Two
BALDWIN HOLLOWS
“Mom, did you tell Tatum that I was in town?” I curse under my breath as I look at the papers the pimpley-faced weasel handed me.
“What are you yelling about?” My mom comes out of the kitchen with her cane. She’s sixty-seven years old. She’s huffing as she walks to the dining room table. I repeat my question to her. “No. I tell her once you leave.”
“You’re still in contact with her?” I sit down at the table, tossing the paperwork on it.
“Yes, we have dinner once a week and she does the shopping for me when I can’t get out.” Does Tatum do that for my mom? I didn’t know. “She’s a nice girl.”
“How did she find out I’m home now? She served me with divorce papers.” My mom pats my hand.
“You should’ve seen this coming. Tate filed a year ago.” My mother sighs.
“I don’t get it. What do you want for dinner?” I ask her.
“I just made spaghetti. It's ready now.” She struggles to get up and I tell her to stay put.
My mom hates when I make a fuss over her.
I dish out the dinner and bring it to the table.
She says her prayer and we start to eat.
“Are you going to try to work things out with Tatum or just sign the papers?”
“I honestly don’t know, Mom. I love her, but I don’t know how to fix it.
I don’t even know what happened. One minute, she’s there, and the next, she’s gone.
” Tatum and I would talk about having kids and slowing down on the touring to focus on family and music again.
The band is getting exhausted with the nonstop touring.
Whatever city we are in, we rent a studio for a day or two to work on songs.
My mom eats her dinner without commenting. “You know something?”
“She talks to me in confidence. I won’t betray that. I’m sorry,” she tells me. I nod my head. I’d never ask her to do that.
“Mom, is it something that I can fix?” I ask. My mom shrugs.
“It wouldn’t hurt to try, but if she says no, then respect her,” my mom warns me.
“Yes, ma’am,” I mock and she throws a piece of garlic toast at my head.
We laugh. When dad died two years ago, I promised myself I’d be here for her.
I clean up the kitchen after she calls it a night.
I am sitting in my dad’s recliner when my phone starts to ring.
I see Tatum’s picture on my screen, so I answer it.
“Hello?” I can’t hear anything but a lot of loud music and laughing. I say “hello” again and again but hear nothing from her.
“Is this Baldwin?” Ivy’s voice slurs.
“Ivy. Long time no talk. Why are you calling me?” I’m annoyed hearing Ivy’s voice on the other end of this phone call.
She never liked me and thought Tatum was too good for me.
I agreed with that, but Tatum loved me for me.
I had guessed Ivy sabotaged my marriage with Tatum, but there was no proof to it.
“Oh, you should see Tatum dancing with these hot guys. She’s grinding on them. They’re touching her ass, thighs, and licking her neck.” Ivy yells something unintelligent that I can’t make out.
“Ivy.” My tone is one of warning. “Where are you?”
“Why would I tell you?” The line goes dead, but my phone beeps with a text message. It’s a video of Tatum grinding with the guys. I snicker when Ivy doesn’t realize she let me know where they are.
I leave a note for my mom, letting her know I’ll be back in the morning. I get into my truck to drive the ten minutes. I pull into the parking garage across the street from McDuffy. I put my baseball cap on, trying to not get noticed. I don’t want anyone to recognize me before I’m ready.
As I walk in, I scan the room and find the spot in the video, but there is no Tatum. I hear Tatum’s laugh from behind me and I slowly turn around to see she is having fun. I sigh and stay in the shadows watching her.
Tatum is even more beautiful than I remember. I chuckle as Ivy tries to give her a glass of water and she pushes it away. “Tequila!” Tatum and tequila don’t mix well. I smile as I know this is about to get quite entertaining.
Ivy tries to get the water flowing, but the guys are buying Tatum tequila shots.
I clench my fists and feel my blood boil as one of them lean in to kiss her.
I’m here now so I can make sure no one goes home with her.
It’s last call and I see Ivy over at the bar making out with some guy.
Tatum is sitting down at a table alone with her head in her hands.
I slide in across from her in the booth.
“Nice dance moves. I was wondering if you wanted to leave this place and continue some moves of our own.” I wiggle my eyebrows.
Tatum hasn’t realized it’s me yet. She must be drunk because she agrees with it.
She rattles off her address and I navigate the streets while Tatum is falling asleep in the passenger side of my truck.
I steal glances at her as I drive and I’m blown away by her beauty.
I’ve missed the smell of vanilla and lavender.
I slow down the truck when I see her apartment building in front of me.
I drive into the parking structure and enter the code, which is her apartment number.
She’s directing me to her car and the extra parking spot next to hers as I pull into it.
I shut off the truck and race to open the door for Tatum before she stumbles out.
“Woah there, cowboy,” Tatum slurs. “Stand still please.” She laughs.
I join her because her laugh is so contagious.
“We take the elevator to the fifth floor.” I look around the garage for the elevator.
Tatum takes my hand and leads me. She stumbles most of the way and I grab her waist so she doesn’t crash onto the pavement.
We make it to the elevator and once we’re in, Tatum is all over me.
She’s kissing me, running her hands up and down my stomach.
“I could do my laundry on your stomach.” Tatum laughs and I shake my head.
We exit the elevator as Tatum searches for her key but she finds the spare key in the fire extinguisher case across from her door.
Tatum struggles with the lock before I take the keys from her so we’re not out here all night. As we walk into the apartment, I take a quick look. It’s not big, but it has a black, white, and red color scheme. It suits her. Tatum’s dancing around the living room and laughing.
“Where’s your bedroom so I can put you to bed,” I ask. Tatum looks at me with a smile so big her entire face lights up. “God, you’re beautiful.” I slide a piece of hair behind her ear. “Why did I stop fighting for you?” I mumble.
“Fighting for me? What do you mean?” Tatum looks into my eyes. She’s searching my face, then gasps. “Baldwin.” She pushes off of me. “How did you find me?”
“It’s not that big a city. Plus, when Ivy sends me a picture of you and two guys with the bar's name in the background, it’s not that difficult.”
“Ivy did what?” Tatum paces the living room. “I’m going to kill her. Why would she do that?”
“Ivy wanted to make sure I knew you were having lots of fun without me. She never wanted us together to begin with and this wasn’t the first time, or the last time, I’m sure.” I sigh.
“I’m going to be sick.” Tatum runs down the hall and I hear her puking. I walk into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. “You can leave now.” Tatum looks like hell.
“Okay. Where do you keep the Tylenol?” I ask her.
“Didn’t you hear what I said? Leave. Now.” Tatum’s voice is stern. I know she means business.
“I’m not leaving you until I know you’re okay.
So, I’ll ask again. Where is the Tylenol?
” She stares at me with a look that could kill me.
“Fine, don’t tell me. I’ll just look around.
” I start down the hall to the bathroom.
I open the medicine cabinet and there it is.
I’m shocked when I see my cologne there as well.
I pick up the green bottle and smell it.
I place it back in the cabinet and as I turn to leave, I see her standing there.
“I miss you once in a while and I take that bottle out to remember what you smell like.” Tatum’s up against the doorframe. I smile at her. “Now, can you please leave?” I nod my head as I walk back down the hallway, following the ass that I used to walk around with my hand on.
“Here. Make sure you take these in the morning. I’ll see you around.
” I start to leave when I turn to see her asleep on the couch.
I fight with myself whether or not to go.
I decide to stay the night because she might need me.
I make my way to the bedroom after I lay a blanket on her.
I know I shouldn’t do this, but I can’t help it. I need to protect her.
I lay down and close my eyes. The next thing I know, my alarm is going off. I get up and head to the living room to check on Tatum. I can’t help but laugh seeing Tatum laying on the floor, lightly snoring with her ass up in the air.
I start making coffee while she’s asleep, and I drink a cup before heading back into the bedroom to change. I hear Tatum puking her guts out again. I head back out to the kitchen to see if there’s something for breakfast.
I see Tatum standing in the living room, and with the open concept, she can see into the kitchen no problem, but I don’t think she’s seen me yet.
“Who made coffee?” Tatum says out loud.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.” I smile as I drink my coffee.
I may have been a tad too chipper because she touches her head.
I mentally high-five myself because annoying a hungover Tatum is fun.
“Your bed is pretty comfortable. I need to know where you got that mattress.” I stand behind her since she’s trying to walk away from me.
“Baldwin,” she says through her teeth. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I smile because this is going to be fun.