Moving a Little Heart (5 page)

"Wow, thanks. I have to say, I am grateful for this help. There is no way I could have done it myself in the amount of time I had left."

"Does the landlord have a set of keys? If so, lock these extras in the house and use this as a forwarding address," Jake said, jotting down the address to the CHP station. "I'll let the mailroom know to give it to me. I don't want anyone to know where you live."

"Thank you," Baylor whispered.

"I already got it locked up. Here's your spare, just in case," Hayden responded, flipping the spare key in his hand and handing it to Baylor. "Let's get home. I'm hungrier than a bear in springtime."

Despite her protests regarding Terry's orders to nap, Baylor dozed off in the back of the F250 king cab on the way home. By the time they arrived, the moving truck was nearly empty and boxes had been placed in their appropriate rooms.

"We didn't know if you wanted us to unpack for you, Miss Baylor," one of the men said as she stepped sleepily out of the truck. "We got all the furniture put together and set up. Let us know if you need anything moved."

"No, that's okay. I wanted to take the time to sort through stuff and get rid of things. Thank you so much" she said gratefully. "I thought you guys were going to have a party."

"T-Bear is setting everything up. Trust me," Jake said, chuckling, "you are going to hear the sounds of fun in a few minutes. Once they close that truck's doors, the noise will begin."

"I thought you were worried about bothering the neighborhood." She turned to Hayden.

"Half these guys
are
part of the neighborhood. Everyone else is too far away."

Baylor felt like a queen on her throne, surrounded by a swarm of faithful servants. Between cannon-balls in the pool and offerings of food and drink, her senses were overwhelmed. The blistering heat of the sun, exhaustion, and one too many frozen margaritas left her feeling woozy. She excused herself to go inside and sit alone in the cool, air-conditioned house. The pounding of her head demanded a few minutes of quiet, so she ventured upstairs and sat on Jake's bed.

"There you are, babydoll," Terry said, sitting on the bed next to her. "I've been looking all over for you. I even went next door. I brought you some ice-cream."

"Thanks. I just have a horrible headache and had too much to drink."

"Open up," he said, spooning the icy treat into her mouth. "Good, huh?"

"It's incredible. Thanks. For everything."

"My pleasure, Angel. Things have been a bit rough for you lately, haven't they?"

"It's a bump in the road. I'll get over it."

"You know," he spooned another scoop into her mouth and then dabbed her lips with a napkin, "you don't have to put up this wall. Those guys…" he tilted his head towards the sound of the rambunctious laughter outside, "well, they're the best. Give them a chance."

"Are you playing matchmaker?" Baylor asked, opening her mouth for the final spoonful.

"I was with them when the divorce happened. I'd just broken up with my ex as well," Terry said, putting the bowl down and taking her hand. "We helped each other through hell."

"Have you known them long?"

"About fifteen years. Hayden pulled me out of a fallen mine shaft, and then Jake pulled me out of jail."

"What?"

"I was trespassing and got stuck. Thanks to them, charges were dropped and I survived to live another day. They were the only ones I invited to my wedding." His voice trailed off. "I'm gay, and not too many guys in the service back then were as open as they are today."

"How long were you with your partner?" Baylor asked softly.

"Six years. We separated at the same time Amy left them."

"That must have been so hard for you."

"It's always tough when you lose someone you love. But, that is when we decided that we would stick together. Hayden bought this house and some property to expand and then, one by one, we got transferred over here. We made a promise to stay together as a family."

"That's really sweet. And when did Matt come into the picture?"

"He and Jake go back from the beginning. They were joined at the hip until Matt got involved with the Peace Corps and transferred to South America. You will love that scraggly haired dude a lot. Just a head's up—he's my partner. Would you like some more ice-cream?"

Baylor shook her head, pulling her legs up and crossing them on the bed. "No, thank you. Terry?"

"Yeah, babygirl?"

"Jake said something to me this morning that bothered me. I don't know what to do with it."

"Jake is not the master of tact." Terry laughed. "But I'm certain he meant nothing bad, whatever it was."

"Actually, he informed me that—and I am paraphrasing—I am a little child in a woman's body and that until I come to terms with my needs, I will be miserable."

"That sounds like something Jake would allude to. Why are you bothered?"

"Don't you see?" She looked up at the big man. "How can he determine something like that without even taking the time to get to know me? Hayden, too. They're both so, so…"

"Over-bearing? Dictatorial? Domineering? Bossy as hell?"

"I was going to say 'familiar', but yes."

"Let me guess," Terry leaned on his elbow as he stretched across the bed. "Old Jake threatened to spank you because you didn't do what he asked."

Baylor felt her face flush. "Yeah, and he made me stand in the corner, too."

"How did that make you feel?"

"Stupid."

"Be truthful. Don't be afraid, Uncle Terry is listening."

"I hated it. It forced me to think about all the shit that's happened, and how I feel about things. I don't want to feel. Don't you get it?" Baylor felt the tears start again. "When I let myself feel, that means I can be hurt. I'm tired of hurting."

"Come here a sec," Terry pulled her down next to him and cuddled her against his chest. "Yeah, it hurts sometimes to feel. But it can also be good. Give yourself a chance and explore. I promise that no one in this house will hurt you like you've been hurt before."

"I don't want to be hurt at all."

"I can't promise you that a bottom blistering won't hurt, but I can promise your heart will be safe."

"No one is touching my ass, thank you."

"Hmm, I give it two weeks before that statement is proven false." Terry grinned, tweaking her nose.

"You can give it a lifetime, it's not happening."

"Hey! Is everything all right up here?" Hayden asked, walking into the room and plopping down on the bed with them.

"Everything is fine. I needed to bring our girl some of my famous ice-cream."

"Did he feed it to you?" Hayden asked, with a cheerful smirk.

"Yes," Baylor sighed. "It was either let him shovel it into my mouth or suffer watching it melt. Hayden? Thanks for all of this. I do appreciate it. I'm sorry I'm so stubborn and independent."

"You're welcome, my girl, and I can handle your stubborn independence as well as your willfulness, sassy mouth, rebellious—"

"Hey! I didn't say
those
things about myself!"

Hayden laughed. "Just kidding. Well, no, actually I'm not. The cow is almost done roasting. Are you hungry?"

"I'm famished," Terry answered.

"You're always famished. I was talking to our guest."

"Not really. I have a headache still."

"How much did you have to drink?" a third voice sounded. "I saw those boys handing you margaritas and wine coolers."

"I'm an adult, Jake," Baylor scoffed. "I can drink whenever, and however much I want."

"Your adult here just scarfed down a whole bowlful of ice-cream." Terry laughed, patting Baylor on the thigh. "Don't be so snippy. He's just looking out for you."

Jake pushed Hayden over to make room for himself. "Can I do anything for you?"

"No," Baylor said. "I'm sorry. Things are just catching up with me and I'm taking it out on you guys. I'm going to go home and lie down for a while."

"I'll get the guys to quiet down a bit," Terry said, standing up.

"They're fine. Honest. My room is on the opposite side of the house and I won't be able to hear a thing."

"Nonsense." Terry waved, leaving the room.

"I'll take her over and get her settled. You," Jake pointed to Hayden, "make her a plate and stick it in her fridge."

"Jake, I don't need a babysitter. Please, just let me go home and rest a bit."

"Forget arguing with me right this minute," he ordered, before turning to Hayden. "Are you still here?"

"Cut it out. You can't boss me around the way you do Baylor." Hayden frowned. "I don't like it."

"Sorry." Jake shrugged. "I sometimes forget that you aren't a dumb little kid that talks funny anymore."

"Bullshit. You just like being a bully. I'll be over in a bit."

"Guys," Baylor rubbed her head, "I appreciate you wanting to help me. I really do. But you need to give me some time to rest and wind down. I'm not used to having people around me all the time anymore. It's too much like being with my ex and his family."

"Well, then we won't bother you anymore," Jake said, standing up quickly.

"Wait a minute. I didn't mean to insult you. I just need some time alone."

"Take as much time as you need. Excuse me."

"Hayden? Honestly, I didn't mean to hurt his feelings," Baylor said, watching Jake leave the room.

"How else would he feel? You compared him—us—to some real scumbags. I'm going to go back to my friends. You have our number. Call if you need anything."

She blinked, befuddled by the reactions of the two men. She really hadn't meant to hurt either of them, but they just would not listen to her requests. She slowly rose off Jake's bed and straightened the quilt that stretched across it. Her fingers traced the pattern—someone had put a whole lot of love into making the thing. She wondered who it had been. His mother, perhaps?

Baylor leaned over the edge of her bed, clutching her temples. The pain was terrible, debilitating, and rendered her completely helpless. She had experienced migraines before, but never to this extent. Regretting her decision to leave her neighbors' house, and their care, Baylor found herself alone. Again. There was nobody to blame this time but herself.

Tears dripped down her face and onto the carpet. She had foolishly packed her medications, and had no idea in which box to find them. Nausea, brought on by the pain, added to her misery, and she fought against the dry heaves that, if possible, increased the pain level. She was, if she could be tender in saying so, fucked.

Squinting her eyes, she tried to read the number Hayden had written on the paper. Realizing she'd left her cell phone in her purse, and that her purse was at the Paterson house, she released a string of muttered curses. She had not had a land line installed—why pay for two phone services when the cell worked just fine?

"I'm such an idiot," she muttered, leaning back on her bed and covering her head with a pillow. "If there was any time I needed a daddy, now would be it."

Her own words stunned her. How could she even consider such a thing? Pain changes people, she reasoned. Whether it be emotional or physical, people do things that they ordinarily would not in order to stop it. It was too late, though. She had blown it. If only she had listened with her heart instead of her head. If only…

It was well after midnight when Baylor crawled to the bathroom to relieve herself. She paused afterwards, resting her forehead on the cold tiles of the floor.

That was how Jake and Hayden found her the following morning.

"Baylor? I want to apologize for—Baylor! Hayden! She's in here."

"What the hell? Honey? Are you hurt?"

She hid her face in Jake's shoulder as he carried her to the bed. "Get Terry over here," he commanded. "Baylor? Talk to me, sweetheart."

"Headache. Bad. Can't talk," she stuttered. "Hurts."

"He's on his way. What's wrong with her?" Hayden asked.

"I'm not sure. It sounds like she has a migraine."

Terry shooed the two out of his way as he looked her over. He tsked loudly, stethoscope in his ears as he evaluated her blood pressure.

"Well, it's no wonder she has a headache. She's severely dehydrated," he plucked at the back of her hand and watched the skin stay in place instead of springing back, "and she's hypertensive. 190/120. Let's take her to the hospital."

"No," Baylor muttered. "No insurance. Can't afford it."

"Young lady, I am not going to hear any arguments this time," Jake said firmly. "You are going."

"No, please—"

"Shh, calm down," Terry urged, patting her hand. "I can hook her up to an IV. I have some fresh bags in my emergency kit. Let's see if that will help. Baylor? Do you have medications for the migraine and your blood pressure?"

"Yes," she whimpered. "I don't know where they are."

"Unfuckingbelievable," Jake said, ignoring the shocked look on both Hayden's and Terry's faces as he repeated Baylor's favorite expression. "The girl is a time bomb. Let's find her meds while T-Bear hooks her up."

***

Baylor opened her eyes several hours later. The sound of heavy breathing jarred her from sleep. "Terry? Is that you? You're snoring."

"Huh? Hey, Angel, how are you feeling?" Terry sat up from the recliner and rubbed his face.

"Much better. Thanks for not taking me to the hospital. That would have been one more source of stress that I can't handle right now."

"I get it, kiddo. Your new daddies don't, though," he said, checking her blood pressure and skin turgor. "Much better. I'm gonna give you another bag."

"Are they on that 'daddy' road again? My God, they just met me," Baylor said, watching as he changed the IV and checked the drip rate.

"Did you know you were calling both of them 'Daddy' until you finally fell asleep?"

"If I did something that stupid, it was due to delirium, nothing more."

"Well, regardless, you're in it for the long haul now." Terry chuckled. "They are going to be watching over you like a mongoose to a cobra. No biting back, either. You are officially one of us, you poor little thing."

"They can't just adopt me because they're in the mood to spout parental concern upon someone. Tell them to get a puppy."

"They have that damn Gila monster." Terry gave a visible shudder. "She's not very cuddly, and can be nasty if she's in the mood."

"Have you been bitten?"

"By the lizard? No. But I've had other lizards that—"

"Lalalala," Baylor put her hands over her ears. "TMI, don't wanna hear it. Lalalala."

Terry poked her in the side. "It's good to see you have a sense of humor, tidbit. Do you need to go potty? I have dumped three bags of juice into you."

"Seriously, Terry? Yes, I have to go to the bathroom. What are you doing?"

"I'm helping you. You have a hook-up to your arm, remember? Easy, now." He helped her stand and supported her while she balanced herself. "I can bring you a bedpan. I have one at the house."

"I'm not even going to ask why you keep them around, but no. Shit!" Baylor grabbed his arm as she stumbled.

"That's it. No arguments." He easily lifted her up and carried her into the bathroom. Despite her protests, he had her shorts and panties down and sat her on the toilet in seconds.

"Get out of here!" she hissed, covering herself with her hand.

"Trust me, baby. I am not interested in your lady parts. You don't have the, uh, accoutrements that I prefer," Terry said, grinning as he leaned against the doorframe.

"Oh, God." Baylor rolled her eyes, her bladder oblivious to her attempt at modesty.

"Stay there for a few minutes. I'm going to get you something to drink."

"Are you trying to make me float away?" Baylor snarled. She sat and waited for the trickle to finally stop and then slowly stood, clutching the wall as she adjusted her shorts. She was just stumbling back into the bedroom when Terry, followed by Jake and Hayden, returned.

"Just what do you think you are doing, young lady?" Terry scolded, as the other two men caught the girl by the arms.

"Going back to bed. Duh."

"She's mouthy this evening," Hayden observed. "She must be feeling better."

"Well, as soon as she's back to her old feisty self, this little lady and I are going to have a very long talk," Jake said, lowering Baylor to sit on the bed. "I found your medical file with your drugs."

"Shit," Baylor muttered, looking away from him. She popped a piece of bubblegum into her mouth and refused to look at him.

"Let me guess," Terry said, crossing his arms and frowning. "Hypoglycemic? Hypertension? Brat-disorder?"

"I don't know about the last one, but certainly the first two. No wonder you've been falling all over the place. Are you crazy? Why didn't you say something?" Jake asked.

"If anxiety is considered crazy, then yes," Baylor retorted. "It was none of your business."

"It would have become my business if you had passed out while driving the other night!" Jake's voice boomed as he placed his hands on his waist. "It would have become my business if you had fallen down the stairs in my house! It would have become my business if you'd decided to take a dip in the pool and drowned yourself!"

"Okay! I get it. There is no need to shout."

"Oh, you have not heard shouting yet. When I am done with you, there will be no doubt in your mind as to the difference between me being annoyed and me being just plain pissed!" His voice rose another decibel, and Baylor flinched.

"Baylor," Hayden said calmly, scooting next to her. "Like it or not, you're sick. And, like it or not, we are all going to take good care of you. Got it?"

She looked between the three of them, her memory returning to the night before when she'd felt so helpless and alone. Slowly, she nodded and lowered her eyes to look at her lap.

"Good. Now that this is settled, we are going to set a few rules. One, you will be taking care of yourself," Jake said. "Terry?"

"I want to see your glucometer every evening before you go to bed. You are to start making a chart of your blood sugars, and follow-ups if they are off. Got it?"

"Yes, sir," Baylor whispered, blowing a bubble. It popped on her face.

"You will be joining us for breakfast every morning, and dinner every evening," Hayden added. "You said you can't boil an egg. You are going to learn to cook, and I am going to teach you. This way you have no excuse if I'm gone and can't cook for you."

"And finally," Jake's face was drawn to a stern frown, "you are going to follow a schedule and learn some accountability. I want you to come to us immediately if you are experiencing any type of unusual stress so we can help you. I promise you that a spanking will be in your future if you even
think
about neglecting your health again. Am I understood, little girl?"

She was startled at the clip in his tone. Her breath caught in her throat as she tilted her face away from them and nodded, feeling the warmth of a single tear roll slowly down the bridge of her nose. The truth was that she had no strength to argue even if she wanted to.

"Any questions?" Jake asked, crossing his arms.

In a tone just above a whisper, she asked, "Does this mean I can't make decisions for myself?"

"Of course not! We're not taking away your independence, Ladybug. We are simply trying to make you understand that it's time for you to focus on yourself. Your health cannot be replaced." Hayden held her hand. "You said you can't afford medical care. Is your rent too high?"

"No. I got an email from the realtor yesterday saying that the owner had reduced it to half because of the inconvenience of my neighbors," Baylor said with a smile.

"She did not!" Jake sounded appalled.

"I swear she did. I didn't even have to snitch on you either. It came out of the blue and, believe me, it was a blessing. I'm paying the same now as I did at that old place."

"That should reduce some of your stress," Hayden said. "Although I'm not too sure how I feel about the reason."

"Obviously the owner knows about your activity level. He probably assumed that you were still overseas and working the weird shifts and weren't home very much." Baylor shrugged.

"Well, I'm glad he thought of you. It was very considerate of him," Jake said.

"Yes, it was. I asked the realtor to convey my appreciation but I didn't dispute the reasons for reducing the rent." She giggled. "I'm no dummy."

Silence filled the room for a moment.

"Please, don't scare us like this again," Jake requested gently.

"Do you realize how close you were to stroking out, darling?" Terry asked, joining them. "That would have been an awful tragedy, plus it would have given your fuckhead ex and his family something to gloat about. We wouldn't want that, would we?"

"No."

"Will you gentlemen please stop swearing?" Jake said. He kneeled on the floor next to Baylor's bed and leaned his folded arms on the edge to look up into her face. "I don't want to see you become another statistic. Do you have any idea what it would do to me if I had to write up a death report on you?"

His voice held so much emotion that Baylor could not help but look at him. "Do you really want to be my daddy?" she whispered.

"I do."

"And you?" she looked at Hayden. "Do you want to be my daddy, too?"

"Absolutely."

"I've already claimed the uncle position, so you don't have to ask me," Terry grunted.

She looked back and forth between Jake and Hayden. With an audible sigh, she nodded. "All right, we'll try it."

"Excellent." Jake smiled. "You're aware of what this means, don't you?

"No, what?" Baylor looked at him suspiciously.

"You owe me a day at Chuck E. Cheese. You just lost our bet."

"I hate Chuck E. Cheese," Baylor groaned, snapping her gum.

"And one more thing. Spit it out!" He held out his hand. "No more gum."

"That's not fair," she sneered. He snapped his fingers and held his hand under her mouth. "Fine. But you're a big bully."

***

Baylor sat at the dining room table and glowered at her plate.

"What's wrong now?" Jake asked impatiently.

"It looks weird."

"It's Pad Thai," Hayden said, taking a bite. "Try it."

She wrinkled her nose. "It smells funny."

"Just try it and stop acting like a baby," Jake ordered.

Baylor grumbled and timidly took a bite. She pushed the plate away and shook her head. "Yuck."

"We're not running a restaurant here, young lady," Jake scolded.

"Thai is an acquired taste, dude. Let her be. Mac and Cheese? A burger?" Hayden offered.