Chapter 17
JOSH
Joshie
I liked it. It felt like Daddy. I wanted nothing more than to be Tinley’s Daddy.
It was too soon for that. She was still so fragile.
Claiming her would scare her off for sure.
If we didn’t end up together, I had already made it my mission to provide an environment for her to heal and grow.
She had the hard part of the bargain. Being Tinley’s Daddy felt like my calling in life.
I grabbed my phone and sent off a text to my assistant to purchase a sketch pad, a marker, colored pencils, and crayons. I also requested she send me some photos of dog stuffies. I would let Tinley pick out the one she wanted.
Tinley walked into the kitchen. She compromised on her hair and pulled it all into a slicked-back ponytail with a braid.
“You look nice.” I motioned for her to sit on the stool on the counter. She climbed up and smoothed down her sweater.
“It felt like fall today.” She giggled and swung her legs back and forth.
I set a cutting board, a ceramic knife, and two bananas in front of her.
“Can you cut those for me?”
“Yep.” She nodded and peeled the banana, concentrating on making each cut equal to the next. I mixed the rest of the ingredients for the pancakes. The smell of bacon filled the room.
My phone beeped. I checked it.
“It’s a text from your aunt.” I showed her the phone. “I told Agent Stanley to give her my number.”
“What does it say?” Tinley continued with her job.
“She wants you to call her.” I set the phone on the counter. “She’s probably worried about you.”
“I can’t right now.” Tinley set the knife down. “Is that okay? I just want this for right now.”
“This is what you will have, for as long as you need.” I nodded.
She nodded back, picked up the knife, and went back to cutting the most perfect banana slices.
“I finished.” She pushed the bowl of bananas over to my side of the island.
“Nice job, Tinley.” I took the bowl. “Why don’t you pour us each a glass of juice?”
“Okay.” She hopped off the stool and skipped to the refrigerator. I didn’t think she even noticed. She yanked it open with a huff and stared at the contents for a while. She pulled out the orange juice and apple juice. “Which one do you want?”
“Orange, please.”
“Glasses?” she asked.
I pointed to the counter. She stood on her toes to reach it. The everyday glasses were on the bottom shelf, but the second shelf had a variety of plastic sippy cups. I hadn’t seen them before. Tinley stared at them. She stretched up but couldn’t quite reach it.
“You need some help.” I wiped my hands on a towel. “Which one do you want?”
“The Batman one.” She pointed. I handed it to her. “Oh, do these belong to someone?” She handed it back.
“It’s okay. I think they are Tyler’s, but you can use it.” I took down a glass for me. “They might be something Kyler bought for Rayna. She’s obsessed with ninjas and Marvel comics.”
“Really?” Tinley giggled. “Is she a tomboy?”
“Not really. She’s a middle, so she doesn’t like frilly things, but she’s girly.” Rayna was unique. All littles were, really.
“How old is her little?” Tinley poured the juice and carried them one at a time back to the table.
“She’s twelve most of the time.” I flipped the pancakes and added the bananas.
“I’m sure she could have finished school in Vegas.” Tinley climbed back on the barstool. “Why did she leave?”
“I don’t really know, but I have a theory.” I turned and leaned against the counter. “I think she wanted Kyler to come after her or tell her to stay.”
“So instead he buys a building and watches her.” Tinley grew animated. “It’s kind of romantic if it weren’t super creepy.”
“Hopefully, the charade will be over soon.” I went back to the stove. “Kyler isn’t subtle or discreet.”
I finished the pancakes and pulled the bacon out of the oven. I brought everything over to the table.
“This looks yummy.” Tinley hopped off the stool and slid into a chair at the table. I sat across from her.
She picked up the sippy cup with two hands and took a drink. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
She set the cup down and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“What?”
I handed her a napkin and couldn’t wipe the goofy grin off my face.
She took the napkin and dabbed her lips with the corner.
We both laughed.
We fell into a rhythm for the next week and a half.
We made breakfast together and then Tinley would have a session with Maria.
She would immediately write in her journal after each session.
Sometimes for a few minutes. A couple times she wrote for hours.
Then she’d come into the office where I worked and sketched on her pad.
She wouldn’t let me see what she was drawing.
I suspected it was several versions of me.
She let her little out as the day wore on. A high-pitched Joshie would signal she was ready for me to stop work and give her all my attention.
I was happy to oblige. I enjoyed spending time with little Tinley.
She’d make each of us a sandwich. We walked the property and talked about how I grew up.
How she grew up. She was super talkative during those outings, and it became my second favorite time of the day.
My favorite was the middle of the night, when somehow Tinley would wiggle over the line of demarcation in our bed and cuddle up next to me.
We never spoke about what she went through while taken and I never asked. I figured she got enough of that in her daily talks with Maria.
When it got dark, I would make dinner or order delivery, and we’d veg out in front of the television or in the theater room and watch movies or television until we went to bed.
We were curled up on the couch watching a Pixar movie when my phone buzzed. I didn’t like taking calls when I was with Tinley. The phone stopped buzzing, but a few seconds later, it buzzed again.
Kyler’s name was on the caller ID.
Tinley paused the movie.
“Hey, Ky, what’s up?”
“Fuck, man.” Kyler growled so loud Tinley sat up. “I’m this fucking close to buying an island and ordering all of you there for the rest of our lives.”
“Daddy.” I heard Rayna whine in the background.
“Is that Rayna? What happened?”
I stood up. Tinley sat on the edge of the chair, ready to leap into action.
“Fucking Santorini and his men tried to kidnap her.”
“Again,” Rayna said in the background and then giggled.
“Yes, baby.” Kyler huffed. “And it’s not funny.”
“What do you mean he tried to kidnap her?” I headed toward the mudroom. “Is she alright?”
“Yeah.” Kyler closed a door. “The doctor checked her out. She sprained her wrist, a bump on the head, a few bruises. The doctor gave her something to relax, and it’s made her loopy.”
“What the fuck happened?” I headed back toward the living room. Tinley remained on the couch, tracking me with worry in her eyes.
“She’s okay,” I whispered. Tinley released the breath she had been holding and collapsed back into the couch. She wrapped the blanket around her.
“A guy, some hired punk, grabbed her in the elevator of our building and tried to shove her in the trunk of his car before our guys got her.”
“Jesus, Kyler.” That deserted island seemed like a good idea. “That’s one way to get your girl back.”
Kyler didn’t laugh.
“Sorry, man. Too soon.”
He sighed.
“Listen, what do you need?” I leaned against the counter.
“I’m taking her to the house in the city for a few days.” Kyler sounded exhausted. “Why don’t you come in for Thanksgiving?”
“We can do that.” I peeked at Tinley. Her eyes grew wide. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Tell Rayna we’re glad she’s okay and back in the fold.”
“Thanks, man.”
I hung up the phone and walked back to the couch.
Tinley sat up. I sat next to her.
I stared at her, watching her brain work overtime. I opened my mouth to ask what she was thinking, but I didn’t have a chance. Tinley crawled into my lap and held me tight.
“Ump.” I situated her to make her more comfortable and hugged her. “Hey. It’s okay. Rayna’s fine.”
“Is she?” Tinley shivered.
“She is.” I rubbed her back.
Tinley buried her head in my neck.
“How do you know?” Her words vibrated against my skin.
“Because if she weren’t, Kyler wouldn’t have been able to put two words together, let alone sentences.” I tried to lean back to see her face, but Tinley wasn’t letting go.
“Are you sure?” Tinley shifted on my lap.
“Well, you will get to see for yourself on Wednesday.”
This got her to let go and lean back.
“Kyler wants us to come to the city for Thanksgiving.” I caressed her face. She leaned into my touch. “You up for that?”
“I think so.” She nodded and laid her head on my shoulder again. “Yeah. I want to meet her. Do you think she wants to meet me?”
“I imagine she would. I foresee a lot of squealing and interrogations in Kyler’s future once he tells her about you.” My phone beeped in my pocket. “It’s already started.”
Rayna: Uncle Josh, OMG! I can’t wait to meet Tinley.
I showed the phone to Tinley.
Tears pooled in Tinley’s eyes.
“Oh, sweet T. What’s wrong?”
“She’s so sweet.”
My phone beeped again.
Rayna: Give me her number, please.
“She wants your number.” I typed a message back to Rayna, but another message came through.
Kyler: You can send her Tinley’s number but let Tinley know Rayna will not be allowed to use her phone until tomorrow afternoon.
“Is she in trouble?” Tinley scooted off my lap and frowned.
“Probably, but he’s just trying to get Rayna to rest. She had quite a bump on her head.” I finished typing a message to them and set my phone down. “How about I schedule a call for tomorrow night?” I leaned back and Tinley cuddled up next to me. “I’m anxious to see she’s okay for myself.”
“Did Kyler tell them everything?” Tinley’s bottom lip quivered.
“Oh, Tinley. I don’t think he would share everything, but you know you shouldn’t be ashamed. What happened to you was not your fault.”
Tears dropped down her cheeks. “I know that, but still…” Tinley pushed my hand away and stood up. “I feel like I have this billboard hovering over my head in flashing lights saying sex trafficking victim. Approach with caution.”
I approached her, but she backed away.
“What happened to me”—she paced in front of the couch— “I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did Rayna get rescued before anything bad happened?” She covered her mouth and let out a sob. “It’s not fair.”
Tinley crumbled to the floor and cried. It broke my heart.
“Tinley.” I sat on the coffee table next to her. She grabbed my legs and rested her head on my knee. “I’m so sorry.”
“W-why are y-you s-sorry?” She hiccupped.
“Because, sweetie” —I lifted her face— “I didn’t find you sooner.”
“But you didn’t even know me.” Her grip tightened on my calf.
“I know it sounds ridiculous.” I shook my head. “Just as ridiculous as you blaming yourself for what happened to you.”
She huffed and searched my face. I scooted to the floor and held her to me.
“Remember my promise.”
Tinley nodded.
“Part of keeping my promise means I won’t let anyone around you who would hurt you either.” She felt good in my arms.
“You and Rayna have a lot in common and what happened to both of you is the least of your bond.” I kissed the side of her face. “But you don’t have to meet them now. They will understand.”
“I want to meet them,” Tinley whispered. “I want to meet the people who are special to you.”
I hugged Tinley tighter and kissed her cheek.
“Kissies,” she whispered.
I turned her face and kissed her lips. Little Tinley gets what she wants.