Tyger plopped down on the couch. She was so tired she couldn't move. The store opening had been today. She had been at the store at 4:00 AM to get the baking started. Even though she had hired a full time baker. She loved to bake and wanted to make sure everything went smooth. It had and the store had done a booming business. The store hours for now were 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. She had stayed till closing today. Scott had come by and stayed a while. Kevin had left a few days ago saying he would be back in a couple of days. Tyger figured Scott and Kevin were up to something. She had caught them with there heads together several time talking but hell if she could figure out what they were up to. It was 10:00 Pm and Scott wasn't home. Tygers cell rang and she picked it up. "Hello." She said. "Hey Tyger. How did the opening go?" Mark asked. "It went great. We did a lot of business today. No major hassles everything went smooth." Tyger said. "That's great sweetie. I knew you would do great." Mark said. "So where are you at?" she said. "Alabama, this guy is leading me on a merry chase." Mark said. "Well I hope your being careful." Tyger said. "I am. Don't worry about me, just take care of yourself and stay out of trouble." Mark said. "I'm going to be too tired to get in any trouble. I'm so tired tonight I can't move." Tyger said. "Well get yourself to bed and get some rest." Mark said. "Yes sir Mr. Bossy." Tyger said laughing. Mark laughed. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." Mark said. "Okay bye." Tyger said. Scott walked in. "You look exhausted." Scott said. "I am. It was a long day. But we did great today." Tyger said. Scott sat down next to her. "I want to talk to you about something." Scott said. "Okay." She said. "Me and Kev decided to open a wrestling school. We have been kicking the idea around for a couple of years." Scott said. "Oh." Tyger said. Tyger looked down. Great he's going to up and leave just when I'm getting to know him she thought. Scott realized she looked less than thrilled. "When do you got to leave?" she asked. "Who said I was leaving?" He asked. Tyger looked at him confused. "Oh I get it you thought I was going back too Florida." He said. "Well yea." She said. "Ya little goof. Now why would I take off when I just found ya?" he said throwing his arm around her shoulder. "Kev and I found a building and we been trying to get it fixed up and ready. It will be a while before we get it up and running. I'm moving here and starting the school here cause I want to be near you." He said. "That's great Scott, I'm glad. I really want you to stay here." She said. "Is Kevin moving here too?" she asked. "Yep, we always work as a team." He said smiling. "The building we rented is great. There's an apartment on top. Got three bedrooms. Me and Kev are going to live there." Scott said. "I'm going to miss having you around here." Tyger said. "Oh you aint going to miss me, I'll be around bugging the shit out of you all the time." He said smiling. "Yea your right. I'll come over and aggravate the hell out of you two." She said. "Tyger anytime you decide to move out here, you're more than welcome to move in with me and Kev. There's plenty of room." He said. "Okay. I'll keep that in mind. I might take you up on it sometime." She said. "Now why don't you get to bed? You look like you can't keep your eyes open." Scott said. "I'm not that sleepy." She said stifling a yawn. "Get, now." He said. "Okay, Okay. I'm going." She said getting up. Scott stood up and gave her a hug. "Goodnight Scott." She said "Good night baby girl." He said.
Tyger struggled and tried to get away but she couldn't. "Stop." she moaned. She struggled under the grips of the nightmare. Tyger awoke and sat up. She threw back the covers. She was sweating. Damn it was so real. She had to get out of this room. She went downstairs to the den and turned on the TV. Anything to get these images out of her head. It had been awhile since she had the nightmare. The last few times Mark was always here to chase the dream away. She laid her head on her knees and wrapped her arms around her legs. Tyger cried like a heartbroken child. She tried to keep it together and be strong. But sometimes the memories of the rape and her past were just too much. She hated herself for being weak for giving in to the tears. But she couldn't stop them. Why couldn't she just forget it. She didn't hear Scott come in. He seen her sitting on the floor crying so hard she was shaking. It scared the hell out of him. He had never seen her like this. Scott went over and sat down beside her. "Tyger what's wrong?" he asked. Damn the last thing she needed was for Scott to see her like this. "Scott just leave me alone." She said sobbing. "No." he said. He pulled her against him. Tyger struggled to pull away from him. "Hey now calm down Tyger." He said holding her. Tyger stopped and lay against his chest and cried. Scott didn't really know what to do. He just held her while she cried and patted her back. After a few minutes her crying subsided a bit. "Tell me what's wrong baby girl?" Scott said. Tyger shook her head. "I can't." She said. "Why Baby?" "Cause." She said. Scott grinned in spite of the situation. She sounded like a two year old. He lifted her chin with his finger to look at her. "You can tell me anything." He said. She looked down. "I had a bad dream." She said. "About?" he asked. She laid her head against him again. "About my step uncle. He… raped me." She said in a small voice. Scott's arms wrapped tighter around her. "I'm sorry Tyger. I should have been there to protect you." He said "It's not your fault. You didn't even know about me." Tyger said. "I should have been there." He said again his voice cracking. Tyger looked up at him. She saw a tear rolling down his cheek. She wiped it away with her finger. Had anyone ever cried over her before? She thought. She realized at that moment this was her daddy and he loved her. "What was my mother like?" she asked. Scott was surprised. She had never asked anything about her mother before. "She was the most beautiful, sweetest woman I ever met. She was kind and loving. She loved me in spite of the fact I was just a punk with a bad attitude." Scott said. "I loved her so much." Scott said. "It's my fault." Tyger said. Scott frowned. "What's your fault?" he said. "It's my fault she's dead." She said. "Where did you get a foolish idea like that?" Scott asked. "My aunt said she wasn't supposed to have kids, the doctor told her to have an abortion but she wouldn't. She died cause she had me. It's my fault." Tyger said. Scott took both her shoulders in his hands and pulled her up to look at her. "I don't ever want to hear you say that again. Your mother made that decision to have you. That's the kind of person she was. You were just an innocent baby. It's not your fault. Do you understand me?" he said. "You loved her. You don't blame me cause she's dead?" Tyger asked. Scott saw the fear in her eyes. This poor kid had been living with this guilt her whole life. "How could I blame you Tyger. If I had been with your mother we would have made the same decision. I wouldn't trade you for anything." He said. Tyger breathed a sigh of relief. She laid her head on his chest. Scott ran his fingers through her hair soothing her. He wished he could take away the pain of her past. Scott watched her as sleep overtook her. He picked her up and took her upstairs to her bedroom. He laid her down and pulled the covers over her. "I promise you baby I'm going to make sure there are nothing but happy times ahead for you." He whispered. He kissed her forehead and went off to bed himself.
Tyger woke up and looked at the time. 6:00Am. Good she wasn't going in till 8:00Am. She got up and took a shower. She slipped on some jeans and a T-shirt. She was feeling good this morning. The talk her and Scott had last night had really helped her. For the first time in her the life the guilt she had felt over her mother's death was gone. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her. Having her dad in her life and knowing he loved her and cared about her was wonderful. She decided to call Mark and tell him about Scott moving to Houston. Tyger dialed his number. "Hello." A female voice said. For a moment Tyger thought she dialed the wrong number. "Is Mark there?" she asked. "Hold on." The voice said. "Mark it's for you wake up." She heard in the back ground. "Hello." Mark said. "Didn't take you long to find someone to shack up with did it?" Tyger asked angrily. "Tyger honey. Don't do this. I told you before all we could be was friends." He said. "Don't you honey me. You know I love you!" She yelled. "Tyger just calm down okay." Mark said. "You can go straight to hell Mark!" she yelled in the phone. "Tyger you're acting like a child. There's been nothing between us for months now. I care about you I always will, but did you think I was going to be celibate for the rest of my life or what?" he said impatiently. "Well I'm so sorry I'm not a robot who can turn my emotions on and off to suit you Mark. I can't control how I feel." She said. "Tyger I was always upfront with you about our relationship. You know that." Mark said. "Yes you were Mark. Your right. I'm sorry I bothered you. Bye." She said and hung up. She sat on the bed. He heart was broke in a million pieces. But Mark was right. He had been honest with her about his feeling. She had just ignored what he said and been living in a dream world. She wanted to cry but she refused too. She would go on like she always did. She got up and went downstairs to the kitchen and started making some breakfast.
Mark lay back in the bed. He felt horrible. He never wanted to hurt Tyger like that. He looked at the woman that lay beside him. A one night stand that's all. And for this he had broke Tyger's heart. He got up and pulled on his clothes. "Where ya going baby?" the woman asked. "I got to go." He said. "Call me again." The woman said. Mark never answered he just got his keys and left. He got in his rental car and went back to work trying to find leads on the guy he was looking for.
Scott came in and grabbed some coffee. "Good morning." He said. "Morning." Tyger said smiling at him and setting bacon and eggs in front of him. "Thanks sweetie." He said. "Do you still want me to move in with you and Kevin?" Tyger asked. "Sure baby, what made you change your mind?" Scott asked. "Well Mark is never here and I'm in this big old house by my self." She said. "That's great honey, I'm glad you changed your mind. Kev will be back today. We'll go shopping tomorrow. Were going to buy all new furniture, we'll have it livable in about a week." Scott said. "Great." Tyger said. "I gotta go to work. I'll see you tonight." Tyger said. "Okay. I will be working all day. Were trying to get this place going as soon as we can. Call me if ya need anything." Scott said. "Okay." She dropped a kiss on his cheek and was out the door. Scott wondered what had caused her to change her mind. Hell who cares he was jut thrilled that she did.