6-JACOB

“Listen to me, you son of a bitch. I'm not interested in hearing your fucking excuses. I told you I wouldn’t allow that kind of behavior to my female staff. Just because you have balls doesn't make you superior to them. In any case, you promote the stigma that men are animals.”

“Come on, Coleman. I was just joking around with the girl. I’d be incapable of doing anything to anyone. Besides, I had to try. You don't get women like that in Red Falls, if you know what I mean.”

“No, Jones, I don't know what you mean,” I growled, slamming my house’s front door once I was inside. “And you shouldn't know either. You're married, for God's sake.”

“Please, Coleman, I've been with this woman for forty years. She doesn't get it up anymore,” He said, laughing in my ear. “She knows it and accepts it and rather insists me to look for something out there.”

I really doubted his wife shared the same opinion about their marriage.

“I don't care what your wife thinks, Darren, I care what the women who work for me say. I warned you the last time when the incident with Kristy happened. There are no more warnings for you.”

“I just told the bitch she had nice tits, it wasn't like I touched them or anything, man, I was paying her a compliment!”

Bastard.

“Look for other veterinary services, Jones,” I growled, furious by the way he was expressing about my assistant. “Do not count on us for further help in the future.”

Rocky's soft pattering against my leg helped me calm down a bit.

“But my cows' hooves need to be checked!”

“You should have thought of that before you harassed the women who run the only veterinary clinic in town,” I snapped, before ending the call.

“That filthy Jones’ calling you again?” I heard Silvia saying from the kitchen.

“Yes,” I sighed tired as I walked towards it. “I can’t believe that…”

I stopped short when I discovered that Silvia wasn’t alone at home.

“Hi, Taylor,” I greeted the girl who looked at me with eyes wide open and yes, fear.

“My Mom had to go out with George for an emergency and they couldn't take me,” She said quickly. “I promise I won’t touch anything and I won’t talk much and if I do, I promise not to do it too loud or in your direction.”

I felt a pang of embarrassment at the agitated tone the girl spoke with. And to that I had to add the murderous look my housekeeper gave me.

“You can do whatever you want, Taylor. I promise you that nothing will happen if you go to watch Tv in the living room or if you want to tour the house.”

“I'm fine here, thanks,” She answered, her soft voice full of shyness.

“It’s Tobias’ birthday,” Silvia informed me, coming out behind the counter where she'd been standing next to Taylor, before taking off her apron. “I have to go to the coop for eggs to make him a cake.”

“Okay,” I mumbled, and I couldn't help but feel seven years old again and be scolded by my nanny for painting the walls of my room.

“Taylor is staying here because she forgot her coat, so you'll keep her company, okay?”

“Understood,” I nodded quickly, taking a deep breath when Silvia came out of the kitchen and I heard the front door.

And then I was left with the daughter of the woman who had owned my every thought in the last two weeks.

“How have you been, Taylor?” I asked, approaching the counter where the little girl was, “Have you liked the shelter so far? How’s school?”

“It's all right, sir,” Was the only thing she said with barely voice.

And again, I felt remorse and guilt twisting my stomach at the knowledge that I was to blame for Taylor's discomfort.

“Taylor,” I sighed, leaning heavily against the counter without looking away from her. “Listen, I was wrong to talk to you the way I did the day you arrived. You didn't do anything wrong, little one, do you understand? I was angry and I took my anger out on you and your mother. Do you think you can forgive me? Do you think we can start over and leave that terrible moment behind?”

“Why were you angry?” She asked curious, but at least she wasn't looking at me anymore like I'd kicked her puppy.

Or pig, in her case.

“Nothing specific, little one. Apparently, I'm always mad at everyone.”

“Mom says that if we ate more chocolate, me would be happier,” She said dead serious.

And I couldn't help but smile at that.

“Maybe your mom is right,” I agreed amused, heading over to the cupboard to grab two Kit Kats and offering one to her. “They're not chocolate bars, but they're something, don't you think?”

“This is Mom's favorite,” She mentioned, smiling at me for the first time in two weeks.

I felt something inside of me melting because of that smile.

“Then when she gets here, we'll give her one, what do you say?”

“Yeah!” She exclaimed, making me laugh, “And Jake, there's nothing to forgive, you made a mistake and you accepted it.”

Son of…

“It's Jacob, little one,” I corrected her gently. “I don't like being called that way.”

“But you look more like a Jake than a Jacob,” She insisted with a frown. “Jacob sounds very formal or like someone who is one hundred and eighty years old. Jake sounds cooler, like someone young who likes animals and chocolate.”

The girl knew how to play her cards.

“Maybe I'll let you call me that,” I agreed, when she looked at me with her beautiful eyes full of hope. “But only you, Taylor. And it will be our secret.”

“Deal!”

“Now,” I took both wrappers and threw them in the trash before nodding towards the stairs, “What do you think if I show you the balcony while Silvia arrives with the eggs?”

“Really?” She murmured, moving up and down with excitement on the stool she was on.

“Of course, I do, little one. Let's go.”

“You stay here, Lily,” Taylor ordered to her pet once we were at the bottom of the stairs. “So many steps could hurt your knees.”

And as if she really understood her owner's order, the pig lay down on the ground in front of the first step and closed her eyes with a snort.

I couldn't help but think that Lily was relieved she didn't have to move more than she should have.

“You're staying too, Rocky,” I told my dog, who sat still staring intently at me as Taylor and I walked up to the second floor. “Why a little pig, Taylor? Why not a dog or a cat?”

“Oh, Dad is allergic to most animals. Mom has a friend who’s a trainer and a Juliana pigs’ breeder, so she asked her to bring some to our house to see how Dad would react, and when he didn't sneeze or complain and Lily didn't leave my side, they decided to give her to me.”

I listened carefully to every word the girl confided in me, and each one of them felt like daggers in my chest.

“So, your dad, huh?” I started to say, clearing my throat, “He wasn't upset because…your mother and you left him at home?”

I regretted asking Rocky to stay downstairs.

I led Taylor into the room she so badly wanted to see and opened the door for her to enter.

“Whoa!” She exclaimed when she saw inside the room, “This is a royal room, Jake. Do you like to sleep here?”

Even with disappointment tightening my chest, I couldn't help but laugh at the shocked tone she used.

“This isn't my room, little one,” I explained, heading to the balcony doors to open them. “My parents stay here when they come to visit me. My room is in the first floor, at the back of the house.”

But Taylor kept touching the canopy bed that had thick blackout curtains since Mom liked to sleep in total darkness.

Apparently, the girl had completely forgotten about the balcony, the real reason for this expedition.

“If I was your mom,” She started to say, looking around her appreciatively. “I wouldn't get out of here. Never. I would ask my Mom to bring me food and I would do my homework here, and…”

“And Lily would miss you because she can't walk up the stairs on her own.”

My words left her thoughtful.

“You're right,” She finally said with a serious rictus. “Then I would have to move this bed to a room in the first floor.”

“And what about the balcony?” I asked amused.

“The…? The balcony!” She shrieked, finally noticing the ajar doors behind me.

I stepped aside to let her pass, laughing once more as she jumped up and down as she grabbed onto the iron railing so she could see the view around her.

I watched every move she made, ready to act in case the girl had the wild idea of climbing over the railing, but when the seconds ticked by and Taylor just looked through the bars, I sat down on one of the two rocking chairs on the balcony and I dedicated myself to observe her.

“I can see the clinic! And the stables, and the barracks, and the warehouse.” She exclaimed happily. “Look! There's Kristy walking the puppies. Hi, Kristy!”

Kristy stared at us in surprise for a few seconds before returning Taylor's greeting only to be dragged away by the dogs that apparently, were walking her.

“This is amazing, Jake, thank you so much.”

I froze when she walked over to me and wrapped her little arms around me in a warm hug. I didn't know what to do for a second, but my arms finally reacted and pulled her against my chest.

“As long as you're free and Silvia is here, you're welcome to this place, little one,” I murmured against her hair before impulsively kissing her forehead.

I thought I went too far with such an act, I mean, this was the second time I’d talked to the girl and I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable with my display of premature affection because yeah, anyone could see us and think that, as a grown man, I would be taking advantage of the girl's innocence, but nothing could be further from the truth, because, when was the last time someone hugged me?

I wouldn't even let my own mother get that close to me, and here was this little girl I barely knew, giving me her love and calling me in a way I swore no one would ever call me again.

I released the girl quickly and relaxed when she sat in the other rocking chair and began to rock without erasing her smile or taking her eyes off her surroundings.

“I wonder if that's how Rapunzel felt,” She murmured, sighing.

“You like princesses movies?” I asked amused.

“Nope. I don't really watch a lot of TV, but Dad loves it and whenever it's on, we watch it together.”

Instantly, my good mood faded, and I remembered that Taylor hadn't answered my last question.

“I imagine your Dad misses you a lot, right?” I almost choked on my own words. “It must be very hard being alone at home without you both there.”

I'd assumed Vivienne was a single mom and that's why she and Taylor were here without Dad, but now I wondered if Taylor's parents weren't doing the long-distance thing and the man would show up to visit them at any minute.

I didn't even know if Vivienne was married or not, I’d only assumed she wasn't because I hadn't seen any ring on her finger, but there were plenty of married couples these days who didn't wear rings, right? And Vivienne worked with animals, maybe wearing jewelry made it difficult for her to do her job.

“I don't think so,” Taylor said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Dad works a lot. He’s always traveling and we hardly ever see him. Many times, I wake up to find him asleep next to me or on the couch still wearing work clothes. I prefer when he sleeps on the sofa, you know? He snores a lot and wakes me up.”

Cool. Dad definitely lived with them at home.

“What does your Dad work at, Taylor? Does he have a name? It bothers me to not know how to call him.”

“Oh, Peter. My Dad's name is Peter,” She mentioned, resting her head on the back of the rocking chair with closed eyes. “And he works with bad people.”

Alarms went off in my head after hearing that last part.

“Bad people?” Taylor widened her eyes and stare at me at my growl. “What do you mean he works with bad people, Taylor?”

“Well, Mom doesn't like when Dad talks about his work when I'm around, but sometimes they think I'm studying or sleeping and then I listen to them.”

“What do you hear?”

“I hear when they talk about guns and money and men in jails that Dad has to take out and that he has to travel because they're in other states and stuff like that.”

Son of a bitch, I didn't want to think that Taylor's father had anything to do with…

“I think my Dad works with mobsters.”

Yes, that’s what I was afraid of.

“Look! Mom’s here!”

And sure enough, the truck Vivienne and George used for appointments outside the shelter pull up in front of us at that moment.

Taylor ran into the room and then I heard her run down the steps to greet her mother, who got out of the passenger side with her phone on her ear and a frown on her face.

It was hard for me to think that a woman as smart and professional as Vivienne, who went out of her way for her daughter whom she defended when I snapped at her, would be with a dangerous man.

Or maybe... Or maybe I was seeing things the way they weren't.

Maybe Vivienne had taken this job to get away from the man so she could protect Taylor and herself from his crap.

And I wouldn't let that bastard get near the girls. I’d defend them against any evil, even if that was the last thing I did.

“And the bed is beautiful, Mom!” Taylor was saying when I went downstairs, “And the balcony has two rocking chairs and we saw Kristy walking the dogs and we also saw when she almost fell when they pulled her, and Jake says that I can come whenever I can and if Silvia is here. Can I, Mom? Can I come after my classes? Can I?”

“I'm dizzy thanks to all you just said, darling,” Was Vivienne's response once her daughter stopped talking. “I'm glad you weren't bored, but we’d agreed on something, Taylor. I asked you not to bother Jacob if you saw him, to stay with Silvia in the kitchen. Always.”

“It wasn't a bother,” I said, making them both notice me on the stairs. “I told Taylor we could see the balcony while Silvia came back with the eggs, and she hasn’t, by the way.”

“We saw her talking to Jeff outside the chicken coop,” George said, coming out of the kitchen with two glasses of water and handing one to Vivienne. “We told her we could bring her in the car, but apparently the gossip couldn't wait.”

“Thank you so much for taking care of Taylor, Jacob. I hope it wasn't...”

“It wasn't a problem,” I cut her off, lost in her eyes. “Your daughter is amazing, Vivienne.”

“Jake has something for you, Mom.”

“Hmm?” I stopped looking at the mother, to focus completely on the daughter.

“You know what,” She insisted, pointing toward the kitchen.

“Oh, right,” I agreed, turning to the kitchen to grab the Kit Kat and head back into the living room. “Taylor told me it was your favorite.”

“Oh, thank you,” Vivienne murmured as she accepted the candy, my breath accelerated as I watched her tongue moisten her lips as our fingers made contact.

“Jake, can I show Mom the balcony?”

“It's Jacob, Tay-Tay,” Vivienne said quickly, seeking to avoid another problem with me. “He doesn't like to be called that.”

“Suuuuure,” The girl said, winking at me before taking her mom’s hand to guide her towards the stairs. “Jacob won't have any problems, right, Jacob?”

I couldn't help but laugh. If this was Taylor's way of being discreet, by the end of the afternoon everyone would be calling me that.

“Not at all,” I replied, amused by the surprised expression on Vivienne and George's faces.

“Okay…”

Vivienne let out a weary sigh and set her purse and phone down on the hall table before letting her daughter drag her upstairs.

“Changing your mind again?” George asked, his eyes sparkling with barely contained enthusiasm.

“It's not what you think, I...”

A call to Vivienne's phone interrupted my response.

I cursed to myself when I saw who it was.

“What the hell are you doing?” George asked horrified, when I picked up the phone to answer the call.

But I didn't pay attention to him, I just accepted the call before bringing the phone to my ear.

“Can you hear me now?” Said the male voice on the other end.

“You listen to me, you son of a bitch,” I growled, hearing George’s surprised gasp. “Vivienne and Taylor aren’t alone anymore, do you understand? They have me now. I'm not going to let you endanger them because you're a greedy bastard who only cares about himself. Stay away from them if you don't want me to use my name on you.”

“And what would that name be?” The man asked.

My teeth gritted from how hard I clenched my jaw at the amusement in his voice.

“You think I'm playing games? Don't think for a second that my threats are empty, you son of a bitch. I'm not afraid of you. If I ever find out you're looking for them, calling them, or intimidating them, you're a dead man.”

“Are you threatening me, friend? That’s a serious offense in my world.”

“You can take it however you like, friend. Jacob Coleman doesn’t throw empty words.”

And with that I ended the call, and thankful that Vivienne didn't have a password on her phone, I looked up her contact list and blocked his number before deleting it.

The son of a bitch thought he could play with the lives of two innocents? Even when one of those lives happened to be his own daughter?

I would teach him to think twice before doing it. Tonight, I would be calling my father's lawyers to investigate the man.

“What the hell was that?” George hissed, once I left the phone on the table like nothing. “Jacob? Are you crazy? Who the hell did you threaten from someone else's phone?”

“You know anything,” I replied, trying to calm down when I heard the girls on the stairs, so I leaned over and patted Rocky repeatedly when he approached, sensing my agitation.

George threw his arms over his head in exasperation.

“That´s because I know nothing!” He exclaimed, just as the door opened and Silvia came in with a basket full of eggs.

“Great, you’re here,” She said without paying attention to us. “I was thinking chocolate cake with coffee cream. Don't worry, Taylor, it'll be decaf.”

The girl in question jumped from the last step and ran towards the kitchen following George and Silvia.

“Will I see you at the party?” Vivienne asked once we were alone in the room.

And once again, my heart tried to jump out of my chest when her eyes looked at me with interest.

I never went to these kinds of meetings. My employees always invited me, but I didn't go so as not to ruin the festive spirit with my seriousness and gloomy state. So, I should tell her once and for all that no, I wouldn't go and I'd stay here like I always did.

“I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world,” I found myself saying instead, still not breaking our gazes’ connection.

And my answer seemed to be the correct one, because she gave me one of her beautiful smiles before pointing me towards the kitchen for me to follow her.

Which I did with great pleasure.