Tate (8 page)

***

Around 2:30 that afternoon, my phone vibrated, indicating a text. I picked it up to find a selfie picture of Tate and Andy Stevens. I saved the picture and replied.

Good-looking man
.

Thank you!
Tate replied.

I meant Andy Stevens…

Nice. Can I call you later?

Please…

Suddenly, I felt ridiculously excited. I didn’t realize how much I was ready for someone to come into my life until he was there.

Later, as I waited for the phone to ring, I paced, happy that he wanted to call me. When I picked up the phone and saw it was Tate, I was giddy - happy like I haven’t felt in a long time.

“Hello, lovely!” he said using Carlene’s favorite word, and I smiled. “Miss me?”

“Don’t tell anyone I said so, but yes,” I laughed.

“I told Andy about you.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because I was singing this song, and when I finished, he asked me, “Is she worth it?” I didn’t even have to think, I just said ‘yes’.”

My head told me this was all happening too fast, but I heard my heart speak before I had a chance to stop myself. “Sing it to me, Tate.”

“OK, but first you have to do something for me.”

“What is it?”

“Sit someplace where you can see the moon. I want to share the moon with you again tonight, Maisie. I want to think about your beautiful face in the moonlight.”

His words had tears streaming down my cheeks, but I went to the kitchen and sat on the counter to look out the window. “Ready,” I said.

I saw you there

That smile you try not to share

The eyes that shine

Just want to make you mine

All mine

I felt the tears flowing. The whole idea that this man wanted me in his life overwhelmed me. I swallowed a sob and sat quietly a moment when he was done.

“Are you crying?” he asked.

“You ask too many questions,” I said.

“Can I see you when I get home?”

“Yes, please…”

***

Tate

We were moving faster, getting closer to completing what I’d come to work on than we’d anticipated. We were almost at the end of the week. I still had a few more songs that I was working on to complete the project and Andy was convincing me to stay and keep working. He told me that the music went ‘from great to awesome the longer we worked.

“This is great stuff, Tate. It’s that woman you’re talking to,” he said with a knowing smile.

“I believe it is,” I declared. “She’s just a little tiny bit of nuthin’, but she wrecks me. I mean it. One look and I was a goner.”

Reflective a moment, Andy said, “I remember that feeling.”

“She’s got me all wound up inside thinking about her.”

“Let me hear the one you were playing with this morning.”

“
Thoughts of You
,” I told him.

In just one day, everything changed

It happened with a glance, a look in your eyes

Things I felt and thought just couldn’t be denied

Nothing’s the same - dreams changed

They’re filled with thoughts of you

When you opened up, things changed

Every single thought of you left me mystified

In time, I felt my heartstrings come untied

My heart’s desire – it’s like a burning flame

It’s filled with thoughts of you

“Tate, this is honestly one of my favorites. I think you should release this one next. It needs nothing – it’s perfect. I’m telling you, I can see this one running the charts, country and contemporary. Can you stick around another week?” he asked, but paused, remembering. “Oh wait, your lady friend…”

As he said the words, I had a thought. “Excuse me just a minute.” I stepped around the corner and dialed Maisie’s number. “I know you’re probably up to your elbows in silk or satin or whatever the hell fabric you’re excited about, but I had an idea. Andy wants me to stick around another week. Things are going good! I know it’s short notice, but if you’d like, I’ll have an airline ticket waiting for you in Nashville to join me here for a long weekend. Temps are going up into the eighties. I’ll have you back to your sewing machine Tuesday morning. Will you join me?”

When she didn’t say anything, I quickly added, “Your own room.” Still nothing. “Did you hang up and I didn’t hear the click?”

“I’m here. I’m trying to get past feeling like the rope in a tug-of-war…”

“Maisie,” I interrupted, “I didn’t mean for this to cause you turmoil. I’m sorry. I’m not asking you for anything you aren’t ready for. I just thought it’d be good for you to get away for a few days. A break from the cold and dreary.”

“Shh,” she said, softly. “It’s not turmoil. I’m stuck between holding on and letting go. I’m thinking of all I have to do, but my gut is saying GO!”

“Go with your gut,” I urged. “You can call me later.”

“NO, TATE. NO!” she blurted out. “No, don’t go! I’m ready to feel the sand between my toes. I want to feel something again. Tate, I
want
to join you.”

“I’ll send you the information in an hour or so,” I said, and had to suppress my emotions.

I told Andy she was coming, and asked if we could start later on Friday so that I was the one meeting her at the airport.

***

On Friday, when she came down the ramp from the gate, it was all I could do not to run, lift her off the floor, and smother her with kisses. “Hey! I’m so glad you’re here!” I said instead.

“Hey, yourself!” she replied, and came closer for a hug.

“Come on, Andy’s waiting,” I said, grabbing her bag. “Do you have a suitcase?”

“No, just this.” She gestured to her side.

The dang bag was as big as she was. It made me wonder how she’d even carried the damn thing on the plane. After I grabbed it, she surprised me by slipping her hand in mine. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t want to change her mood, so I walked to the car with her, holding her hand in mine.

We chatted about the last few days as we made our way to Andy’s studio. When we arrived, he wasn’t there yet. Marco let us in, and I introduced Maisie.

“It’s a pleasure! Have you heard this guy sing?”

“Only on the radio,” she told him, and added, “Oh, and on the phone. Not really in person.” I saw her look my way and somehow I knew she was thinking about sharing the moon the other evening. “We’ve only known each other a short time.”

Marco pulled a chair over for her, and pointed for me to go in the booth to sing. “You’ve probably heard him sing
I’m A Guy
. Wait ‘til you hear this one. Hit it big’un!”

“Big’un?” Maisie giggled.

“He’s huge!” Marco laughed.

“Laugh, little one,” I said. I headed to the booth, thankful that she couldn’t see the smile on my face.

As I stepped behind the glass, I decided to sing
Just Want to Make You Mine.
I watched her as I sang and saw her emotions as I sang my own. I watched as she listened, and hoped she felt my heart.

“That was beautiful,” she said when I stepped out of the booth. And then Andy stepped into the room. I lost her to a rock star. She was awestruck.

“You must be Tate’s Maisie. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said.

“I am Tate’s Maisie,” she said with a shy smile. “And you’re…”

“Andy Stevens,” he replied, giving her some relief.

“Oh. My. Goodness. If I was bold, and not shy at all, I’d fall to my knees and beg you to sing
Timeless
!” she laughed. This was a Maisie that I hadn’t experienced yet. It made me smile.

He broke into an acapella version, and I swear I saw her swoon. I wanted to have that effect on her. The look on her face was priceless.

“I’m taking my daughter to dinner later. It’s her favorite place – The Bistro. We’d love for you to join us.”

“I’d love that,” Maisie said. It seemed to ease her mind to share someone else’s company for a little while. I got the impression that she was nervous. I’d hoped for some alone time, but I figured maybe this would ease her mind a little, and I’d take whatever I got.

She sat with Andy and Marco while we tweaked another song I’d been working on. The fans liked the vibe of
I’m a Guy
so when this one popped in my head I jumped on it. It was an upbeat tune that Andy said needed some steel guitar and banjo.

I’m a skinny-dippin’

Jack sippin’

Bonafide redneck

I’m happy just sittin’

Guitar pickin’

Yellin’ what’da heck

I’m an ass whippin’

Porch sittin’

Big’ol roughneck

Back road trippin’

Lip kissin’

Hollerin’ loud - you bet

Girl you’re grinnin’

I’m’a fixin’

To be a total wreck

Thinkin’ I’m smitten

I’m submittin’

Could be henpecked.

I could see Maisie sitting beside Andy, chair dancing. It made me laugh. So many different Maisies I’d seen today and I wanted to discover every Maisie that she’d been hiding.

***

Later, we gathered at The Bistro, Andy with a beautiful, red-haired, young woman. She and Maisie hit it off immediately.

“Papa told me you make clothes for country stars.” Carlee said excitedly. “How cool is that?”

“It
is
pretty cool!” I heard Maisie laugh. “I’m making Ami Woodson’s dress for the Academy of Country Music Awards. Four or five, actually.”

Carlee leaned closer to Maisie, and I heard her whisper, “Is she nice? ‘Cuz I read where she acts all sweet, but that she’s a demanding bitch when no one with a camera is around.”

Andy looked at Carlee and shook his head with the biggest grin, followed by laughter from Maisie that had me smirking. I listened as Maisie chatted, and wondered where the ‘Ice Queen’ had gone. She was definitely not the beautiful woman sitting beside me.

After a while, it was Andy who called our evening to an end. “This was nice. I hope we can do it again sometime soon. Maisie, it’s been a pleasure meeting you. Enjoy your visit. Carlee, you ready?”

“Yes, Papa.” I watched as Carlee stood up, and then leaned down to hug Maisie. “Have a fun trip! I’ll be watching the ACMs so I can see Ami’s dresses. Oh, and hear Tate sing,” she laughed.

In the truck as we headed to the hotel Maisie told me, “That was nice. He’s so… real. And Carlee is gorgeous, and sweet, and funny.”

“It was nice,” I agreed, as we drove toward the beach.

When we arrived we took her things to her room. “It’s chilly out, but if you’d like to go for a walk on the beach, I’d love to join you,” I said.

“Really?” I nodded, and she responded with a smile. “Yes, let’s do it.”

We went in her room and she dropped her bag. Opening it, she tore through the contents, tossing clothes on the bed. Finally, she pulled out a sweater. We walked down the wooden crossover to the beach. When we got to the bottom step, she plopped down and unlaced the boots she was wearing. I watched as she slipped them off and neatly tucked her socks in them. She rolled up her jeans, and then sprang up and headed quickly toward the shoreline.

“Are you coming?” she yelled over her shoulder as she ran.

I kicked off my boots and jogged to catch up to her.

When we reached the water’s edge she wiggled her toes into the wet sand. “It’s cold and squishy,” she laughed. “Hey Tate, there’s that moon.”

“Our moon. It’s nice to share it with you in person.”

She turned to look up at me. “Thank you for all of this. I haven’t left Nashville since the accident.” She turned away from me to look out at the moon on the horizon. “I felt… I can’t think of the right word…stranded, maybe? It was like I couldn’t move past where I was. Like if I tried to move forward some force kept pulling me back. I knew that I had Carlene, but I felt alone. I felt like I was in a bubble that I couldn’t break free of. My sewing machine became my sanctuary. The good thing about that is that there are some pretty amazing dresses that have walked red carpets and stages over the last three years.”

It seems that good in my life comes in spurts. When it happens – when something good comes along – it’s short lived. I fear letting go and giving in, because I’m afraid if I open my heart, it will go away too soon. But when I do, I can feel everything change, and it makes me happy.” She glanced my way, and it was almost a whisper, but I heard her say, “Like now.”