Jensen’s Mate

The Villa’s

Meanwhile, as Crystal lay against the tree, she slowly regained consciousness. Reaching for her phone to check the time, she noticed a couple of missed calls.

Dialing Kay’s number, Crystal waited for a response.

“Crystal, oh my gosh! I’ve been trying to reach you for over an hour. Where are you?” Kay asked, her voice filled with concern.

“I don’t really know. Gary did what he said he was going to do and ran off with my backpack. I guess I’m kinda in the woods a little bit, but I see the road up ahead, so I’ll just keep walking,” Crystal replied.

“Wait a minute, what? Just tell me which road you’re on, and I’ll come pick you up,” Kay insisted.

As Crystal made her way back to the main road, she realized she wasn’t far from the school grounds. She described her location to Kay and waited for her to arrive. However, it wasn’t Kay who came to pick her up—it was Jayla.

“Sweetheart, are you okay?” Jayla asked as she pulled up beside Crystal, rolling down her window.

“Yeah, I’m fine I guess. I need to get home,” Crystal said as she climbed into the passenger seat.

“Where is your backpack?” Jayla asked.

“Gary took it,” Crystal replied simply, buckling herself in.

“Your aunt is in the hospital. She had a stomach bug or something, so my sister gave her some medicine. I suggested you stay the night with us so your aunt can get some rest,” Jayla explained.

“Oh… um… okay. Where is Kay?” Crystal asked, slightly confused.

“She’s with her dad and brother right now. I told her I’d pick you up because it’s important for her to do some training. She’s been skipping out,” Jayla said.

“Is that the karate stuff or whatever?” Crystal asked.

“Yes, dear. When you called Kay and told her about this, she got really upset, and her dad suggested she work her built-up aggression out,” Jayla responded.

“But shouldn’t I be with my aunt since she’s resting?” Crystal asked.

“Oh no, dear. If she saw or heard about the state you’re in, it wouldn’t be good. You were supposed to get a ride from the girls, and they couldn’t find you,” Jayla replied.

“Yeah, sorry about that. I just like being outside and taking walks. It seemed like such a nice day,” Crystal said.

Jayla glanced over at Crystal and noticed her wounds were slowly healing in front of her eyes.

“That’s odd,” Jayla muttered to herself.

“What’s odd?” Crystal asked, overhearing Jayla.

“Can I ask you how you ended up in the woods? That’s where you told Kay you woke up,” Jayla inquired.

“I don’t know. I just remember Gary getting angry, jumping out his vehicle, and hurting me. The next thing I know, I wake up leaning against a tree. The oddest thing was dreaming about this black wolf that kept licking my face and rib cage. I should have a bruise here, but I don’t,” Crystal said, lifting her shirt to show a bruise that was slowly disappearing. but as I was passed out, I dreamt of his big black wolf hovering over me, then cuddling with me and licking my face and wounds, and even my side.

“That is very odd, dear. Since you don’t have your backpack, do you have any homework? Perhaps Kay can let you borrow her to work off of. Jayla asked curiously.

“No ma’am, I finished it all during my free period today. Monday night’s homework anyway,” Crystal answered.

Well, since that young boy took your backpack, how about I see if Kay is willing to part with a few that she has I’m sure she will. Jayla responded.

Oh, that’s all right. I just need to go to the store before I get home. I don’t want aunt Stella to see that I lost my backpack. I don’t want be upset about it. I have a feeling that it would so I will figure out something.

“ Nonsense Kay,can give you one of hers and if not, I’ll have her drive you to the mall to retrieve another one” Jayla says as she that’s Crystal on the hand comforting then put her hand back on the steering wheel pulling up to the villa home.

Crystal looks over at Jayla and smiles “thank you.

Crystal, once we get back to the house how would you like to help me bake before the staff starts dinner this evening?” Jayla asked.

“Oh, that would be lovely. Thank you,” Crystal replied.

“And what would you like to bake?” Jayla asked.

“Well, ma’am, I really like everything you bake because you’re such a wonderful baker. But I love your red velvet the best. Can we make cupcakes like that?” Crystal asked.

“That so kind of you to say and Red Velvet sounds perfect to me,” Jayla said, her voice warm and heartfelt.

Crystal follows Jayla into the kitchen, only to be stopped by the head chef, Debra.

Hello Mrs. Villa. What can I do for you this evening? We will be preparing dinner here shortly," Debra greets them warmly.

"Oh, nothing much, Miss Debra. Crystal and I were hoping we could bake some red velvet cupcakes together while we wait for Mr. Villa and the kids to return from training," Jayla responds, reaching for an apron hanging in the pantry and passing another one to Crystal.

"It is your kitchen, Mrs. Villa. I don't see why not. We do have all the ingredients. Please, take as long as you need," Debra says with a smile.

"I hope we aren't in the way or anything," Crystal replies hesitantly.

"No, no, Mrs. Reade, you're not. Besides, I'm sure my staff wouldn't mind having a little break before dinner. And don't worry about the dishes; we'll take care of them once you're done," Debra assures her.

"Oh no, we'll do our own dishes, and we'll make sure to stay out of your way when it's time for dinner," Jayla says kindly, her voice warm and reassuring, as they prepare to bake together.

Nearly 45 minutes later, Jayla and Crystal finish cleaning up their mess and put the last batch of red velvet brownies into the industrial oven.

"That certainly is a lot of cupcakes we made," Crystal remarks.

"Yes, it certainly is. It's kind of you to make enough for the staff if they want one," Jayla replies.

"I like baking. It's fun. I don't really get to do it much. Aunt Stella only lets me cook in the kitchen. She doesn't have any sweets in the house, so baking is kind of not allowed. She says I wouldn't look pretty if I got fat, and fat is disgusting or whatever. She can be a bit egotistical at times," Crystal confides.

"I know, dear, and that's why you're always welcome here. Kay has kind of grown out of baking with me," Jayla says sympathetically.

"Don't take any offense, but I probably would too if I had a mom and it was something we did all the time. But I don't know; I can't speak from experience," Crystal shrugs.

"No offense taken, Crystal. When I was younger, it did get exhausting. My sister and I got bored of baking with my mother because she always had us in the kitchen doing something. So with Kay and Jenny, when Janis and I find time—or make time—we get the girls in the kitchen to help," Jayla explains.

"Oh, I remember. Every time I came over when I was younger, we would bake together. You're not my mother, but this makes me feel close to her in some ways. Aunt Stella said my mother didn't really do a lot of baking or cooking because she was too busy 'exploring male suitors,' as she called it," Crystal says, using her fingers to gesture quotation marks.

"Are you two talking about us?" Kay asks seriously as she walks into the kitchen.

"Oh my God, Dess, it smells so freaking good in here!" Sean exclaims.

"Now, kids, go upstairs and shower. Leave your mother and Crystal alone. You can have whatever they baked after dinner," Tony says as he enters through the kitchen door behind his kids. He approaches Jayla, sweeping her up in a hug and a kiss.

"Come on, that's gross, seriously, Dad," Kay says. "I don't think I'll be hungry for dinner after all."

"Even though that grosses me out, I'll eat your portions," Sean says, trying to take a red velvet cupcake off the cooling rack.

Jayla slaps his hand. "Not now. After dinner," she replies.

"Ouch, Mom! But I'm hungry now!" Sean protests.

"Come on, Crystal, let's go up to my room. I'm sure we have some of your clothes left from the last time you spent the night. I'll hop in the shower first, then you," Kay says, taking Crystal by the hand and running up the stairs.

"I've got an idea—how about Crystal takes a shower with me and sleeps in my room?" Sean suggests.

"No, thank you, and I'm not showering with your sister. I'm waiting till she's done, then I'll go in when she's out and dressed, you goofball," Crystal says, pushing Sean out of her way once they're upstairs.

"Ouch, my ego! Seriously, that girl has some mad strength she doesn't realize," Sean mutters.

"Behave up there!" Tony yells up the stairs in his strict, authoritative tone.

"We are, Dad!" Sean and Kay yell in unison, while Crystal just giggles,

Once once crystals showered and changed into a clean pair of skinny jeans and a black Nirvana T-shirt with red high top Converse.

And a flannel long sleeve, but up tied around her waist. She sits down at the table, joining Kay and Sean. Jay sits next to Tony at the head of the table. It all sudden becomes quiet at the table.

Debra, the head chef, approached Crystal. "Miss Reade, what would you like to drink this evening?"

"Oh, umm, can I just get a glass of... umm, cherry Coke? Thank you," Crystal replied.

"I swear, Crystal, you could live off cherry Coke and gummy bears," Kay said with a chuckle.

Tony chimed in, "Why do you say that?"

"Well, Dad," Kay explained, "that’s all Crystal ever eats or drinks. Whenever we stop at the store, that's what she grabs. She even has a secret stash in her locker at school because Aunt Stella doesn't allow any junk food at home."

Crystal, slightly embarrassed, added, "I told your mom that Aunt Stella doesn’t really let me bake."

Sean stretched and put his arm over the back of Crystal’s chair. "Well, if you want to live here, I have no problem. I’ll even be your personal little gummy bear," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

Kay reached behind Crystal and slapped her brother upside the head. "Stop being gross."

"Damn it, Kay stop hitting me when I speak the truth!" Sean retorted.

"Both of you, knock it off. Dinner's going to be ready shortly, and I expect you all to be on your best behavior," their dad interjected.

Crystal laughed. "You know, I’ll never get used to the fact that your dad and his coworkers, or best friends, or whatever they are, act like uncles. Having breakfast, lunch, and dinner together like a family unit. And the security guards and others always hanging around the house."

"Yeah, I know, it’s funny, isn’t it?" Kay replied. "That’s just the way my dad runs his business. Some people, like your aunt, think he’s some mafia dude. And my dad’s not even Sicilian or Italian—he’s Greek." Kay laughed, and soon her brother and father joined in.

"Alright, everyone, let’s settle down now," Jayla said as more people began to arrive at the long dining table that seated sixteen.