MC: LaPonte-Karr: Book Three

by L. Ann Marie

  The kids go back to playing. Ben says there's only one gift left handing Tess an envelope with our names on it. She looks at him saying thank you. We laugh until she opens it. The deed to his house, I'm floored. Tess jumps up and hugs him. My dad wants to know what it is. Patches hands it to him laughing. We all do the hug thing again. Fuck he gave us a house. "You gave us a fuckin house Ben."

  He smiles. "With it, Tess gets a home that's hers. Patches has his bigger house. You're close to your siblings and Danny and Kate know I'm all in. It was a multi-purpose gift." My dad and Kate hug him again.

  "I fuckin love you guys. I hug them all." They laugh. I don't care.

  Me, Tess and Patches get coffee cake, fruit, muffins and drinks on the table. Tess looks sad. "Baby what is it?" I can't take it.

  "Tracey is coming. We need to eat before she gets here." She says with tears in her eyes.

  Fuck! That's not what I expected. "We have to tell my dad."

  "No. I already told Jessie. I thought he needed time to prepare. He doesn't want them to know. I promised him. It will be ok but it's so sad." She wipes her eyes and takes a breath. I'm torn here. I look at Patches.

  "Jessie will do what feels right Rich. We need to let him handle this his way. I'm glad you told him Tess. I think we need to let it play out." He fuckin surprises me. I nod calling everyone in.

  My dad and Ben know something's up. We eat chatting with the kids and each other but our hearts aren't in it. Tess stands and starts cleaning up so me and Patches get up and help. She tells everyone to stay while we clean up. They fuckin listen. The kids talk about the deliveries yesterday. They have us cracking up.

  The doorbell goes off and I freeze. Tess puts her hand out for Jessie. They open the door together. Jessie says hi then steps back. Tracey walks in looking like shit. She's surprised seeing us all here and leans against the counter. "This is Tess, she's Rich and Patches wife." Jessie tells her. Ben stands, he's pissed. Jessie looks at him. "Dad you have to let it happen so it can be done. Patches can you sign for Darren?" Patches nods. Everyone just looks at Jessie. Kate puts her hand on Ben and he sits down watching. "What did you want to talk to me about Tracey?" Patches signs for Darren.

  She takes in a breath. "I'm your mother. Can we go somewhere and talk in private?"

  "No, Tracey. From when I was little you always said you're not my mother. I never told anyone, but I remember it. This is my family. They love me even though we don't share blood. I got a mom for Christmas; she loves me like a mom should. Anything that you want to say you have to say in front of them. You forgot that we take care of our own. They'll help me if I need it. I just have to hold my hand out for them to reach me. You have to talk where I can reach help if I need it. What did you want to talk about?" He says so sure of himself. I'm so fuckin proud of him.

  Tracy is crying. "I wanted to say Merry Christmas and I miss you."

  "Merry Christmas. You don't miss me. If you did I would have known. You would have called to say so. You miss having people that love you around when you want them. I'm sorry you're broke and our strong wasn't enough. But I'm just a little boy. You need to fix yourself and find your own family now. We can't be it anymore. Sometimes you have to let people go in order to be happy. You have to let us go and we have to let you go. It's time." Holy fuck Patches is right. He's an old soul. Tess has tears running down her face. I hold on tighter. Patches gives her a napkin then brings one to Kate.

  Tracey looks at everyone. "I guess you turned him against me." Ben moves to stand. Jessie stops him lifting his hand up.

  "They don't talk about you at all. That's how they are. They didn't have to say anything to me. Your actions are what I have to go by. You didn't earn anything because you didn't give anything. I think you should leave now." He puts his hand out to the side. Everyone goes to him. Ben lifts him up holding him while he cries. Everyone puts a hand on him. That was the most profound and the saddest thing I've ever fuckin seen.

  "I am so fuckin proud of you Jessie. I'm so sorry she said that to you." Ben tells him. Jessie nods and looks for Kate, Ben turns him around and he grabs on to her. Ben lets him go stepping back so Kate can hold him. My dad hugs them both.

  This is fuckin unbelievable. I look down at Tess. She's still crying, she looks up, “It had to be this way." She says quietly. I nod. I guess it did.

  Jessie stops crying holding on to my dad. "I'm sorry I didn't want Tess to tell you." He looks at Ben and Kate. "I thought if you knew you wouldn't let her in. She needed to see that we're all done."

  Ben nods. "I agree with you on this one. You should have told me what she said to you Jessie."

  "You were hurt enough dad." He tells his father. I look at my dad. I did the same thing.

  "It's not your job to cover me Jessie. I have family and a whole fuckin club of Brothers to cover me. You need to be a kid and let me be a dad. Promise me you won't hide things from me."

  Jessie looks at him like he’s nuts, "Jeesh dad I'm a kid." Everyone cracks up. "Tess knew about today and saw no one was going to get hurt or she would have told you."

  Ben nods looking at my father. "Fuckin eleven year old boys. They're good kids and too fuckin smart. What are you going to do?" He shrugs.

  Jessie wiggles down and tells the kids it's Christmas. They go back to their presents. As soon as they're out of the room Kate lets out a breath. "Holy shit!" I smile.

  Steve, Te Jess and the kids walk in. I look at Tess, she laughs. Ben tells Steve Tracy just left. "Heard." Is all he says. Te Jess goes to Kate and hugs her.

  "Jessie handled it." My dad says. They look at him. Ben and Kate are smiling.

  "Told her it's time to move on. She did." He says. Fuckin Dad. I laugh, Patches joins me then Ben and Kate. Steve looks at us and nods. Little Ben says Merry Christmas and he needs to check on his Brother.

  "Fuckin kids." All the guys say. The women roll their eyes.

  Ben comes over to Tess. "You told him so he wasn't hurt?"

  She looks right at him. "Yes. I told him she was coming. I didn't give him details. Nothing bad was going to happen, it was just so sad. I saw what happened after I told him. It changed but didn't change the sad. You stayed calm with Kate and Danny's strong and Jessie got strong from all of us. I'm sorry I didn't tell you but no one was in danger and I promised him."

  "If I would have known he wouldn't have handled it. He needed to do that." She nods. "This is going to happen a lot with you. Promise you will never shield us alone. If there is any danger you have to promise to tell someone so they can help you decide what's right. I would suggest Peg or, if Sally is staying, Sally. Can you make that promise to me?"

  "Oh yes. Sally is staying and she's going to help me." She says so matter of fact I crack up. Ben smiles and nods then kisses her head.

  "Fuckin Tess." Everyone laughs.

  Tiny, Nancy and Sandy come in. Then Rob, Digs and Bob. Then Amanda and Penny. Fuck, it's getting bigger every year. The guys go to the garage to see the bikes Ben and my dad got. I've seen them they are fuckin Badass as it gets.

  Tess has been calm the rest of the day. Patches is happy. I watch them play with the kids from the doorway. Fuckin beautiful. Kate wraps her arms around me. "She's so happy Rich. You and Patches are happy; you're perfect for each other."

  I take my arm down from the frame and hug her to me. "Thank you. You're so happy you glow Kate." She pulls me down by my shirt. "I'm pregnant." She whispers. Oh fuck!

  I pick her up spinning her around. She covers her mouth. Shit! "Sorry. I got carried away." She takes a breath and laughs. "Is it a secret?" She nods telling me for now. She needs to see a doctor to confirm. I just look at her. It hits me and I look at Tess, she smiles nodding and signs 'girl'. "Fuckin Tess." I laugh. I get another sister. Ally is going to be over the moon. "Do they know?"

  She shakes her head no. "One year ago next week we've been together. I'm waiting. I was hoping you'd take the kids so I can tell them."

  I hug her, “Of course. I'm so fucki
n happy Kate. Thank you for bringing us all together. You're the best fuckin mother ever." She cries. Ben comes to her. He looks like he's ready to rip my fuckin head off. I crack up. "Just told her she is the best mom." He melts holding her to his chest. My dad’s smiling, I tell him "Happy tears. Ben needs a fuckin book." He nods, all the guys laugh.

  "So what." Ben says. I laugh harder. Fuckin Ben. I need to get Penny on ‘So What’ shirts.

  Twenty Nine

  One month

  Tess

  I'm just leaving the Bakery. Today was my numbers day. I'm going to the self-defense class. I've already been to this one it’s a beginners class and I'm on the intermediate but I figure the more I practice it, I'll react using it if I need to. My friend Penny is coming to this one too. I really like her but she's so shy. After what she's been through she deserves to be happy. She was battered. That's like a slave but she had clothes and went out but only where her husband said. Like having invisible chains. She finally started to going to classes. Kate says sometimes it takes people longer to find their strong, Penny is finding hers now.

  We have class and go to the Bakery so she can show me her ideas. I want to do like Patches does but for girls. We can be the Little Sisters. Penny is designing a logo like the boys but for girls. She's an awesome graphic designer. We looked at the Girl Scout's book to see things we can do that's different from the boys. When we had a good list, I used Patches book and got things we can do with the boys. I hope Ben likes what we put together. Sally says it will be good for me to do all the things I didn't grow up with so I have the experience of just being a girl. She's going to be our sounding board so we can practice what we say to Ben. Penny is really nervous about it.

  Patches picks me up right on time. He's excited. I hear scratching noises in the back but he tells me to ignore them. I don't know how he expects me to do that but I don't say anything. When we get home he tells me Danny is taking care of the kids. He's off the rest of the day, no wonder he's excited. He opens my door and brings me to the back of the truck. When he lifts it open I see a dog in a crate. I jump on him and he laughs. He got me a dog. "I always wanted a dog!" He smiles and says him too.

  "This is a special dog Tess. It's a K9 Companion. He'll wear a vest and he can go wherever you go. He still needs training with you but he's got the basics for right now. If you're out and have a dream or you're scared he'll protect you."

  "For real? He can do that?" Oh My Gosh! I open the crate and pick the dog up. It licks my whole face.

  Patches smiles, “For real baby. You have to go with him for training but when you're finished he'll be able to feel when you need him and he'll respond. When Sally says you don't need her as a companion anymore you'll have your dog."

  "I didn't even dream about a dog. There was one on the beach but I didn't know it was mine. Thank you. What's its name?" I sit in the back and hold it.

  "His name is Max. You can rename him but it might take a while for him to get it."

  "I like Max. It's a strong name. Max LaPonte-Karr. It has a nice ring to it." I laugh when he picks me up.

  "You're so fuckin cute sometimes I just have to squeeze you. I'm glad you like Max. Let's get him in the house and we can show you what he knows." He puts me down and tells Max down. He jumps down and waits for Patches. Oh my gosh! He is so cute. "He's going to get bigger. Right now he's eight months old." He grabs the crate and carries it in. "Come Max." Max follows. I clap for him he's so smart.

  Patches

  I'm so fuckin glad she likes Max. Sally called a meeting with me, Rich, Danny, Kate and Ben. Doc was there too but only for support. Tess has integrated and is doing well but there are still concerns with the dreams and unknown triggers. Her services have to end but Tess will need almost constant protection. Of course we're all nervous about that. Anyone could take advantage of her when she's vulnerable. Who the fuck do you trust with someone like Tess. Kate is adamant that a man can't be her protection. Rich didn't want a woman because of the distraction with all the men around. Sally said that both are valid concerns and she had an idea. She found the K9 Companion for us and got the ball rolling so Max would be ready by the time she ends services. She'll be stepping back starting the week after next. She'll tell Tess tomorrow. She's already shifting into the friend role because Tess is ready to start living without her constant support.

  Max follows me in and sits while I hold the door for Tess. She loves him already. Fuck this was easier than I thought. "Rich is bringing his gear but I have food and training bones for him in the suv."

  "Ok." She gets on the floor and pets him. I walk out the door and hear her tell him to stay. When I come back she's in the same position.

  I carry the food bin and training bone containers into the kitchen. Thank God we have a pantry. I put the container on the counter so they're easy to reach and the food bin in the pantry. Tess is still petting a sitting Max in the same place. I lift her up and carry her to the couch. "Max, come." He pads over to us. "Good boy." I give him half of a training bone.

  I spend an hour training Tess to give him commands; she has everything that I know down pat. She learns quick and is careful to give the commands that he is trained for exactly as I tell them to her. Max follows her to the kitchen when she goes to make dinner. I think this is a good sign.

  Rich

  I have all the dog gear in the back of my truck. I hope this fuckin works like Sally thinks it will. I'm going to be a fuckin wreck with a dog watching over my Tess. I walk in the door and put the bag and bed down. Tess comes running and jumps on me. I laugh. Fuckin Tess. She kisses me a thank you.

  "Thank you for my special dog. I love him already." She's smiling.

  "I see that. I'm glad you like him. We have training set up starting next week at Security. Millie already knows and has seniors to help on the days you're not there." I tell her and she smiles.

  "You always think of everything. Patches says Max can go everywhere with me like a dog for a blind person." She giggles.

  "What's so funny?" I can't help but smile.

  "Like for a blind person but with extra vision." She smiles. "But he can protect me too if I get scared. I really like that part."

  Thank Fuck! "I'm glad you like him. Something smells really good."

  She jumps down. "Oh no! I'm making herb chicken and pasta." She runs back to the kitchen. I laugh. She's so fuckin cute.

  Max is sitting by the stove on the side of Tess. I set the table and ask if she needs help. She points to wine I open it and get her a glass. She liked the wine in Antigua and has a glass at dinner every night. Grabbing a beer I lean against the counter and listen to how her day went. She asks about mine and gets our food on the table. I get Patches a beer and yell for him. Max follows her and sits by her feet. I like this dog already. "The 'rents want us to stop over so they can meet Max when we take him for a walk later."

  She gets excited. "Alex is going to love him."

  "I think they'll all love him because he's going to protect you." Patches tells her.

  We get dinner over and clean up. I like the normal days that nothing is happening and we can just be together. Patches sets up Max's bowls and bed. When our beer and wine glass is empty we take Max for a walk. Tess gives him commands and he follows. Patches smiles, it didn't take long for him to understand Tess will be his master.

  Ben explained the dog’s purpose to the kids so when we stop they each pet him and move for the next person. He shakes hands with Alex. Tess was right Alex loves him. I don't know how she knows this shit. Kate is happy he's sticking to Tess.

  Getting home we sit on the couch, Max lays on his bed. It doesn't take long for us to be ready for bed or at least ready for bedtime activities. I pull Tess up I flip her over my shoulder and carry a laughing Tess to bed. Max follows. I look at Patches. He shrugs and puts Max's bed across the hall from our room. "Maybe we should have a couple of beds for him." Tess says.

  I nod. As long as we can get in bed I'm going to agree to any fucki
n thing she wants. Patches closes the door and Tess focuses on giving us thank you's. Our fuckin wife gives the best fuckin blow jobs.

  "Baby I love the way you say thank you." Patches tells her. Now that the edge is off we're thanking her. I play with the vibrator sliding it in her while Patches is in her ass. She loves playing with the new toys we bought her for Christmas or maybe we do. Whichever it is, she fuckin screams our names. She's taken to trying new positions too. I'm sitting on the edge of the bed; she slides down on me facing away. Patches kneels in front of her kissing her, sucking her nipples and her favorite is his tongue playing with her clit as I'm inside of her. It fuckin gets me every fuckin time. Something about seeing my name on her fuckin beautiful back, her asking for Patches tongue and my name falling off her lips as she comes makes every-fucking-thing in my world right.

  We shower and get into bed. Max scratches the door. I open it and he lies on the floor at the foot of the bed, right in the fuckin middle. I move his bed thinking we need three fuckin beds for the dog. Tess is so fuckin happy the dog is watching over her we'll be getting three fuckin beds tomorrow. I am so fuckin whipped. I smile kissing my beautiful wife goodnight.

  Thirty

  Two weeks

  Tess

  Today is our last training day. I'm so happy with Max. He's going to do awesome. The trainer even tested him and me to make sure Max will protect me without the command. Bob had to dress in a foam suit and scare me. He did too. His voice got really hard and he yelled and scared me half to death. Max stood between us until Bob moved closer to me then he went crazy biting the suit and pushing Bob away from me. He didn't stop until I told him to heel. It was kind of scary but I know I can count on him. Rich, Patches, Danny, Sally and Steve watched. Steve tried to give Max some ham; he wouldn't touch it until I told him it was ok. They wanted to make sure he couldn't be distracted. He's the best dog and did perfect.

  I was kind of nervous about not having Sally anymore but Max proved that he can do the job she did and I don't have to worry that I'm a dunce when I say or do something wrong. Max doesn't care.