this is me trying
chapter seven: welcome home gift
tatum
I walk out of the building and tug on my sleeves of my sweater as the cold wind feels like it is blowing through me. I open the car door and climb into the passenger seat. "How did it go?" My mom asks as soon as I sit in the seat and close the door behind me.
My mom showed up to my house bright and early this morning with donuts and coffee. Since she had shown up at my front door, I have applied to twelve different places and dropped off my resume. It has been a long morning. "They said that they would call me sometime this week." I say as I pull my seat belt to buckle it in.
My mom nods before she begins backing the car out of the parking spot. "Are there any other places you want to go?" My mom asks.
I shake my head. "I think we went everywhere on my list." I answer as I peak out of the passenger side window.
"Want to head to lunch?" My mom asks as we hit the main road. "We can go to Mary's place in La Push." My mom suggests.
I sigh, not really feeling up for the gushing that would come if we went to Mary's restaurant. But I know that's what my mom wants. She wants to gush about her daughter being back in town. And she wants to spend time with me. "Sure." I agree.
The drive to the very small dinner in La Push is quiet between my mom and I. When we walk in, it feels like I am walking back into the past. It hasn't changed a bit. The small diner with a whopping total of five booths and a long bar with more seating is filled with the La Push regulars.
"Lily!" A voice calls from behind the counter. An older woman with grey hair taking over almost all of her dark black hair emerges, wrapping my mom up in a hug. "About time you've come to see me." Mary says as she rocks my mom in their hug. Mary catches the sight of me over my mom's shoulder and her eyes widen. "Oh my. Tatum Locklear? I must be seeing things." She jokes as she pulls out of the hug and wraps me up in her arms. "Darling, you look even prettier if that is even possible."
I giggle. "It's nice to see you, Mary. The place looks great."
"Come sit down, you two. Let me get you something to drink, something to eat." Mary urges my mom and I to a booth. "What can I get you two to drink?"
"I will take water, please." I answer, politely.
"I will take water as well. Thank you, Mary." My mom says before Mary disappears behind the counter to get our drinks. My mom hands me a menu as if I needed one. My siblings and I have gotten the same meal every time we come here. I look through the menu anyways, noticing that too hasn't changed. Mary comes back with waters and my mom and I order before Mary leaves again. "How was the thing at Jake and Nessie's place last night?" My mom asks, nosily. I know she is hoping for some good news.
"It was actually really fun. I had a good night. I got to get to know Nessie. I also met Embry Call and Vanessa Wood." I begin before taking a small sip from my water. "I also caught up with Seth Clearwater a little bit."
My mom's eyes widened with excitement. "I am so happy to hear that, sweetheart." Her voice is a higher octave. "How was Seth? I didn't really get to talk to him the other night at dinner."
My mind flashes to the kiss that we shared in my car after he had driven me home. I don't know what came over me. I was just so surprised how much Seth had changed since I had left La Push several years ago. He had the same personality but he… he looks like a Greek god. I shake the thoughts out of my mind. "He is good." I answer, not giving too much away.
Thankfully, the rest of lunch goes without any more questions about Seth. And conversation is easy and nothing too difficult. After we ate, we head back to the house so we could finish the cleaning that I had started.
When I reach the front door of Cade's house, I freeze. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" My mom questions from behind me, wondering why I just stopped abruptly. She peeks around me to see what I am looking at. "What is this?" She asks the question that I am thinking.
I bend to the big case of beer and the plastic container on top. "Here." I say handing my mom the key that I had already dug out. "I am going to carry this in." My mom unlocks the front door and I carry in the stuff. I immediately set the stuff down and grab the note of the top.
Tatum,
Here's a little welcome home gift from me. I am glad we were able to catch up last night. My mom also wanted me to bring some of her famous cookies. I hope to see you soon. If you need anything, my number is 555-123-4567
Seth
P.S. Is this enough proof that I am 21? : P
I am shocked. This is really sweet.
"Who is it from?" My mom asks as she looks over my shoulder.
I set the note down, away from my mother's nosy eyes. I grab the container that holds Sue's cookies, true to the note. "It's from Seth." I say quietly, still surprised. "A welcome home gift."
My mom smiles out of the corner of my eye. "Oh." She whispers. She is quiet for a minute but I know her mind is working a mile a minute. "I think that boy still has a crush on you, darling."
I roll my eyes. Oh no, not this again. My mom and Sue had bugged Seth and I about marrying each other someday from such a young age. "He is just trying to be nice, ma." I say, defending him. Or maybe he is just trying to make up for the awkwardness that I created last night by kissing him.
I grab a cookie from the container before my mom and begin cleaning the house, which is very much a trying process. My mom doesn't let the Seth subject drop either. As we clean, she talks about Seth and his family. She talks about what they have had going on since I have last been here.
When we finished cleaning the whole house, Cade's room included, we were exhausted and lounging on the couches. My mom's phone begins to ring and she digs in her purse to fish it out. "Hello?" She answers as I remain relaxing on the couch. "Hi Sue." She smiles brightly in response. "I'm doing good. I'm just here with Tatum now. We just finished up some cleaning." My mom is quiet for a moment. "Yes, I heard." She responds to Sue. My mom's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Are you sure?" She cheers happily. "We knew it all along." She laughs at Sue.
I roll my eyes at my mom and her over excitement, allowing my head to fall back onto the pillow again.
"Well, let's have dinner tonight. We can have it at mine." My mom offers. "Too bad Leah can't come in to celebrate." Celebrate what? I am so confused. "I am going to invite the rest of my girls as well." My mom adds. "I will swing by the store and grab steaks on my way home." My mom is still beaming from whatever Sue had told her. My mom says a quiet goodbye with a promise to see her tonight for dinner.
My mom begins shuffling around, gathering her things looking like a chicken with its head cut off. "Mom, what is wrong?" I groan from the same spot on the couch. I don't know where she got this second burst of energy from. I am still exhausted from all the cleaning.
"Nothing, darling." My mom says with a wide grin. "Sue just informed me of some really great news."
Weird. Why is she being so vague? "What great news?" I ask nosily. I wanted to know what Sue had told her. I wanted to know what had put her in such a great mood.
My mom shakes her head. "Nothing you need to know, yet, sweetheart. But we are having dinner tonight. Sue, Charlie, and Seth are coming over. And I am hoping you would come too." She gives me a pointed look. A look that lets me know that I am not getting out of this dinner.
I roll my eyes in annoyance. I feel like I am back in my teen years again with the amount of attitude that is rolling off of me. "Why would I come to dinner when I don't even get to know what we are celebrating?" I grumble.
My mom's smile drops. "Tatum." My mom scolds me. "The attitude doesn't look good on you. You are acting like you are fourteen years old again." She snaps. "Now, you should come to dinner because I asked and I am your mother."
I sigh. "We'll see." I responded shortly. My mom crosses her arms over her chest and all of her previous excitement has completely vanished. I suddenly feel guilty. "Fine, I will be there." I agreed after the guilt had settled.
"Good." My mom says shortly to me. "I will call you later with a time for dinner." She says before saying goodbye and walking out the front door.
As soon as I heard the front door close, I threw my arm over my eyes and let out a loud groan. Stupid dinner.
I end up lying on the couch for several hours as I think about the dinner and everything else that is going on. After staring at the ceiling and being deep in my own world of my thoughts, I reach over to grab my phone. There are several messages from my mom informing me what time to be at her house for dinner as well as messages from my two older sisters who scold me, telling me not to miss dinner again.
I rise from the couch and walk over to the note that Seth had written. I type in his number and shoot him a text: "Hey Seth… This is Tatum. I was just wondering if you were coming to dinner at my family's place tonight…"
It is only moments later that he respond: "Yes, I will be there : )"
I bite on my bottom lip as I type out a response back: "Do you want to maybe ride together? I was hoping I could take you up on your promise to sit by me…"
His response comes quickly: "Of course we can ride together. I can pick you up at 6. And yes, my promise still stands."
I stare at the text for a moment and let my mind wander to the beer that Seth had brought over for me. I type out a message and read it over before I erase it. I couldn't really form the words that I am trying to portray. "And maybe… if you want… if you have time, you can come a little earlier than 6. Maybe have a beer with me : ) Thank you by the way for the sweet gift"
I wait for his response, suddenly anxious. I can't describe this attraction I am feeling for my family friend. It has been years since I last saw him. He was still in puberty, not fully grown. Not even remotely as tall as he is now. And now… he is… wow.
I feel silly for crushing over Seth just as Seth crushed over me when I was a kid. Surely, Seth's crush on me is completely gone -understandably. It has been so many years.
Then I think back to last night and how I kissed Seth. I wonder if he was upset about me forcing a kiss onto him. It was wrong of me to do that.
"I would love to come over for a beer : ) How early do you want me?" Seth responds.
"5?" I reply back to him.
"I will be there" Seth's message comes back quickly.
I smile to myself before locking up my phone. I pull myself off of the couch and toward the bathroom, where I turn on my curling iron. Maybe this dinner won't be that horrible after all.
Short chapter for today! Continue to favorite and follow! I would love to hear what your favorite part of the story has been so far so leave me a review!
xx M