A Family Portrait

by J. J. Massa

  “She thinks she is, though.”

  “See what I mean? This young man knows and he’s only… How old are you, partner? Twelve? Fourteen?” T. Paul rubbed his chin.

  Rolling his eyes, Marc looked over at the little boy. “Don’t let him try to make you old before your time, son. He can’t be a day over ten years old, T. Paul. I know—I work with kids.”

  Tav leaned over and whispered, “He works with babies, not real kids.”

  He handed the boy a hammer and pointed to the nail. The little boy grinned widely.

  Tav felt his heart flip.

  “I’m Jacob. I know I don’t look like I’m ten.” He took the hammer Tav offered him and held it in both hands.

  “Want me to hold it with you this first time?” Tav asked him, waiting.

  Jacob nodded. Nervously, he edged in front of Tav’s legs to be closer to the nail.

  Together they whacked the nail solidly. The little boy’s face shone as if he’d won a medal.

  “I’m six,” Jacob said, taking the hammer in both hands and tapping the nail. “I’m the man in my family, though.”

  The three men nodded sagely. “Try it again, Jacob,” Tav encouraged him.

  Braver this time, the little boy smacked the nail solidly with the hammer. He gave it a good lick but his limited strength didn’t allow him to control the hammer. It slid off the nail and hit Tav squarely on the thumb.

  The little boy dropped the hammer and cringed, petrified. Tav ignored the other two men as well as the two women he knew were standing just inside the door. He cupped the little boy’s shoulder and leaned down to his ear.

  “Jacob? I’m not mad at you, son,” he said quietly. Jacob warily lifted his eyes to Tav’s. “Accidents happen. That’s why I wear these gloves when I work with tools. Later, we’ll go get you some gloves like mine.” Jacob’s wide eyes were still fixed on Tav’s. “A man needs a good pair of gloves when he’s working.”

  “Mr. Darke, I didn’t mean to hit your finger,” Jacob mumbled.

  “If I thought you did mean it, I might get a little mad.” He grinned and then his face became serious again. “Jacob, even if I got real mad at you, I’d never hit you, okay? You should know that if we’re going to be friends. You can call me Tav. That’s Mr. Marc and that’s Mr. T. Paul.”

  Tav directed Jacob’s attention back to the business of hammering nails again. Out of the corner of his eye, Tav saw Tracey’s friend let the youngest boy, who looked to be about three years of age, out onto the porch.

  “There’s nothing sexier in this whole world than studly guys with kids, huh Tracey?”

  Tav heard Sue ask her friend.

  Tracey… It goes very well with Tavist. Tav and Tracey Darke…He grinned. If, in this lifetime, the fates should decide to gift him with a second mate, he was not going to fight it. It looked like he’d have his hands full fighting Tracey.

  He laughed outright when he heard Tracey groan in disgust and stomp off. Jacob was busy laughing at Marc. Christopher had him by both ears and was blowing raspberries into his face. Suddenly, it seemed, something occurred to the boy.

  “Tav, how come you guys were laughing about Underdog? Don’t you like him?”

  Jacob asked. “My mom really loves Underdog.”

  T. Paul and Marc began to laugh helplessly again.

  “We like Underdog a lot, Jacob!” Marc said blowing raspberries into Christopher’s tummy.

  “Course we do!” T. Paul laughed. “We call ol’ Tav here Underdog. He rescues damsels and fights evil-doers all the time.”

  “Momma said you drew pictures and make things to look at?” Jacob looked questioningly at Tav.

  “That is exactly what I do son. I draw pictures and make things to look at. That’s what I do. You stay right here and keep Mr. T. Paul out of trouble. And don’t let him tell you any lies. I’ll be right back.” Tav got up and walked over to the door.

  He opened the screen door and looked in. Sue smiled and pointed down the hall. An ally! I know I’m gonna need a few of those.

  Tav began heading down the darkened hallway. Tracey who had been gathering laundry, wasn’t watching where she was going and walked straight into him.

  “We have got to keep meeting like this,” he grinned, wrapping his arms around her to keep her from staggering backward. I wouldn’t want her to trip. An armload of bed sheets was pressed between them.

  “Mr. Darke, what are you doing here?” Her voice sounded distinctly breathless to him and he could smell the fear she fought so valiantly to hide.

  “Here in general?” he asked looking around. “Or here?” he tightened his arms around her.

  Tav admired Tracey’s strength and her determination not to let him know how frightened she was of him and his friends. He sensed that any man would make her nervous and he wondered why.

  “Uhmm…” she squeaked. She cleared her throat.

  He leaned down closer, his lips brushing her ear. She’d dressed in threadbare jeans and a cotton shirt. Her vibrant red hair was pulled back in a flame colored ponytail.

  He didn’t try to resist nuzzling her ear with his lips. Once. Twice. Mmmm.

  “What do you want, Mr. Darke?” her voice was low and wavering.

  The panic she’d been struggling with sounded in her voice. She stood stiff and frozen in his arms, shaking slightly. He wanted her in his arms willingly.

  Reluctantly, he loosened his hold on her and stepped back. “I’m going into town to get some sandwiches and I’d like to know what you and your friend would like. I’d like to take Jacob with me. And…” He didn’t miss her indrawn breath when he’d told her that he’d like to take her son with him.

  “Nothing, no, and what?” she growled at him.

  Obviously, giving her some space had been a mistake. “Call me Tav. Please?” he gave her a little smile.

  To his surprise, her eyes filled with tears. “Why are you here?”

  He couldn’t help it. He stepped forward and gathered her into his arms once again, resting his cheek on her head. “Where else would I be?” he asked.

  He felt her try to rub at her face even though her hands were full. Gently, he leaned down and kissed one eyelid and the other. He leaned away from her to look into those beautiful fear-filled blue eyes.

  “My friends and I like to fix things. We like kids. You have some broken things and you have kids. I’m your only neighbor. We should look out for each other.”

  She studied his face for long minutes. “I don’t need anyone to look after me.” Her words said she didn’t need him but her voice and manner said she did.

  “I really need someone to look out for me, though. And I really need to be able to look out for someone else. I can’t help it—its how I am,” he explained apologetically.

  “I can’t stop you from fixing the porch but I’ll make lunch.” She tugged out of his arms.

  Once again he let her go—albeit with difficulty. “You mind if I bring you some food to fix? We eat… we eat a lot. A lot.” He didn’t want to shock her but she might as well find out now.

  “A whole lot?” She tilted her head and looked at him. He couldn’t believe the inner battle he fought to keep his hands and his lips to himself.

  “We’re really big guys with high metabolisms.” He nodded.

  “Okay,” she finally conceded.

  He turned to leave. He wanted to go and come back. For once, he was very glad that there was a Super Wal Mart nearby.

  “Tavist?” Tracey cleared her throat. He had his back to her so she didn’t see his sloppy grin.

  “Yes, Tracey?” He inclined his head back toward her.

  “You aren’t going to bring alcohol are you? Like beer?”

  He turned to look at her worried face. “No, Love. Root Beer is as close as I get. Same with Marc and T. Paul.”

  “You don’t drink?” She seemed nervous about asking him this.

  “None of my friends drink, Tracey. We don’t need it.” She nodded. “Beside
s,” he grinned, “don’t you think hammers and nails and beer are a recipe for personal injury?”

  She smiled shyly at him. “Yes, I definitely do.”

  *

  Tracey moved to the open window that was nearest Jacob. She listened as Tav stopped to tell the boy he was leaving.

  “Jacob, I’ll be right back, I’m going to the store to get lunch.” He’d stopped and rested a large hand on his small shoulder.

  “Tav?” Her son sounded so hopeful. “Can I go with you?”

  Tav looked around and then edged Jacob a few steps away from the other two men and Christopher. Lowering his voice, he asked, “If I take you with me who would look after your mama?” He glanced at T. Paul and Marc. They were taking turns playing with Christopher and working on the railings. “She might be uncomfortable with those two strange jokers hanging around.”

  Jacob took a deep breath and shoved his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. He nodded sagely. “I guess they’re probably harmless,” he said. He saw Tav fighting a smile. “Still, they’re big and mean lookin’,” Jacob said.

  Tav squeezed his shoulder and said, “I’ll be pretty quick. I need some groceries in my belly, how about you?”

  Jacob rocked back on his heels again and said nodding, “A man’s gotta eat.”

  Tav looked up then and caught her watching them through the window. Tracey had the impression that he’d known she was there the whole time.

  He was gone a remarkably short time for the amount of food and other things he brought back. Tracey and Sue were in awe of the three pounds of roast beef, three pounds of ham, three pounds of cheese and five pounds of hamburger meat that were in the bags he hauled into the kitchen.

  He told her that he wasn’t sure what kind of condiments she, Sue, and the boys liked so he got mayonnaise, mustard, catsup, and salad dressing. He’d also gotten rolls, bread and buns of various descriptions.

  She was surprised to find three gallons of milk in the bags. “Don’t be shy about making plenty. I meant what I told you, we eat a LOT.” Was he blushing?

  ———

  Everybody spread out on the porch, picnic style and ate. It was a nice day and there really wasn’t room in the house. Tracey had cooked up half the meat in rare and medium rare burgers for the men and Sue had piled meats and cheeses on ten of the rolls.

  Christopher was dividing his time between the bread and lunchmeat that she and Sue were trying to feed him and the Little Tykes® hammer and nail set Tav had brought him.

  He’d given Jacob a small pair of leather work-gloves, a smaller hammer, and a couple of different “smart nail holders” for them to try. She’d seen him place a nice frame on Ashley’s bed for her award certificate.

  Date behavior and we’re not even dating. He’s not going to get to me. No he isn’t.

  “So do you guys live nearby, too?” Sue asked Marc and T. Paul. A vegetarian, Sue was eating a roll stuffed with cheese, breaking off pieces for Christopher when he toddled over.

  “Nope,” said T. Paul. “I live in Baton Rouge where we grew up.”

  “I live in Tampa,” said Marc.

  “How’d you guys meet? In college?” Sue was ever curious. So was Tracey but she wasn’t going to admit it.

  The men laughed. “Nope!” laughed T. Paul. “You think this ignorant hound went to college?” He gave Tav’s shoulder a shove. “He spent his college years out saving the world.”

  Tracey would have liked to hear more about that but Sue was asking the questions.

  “So?” Sue drawled. “How did you meet?”

  “Through one very special lady,” declared Marc. Tav reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “I delivered her babies. Twins.” All of the sudden Marc was interested in Christopher again, snatching him up and rubbing his face on the little boy’s tummy.

  “They got a bad virus in Baton Rouge. They would’ve died if we hadn’t caught it in time. That’s when I met Tav,” T. Paul explained. “But Tav had the toughest gig.”

  “What was that?” Tracey had to ask, noticing Tav shaking his head from side to side.

  “My buddy here came out of hiding to keep her safe until she could get with her mate—her husband,” Marc told them.

  “Why was that such a difficult job?” Sue asked. “And why would you think you had to do it?”

  “Underdog here,” Marc reached over and squeezed Tav’s neck affectionately, “saw her and the boys being attacked. He scared the a—animal away and stayed with her for a year, in the background mostly, until it was over. He even went with her mate to hunt the dirt bag down when he snatched her and one of the pups.”

  Pups? She and Sue exchanged glances.

  It was obvious to Tracey that Marc thought a lot of Tav.

  Marc moved over to Christopher’s toy to play with him. Tav and T. Paul looked at each other. They both looked over at Marc.

  “Hey!” T. Paul spoke up. “Listen, let’s change the subject. How did you two meet?” he asked the women.

  Tracey had about a zillion more questions to ask but she couldn’t miss the nonverbal cues. Marc really didn’t want to pursue the subject and his friends were looking after him.

  “Um…” she searched for the right answer. Sue, the goofball, bailed her out.

  “Ours was the quintessential online romance,” she sighed, lifting Tracey’s hand and kissing it.

  Jacob leaned close to Tav. “They think they’re cute,” he murmured. Tav chuckled.

  “They are cute, buddy,” he answered.

  “Guess that’s why they think so then!” He stood up and carried his paper plate to the trashcan and began examining his gloves, hammer, and nail holders again.

  “Sue owns an online book review magazine. I’m one of the reviewers that write for her,” Tracey began to explain.

  “How does that work?” Tav wondered.

  “Authors and publishers advertise with her and I read books and send in my reviews.”

  “So you get paid to read books, say what you think, and then report about if you like ‘em or not?” T. Paul marveled.

  “Yeah! Pretty cool, huh?” she said impishly. “I don’t even have to buy the books. I just read ‘em and type up what I think.”

  “Wonder where I can get a job like that?” Sue laughed, picking up some of the lunch litter.

  Tracey was amazed at the amount of food the three men packed away. “Did you guys get enough?”

  “Can I bring some cookies out, Mom?” Jacob spoke up before anyone could answer Tracey. “Aunt Sue always brings tons of cookies. She likes to cook ‘em and we like to eat ‘em!”

  “I’ll bring them out,” Sue said, laughing. “I’ve got to make sure there’s a couple left for Ashley!”

  Tracey noticed Jacob’s worried frown as she went to collect a cranky Christopher from the Fonteneax brothers. She could have sworn one of them said something about how he packed a hell of a wallop for a human pup. And why is this man referring to my baby as a pup? A HUMAN pup no less!

  The two doctors had resumed their porch repair duties with cookies in hand and Sue in tow. Her favorite motto was “It’s free to look!” and she was taking advantage of the bargain.

  Tracey had moved to close the window when she realized that Jacob had pulled Tav over near the boys’ bedroom window to talk. It was the farthest point on the porch from the pounding.

  “Tav,” Jacob began, “You know I like you and the guys, right?” Tracey wondered what this was about. She was a little uneasy that Jacob liked the dark haired man already.

  “Thanks, Jacob.” Tav had squatted down to talk to him. “That really means a lot to me. I like you, too.”

  “I’ve got a little problem, Tav.” Jacob sounded kind of nervous now, but determined to say what was on his mind.

  “You know, Jacob, I want to be your very good friend. Your problem is my problem. Tell me what I can do to help.”

  “I don’t want to hurt your feelings or—or” he cringed a little, “make you ma
d.”

  Tracey was seriously concerned now.

  “Okay, I get that you’re really bothered about something and you think I’ll take it the wrong way?” Tav asked. Tracey could see her son nodding. “Tell me and we’ll work it out like men do, okay?”

  Jacob blew out a sigh. “Ashley saw you yesterday. She could probably get used to you after a while.” Tav nodded. Jacob looked down at his shoes and back up at Tav. “If she sees all three of you giant guys here when she comes home, she’s gonna freak.” He closed his eyes and screwed up his face as if expecting a blow to fall.

  Surprising Tracey, as well as Jacob from the look on his face, Tav pulled the little boy into his arms for a quick hug. “You are a good man, Jacob West. And you’re a great brother. I’m proud of you for looking after your sister that way.” Tav shook the bemused boy’s hand. “I’ll make sure I clear those big apes out of here before Ashley gets home.”

  Jacob beamed up at Tav. Clearly he had found a new hero and best friend and Tracey wasn’t sure how she felt about that turn of events. Yes, she wanted her son to have a man to look up to, of course she did. Her problem was that she wasn’t even sure how she felt about the sexy stranger that brought his friends to repair her porch.

  Chapter 3

  True to his word, Tav and the Doctors Fonteneax finished their work and said their goodbyes. They were sitting on Tav’s back porch when they heard Sue and Jacob walking up the lane to meet Ashley.

  “So you had a good day, huh, little buddy?” they heard Sue ask Jacob.

  “I did, Aunt Sue.” Jacob’s voice dropped a little. “I accidentally hit Tav’s finger with a hammer and he didn’t even hit me. Not once.” The little boy’s voice held awe and wonder.

  The three werewolves listening exchanged glances.

  “You know what, Jacob?” Sue asked.

  “What, Aunt Sue?”

  “Most grown up men don’t hit their little boys when accidents happen.” This seemed to be a foreign concept to the little boy.

  “How come my daddy hit me then? And Ashley too, and she never did any accidents?”

  Tav felt his teeth lengthen upon hearing this. That anyone would hit either of those children enraged him. The idea that a father who was lucky enough to have his children around him would hit them at all—especially just for the hell of it—it made him crazy.