Chapter 6 #2
Dare: That prenup of yours helped your case. Why else would I be helping you?
Jude: I’ll remember that the next time I fake-marry someone.
Dare: Go message Em. Don’t leave her waiting. If she reached out, it’s because she wanted to. She doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to.
Jude: I’ll take note of that for future reference.
Dare: Your life will be a hell of a lot easier if you do. Talk soon.
Jude: I’ll come over in the next few days to check how the twins are getting on with the watering system.
Dare: Sounds good. I really appreciate the help. Good luck with Em. I won’t say you’ll need it but…
Jude: Not helping my nerves here, Dare.
Dare: Not trying to. I think you know you’re going to have to work hard for her. But something tells me you’re not afraid of that.
I close out of the messages with Dare and open Em’s text from earlier. Checking the time to make sure it’s not too late, I go to type a new message but stop with my fingers hovering over the screen.
What do I even say? I think to myself.
“I’m goin’ to my room. See y’all tomorrow,” I say to everyone.
Will frowns and looks at the big clock on the kitchen wall. “You OK?”
“Yep. Just goin’ to read for a bit.”
It’s not until I’m sitting up in bed with my back to the headboard that I realize I’m overthinking this. With that in mind, I decide that simple is best.
Jude: Hey wifey. Sorry it took a while to get back to you. Was busy in the greenhouses when you messaged earlier.
Em: Hi. That’s OK. Gotta get the crops out before the ground really starts freezing over.
Jude: Palmer treating you well?
I scrub my hand over my face and groan. How lame was that?
Em: It’s good. Same as always. The leaves have almost finished changing and it’s getting colder. My favorite time of year.
Jude: So you’re a Fall girl?
Em: Late fall, early winter and proud of it. Let me guess, you’re a summer guy?
Jude: Nope. Probably more Spring. New beginnings and all of that.
She doesn’t reply back straight away. In fact, it takes long enough for me to grab my reading glasses, pick up my book, and read a few pages about deciduous trees we could plant on the ranch when my phone buzzes again. .
Em: I’m sorry for the way I left without a word. I was struggling and needed some sort of normalcy.
Jude: You don’t have to apologize. Everyone copes in different ways. You only did what you needed to.
Em: You didn’t sign up for a runaway fake bride. I should’ve told you. Or explained after the fact.
Jude: Runaway, stay away, generational rival, the whole shebang. I’m on the hook for the full package.
Em: Damn. Are you a glutton for punishment?
Jude: Nah. Just take my promises to heart.
I do pause for a moment before sending the message, but since I’ve never been someone to shy away from the truth, I do it anyway before picking up my book again. Something tells me I’m going to have at least a little wait before she replies.
Em: Jude, you know you don’t have to do that.
I frown at her response.
Jude: Don’t have to do what?
Em: Feel responsible for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love that you agreed to give my Dad what you did before he passed. But he’s gone now and I guess we all have to find a way to move on with our lives.
My frown deepens.
Jude: Can I call you? I think we need to talk.
The dots on her message move and then stop before moving again… and stopping again. I fully expect her to shut me down. Yet, she surprises me by calling me.
“Hey,” I say softly.
“Hey. I’m guessin’ you’re more of a talker than a texter, then?”
“Probably. It’s easier to speak on the fly than overthinking the words I’m using in messages sometimes,” I reply honestly.
“That’s surprisingly honest. And true.”
I chuckle. “No mystery or intrigue with me, I’m afraid. What you see is what you get. ADHD and all.”
“That’s not a bad thing. It just makes you more interestin’.”
“Why?” I ask. “Because you never know what might come out of my mouth?”
“There’s that.”
I laugh. “Like proposin’ a symbolic weddin’?”
“I accepted your proposal, remember?” Not something I’m going to forget in a hurry. “The way I see it, that just makes you a special, rare type of mountain man.”
My mouth drops open. “What does that mean?”
“Well, you’re pretty upfront and honest.”
“Is that a bad thing?” I ask.
“Definitely not. It means people always know where they’re at with you. I’m the same—well, when I’m not runnin’ away, I guess,’ she says with a laugh.
“You had your reasons.” I hold my breath hoping that she might take that as an invitation to open up a little.
“Yeah. I had a job I could escape in and a mountain I needed space from.”
“Have you been feelin’ better since you got back to Palmer?” I hold my breath, torn between wanting her happy and comfortable but not liking the fact that her peace might be hundreds of miles away from where I need to be.
She sighs and I find myself sliding down the mattress to get more comfortable. “It was just…Yes and no. Bein’ on the ranch without Dad there, it felt strange.”
“Like he was missin’?”
“I know it’s weird. I’ve just never felt like that before. I couldn’t escape it either. I just knew I couldn’t stay there. Not right now, anyway.”
I shake my head even though she can’t see me.
“It’s not weird. My brothers and I felt the same way when we moved here after Gramps died.
We hadn’t been back to the mountain for years but we arrived and it was like nothin’ had changed.
Except—” After a moment of silence, a barely-there sniffle hits my ears.
“Dammit. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m so sorry. ”
“No,” she replies, her voice thick. “These aren’t sad tears, I promise. It’s more relief. You truly get it. Obviously my brothers understand and that they’ve felt the same way too, but they’re stronger than I am. Grief is a crazy ride with no instructions.”
“And you never know what’s goin’ to hit you deep or when,” I add.
“Exactly. Don’t get me wrong, I love the ranch and the mountain. I want to be there for my brothers and to help find a sense of normalcy now that both of our parents are gone. It’s just… too much right now.”
“Everyone understands. I hope you know that. Your brothers aren’t mad or disappointed.
They just want you to be safe and comfortable, wherever that needs to be.
As Asher said, the ranch isn’t goin’ anywhere,” I tell her.
When I hear a relieved sigh in my ear, I know that I’ve done good.
“Now tell me. Am I screwin’ this up or helpin’? ”
She snort-giggles. “Definitely helpin’, Jude. I’m glad I called.”
“I’m glad you replied back to my message.”
I take a slow deep breath before exhaling, bracing myself for whatever comes next. “Would you like to keep in touch? Maybe get to know each other better?”
The silence that stretches out down the phone line feels like it lasts for hours instead of the ten seconds or so.
“I think I’d like that,” she replies sweetly.
I pump my fist and mouth out “yesss.”
Well I thought I did. “Did you just do a fist pump?” she giggles.
“I don’t know whether I should admit to that?”
That earns a laugh. “Definitely admit it. That’s cute.”
I put on a deep manly voice. “Mountain men aren’t supposed to be cute.”
“They are when they make me smile. Thanks, hubby.”
“Anytime, wifey.”