Previously in Tutus & Cowboy Boots (Part 1)
Getting in my truck, I turn the ignition and make my way home. As I kill the engine my phone begins to ring, and I see Cadence’s name.
“Hey!” I say with excitement, but that quickly fades when I hear her voice.
“I need you to come and get me,” she says and I can tell she’s trying to hold back tears.
“Where are you?” I question.
“I’m at the airport.”
“In Charlotte?”
“No. My flight is boarding now. It will land in less than two hours.”
“Are you okay?”
“I will be. Please just promise you’ll be there.”
“Of course.”
We hang up and I have no idea what to do. Do I call her mom and Ms. Mae? Do I take Jade with me? I look at my clock and realize I’ve got about twenty minutes to decide before I need to get on the road. Jade isn’t home, but my parents are. I walk in and briefly tell them what is going on and they suggest I call Ms. Mae and Regina.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Mae, it’s Barrick.”
“Is everything okay?” she questions.
“I’m not sure. Cadence just called and said she’s boarding a plane to come home tonight. She wants me to pick her up, but there’s something wrong with her.”
“Regina!” she yells away from the phone. “Barrick is on the phone. Did you know Cadence is coming home?”
I hear the shuffle of the phone as Regina takes it. “Barrick, what do you mean she’s on her way home?”
“She called a few minutes ago and was upset. She said she would be okay, and asked if I’d pick her up. I’m on my way now.”
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’ll find out. Please text me and let me know when she’s landed and that she is physically okay.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say as I hang up and quickly call Jade. She’s a mess and begging me to turn around and wait for her. There’s no way. I won’t risk not being there when she lands.
I put my truck in the wind and I make it to the airport with time to kill. I hurry to the baggage claim and scan the crowd. I don’t see her. I glance at my phone for the time. I check the arrival board and scan for any flight coming from New Jersey or New York within the next fifteen minutes. Bingo! I hurry to baggage claim four and wait for what feels like an eternity. When I can’t stand still any longer, I walk toward the escalator and look for her. Nothing. Finally, I see her descend but I don’t see my little spitfire, I see a hollow shell. Even with a designer outfit, makeup, and all the superficial stuff, I can see that something is terribly wrong.
Stepping off the escalator she looks at me and I can see tears start to form. Why does she have to cry on me? She quickly pushes them back as we walk in silence to get her luggage. I don’t say anything because frankly I’m not sure if she will cuss me out or cry. When her suitcase arrives, I grab it and walk her to my truck.
“Where to?” I ask.
“Anywhere but Gran’s,” she says as I quickly text Jade to let her know she’s okay and for her to call Regina.
“You need to call your mom,” I say quietly.
“Fine,” she says, taking her phone from her purse.
I glance at her and see that she’s trying so hard to be strong, but I think she’s about to crumble.
“Here,” she says bluntly, handing me the phone.
“Yes, ma’am,” I say to Regina.
“It’s her father. Give her some time and bring her home. For you to be the one she called, says a lot. Get my baby home safe.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say as I hang up and hand Cadence her phone. She doesn’t say anything, but as she leans her head against the glass I want to have her in my arms. I flip up the console, and tell her to slide over. Without a word, she slides next to me and quietly wipes away the silent tears.
Arriving back in Delight, I only have a few places I can take her. Deciding that she’s probably better off in the middle of nowhere, I turn onto a dirt road and pull into a field near a set of pine trees. She lifts her head from my shoulder to look around.
“You said you didn’t want to go to Ms. Mae’s.”
“Thanks.”
We sit in silence and I run my fingers through her hair to let her know it’s okay.
“Can you tell me what’s goin’ on?” I finally ask. She pulls away from my chest and I brace myself for a good tongue-lashing from her.
“Let’s just say that my visit didn’t go as I had hoped.”
“Okay, but why did you decide to leave without telling anyone?”
“I got in an argument with my dad.”
“Why didn’t you go to Lauren’s?”
I see her breathing increase. “That wouldn’t have worked out,” she says as her eyes fill with tears as she continues. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you. I’m so stupid.”
“No, I’m glad you called, and I’m sorry if I’m asking too many questions. I can see that you are hurting so just talk to me. Please,” I practically beg.
She doesn’t say anything for a few minutes, but pulls her legs into her chest. “I thought going home would be easy. Barrick, they are all selfish bitches and assholes,” she says, looking me in the eyes. “You know what’s worse?” I don’t say anything, I just wait for her response. “My dad is the biggest one yet. I hate him.” Tears begin to stream down her face. “I don’t want to cry. I want to forget I even went.” I have no idea what happened with her father or Lauren for that matter, but whatever it was has completely broken her. I take her in my arms, pull her onto my lap, and hold her while she cries on my shoulder.
When she seems to have stopped, I turn her chin toward me. “Cadence, whatever happened up there you can get beyond it. I promise I’ll help you. You can depend on me.” I want her to know I’ll do anything to make her happy and feel loved.
“Thank you, Barrick. Can you take me home now?”
She just called her Gran’s house home. I really like the sound of that.