Chapter 13 ~ Tae

Taylor stood, waiting in line inside the hospital cafeteria. She was anxious to get back to the room, but she was trying to give Rhett and his mother time to talk.

His mother had seemed worried about whatever she needed to tell him.

As Taylor thanked the worker for her coffee, she looked for a place to sit down. Being back in the hospital cafeteria was a strange feeling. She'd spent so much time here between her father's illness and her mother's accident. She had few good memories of this place, and sitting here was bringing back the many bad ones she had.

She looked around and noticed that very little changed since she'd been here last. The room was still cold and quiet. It was still filled with grieving and worrisome families, and it was still the meeting place for families that had to bring bad news.

She tried to ignore the crying woman sitting at the table over. She didn't want to act nosy, but she wondered who she'd just lost.

She sipped at her coffee and remembered sitting in this exact room crying with her father over her mother. Then again, but this time by herself, as she mourned her father.

Changing the direction of her thoughts, she thought about the different scenarios that could be happening in the room with Rhett and Caroline. Her mind was coming up with too many scary plots for her liking. Finally, she gave up on waiting and headed back towards Caroline's room.

Roaming the halls, she saw the different families all waiting anxiously for their family members. They were lucky that Caroline was okay. There were too many people in this hospital that weren't as fortunate.

She made it to Caroline's room and stopped at the door to take a deep breath and prepare herself for whatever was going on inside.

After knocking lightly, she slipped through the door. Rhett was pale with shock and sat staring at his mother. Taylor quietly sat down in her chair beside him and offered him his coffee.

He took a sip of the coffee, then stared at his cup.

"Mama, go ahead and tell Tae," he started. "She deserves to know everything that's going on, and I already told her the truth about me," he added.

Caroline looked surprised by this, but then she smiled and looked between them.

"So, I take it that it's not fake anymore," she asked smiling happily.

"Nope, not anymore," he blinked, "Wait a minute, mama! You knew it was fake?" he bellowed.

She smiled proudly at him.

"I'm the one who came up with the entire plan," she said cheekily.

Taylor held her breath as he looked back and forth between the two of them.

"Seriously?" he asked.

Caroline cleared her throat.

"Now, don't you go getting mad at her. I knew you were perfect for each other that very first day when you pulled into the driveway with her piled up in your lap. You were looking down at her like she was your world," she said dreamily.

Rhett shook his head and looked over at Taylor. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw amusement dancing in his eyes.

"So, I snuck into the house while you were gone, and introduced myself. I played the poor pitiful me card, and Taylor fell in love with me. I convinced her we needed to trick you to make up for the sadness you had put me through. She didn't know that what I was really doing, was making you guys act like a couple so that you'd realize what a wonderful couple you'd actually make," she said, smiling proudly again.

Taylor's mouth hung open in surprise. Now it was her turn to be shocked.

"What?" she said laughing.

"Yep, and it seems my plan worked perfectly," she said nodding at the two of them.

Rhett shook his head.

"Okay, that was a nice surprise, Mama, but we need to focus on the task at hand now," he said solemnly.

Taylor watched as his smile fell from his face and he grew serious. She hated the look of misery that spread across his features.

"Yes, well, I guess there is no time like the present. Rhett's mother is back. Rose called last night and said that she was bringing something down to the ranch. If we didn't keep it, and take care of it, then she would tell the whole town who she is, and out Jack," she said sadly.

Taylor's mouth fell open in shock again. She looked at Rhett who was grimacing.

"Yeah, good thing I told you willingly yesterday, or I would be telling you unwillingly today," he joked.

Taylor swatted his arm.

"Quit it, Rhett, this isn't funny," she said shaking her head.

"I don't know what she has that could be this important," Caroline said.

"I don't know, but it seems we're about to find out. When did she say she would be in?" Rhett asked.

Caroline's brows furrowed in deep concentration.

"If I remember correctly, she will be here next Friday. A week from tomorrow," she said.

"Great, so Jack will still be gone?" Rhett asked hopefully.

His mother looked over at him and tears welled in her eyes.

"Yes, Jack will still be gone. Rhett, I don't know if I want him to come back," she said softly.

"Oh, Mama, don't say that. He's your husband. You love him more than life itself," he said smiling.

It broke Taylor's heart to watch Rhett pretend that nothing was wrong in front of his mother.

"No, Rhett, I don't. I love him, yes, but I don't love him like I used to. I always knew, but I never realized until yesterday, just how bad it was," she said, her voice cracking with tears.

"Mama, nothing has changed, so you shouldn't change either. Nothing you can do will ever change our relationship," he said simply.

"No, honey, you're right, but it isn't right. He is an entirely different man when it comes to you. You're his son. That isn't right," she said as tears rolled down her face.

Taylor rubbed her arm to comfort her, and she could see the woman relaxing. Caroline was clearly exhausted. She needed sleep, so Taylor continued to rub her arm.

Caroline slipped into slumber, and a nurse came in.

"Oh good, I was just going to come in and say that it was time to rest. She just got her medicine through her IV, so she will be out for a few hours," she said motioning towards the door.

Taylor stood up and held her hand out to Rhett. He took it and stood up with her. They walked into the hallway, Rhett shut the door, and Taylor wrapped her arms around him.

He seemed to be lifeless putty in her hands, his arms limply hung around her, and she decided it was time to head home.

"Let's go sit in the waiting room. Why don't you call Luke and see if he'll bring you your truck?" she asked him.

He nodded and pulled out his phone. Taylor tried to give him space and stood by the window. She looked out over the hills in the distance and took in the sights. It never ceased to amaze her how beautiful the land was.

Before she knew it, he was off the phone.

Rhett slipped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He rested his chin on the top of her head and looked out with her.

She stood still and took in the moment. She let Rhett use her strength and happily gave it. He'd had a lot thrown on him at once. Truthfully, she didn't know how he was keeping it all together. After moments of silence, he sighed into her hair.

"Luke is on his way with my truck. His brother is following him in his own truck, so he'll have a ride home. Let's go home, Tae."

She turned in his arms to face him. She smiled and kissed his chin.

"Okay, cowboy. But I'm driving," she said smiling coyly.

"Uh, uh. I'm not that worked up," he said shaking his head.

She laughed and smacked his chest.

"I am not that bad of a driver," she said.

He looked at her with wide eyes, and she rolled her own eyes at him.

"You had your eyes closed anyway," she said irritated.

"I didn't have to have my eyes open to tell how bad it was," he said smirking at her.

She gasped and spun away from him. She tried to walk away from him, but he grabbed her around the waist.

"Nuh, uh," she said squirming out of his grasp.

"I was kidding," he said finally getting ahold of her.

Pulling her towards him he started tickling her sides.

"Nooo," she said giggling.

"Give in," he said teasingly.

She squirmed in his arms until he finally stopped. She sighed in relief at her freedom. She tried to catch her breath, but her relief was short-lived.

Rhett leaned down and kissed her. She forgot about the problems they were facing and lost herself in him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

She heard a throat clearing, and she was brought back to reality. Blushing, she stepped away from Rhett. Rhett chuckled as he looked down at her, and she smacked him in the gut.

"Sorry to interrupt, but your limo is here."

Taylor looked up to see a man smirking at them.

"Of course, you can always continue, I won't complain," he said coyly.

"Shut up, Luke," Rhett said.

He sent a glare toward his best friend. Taylor laughed and smacked Rhett's shoulders.

"Ready to go home?" she asked him.

He wrapped his arms around her and leaned into her.

"Yep, I'm getting hungry," he said.

She rolled her eyes. He was always hungry. They'd just eaten... how long had it been?

She looked at the clock to see it was already six o'clock. She had to look twice. The time had flown by while they'd been worrying over Mama Care.

Luke stood for a minute looking curiously at Taylor, and she realized Rhett hadn't introduced them.

"Oh, hi, I'm Taylor," she said sticking out a hand.

"Right, I forgot to introduce you two. Luke, this is my girlfriend Taylor," he said.

Luke gave her a big smile and waved like a cartoon. She giggled at his personality.

Rhett rolled his eyes.

"Taylor, this is my idiot of a best friend, Luke Johnson," he said with a flourish towards Luke.

Luke took a deep bow that left Taylor in a fit of giggles again.

"Don't let him fool you, he has the hottest head I've ever met, so don't think he's a sweethearted comedian," Rhett grumbled.

"Hey now, I am not a hothead," Luke fired back.

"Sure you aren't," Rhett agreed.

"You should be happy I even brought you your truck with the way you treat me," Luke said with a pout.

"I treat you like the princess you are," Rhett said smiling broadly.

"How about we tell Taylor about the time you broke my arm," Luke teased.

"How about you shut up," Rhett grumbled.

"Wait a minute now, I want to hear this story," Taylor said with a laugh.

Luke sighed and took her arm in his.

"Another time, darling," he said as he led her out of the hospital.

Rhett growled and pulled Taylor back into him.

Luke chuckled.

"Oh you're doomed, my friend," he said to Rhett.

Rhett ignored him and held onto Taylor.

They followed Luke out to the truck, and Taylor huffed when Luke handed the keys to Rhett. Rhett sent her a stern look over his shoulder to her.

"We already discussed this. You are not driving, Tae Houston," he said shaking his head.

She huffed again and rolled her eyes. He sent her another look.

"Get your pretty butt in the truck before you freeze," he said opening her door.

She rolled her eyes at him.

"I thought we already discussed this. You are not helping me in the truck, Rhett Montgomery," she mimicked him.

He raised his eyebrows at her comment, and she stepped back as he stepped forward. He scooped her up and she squealed against his hold. He plopped her in the seat and gave her a sloppy wet kiss and she squealed again, trying to push him away.

He was chuckling as he shut the door. She tried to pretend to be irritated, but she was glad that he was feeling good enough to pester her.

She waited as Rhett walked across the front of the truck.

He opened the door, at the same time as Luke asked, "You got you a sassy one didn't you?"

Taylor rolled her eyes.

"Hey, I'm not sassy," she called from inside the cab.

Rhett turned to look at her with his brows raised in question.

The men both chuckled, and she sat back in her seat with a huff.

"Keep this one, she seems to keep you on your toes," Luke said with a wink to Taylor.

"That she does, but if you wink at her like that again, you won't live to see the rest of our relationship," Rhett threatened.

"Hey tough guy, are you going to get in so we can go eat, or what?" Taylor asked from inside the truck.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming, woman," he grunted.

She laughed as she rolled up the windows.

She checked to make sure Rhett was occupied before turning the dial on the radio. Stopping on an old rock channel, she paused.

She remembered her father playing music like this. She listened to the melodies remembering the good times, the station would work to make her happy and irritate Rhett, killing two birds with one stone. She laughed to herself at her geniusness.

After talking for a minute more, Rhett climbed into the truck. He yawned, and Taylor laughed.

"You slept for over fourteen hours, and you're still tired?" she asked him.

He looked over and smiled.

"I seem to use all my energy putting up with you," he teased.

She hit him with the back of her hand.

"You better be careful. I'm the one who is cooking dinner last time I checked," she joked.

He crooked his head and looked at the radio.

"You changed the radio station," he said looking unpleased.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she challenged.

"Well jokes on you, I like classic rock too," he said as he began to sing along with The Eagles.

Taylor laughed and shook her head.

He looked over at her and smiled. He turned up the radio, and they headed home.

When they got home, Rhett turned off the ignition and sat back.

"If you'll start dinner, I'm going to go check on the horses," he said as he looked out at the barn.

She knew that he used the barn to clear his mind, so she let him go and headed inside to start dinner. She watched out the window as the birds played in the birdbath, enjoying the late evening sun.

She laughed to herself. She was sure that was Caroline's doing. She didn't see her cowboy putting the bath out.

She finished up dinner and headed out to the barn to round up Rhett. She heard him talking to Moony before she saw him. She stepped around the corner and leaned against the wall.

"It's all going to be all right, isn't it, Moony?" he was asking. "I know, I know, I'm fretting over nothing," he added. "You're right, it doesn't matter. I haven't ever actually met her, so it doesn't matter what she thinks of me," he said, still talking to Moony. "You give the best advice, Moon," he sighed.

She was intent on watching Rhett in his happy place, but Moony noticed her. He let out a happy neigh and started prancing in his stall.

Rhett didn't turn around to look at her.

"Tae's behind me isn't she, boy?" he asked Moony.

Moony swung his head, and Taylor swore he was answering Rhett's question.

She slid up behind him and leaned into him. She watched as Rhett continued to pet Moony, but now Moony was moving his head away from Rhett's hand.

Taylor tried not to giggle as Moony refused to let Rhett rub him.

"Fine," he said as he moved and pushed Taylor toward the stall door.

Taylor giggled as she stepped up to pet Moony. He stepped up to her and rested his head against her forehead. She smiled as he neighed against her.

"Sometimes I wonder if she's my girlfriend, or if she's yours, Moon," Rhett said.

He was shaking his head and pretending to be upset.

Taylor rolled her eyes and continued to pet Moony.

"All right, Moon, I'll see you later. I better get Rhett inside before he gets hangry," she said to the horse.

Moony neighed sadly, and Taylor laughed. She grabbed Rhett's hand and headed towards the house.

After dinner, Taylor stood at the sink doing the dishes. Rhett was leaning against the counter. He let out a long yawn and Taylor chuckled.

"Go take a shower, Rhett. You're exhausted. We'll call it an early night," she said pointing towards the bedroom.

Rhett grumbled, but he did as he was told.

Taylor finished the dishes and headed to the bed. She had to admit she was tired too.

She changed and climbed into the bed as Rhett came out of the shower and put on clothes. He crawled into the bed beside her and stretched out. She curled into his side and stroked his scalp as he fell asleep.

She found it hard to believe that she was there. Three months ago, she would have thought that it was impossible, but now, she found it very real.

She drifted to sleep thinking about Rhett and how he'd changed her life.