Chapter 6 Sutton
Sutton
Despite us both staying at the ranch, I still put my phone number in Blair’s phone so that she could contact me–if she wanted, of course.
The way I see it, if the universe–or maybe the mountain spirit–have decided I get a do-over with Blair, then I’m damn well sure I’m going to do this right.
Even though we’ve seen each other every day since then, I’ve still kept my phone on me at all times in the hope that she’d reach out. Thankfully, she doesn’t make me wait long and messages me Tuesday night after dinner.
Blair: Hey. It’s Blair.
For once I’m glad it’s just Jude and I in the living room and not the rest of the family.
I’m also thankful that he’s lost in a book about native plants in the arctic circle instead of paying me any attention.
That’s because as soon as I read the message, I can’t stop the smile that takes over my face.
Sutton: Hey. How are you?
Blair: Well, in the whole hour since we last saw each other at the dinner table, I’ve managed to iron my work clothes for the rest of the week and talk to both of my best friends while doing it.
Sutton: You’re telling me you’re a multi-tasker?
Blair: Is there any other way to get through life?
Sutton: Very true. That’s more than I’ve done. I’ve spent at least half of that time just trying to find something to watch on the TV.
Blair: Found anything yet?
Sutton: Unless you count Alaskan Antiques Roadshow then no…
Blair: Haha. What are they calling an Alaskan antique?
Sutton: A sixty-year-old stuffed moose head with THREE antlers instead of two.
Blair: You’d think that would be more suited to a ‘Weird and Wild Alaska’ show.
Sutton: Wait... there’s a show called that?
Blair: Surely there is. If not, we should pitch it to a TV network. Imagine the stories that would come out?
Sutton: Considering what I’ve heard in my sessions here, I have no doubt that there would be some weird AND wild ones.
“What’s that weird look on your face?” Jude asks, snapping my attention from my phone.
I school my expression. “What look?”
“You’re like… I don’t know… smilin’? But it’s not your normal smile. It’s like goofy.”
That has me frowning over at him. “I smile.”
“Not like that,” he says, waving his finger in the air toward my face. “Who’s messagin’ you?”
“No one,” I say too quickly. Unfortunately for me, Jude doesn’t miss it.
“Ah huh. Have your secrets, brother. Just know that you’re not foolin’ me.”
I smirk as another message comes through. “Duly noted.”
Blair: I was thinking about our date this Sunday.
Sutton: Do you want to cancel?
Blair: NO! I’m looking forward to it. Do YOU want to cancel?
Sutton: I’ve been waiting too long for this date. Why would I pull out now?
Blair: I don’t know. Just wanted to check…
Sutton: I’d understand if you were having second thoughts.
Blair: Why? I was the one who suggested/prompted/made you ask me.
Sutton: Yeah, you REALLY had to twist my arm.
Blair: I know, right? It was like pulling teeth, and dentistry has never interested me.
Sutton: A medicine joke? Are we at THAT stage already?
Blair: Well, technically it’s a dentistry one. And what stage is that?
Sutton: Work small talk.
Blair: I’m looking forward to our date because I already know it WON’T be filled with work small talk. Not that I’m against it, just that there’s SO much more to talk about than that. Like what you’ve been up to for the past thirty-four years.
There are so many layers to this woman, and it’s not even my overactive, analytical brain that is driving me now. It’s just interest, plain and simple. And a whole lot of attraction, chemistry, intrigue, a matchmaking mountain maybe…
Honestly, I haven’t even put much thought into whether Blair is here because of the prophesy.
Sutton: What were you thinking about for Sunday? Any idea what you want to do?
Blair: I was looking on the internet for things to do, but I don’t know what YOU had in mind. What kind of things do you like to do in your spare time?
This is when my brain glitches. What am I supposed to say? I stay on the ranch and read books or work on the Zen garden. I help my brothers and Wyatt with whatever needs doing around the land. I cook and try new recipes using local meats and produce because it soothes me.
Then I remember what she said at dinner.
“Apparently there’s a fresh outlook and new opportunities on my horizon so this is me embracing the moment.”
Sutton: I’m open to anything. Do you want to do the tourist thing? Or maybe a hike? Somewhere NOT well known?
Blair: I haven’t been hiking in years. I’m talking way back when I was a teenager. It sounds fun though.
Sutton: Do you have boots to wear?
Blair: No, but I’m sure I can find something that will work.
I shouldn’t doubt her–she’s a highly successful adult woman after all–but her reply doesn’t fill me with confidence.
Sutton: Sounds like we have a plan. I’ll ask around and find out what trails are best for beginners.
Blair: I haven’t been called a beginner in years.
Sutton: I was meaning me. It’s been a while. I’ve been meaning to get out and explore the place more.
Blair: Let me guess, life got in the way for you too?
Sutton: Yeah.
Blair: Then it sounds like we both need to get out more. Starting Sunday.
“You’re smilin’ again. It’s creepy,” Jude says, cocking his head. He must see something because suddenly his eyes jump wide and he sits forward in his seat, his book all but forgotten on the seat next to him.
“You’re talkin’ to a girl, aren’t you.”
“A woman, actually.”
He waves his hand in the air and scoffs. “You know what I mean. Who is it? Someone at the hospital?”
“You could say that…” I say slowly.
“C’mon. You never tell me anythin’. You know you can though, right? It’s always been you and Case against the world but I’m always here when he’s not,” he says sincerely.
“Yeah, Jude. I know. OK.” I take a deep breath and decide I need to tell someone, just to get it all out. “So, I had no idea until she arrived but–”
He stays quiet for a beat before his eyes light up. “It’s Blair, isn’t it? She’s your One. I knew it would be you. It just made sense that once Case found Isla that you’d be next in line.”
“There’s a bit more to it. I’d seen her before, back in Boston when I was an undergrad,” I explain.
“You already know each other?”
“I… noticed her at college. That’s all.”
His eyes widen before crinkling at the sides. “Ah. You had a secret crush.”
“Somethin’ like that. I never talked to her though. Never really knew her or anythin’.”
“And now she’s here in Timber Falls, where you just happen to be too,” he says, almost to himself.
“She’s definitely your One, Sutt. That’s awesome.
” He gets up and moves to sit on the couch with me.
“I’m happy for you. If any one of us deserves to feel the love of a good woman and to have someone look out for them like you look out for everyone else, it’s you. ”
“Why do I need lookin’ after?”
He looks at me like I’m an idiot. “There’s a difference between knowin’ your family will always have your back and havin’ someone choose to do it. Why do you think Will and Case are so ooey gooey with their Ones?”
“If she’s my soulmate, she didn’t exactly have a choice in it. It’s the mountain spirit’s doin’. Besides, she doesn’t know about the Call and was brought to town to help out at the hospital, remember.”
“Don’t diminish this, Sutt. I know you do it to protect yourself and to stop you from overthinkin’.
Believe me, I know all about copin’ mechanisms thanks to you.
” Jude has ADHD with some OCD tendencies on the side.
To me–even as a medical professional–I rarely see the signs of it now.
To me, he’s just Jude, my youngest brother who has always had what we call his ‘squirrel’ moments.
He’s easily waylaid when he’s not actively focusing on something.
He tends to fidget a bit if you watch him closely.
He’s the most outgoing and boisterous one out of us siblings and that lends itself to him talking without a filter and over-explaining himself.
I call it ‘info dumping’. He’s also the most caring, attentive, and surprisingly observant brother I could ever ask for.
“I know you missed all of us bein’ together before Gramps’s passin’ and you were the one pushin’ the most for us to move here. I think out of all of us, you need a good woman at your side. Someone you know will always be there. Am I makin’ sense, doctor?” he says as a cheeky smirk appears.
“Yes, Jude. I always forget how much you see.”
He laughs and bumps his shoulder into mine. “That’s because y’all underestimate me.”
“We really don’t. We just have a bad habit of thinkin’ we still need to look out for you.”
“And I love that, I really do. Doesn’t mean I don’t see all and hear all and keep some of it to myself.”
“Hmm. Let’s see how long it takes everyone else to find out Blair and I are goin’ on a date on Sunday then,” I muse.
“I can cover for you if you like. Sundays are usually weddin’ plannin’ days and I think this weekend the plan is to finalize the flowers, food, and the cakes,” he explains.
“That means the happy couples will be out for the afternoon. You’ll have a good few hours without any speculation if you just wait until they all leave. ”
I let out a relieved sigh. It’s not that I’m keeping secrets, but after Birdie and Isla already hinted at lunch that they wanted to play matchmaker, the thought of going out with Blair without the pressure of everyone knowing about it would be a huge weight off my shoulders.
“Do you want some help plannin’ your date? Or have you already got somethin’ in mind?” Jude asks.
“You know what? That would be great. It was Blair that I was messagin’ and–”
“I guessed that, Sutt. You’re not exactly good at hidin’ your emotions you know,” he says in a ‘duh’ like tone.
I roll my eyes. “You goin’ to help or just sit there and tease me?”
“Can’t I do both?” He shrugs. “OK. What’s the plan?”
And for the next half an hour, we check the weather forecast and search up hiking trails in the area until we find one that’s a little over an hour long each way and has some great views of a place called Hidden Lake, somewhere I didn’t know existed until now.
“Quiet, easy, and a little romantic,” Jude says, slumping back against the couch. “It’s perfect, Sutt.”
Yep. Just what the doctor ordered.