MC: LaPonte-Karr: Book Three (22 page)

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 fuckin 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.

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.

We get a certificate and Max gets his new vest saying he's an official K9 Companion so I take him to the Bakery so Peg and Karen can see.  He sits and doesn't move from the table.  The customers don't care and even Jess comes out to see him.  We go to my self-defense class but Max can't come in because we have to be scared to learn our moves so he stays with Sally watching until I'm done.

Patches

I stay at Security and watch Tess with Max.  He stays right with her and moves when she does.  He even follows her to the bathroom and sits at the door waiting for her.

"She'll be fine."  VP says.  "Never leaves the yard, taking self-defense classes and now has protection every-fuckin-where she goes.  Better than Sally.  She didn't follow to the john."  Rich and Pres laugh.

"Yeah."

"Why are you still watching then?"  Pres asks.

"She had a dream and isn't sharing it."  I tell them.

"When?"  Rich asks.

"This morning.  Max sat on her feet and didn't move.  She was on the couch holding a pillow when I came downstairs.  I sat on the side of her and held her hand.  When she was back she didn't say a fuckin word about it; acted like it never happened."  I look at him then look back at Tess.

"Was she crying?"

"No just holding the pillow."  As I'm saying it I realize it's probably not anything bad.

"You're going to have to let some of this go Patches.  If it was bad she'd cry with noise.  If it's sad there's no noise.  No crying is nothing to worry about.  You'll drive yourself crazy trying to guess."  Rich tells me.

"I think he's right Patches.  She's going to have this forever.  Can you imagine what it's like to have these visions and not be able to control it?  Seeing your stress will make it harder for her.  You have to find a way to deal with it that leaves you both at peace.  Women don't tell men everything and she already lives in a fish bowl.  Let her have her moments that are only hers."  Pres pipes in.

"I know you're right.  I need to figure out how to do that."  I tell them.

"Could stop stalkin her."  VP says.  Even I laugh at that.

"I'm out."  I throw chin and walk out to them laughing.  Fuckin Brothers, I think smiling.

Two days

Tess

I'm working numbers today, I love my days here.  I'm learning so much.  Jess is an awesome teacher.  She started letting me put in all the bills and purchase orders.  She's always happy.  Today there are two purchase orders that have the same items but they're different prices, by a lot.  I put them aside so I can ask Jess maybe they put the wrong name on it.  I don't even know what it is so it could just be different sizes and they didn't write it.  She would know.

When I'm done I find her in the kitchen making brownie batter for tomorrow.  I tell her about the PO's.  She asks me to get them so I do.  Max follows me everywhere and no one cares.  I'm glad.  I tell him to stay at the door and he does.  I don't really think he should be in the kitchen and he can see me from there so I'm good.  Jess looks at the PO's and asks me to pull last month’s PO's.  I do and find the same thing.  I show her the ones I pulled out.  She stops what she's doing and asks me to help her pulling all the PO's for the two companies.  I call Anita and tell her I can't make the Independent Life class.  She'll let the instructor know.

I pull everything Jess asks for and make copies.  I replace them in the files and put the originals on Jess' desk in order by date.  When I look for Jess, Peg says she went to talk to Petey.  I go back to her office and pull the PO's onto a report.  When I think about it, I decide to pull a report by item and filter for the one item from the PO's.

When I filter that by the company it shows all the same item but different prices.  I print it but don't get up.  I check other items and see the same thing on two of them.  I print them too.  I feel like a detective.

I'm so excited I don't pay attention.  Max sits on my foot; I pet his head and look up.  A man is dropping off papers for Jess.  I don't move from my desk, I tell him Jess isn't here but she'll be right back.  I don't look at him.  I've seen him in my dream.  He's not nice.  He leaves with his papers.  He didn't leave them like the other guys.

I go back to my items list and look on the PO's for other items and finish without finding any more like the three I already printed.  Jess still isn't back so I go to the sub shop to get a sandwich.

When I walk in a whole bunch of people are waiting in line so I stand at the end.  I keep my head down and watch their feet move.  "Hi Tess.  Are you doing ok back there, do you want to come up here?"  Evelyn asks me.  She's so sweet.

I look up at her and smile, "I'm fine Evelyn.  Thanks for asking."  She nods and goes back to work.  The man in front of me looks at me.  I look down.

"Look more than fine to me Tess.  Do you live around here?" He asks me.

"I get nervous around men.  I just came for a grinder."  I don't look at him.  Max sits on my foot.  He makes me feel calmer.

"Nothing to be nervous about, just asking Tess.  So do you live here or work here?"  He asks again.

"I don't like you saying my name it makes me nervous."  I just want him to leave me alone.

"Such a pretty woman to be such a bitch.  You're one of those high maintenance women right?"  Now he's just not nice. I see his hand move toward me.  My body starts shaking.  Max gets up and stands in front of me growling.  "Get this fuckin dog out of here!"  He yells.

Evelyn comes running out.  She takes my hand and walks me over to the table behind the deli case.  I watch her feet the whole way.  Amanda comes in and Evelyn asks her to stay with me.  She goes back and yells at the man.  "She always tells everyone when she's nervous.  Everyone else leaves her alone.  What the hell is your problem?  No means No here.  Her dog goes wherever she goes to protect her.  It's a good thing too.  There are too many assholes like you around."  Another man yells at him it's true I told him I was nervous twice and he called me a bitch.  Evelyn tells him to get out.  I hold my breath.  Oh boy she's mad because of me.

Amanda lets my hand go and smiles at me.  "You doing ok kiddo?"

"Yes, I'm sorry I made everyone mad.  Max was just trying to keep him away from me."

"Max was perfect.  The man should have listened to you.  It's about time the neanderthals are called out.  Maybe they'll learn how to act."  Evelyn says.  She's not mad at me.  I thank her and go back in line.  Amanda waits behind me.  I get my sandwich and go back to the Bakery.  I smile, I was scared, Max kept me safe even though I didn't take care of myself today.  I didn't run away either.  I went right back and waited in line.  I did good.  Max did better but we did it.  I can't wait to tell Sally at our meeting on Wednesday.  At the corner I see trucks in the Bakery lot.  That's too many people so I got to Jess' door.  Men are coming in and out.  Steve comes to the door with the phone at his ear.  He tells someone that I'm there and hangs up.

"Rich told me you're here."  He puts his hand out.

I look at him and then his hand; I put my hand in his.  He brings me into the office.  It's a mess.  I let his hand go.  "What happened?"

"Greed."  Steve says.  I just look at him.  Jess is talking to Ben.  She turns and comes to me hugging me.

"I'm ok Jess."

She smiles.  "Rich tracked you at the sub shop but it's good to see you with my own eyes."  I nod and she lets me go.  "As you can see the numbers you found were skimming that we're not supposed to know about.  Did you put the PO's on my desk?"

"Yes.  It was the only thing on it.  A man came to bring receipts but he left with them still in his hand."

"The PO's are gone.  The computers are fried.”  She’s frowning, this is terrible.

"But I made copies for the files and the lists are in the printer."  I tell her proud of myself.  She looks at Ben.  He goes to the printer and she goes to the file cabinet.  She unlocks it and pulls a couple of files taking the copies out.

"You are unbelievably underestimated.  Thank you Tess."  She goes to Ben.  I smile, look down and say 'wow'.  Steve makes me jump when he laughs.  He steadies me then steps away.

I smile, "I don't want to move because of the glass.  Max will get hurt."  He nods.

Ben looks over, he is mad.  Scary mad, Steve goes over to him Ben shows him the PO's then the reports.  Skimming must be stealing because Steve looks scary mad now.  I realize I'm not afraid of them.  I don't want to smile because they're mad so I look down.  Peg comes in and asks me if I want coffee while they figure this mess out.

"Oh yes.  There are too many people in here.  Thank you."  We go out the door again so Max doesn’t have to walk on the glass.  In the Bakery I tell Karen about Max helping me at the sub shop.  She thinks we make a good team.  I eat some of my sandwich and wrap it up for tomorrow.  Evelyn makes big grinders; even the small is too big for one lunch.  I watch the trucks go in and out.  The men are going in the side so I don't really see them.

Just when I decide to walk home Jess comes in through the back door.  "Tess you are a Godsend.  You backed up onto the flash drive today.  You saved the entire file.  My backup was stolen from my desk."  Oh no.  "Making the copies helped Ben figure out who it is that's skimming and the reports told him how much."

"Wow I did all that and didn't even know.  I was getting a grinder."  She laughs.

"Did you know this was going to happen?"  I shake my head no.  "How come you backed up when you just went for lunch?"

"Geek said to back up before I shut the program down, so I did."  It's a good thing.

"I need to thank Geek.  From now on I'm putting a backup in the safe.  We would have had to rebuild the files from the beginning of the year if you hadn't backed up."  She doesn't look happy about it.

"Since we don't have to, we're caught up right through today."  I smile.

"Yep.  I'm afraid there's nothing left for you to do today.  Geek will get us new computers and have us up and running but it will take a couple of days.  Do you want me to call for a ride for you?"

"Thanks Jess but I'm going to see if I can make some of my class."  I stand up and hug her Max follows me out.

I call Patches and tell him about Max helping me at the sub shop.  He laughs saying Max is the man.  I just hang up because I don't understand.