Wild Ride: Lance and Tammy (3 page)

Her jaw clenched.

“A man?”

She never said anything.

He nodded slowly. “Okay Tammy.  Obviously this is too personal.  We’ll drop it.”

“For now,” Debbie added not willing to let this go.  Tammy spent her career looking out for everyone else, now she should have some time for herself.

Tammy felt herself smile slightly.  Their concern was moving.  She never really had anyone care for her enough to pry into her personal life.  Although she was unfamiliar with it, and it was invasive, it made her feel loved.

***

The rest of the morning went quickly.  Tammy took Debbie to get her hair done, and then she wanted to shop for the baby that Colt and Elaina were now expecting. Before they knew it they were home before lunch.  Tammy helped Debbie into the house before she went back out and got her bag. 

Debbie went into the living room and Tammy joined her taking the seat beside while she fished her mail out of her bag. They never went through it at the diner because they spent that time visiting. She sorted through it while Debbie was talking about how excited she was to be a grandmother again.  Tammy was listening intently, feeling that same excitement as Debbie was. She was just as eager to meet the baby.  Nothing was more rewarding to watch them grow and learn and she
loved
babies.  In fact, she really would love one of her own.  It saddened her a little that she wasn’t a mother yet.  Although she knew she could have children later, she would have to meet a man first.  Her heart was already devoted to one man who didn’t seem that intent on settling.  It hurt that she was being so stupid and putting her chances of having a baby aside because she pined for one man. She should seek out another, but it just seemed so futile.  Debbie was right.  She should just tell him and see what his response would be.  Then she would know for certain if he was interested in a relationship.  Oh, who was she kidding?  She was scared—terrified of opening herself up to him.

She flipped absently through her own mail; bills, subscription requests, and then her world stopped.  A particular envelope had caught her attention and made her breath hitch.

Debbie’s talking started to muffle into the back of her mind as Tammy stared at familiar handwriting on a plain white envelope.  She started to shake. 

“Tammy?” Debbie finally noticed that her friend was no longer involved in the conversation.

Colt had strolled in the room to tell them lunch was on the table.  Tammy was as white as a sheet, and Debbie was just staring at her.

“Tammy?” he repeated.

She slowly looked up to him. She could feel the blood drain from her face.

“What the hell’s wrong?” He didn’t miss her expression.

“I—I—the letter.” She showed him what she was holding. “It’s in my father’s writing.”  The words came out in barely a whisper.  He’d hardly heard her.

He looked confused and concerned at the same time. “That didn’t answer the question Tammy.  You look like hell so what is going on?”

“I—they don’t write.” She knew her explanation didn’t make any sense, but she was shocked, so his concern was genuine.  No one saw her in this state before.  She was always lighthearted and cheerful.

“A hell.” Getting no answer from Tammy, he turned and yelled over his shoulder. Though, he really didn’t have to.  His bellowing could be heard outside. “Lanie!” It was his nickname for his wife.

Elaina came bustling in at the roaring of her husband.  Her hands moving over her protruding pregnant belly. “What on earth—Colt you could raise the dead—“

He nodded toward a ghost white Tammy who was still turning and envelope over in her hand. “Maybe you can make sense of this.”

She instantly rushed over and sat beside her. “Tammy, what’s
wrong?
  You look awful.”

She showed her the envelope. “I haven’t heard from my father in five years.  I mean I call every six months, but he’s never home and—” She swallowed hard cutting off her own words.  It wasn’t easy to explain things from her personal life.

“Oh dear.  Is everything okay?”  Elaina squeezed her hand.

She looked around the room and realized that everyone in the house had flooded into the room and was staring at her.  They were so quiet, she didn’t hear.  Even Lance was standing there, right behind Colt, who currently had his hands on his hips showing his frustration. He, like the rest of them, were worried. “I’m sorry everyone.” She took a deep breath.  She was a pro at masking her emotions, but it escaped her this time.

“Why are you apologizing Tammy?” Colt said his irritation evident even though it was out of concern. “What is wrong with hearing from your father?”

“It’s not my father, really.  He usually kept out of everything.” She bent her head and rubbed her forehead.  She really didn’t want to talk about this, but now she had everyone worried about her.  Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to get things out in the open. “I’m just embarrassed.”  She knew she was still making no sense.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve topped just about everything in that area,” Colt piped up again. 

She gave a weak smile appreciating his attempt at humor.  She remembered the stories when he was chasing Elaina.   She nodded. “Thanks Colt, I appreciate your concern. It’s just that he wouldn’t write me unless it was really serious—like a death in the family.”

“Is there something we can do?” he asked.

Tammy never thought she could appreciate this family more than she did at that moment.  No one even asked her why she was estranged from her own because they didn’t want to pry.  They only wanted to make sure she was okay.

Debbie put a hand on her shoulder. “Open the letter dear.” Her voice was calm and encouraging.

She nodded and apprehensively tore it open.  It was an invitation.

“Well?” Colt said impatiently getting a warning look from his wife.  He raised his brows as if he didn’t do anything wrong.

Tammy’s eyes scanned the familiar hand writing after the elegant script. A look of relief came over her features. “My brother is getting married.  My father and my brother would like me to be there.”  At least it wasn’t bad news, but still her expression hadn’t changed and the others noticed.

“Isn’t that good?” Elaina asked hesitantly.

Tammy nodded and met her friend’s concerned gaze. “I love them both very much.”

“Then, what has you so scared?”

She took a deep breath and scanned the concerned expressions around her.  Lance looked completely composed though, but she did know he wouldn’t be there if he didn’t care. Her heart warmed, and with that she was able to open up a little more. “I was engaged to a man when I was eighteen.  Well, it was sort of arranged to happen before that.”

“Arranged marriage?” Elaina clarified in surprise.

“Not really and yes.  My mother had an agreement with a family who was rather wealthy.  It’s not unusual in our circles. We were paired at an early age. They expected us to marry.  When I turned eighteen, I took off.”  She left a lot of details out, but that was something she really didn’t want anyone to know about.

“Couldn’t you talk your parents out of this?” Elaina asked.

“My father, yes.  My mother, not on your life.” She took another deep breath not liking the memories of the horrible arguments.  The repercussions of disagreeing with her ways will haunt her forever.
Ungrateful, horrible spoiled child, you are no relation to me!

Elaina felt a slight tremble under her hand and when she met her mother’s eyes she saw that she felt it too. “What can we do?”

She forced a smile. “I need to go.  I have to be there for Royce.  He’s my brother and regardless of my actions, I want to be there for him.”

“Do you mind?” Elaina indicated to the invitation and Tammy handed it to her. Her eyes scanned the words. “New York?”

“My family is prominent there.  I know you all don’t know much about me, but my background—” She was hesitant in continuing because she wasn’t ready to tell anyone about that side of herself.  Thankfully someone noticed.

“It doesn’t matter Tam,” Lance finally spoke up.  “No one’s judging you here.  We all know who you are, here, now.”

If she wasn’t so upset she might have fell off the sofa at the compliment.  It wouldn’t seem like much to an outsider, but it definitely was a compliment from Lance Hartley.

Colt looked over his shoulder at his brother.  Lance nodded catching his brother’s look. 

“When is this?” Colt asked.

“My family didn’t have my address. The letter took a while to find me.  It’s next weekend.”

“We can’t let her go alone,” Elaina spoke up scanning the crowd in the room.

“I don’t need to involve you in—”

“It’s settled then.  Lance will go,” Colt volunteered.

Lance never said anything to the contrary, so apparently he’d agreed somehow.

“Wait a minute—“

“You can’t go alone,” Debbie said.

“It’s obvious you’re shaken,” Elaina added.

“For God’s sake Tammy, you are part of our family,” Colt finished.

The support was overwhelming.  She put her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her hands.  She was doing her best not to weep.  She never showed her emotions, ever.  This was so sudden and unexpected. It was still surprising that none of them even asked her why her family didn’t know where she lived.  She knew it was out of respect for her privacy.  What a wonderful group of friends she had.  They were going to help her even though they knew nothing about her. “You are all so amazing.  I couldn’t ask for better friends.”

Elaina hugged her. “We’re here for you.”

“I have to go to New York anyway.  I have a charity dinner midweek next.  I don’t mind.  I’ll just leave a few days earlier.”

She heard the deep treble of Lance’s voice and was grateful he read the situation well. He was trying to minimize the impact of her guilt over accepting help.  Knowing that, of course, didn’t help at all.

“Tammy?”

It was Elaina’s voice; soft, sweet and concerned.

She nodded and lifted her head.  She honestly couldn’t go back alone.  She needed someone.  Elaina was pregnant, Debbie couldn’t do the five hour plane ride and Tessa was too darn busy being the wife of a doctor, and the mother of two rambunctious children.  She certainly couldn’t take Colton.  He was married and it would be improper.  Her eyes met Lance’s; she nodded agreeing to his offer. “Thank you.”  She would be thrilled if it was under different circumstances, but she knew this wouldn’t go well with some of her family.

He gave a subtle nod and left.  Colt followed him.

“Did you want to talk about it?” Elaina asked.

She looked at her friend. “I can’t.”  She was struggling to regain control of her emotions.  She couldn’t break down, she wouldn’t.  Her mother would not have that hold over her anymore. “It’s a part of my life I ran away from.”

Elaina squeezed her hand.  “It’s okay Tammy.  You were there for me when I needed you.  Just know I’m here.  I know it takes time.  I feel better that you are not going alone. Lance will make sure you’ll be okay.”

***

CHAPTER TWO

  It felt strange standing beside him waiting for the luggage to arrive. She felt completely out of place, which wasn’t a common feeling for her. She supposed most people, male and female, would feel the same way next to Lance. People were walking by them and shifting around them, and the majority of women would give him a long hard look then glance at her with unveiled surprise in their expressions.  They were standing close enough for strangers to recognize that they were together. Yes, she wasn’t a trophy looking companion, especially the way she was dressed, but the odd looks she got from them were offensive.  What was wrong with a gorgeous man standing next to a plain woman? She actually narrowed her eyes and glared at one who immediately averted her gaze.
That’s right honey, he’s with me!
  She felt a smug smile cross her lips, then felt instantly guilty about it.  When did she act that way towards another human being?  Was she that uptight?

She glanced up at him quickly.  God he looked so immaculate and reticent. She’d never felt so uncomfortable standing next to a man before in her life.  Lance was able to easily do that to her.  Maybe if he spoke a little more it would be a little easier.  On the plane he was much the same, but he’d spent most of it on his iPad going through what looked like case files. Well, it looked like that when she glimpsed at it.  She wasn’t sitting next to him on the flight.

She also felt underdressed.  He wore a dark blue-grey suit, light blue shirt and matching tie and he looked good enough to turn a lot of heads. She had on jeans and a simple white and light green striped blouse.

During the flight, the stewardesses kept stopping by and asking if he needed anything, not her, or anyone else in the section as often as him, just him.  He always politely turned them down. She noticed that the other passengers in first class weren’t getting near the attention he was.  She ground her teeth together and did her best to be polite when they finally did show up at her row.  After all, they just couldn’t help themselves, just like her. She really shouldn’t have been in first class anyway. She was beholden to the Hartleys for it.  They insisted on upgrading her ticket to first class.  She was fine in economy, but Colton wouldn’t have it.  If anyone knew Colt the way she did, it wasn’t worth arguing over.  He always got his way.  Although the seat wasn’t beside Lance because she’d gotten the last one, but it was a few rows back and across the aisle where she could observe him silently.  She could also still see the stewardesses goggle eyeing him throughout the flight.  Lance seemed oblivious.