Coming Home to the Mountain: Complete Edition

4. Tallie

CHAPTER 4

Tallie

I ride along in his pickup, still holding Lucy tight. The rescue team had some baby formula and warm bottles to help me calm her and let her sleep through most of this, and I’m hoping that she won’t have the memory of this mayhem. That it won’t scar her for years to come.

Because I know damn well it’s going to scar me.

I’m still so surprised that Graham has offered me a safe place to sleep. I keep expecting the other shoe to drop, but the social worker gave me the faith to trust him.

Graham feels safe. We just met, but he resonates warmth, an aura of protection and manliness that I just want to lean into. He is a police officer, a true protector.

And right now, that’s what I need.

I run my hand over Lucy’s ringleted hair, rocking her gently. Julia has had such a tumultuous time surrounding this little angel. The nine months of hell she endured to bring her into the world had nothing on what she experienced with the sorry excuse for a sperm donor that was Lucy’s father. She’s referred to her time with him as the worst of her life, but also the best, because it brought Lucy into existence.

She knew how to separate the good from the bad, and she did so, breaking up with him and getting away from him as much as she could, despite his protest.

Marcus Anderson is a terrible man, one who deserved to die in a mudslide. Unfortunately, I doubt he was in the path of the one that just destroyed my life.

If Julia didn’t make it, legal guardianship of Lucy will fall to him, and the court will give her right to him.

I don’t think he’s really ever cared about his daughter. Not one bit. He’s showed no interest in her, besides as a tool to try to control Julia.

At a stoplight, Graham does some swipes on his phone before a voice comes over the speaker. “My golden Graham, how have things been going with the rescue?” an older woman’s voice says over the pickup’s speakers.

“Mom, I’m bringing a woman home to my place.”

“From the mudslide?”

“Yes. She has a child. I’m taking her in so they don’t have to sleep at the fairgrounds.”

“Oh, dear. How can we help, Graham?”

“We need clothes, diapers, baby food and formula, whatever else a baby needs. How old is your child, Tallie?”

I swallow. He keeps referring to Lucy as MY child. I haven’t corrected him – or Gertie when she asked. I’m living a lie, but I’m all she has if the worst has happened to my sister. “Thirteen months,” I say.

“Oh, that young?” the motherly voice on the car’s speaker says. “I’ll put together what we have, dear. We’ll take care of her the best we can.”

It’s a relief to hear that. It starts to dawn on me that maybe things will be okay.

“Anything else you need, hun?”

“No, no. All of that sounds wonderful. Thank you so much.”

We continue to travel the roads, and I’m left to stare out the window into the evening sky. I can’t help but think about everything. Hoping that Julia is somehow all right. Hoping that I’m making the right decision in not being upfront that Lucy isn’t my child. Hoping that Graham’s compassion doesn’t come with some fine print.

And hoping that the opportunistic narcissist that is Lucy’s father doesn’t see a natural disaster as... well, an opportunity.

It’s not long before we arrive at the property. There’s a spacious-looking cabin, with a few cars parked in front of it, including a police cruiser. Compared to most of the places I’ve lived, this is like a mansion. “This is where you live?”

“Ayup,” Graham says. “My father’s construction company built it for me. He’s helped build all of my siblings’ homes, and he’s always adding to his own. Guy’s nearly seventy and has quite the bug to never stop. Always afraid he’ll decide my place really needs a full-sized basketball court and he won’t take no for an answer.”

I can’t help but laugh. I step out of the car, still stroking Lucy’s back. The whole escapade must have exhausted her. I’m pretty beat myself, but I know I have to stay vertical for a little bit longer.

We walk through the doors, and we’re greeted by an older couple in their late sixties, Graham’s parents, I guess. They’re beaming, the mother rushing forward and hugging her son. “I’m so grateful you got back in one piece, golden Graham.”

They had apparently beaten us here after Graham called his mom. “I’m just glad to be of help. And I want to help her now, Mom.”

His father looks me up and down, and cocks an eyebrow. “What’s your lady friend’s name?”

“I’m Tallie Miller, and this is... this is... Lucy,” I say, hesitating as I decide whether to lie or tell the truth about my relation to the infant.

“Aw, she’s precious. May I hold her?” Graham’s mom asks.

I nod, presenting her to the older woman. She holds her close. It’s clear she’s quite the veteran when it comes to mothering, rocking Lucky gently, and adoring her all the time.

“We got the guest room all kitted out for you, miss,” Graham’s father says, waving us along as we go down the hall. “Plenty of baby clothes, and some old cloth diapers. A few decades old now, but Anise inspected them, they’re still good. If you prefer the disposable kind, I’ll gladly run into town to pick some up.”

I shake my head. “Cloth is fine, really. You’ve already done so much.”

“As for you,” his mother adds. “I think maybe some of my daughters Fig and Lemon’s old clothes will fit you. Or at least well enough until you can get your own.”

“Thank you so much. I don’t know what to say.”

“Thank you’s more than enough, sweeheart. I just hope you two can get some much-needed rest tonight. I know you have had the worst possible day.”

We enter the guest room. There’s a portable crib all laid out and ready, as well as a made up full-sized bed. Stacks of clothes sit on a dresser for Lucy, and a bathrobe is hanging off the door. There’s even a little fireplace to help keep the room warm.

The Roughs are proving themselves to be five-star hosts, and the exact opposite of their namesake.

“Go on. Get cleaned up, I’ll look after your darling while you’re in there.”

“Thank you,” I say, echoing myself for what feels like the millionth time.

I head into the bathroom. I strip down and do as they suggest, because a shower sounds really good. As hot water is rolling down my body and I wash my hair and body, I’m drawn to a distant emotion.

Jealousy.

Julia and I grew up in a broken home. Our mother tried so hard to keep us housed and fed that we never even noticed that she was killing herself trying to cope with it all until she finally couldn’t do it anymore. None of her family ever lifted a finger to help her and our father was someone like Marcus, someone who didn’t deserve the title.

So we only had one another. No real family, and yet, here’s Graham. He has it all. Loving parents who will do anything to help, opening their hearts, going out of their way to be helpful and take care of people they barely know. I don’t deserve any of this, but Graham is being one hell of a man.

I can’t help but think of how handsome he is. And wonder if he feels the same about me, or if I’m just a girl with a baby, so some natural alpha male thing kicked in for him to protect me.

I’ve had guys interested in me here and there, but none of them have ever been like Graham in any way. Most of them were drunkards who just wanted to use me to make themselves feel better.

Refreshed but still utterly exhausted, I step out of the shower and begin to brush my hair. My mind is still filled with worry and frustration, about what’s next, about my sister, and about how this will affect Lucy. I return to my room, and see that Lucy is already sleeping away peacefully. She looks to have been bathed too – Graham’s mother is an absolute saint. I didn’t hear any crying even, that veteran mother’s touch taking her so very far.

I faceplant into the bed, and fall asleep almost immediately. Turns out running for your life and crying your heart out is tiring. Who knew?

I have no idea how long I was out for. The clock on the wall says eight in the morning when I awake, but I didn’t check it before I fell asleep. I open my eyes and look toward the crib.

Graham is there. He’s holding and rocking Lucy. I hear her laughing. “You’re a little sweetheart aren’t you?” he says.

I lie still, watching with a smile on my face, glad to see my niece adapting so well.

“You know you’re going to grow up to be just as beautiful as your mother,” he continues, unaware I’m awake.

I can’t help but blush, knowing that he means me.

I must have made the bed creak because he turns around. “Good morning, Tallie.”

“Good morning,” I reply.

“It’s still pretty early. You can keep sleeping if you want, there’s no rush for you to get up.”

I sigh, then realize how tired I still am. “Thank you,” I say, as I turn and plant my face back in the pillows, and am quickly asleep again.

I know I can put my trust safely in Graham. After everything that’s happened, that feeling is an absolute blessing.