“Hey, Tia, Shay…” Chino, the owner of the restaurant, greeted them with a big smile and a hug. “Haven’t seen you two here for awhile. Just give me a second, and I’ll get your table ready.”
He seated them at their special table in the back. Tia knew how much Shay loved sitting so close to the kitchen. James used to hate sitting here, so that Shay could wander in to see what Elaine and Chino were cooking. James pretty much hated even coming to the restaurant. Chino had been Tia’s dad’s best friend since they were kids, so anytime Tia needed advice she would go to him.
With Shay in the kitchen with Elaine, Chino came and sat with her. “So, little chica, what is the problem?”
“There’s no problem, Chino. Can’t I just come and eat at your restaurant anymore?” Tia tried to act offended at the thought that she only came to see him when she had a problem.
“You know you can come to eat here anytime you want, Tia, but you’ve deliberately stayed away for the last few months and I want to know why.” He reached across and took her hand, “You know you can talk to me about anything. We’re always here for you and Shay.”
Suddenly, the events of the last few days just spewed out of her. She told him everything, about James, about Simone, about the job offer, and even about her confusion over the triplets.
Chino sat and listened closely and just smiled. Then he patted her hand and got up, saying, “Wait here.”
It was odd behavior, even for Chino, and he was known for some really odd behavior at times
Tia saw him coming back carrying a big photo album. Placing it in front of her, he opened it and started to point to different pictures of him and her dad as boys. One in particular caught her attention because it wasn’t just him and her dad but there were two others as well. Twin boys, boys that, if she didn’t know the age of the photo, she could have sworn they were Ryder and Sam.
“Who are the twins, Chino? They look exactly like a set of triplets that I just met.” She smiled thinking about them.
“Those two troublemakers are Jordon and Heath Kinsey.” Chino smiled at her recognition.
“Kinsey? As in Kinsey Alberta? As in Simone, Ryder, Sam, and Daniel Kinsey?” Her hands were shaking as she continued to turn the pages. More and more were filled with pictures of the four of them.
“Yup, Jordon and Heath were hellions back in the day, and they continue to be just about as rambunctious to this day according to Jillian, their wife. Their daughter contacted me a few days ago about her idea for you to head up this new shelter. I think it’s a great idea. It will be a fresh start for both you and Shay.”
“So you are aware of the lifestyle that they and their family live.”
“Sure we were, and both your dad and I were jealous as hell, too.” He smiled fondly. “Remember, your dad and I had lousy fathers, but the twin’s dads were just great. They taught us how to fish and swim, they made sure we kept our grades up, and one of them was always there to talk to. No matter what the subject, one of them always took the time to spend with us. So it made having drunks for fathers a little more bearable.”
Tia’s head was spinning from all the revelations of the day. Shay came trotting out of the kitchen, Elaine in tow.
“Mom, guess what Tia Elaine just gave me?” Shay opened her hand to show her mom the pearl that she held.
“She said when they were in Mexico the last time, her and Tio Chino found this and thought of me.”
“It’s beautiful, sweetie. Do you want me to hold it for you so it doesn’t get lost?” She knew that if Shay lost it it would devastate her.
“That’s the beauty of it, Tia.” Elaine stepped forward, kissing Tia’s cheek. “Chino found this necklace that will hold the pearl so that she can wear it all the time if she wants.”
Tia watched as Chino placed the pearl inside the holder on the necklace and then arranged it around Shay’s neck. “It’s perfect on you, little one.” He smiled and hugged Shay close.
Tia didn’t know how she was going to be able to leave these wonderful people, but she knew now that the best place for their protection was in Kinsey. Just the thought of being closer to the triplets made her panties wetter.
“Okay, ladies, dinner is about to be served, so sit back and enjoy.” Chino never let them order from the menu. He always cooked something special for them, and it was always spectacular.
After bringing their meals, Chino and Elaine headed back into the kitchen, leaving Shay and Tia alone.
“Shay…we need to talk.”
Tia didn’t know how she was going to broach the subject of moving to Canada when Shay piped up, “So when are we headed to Kinsey?”
“Who told you about that?” Tia enquired.
“The twins, when we were upstairs. They had overheard their mom and dads…that is so cool to have three dads. Anyway, they were saying something about us moving to Kinsey and that they would be moving there just after us.”
It didn’t seem to bother Shay in the least that they would be moving to another country.
“How do you feel about moving to Canada?
“Good lord, Mom, Canada isn’t the Middle East!” She giggled. “It’s our neighbor to the north don’t ya’ know. I’ve heard the people up there are the best. Real friendly, and the twins said that the last time they visited their grandma and grandpas that the kids in the area were real cool. It sounds like a great place to live.”
Tia just smiled and stared across the table at her ten-year-old daughter. “When the heck did you become so grown up, young lady?”
Shay sat up straight and looked her mom right in the eye and said without a smile, “The day you finally divorced James. It was the best day of my life.”
Tia felt like someone had just kicked her in the stomach. She’d always thought that she had been able to hide the anger and violence from Shay.
“I’m sorry, honey, I should have gotten you out of there a lot sooner,” Tia said, fighting back the tears.
“You were the one that needed protection, Mom, not me. James is a mean man, and I’m glad he’s not my father anymore. Besides now I have a whole new, big family to get to know, and the triplets said they would be spending a lot of time with us so it all works out, right?”
I’m going to have to have a serious discussion with the triplets it seems, Tia thought to herself. She couldn’t have them telling Shay things like that and building up her expectations.
“When do we leave?” The question brought her out of her musings.
“As soon as we pack up the house and put it on the market to sell.” Reaching across the table she took her little girl’s hand. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? It means leaving your school friends and Tia Elaine and Tio Chino. We’ll come back and visit, but it won’t be for a while.”
“I’m so cool with this, Mom, and besides if we get them a webcam, then I can talk to them whenever I want.”
* * * *
Two weeks later, with the movers on their way and the house on the market, Tia and Shay climbed into the new SUV she had purchased and were on their way.
“This is the coolest car, Mom.” Shay squirmed in her seat in the back. “I can watch DVDs, listen to the radio, and I can even put my seat back to have a sleep. This just rocks.”
“Yeah, I thought it was pretty cool myself.” Tia smiled proudly.
“How long does it take to get to Kinsey?”
“Well depending on traffic we should be there by tomorrow evening. That’s taking into account the overnight stop I have planned in Kamloops.”
Tia looked at her daughter in the rearview mirror and smiled. “You anxious to get there, sweetie?”
Shay couldn’t seem to be able to look her in the eye. “Shay? What’s up? Are worried about making new friends? You shouldn’t be. You’ve never had a problem making lots of friends, and the twins will be in town just a couple of weeks after us, so you’ll already have two.”
“It’s not that, it’s just that I want to get as far away from
James as we can. The faster the better.” Shay gazed out the window, watching all the traffic fly but not really seeing it.
Her quietness worried Tia, and she vowed that when they arrived at their new home in Kinsey she would sit her daughter down and get whatever it was about James that was bothering her out.
* * * *
Crossing the border hadn’t been the hassle that she had been led to believe it would be. Mind you, Tia had been prepared. Everything that the border guards could have asked for she had at the ready. Passports, custody papers, work visa, which was something that she still didn’t quite understand. Simone had gotten her work visa approved within days of Tia giving her the go-ahead. I guess it being a judge helped her move things along quickly. It gave her a little extra pull.
Traffic hadn’t been too bad, but Tia could feel the exhaustion of the steady driving setting in. They arrived in Kamloops, British Columbia, about 9:00 p.m. and didn’t have any difficulty in finding a room at a small hotel.
Since they hadn’t stopped along the way for a proper meal, Tia wanted to make sure that room service was still available so that she could at least try to get something decent into Shay. Carrot sticks and other “rabbit food,” as James used to call it, was all they had had along the way. Tia had made a couple of sandwiches as well, but neither of them had been touched.
With Shay walking slowly behind, dragging her small tote, they got on the elevator and headed to their room. The young woman at the front desk had been so helpful with information about the food from room service. It seemed the chef was Italian, and his five-cheese lasagna was to die for. Tia would make sure to order that.
Tia swiped the key card into the lock and opened the door.
The room was huge in comparison to what she had expected. Shay dropped her bag by the door and flopped down on one of the two queen-size beds and turned the TV on. She would be a lost cause for the rest of the night. Tia smiled to herself.
Setting her case down on the dresser, Tia went into the bathroom. Turning on the light she checked to make sure there were enough towels and other sundries for their showers and then went back to order some food.
Both ladies ordered the chef’s special lasagna, and about ten minutes later it arrived at their door.
Tia was starving, and when she took the first taste of the lasagna she thought she had died and gone to heaven. It was the best she had ever had, even better than her own, and that was a big deal.
Shay shoveled it in while she watched some cartoon movie, glancing her way every once in a while.
Tia tried to hide the grin, but she just couldn’t do it.
“Yes, it’s better than mine,” she wailed with a laugh.
Shay let out the breath she’d be holding, “Sorry, Mom, but this stuff is awesome.”
“I know, sweetheart. Maybe if I talk real nice to the chef he’ll give me the recipe.” She winked.
By the time they had finished dinner they were exhausted. Shay grabbed a quick shower first, and then Tia jumped in afterwards.
Toweling her long, curly hair dry, she walked into the room to see Shay spread out on top of the covers asleep.
Smiling, she walked over, lifted her daughter, and placed her in the bed properly.
Kissing her on the forehead, Tia sat beside her and stroked the dark blonde hair back from her daughter’s young face. She’d been through so much this past year, and she taken everything in stride. The divorce, her father’s betrayal and now the move, were all really big things to be piled on top of this beautiful little girl.
“Mom?” Shay looked at her through sleep-filled eyes. “Make sure to lock the door so James can’t get in.”
Stunned by Shay’s comment, she wanted to ask why she was so worried about James getting in, but she had fallen back to sleep right away.
Tia locked the door and turned back to stare at her sleeping daughter once again. She wasn’t going to wake her to ask what she meant by that, but that was another point to add to the conversation they would have once they reached their destination.
They checked out of the hotel and were on the road again by 7:00 a.m. Hopefully, they would make it to their destination by that night. Tia had looked at the map before they left and saw that they still had quite a way to go yet, but she was pretty sure that they’d be able to do it.
She was anxious to get started on her new life and to see how much help she could be to other abused women like herself. It was odd to think of herself that way. She’d been raised to be a strong and independent person but when she met James he charmed her into believing that together they could do anything. But as the years went by she became the part of the they that stood behind her man as he advanced in his career. What she wanted to do became secondary to what he wanted and expected of her. When he didn’t think she gave it to him he belittled and abused her every time. Over the years it got worse. The only time he stopped hitting her was during her pregnancy. For that she was grateful.
As they came closer to their destination, Shay moved to sit up front with her Mom and started chattering away about all the things that the twins had told her they could do. There were dance classes, karate classes, and they even had a local famous artist that helped the kids in the area learn how to paint. Apparently, Kinsey was the place to be for a kid growing up. Tia loved her daughter with everything she was and wanted her to have the same kind of loving, creative environment that she’d had growing up. Hopefully, this new position would enable her to help both of them to heal.
Chapter 2
Pulling up in front of the address that Simone had given her, Tia was stunned by the size of it. She had expected to find an apartment waiting for them, not the beautiful house that stood before her.
Double checking the address to make sure she’d read it right, she turned off the truck and stared. Shay was out of the truck in a flash and doing cartwheels on the grass.
Finally climbing out of the SUV, Tia headed for the front door. She didn’t have a key yet so they’d only be able to look from the outside. As soon as they stepped onto the wide wraparound veranda, however, the door flew open and they were greeted by the three Kinsey brothers.
“Well it’s about time you ladies got here.” Sam smiled. “We were just about to send out a search party for you,
“Mom drives like a granny sometimes.” Shay laughed, ducked, and ran from the swat that her mom tried to give her.
“You are such a brat sometimes.” Tia laughed.
Heading into the house Tia noticed how much space the three brothers took up. The house was huge but they still made their presence known.
Sam was the tallest of the three, at six feet six inches tall. Solid muscle held his frame together. Not that Ryder and Dan weren’t huge as well. All three of the Kinsey brothers were built like brick shithouses.
They all looked great in faded button-fly jeans and T-shirts. Ryder’s black tee stretched over his solid chest and showed his incredible biceps. Tia noticed that it looked like they all had some sort of tattoo on their right shoulders, and it ended just below the arm of the shirt.
* * * *
Oh this could be really bad. Tia’s heart started racing. She loved tall, well-built men with tattoos. Didn’t know what it was about them, but something about the alpha male in them called to her.
Tia watched them as they goofed around with Shay and showed her the big backyard. All three men looked identical, but Tia noticed certain subtleties in both their appearances and they ways they moved that set them apart from each other.
Sam’s hair was a little shorter than his brothers and he had a tiny scar that framed the outside of his right eye. When he smiled it almost completely disappeared in his laugh line. He also seemed to be very even tempered.
Ryder’s hair was the longest, coming just past his shoulders, and he was the more dominant of the brothers. Tia noticed a very slight limp in his long gait as well.
Dan seemed to be the quiet, devilish one. The way he was teasing not only Sha
y but his brothers as well showed her that he could be very playful. His laughter was open and honest, and it made you want to laugh right along with him.
“All right, gentlemen, I think my daughter has been spoiled enough by you three for today. We need to unpack the car and settle things in here, so if you could show us around a little I would really appreciate it.”
Walking back into the house, Tia let out an audible gasp at the glorious kitchen spread out before her. It looked like it was built to feed an army, but it also had a very cozy feel to it.
Ryder, Sam, and Dan appeared immediately, worried that something had happened after hearing the little noise she made.
“What’s wrong, baby? Don’t you like the kitchen?” Ryder asked as he rested his hands on her shoulders.
Sam came around to the front of her and took her hands in his. “If you want to change anything just say the word and we can do it for you.”
“We want you to feel at home here, love, so any changes you want made just let us know.”
Tia looked at the three men that now surrounded her, her mouth opening and closing, trying to get the right words out.
“Are you crazy?” She laughed and gently pushed by Sam. She walked to the center of the room and spun around, trying to take in every corner of the kitchen. “This is the most beautiful kitchen I have ever seen.”
A collective sigh was heard from the triplets.
Ryder stepped forward, taking her hand and pulling her out into the backyard. Again Tia stood awestruck at the beauty of the landscape.
“Mom, did you see that ginormous pool and hot tub?” Shay squealed and ran back toward it.
Tears started to flow down Tia’s cheek as she watched her daughter flit from the pool to the trampoline and back again.
The men looked at each other then looked at Tia with big grins on their faces, not quite sure what to do.
“Honey, don’t cry please. We only wanted to make sure that you’d have everything you and Shay need to be comfortable at home.”
Bailey, Debbie - For Tia's Pleasure [Men of Kinsey 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 3