Tate (13 page)

“I can’t wait to meet her!”

“Do you have to go to the shop?” I asked.

Before she answered, she grabbed her phone. “It’s me. Anything going on?”

I could hear Dion’s voice in reply. “Snow’s kept everyone home, cancellations for fittings – we’ll be busy on Monday. Stay in bed.”

When she hung up, I pulled her close, nuzzling her neck. “I like the way Dion thinks.”

***

Later, we headed to the east side of Nashville, making a stop by my office on the way to my place. “Deidre, this is Maisie Bolden,” I said when we walked in.

“I’ve sure heard a lot about you,” Deidre replied with a smile. As she spoke, Sadie rounded the corner and knocked me to the floor.

“Hey, girl! Did you miss me?” I shouted, as we rolled around, the dog licking my face.

“Maisie, this is Sadie!” I laughed. She went to Maisie and did what dogs do – sniffed, rubbed all over her legs, and then rose on her hind legs to stand with her paws on Maisie’s shoulders.

“Oh my! You’re beautiful.” She wrapped her arms around Sadie, hugging and laughing as the dog gave her dog kisses all over her face. I was afraid Maisie would freak out, but she just laughed.

“I’ve never had a dog. I think she likes me!” she said between giggles. “My goodness, she’s a lover. What will you do with her when you hit the road?”

I watched as Maisie moved to sit on the floor and Sadie dropped in front of her for a belly rub.

“She stays here with Deidre a lot,” I replied.

“Not anymore!” Maisie laughed. “She likes me!”

Was that some kind of commitment?

When we reached my place, Maisie wandered around, looking. “Wow, is this the statue from the GRAMMYs?”

“Yep,” I said. I walked up behind her and handed her a glass of wine.

She turned to face me. “Thank you for bringing me here. It’s nice and comfortable. It doesn’t look at all like I envisioned.”

“Sex den, bachelor pad?” I joked. “This is another step for us. Tonight you’re gonna sleep in my bed.”

“Yes.” She set the wine glass on the table at the end of the sofa and stepped closer to me.

I set my beer on the table and lifted her into my arms. “I feel like I have to lift you into my arms to kiss you. I kinda like that,” I said, nuzzling her neck as she wrapped her legs around my waist.

“Me too,” she said as we dropped to the sofa. “I can’t describe what being with you feels like, Tate.”

“Show me, Maisie,” I said, and kissed her forehead.

“I haven’t wanted to be in anyone’s company for most of my life. Sometimes Granny tried so hard that I felt smothered. She encouraged friendships, but I heard the girls at school talk about Kitty. I liked being by myself. I didn’t have to explain, or justify, but mostly I didn’t have to answer questions. Being alone, no one could hurt me. Carlene flits in and out of my days, and Dion works in the back. I was content to be alone. Or I thought I was.” She leaned forward to kiss me.

Sadie jumped on the sofa. She edged herself beside me, kind of pushing me closer to Maisie. “She sleeps with me.”

“Good, then I’ll have to snuggle closer so she has plenty of room.”

***

The following Saturday, when I arrived to take Maisie to the party, she opened the door wearing a bathrobe. She was a mess. “I don’t know what to wear!” she shrieked as I stepped in the house.

“Clothes?” I asked, playfully.

“You don’t understand!” she exclaimed.

“Maybe you better explain it to me,” I said, trying to sound sympathetic, but all I wanted to do was laugh.

“Stop it! It’s not funny! Ami will be there, and Audra, and whoeverthehellelse!” She was flustered and all the words ran together.

“I’m trying not to laugh,” I said, seriously and then, I broke into guffaws. “Maisie! It’s a party. Look at me. Casual.” I watched her and she was trying hard to be pissed, but I was laughing too hard. Finally, she was laughing, too.

“I’m nervous.”

“Come on,” I took her hand and led her to her closet. “I’ll find something.”

“This will be interesting,” she said in a smart ass way.

First I found a pair of jeans and tossed them on the bed while she watched. I pushed hangers back and forth until I found a black lacy top that intrigued me. I put it on the bed with the jeans. A closer look said it needed something else. She had a jewelry cabinet mounted on the wall and I found a couple of long chains and large hoop earrings. I looked at shoes and boots that were neatly placed on shelves in the closet and found the black high-heeled boots she worn on one of our first dates.

“Get dressed,” I said, and thought a moment. “Wait.” I opened the drawer I’d seen her get undergarments from before. I found black lacy panties and a red bra.

“Red?” she grinned.

“Yeah. That way when I get bored with rubbing elbows and kissing ass I can think about what you’re wearing under your clothes.”

***

As we walked into the lobby of Cavalier Records, I took Maisie’s hand and we made our way to the conference center. This wasn’t a red carpet event; it was low-key and I was glad. We entered a massive room filled with people and I felt Maisie hesitate. “No turning back now,” I whispered. “You look friggin’ amazing.”

She gave me a shy smile, and whispered, “You should pick out my clothes more often. You did a great job.”

“Maybe I will. I know what I like to see when I look at you. Come on.” I squeezed her hand and led her through the crowd. Dean and Romi Schomann were in the center of the room.

“Our guest of honor!” Dean called out, and we walked over. Dean introduced Romi, and I introduced Maisie.

“The seamstress,” Romi purred. “I’ve seen your work and it’s gorgeous. We must talk later.”

We talked for a few minutes and finally, Audra made her way to where we stood. “Maisie?” she questioned.

“Isn’t she lovely?” Romi commented. “Audra, maybe you should let Maisie work with you. Look at this adorable outfit she’s wearing.” The word around Nashville was that there was no love lost between these two women. I don’t know if Audra’s shocked face or Maisie’s showing pleasure made me happier. I looked up and saw Andy and Marco making their way toward us.

“Congrats on the completion of an amazing project,” Andy said.

“I have to agree,” Dean said. “You should be very proud, Tate.”

“I am,” I said. “It’s been a very exciting time.” I looked to Maisie and saw Andy watch me with a smile.

Ami and Audra seemed more interested in Maisie than the events of the evening, but she didn’t seem to mind. She spoke with Romi Schomann about a dress for the ACM Awards. The excitement we all felt was contagious and Maisie couldn’t deny that she had a good time.

“Not so bad, was it?” When we arrived back at her place.

“Not so bad,” she agreed. “Romi is coming in next week to see some ideas.”

“And Audra?” I snorted. “That was priceless when Romi suggested she needed help with her wardrobe.”

“Audra wasn’t happy. She had an eye on me all evening – her
and
Ami. Audra looked pissed.”

“She’ll get over it.”

“Are you staying tonight?” she asked.

“Do you want me to, Maisie?” I teased.

She stepped closer and I wrapped my arms around her. “You gonna be my date to the ACMs?” I whispered in her ear as I kissed her neck.

“What?” she asked.

I trailed light kisses down her neck and stopped at her shoulder giving her a light bite. “I’ve given you time to think about it. If you aren’t gonna go with me, I need to make plans for my backup date.”

She got quiet, and then said, “Oh. I see.” She tried to pull away from me, but I held her tighter.

“No. You. Don’t.” I took her chin in my hand. I tipped the pouty chin up to make her look at me. “If you don’t go with me, I’ll bring Mama, but I’m hopeful that it’ll be you. I see the struggle you’re having.”

“Can I think about it a little longer?”

“Maisie, there’s no pressure. You have two days,” I teased.

“I want to go to the ACMs with you…”

“I won’t assume that I know your fears,” I interrupted, “so tell me.”

“The memory of that night,” she said.

“I’m going to try hard to say this with the right words, Maisie…”

“Just go on and say it,” she butted in.

“He can’t die again. Carlene will be there. It’ll be fine.”

***

The next week was busy as Maisie finished up what Ami needed for her event. I was off doing some radio interview call-ins and a few live interviews at stations in the area. On Thursday we finally had a chance to have dinner.

“We’ve been so busy! Romi Schomann came in and commissioned a dress for the ACMs. I showed her the designs I had in mind and she loved them,” she said with a sound of pride and accomplishment. “All I have left is Carlene’s vest. I already know what I’m doing, then she’ll decide on pants or a skirt.”

“What about my vest?”

“You don’t really want a vest,” she laughed.

“Yeah. I do. I need something sparkly to go under the monkey suit. I can see it now, I’ll win an award and as I’m stridin’ across the stage lookin’ like a sharp dressed man, I’ll throw the jacket open and flash’em! Let’s do it!”

Maisie roared with laughter.

As our relationship grew, I stayed with Maisie several nights a week. I went home some nights to give her a break. I thought she needed that time to come to terms with her thoughts. I didn’t need a break, but I knew there were times when she still struggled. We loved, but we didn’t make love every time I stayed. That was a bonus, not my priority. I was ready to explore a different side of ‘us’ - a side where she knew, without question, that she was all I wanted.

As the days passed, I saw her struggles lessen. She became more carefree, like an angel able to soar freely. I thought about what she told me about Blake – that she felt her ‘wings being clipped’. I would never want that. She should be happy in her flight. She told me she was a turtle, but I saw her as a little bird that needed to find her way out of the nest and be free.

***

The Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony was two weeks away. I’d been nominated for Best New Artist and Best Song for
I’m A Guy
. Andy and Marco were coming for the ceremony, and the Queen of Nashville made arrangements for all of us to sit together. Maisie was going. So was Mama, but Maisie didn’t know.

She was insanely busy finishing up dresses for the event for the likes of country singer Dina May, as well as Romi and Ami.

“
You’re
going to the ACMs?” Ami snipped one evening as I waited for Maisie to finish up so we could go have dinner. “You better not show up in a dress that’s better than any of mine!”

“I’m not making my dress. Dion isn’t either,” Maisie said quickly, before Ami had a chance to snip about that, too.

I had to bite my tongue at the conversation. Dion shook his head, and I heard him mumble, “Unbelievable.”

Audra called me the next day. I guess Ami told her that Maisie was going to the awards with me, because she had a thing or two to say about Maisie going as well.

“Really, Tate? The seamstress? Sleeping with her is one thing, but taking her to the show isn’t the smartest choice.”

“Back off, Audra. She’s more than ‘the seamstress’ to me. I told you before - I’ll listen to your suggestions. I’ll make my own decisions. Maisie is special to me.”

“Whatever,” she hissed. “This is a huge career mistake.”

The closer it got, the more anxious Maisie became. I could see it. We’d talk about it, she’d seem OK for a day or so, and then the anxiety would surface again.

“What are you wearing?” I asked when I stopped by the shop one afternoon. She was busy finishing something and seemed anxious.

“I found a lavender Italian silk dress at The Dress Boutique. It’s pretty, but nothing over the top. I’m worried about that. You just don’t know how vicious these women around here can be.”

“Bitches,” Dion said.

“Famous bitches,” Maisie laughed.

“Let me see the dress,” I said.

“No. Not ‘til you pick me up.”

“It’s
not
the dress, it’s the woman
in
the dress,” Dion said. “You’ll shine, and they’ll still be pissed because you look better than them!”

“I’ve got an errand to run. Can you meet me at Puckett’s for dinner? Six o’clock?”

“I’ll be there,” Maisie agreed.  

I kissed the top of her head and headed for the airport.

As she came from the gate, Mama was so happy that she practically ran to me.