“Don’t be mean to Tiny,” Kira said as she knelt to help us pick up the various bags.“Just because he didn’t prove to be as lame as you thought and bring pseudo-junk food doesn’t mean it’s his fault.”
Tiny gave Kira a solemn look.“I spent fifteen years in prison.Junk food ain’t peanut butter and celery.”As if that explained the whole thing.
Kira broke out in an absolutely beautiful smile.“I knew you’d understand!”
The girls scooped up all the stuff Tiny had brought and headed to the kitchen, jabbering and bickering good naturedly as they went.
“Why did you look so relieved when Zelda preferred real junk food instead of healthy food?”
Tiny glanced around, leaning to the side so he could see around me, probably to see where the girls were.Then he turned back to me and whispered.“Because I had a fruit and veggie tray.Caleb plucked it out of my hands and replaced it with that basket right before I knocked.Didn’t say anything other than ‘You’re welcome’ and kept going.”I actually snorted a laugh before Tiny gave me a pained look and hunched his shoulders.“Shh!”he hissed out.“If Zelda hears, I’ll never live it down.”
“Why would you bring a veggie tray?Fruit, I could see.But vegetables?”
“I thought you might not approve of real junk food.”He looked so distressed now I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around his middle and hug him.
Just like that, I fell completely for this big man and his even bigger heart.There were obstacles to work out, for sure, but this was a man I desperately needed in my life for so many reasons I couldn’t list them all.The fact he cared about my feelings with regard to something as simple as what my girls ate told me he’d be more of a father to Zelda and Kira than Andy had ever been.
It didn’t take long for the girls to pick the silliest, most annoying rom-com in the whole entire universe.While the opening credits were going, they spread out everything Tiny had brought on the coffee table and sat on a quilt in front of the big TV.
When everything was ready, Tiny settled on one end of the couch.The message was clear.I could sit as close or as far away as I wanted.I smiled at him.Despite knowing Andy still had to be dealt with, despite the terror from earlier, I hadn’t felt this contented in my entire life.There was nowhere I wanted to sit other than right next to Tiny.
So I sat next to him, tucked my legs under myself, and snuggled against Tiny.I looked up at him as he gazed down at me, happiness radiating from him.Slowly, probably to give me time to change my mind, Tiny moved one arm around my shoulders and pulled me close.His whole body relaxed, and he slouched comfortably in the cushions.I was pretty sure if I Googled the phrase “satisfied expression” there would be a picture of Tiny with the exact look on his face he was wearing now.
I was sure Tiny would hate the movie they picked out.Likely that was why they chose it.Instead, he surprised us all by laughing through the whole movie, commenting occasionally when one of the girls did.By the end of it, I was certain he’d enjoyed the movie more than the girls had, while Zelda, Kira, and I got our entertainment from watching Tiny.
“Never would have pegged you for the chick flick kind of guy.”Zelda sighed and shook her head.“I really thought we’d get at least a groan out of him.”
“What about slasher films?”Kira tilted her head to the side studying Tiny.“Yeah.I think maybe we need to watch a horror movie next.”
Tiny’s eyes got wide and he shook his head slightly.“Um, aren’t the two of you a little young for horror movies?”
Zelda rolled her eyes.“We’re twelve.Not two.”
Right.
At the end of the film, both girls were up on the couch with us.OK, so they were on the couch, one on each side of Tiny, squealing at the scary parts and burying their faces in the vicinity of his armpit.Every time they squealed, he laughed.Christ, that deep chuckle warmed my heart.I had my arm around Kira, and she alternated between me and Tiny for comfort.It was a magical moment.
“Maybe we should call it a night.”Tiny reached for the remote, but both girls let out outraged protests, Zelda snatching the remote and shoving it in the couch cushion.
“Touch the TV, you’ll find blue food coloring in your body wash.”Zelda snarled her remark but didn’t take her focus off the television.When the creepy killer struck, they both screamed.Popcorn and M&Ms went flying.Tiny pulled both girls close and chuckled through the blood and gore.Both girls turned away, though Zelda turned her head to the side so she had one eye on the screen.
When my laughter joined Tiny’s, Kira turned to me and hid her face against my shoulder, hanging on to my arm for dear life.“I really thought you two were past the stage where you’d have nightmares from scary movies, but I’m beginning to wonder.”
“Mom,” Zelda said, poking her head up again.“The threat of nightmares is half the fun.”
“Yeah?”I raised my eyebrows at her.“What’s the other half of the fun?”
She smirked.“Waking you and Tiny up at zero-dark-thirty when we have those nightmares.”
Beside me, with her face mashed into my side, Kira giggled.It struck me how sickeningly sweet all this was.And I loved every fucking second of it.This was the family I should have had.It was the family I wanted.A protective man who was willing and able to keep us safe instead of being the one to cause the harm.
I felt myself grinning at Zelda, laughter threatened to bubble up from deep inside me, but I held back.Not because I didn’t want to show my humor, but because the image that popped in my mind was… not something I wanted to try to explain to my daughters since my face felt hot.And, yeah, I fully admit that Zelda had likely said what she had on purpose.I probably glowed like a firefly’s ass.“That’s it.Time for bed.”
The girls grumbled and groaned, but ultimately left giggling, both of them going to Kira’s bedroom.Then Kira opened the door, poked out her head, and addressed Tiny.“You’re not gonna leave.Right?”
“I’ll be right across the hall.Moved all my stuff there this afternoon.”Tiny gave her a reassuring smile as he stood as if to leave.
There was a flurry of whispers and lowered voices as the girls conversed.It quickly became obvious they were arguing about something.The whispered conversation continued, escalating.I thought I heard slapping and a thump or two before everything suddenly stopped.I glanced at Tiny who shrugged slightly, shaking his head, a puzzled look on his face.
