Tina

TINA

Dave had always been good natured. He would help anyone if he could. He had been a loving husband and a devoted father. But since his daughter's death, (her drink had been spiked and she'd had an allergic or some other reaction to it), and his wife's suicide soon after because of that, his good nature was, for the time being, put on the backburner. It was a struggle for him being alone.

It was now just over 4 years since those tragic events that had rocked his world to the core.

These days, he kept mostly to himself. He worked, came home and just existed. The one bright spot was his fortnightly poker games with five other guys who for one reason or another, were all single. It gave them all a chance to relax, have a drink or two and forget about the struggles of life and being single, middle-aged males in a world that they now all found themselves in.

He also found meaningful sleep still hard to come by and that is why, early one Saturday morning, he was out and walking around the local park. It had become something of a ritual for him most Saturday's and after he had walked his now customary circuit around the outskirts of the park he stopped at a mobile food wagon that served breakfast rolls etc, and coffees or teas.

He had just finished eating when he noticed a young woman sitting at a nearby table.

Pretty he thought, but not overly so. She had shoulder length light brown hair which, he noticed, was slightly unkempt as were the clothes she was wearing. She also looked tired and she was shivering slightly in the chill early morning air. He guessed she had been sleeping rough.

Poor child he thought.

Their eyes met and she offered Dave a weak smile. Dave smiled back in kind, then turned his attention back to his half full cup of coffee.

Just as he was finishing, he noticed the young woman get up and walk towards him. She then sat down opposite him, her mouth opening as if to say something, then quickly closing again.

"Can I help you?" Dave asked, trying to sound pleasant despite her intruding on his alone time.

The young woman stared at him for several long seconds. It was like she was trying to put something straight in her mind. She seemed nervous and unsure. Scared almost.

"I'll blow you for a tenner." She blurted.

Dave raised his eyebrows a bit but remained impassive. Finally he spoke.

"Huh! A tenner eh? How old are you?" Dave asked her guardedly.

"I'm twenty-two." She answered. "And I can prove it to you if you want." She then picked up a scruffy looking canvas rucksack and began rummaging through its contents.

"And you need a tenner for what exactly?" Dave asked as she huffed and moaned as she sought to find whatever it was she was looking for.

"Food." She said, "What else would I want money for?"

"I dunno. Drugs maybe?" Dave winced at the mere mention of the cause of his daughter's death.

"I'm no junkie!" She replied, clearly shocked that he had suggested she was. "I ... I haven't eaten in two days and I'm desperate."

Dave studied her eyes, they looked sincere but pleading, and Dave decided she was telling the truth.

"Ok. Sure. Why not." Dave said, then reached into his jacket and pulled his wallet out before extracting a tenner and passing it to her. He wanted to just give her the tenner, but the thought of getting his cock sucked sprung quickly into his mind and refused to go away.

"Thanks mister." She said, her eyes now wide with gratitude. "You're a good soul."

"I have my moments, though not for a while." Dave said as she got up to go to the breakfast wagon. "Oh. I'm Dave by the way. Pleased to meet you."

"Tina." She replied. "And thanks again."

Tina took a couple of steps then stopped and turned back to face Dave.

"Will you still be here after I've got something to eat?"

Dave nodded. "Sure. Get me a coffee. Black with sugar. You should have enough for it all."

Tina smiled at Dave then left to get something to eat.

Ten minutes or so later, Tina was back sitting opposite Dave and was quickly eating her breakfast roll with obvious relish and justo.

"Slowly," Dave cautioned, "or you'll give yourself a stomach ache."

"Sorry, but this is so nice!" Tina managed to say after swallowing a large bite of her roll.

The breakfast roll soon disappeared and Tina washed it down with a can of cola.

"So, what's your story then?" Dave asked.

Tina's face became saddened. "Lost my job. Was made redundant. I couldn't find another. My ex then chucked me out. He'd already found someone else anyway and she's more than welcome to him! Been sofa hopping for the last month or so but they've had enough and I can't really say I blame them. So I've spent the last few nights sleeping, or trying to sleep, anywhere I can."

"Parents? Could they not help?" Dave inquired.

Tina's face turned angry. "No. No way! Mum never liked me very much and being truthful, I didn't like her very much either. I was a daddy's girl you see. I say was, because my dad died when I was fourteen."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Guess you both were close?"

"Oh yes! We would do so much stuff together. Sports, gaming, that sort of thing. Mum was jealous of our relationship and made it known. Dad and I could talk about anything. I ... I really miss him." Tears began forming in Tina's eyes at the memory of him.

Dave too, had watery eyes as he remembered all the good times he had with his now, late daughter.

Tina then spoke after wiping her eyes with her fingers. "Are you married? Do you have a family? Sorry for asking what I asked, if you have."

"No." Dave said sadly. "Not anymore." He paused as he struggled to find the words to tell her what had happened to them. When he finally did, Tina reached out and held his hand.

"I'm so sorry." It was all Tina could say.

"Thanks," Dave said with sincerity. "So, it's just me now."

For two or three minutes, they both sat in silence. Finally, Dave shook his head to clear his mind.

"So where are you going to stay tonight? There are hostels aren't there? Have you tried those?"

"No." Tina replied. "Not around here. So I guess I'll be roughing it again."

There then followed a couple more minutes of silence. Each unsure of what to say before Tina looked up at Dave and said quietly, "I ... um ... guess I owe you that blowjob now. So where shall we go?"

"There really is no need Tina." Dave said.

"Yes there is." Said Tina. "You've given me money so the least I can do is give you a blow. I mean, I did offer, didn't I?"

"Yes you did but ..."

"But what?" Tina pressed.

"I can't just let you do that and then watch you leave can I? Not in my nature. Me being me, I'll worry myself all day and night wondering if you're ok!"

Tina was silent for a few moments but she never took her eyes off of his.

"How about," she began, "you let me stay with you tonight and you can fuck me as well."

Dave opened his mouth and stared at her in surprise.

"Have you ... done that before? Are you ... um ... on the game?" He finally asked.

"No." Tina said, shaking her head. "First time if I'm honest. Though the thought has occurred to me more than once these past couple of days. I know where they are, you know, the street girls." Tina looked down, hiding her face from him. She suddenly felt embarrassed and ashamed. But she didn't have any other choices. "I'm sorry," Tina continued, "I don't know what else to do. I have nothing ... except me."

Dave thought for a few moments. Her offer was tempting. Very tempting. It had been a while since he had had the joy of being with a woman. His last time, with a woman he worked with, had been very pleasant but it had been a one off and that was more than four months ago. It had taken Dave that long, since his double bereavement, to finally enjoy having female company. There had been no one since.

"Do you live nearby?" Tina asked, bringing Dave back from his reminiscing.

"Yeah, not far. Just up the street." Dave replied and he gestured with a casual wave of his hand to an apartment block that was visible behind his right shoulder.

"Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, are you really sure?" Dave added.

"Yeah, sure. Maybe. I don't know." Tina sighed. "I've not done this before, but you've offered me somewhere to stay and paid for some food so it's only fair I pay you back the only way I can." Tina picked up her rucksack then stood up. "Shall we then?"

"First things first." Dave said and he motioned for Tina to sit back down, which she then did.

"And that is?" Tina asked.

"Tina, are you protected? I mean, I can get some condoms but they're not 100% safe."

"Yes I am. Though I only have a couple more pills left. God knows where I can get some more and I think I'll need to get some if I have to ... um ... do what we're going to do soon."

"Glad you're being careful." Dave said with compassion in his voice. His good nature was beginning to make a welcome return and he thought some more. She needed help, that was plainly obvious. She needed someone like he once was and in truth, he needed someone like her, someone he could focus his inner need to help on. "Tell you what, let's go find a pharmacy and see if they can help." Dave checked his watch. "Should be one opening soon if they're not already, so let's go and find one shall we?"

"Do you think they will? I don't have a prescription." Tina asked, worry creeping into her voice.

"Let's just go and see. If not, I know where there is a family planning clinic. They definitely will. So thinking about it, let's go there first."

As they walked to the clinic, Dave glanced at Tina and his thoughts turned to Abigail, his now late daughter. She would be Tina's age now if she was still alive and for all his efforts to keep her safe, he wondered what it would have been like if Abby had found herself in Tina's situation. He really hoped that there would be someone like he was, someone who would be there for her to offer her a helping hand. Sure, he hated the thought that she would probably have had to offer sex as a way of repayment. But she would be safe. At least, he hoped that that would be the case and she wouldn't have found herself in the clutches of some pimp who would only see her as a commodity, as a way to make money, use her until it was time to throw her into the trash.

Tina, too, was deep in thought. Sex was all she had left. She knew that and thanked God that she had found someone like Dave. Someone who wanted more for her, who would help her. Life on the streets, living or working, was full of dangers and uncertainty.

Dave was giving her a warm feeling. Even though they'd only just met, she felt safe with him. Yes, they would have sex and she welcomed that. But somehow, and she didn't know why, she knew that Dave wouldn't just take all she had to give then just throw her away.

Jobs, even casual ones, were hard to come by, especially as she was now homeless. If she had to sell herself, then why not with Dave? Sure, he looked old enough to be her father, but that didn't bother her. He radiated kindness and compassion. He was a rock, an anchor for her to fasten to. And, she thought as she glanced up at him, he was really handsome. Did he, though, see her as pretty? Outwardly, she knew she looked awful. She definitely needed a bath or a shower and she needed to change her clothes. But he was still here. He hadn't just taken what she had offered then left. He was helping her and she would always be eternally grateful for that.

"Thanks for ... everything." Tina said. "Really don't know what I would have done if I hadn't met you."

"You're very welcome Tina." Dave replied and as if on instinct, he reached down and took her hand in his.

Tina gripped his hand back, suddenly feeling safe, warm and wanted. She hadn't felt this way since her father had died and she was relishing the feeling that now surrounded her.

"For the record though," Dave said looking down at her with a friendly smile. "Ten pounds for a blow is really rather cheap. The women on Chapel Street charge thirty for that service."

"And you know this how?" Tina asked back as she looked up at him. But she, too, was smiling. "Have you used those ... um ... women before?"

"I don't 'use' women. Never have. For me, it has to be consensual. Both have to want it and both should get equal pleasure from it. But no, I haven't been to Chapel Street, though I've thought about it a few times. My mate, Jimmy, frequents them occasionally. Quite a lot actually, though these days he prefers going to see Crystal."

"Who's Crystal?" Tina asked.

"Crystal is ... she's independent. She doesn't work the streets and she doesn't have a pimp. She's a bit older than the women who work Chapel Street. Mid thirties so Jimmy says and if he's to be believed, rather good at what she does."

They reached the clinic and walked inside. Being early, it wasn't that busy and Tina was soon at the counter explaining to a heavy set, middle aged woman her situation and showing her the make of the contraceptive pills that she was currently taking.

"Yes, we have those." The woman said. "But I need to register you. What is your current address?"

"It's ... erm ..." Tina began but Dave stepped in and quickly gave his address and the woman typed it into her computer.

"This is your permanent address, Miss ... Miss Harrison?" The woman asked further as she looked first at the scruffy looking Tina then at the smart, casually dressed Dave and drawing, as most people would just by looking at them, her own conclusions.

"Yes. Yes it is." Dave answered before Tina could reply. "She'll be there for the foreseeable." He then looked down at Tina, took her hand back in his and gave her a warm, friendly smile.

Tina was really taken by this and buried her face in his chest to hide the tears that had begun to well up in her eyes.

"Take a seat." The woman said. "We'll be as quick as we can."

Twenty minutes later, Dave and Tina were walking back into town and as they walked, Tina began to think more about selling herself for sex. With the way the job market was at present, she knew she had no other option.

She wasn't qualified enough to get a well paid job.

Sure, she thought further, she could just go to Chapel Street. That would be the easy option, but as she'd already decided, that had dangers and uncertainties. So what else? Maybe this Crystal person would have some answers or point her in the right direction. But she needed money first to get a place before she could even think of doing 'business' there. Maybe Dave could introduce her to, or talk with, his friend Jimmy and get to talk to Crystal that way.

There was one thing she was sure of though, and that was time. She now had time to make informed decisions and she knew, although he hadn't really said as much, that Dave would help her as much as he could.

They entered Boots, a large pharmacy that was one of a chain that had stores up and down the country.

Dave picked up a basket and looked around to orientate himself with the layout of the store.

Tina smiled as she noticed him with the basket and she wondered just how many boxes of condoms Dave intended to buy.

Dave led her around the store and began putting in shampoo, conditioner and some roll-on and spray deodorants of various scents into the basket.

"Anything else you need from here?" He asked, turning to Tina.

"You're doing this for me?" She asked, clearly surprised.

"Yes." Dave said and gave her another warm smile. "You need help and I'm giving that to you. You will have a place to stay but you'll need your own things, so is there anything else you need?"

Slightly embarrassed, Tina said she needed to get tampons as she was due in a couple of weeks or so and had run out of them.

They found the correct aisle and Tina picked up a couple of boxes of the store's basic range tampons. But was surprised when Dave stopped her.

"My wife," he said quietly, "said there are three things a woman should never skimp on." He then began counting them off on his fingers. "The first is underwear. The second is moisturiser and the third is tampons. So put those back and get some good ones."

Dave then found the condoms and put a box of ten into the basket.

"Get two," Tina said with a cheeky grin. "just in case." Dave raised his eyebrows but did as Tina had requested.

Having paid, Dave then took her into M&S where he bought her some socks and knickers and bras. Some of the undies were pretty and sexy and the others more functional and for everyday use. He noticed with a growing smile on his face, that Tina's bra size was 32C.

Next, they went to a different clothing store and spent an hour getting Tina some new clothes. Jeans and skirts, some t-shirts and other tops, a couple of sweatshirts, some joggers to lounge in, a couple of nightdresses and as a final touch, a nice dark blue satin type robe that would finish mid-thigh.

"Hungry?" Dave asked a speechless Tina. She hadn't failed to notice how much all this had cost him.

"Er ... yes." Was all she could answer so Dave took her to a Caffè Nero. Once they were seated with coffees and sandwiches, Tina could only look in total amazement at all the bags by their feet.

"Why?" Tina finally managed to ask as she waved her hand at all the bags.

"Because I can and because I want to. Call it an investment if you like. It's just ... I like doing this sort of thing. I used to take my daughter shopping. It's just who I am. So whatever ... um ... employment you decide to do, I know what you're thinking after I mentioned Crystal, you need to look the part. So that's why I've bought this stuff for you. I know you want to work and contribute so whatever it is you decide to do, I hope, in some small way, that I have helped you get to wherever you are going."

Tina's eyes had welled up again as she heard what Dave was saying. "You ... know?" She finally asked between sniffs.

"Yes." Dave replied, as he took her hand in his. "Look. We all live in an uncertain world and we do whatever we can to get by and survive. I want to help you Tina. I need to help you if I'm honest. I ..."

"You did all you could for your daughter Dave." Tina said, interrupting him. "What happened wasn't your fault. You were there for her as she grew up, especially in her teenage years. I wish I'd had that." Tina paused before continuing. "I wish ... I wish I'd met her. It sounds like she was a true credit to you. I know you feel guilty, I'd feel the same. But it wasn't you who spiked her drink. Much as you wished it to be, you couldn't be with her 24/7. You gave her life and the freedom to be herself, just as you're now doing for me. She loved you because you are you and I feel the same." Tina paused and took a deep breath. "I'm not in love with you Dave, far too early for that, but I do love you because you are the way you are."

Tina paused again then looked into his eyes.

"Are you sure you'll be ok with my ... um ... choice? Should I decide to do it?"

Dave wiped a tear from his eye. "Yes." He said, quietly. "You're your own person. I don't own you. You're free to do whatever you want with your body. But I do care and worry about you. Yes, we've only just met, but I believe we have a bond of some sort. I wish you didn't have to make this sort of choice. But ... I guess it's the times we live in that will make the choice for you. Please though Tina, think carefully and whatever you decide, please be careful and know that I will be here for you."

"Not much is it?" Dave said as they entered his flat a short time later. They had walked back from the shops in relative silence.

"It's wonderful!" Tina said as she looked around. "It's clean and comfortable. Far better than I've been used to lately." She then spotted the bath through an open door and sighed at it longingly.