Free Tate by Barbara S Stewart

see what the wind blows in, my lovely.”
    At that exact moment the door opened and Dion breezed in with a big box.
    “Look what came!” he said excitedly. Carlene and I lost it. We were laughing so hard that we were both in tears.
    “What’s so funny?” he asked, clearly bumfuzzled over our outburst.
    “Carlene just said, ‘open the door and see what the wind blows in’, and there you were!”
    “What’s got you all happy and shit? You’re kinda freaking me out. I haven’t heard you giggle like that, or seen a smile on your face that bright since, well you know,” Dion said, and suddenly he paused. He looked first to Carlene, and then to me. “Unless that hunk of handsome cowboy I’ve been daydreaming about is around!”
    With a hand on his slim hip, he turned toward me. “Girl, you got some ‘splainin’ to do,” he said in a Ricky Ricardo accent. His eyes sparkled with mischief. He placed his hand over his heart and feigned disappointment. But I knew he was playing.
    “He’s not your type, Dion. I heard the disdain in your voice as you grumbled over the shirts with the pearl snaps, and oh my holy hell, when you got to the denim I thought you were going to cry,” I laughed.
    “Oh but Maisie, when he walked out in that tux…” He fanned himself, laughing.
    “Oh, just open the damn box, Dion!” I told him.
    He opened the box and pulled out a bolt of amber brocade. The light hit it and all three of us were giddy.
    After we’d oohed and aahed over the fabric, I turned to Dion and then glanced Carlene’s way. “I think it might just be that big’ol hunk of handsome cowboy…”
    ***
     
    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