Chapter 18
The next morning, Tate took Briar back to the dorm to pack and check out. He went home to wait, put new batteries in the spare gate remote for Briar, then called his mother.
When Lilith saw his name come up on caller ID, she grabbed the phone with anticipation.
“Hello, my sweet son!”
“Hi, Mama. How’s everybody?”
“I’m fine. Your daddy’s good. He likes working at the dealership way better than at Curly Gibson’s garage.”
Tate laughed. “I’ll bet he does. Listen…the reason I’m calling. Would it be okay if Briar and I flew down for a quick visit…maybe a couple of nights for sure?”
“I would be the happiest mama ever. We know what you’re doing. We see the stories. We hear the reports on TV. We’re so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mama. But don’t make a hero out of me. I’m still me, doing what I’ve always done. It’s just in the public eye now.”
“I know. I know,” she said. “But parents have a right to be proud of their children. So, when are you planning to come?”
“As soon as I make flight plans, I’ll let you know.”
“Abel is going to be beside himself,” she said. “Don’t be surprised if he drags you down to the dealership to show you off.”
Tate laughed. “Okay…and thanks for the warning. As soon as I get details, I’ll let you know the day and time of arrival.”
“Is Briar okay?” Lilith asked.
“More than okay. She just graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She’s at the dorm now, checking out. She’ll be living with me as she begins her job hunt.”
“Are you still worried about people knowing about her?”
Tate sighed. “Yes and no. I’ve never been out and about in public with anyone, and I can’t go anywhere now without being recognized. However, this is what we sacrificed for. We’ll make it work. Love you. Tell Dad I said hello, and I’ll be in touch.”
“Love you too,” Lilith said, and then, after the call was over, did a little happy dance and sent a text to Abel.
* * *
Three days later, Tate and Briar had just landed and were collecting their luggage at the airport in Sparta.
It was Briar’s first time to fly. Fortunately, the flight was brief—a little over an hour—and once they landed, her nerves settled.
She was sitting off to the side with their luggage while Tate was on the phone to his dad to let him know they needed a ride, but Abel informed him he was already on the way.
Briar loved watching Tate when he didn’t know she was looking.
Maybe it was just love, but he was so perfect—so beautiful in her eyes.
The grown-up Tate had come a long, long way from the little brown-eyed boy who used to open her milk cartons.
He was built like a movie-version of Superman, but without all the flash and dash.
The very private person he was, was the man who stole her heart.
The gentle giant who saw the world in a different way.
This man she would marry. This man would be the father of their children.
Their adult lives together were just beginning, and she intended to savor every moment, gather every memory, and hold them in her heart for the years to come.
Tate was smiling when he ended the call and headed back to her.
“Dad’s on the way. Mama already phoned him not to dawdle.”
Briar laughed. “I love it and them so much.”
He sat down beside her and gave her a quick hug. “They love you too. You’re going to love their house.”
“It was her granny’s house, right?”
Tate nodded. “Everything about it says home to her, and that’s something she sorely missed before.” Then he heard someone shout his name and turned to look. His dad was coming toward them in long, hurried strides with a smile.
Abel launched himself at them, gathered them up in one giant hug, then started issuing orders.
“Grab your stuff. I’m illegally parked, but the guard is asleep in his truck, so we’re good if we hurry.”
They didn’t waste a second. Briar was almost running, trying to keep up with their long-legged strides. A few minutes later, they were in Abel’s truck and headed out of town.
Her glimpses of the countryside reminded her a lot of the geography of Star Ridge, except there was more open land for cattle to graze and crops to raise.
She was riding in the back seat, listening to father and son in quiet delight, wondering how some people had amazing relationships with their parents, while people like her did their best to survive them.
“Briar, honey, there’s the house,” Tate said, and smiled when he saw how big the pink azalea that he’d given his mother had grown. It was at least a foot taller and covered in blooms.
Briar leaned forward. The white, two-story house with gingerbread trim and a wraparound porch was an enchanting piece of Victorian past. And then she saw Lilith, standing at the front steps waving, and her eyes welled. This is what homecoming should look like.
“It’s beautiful! And there’s your sweet mama.”
Lilith ran to meet them as they parked, hugging Tate, hugging Briar, talking and laughing, and hugging some more as they made their way inside.
Briar watched Tate’s face softening, letting go of all the hard stuff and bad stuff he’d seen. This was healing for him. He’d come to refill the well within. Then he turned abruptly, looking for her, and came striding across the room.
“Come with me, darlin’. I’ll show you the house. As usual, Mama has something to tend to in the kitchen.”
That night they ate by the light of an ancient chandelier, and when they couldn’t stay awake any longer, Tate took her to bed, snuggled her close, and fell asleep to the yips and howls of coyotes, hunting in the night.
The next morning, Tate kissed Briar awake, made slow, sweet love to her, then aimed her in the direction of the old claw-foot tub she’d seen last night to take a bath. She was already running water and stripping out of the Tulane T-shirt she’d slept in.
“Take your time, love. Mama has a dozen things planned for you to do together. I know she’s taking you to meet her parents, and Dad’s bound and determined to show me off a little at his work.
I’ll drive myself back in his truck and go get him when it’s time for him to come home.
I’ll be back in a few hours. Is that okay? ”
Briar stepped into the tub and began sinking down into the warm, deep water. “I’m fine. Between your lovemaking and this glorious tub, I’m just going to finish melting right here.”
He laughed out loud, then leaned down and kissed her goodbye.
Lilith heard his laughter all the way down the stairs, and she looked at Abel and sighed. “Hearing their laughter is so familiar. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed these two until I’m hearing them again.”
“Tate’s riding in with me. He’s driving back before noon and then will come get me when I get off work,” Abel said.
“That’s fine, but he’s going to eat the breakfast I made him before you leave,” she said.
Abel winked. “Yes, ma’am. I hear and obey.”
She rolled her eyes. “Hush it, mister. Nobody leaves my house hungry.”
Tate walked into the kitchen, gave his mama a big hug, then snatched a piece of bacon. “Smells good, Mama. Briar found the big claw-foot tub. She’s in heaven.”
“It’s the best,” Lilith said. “I’ll let her wander down on her own. I’m not going anywhere.”
When they sat down to eat, he told them about being hired to find Cornelius Wilson, and the chopper his wife sent to bring him to Denver.
“He’d been missing a week?” Abel said.
Tate nodded and told him the story. By the time the story ended, so had their meal. A few minutes later, they were gone.
* * *
The dealership was just opening when they arrived. Abel parked, then he and Tate walked in through the service entrance. Mechanics and clerks were just arriving, and the manager was coming in to check in with the crew before going back to his office.
They all saw Abel come in with another guy, then realized this was Tate, the famous son.
When Abel had their attention, he made the introduction.
“Hey, everybody! This is my son, Tate. He flew in for a visit yesterday. I talk about him all the time, and he wanted to see where I work.”
They all knew Abel’s story, and they knew his people. The knowing wasn’t new to them, but Tate was, and they all crowded around, talking and teasing Abel that his son had outgrown him.
Tate liked them, and he knew they liked his dad. It felt good to know his parents’ move to Tennessee had not been a disappointment.
He stayed until his dad got busy, then left with a promise to be back before quitting time and drove home to an empty house. Lilith and Briar were gone, and there was a note on the counter.
I took Briar to meet my parents. We’ll be back soon.
Love, Mama
Tate smiled. The silence of the house was comforting.
The faint scent of bacon and coffee still lingered.
He got a cold pop from the refrigerator, and went out to the back porch, settled into an old chair to watch wildlife when he heard footsteps running through the house, and then the screen door bang. Briar came out talking.
“We had the best time! Your granny Barton gave us a quilt! I have a recipe for buckwheat muffins.”
Tate caught her up in his arms. He was laughing. “I just love you,” he said.
“Thank you for bringing me along. I needed this. You needed this. I love you more.”
* * *
Abel and Lilith hosted a family cookout the evening of Tate and Briar’s last day on the mountain.
People began arriving just as the day was beginning to cool, when the sun was sliding toward the horizon.
They arrived by carloads, bringing covered dishes and their own folding chairs, then scattered the covered dishes along two long tables and set up their chairs all over the yard.
Briar was introduced to so many people she lost count of who they were and their connection with Tate, but they kept her laughing.
The elders with the knowing came one by one to meet Tate’s chosen. They were taken by her spirit and sweet personality, and it was obvious to them how deeply she and Tate were bonded. It was as it should be.