Chapter 2: Mark Calaway…Bodyguard?
Tessa's hands were still shaking slightly as she arrived home. Never had she been more afraid than she had been tonight if it hadn't been for the stranger, her hero, she was sure that she would still be lying beaten and bloody in that ally.
Tessa walked into the small but cozy house and smiled, the place was a mess as she knew it would be Mrs. Slater was a great babysitter but a lousy maid. She was sleeping on the couch which was how Tessa usually found her this late at night. The woman was a godsend not many sitters would take on the hours in which Tessa needed her, but Mrs. Slater knew that she was struggling and was more than happy to stay as late as she was needed. Her living right next door was a blessing and Tessa knew it. Tessa lightly tapped the woman on her should and watched her as she stirred awake.
"Oh hi, how was work tonight?" Mrs. Slater asked stretching.
"Same old drunken fools but I did do considerably well in tips tonight," Tessa said pulling her money from her jeans pocket and handing the woman a few bills.
"Tessa, you know I'm not going to take your money spend this on the kids or better yet spend it on yourself, you work way too hard and have far too little to show for it," Mrs. Slater said pushing the money back into Tessa's hand.
"But I have to pay you something..." Tessa started but was cut off quickly.
"I volunteered to keep the kids while you work, Tessa, so I do not expect anything from you. I love sitting for the kids they keep me young," Mrs. Slater said with a smile.
"If you say so Mrs. S," Tessa said laughing.
"It looks to me like you've already been spending some of that tip money," Mrs. Slater said motioning toward Mark's leather jacket.
"Oh, no I didn't buy this some guy gave it to me," Tessa said.
"Some guy just gave you a leather jacket, what did he want you to jump on the back of his Harley and go for a ride?"
Tessa thought about lying to Mrs. Slater, but the woman always could tell when Tessa was being dishonest so Tessa decided to just tell her the truth.
"I was attacked leaving work tonight," Tessa admitted with a sigh.
"What? Tessa I told you Harpers is an unsafe place in an unsafe neighborhood, you shouldn't be working there and you getting attacked should make you realize that!"
"Calm down Mrs. S nothing happened really it was just a regular, Silas, he was drunk and came at me as I left the club, he ripped my shirt but before he could do any real damage this stranger appeared got Silas off of me and gave me his jacket no big deal," Tessa said nonchalantly.
"No big deal? No big deal, Tessa! Are you crazy! You have to quit that job before something really bad happens to you," Mrs. Slater said now pacing the floor. "What if that stranger hadn't appeared, hmm? You have to not only think about yourself Tessa, but you have to think about Connor and Courtney too, what happens to those kids if they lose you?"
"I can't quit that Job Mrs. Slater I make really good money at Harpers without the money I make there I wouldn't be able to keep up the house payment or my car payment let alone pay all the bills."
So what happens next time some drunk customer decides he wants more than just a dance from you, you're stranger won't be there to save you the next time," Mrs. S said stopping in front of Tessa.
"I'll buy mace," Tessa said laughing.
"This ain't funny girl you could get yourself in real danger, unless…," Mrs. Slater said before smiling at Tessa.
"Uh oh that smile can't be good," Tessa said backing away.
"You need a bodyguard!"
"Come on Mrs. S, a bodyguard?" Tess asked rolling her eyes at the ridiculous thought.
"Yes Tess a bodyguard someone to hang around the club after hours to make sure no more attacks happen," Mrs. Slater said seriously.
"Yeah okay I'll go on-line and hire me one big muscle bound superman first thing in the morning," Tessa said sarcastically.
"Don't be a smartass, Tessa Clarke," Mrs. Slater said smacking Tessa on the arm, "I'm serious and you don't need the internet to find the right guy for the job you've already met him," Mrs. Slater said with a smirk.
"What are you talking about woman?" Tessa asked with a raised brow.
"Your leather clad hero from tonight of course! I mean he's saved you once I'm sure he wouldn't mind keeping an eye on you on a more permanent basis."
"No way!"
"And why not?"
"Well for one I have no clue who the guy even was he was just a good Samaritan helping me out and two what makes you think he would even consider playing the role of Kevin Costner to my Whitney Houston?"
"Well for one you have his jacket and that thing looks pretty expensive so I can bet he will show up at Harpers sooner or later to get it back and two you won't know the answer to that until you ask, now it's late and I'm beat so I am going to go climb into bed I suggest you do the same," Mrs. Slater said picking up her sweater from the couch and heading towards the door, "think about this Tessa you really need to protect yourself." She said before walking out the door.
Tessa locked up after seeing that Mrs. Slater had safely made it across the yard and into her own home. She walked down the hall to Connors room and peeked in smiling at the boy who had managed to knock all of his covers into a pile on the floor. She walked over and covered him tucking the covers tightly around him before placing a kiss on his temple and walking back out of the room. She then stopped and peeked in on Courtney who had fallen asleep with one of her crayons in her hand. Tessa slipped it out of her little hand placing it back in the box and kissed her before heading on down the hall to her own room.
Tessa desperately wanted to get into a nice hot relaxing bath, but seeing that it was already after three in the morning and knowing that the gruesome twosome would be up before seven Tessa would just have to settle for a quick shower.
When she was done Tessa slipped on an oversized t-shirt and crawled into bed and she was sound asleep before her head had fully hit the pillow.
Mark checked inside his truck for the third time and cursed when his search once again came up empty.
"My wallet must have been in my jacket," he groaned as he walked back inside the house.
"Guess that's what I get for trying to be Prince Valiant," he said as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Well at least I know where she works," Mark said grabbing a beer from the fridge.
"That little girl has no business working in a dump like that those men in there will tear her apart if they get the chance, hell she almost got it tonight. Thank god I was at the right place at the right time I just hope that if it ever happens again she has someone there to bail her out," Mark said as he downed his beer and headed up to bed.
Tessa slowly opened her eyes at the sound of giggles coming from beside her.
"See Court I told you she was awake," Connor said to his sister.
"Good morning my two favorite munchkins," Tessa said stretching.
"Good morning CC," Connor and Courtney said in unison.
"It's not still dark out is it?"
"No silly the sun is out," Connor said laughing at his sister.
"Good, so frick and frat what would you like for breakfast?"
"French toast!" Connor said.
"Yeah CC French toast!" Courtney seconded.
"Now how did I know that is what you guys would say?" Tessa asked with a laugh.
French toast was all the twins had wanted for breakfast for the past month and that was kind of a good thing, money was really tight right now and Tessa was having to make every penny stretch just to get by.
"CC look what I found," Connor said jumping off the bed and grabbing something up off of the floor.
"Connor David, where did you get that?" Tessa asked when Connor showed her the wallet.
"I found it in your new coat," the little boy answered matter-of-factly.
"Oh boy," Tessa sighed taking the wallet from her brother.
Tessa opened the wallet revealing Mark's drivers license checking the address she realized that Mark must have been very wealthy as his address was smack dab in the middle of one of the richest neighborhoods in town, Tessa knew this because she used to dream about living in the gated community relaxing in the swimming pool or having tea with friends out on the veranda…
"How come you got that man's wallet sissy?" Courtney asked looking over her big sister's shoulder.
"I got cold last night at work and the nice man leant me his jacket, I guess he forgot to take his wallet out of the pocket first," Tessa said as she absently ran her finger over Mark's picture.
"Oh, are you going to give it back?"
"Yes, it's not mine to keep."
"But it has all that money in it CC, can we keep it?"
"Nope, it's not ours to keep and we don't take things that don't belong to us, remember that, okay?"
"Okay!" The twins exclaimed.
"Good now let's go eat. I have the day off so after breakfast we can do whatever you two want to do."
"You promise?"
"Yes, Connor, I promise."
"Excuse me, I was in here last night and I believe I lost my wallet has anyone turned it in?" Mark asked the waitress working the floor.
"No I don't believe so, do you know what section you were in?" The woman asked batting her eyelashes at Mark.
"I was there near the stage," Mark said pointing at the table that he had occupied the night before.
He had thought about coming in and telling what had really happened out in the ally but if Vixen… Contessa hadn't said anything about it then he definitely wasn't about to put all of her business out there, so he hoped that she had at least left his wallet here just in case he had come back looking for it.
"Oh you were in Vixen's section, well she hasn't been in today and won't be here tonight, but if she comes in I'll ask her if she found your wallet Mr…"
"It's Mark and thanks," Mark said walking out of Harpers and heading back home.
Mark was a little bummed, not only because he didn't have his wallet but because he wouldn't get to see Contessa today. He had been looking forward to seeing her even more than getting his wallet back.
"Maybe tomorrow," Mark said getting out of his truck and going inside.
"CC do you think we should take the wallet back to the man it belongs to?" Courtney asked as she bit into her slice of pizza.
As Tessa had promised she and the twins had spent the entire day together. They went to an early movie seeing Toy Story 3 and now they were at Celebration Station having lunch after playing games and riding the water boats.
"I was just going to give it to him when I went back to work," Tessa said sipping her pink lemonade.
"But what if he needs money before then?"
"Yeah CC what if he needs to buy something spensive and can't cuz we got all his money?" Connor asked.
"I think we should take it to him sissy," Courtney said sternly.
"Alright, alright we can bring Mr. Calaway back his wallet as soon as you two are done we will go," Tessa said giving in to her siblings.
"We're done!" the twins said before jumping up from their seats and running towards the doors.
"Hey, slow down and wait for me," Tessa said following them out.
"Okay here we are now remember what I told you we are just here to return the wallet and the coat, no inviting yourselves inside and no questions, got it?"
"Got it!" Connor said as he put down the window to press the buzzer on the intercom.
"Who's there?" Barked the voice on the other end.
"Mr. Calaway, I'm Connor Clarke CC has your wallet," Connor said.
"Come on up," Mark said as he watched the car on his security system.
He never would have guess that Contessa would actually come to his home but a small part of him was happy that she did, he had been thinking about her way more than he should have been but maybe seeing her would take care of that.
Tessa pulled up to the huge house and cut the engine. Her hands were sweaty and she was all flushed but it was too late to turn back now. She got out of the car and watched as the twins ran up on the porch.
Just as she hit the top step the front door swung open and her heart stopped.
The man was gorgeous! Yes she had seen him twice the night before but it was dark and she couldn't really get a good look at him, but now she could see him all too well and she could hardly breathe.
"Mr. Calaway I just wanted to bring you your jacket and wallet, the kids thought you might need money just in case you needed to buy something," Tessa said holding out the leather jacket and wallet.
"Thank you and call me Mark," Mark said taking the items from Tessa's hand.
"I also just wanted to thank you again for last night if you hadn't had been there then…"
"I'm just happy that I was able to help," Mark said stopping Tessa from having to bring up that horrible experience. "And who might these two be?" Mark asked looking down at Courtney and Connor.
"I'm Connor and this is my sister Courtney," Connor answered.
"Well if you don't look just like your momma," Mark said looking at the twins and then up at Tessa.
"CC isn't our momma silly she is our sister." Connor said.
"But she looks after us like a mommy does," Courtney added.
"Yeah without CC they would have put us with the Fosters," Connor said.
"The Fosters?" Mark asked looking up at Tessa.
"He means they would have put them in Foster homes," Tessa laughed.
"Well then you two are lucky to have a sister like Contessa, huh?"
Yep!" Connor answered.
"Hey how would the two of you like to come in for some cookies, my neighbor loves to bake and always brings me way more than I can eat all by myself," Mark said smiling down at the twins.
"Can we CC please? We never got desert today after lunch," Connor pleaded.
"Alright, but only if Mr. Calaway is sure."
"I'm sure, come on in," Mark said leading Tessa and the kids into the house and to the kitchen.
He fixed Courtney and Connor milk and cookies and then pulled Tessa to the side so that they could talk.
"Are you sure you are okay after last night?"
"I'm sure, like I said I am just glad you were there to help," Tessa said unable to look Mark in the eye.
"What about next time?"
"There isn't going to be a next time," Tessa said confidently.
"Don't be so sure, I saw you on that stage and I saw how those men were watching you trust me it's only a matter of time that someone else has the same idea that Silas had last night."
"I can take care of myself, but your concern is touching."
"How old are you?"
"Why, what does that have to do with anything? " Tessa asked slightly agitated, "I'm twenty-one," Tessa answered folding her hands over her chest.
"You are young and more naïve than you are willing to admit you need to watch yourself in that club or quit before things get too bad," Mark said raising Tessa's chin so that she was looking at him, "I know that I don't know you but I know how a man's mind operates and those men have bad thought when it comes to women who look like you," Mark admitted.
"You sound like Mrs. Slater," Tessa said shaking her head.
"Who is Mrs. Slater?"
"My neighbor, she gave me the same identical speech last night when I got home."
"Smart woman, " Mark chuckled.
"Yeah tell me about it she even went as far as saying that if I'm not going to quit my job then I should ask you to be my bodyguard," Tessa said rolling her eyes.
"Bodyguard?" Mark asked quizzically.
"Uh huh crazy talk right? I mean why would you want to be my bodyguard? I'm sure you have better things to do with your time," Tessa said rambling.
"Actually…" Mark said rubbing his chin in thought.
"Oh come on, you can't really be thinking about this…can you?"
"Well you're not going to quit that job are you and I bet you will continue to walk out of there alone at all hours of the night am I right?"
"You're right I'm not quitting and you are also right about me walking out alone, I just don't see the big deal in it," Tessa shrugged.
"The big deal is that this Silas guy is probably more determined to get to you now more than ever and until I know that he is no longer a threat…"
"Until he is no longer a threat…what?"
"Consider that body of yours guarded," Mark said looking Tessa up and down with a grin.