Part 3

Cash sat in the kitchen, slowly sipping her lukewarm coffee, trying to get the image of the tattoo out of her head. Yet it stayed right there every time she blinked her eyes. "I need to make things right."

"What are you mumbling about, so late at night?" Houston asked as she shuffled her way into the kitchen rubbing her eyes.

Cash gasped in surprise. "Damn, you scared me."

Houston dropped her hands and smiled. "Sorry, thought you'd heard me."

Cash pushed her coffee cup towards the middle of the table and stood up. "Why are you awake?" she asked, trying not to stare at the half asleep woman. She had always loved how she looked when she first woke up.

Houston waved a finger at her and sat down. "I asked a question first." She motioned for the other woman to take her seat again. "So?"

"What was the question again?" Cash sat back down and folded her arms on the table top.

The blonde haired woman yawned before she asked again. "What are you mumbling about?"

Cash shook her head. "Just mindless rambling of someone who needs to get in bed."

Houston just stared at her and nodded her head. "If you say so, but I think you're pulling my leg."

"Funny," Cash smiled. "I think I'm going to get my butt in bed. I'll see you in the morning."

"Okay, sleep well." Houston watched as the taller woman headed out of the kitchen to her bedroom. "Sweet dreams." She said to the empty room before she got up and went back to sleep on the couch.

******************************

Carol and Karen knocked on the front door and waited. They knew it was early, but they figured, since two children now stayed in the small apartment, the other occupants would be up and about. When no one answered, they decided that they should use the key they had and slowly opened the door.

"Do you see anything?" Carol whispered as she glanced over her friend's shoulder.

"Not yet." Karen looked back. "I think they're sleeping still."

The two quietly made their way into the apartment. They looked in each room and nodded when all the beds were full of sleeping people.

"Guess we can wake Houston up, so she can make us some coffee." Carol wiggled her eyebrows and grinned.

Karen quickly nodded in agreement and followed her friend into the living room.

******************************

"Sir, I believe I have found where your daughter is staying." The man who followed the two women, since one of them had left her apartment that morning stated as he continued to watch the door Carol and Karen had entered.

"Give me the address and stay there!" Joseph ordered, looking for a pen and paper. "I'll be there in less than an hour. If you see them leave, contact me."

"Yes Sir." The man closed his phone and waited.

******************************

"More coffee?" Houston asked as she held up the glass coffee pot.

Carol nodded her head and raised her cup. Karen covered the top of her's and shook her head.

As Houston poured Carol another cup, Cash walked in with Tara and Trent in tow. "Morning."

"Morning," the three women responded.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Cash asked her children.

The two kids sat down in the empty seats and answered, "Cereal, please."

"Okay coming right up." Their mother smiled as she went about getting bowls and spoons. She looked over at their two visitors. "What are you two up too?"

"We just thought we'd stop over for a visit," Karen replied. "Plus,we wanted to see if you two needed anything."

"Some more groceries would be good." Houston went to the refrigerator and looked in. "I'll get a list started." She reached in and grabbed the milk and orange juice for the kids. "What are you two up to today? How's things at the office?"

Both Carol and Karen knew what Houston meant by the questions.

"Things are fine. Everything is running smoothly and no problems have arisen as of yet." Karen stood up and offered Cash her chair.



"We'll run to the store after we close the office and drop the stuff off, when we're done."

"Thanks." Houston patted her friend on the back. "I'm going to go jump in the shower, so the two monsters here can get in after they eat."

"Hey! We're not monsters!" Trent yelled out with a mouth full of food.

"Yes you are." Houston ruffled his already spiked hair. "You two knocked me down and made me watch a cartoon movie last night." She acted all horrified. "Just the thought of a movie about two fishes... scary." She shivered all over.

"Please." Tara laughed. "You are the one who held us down and said watch this. This part is funny. Oh, I would love to be one of those turtles."

Houston moved quickly and covered the young girl's mouth. "Shhh."

Everyone else in the room laughed at the antics of the two.

*******************************

The man in the car watched as a black BMW pulled in behind him. He waited to make sure that it was his boss before he opened his door and stepped out.

"Do you know what apartment they are in?" Joseph asked as he eyed the building.

The man pointed to the side entrance. "No, I watched them go in that way."

Joseph started toward the doors, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. "What do you think you're doing, Ivan? "

"Do you think it's a good idea to go in there and try and find her?" Ivan quickly moved his hand from his boss' shoulder. "It could turn out to be bad for you."

"The only thing it will do is scare the crap out of her, so she will come cowering back with me." Joseph made his way across the street and opened the door.

********************************

Houston stepped out of the bathroom just as she heard a loud knock at the front door. She quickly looked down the hallway in the direction that Carol and Karen were heading, when they'd heard the loud banging.

"Let me get it," Karen said as she moved past Houston. "Get the kids and Cash into a bedroom."

Carol was already a step ahead of her as she guided the three people into the room Cash was using.

"I think you should go into the living room and out of sight," Carol said as she pointed to the still wet haired blonde. "It could be nothing, but just in case. It would be better if no one sees you."

"Fine, but I will be ready just in case." Houston moved down the hallway and around the corner.

They waited until they saw Houston step out of sight before Karen reached for the door handle. When she opened it, she was not too surprised to see the man standing there. "Yes?" she asked with a smile. "Can I help you?"

"I want to see my daughter," Joseph demanded as he tried to step into the apartment, but was stopped as both women moved in front of him.

Carol held up a hand. "Excuse me, but we don't know who your daughter is."

"Bullshit, you two do know her. In fact I know you are hiding her out here and I want to see her." He balled up his fists. "NOW!"

"Sir, I would suggest you leave before we call the police and have you arrested for trespassing," Karen stated as she got herself ready for the man to charge at her.

"Go ahead and call. I don't care," the outraged man yelled.

"Fine." Carol looked down to grab her cell phone, but never got the chance as the man tried to push past her. "Hey."

Houston quickly rushed from her hiding spot. She couldn't stand by when one of her friends was in trouble. Even if she knew the two could handle the situation on their own. "You heard them. Get the hell out of here or you'll be sorry."

Joseph growled as he was manhandled to the ground by Karen. "I knew it. You're behind my daughter turning her back on me."

Houston knelt down and looked directly into the man's eyes. "No, you're so wrong." She gestured for Carol to call the police. "You did that all on your own and now you just made it so much worse. Just wait until the news media gets a hold of this little altercation."

"Fuck you." He spat not caring that drops of spit ran down his chin. "I'll make your life so bad, you won't be able to walk outside without someone wanting to do you in."

"Your threats never hurt me. Your actions though have and I won't allow you that power any more." Houston patted his cheek. "You're going down big man and your daughter is the one, who will give you the final push."

Cash stood on the other side of the closed door. Her whole body shook with fear as she heard the loud sounds of wrestling and the bodies crashing to the floor. She was tempted to open the door and finally face her father, but years of being afraid kept her planted where she was.

*******************************

After two hours of talking to the police and getting things straightened out, Cash and the kids were in Houston's car heading toward the blonde's house. The group had decided that it was now the best place to stay, since the house wasn't under her name and no one could get through the door, without being buzzed through the community security gate.

"This is nice." Cash said softly as they pulled up the driveway.

Houston looked up at her blue gray colored house with a big picture window and a large porch that wrapped around from one side of the house to the back. "Thanks." She opened her door and stepped out of the car. "Trent and Tara can each have a bedroom up the stairs and to the left. You can have the one on the right. It's right next to the bathroom."

"Okay." Cash handed the kids each of their bags and followed them up the front steps. "You two make sure you behave. I don't want you to break anything."

"Don't worry about that. There isn't anything in there that is worth much." Houston used her house key and opened the door. "Go on and get settled and I'll make us some lunch."

"Can we have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?" Trent asked as he walked up the stairs.

Tara stopped and turned to look at Houston. "If we do, can we have that marshmallow fluff stuff with it?"

Houston raised an eyebrow and slowly looked up to meet blue eyes smiling at her. "Can't help it if a culinary masterpiece like that is hard to forget."

******************************

"Go on. I know you want it." Houston eyed the kid sitting across from her.

Trent looked from his plate to the last sandwich. "How about we share it?"

Houston smiled and stood up to get a knife. "What do you and your sister want to do this afternoon?"

Trent thought for a moment before he replied. "Not sure. What's there to do?"

Houston cut the sandwich and offered one half to the boy. "Well, we could watch movies?"

"Naw, how about something outside?" Trent asked. "We've been stuck inside for days now and I'm getting pretty bored."

The small blonde sat there and ate her half and thought. She knew that taking the kid outside was risky, even with top-notch security surrounding her and the neighboring houses. Then an idea popped into her mind. "Give me a second to make a call." She stood up and grabbed the phone.

Trent watched her as he finished his lunch. She paced back and forth talking softly and nodding her head.

"You two done with lunch yet?" Cash asked as she stepped into the kitchen.

Trent waved at his mom to be quiet, that Houston was on the phone.

"What's up?" the brunette asked her son. "Who's she talking to?"

Trent shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."

The two silently watched Houston say good-bye and hang up the phone. She turned around with a grin. "What do you say to an afternoon of swimming?"

"AWESOME!" Trent shouted, which made his sister run into the room.

Tara jumped up and down. "What did I miss?"

"We're going swimming." Trent answered back as he pounded his fist in the air.

Tara clapped her hands with excitement. "Where are we going?"

Houston leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed her arms in front of her. "My neighbor has a pool and she's always told me to use it whenever I wanted."

"That's great Houston." Cash smiled and then looked at the two kids. "Why don't you two go find some shorts and a t-shirt in your bags."

"Okay Mom." Trent ran past his sister. "Come on slowpoke."

Tara quickly followed and the two grown-ups that were left in the kitchen heard two sets of feet running up the stairs and down the hallway and then, two doors slamming closed.

"Guess they liked the idea?" Houston asked with a laugh.

Cash nodded her head. "Yes, I think they do."

******************************

The four quietly walked to the neighbor's house with towels and a bag of drinks and snacks. When they reached the side gate, a loud bark was heard and someone telling the dog to be quiet.

"Is that you Gale?" Houston shouted as she unlocked the gate.

"Who else would it be?" Gale answered back. "Come on in. I've got the beast in his pen. The backyard is all yours."

Houston waved her companions in and then shut the wooden gate's door. She smiled at the older woman as she walked into her open arms for a hug. "Thanks again! For the use of your pool."

"Not a problem." Gale stepped back and waited for introductions.

"I'd like you to meet my guests. This young lady is Tara and the young man standing next to her is her brother, Trent." Houston then stepped next to Cash and put her hand on her back. "And this is their mother, Cash."

"It is nice to meet you three." Gale shook each of their hands. "Please feel free to come over, whenever you'd like to use our pool."

"Thank you, that's very kind of you." Cash replied to the kind woman.

"Can we go in now?" Trent asked as he not so patiently waited.

Houston took each of the kid's towels and tossed them over her shoulder. "Sure, go ahead. Just be careful."

"We will!" Tara called back as she ran to jump in the cool water just before her brother.

*************************************

The afternoon went by slowly, which was just fine by the two sunning woman and the two swimming children. They talked Houston into playing, but after about a couple of hours, she swam over to the edge and pulled herself out of the water.

Cash couldn't take her eyes off the glistening tan skin as water made it's way down the strong legs to the deck.

Houston knew she was being watched. The spark that they used to have long ago, hadn't gone out and her thoughts were jumping for joy, but her heart was running scared. She didn't know if she could put herself out there, could put her heart out there, only to have it shattered into more pieces.

"You all seem to be having a blast," Gale said as she stepped outside with a tray of lemonade and cookies.

Houston turned and reached for the tray of goodies. "We are."

"Thanks." Gale smiled at the blonde. "Would you like to stay for dinner? I have some steaks defrosting and have all the fixings for potato salad."

"What do you say?" Houston asked Cash as she set the tray down and poured each of them a drink.

Cash nodded. "That would be nice. Thanks."

"When will Neil get home?" Houston asked before she took a long drink.

Gale glanced at her wrist watch. "He should be home in a few hours."

"Great, how about I run to the store to get something for dessert?" Houston stood up and grabbed her towel. "You should be okay here." She looked at Cash.

"You sure?" Cash asked, suddenly feeling scared.

Gale leaned forward and patted the tall woman's knee. "Trust me, you're safe here. No one can reach you here."

Houston knelt down and took Cash's hand. "Gale and her husband know what I do. Carol is their daughter."

"You know what? How about I call Carol and Karen to see if they want to stop by too." Gale stood up and headed towards the house to grab the phone.

Cash looked from the retreating woman back down to green eyes. "You'll hurry back?"

"I'll break land speed records." Houston smiled as she stood back up. "I'm going to go change into something a little less wet."

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"So these three get stuck in the storage unit all night with no bathroom." Neil stated as he finished the story.

Cash nearly fell out of her chair from laughing so hard at the images of Houston and her friends being stuck with no way out, until the morning manager came by. "What happened after they were let out?"

"We fought for the right to use the bathroom." Karen grinned. "Needless to say, one of us didn't win." She gave a slight glance towards Houston, whose face was a soft pink color.

"No way?" Trent spoke around a mouth full of potato salad. "You pissed in your pants?"

"It wasn't my fault." Houston defended herself. "Those two cheat big time."

"No, you tripped over that box and lost it when your ass hit the ground," Carol informed the rest of the group. "I never laughed so hard in my life."

"Me either." Carol giggled. "The next week we made sure that never happened again."

"What did you do?" Cash asked as she leaned forward with her elbows on the table.

Carol looked at Karen and then to Houston.

"They bought me a whole case of Depends." Houston shrugged her shoulders. "But they were paid back when they least expected it."

"What did you do?" Tara asked curiously.

"I slapped maxi pads all over their cars and dyed them bright red." Houston sat up with a smug smile on her face.

Trent looked at all the grown-ups as they started to laugh. "I don't get it. What are maxi pads used for?"

That made the group laugh harder.

"I'll explain it to you, when you are a little older." Cash said in between breaths.

********************************

Later that night, Houston sat down on her couch and listened to the noises her house guests were making.

Trent was upset that he had to take a bath. "But Mom, I was swimming all day in a big tub. Why do I need to take one now?"

"Because I'm your mom and I said so. That's why," Cash responded softly. "Now get going, so your sister can take one after you."

"She can use my shower. That way, she doesn't have to wait," Houston yelled up.

Cash walked to the edge of the steps. "You sure? She may be in there a while. She loves showers."

"Sure, no problem. I'm going to be up for a while," the seated woman answered back. "Tara, get your things. Houston said you can use her shower." Cash told her daughter.

Tara ran up beside her mom and screamed down, "Thanks Houston!"

"You're welcome!" Houston yelled back. Cash helped Tara get her things ready and the shower started. The only thing that she couldn't find in the bathroom was a towel. "Hey Houston, where do you keep your towels for your bathroom?"

Houston stood up and walked up the stairs. "I'll show you." She walked into her bedroom towards a closet. "They're in here." She opened the door and pulled out a soft, light blue cotton towel.

"Thanks." Cash reached for the towel and slowly took it from the blonde woman.

"No problem." Houston nodded. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Sure, I'll have whatever you're going to have," the tall brunette answered before she turned back to the bathroom, where Tara was waiting for her.

Houston slowly made her way out of the room and back down the stairs to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of beer. Sitting on down she twisted the cap off the one in her hand and took a slow drink. "Yum, that hit the spot."

Upstairs, Cash had gone to get another towel for Tara's hair, when she noticed a box on the top shelf. Curiosity hit her and she reached up for it. Holding the box in her hands, she went and sat down on the edge of the bed. She took a deep breath and slipped the lid off and set it down next to her. "Ohh God." Inside she saw hundreds of pieces of pictures. She picked up a small bunch and sifted through them. Tears started to fall as she realized they were of her and Houston, when they were together.

"Mom you got that towel for me?" Tara yelled from the bathroom shower.

Cash coughed to clear her throat. "Be right there."

Putting the torn pictures back in the box, she noticed one picture that wasn't torn. With shaky fingers she picked it up. It was one of her and Houston, each one holding a baby. She remembered when it was taken. One of the nurses at the hospital had grabbed the camera and taken the picture before they left to bring the twins home.

****************************

Houston sat back down on the couch with her drink and Cash's. She set the unopened beer on the coffee table and waited for her house guest to come down. She could hear the sounds of the shower running and she thought that maybe Tara would like the new shampoo that she'd bought a few days ago. She set her bottle down and headed for the stairs.

She heard Tara yell out to her Mom and wondered where the taller woman had gone off too, but she didn't have to wait long when she heard Cash answer from inside her room. Taking several steps she found Cash sitting on her bed with a box on her lap. "What'cha doing?"

Cash nearly jumped out of her skin. "I'm.. I was getting Tara another towel for her hair."

"Okay?" Houston responded as she walked past the threshold.

Cash held up the picture of all of them. "I found these."

"Oh." Houston reached for the picture and brought it up to take a better look. It had been years, since she had even opened the box and it brought a small grin to her face. "That was the second best day of my life."

"Second?" Cash asked as she watched the woman looking at the picture.

Houston nodded her head. "The day I met you was the first."

Cash set the box on the bed and stood up to leave. She couldn't take the admission of Houston's statement. The anguish she felt, had never hurt more, than at that very moment. A strong hand on her arm stopped her retreat.

"You need to stop running and face this," Houston said softly.

Cash couldn't turn around, so she stood there with her eyes closed.

"It's easier to run and hide, but in the long run facing stuff that you're afraid of gets easier and the outcome is far better." Houston loosened her grip. "Trust me."

"I do trust you. It's me I don't." Cash started to cry. "All my life people have told me who I should be, how I should live." She turned to face Houston. "Everyone except you and for that, I hurt you beyond words."

"True, you tore my heart to pieces." Houston stated honestly. "I thought my world had ended, when you left with the kids. I shut myself off from the world and just existed. In a way, I'm still just existing in a world that should hold promise and a future. My whole future was you and those two babies, but you took all that from me because of a fear, that I honestly think we could have beaten."

"No, he would have hurt you in order to get me to come back." Cash looked into green eyes. "I couldn't chance that."

"But he accomplished that anyway." Houston took Cash's shaking hands in hers. "But now I think you are strong enough to do what is right for you."

"I'm not so sure of that." Cash replied softly.

Houston stepped a few inches closer to the trembling woman. "I am. Because you're willing to stand up to your father for the things that he's doing to his employees."

Cash lowered her head and let her long dark tresses cover her face. She felt one of her hands being set free, only to feel the strong fingers brush strands of hair behind her ear.

"Don't hide any more. Be who you are and not what someone else wants you to be." The small blonde slowly traced a path down the crying woman's cheek. "I'll help you any way I can."

Cash's head slowly straightened. "How can you be this nice? How can you act like you still care after what I did to you?"

Houston guided Cash towards the bed and sat her down. She reached for the box full of torn pictures and handed it to her. "Inside this box is the past. A past that I wish, I could have had forever." She reached in and pulled out the picture of the four of them and looked at it. "My whole life was for you and the kids and although, I couldn't be there for you and them these last years, I still want to. My heart may be still torn, but with the right help it could be put back together and become whole again."

"How can you trust me not to hurt you again?" Cash moved the box off her lap and went to stand. "I can't even trust myself."

"Well, I've heard that it all starts with someone who does trust you." Houston placed her hands on Cash's thigh to keep her seated. "I know most people would yell, scream and make you feel bad for what you did. And I'll admit, I did that when I first saw you, but all it did was make things worse. My head is telling me now that is what I should be doing to be totally truthful, but my heart is aching for what was lost." She leaned back on her heels. "Time is a precious thing and the time we have left may be a great deal, but in fact, it may not. And I want to have you and the kids for the time I have left."

Cash couldn't stop the strong sobs as they finally overcame her. Tears tracked down her cheeks in rivers as she grasped the hands on her legs.

"Mom what's wrong?" Trent's voice sounded scared and unsure.

Houston turned to the still wet headed boy. "Nothing's wrong, Trent. We've just been talking and your mom is upset and," she looked back to Cash, "I hope those tears are happy ones. Am I right in saying that?" she asked.

Cash nodded her head as she tried to wipe the tears off her face. "Why don't you go downstairs and get a small snack before you head for bed," she told her son as she tried to get her emotions under control.

"You sure?" Trent asked as he looked from his mom to Houston, then back to his mom. "I'll stay with you if you need me too."

"I'm sure." Cash smiled at her son's thoughtfulness. "Your sister should be done in a few minutes and she'll be down to join you."

"Okay." Trent turned and headed down to the kitchen.

Houston waited for several seconds before she turned to look back into Cash's eyes. "We still have things to talk about, but now isn't the time. Maybe after the kids go to bed, or tomorrow?"

"Thank-you." Cash entwined her fingers with the ones on her thighs. "I know I don't deserve what you are offering, but I want to try again."

"Always knew you were a smart woman." Houston stood up and let go of Cash's hands. "Let me get you that towel for Tara and I'll go down with Trent to help him find something to eat."

Cash watched the other woman put the top back on the box as she put it back up on the top shelf and then reach for a soft cotton towel. "Houston?"

"Yes?" the blonde replied as she handed the seated woman the towel.

"I'll make things right." The brunette stated softly and with conviction.

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Continued in part four..


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