by Blue Saffire
“Oh that’s terrible,” my mama gasps.
“Ellie, how about you join your Papa to watch some T.V. and we let these old folk talk,” my father says to Ellie as he stands. Ellie nods her head happily and my dad helps her down from her stool.
Once they are out of the room the fun starts. My mama and siblings take turns asking questions about what I plan to do with the new turn of events. I spill to them everything I have no answers to. I am still trying to figure this all out, being with Tam, having a family and not messing up with each decision I make.
Chapter 15
Today has been the longest day of my life. When I walk into my house and kick off my shoes I just want to see my baby girl and have a glass of wine. It dawns on me when I notice the house is quiet that Brad and Brielle aren’t here.
I thought Ellerie would have let them in by now. Brad doesn’t have a key to come and go so I am a little freaked out. I fish my phone out of my purse hurriedly.
“Hey Darlin’,” Brad drawls. I can hear laughter and talking in the background.
“Brad, where are you? I thought Ellerie would have let you guys in by now. Did something happen,” I rush.
“I told him not to come. We were across town when he said he was on the way.”
“Bradley, where are you?”
“I’m at my parents’ house, well my house for now until I find a place. I needed to shower and change after I picked Ellie up. Then my mama called the rest of the family over and I sort of lost track of time,” Brad explains.
“Brad,” I groan. “What part of taking things slow don’t you get? I don’t get it. This is just so out of control. Just bring my daughter home, Bradley.”
“Now wait a minute Darlin’, Ellie is safe and happy. She’s playing with her cousins and getting to know her family. I was hoping you would come here and meet my family too. My mama cooked a big spread and she would love to have you here,” Bradley says sounding anxious and frustrated all at once.
I am just pissed. I feel like I am just having things thrown at me left and right and I am not getting a say in any of it. Things haven’t been this out of control in my life in a really long time.
“You know this isn’t fair to me. I just asked you to do one thing and now I’m the bad person if I say no. I’m so tired Brad. I didn’t need this today. I’ve had the day from hell and this is not what I need. I’m not prepared to meet your family, but does that matter to you, no, because you… as always enter my life and turn it upside down and leave me to pick up the pieces.”
Brad sighs heavily into the phone and is quite for a moment. “I’m sorry Tam. We’ll be there in an hour,” he finally says.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and squeeze my eyes shut. “No Brad, text me the address. I’ll come to you,” I say as calmly as I can.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes Brad, it’s best this way.”
~B~
I curse and bang my head against the wall under the stairs once I hang up the phone and text Tam my parents’ address. That conversation went worse than I thought. Tamara is right. I could have handled this better. I am being unfair to her.
She sounded so pissed off at me. It’s just that watching Ellie with my family has been so great. When Ann and Trevor’s kids got here Ellie was so excited to meet them all. They took right to her.
She’s been locked on Jessica’s hip, my oldest niece, ever since they said hi to each other. Each time they enter the kitchen Ellie is dangling from Jess’s side. Ellie looks so happy. You’d think she grew up with all the rest of the kids. I just want Tam to be a part of this. I didn’t think about how tired and stressed she’d be.
I sigh and shove off the wall to head back into the kitchen with the adults. Ann’s husband, Tom, and Trev’s wife, Donna, have both arrived with the kids. Ann has three kids and Trev has four. Everyone looks up when I reenter the room. I had been so happy when I saw it was Tam calling. Now I look like someone kicked my dog.
“Everything okay,” my mama asks with concern.
“Yeah, Tam just had a long day and I should have considered that,” I huff.
“Oh honey, I can pack a few plates for y’all and you could take her something to eat,” mama offers already moving to get supplies to do so.
“No, she’s on her way already.”
“Well now that she’s snagged a pro football star she won’t have to work so hard,” Donna says smugly.
“Not everyone is out for a paid day to flit around doing what they please,” Ann growls.
Trevor snorts and glares at his wife. I do my best to ignore her, because I am not sure I’ll be able to reign in my temper right now. My mama is trying not to glare and failing horribly, which is out of character for Gloria Monroe. Donna knows how to get under everyone’s skin.
“I’m just saying, what do you know about this woman? Who’s her family? Are you sure that little girl is yours?” Donna snarls.
“I don’t see how any of that is your business,” Trevor snaps, “although, I sure should have asked more of those questions before getting involved with you.”
“Oh please Trevor,” Donna snorts and rolls her eyes. “I mean she’s black right? I think if you were going to experiment with groupies you would have been more careful. Now you have a little half breed. No telling what this mistake could cost you.”
I feel myself growl all the way from my toes and just barely realized my brother is doing the same. We are like to over grown bears in the middle of my mama’s kitchen. Ann’s face is bright red and she is clenching her fists, but it is my mama that speaks first.
“Donna, I have not raised my children that way. Brielle is no different from any of my other grandchildren no matter who her mother is. Tamara has done an amazing job with Ellie and she has made my son happier than I have seen him in a very long time. I think it best if you keep your opinions to yourself Donna. I don’t want them breathed in my home,” my mama’s chest is practically heaving when she is done.
“My daughter is no mistake,” I bite out. “Tam is not some money hungry groupie, she’s the woman I plan to marry and have more children with.”
“Oh,” Donna gasps as her head snaps back like she’s been slapped. “I hope she’s worth it.” She murmurs with a sour face.
“I think I need a beer, come on bro,” Trevor grunts.
“I think I’ll join you guys,” Ann’s husband says clearing his throat. “Try to behave.” It is a whisper meant for Ann before we all head for the garage.
Mama and daddy have kept an old sofa out in the garage for us since we were teens. I guess the tradition followed from the ranch. Trev pulls three beers from the cooler and flops down between Tom and me.
“I don’t know what to do anymore. She’s the mother of my kids but that’s about it, I don’t love her. Hell, I don’t think she even cares about any of us. I don’t even know who she is. You do know none of us feel that way? The things she said in there. We haven’t even met the girl yet. But from what you tell us she sounds a hell of a lot better than what I tied myself to,” Trevor sighs heavily and downs his whole beer.
“Trev, we come from the same mama and daddy. I know you wouldn’t think half of the things Donna says out loud. She has never known how to keep her trap shut. I wouldn’t have let it get to me in the first place if I wasn’t already on edge,” I reassure him.
“Donna hates herself buddy, it has nothing to do with you or the kids. You’re doing a great job with the kids and you know Ann and I are always ready to help, anytime,” Tom says sympathetically.
“Something has to change soon. I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep pretending that she’s not spending way too much or that it isn’t a big deal when she is supposed to be taking care of the kids and I get called away from a job to cover for her. You haven’t been home Brad. You haven’t seen how bad she can really be. She actually mouthed off to daddy for not giving the ranch or the CEO position of Monroe Oil over to me.”
“Wow Trev, I k
new things were tense. TAB Construction has been a great success. We all invested a lot into it and you’ve delivered big time. Daddy knows your heart is in building. We’ve known for years he was going to hand things over to Cousin Cliff,” I rumble out loud.
“Yeah, well that greedy bitch thinks all the money comes from daddy, the ranch and the oil.” Trevor sighs. “I don’t know, after she got pregnant with Jess I had this gut feeling I shouldn’t let on that I planned to build TAB. That’s why I’ve had Tom as my front man all this time. Keeping her thinking I work for my best friend and brother in law has been for the best.
“She doesn’t know about the books and things like that, she’d just spend it all. To this day she still doesn’t know TAB stands for Trevor, Ann and Brad. Once daddy put everything in place for me to get started and you guys fronted me the money mom helped with the books when I needed it.
“Now Ann makes sure you guys get your checks and the guys get paid. If Donna really knew how much money was really circulating around here she’d drain every dime. Only thing that keeps her off sites is that she doesn’t want to get dirty, otherwise she may have figured it out by now.” Trevor chuckles and shakes his head getting up to get another beer.
I just let my brother vent. Through talking to Ann I already knew some of this. Trevor and I are close, but Ann and I are a lot closer for several reasons. Trevor, being ten years older, never leans on us as much as we lean on him. He started his construction company when Ann and I graduated high school. Since Ann and I were finally old enough to touch our funds, the whole family chipped in to help out.
Jess was six at the time. Things weren’t great with Donna then but Trev was in love with Jess and Toby and Paige were soon to follow. To be honest I think Donna got pregnant with the twins because Trevor was talking about taking Jessica and leaving. Same thing when they had Jonathan. Trevor met Donna when he was in college. Mama never was too keen on her, but then she got pregnant and the rest is history.
“Things will work themselves out,” Tom sighs.
“Yeah, like they worked out with you marrying our sister?” Trev snorts.
“Buddy, it’s been nine years now and you know how much I love Ann,” Tom shakes his head and takes a sip of his beer.
“Bro, she’s my baby sister and you are my best friend, who happens to be ten years older than she is. I’m going to give you shit ‘til we’re old and grey,” Trev says smugly.
I’m happy they can joke about this now, because it was pretty ugly when everyone figured out that Tom and Ann were seeing each other. I remember it being a little weird at first to see the two of them together, but Tom really does love my sister. The ten year age difference has never been a problem for the two of them. Tom says Ann keeps him young.
“Well, I think I’d rather give Brad here a little shit. I heard that remark about getting married back there. So this is finally the one?” Tom asks with a warm smile. He has always been like another older brother to me.
“I was going to get around to that. I was thinking the same thing. Are you sure you want to go and get married? All of these women will drive you crazy. At least when you are just dating you can run,” Trevor snorts then laughs.
“I don’t know what made me say that in there, but I guess it came from the heart. Yeah, I want to marry Tam. I know we have a lot to work out and learn about each other, but I’ve wanted to be with her for so long. She just feels like home.”
“Well little brother you have my blessing. I can only hope to find that someday,” Trevor presses his lips and glares at the door that leads back to his wife.
We move on to talking about football and drinking more beer. After an hour I start watching my phone every minute to see if I missed Tam’s call or something. She should have been here by now. I am starting to get worried. Everything flashes through my mind from her being run off the road to her being lost out there somewhere.
I know she has been in Texas for five years, but these roads out here can be tricky. As the second hour approaches I am ready to come out of my skin. I have gone in to check on Ellie and make sure Tamara didn’t ring the front doorbell and I missed it or something. Being in the garage we should be the first to hear her drive up, so I am not surprised not to see her in the house.
“Brad, have you tried to call Tamara. It’s getting late and dinner is just about ready,” Mama asks as she pulls some biscuits from the oven.
“I was trying to give her time. She’s driving you know?”
Just as my mother is about to protest my phone starts to ring. I quickly pull the phone from my pocket. Gesturing to my mama that it is Tamara and I am going to take it.
“Everything okay, Sweetheart,” I say into the phone. “Where are you?”
“I’m out front,” she replies on a huff. “Can you come out?”
“Yeah, be right out.”
I rush out the side door to the garage and out the little door attached. I get halfway to the car when I stop in my tracks. Tamara is standing with the passenger side door open, but that’s not what stops me.
I’ve never seen Tamara looking like this. She’d completely changed from what she was wearing when I saw her this morning. Even her hair is different. I am used to her wearing it up or it tumbling down her back in long curls or waves. She has straightened it making it almost hit the center of her back and her bangs are sweeping across her face and feathered out. I knew her hair was pretty long but it looks amazing this way as it curls under at the tips and bounces and blows around her in the light breeze.
It doesn’t just stop with the hair. Her lips are tinted a flattering shade of pink almost plum. There is a plum colored scarf tied around her neck. The black silk button down blouse she is wearing is fitted and the top buttons are left open revealing a plum tank top. Her light blue jeans are like a second skin and just to show me she is meant for me she has on a pair of calf high, heeled black cowgirl boots.
I draw a hand down my jaw and release the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Tamara looks up at me through her lashes and smirks. She knows she’s killing me, doesn’t she? I close the distance between us placing my hands on her hips hoping she isn’t still too pissed to let me touch her.
“You take my breath away,” I bend to murmur against her lips. I am so relieved when she returns the kiss. I groan into her open mouth. I try to deepen the kiss tipping her head back, but she pulls away giggling up at me.
“Brad,” she breathes and peeks nervously around me at the house. “I want to see Bri. Can you carry this box in for me?”
“Sure,” I steal one more kiss before side stepping her, reaching in the truck for the box on the seat. I peek inside then turn to look at her. “What is all this?”
“My mother taught me you never show up to dinner at someone’s home empty handed,” she shrugs with a little smile.
I think she is really nervous. I have never seen her nervous. Tam is so confident all the time. I tuck the box under my arm and grab her purse off the seat turning to hand it to her. Once she takes her purse I close the door to the truck and wrap my free arm around her, kissing the top of her head.
“Relax Darlin’, they’re going to love you,” I reassure her.
“Um-hm, sure,” she murmurs under her breath. Tamara looks up at me and shakes her head as she quickly reaches to wipe her lip gloss from my lips.
Before we can make it all the way to the front door it flies open and my mama and daddy stand beaming at us. Brielle squeezes between the two of them and shoots into Tamara’s arms. I can feel some of the tension leave Tamara’s body but not all of it.
“Mommy,” Ellie squeals.
“Hey baby, I missed you today. How’s my baby?”
“Mommy, I had so much fun today. I met Grandma Gloria and Papa and Jess, Auntie Ann, Uncle Trev, Uncle Tom, Jonathan, Paige, Toby, Amy, George and Melissa. Oh and Mrs. Donna. Papa gave me a pony and said he’s going to teach me to ride it. Can I learn Mommy please,” Ellie rambles and I groan.
&nbs
p; “Sugar, I thought we talked about that,” I sigh.
“You said we had to ask Mommy,” Ellie murmurs.
Tamara giggles. “Brielle have you been driving your father crazy all day.”
“No,” Ellie replies with a little frown.
“Well, me and your daddy will talk about your pony and your lessons. From what I remember your daddy said your Papa is great with horses,” Tam beams at Ellie.
Tam is taking the pony situation a lot better than I thought she would. I guess she is just really happy to see Brielle safe and happy. Ellie hugs her tightly around the neck and places her head on her shoulder.
“Come on you two,” I beam pushing Tam forward into the house.
Mama and daddy back up to give us some room to enter the house. Everyone else is packed into the foyer behind them. I feel my chest swell with pride as I walk in the door with my girls.
“Mama, Daddy, this is Tamara. Tamara this is my mama, Gloria Monroe and my daddy, Vernon Monroe,” I start the introductions.
“Hello, it so nice to meet you,” Tamara says nervously as she plays with her fingers.
“Honey, you are just the cutest thing ever. I see why my son is so taken with you,” my mama coos as she engulfs Tam in a big hug.
“Thank you, Mrs. Monroe,” Tam smiles.
“Oh, you stop that. Call me Gloria. I’m so happy to finally get to meet you and Ellie. I won’t dare have you getting all formal on me. We’re all family here.”
“It’s so good to meet you Tamara. Sorry about the pony Darlin’,” my father blushes as he rubs the back of his neck. “I give one to all the grands. I already have hers picked out for her, but her lessons are up to you. She can go to the ranch and just pet her pony any time.”
“It’s fine Mr. Monroe. I loved horseback riding when I was a little girl. Brielle is a lucky little girl to get her very own pony,” Tam says with a big smile.
“Vernon, call me Vernon or you can call me Papa like Ellie here.”
“Okay,” Tam laughs.
“So does that mean I can talk you into going riding with me,” I lean into Tam’s ear to whisper.
