CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

TAMARA

"So," she asked, her gaze moving around the room, waiting for answers as her left foot tapped against the ground, something she did when she was impatient.
"Hmm, I had a panic attack at the wedding so the guys helped me leave, we had no other place to go, so we came here," I said, watching her face form a worried expression, "so when we came here, Tommy and I got into an argument and to prove a point he punched Alex." I finished her gaze on the two main culprits of this chaos.
"And what were you trying to prove to Thomas?" Tatiana questioned, her brow raised, as she crossed her arm over her chest she had already dropped the grocery bags in her hand on the nearest table; she looked pretty pissed because she alone calls Thomas his full name when she is angry, and she also switches from English to Spanish when speaking.
"That he hasn't changed, and he's still a jerk," Tommy replied, and Tatiana frowned disapprovingly.
"Estoy molesto (I'm upset), Thomas, you know I don't like children witnessing violence." Tatiana chastised her hands massaging her temple.
"I apologize, Tatiana." Tommy apologized,
"So what were you expecting when you punched him?" Tatiana asked, her gaze fixed on Alex.
"Miss, it was my fault," Alex said, attempting to deflect her attention from Tommy, but she turned to glare at him.
"no me importa (I don't care) who was at fault, the two of you will accept responsibility, now Thomas answer my question"
"For him to punch me back and show Tamara that he's lying about changing," Tommy stated, his eyes downcast in shame.
"Hmm, so did he punch you back?" Tatiana inquired.
"No"
"Este chico (this boy), I told you that violence doesn't solve problems, but you keep using it."
"Please accept my apologies for my behaviour, Tatiana." Tommy apologized again, and he truly appeared to be sorry for what he had done. I felt bad that Tatiana was scolding him.
"Now the two of you are going to go into that room and talk it out, and if I hear any of you raise your voice or try to exchange punches, you will see that I'm a woman you should not mess with, now off you go," Tatiana said as she watched the two boys stand awkwardly, no one wanting to move,
"I don't have all day, now go." Tatiana made her voice sound more firm as the boys moved walking towards the room she told them to go to, mumbling some incoherent words I couldn't make out.
When they were gone, Tatiana turned to face me and the other guys, smiling and asked, "Hello, who might you gentlemen be?"
"We are Tamara and Alex's friends," Shane replied as he turned to introduce his friends to Tatiana, "this is Joe, Huston, and I'm Shane," Shane explained as he pointed at his friends when he said their names.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all; please call me Tatiana."
"It's a pleasure to meet you ma, this place is wonderful," Joe said, causing Tatiana to blush slightly.
"Flirt," Shane whispered, causing me to giggle softly. Joe turned to glare at his friend, who gave him a large grin.
"Tatiana If it's okay with you, I suggested they volunteer " Tatiana's face lit up as I said this.
"That would be fantastic; we need more help here, but did they agree, it's difficult working with children?"
"We already did ma, volunteering here sounds fun," the guys said, and Tatiana's smile widened as she rushed to the counter and took out three pieces of paper, before returning to us and handing each guy a volunteer form to fill out.
"First, I'd like you to fill out this form and let me know what day and time works best for you to come over."
"Okay ma," the three chorused as they all walked to the sitting area to fill out the form, "while you guys are doing that, I'd like to speak with Tamara please, so please watch the kids." "No problem miss," Shane replied before returning his gaze to the firm he was filling and Tatiana directing them to the main office.
"Tell me why you're here now that we're alone. Tamara, the wedding was today, right? Did you go through with it? "Tatiana inquired.
"Yes, it was today, and I did go through with it, but because of my panic attack, Alex and his friends brought me here to escape for a little while before I go back and face Damien," I explained, and her hands immediately went around me, pulling me into a comforting hug.
"Mi querido nio (my dear child), you don't deserve this, I wished we had another option," Tatiana said, running her hand over my back in a soothing manner.
"I don't know how I'm going to manage Tatiana, Mr Kingston is an insufferable man" I said letting out a frustrated sigh.
"Tamara, listen to me, Eres una luchadora (you are a fighter), just like your late mother, so keep fighting until the end don't let this man break your spirit" Tatiana said her hold around me tightened.
"Thank you Tatiana, you always know what to say" I said pulling away from her hold to place a quick kiss on her cheek, her soft gaze never leaving mine
"Let's get back to the kids before they overwhelm your friends," Tatiana said as we returned to the nursery to check on the kids, who were sitting perfectly still reading books.
"I've never seen them this calm with anyone other than you Tamara," Tatiana said as Joe approached us with a smile.
"Shane has a way with kids, they just love him," Joe said, looking down at his friend, who was attempting to help one of the children pronounce a difficult word.
He looked his age at the moment, and when I found out he was actually two years older than me, I was shocked because of the way he acts with the other guys, he appeared younger and no doubt quite handsome, and if I wasn't in the situation I was in right now, I would have preferred to be with a man like him.
As if he knew we were talking about him, he immediately looked up at us with a wide smile on his face, getting off his knees to approach us.
"Are you guys finished talking?" he inquired.
"Yes, Tatiana gave me a pep talk, and I'm in a better mood now,"
"That's good," Shane said, his gaze never leaving mine.
"We should go check on the guys, if they haven't already killed each other," I said, breaking away from Shane's stare. It was too intense, he wasn't an intimidating man, but he had an aura that drew everyone's attention in the room, but as soon as we turned to check on the guys, they both stepped out of the room.
Alex smiled at me, then my gaze was drawn to Tommy, who had a guilty expression on his face.
"Tommy," I said, but his gaze did not meet mine.
"Please excuse me," he said before practically running out of the room, leaving all of us perplexed. I watched as Alex approached me with a sad smile on his face.
"You should go talk to him," Alex suggested. "What did you guys talk about to make him react like that?" I inquired, and Alex avoided my gaze, and I immediately realized that he had told him about his past. "Oh Alex, you didn't have to do that, we could've found another way to get him to trust you," I said.
"It isn't a big deal. I only told him what he needed to know to believe me, that I'm serious about changing and protecting you." Tatiana approached Alex as he stated.
"I don't know why you did what you did, but I know that you hurt Tamara; the fact that you're here indicates that Tamara is okay with you; however, if you dare to hurt this child again, no one will be able to stop me from finding you." Tatiana threatened, and I noticed Alex gulping visibly.
"I swear that I will protect her until the day I die."
"Good, I'm hungry Tamara, please go talk to that sulky man-child so we can eat. I brought some Leche frita and there's plenty to go around."
"All right, Tatiana, I'll be right back," I said as I went in search of Tommy. After searching the foundation, I found him in the backyard, sitting on one of the swing sets, lost in thought.
"Hey Tommy," I said, and his gaze met mine. "Tamara, I'm a terrible person," he said out of the blue.
"You're not a bad person, Tommy, so why are you talking like this?"
"I should have just listened to you, because after what he told me, I feel like an asshole for punching him."
"You acted like a jerk, but you're not a bad person." I said and he gave me an apologetic smile
"I apologize for acting like an asshole." "Apology accepted, now let's get back, Tatiana brought some Leche Frita for everyone, let's go eat."
"I don't want to go back there." Tommy said, je looked nervous.
"I promise you, no one is mad; you just have to apologize to Alex"
"Tamara, he really wants to change" Tommy stated his gaze meeting mine
"Yes, Tommy, he does"
"I'm glad you have someone on your side in that house now"
"I'm happy to, now come on" I said pulling on his arms to guide him into the foundation and once he reached the other guys Tommy approached Alex.
"I'm sorry for punching you" Tommy apologized
"No problem man, I did deserve it after what I put her through" Alex stated as he stretched out his hands for a handshake, Alex obliged with a smile accepting his handshake
After the foundation closed, Alex drove me to Damien's apartment after dropping off his friends at home. He offered to walk me to the door but I refused, telling him I was fine that he could go home; he was hesitant at first, but after a few minutes of convincing him, he left, leaving me to face a furious Damien.