle Damo, but I don’t think we’ll have any problems like that. Getting him to talk might be the most awkward part.”
Bueno. “Just don’t get all hung up on getting him to like you. The purpose of a first date is for you to get to know each other better and for you to see if he likes you for who you really are. Don’t fall into a trap pretending to be who you think he wants you to be.”
“What if…”—she glanced down—“…he wants to kiss me?”
Fuck. Maybe he wasn’t as shy as Teresa made him out to be. “How would you feel about that?” Savannah would be proud of him for remaining this calm outwardly.
“Kinda strange. I don’t know him well enough that way—yet.”
Good girl.
“You’ll know when you’re ready to kiss or be kissed by someone you genuinely like.”
She bit her lower lip, serious again. “You don’t think he’d do anything to…hurt me, do you?” Her concerns weren’t unfounded, but he didn’t want her to go through life being overly fearful, either.
“He’ll answer to me if he does. Set your boundaries. Be clear about them. Don’t let him disrespect you or push you past the boundaries you set. If he tries to force you into doing anything y
ou don’t want to do after you tell him no, knee him in the balls.”
Teresa’s eyes opened wider before she met his gaze. “Promise me you won’t threaten to kick him in the…teeth if you meet him eventually?”
Damián grinned. “Who, me?” He drew his brows together. Was there something she was leaving out? “Why wouldn’t I like him?”
She rolled her eyes. “Because you’re a Marine—and a daddy.” She smiled indulgently. “But I value your judgment. You’re the only father figure I have.”
“You know I’ll treat your dates the same way I will Marisol’s, when it’s time for her to date.”
Like threatening to roast the boy’s nuts over my welding torch if he disrespects or hurts her in any way.
“That’s why I think it’s best that I do this on my own, but I still wanted your advice. And I’ll make sure Jonathan knows what will happen if he ignores my boundaries. That he’ll have to answer to you.” Her beaming smile told him she wasn’t concerned. “I hope he doesn’t run before the movie starts, but I’ll feel safer having him know I’m under someone’s protection. Just in case.”
“You know you always will have me and our extended family looking out for you.”
“Now, I just need one more thing.”
“Name it.”
“Could you help Mamá understand why I want to go out with him?”
Ah, this conversation might be more about that than getting Damián’s dating advice. “You can talk to your mamá about anything. You know that.”
“Not about boys.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want you to keep anything from her. Talk to her tonight. I can take her aside after dinner to prepare her, if you’d like, but I want you to talk to her just like you’re talking to me. She might need some reassurance that you’ll be safe, though. That he’s a good boy and someone you consider a friend at this point, but who you want to get to know better.”
“Maybe if you were with me she’d be calmer about it.”
“Done. After dinner, the three of us can talk.”
“I’d like that.” She launched herself into his arms and placed a kiss on his cheek. “I love you, Uncle Damo. I’m so glad we moved closer to you. It was scary being in California and so far away from you after…”
He regretted that he hadn’t been able to protect her when it counted most, but he could only start here and do his best from now on. He pulled away, cupped her cheek, and brushed her face with his thumb. “Love you, too, princesa.”
Teresa’s resilience and strong spirit did his heart good. He hoped she’d always take healthy precautions but not hold back on living her life to the fullest. Her confidence would grow in time, and someday, he hoped she’d live life without worrying about what dangers lurked in every corner. Cautious and prepared, sure, just as he encouraged Savannah to be. But not living in fear anymore.
He wanted that for both of them, more than anything else.
Chapter Sixteen
Damián wouldn’t even let Savannah carry the bowl of mashed potatoes to the buffet in the dining room, so she picked up one of the pies instead. She had to admit she was feeling tired, and her back had been aching for the past two hours, so she didn’t fight him for the honors.
After setting the bowl down, he turned to Savannah, wrapping an arm around her back. “You okay, bebé?”
Of course, nothing got by Damián. She forced a smile. “I’ve probably done more than I should at this point. My back is aching.”
“Okay, you’re going to take a nap after dinner.”
“After stuffing ourselves on all this food, I think everyone here will want to do the same.”
When they returned to the now-vacant kitchen to get the remaining two pies, she tried to knead the knots out of her lower back.
“Hands on the counter and bend over.”
Her eyes grew wide at the unexpected order, but the no-nonsense stare he gave her told her to do as he said. When she’d assumed the position, most of the pressure on her back disappeared immediately. Then his hands wrapped around her sides, and his thumbs pressed hard against the lumbar muscles, exactly where she hurt the most.
“Oh dear Lord, that feels incredible.”
“Why didn’t you say you were in pain earlier?”
She nibbled on her lower lip. “It wasn’t severe.” Yet. “Minor discomfort at most. I’m used to it.”
“It’s my responsibility to make sure you remember to take care of yourself while you’re busy taking care of others. Don’t go that long again without asking for help—or some relief.”
He continued to rub her lower back until she moaned then gave her a quick slap on the butt.
She smiled, pleased that he wasn’t angry with her, only concerned. Standing upright and turning toward him, she placed a kiss on his lips. “Thank you, Sir, for taking such good care of me.”
He wrapped his arms around her, staring into her eyes. “You mean everything to me, Savannah. I worry about you.”
“I know. I promise not to give you another thing to fret about. Now, let’s go enjoy that fabulous meal with everyone.”
Seated at the table, Savannah stroked her belly when the baby became active again. She shifted on the chair cushion several times trying to find a comfortable spot while also trying to keep up with the conversations going on around her.
“You okay?” Damián whispered in her ear.
“The baby’s doing calisthenics on my bladder, but otherwise, I’m fine.”
Rosa sat across the table from Doctor Mac who was on Savannah’s left side. She caught Rosa casting longing glances his way a couple of times during dinner as well as earlier in the kitchen. Why hadn’t she noticed an attraction growing between her and the doctor before? While one-sided at best, Rosa did seem to be a little infatuated with him, which surprised Savannah. Unfortunately, the dedicated, workaholic doctor didn’t seem to have a flirtatious bone in his body. He took everything so seriously, and his only priority in life was providing the best affordable healthcare to those in the community who didn’t have access to insurance or couldn’t afford their copay responsibilities.
Day in and day out, Rosa came into the clinic and went about running the administrative duties of his practice, but Savannah had had no clue she harbored other-than-professional feelings for her boss.
Rosa had been dealt a cruel hand in her marriage. Thankfully, her ex wouldn’t see freedom for twenty to forty years, depending on how generous the parole boards in California were.
Would Savannah have to live in fear of the day Gentry was released from prison? Would he even get that far in the justice system or would he find a way to beat the rap? First, he’d need to be found guilty. Then, based on how sentencing went, she’d have to sweat it out every seven years after he became eligible for parole. She couldn’t fathom living under that man’s ominous shadow again, not knowing when he might show up and disrupt her life again.
To deflect attention, she seized the moment to share what she was most thankful for. Months ago, Damián had had her start a gratitude journal to record her thoughts on what she appreciated about each and every day. She’d come to appreciate so many things, big and small. “I want to jump on the bandwagon and say how much I appreciate Damián and all of you for welcoming Mari and me into your arms wholeheartedly less than a year ago when we arrived here with nowhere else to go.” She couldn’t believe that had only been weeks before last Christmas. How her life had changed for the better since then.
Damián spoke next. “I am most thankful for my beautiful wife and daughter—and the little one coming in two months.” He leaned over to kiss her on the cheek and patted her belly, eliciting a kick from the baby.
In turn, everyone at the table took the opportunity to express his or her gratitude, with Adam and everyone thanking Karla for hosting such a wonderful dinner and for all the prep work that had gone into it.
“And I am grateful to Angelina for the cooking lessons and to those who helped prepare it
for us all to enjoy. Oh, and that I didn’t burn anything,” Karla said, followed by laughter at both tables.
From the head of one of the tables, Adam’s mother said, “Karla, I’ll never be able to thank you and your friend Grant enough for reuniting me with my son after too many years apart.” Her eyes grew bright with unshed tears.
Teresa cleared her throat and caught her lower lip between her teeth before saying, “I’m grateful that Mamá moved us to Denver, far away from…” Her voice drifted off, and José added his agreement before Teresa turned her head and smiled toward Damián. “And that I have an awesome uncle who’s the best dad I’ve ever known.”
“And the best brother ever,” Rosa added shyly.
“I’m thankful for another great dad, Adam, who not only brought our daughter happiness but also gave us three precious grandbabies,” Jenny said.
Carl raised his glass of cranberry juice. “I’ll second that!”
“And I,” began Patrick at the next table over, “thank Adam for sending Ryder to my sister when he thought she might be in danger. I’ve never seen her so happy.”
“Without Megan,” Ryder said, “I don’t like to think about where I’d be today.” He leaned over, and a smiling Megan met his kiss.
Luke, sitting beside Cassie at the same table, added, “And, Megan and Ryder, by taking care of my rescue horses, you two sure made it easy for me to keep my girl all to myself up on that mountain with her alpacas.”
Cassie’s cheeks grew ruddy as she grinned back at him.
So much love and happiness, just as Savannah had anticipated today. When it seemed everyone had taken a turn, Mari, seated next to her grandpa, raised her juice glass. Her face seemed uncharacteristically solemn as she looked from Savannah to Damián. “I just want to say…thank you, Maman, for finding my daddy. Now I have a great big family, and pretty soon, I’m going to be a big sister, not just an auntie.”
Savannah’s heart ached for all the years Mari and Damián had lost, but she wouldn’t wallow in regrets. They had the rest of their lives together, and that’s all that counted.
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