Tasha was puzzled at this but thanked the lady and continued to the stairs, Tim following closely behind her.
They were stopped a couple more times, and the same sentiment was expressed.
When they got to Tasha’s apartment, the door was taped over with police tape and a warning posted—Police Investigation in Process. Do Not Enter Under Penalty of Law.
This stopped them in their tracks. Tasha turned to Tim. “What do I do now?” she wondered aloud.
Tim was already on his cell phone making calls to see what he could find out.
Within minutes, the police had arrived and were quickly explaining that one of Tasha’s neighbors had reported the break-in. They hadn’t been able to reach her and had processed the scene as they normally would. Tim could tell that this detective was new on the job and just following protocol, so he let it go, but they were going to the station, and he would be having a talk with someone. When they had filed the initial stalking report, he had given all his and Kyle’s contact information to the detective in charge of the case and should have been notified.
The police escorted them through the apartment. Nothing had been torn up, but purple paint had been poured on everything. The paint was the exact same color of the roses that Jason kept sending.
Someone had poured the paint on every piece of furniture and clothing, even opening drawers, and not an item had been missed. Whoever had done this had been here for a while and knew she wouldn’t be home.
Tasha was sure Jason would have an alibi, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have paid someone to do the damage. She couldn’t even sit down. There was no surface untouched.
Putting one arm around her, Tim turned her to the door, handing his card to the officer standing there. “Please notify us when we can have the apartment cleaned. I’ll be in touch with the detective we talked to at the station. You can reach Ms. Rivers through me.”
Then he walked her down the stairs. She was still in a state of shock. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll take care of everything,” he assured her.
Loading her into the truck, he drove to the mall. Tasha was so shocked by what had been done to her apartment she hadn’t paid any attention to where they were going until he came around to get her out of the vehicle.
“What are we doing here?” she asked in amazement.
“Shopping. I know you will need some clothes, and this is the place to get them,” he told her, very upbeat. Tim loved shopping for a woman.
Putting one hand on his arm, she looked up into his boyish face and sparkling eyes. “Oh, Tim, I can’t afford to buy new clothes.” She really couldn’t. She would have to pay to have everything cleaned, replace what couldn’t be, and the thought had dollar signs rolling in her head. Plus, she still had to get her car fixed.
“Baby, I’m shopping for you. That means I’m buying.” He looked like a kid at Christmas.
“Okay.” Tasha knew she would figure out a way to pay him back, and she would need clothes for work. And a place to stay. Maybe she could stay with Tim again. Yes, she’d ask him.
“Tim, before we go in, I need a favor.”
“Anything you want, baby.” He was excited to be able to help her and that she hadn’t fought him on the shopping.
“Can I stay in your spare room until I can get back in my apartment?” She hoped he would say yes.
“No, I don’t think that would be a good idea,” he answered without any inflection in his voice.
“Oh, okay,” Tasha answered, dissapointed. What was she going to do now? “I can pay you,” she answered, hoping he would change his mind.
“Tasha, you are not staying in my spare room,” Tim answered.
“Okay, I get it.” She was starting to get upset. Now what am I going to do, she thought looking down at the ground.
Tim could see the hurt in her eyes and knew he had to explain. Turning her face up to his, he brushed her mouth with his lips and pulled her close. “Tasha, you are more than welcome to stay at my house, but I want you in my bed, not in the spare room.” He kissed her again and, grabbing her hand, pulled her into the mall. Shopping was going to be so much fun.
They spent the afternoon going from one store to another until Tasha couldn’t keep up anymore. Collapsing on a bench in the mall, she pulled Tim down beside her, laughing. “Enough. I can’t take anymore.”
“Oh no, my dear, when we get home, you will be doing a fashion show. I have a special surprise for you,” he said, pulling her up and heading for the door.
“Fine, but you have to feed me first.” She giggled.
Tim took her to his house so they could change, and she put on one of her new outfits. She had more clothes from one shopping trip than she had ever had before. She didn’t believe how much fun shopping with Tim was. They had gone into every clothing store in the mall, and Tim had purchased something in every store. He had even taken her into a store specializing in bath products, and they had picked out several different scents of shampoo, bodywash, and bubble bath. She truly felt pampered.
They enjoyed a quiet dinner and then went back to Tim’s place. Grabbing a bottle of wine, then he started a fire and pulled her down to sit on the floor beside him. The fashion show could wait. Handing her a glass of wine, they sat back to relax, just enjoying the fire and each other’s company. No words were needed.