Saving Tatum (Trace + Olivia #4)

by Micalea Smeltzer

“Your shop is adorable,” I told her in all honesty.

  “Thank you,” she smiled, and appeared to be thinking over everything we’d discussed. “How soon can you start?” She asked.

  I bit my lip, thinking. After this week I was done shadowing Jude and I had no commitments that extended beyond that. “The week after this one,” I answered.

  “That’s perfect!” She clapped her hands together in excitement. “Bryce and I will train you.” She leaned in close to me. “He’s quite a mess, that one. Don’t believe a thing he says.”

  I laughed. “I’ll remember that.”

  She lowered her voice further. “He’s the brother of my granddaughter’s husband, so I have to keep him around.”

  “I heard that!” Bryce called from the counter. I turned to look at him and shook my head. There was no way he heard that with as softly as Lucinda spoke.

  Lucinda laughed and shook her head. “See what I mean?” She stood, extending her hand one last time. “I’ll see you next Monday, Tatum. Leave your information with Bryce and I’ll contact you when I have the schedule ready.”

  “Thank you so much.” I meant it too. Lucinda had taken a huge weight off my shoulders by giving me a job. This was one less thing I had to worry about.

  “You’re welcome, dear,” she smiled sweetly.

  I thought I would really like working there, and then I turned to see a grinning Bryce. Yep, that one was trouble.

  “Give me those digits pretty lady.” He licked his lips suggestively and held a pen to the palm of his hand.

  I narrowed my eyes and tore the pen from his hands. “No way. You’ll lose it like that and I need this job.”

  “You tell him!” Lucinda cackled from the back. “Oh, Bryce, I think you’ve met your match! He’s scared every other employee away!” Lucinda continued to holler through the door. How did these people hear these things? Jesus.

  Bryce gave me a sheepish shrug and handed me a piece of paper.

  I wrote my information down and handed it to him. “This better not get ‘lost.’” I made sure to put emphasis on the word ‘lost’ so he’d know I was on to him.

  He chuckled. “I like you.”

  “See you next Monday,” I called over my shoulder as I left the shop, choosing to ignore Bryce’s comment.

  His laughter carried behind me as the door swung closed.

  I headed back home, taking my time since I really didn’t want to be at home. I still had thirty minutes before Jude was supposed to pick me up, but when I got home his truck was parked in front of the house.

  I shut my car off and jogged over to the driver’s side of the truck.

  He rolled the window down and smiled at me.

  “You missed me so much you just couldn’t wait to get me?” I asked, not bothering to hide my smile. I was pleased.

  “Sounds right. Hop in,” he nodded to the empty seat.

  I jogged around the truck with a pep in my step that was normally missing.

  As soon as I was in the car, Jude leaned over and seized the back of my neck, drawing my lips to his. He took his time, kissing me slowly. He didn’t rush things with me and I was appreciative of that. His tongue skated against my lips and my mouth parted for him.

  When he broke the kiss we were both panting. He kissed my forehead tenderly before pulling away from my house.

  “I missed you,” he admitted.

  I’d never known three simple words could make you feel so happy. A smile lifted my lips. “I missed you too,” I confessed. The words didn’t weigh me down like I’d feared. I’d spent so long avoiding commitment that it was strange to face it head on. It was funny, Jude and I had both avoided long-term relationships for completely different reasons, and we’d both approached it differently. I avoided everyone, and he went from one girl to the next.

  “You did?” He asked, and surprise colored his tone.

  I nodded. “I had trouble sleeping,” I admitted.

  Although, that could’ve been in part because of what happened with my dad and the subsequent hours spent cleaning my room once I destroyed it. I’d like to think my restlessness had more to do with not sleeping with Jude beside me. It made it not seem so bad.

  He groaned low in his throat. “Keep talking like that and I’ll climb through your window at night like a sixteen year old boy.”

  I laughed. “I wouldn’t complain.”

  He groaned again. “You’re killing me. Seriously, you’ll be the death of me, but what a sweet death it’ll be.”

  “I’m very sweet,” I concurred. “It’s all the ice cream and Twizzlers. I’m full of sugar.”

  “Tatum,” he said my name low and slow, drawing it out, “did you just make a joke?” He turned stunned brown eyes my way.

  I shrugged, leaning back against the gray leather seats. “I guess I did.”

  “Wow. I didn’t know you had it in you,” he scratched his chin.

  “Hey,” I cried, giving his shoulder a slight push—I was trying to watch myself with the hitting and smacking, even in jest. The last thing I wanted was to turn into my dad. Maybe that wasn’t the kind of thing most girls worried about, but I wasn’t most girls. “I can be funny.”

  “Anyone can be funny,” he agreed, “but you’re always so serious.”

  I frowned. He was right. I spent far too much time being a Debbie Downer.

  “I’m trying,” I whispered, playing with my fingers instead of looking at his face. My voice was soft, almost scared sounding.

  “I know,” he reached over, smoothing a finger over my cheek with his eyes still on the road, “and it makes me undeniably happy that you are.”

  Jude turned down the road that led to the farm and parked his truck. “We’re going to hang out on the farm for a while, but I figured you’d want to see Pap first.”

  “Of course!” I cried, hopping out of the truck and running towards the door.

  In the short time I’d known him I’d already begun to think of Jerry as my own grandpa.

  We found Jerry sitting in a recliner watching TV. He grinned happily when he saw us. “Andrew! Julia!”

  My smile fell a bit.

  “Hi, Jerry,” I chimed, determined not to let the hurt show.

  He reached out and clasped my hand, patting it. “It’s been quiet around here without you two. I’ve missed ya.”

  “Missed you, Pap,” Jude ruffled the old man’s hair playfully.

  “Boy,” Jerry scolded, “don’t mess with the hair.”

  Jude chuckled. “Pap I’m just going to show…Julia…around the farm for a while. We’ll see you later.”

  “Do you want me to make lunch? Dinner?” Jerry made as if to rise from the chair.

  “Why don’t you leave that up to us,” Jude suggested. “You do so much for me. Let me take care of you for a change.”

  “Nonsense,” Jerry waved a hand dismissively. “It’s not like it’s that big of a deal.”

  Jude sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew he’d never win an argument against Jerry. “Alright, Pap. Make whatever you want.”

  “How about spaghetti with homemade meatballs?” His eyes brightened.

  “Sounds delicious,” Jude agreed. “We’ll see you later,” he said again, but this time we actually made it out the door.

  Jude didn’t say anything as we walked towards the big red barn. I could see the worry etched onto his face though. I knew him well enough now to see that. Jude worried immensely about what he’d do once his grandpa was gone. It broke my heart. His grandpa was the only real family he had left.

  “Hey,” I stopped him just outside the barn, “it’s okay.”

  He looked down at the ground, kicking his boot against the dirt. “It’s really not,” he swallowed thickly. “It tears me apart when he doesn’t remember who I am. The last person I want him to think I am is my father. That man…” Jude shook his head and trailed off. “Before and after my mom left, I was treated as a play thing. Something shiny and bright to help the
ir image. My mom told me all the time that they never wanted kids, but when she got pregnant they decided to use me to their advantage.” He kicked the ground harder, a cloud of dirt puffing up. “I was a thing to them, not a person. I was only wanted when I was useful and banished when they were through with me. Having Pap call me by my dad’s name…” He glared out towards the meadow beyond. “I hate it, but I can’t say anything. I have to play along. I used to fight him on it, tell him I was Jude, but he would get frustrated and think I was messing with him. I learned early on it was best to pretend I was who he thought I was.” Jude sighed, his dark eyes haunted. “The things we do for the ones we love.”

  With a shake of his head, he turned and opened the barn doors, effectively dropping the conversation.

  I chose not to say anything about what he’d just told me. His rigid stance told me he didn’t want to talk about it.

  “What are we doing?” I asked, and I could see him visibly relax with the knowledge that I wasn’t going to batter him with questions.

  “We, my lovely Tate, are going horseback riding.” He turned and saw my grin. “God I love it when you smile like that. You light up the whole room.”

  “Smile like what?” I asked, covering my mouth since I suddenly felt bashful.

  “Like I’ve given you everything you could possibly want,” he whispered, staring at me fiercely.

  I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. I loved that he was a good six inches taller than me. I felt so small and dainty when he held me.

  He wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me close so that there was no space between us.

  His nose rubbed against mine. “What are you doing to me?” His voice was almost pained sounding.

  I laid my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. I had no answer, because I had the same question for him.

  We stood like that a few minutes longer before breaking apart.

  “Come on,” he entwined our hands together and led me over to one of the stalls. “This is Seraphina,” he introduced me to the white horse. “Have you ever ridden a horse before?”

  I shook my head no.

  “You can pet her,” he assured me. “She won’t hurt you.”

  I hesitantly reached out to the large horse. She was absolutely stunning. I wasn’t afraid of her, not at all. I was in awe.

  I placed my hand against the center of her head, above her nose. She snorted and I giggled in response. She came closer, nuzzling her head against my outstretched palm.

  “I think she likes you,” Jude grinned widely.

  “I like her too,” I smiled at the horse.

  I knew it sounded crazy, but I instantly felt a connection with the creature. Maybe I should’ve been afraid that I was going to be riding this ginormous horse, but I wasn’t. Not at all. I felt comfortable, peaceful almost. I didn’t feel afraid or like she’d hurt me.

  “Move back,” Jude told me, and I hated to stop petting the horse.

  He opened the gate to her stall and guided her out. He grabbed an apple from a nearby bag and tossed it to me. “Feed her this while I get Gimpy.”

  “Gimpy?” I giggled.

  “Hey,” he started laughing, “don’t diss the name. I was five and thought it was super cool.”

  “Why didn’t you name him something like, Michelangelo or Batman?”

  “Because,” he walked backwards, further into the barn, “Michelangelo is a turtle and Batman, well that one speaks for itself.”

  “But Gimpy? Seriously, where’d that come from?” I asked, truly curious now.

  He shrugged, opening a stall a few down from Seraphina’s. “I made it up. I was a weird child.”

  I let the subject drop before we started talking about messed up childhoods again. I wanted to enjoy our day and not make it an emotion filled mess. After last night, I needed to do something fun.

  While Jude got Gimpy—I snickered at the name again—I fed Seraphina the apple. Her breath blew against my hand that held the apple. With my free hand I rubbed her gently and whispered how pretty she was. I’d always had a connection with animals, but we’d never been allowed to have pets.

  “Seraphina was my grandma’s horse,” Jude explained, walking Gimpy over to where I stood. Gimpy was even larger than Seraphina and while she was all white, he was jet black. The name definitely didn’t suit him, but I guessed he was stuck with it now. Poor horse. “She got her three years before she died…breast cancer,” he shrugged, looking down at his shoes. “It was bad. Took her quickly, so I guess there’s that. She didn’t have to suffer for long.” Brightening, he reached out and rubbed Seraphina’s body. “If she was alive today she’d still be trying to ride this beauty. She was a stubborn woman like that. She reminds me of someone I know now,” he winked at me.

  “She sounds wonderful,” I smiled. “I wish I could’ve met her.”

  “You would’ve loved her,” Jude smiled proudly. “She and Pap…they’re the best people in the world. She would’ve loved you too, you know.” He shook his head and scratched his stubbled jaw as he chuckled under his breath. “She would’ve thought it was hilarious how you don’t take any shit from me. She was feisty.” He reached over and played with a strand of my hair. My heart swelled in my chest. “Sometimes I think Pap got Alzheimer’s just so he wouldn’t have to deal with the pain of losing her. I’m not saying he got it on purpose, not that that’s even possible,” he stammered, “I just wonder sometimes if God knew I needed Pap to stick around a little while longer, and the man couldn’t do that if he remembered she was gone.”

  “Crazier things have happened.” I reached up, smoothing my fingers through his brown hair. It was unfair that a guy’s hair was that soft. He even had ridiculously long eyelashes too. He was beautiful, inside and out, and he was mine. I needed to appreciate that fact more and not take it for granted. A part of me was still scared that we’d go back to school tomorrow and this would all be a dream. I was strong enough now to accept that I didn’t want to lose Jude.

  “True,” he agreed. He grabbed my hand, placing a long, lingering kiss to the palm before letting it go.

  He went about fixing both horses for riding and then we led them out into the meadow. He tied Gimpy’s reigns around the fence and reached out for me. Before I knew what he was doing, he had his hands on my waist and lifted me onto the horse. I let out a small squeal of fright. I hadn’t expected that.

  I swung my leg over the other side of Seraphina and grabbed the reigns. I was scared for only a few seconds before I started to appreciate the beauty of seeing the world around me from the back of a horse.

  “Wow,” I gasped, “this is amazing.”

  Jude chuckled and started to lead the horse. “I want you to get used to being on a horse before we try riding. Let me guide you and just…”

  “Just what?” I gazed down at him, an emotion I didn’t even begin to comprehend filling me when I looked at him.

  “Just let yourself feel.”

  I continued to look around at the green grass, the trees, and the flowers blooming. Spring was here and with it came the promise of new things and new beginnings, like Jude and me.

  Eventually I closed my eyes, holding on tight to Seraphina, and trusted Jude not to let anything happen to me.

  A few minutes later I felt him nudge my arm. I smiled down at him and he handed me the reigns. “It’s time for you to try walking her.”

  He instructed me on what to do and I listened carefully.

  “Okay, try now.”

  Seraphina started forward at a slow pace. It felt weird at first, almost like I might slip off, but I soon found my rhythm and when he saw I had the hang of it he helped me bring her to a trot.

  “You’re a natural,” he grinned proudly. I was happy that I pleased him.

  Seraphina came to a stop and Jude told me to wait while he jogged back to get Gimpy.

  The horse and rider barreled towards us. “He’s such a show off,” I muttered
to Seraphina.

  She huffed in reply, like she too was disturbed by the display.

  Coming to a stop beside me, Jude grinned proudly. I tried to pretend that I was completely unaffected by him, but it was futile.

  He pushed dark strands of hair from his eyes and then raised up slightly, pulling his trusty beanie from his back pocket. He put it on and grinned boyishly. “That’s better.” Straightening, he said, “You think you’re ready for this?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’ll be fine. If I fall off I expect you to tend to my wounds.”

  He began to laugh. “Like you took care of mine? Something tells me you wouldn’t take too kindly to being slapped.”

  My cheeks colored. Just when I’d begun to forget that he decided to bring it up again.

  “Slapping would not be appreciated,” I muttered.

  He chuckled. My God he loved to torture me. “Lucky for you, I’m a real nurse,” he put a hand to his chest, “and I know what I’m doing. You’re in capable hands.”

  “I don’t plan on getting hurt,” I assured him.

  “Hey,” he raised his hands in surrender, “you’re the one that brought it up. You know what heals scrapes and bruises really fast?”

  “What?” I asked.

  “Kisses. Particularly my kisses. You’re very lucky in the fact that you’re the only person I would ever suggest this method to. It’s quite radical really. In some countries it’s even illegal,” he said in a hush, like he was letting me in on something top secret.

  “Oh, really?” I quirked a brow as we started to trot down the path.

  He nodded. “My kisses save lives.”

  I snorted, and once I started laughing I couldn’t stop.

  I finally regained control of myself and wiped tears of laughter from my eyes. Only Jude could make me laugh that hard and over something so stupid.

  “You thought that was funny?” He asked.

  “Hysterical,” I responded, fighting my lips natural urge to quirk up.

  His face sobered. “I was serious.”

  “I’m sure you were.” My hands tightened on the reigns as I tried to regain my balance. Riding a horse wasn’t as easy as it looked. It took balance and grace. Balance, I had, grace…not so much.