Coming Home to the Mountain: Complete Edition

9. Graham

CHAPTER 9

Graham

T hat these two had the nerve to come and say these things to me pisses me off.

“You just met her two days ago,” Bart says in a shocked tone.

“And you declared your love for Abby not long after you met her, no?”

Bart takes a deep breath before nodding. “So you really think it’s the same thing?”

“I know it’s the same thing. We Roughs have a tendency to fall in love awfully quick, don’t we?”

He takes a moment before laughing and smiling. “Yeah, we do.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the subject of our discussion. By the look on her face, I know she heard it all.

“Alright. If that’s your take, brother, then I’ll stop worrying so much. You can’t control love, after all,” Bartlett says.

I nod. “I get it. Thanks for your concern, but everything’s fine.”

Tallie steps away from the wall and comes back to the table.

Abby clears her throat. “Well then, thanks for the lunch, Graham. Delicious as always. But we gotta be going now, don’t we, honey?”

“Yes. We better head out,” Bart nods. He’s not angry anymore – his tone has shifted and I get the impression that he understands I meant what I said. And that I’m going to way more alone time with the woman I’m falling for.

“Everything all right?” I say as Tallie sits down.

“Yeah. Sure. Everything’s fine.” She says it in a way that suggests that no, she’s not sure, and everything is not fine.

How much of that did she hear?

I ponder how I’m going to tell her the truth about how I feel. As my brothers have shown, even if you believe in love at first sight, it’s not an easy conversation to have.

As we finish up, Lemon comes by and drops off Lucy in a stroller. My sister has an appointment of her own and I’m sure seeing Lucy is a calming sight for Tallie.

We head over to the local park and onto the Tender Trail. It’s a long path, but as difficult a hike as its name suggests.

Tallie has been awkwardly silent since we left the diner. She’s looking off in the distance as she pushes Lucy along in that baby stroller, and it’s pretty obvious she heard what I said and is struggling to process it all.

As I think about how to approach the subject, she goes and does it for me. “Love… You said you were falling in love with me?”

“Does it really sound that insane?”

“Maybe it does.”

“Does it scare you? Too much to consider it might be true?”

She walks along for a time, caught up in her thoughts. “The only people who have ever shown me love were my mother and sister. And I’m guessing the love you’re offering me is way different.”

“No partners?”

“None that ever truly loved me. None who even pretended.”

“What about your love? Who have you loved, Tallie?”

“My mother. My sister. Lucy. That’s it. And again, that’s familial. That’s way different than you, Graham.”

I laugh. “What if I want to become your family?”

“Phrase that wrong and we’re talking about something way different!” She’s shaking her head, and has a bit of a mad smile, in disbelief at what’s going on and trying to use humor as a shield.

“Have you no space in your heart to love anyone else, Tallie?”

We’re very alone where we are on the trail. Usually it’s only populated by joggers in the morning and evening. So there’s no one here besides me to see her break down in tears.

Besides Lucy, of course, and she won’t tell anyone.

“Does the idea of me loving you bring you that much pain, Tallie?”

“I just don’t understand. How could you love someone like me, Graham?”

“There is no how. I just do.”

She falls into my chest, tears rolling down her cheeks, wetting my shirt with their thickness.

“I’m a total charity case,” she says. “I’m a homeless woman. I have a baby I can’t care for. I have no job, and no immediate hope for one worth a damn. I have nothing to my name. I’m worthless, how could anyone possibly want me?”

I place my hands on her shoulders and hold her steady. “It’s not about money. It’s not about what you have. Love isn’t about keeping score, Tallie. It’s not a transaction. Family doesn’t keep track of who does what, who pays for what. As long as you’re bringing what you can, as long as you give me your heart, that’s more than enough, Tallie. You’re more than enough.”

She’s fully crying into my shirt now. I just hold her tight, embracing her until she comes to terms with the truth in front of her.

I basically do that for the rest of the day. Through dinner, and even into my bed. No sex, just love, Lucy still in Tallie’s arms as she’s in mine.

I’m never letting go of her. I’ll give everything to her, and she’ll give everything back.

How much everything is from each of us doesn’t matter.

It never matters.