Tate (17 page)

“I know. She called Deidre’s voicemail and told her she needed to go get Sadie. I keep calling, too.” I put my arm around her and pulled her close. “We’ll find her.”

“We have to,” Carlene cried, and I saw the look. Love. Like a mother’s love.

“We will.”

But before we did, more pictures came out - horrific pictures from the murder scene, and pictures of Kitty doing drugs - embarrassing pictures. It seemed that every media outlet had them. They were showing up everywhere.

Mama called. “This is awful, Tate. What can we do?”

“Do what you do, Mama. Pray.”

I called Daniel immediately and got him involved. “Find her. And find out who leaked those fucking pictures!”

***

The next day, my statement released worldwide.

Country singing sensation, Tate Morrow, abruptly left his tour yesterday to return home to Nashville. After the release of personal information by an unknown source about his love, Maisie Bolden, she has gone into seclusion. Her whereabouts at this time are unknown. Costas Service Group is looking into the release of the information and pictures of Maisie’s mother, Kitty Evans’, past.

Tate stated that his return to the tour is in question until Maisie is safely in his company. “I won’t let this rest until I know the source of this hurt and devastation.”

I waited. I’m not good at waiting. I’m not a patient man. Another day, and then another, passed and it pissed me off more. I called Maisie’s phone over and over. I sent text messages - none were answered. I knew she was listening to the messages; her voicemail would have been full long ago. I called anyone and everyone I could think of. I called Daniel over and over asking for updates, but he didn’t have anything to lead me closer to finding her. I hounded Dion and Carlene to think of anyone or any place that she may have ever mentioned that she would run to. Nothing.

Finally at two in the morning, four days after it all started, I got a text.

Stop. Please stop calling. I have to come to terms with all of this. I didn’t want to, but I picked up a paper. I am so overwhelmed by this. My head is so full of what to do and how to do it. I need to think.

As soon as I got the text I called Daniel. He got busy, and around one the next morning, I had a call from him.

“The text pinged off a tower somewhere in North Carolina. I’ve got state police checking for her tag and license information, anything. I’ll let you know what we come up with.”

I knew I wasn’t going to go to sleep. I hated going to sleep. I paced, my mind drifting to a million different ‘what ifs’ and ‘whys?’

He called back at three. “They narrowed it down to the Blowing Rock area.”

“I’m gonna head that way as soon as I pack a bag and get Sadie taken care of.”

I grabbed a bag and threw a few things in, and then called Deidre and loaded Sadie up to take to her. I started to drive. If I headed toward North Carolina, I’d be closer when they found her.

I waited until 8:30 to call Carlene. “What is it?” she asked abruptly.

“Who does she know in North Carolina?”

“North Carolina?” She hesitated. “Oh my gosh! Why didn’t I think of that? The cabin! There’s a cabin that belonged to Granny’s brother, Gus. He left it to Maisie when he passed away. She hasn’t gone there since Granny died. Is she there?” she asked, anxiously.

“I don’t know. Do you know where it is?”

“I don’t know. In the mountains someplace.”

“I’m already headed that way. I left around 7:30. State Highway Patrol is looking. I’ll be closer if they find her.”

“Let me know,” Carlene begged. “I’m so worried.”

“I will, as soon as I know something.”

“Tate, I love her. Don’t you stop ‘til you find her.”

“No way,” I reassured her.

Around noon, I got the call from the State Police. “We have her location.”

I pulled over and got the directions. “Don’t let her leave. According to the GPS I’m about two and a half hour hours out. I’ll pay for whatever it takes to have someone keep an eye on the place until I get there.”

I called Deidre and Carlene to let them know, and stepped on the gas. I found the officer watching the cabin two hours and ten minutes later. I pulled into a clearing on the side of the road and got out of the truck.

The trooper pointed out the cabin. “She paid to have the power turned on. That’s how we found her. She’s inside. She’s fine. I saw her come out on the porch a while ago.”

“Thank you. I’m going to leave my truck here and walk down the hill. Thank you again,” I said, and shook his hand.

“I’ll wait here until you give me a thumbs up,” he replied.

I made the football field length walk in long strides. I didn’t knock. I didn’t call out to her. I just sat down on the porch step when I got there. I gave the trooper a thumb’s up and he drove off. It was 2:30. A minute or so passed and the cabin door screeched open. She didn’t say anything. She sat down beside me and handed me a cup of coffee.

“Decaf,” she said.

“Good, ‘cuz I haven’t slept in days.”

“I know. Me neither.”

I didn’t look at her. Instead, I focused on the coffee cup, thinking. “Never pictured you as a runner, Maisie. I thought you were a fighter,” I said, finally.

“I didn’t want to fight. I was scared. I was terrified at what all of this would mean. Running was easier, and when I got here, solitude was what I found. I needed that time to figure all of this out.”

“Did you stop and think about anyone else? Did you think about the worry? Not just me. Carlene and Dion are worried sick.” I tried not to sound scolding, but so many emotions were coursing through my mind that it came out as an angry bark.

“I did, but it was survival for me, Tate. I’m sorry. I saw the trooper up there watching the cabin, figured you’d be here soon. When I saw you coming down the hill, I knew that I was wrong. I saw my world coming into view, and everything seemed right again. I’m sorry,” she said once more.

I handed her my phone. “You need to call Carlene.”

After she hung up, we just sat there on the porch step. Half an hour or so passed, and finally she spoke. “I’m not going back to Nashville right now. I can’t. I don’t know what I will do, but this - the news about Kitty - will ruin everything - my business, my mental self. I have to let it die down and figure things out.” I heard the deep breath she inhaled as she continued. “Your career, Tate. Kitty is still making my life awful and she’s been gone for twelve years.” Finally, she started to cry and it wasn’t just tears - it was emotional anguish.

“I’m going to get to the bottom of this, Maisie,” I told her as I pulled her close.

“But it doesn’t matter. The damage is done,” she wept.

“You can’t think for a minute that the people who know you and care about you will give a shit about this. Dion said he’s backed up with dress requests.”

“I can’t. This didn’t just smear me and my reputation, it affected you and yours.”

“I don’t care about that. I told Audra I don’t care about the tour. What I care about is you.”

“You can say that now, but what if you…”

“Maisie, I haven’t slept for days. I’ve already been through every ‘what if’ that you can possibly imagine and probably things you didn’t think about. The thing is, without you, none of any of that matters. I’ll go back to playing bars. I loved that. There was no pressure, no one telling me what to do or how to do it.”

“My Granny, they had to drag her through this mud too,” she cried. “She was the sweetest, kindest lady, and now she’s the mother of a
coke whor
e, and I’m the
coke whore’s daughter
. Thank God Granny isn’t here,” she sobbed.

“We’ll get to the bottom of this. I promise you. Can we go inside? I’m tired, and I’m hungry. It was a long drive to get here.” I stood and pulled her to her feet. When she stood, I lifted her off the step. I buried my face in the nape of her neck, drinking in the smell that was uniquely Maisie.

“Do you love me, Maisie?” I asked. She nodded. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” she said in the tiniest voice. “Yes, I do.”

I didn’t ever want to let her go, but I put her down and ran up the hill to drive the truck down the driveway. Maisie waited on the porch. When we got inside, I walked around the tiny cabin while she made me a sandwich. She’d cleaned it up and made it comfortable. I looked in the bedroom.

“Twin beds,” she smiled. “Uncle Gus came here to fish. There’s a creek out back.”

“That will work.”

“Can we lay down for a little while?” I asked after we had a bite to eat. “I’m exhausted. But mostly, I just want to crawl in bed and hold you. I love you, Maisie.”

We both crawled into the tiny twin bed and I cradled her in my arms.

“Thank you for finding me.”

With her head on my chest, I wrapped her in my embrace. “I wouldn’t have stopped until I did.” We slept through the afternoon, woke up around six o’clock and had another bite to eat before heading back to bed.

At seven o’clock the next morning, Maisie scrambled eggs. We took a walk after breakfast and when we returned I called Mama.

“We found her. Sorry I didn’t call last night. I was exhausted. She’s fine,” I answered before she asked. “We won’t let this define us. I’m calling Audra next to tell her I’ll start the tour back in Okie. Maisie will be with me.”

“I’m so relieved. We were all so worried,” Mama said.

“Me too.”

I heard Maisie on the phone with Dion. “Yes, the seamstress that stops in often. April is her name. Her number is in my notebook. Short-term for now. No sketches, just sewing. We have to get to know her. I’m going with Tate to Oklahoma City.”

Later, I looked in a closet and found an old fishing pole in the corner. The line was good enough to give it a go, so I went scrounging through some things I found in a wooden box on the porch and found a trowel and a bucket. Down at the creek, I dug and got some good dirt filled with earthworms, and we fished.

“I haven’t sat out here like this since I was a kid. Uncle Gus would bring me down here to fish with him. Granny would fry our catch,” Maisie said after a while. As I cleaned the fish, she continued. “We can head to the market for some corn meal. It’s just a little way up the road. I’ve watched Granny do it plenty of times. I’m sure I can fix up something edible,” she laughed.

The fish was excellent, fried in a cast iron skillet. She made cornbread and green beans wrapped in bacon. “This was Granny’s favorite meal when we came.” She seemed peaceful. I knew she needed to get her head right before we returned, so I patiently waited.

We stayed for a few days so Maisie could get her head together. I pushed the twin beds together so that we could at least move. The weather was beautiful, and each morning we took a walk along the creek in quiet solitude. Wild flowers were in bloom, and we held hands as we walked. At night we sat on the porch in the peaceful quiet of the evening. And then we made love.

One night as we crawled in bed, I held her hand across the hump where the beds came together. “Next time we come we’ll get a bigger bed.”

“Next time?” she asked.

“It’s beautiful here. We’ll be back,” I told her. “Plus, if we don’t come back, how can I have that fried trout again?”

***

I called Audra to make a press release that I’d be back on tour in Oklahoma City. She told me the national TV morning news programs were “begging” for a story. That wasn’t how I saw this unfolding - they were the ones who helped spread the story of Kitty that caused Maisie so much hurt. I had a few things to say to them, and in our quiet time, I planned how to say what I wanted - in a different way.

***

When we finally returned to Nashville, we went straight to Maisie’s to get everything together for her to join me. I was still in constant contact with Daniel. This wasn’t over. I wanted to know who and why.

Dion called Maisie after he’d made the offer to April Miller to update her, and it gave her peace of mind. April was ready to sit down at the sewing machine as soon as he’d called her. It was a relief for me to know that he had someone there to help out while Maisie was away. She seemed relieved and ready to join me.

Chapter Seven

Tate

A week later, we arrived at Mama’s. My sisters were with Mama waiting to wrap Maisie in love. Carlene had pretty much smothered her before we’d left Nashville, and Dion cried like a big ‘ol baby.

That evening, after a big dinner and a lot of chatter, Mama came to me and said, “Your room is ready for y’all.”

“Mama, I sure do love you.”

“I know,” she said with the biggest smile. “I love that girl, Tate.”

“Me too.”

The next morning I was up and out early to rehearse. I left Maisie sleeping. I knew Mama and the girls would keep her occupied. She was still gun-shy over the ordeal and wasn’t ready for public scrutiny. We’d work on that.

I was afraid that my return would be uncomfortable, but the band members welcomed me back with open arms. I had something new I wanted to open with. I told the crew and my band that I wanted to walk on stage to a single spotlight with a stool to sit on.

“No back up. Just me. I’ve got something to say.”

***

I made arrangements for front row seats for Maisie, Mama, and my sisters. When I walked out on stage, a hush fell over the auditorium. You could have heard a pin drop. I sat on the stool with my guitar, looking out at the crowd. Audra was there. I could see her at the left side of the stage from the corner of my eye - she was pissed. She came to make sure my return went well. She insisted that I needed to open with
I’m A Guy
, but I decided that tonight I was
my own
guy. I heard Carlene’s voice in my head telling me that once I got those ‘little statues’ I didn’t have to play by anyone else’s rules.

Softly strumming the guitar, I began to sing. It was something I hadn’t shared with anyone. “This one’s called
Our Moon
.”

There’s a sky full of stars

I’m wondering where you are

I’m alone and I’m missing you

The moon’s shining bright

I’d share it with you tonight

I’m alone and I’m missing you

Do you see the same moon

Can we be together soon

I’m alone and I’m missing you

Do you wonder about me

Why can’t I make you see

I’m alone and I’m missing you

I received my first standing ovation when the song ended. I sat silently on the stool and waited until the noise subsided.

“Thank you. Before we get this shindig started, I’ve got something to say. I’m mad as hell and I’m gonna tell you about it.” I didn’t yell or bark the words. The simplicity of them had the crowd waiting silently.

“I’m new to this business, and I learned recently what a cruel world this is. I’m learning to deal with it, but my roots always guide me home.
This
is my home. I grew up in Guthrie. I know that sitting out there among you are friends from my youth, and college. I started my singing career here, and I know some of you have supported me since I stepped on stage at Wet Willie’s. Good people surround me, so I feel good talking to y’all about what’s been going on.” The crowd broke out in a loud cheer.

“I’m experiencing an amazing time in my life. Not just the opportunity to sing to more people. I met a beautiful woman, and she wasn’t ready to share this news yet, but so much has happened recently that I’m going to. This beautiful, amazing woman agreed to share her life with me. She’ll be my wife, and I couldn’t be happier.”

I saw Maisie with my mama’s arms around her in a hug. My sisters looked on in surprise. The crowd went wild, clapping and cheering.

“Our happiness was tainted by a vicious attack on Maisie and her family. Hurtful tales from Maisie’s past were released to media outlets everywhere. Stories that, as a child, Maisie had no part in. I know you’ve seen them. They weren’t so nice. The pictures were worse – they’ve been tweeted, shared on Facebook, and every news outlet around. I’m here to tell you that they’re true.” I paused to let that sink in.

“They are sad stories that Maisie didn’t try to hide. She just tried to keep them in the past. They’re factual, but they have no bearing on the person that she is. I don’t know why - I’ve tried awful hard to understand why someone thought making this public was necessary - but I can’t come to grips with it. I just keep asking why. I don’t know who chose to hurt us, but I will.

“This is our time, but instead of celebrating, we’re dealing with this nonsense because someone thought the world needed to know something so personal. This didn’t just hurt Maisie. Our family and friends were affected as well. We’re ready to move on. We
have
to move past this. I’m gonna ask you to have a good time tonight, and thank you first, and then ask you not to partake in the bullshit we’ve been through.”

I picked up my guitar and a loud cheer boomed through the building like thunder. I turned back to find the crowd on their feet cheering even louder.

“Alright then! Let’s get this thing started!”

An hour and twenty minutes and eleven songs later, a standing ovation followed me as I left the stage. All I could think about was getting to Maisie.

***

She ran into my arms. “That was some opening to your show,” she said. I saw Mama and the girls watching us.

“The song, or the speech?” I asked, pulling her tighter in my embrace.

“Both,” she answered, her voice full of emotion. “The song was beautiful. I remember sharing that moon with you. It was special and meaningful, and I loved it.”

“I was singing about the one we didn’t share,” I said, covering her mouth with mine, kissing her. “I sang about the one when I didn’t know where you were. I love you, Maisie,” I said against her lips. “What did Mama and the girls say about the engagement?”

“I’ll let you ask them,” she grinned.

There was a lot of conversation with Mama, Popie, and Gabby when we got home. They loved Maisie and it made me happy. We talked until early morning.

When we finally got to bed I held Maisie close.

“Tate, your speech blew me away,” she said.

“I heard this saying once. ‘Don’t let anyone else rent space in your head’.”

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“We’re not going to let them - whoever ‘them’ is - ruin this for us. It’s too special. I’ve never been in love before. I’ve been in like, and lust,” I told her with a nervous laugh. “But I have never had a woman in my life that I thought about morning, noon, and night - a woman who I knew I couldn’t live without. I dread every moment that you aren’t with me.”

“You’ve really never been in love before?”

“I thought I was, but I didn’t know what love was until you.” 

The next morning, Deidre called me. The video of my speech had gone viral. Even the news media picked it up. Every major network showed clips that members of the audience posted and shared. The late night talk shows had the clips almost as soon as the show was over. The morning news programs were talking about it, too. It was amazing. Audra called to say that one of the network national news outlets wanted to interview me. I said no, but said I would release a statement in a few days.

That night I didn’t have a show. Our flights left early the next morning – mine for the next show and Maisie’s for Nashville. After supper I took her hand and told Mama, “We’re going for a drive.”

I backed an old red pickup truck out of the barn, got out and opened the door for her. “It’s a ‘65 Chevy, belonged to my Paw.”

We drove into town and she saw the sign before I stopped, and smiled. “Wet Willie’s,” she said.

We entered through the front doors and an old friend spotted me. “Tate!” he yelled and everyone turned to look. “Awesome show last night!”

I took a tight hold of Maisie’s hand as we pushed through the crowd. When I reached the stage, I lifted her up and pointed to a stool for her to sit down, as I stepped up to the microphone.

“Hey y’all! I told you I’d be back! I’ve only got time for one song, I’m kinda on a date,” I fake whispered. Someone handed me a guitar and I tweaked it a minute, and finally broke out singing
I’m A Guy
.

When the song was over the place erupted in loud, thunderous cheers. I reached for Maisie’s hand and thanked everyone as we made our way through a crowd of old friends.

Cage Brooks came over to hug me before we hit the door.

“Thanks for letting me steal the show for a minute!”

“You can pop in anytime, my friend. We miss you around here. This must be your Maisie,” he said, extending his hand.

“Maisie, Cage is the one who took a chance on me and kept me coming back to Wet Willie’s.”

“Wasn’t a chance at all, I knew he had talent, just selfishly prayed that no one really noticed but me,” he chuckled. “Tate kept this place full on Friday and Saturday nights for nine and a half years. I was lucky.”

“It’s a pleasure,” Maisie said, and I noticed her look away.

“Sorry, I have a tendency to linger on a woman’s smile. It says a lot about the person,” Cage said.

“What does Maisie’s smile say?” I asked.

“Do you mind?” he asked Maisie.

“No, not at all,” she replied, sheepishly.

“Your smile tells me that at times you’re playful, but you’re hesitant. It tells me that you enjoy life and love, but you don’t give yourself freely. Your smile is your most attractive quality because it says so much about you. It intrigues people.”

“See, Maisie? Intrigue,” I laughed. “Cage thanks again.”

“Don’t be a stranger around here, Tate.”

Once we were in the truck, I leaned to whisper in her ear. “For me it’s your eyes.”

We drove down the dirt road that led to Mama’s and I pulled off to the side about halfway. “Slide this way, we’re getting out a minute.”

She scooted over and I helped her out of the truck. I grabbed an old blanket from behind the seat and threw it over the hood. “It’ll be warm, from the engine. I’m gonna lift you up and then I’ll join you. I want to show you something.”

“We’re going to sit on the hood of the truck?”

I shook my head no. “We’re going to lay here.”

I sidled up beside her and put my arm out for her to move closer. “Listen,” I said.

“I don’t hear anything,” she said after a minute or so had passed.

“Exactly. Isn’t it amazing? Every once in a while a breeze will blow through and you’ll hear the corn rustle, or the hay in the fall. It’s so peaceful. I spent a lot of time on the hood of this truck listening to that nothingness. Sometimes when I’d leave the bar, I’d be so wound up that I didn’t want to go in and wake Mama. She’d usually be up anyway, but sometimes I just needed the quiet.

“Now look up. Have you ever seen anything like that sky, Maisie? It’s so black that you can count every star. And look at that moon. We finally get to share a moon together again.”

“I love sharing that moon with you.”

A few minutes passed and Maisie turned into me. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“I saw pictures on the mantle…”

“Me and Paw.”

“And the horse.”

“I used to be a cowboy,” I laughed. “I used to compete in calf roping. I was pretty good – trophies and ribbons, all that stuff.”

“Did you quit?”

“I did. It wasn’t fun anymore. Paw and I traveled the circuit. When he died, my love for that did too. I sold my horse Nibblet. A friend was starting to run the circuit and Nibblet was a champion, so I know he went to a good home.”

“Do you miss it?” she asked.

“I’d like to ride again, but now’s not a good time.”

“I’d like to ride someday.”

“Have you ever?”

“Never,” she replied.

“I’ll take you on a ride,” I chuckled. Pulling her closer, I nuzzled her neck as she laughed.

***

Maisie

We didn’t sleep. We had to get up too early to get to the airport and we stayed out on the hood of the truck for a long time before we went to the house. When we got there, Fay was making coffee.

“It’s almost four,” she said.

“We were parked on the road, and climbed up on the hood of the truck. Tate showed me a sky like I’ve never seen before.”

“We don’t have those city lights that keep the sky lit up, hiding the stars. How was Willie’s, Tate?” Mama asked.

“It was great. I need to get a shower. Be back in a few.”

“Thank you, Maisie.” Fay Morrow set a cup of coffee in front of me. Popie rounded the corner. Gabby was right behind her, both in their pajamas.

“What for?” I asked, as Tate’s sisters grabbed coffee.