Authors: Nancy Hopper
He chuckled. “Man, if you want to be humbled, try getting a spanking from a child. My littlest sister, Angel, did a better job than anyone. Once I rode my dirt bike down the middle of the street, and got hit by a truck. Boy, was it ever my turn to get whacked. To hear what she had to say to me was one of the hardest things I’d ever listened to. She told me how unfair it was of me, to do something that might take her only big brother away from her forever. And it made Mom and Dad cry. And I might never get to have a bike again. I might never grow up to be a daddy.”
"On and on – boy, could she lay it on thick! I never had to guess what my family was feeling about me, or where I stood. And when somebody needed a spanking, we were never spanked in anger.”
“
The parents had time to cool off while they gathered the family. And the family always did a much better job than just one person could do. It was quite a chastening. You had to just sit there, and listen. One time we even did it to my mom. But I don’t think Dad ever had the pleasure.” he chuckled with respect.
Tasha sat up and sniffed. “So you didn’t really mean to humiliate me.” she said, uncertainly.
Tim sighed. “Well, Tasha, there is no doubt that it’s humiliating. But we were more … kind of welcoming you to the family, and warning you that you’d better not put yourself in that kind of danger again. We don’t like being left out.”
Tasha smiled and bit her lip. “So, are you going to spank me again for leaving the way I did?” she asked in a naughty voice.
Tim laughed with suspicious apprehension. “I don’t think I ought to try it all by myself. It might turn into something much too pleasant.”
Tasha giggled, and put her arms around his neck. “Then you’d better kiss me.” she pouted, scooting over onto his lap.
“
Oh, man.” Tim groaned, beginning to sweat. Her soft lips were kissing his throat, his jaw, and her fingers were stroking his back persuasively. “I think we’d better go downstairs.” he managed to say.
“
That sounds like a good idea. And you’d better plan a wedding to take place pretty darn soon, too.” Brent added from the doorway. “You two see if you can disentangle yourselves. I’m going to take this lovely lady shopping and then out on a nice, romantic date. See if you can’t behave yourselves, now.”
Tim and Tasha gaped at Brent, with Dana glowing under his arm, and then looked at one another in amazement.
“
Bye, you two. Tasha, we’re sorry.” Dana said happily.
“
Bye,” Tasha said faintly.
“
So you have another sister too, Timothy? Angel? I’ve never heard anything about her.” Tasha ventured.
“
Yeah.” Tim agreed woodenly.
“
Why not? What’s the matter? You’d better tell me so I don’t forget, and put my foot in my mouth.” Tasha advised gently.
Tim shrugged. “Well, it’s nothing that’s talked about at my folks’ house, much. She’s dead.”
Tasha’s eyebrows went up. She felt her heart constrict.
“
Angel decided it was cute to be wild. She started doing whatever she felt like, when she was ten or eleven. She left home at fifteen, and was dead of a drug overdose at nineteen.”
“
Tim, I’m sorry.”
“
Thanks. So am I. She was beautiful, and smart. A whole lot of sweetness and potential went down the tube when she died.”
Tasha put her arms around Timothy, and hugged him tightly. Although it made his blood pressure skyrocket, he let her.
"You've got company on the way." Brent announced, as Tim sat down to a late breakfast the following day.
"What? Who?" Tim asked curiously.
"Well, let's see." Brent sighed. "There is one Michael somebody, and one Bill somebody and one James. Burton, I think."
Tim rolled his eyes. "Brent, I didn't invite them, I wouldn't impose on you that way." He objected.
"Oh, I know. I asked them, actually. I love having company. Especially new people, it's very interesting to just observe, you know. These sound like a lively bunch. I've sent Dana out to the airport to pick them up."
Tim sputtered his tea. "What? They're already here?"
"Bigger than life. I guess they want to see what you're in for, eh?"
"Probably want to try to see if they can snatch Tasha away. All three of them are very eligible bachelors and there's a healthy ... well; perhaps more than a healthy sense of competition between Bill and Michael. And of course, my being here is probably a good excuse to ski."
"No problem." Brent assured him. "They can stay as long as they want to. You all just plan to have a grand time."
Tasha joined them, wearing a green silk robe that made her eyes glow like green fire. "What's going on?" she asked, kissing her father's cheek and Tim's mouth.
Tim took a deep breath, and regrouped. "Some of my friends decided to show up at the airport. Dana's on the way with them, I hear."
"Oh, my. Guess I'd better get dressed, eh?"
"Yes. And Tasha, please ... don't wear anything too ... you know."
Tasha turned a teasing eye on him. "Come now, you're not going to start
that
with me, are you?"
Tim blushed a little. "No, no, don't get the wrong idea. It's just that these guys -- well, they're ..."
"Ah. Womanizers." Tasha filled in for him.
"Well, no ... yes ... kind of." Tim struggled. "You'll see. Just don't throw a bunch of gasoline on the fire, okay?"
Tasha laughed. "Okay, darling." She agreed sweetly.
Brent rolled his eyes at Tim as she went back upstairs. "Yuck. How'd you get her to talk like that?" he drawled.
Tim chuckled. "Trust me, I am not responsible for that."
They heard the garage door open and close, and soon there was a clatter of feet on the stairs. Tim got up and went to open the door, and the air was promptly filled with shouts and outstretched arms.
"Tim, you old dog! Come here! You rascal, what have you been up to? Got your name plastered all over the papers, the mags, the telly, the works."
"Hey, Tim. Good to see ya, lad. Ya know, we were just passing by in the friendly skies and had a layover in this fine city, and we thought, why not? Serves him right for staying gone sa darn long, we'll just descend upon him, and go on home another time."
Tim laughed. "Great, Mike. Thank God, I have a gracious host. Come on in. James, Billy, it’s good to see you guys."
They all hugged him in turn and slapped his back soundly.
"This is my soon to be father-in-law, Brent Charles." Tim introduced them one by one, and they all shook Brent's hand with great enthusiasm.
"So ya'll be tying the knot for sure then, Timothy?" Mike asked incredulously. "My, it's been a stormy stand you've taken, I must say. Are ya sure it's the thing?"
"Absolutely." Tim challenged them all with stern eyes. "Wait until you meet her, you'll flip."
As if on cue, Tasha came down the stairs. Tim was ever so grateful to find her in a silk pantsuit of teal, very chaste yet elegant. She looked like a million bucks, he thought to himself. She'd done her hair, and put on some makeup. She looked like a perfect rose.
"Ah, here she comes." He chuckled. "Tasha," Tim greeted her, holding a hand out to her. "These are three of my very best friends. Michael Fitzsimmons; Billy Thorne; and James Burton. You'll be seeing quite a bit of these guys."
Tasha greeted them sweetly and openly. Tim was so proud of her, he was amazed to find he still had buttons on his shirt.
"Are you absolutely certain that you want to marry this guy?" Billy asked her in a conspiratory whisper. "There are probably a few things I should tell you, before you do anything rash. Maybe over dinner."
Tasha chuckled, and backed under Tim's protective arm. "Thank you so much, but I really wouldn't want to take any of the adventure out of my relationship with Timothy." She told him innocently. "It's been so much fun getting to know him. We just keep discovering all the wonderful things we love about one another, as things unfold."
"Ah, I see how it is. No chance you'd change your mind, then?" Mike sighed in a weary voice.
"No. This relationship has already been dearly paid for. But I am very flattered." She told them sweetly. "Why don't you take your things upstairs? Lucinda is up there making beds, she'll show you where to settle in."
The three of them obediently picked up their baggage, and trudged up the stairs.
"Oh, my." Tasha sighed, when she was sure they were out of hearing range.
"Yeah – well, I warned you." Tim grumbled.
"Are they gone?" Dana gasped breathlessly from the garage doorway.
"Yes! What in tarnation are you doing?" Brent laughed at her.
"Taking a breather!" she snorted. "Those two are awful! They were fighting over me, Timothy! Actually arguing about who was going to do this – and who was going to do that – as if I were some kind of video game you could rent, or take over, or ... ooh!"
Tim had to laugh. "They seem to keep getting more and more that way. You know, it was kind of funny when it started, one of those simple rivalry things; but watching it after being away for awhile, it kind of makes me concerned."
"I really did not enjoy it at all!" Dana complained, with fire blazing in her eyes. "They were pests! Everything they said was aimed at either impressing me, or getting me to go out with them, or whatever."
"What did James have to say?" Tim asked quietly.
"Well, he told them to shut up when he could see it was getting to me, and he made it stick. Other than that, he didn't say much of anything."
Tim smiled. "
That
still water runs real deep." He assured her. "Neither one of them would like to suffer his displeasure. I'm glad he was there."
"So, are these close friends, Tim?" Brent asked, urging Tim toward the dining room, with a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes. Very close, actually." Tim agreed. "Bill's on the executive boards of several missionary, evangelical and interdenominational organizations. He's a real politician. Mike is a something of a renegade Irish Catholic. He spent the seventies and eighties in Dublin, and found a new battlefield here in the States. He's been at the heart of the revival since it started. He's an incredible Evangelist.”
He smiled. "But James, now. James is a writer and musician."
"A songwriter?"
"Yes, but much more. He's done magazine articles, stories, books – you name it. He's one to watch. Not many people know about him, yet; but when the time comes, there's going to be an explosion. He is going to be an absolute sensation. I've never seen anyone who could express the things James can, through words and music."
Dana and Tasha smiled at Elaine as she joined them, and followed the men to the bar. Tasha grinned at Dana, finding the cooler stocked with Root beer and natural fruit drinks.
"Think I'll take a walk on the wild side." She growled, as she uncapped a bottle of Root beer.
"Don't get too comfortable, doll. You and I have a few things to take care of this afternoon." Tim reminded Tasha.
"Elaine and I have some business to discuss, as well." Brent added, daring Elaine to object, with just a look. "And Dana's had a killer morning at the airport. Do you think you can handle our three gentleman guests all right, if all of us abandon you?" Brent asked Dana solicitously.
Dana shrugged. "Sure. Just give me a weapon to defend myself with." She teased, with wide eyes.
"Lucinda can handle anything with her Chocolate Torte." Tim advised, with the voice of experience. "She'll be keeping a handle on things, never fear."