Forgiveness For My Mate: Sassy Ever After (Sanctuary for My Mate Book 1)

by Terri A. Wilson

  “Do you come from a big family?”

  She locked the door behind her as they walked to his truck. “My mom died when I was twelve so for most of my life it was just my father and my brother. My father died when I turned twenty-one.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “I miss them. They worked hard for me to get where I am right now. Well, not here. I don’t think they would appreciate me being here.”

  “Do you mean here in the canyon or life in general?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” She focused on the view from her window in hopes the questions would stop. Hank Warner was a nice guy, but Tatum wasn’t interested in making friends. When she focused on building friendships, her work suffered. She had enough time and energy for the next six weeks away from work. Her lifetime goal of being a doctor depended on it. “So, what are we working on today?”

  “It won’t be as exciting as yesterday, but I haven’t done an inventory since Reagan was president. I need help with cleaning my office and organizing the equipment and medication. I’m sure I have outdated medicine hidden all over.”

  The prospect of cleaning a dusty old office annoyed Tatum. When she worked she owned the emergency room. Even experienced doctors came to her for advice. Her skills went beyond alphabetizing files and sterilizing instruments. “Do you think we can stop for coffee somewhere?”

  “Oh, I can help you with coffee. I splurged a few years ago and got a Keurig. There are a few coffee pods left. We don’t have creamer or that fancy stuff.”

  “Black coffee sounds excellent right now.”

  It only took ten minutes to drive from the Libre Volare to the doc’s office. He ran his practice from the side entrance to his house. This made sense to Tatum. It was the thing she joked about with many of her fellow students during school. The romanticism of the small-town practice versus the reality of being the sole medical provider was a common debate late at night. Tatum loved her hospital. She loved being in the city and never thought this kind of practice was a true testament to her skill.

  “Sybil made cinnamon rolls for us last night. I’ll go get a plate and warm up two for us. The coffee thing is on the front counter when you walk in. You can help yourself.”

  Tatum walked up the porch and open the door with no expectations. The waiting area had six chairs and a coffee table with a few scattered magazines. A silver-haired lady stood behind the counter and smiled.

  “You must be Tatum. Hank told me all about you last night.” She stepped around the counter with her hand out. “I’m glad you’re here to help. He still thinks he’s invincible, but I can tell age is catching up to him.”

  “Are you Sybil?” Tatum shook the lady’s hand.

  “Guilty, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Hank came in from the back entrance with two plates of pastries that smelled heavenly. “I see you’ve met my better half.”

  “This is your wife?”

  “Well, you could say that.”

  After one taste of the cinnamon rolls, Tatum decided she was ready to die because her life was now complete. “Oh, that’s right I remember what you told me. Hippies and all,” she said between bites.

  Sybil walked back behind the counter. “Getting married just never seemed like something on our agenda. At this point, I don’t know if it makes sense. I’m not letting this old man go.”

  It was easy to see how much they loved each other. Tatum remembered her parents acting the same way. With all her time spent in school and on her studies, she didn’t have time for romance. It made her happy to know love was still an option even for someone like her.

  “Well, we need to eat these rolls and get started. I have an old lab jacket you can wear so you don’t get too dirty.”

  Tatum decided if Hank fed her this kind of food all the time she would stay here and work with him forever. “Sybil this is incredible.”

  “I’m glad you like it. I made a salad for lunch. So, when you’re ready, call me. In the meantime, I’ll continue trying to convert these files for this new program.”

  “Is that a billing program?”

  “Yes, we’re moving into the modern world. The only problem is there’s not a category for payment made in fresh chicken eggs.” Sybil raised an eyebrow and glanced at Hank.

  What kind of doctor takes payments in chicken eggs?

  Sensing he was in hot water, Hank took Tatum’s plate as she shoved in the last bite. “Follow me.”

  Tatum walked behind the counter after Hank. When she walked into his patient room, it overwhelmed her. “You see people in here?”

  “No, I’ve got another room across the hall. This has become a storage room, a catchall for whatever I don’t want to deal with.” He turned to the door. “I’ll be back by lunch.”

  “You want me to organize all of this?” She spun around with wide-opened arms. “What are you going to do?”

  “I have patients to see in the next county.”

  “Well, let me come with you. I bet you can hire two or three high school kids for cheap labor.”

  “Maybe, but they won’t understand what’s here the way you will.”

  Hank closed the door and Tatum wandered around finding the best place to start. A thick layer of dust coated the room. Everything she touched knocked up a cloud of dust in her face. But she had to do what she had to do. The only way to get through this was to hit it head on and just get done. After finding her favorite playlist from her phone, she picked the farthest corner from the door and worked her way out.

  Sybil came in at lunchtime and invited her to have lunch in the kitchen. “Hank’s stuck with a patient. Are you okay eating with just me?”

  Tatum nodded and followed her to their kitchen.

  “So how long are you staying at the retreat?” Sybil asked.

  “This is my third day of a six-week stay.”

  “What made you choose the Libre Volare?”

  “I came here based on a friend’s recommendation.”

  “It’s a good place to rejuvenate. There’s just something about the canyon here and the Hanson brothers aren’t bad to look at either.”

  Tatum choked on her iced tea.

  “I see you agree with me.”

  “I’ve only met two, Connor and Caleb. Cameron is the third one?”

  “Yes, Caleb and Cameron are the twins and then Connor has always been running behind them trying to keep up. I remember when they were kids. They kept their mom busy.”

  “I imagine three active boys would make any mom crazy.” Tatum helped her clear the table.

  “Are you close to your parents?”

  “Both of my parents are dead. It’s just my brother and me but we aren’t close at all.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Connection to family is extremely important.”

  “It helps if you like them and we don’t like each other.”

  Sybil ran water in the sink. “That has to be rough. Do you mind me asking what happened?”

  The Palmolive smell brought back many memories for Tatum. “I don’t mind you asking but my story isn’t special. Mom died when I was twelve leaving me to take over the house. I spent a lot of time taking care of my brother and my father. Daddy spent most of his time working two and sometimes three jobs. He wanted us to succeed in a way he never could. I think it’s fair to say he worked himself into an early grave.”

  “Was your father able to see you become a doctor? I bet he was proud of you.”

  Tatum dried off the glass Sybil handed her. “He died before I entered med school. Which is why I almost dropped out.”

  “I can imagine that was a horrible thing to go through at a young age. What made you stay?”

  “My brother reminded me of all the work my father did to get both of us where we were. If I didn’t become a doctor, my dad’s work would have been in vain.”

  “That’s a lot of pressure for your brother to put on you. What was he doing at the time?”

  “He had j
ust passed the bar exam and become the youngest lawyer at his firm.”

  “Is that why you don’t get along?”

  Tatum had a hard time understanding why it was easy to talk with this woman, but Sybil’s smile made her feel comfortable. Sybil listened and was genuinely interested.

  They finished the dishes.

  “Well, I need to get back to work. I think I need to come out another day to finish.”

  Sybil put her hand on Tatum’s before she stood. “It’s nice having a young face around here. It hasn’t happened in a while.” She squeezed Tatum’s hand.

  As Tatum walked back to the doctor’s office, she noticed a painting hanging on the wall. The painting depicted a silver wolf looking over the canyon. In an odd way, the wolf looked familiar, and she glanced back at Sybil with her long, braided, silver hair. For a split second, the strangest idea entered her mind. She shook her head at the absurdity and went back to work.

  Hank drove Tatum back before dinner, but Sybil packed a meal in case she needed it. She thought of going to the dining room but settled for warming the food up in the microwave. Making small talk with people reminded her too much of work. Talking with the patient’s family was the worst part of her job.

  Hank didn’t see patients on the weekends, so he told her he’d see her on Monday. That plan sounded wonderful because Tatum was tired, dusty, and wanted to stay in bed.

  Tatum fell asleep on the couch and missed the microwave ding.

  During the night she dreamt of flying over the canyon again. This time, someone flew with her, but she could never see who. Landing on a mountain peak and leaping into flight again felt natural and graceful. Gliding over the land excited her and calmed her spirit. It was incredible. Unlike when she rolled over and fell face first on the floor.

  The sun filled the room with a warm haze. She sat on the floor and rested against the couch. Her stomach growled when she reached up to feel the knot forming on her forehead. A beep reminded her of the food in the microwave.

  A clock on the wall showed the time; six-thirty. She couldn’t remember the last time she slept this well. While working double shifts in the ER advanced her career, it did nothing for her health. She’d grown good at sleeping while standing and living off of coffee and energy drinks.

  Sybil’s leftovers tasted wonderful. Lasagna made an excellent breakfast.

  She cleaned up her dishes then turned on the TV. A few local channels showed a variety of kid’s programming and infomercials. After fifteen minutes of watching a fascinating show on a mop made from microfiber towels and recycled plastic, her anxiety increased to new levels. She gave up reading her book after only four pages. After painting her toenails and braiding her hair, the frustration of sitting in the cabin with nothing to do made her crazy. The room grew too small.

  She checked on her eye in the bathroom mirror. It had faded but was still noticeable. She commended Hank and Sybil for not asking her about it. They were good people. If someone she worked with had a black eye, Tatum wouldn’t stop pestering her until the coworker spilled all the details. No one ever told the truth about a black eye.

  Black eye questions or not, she had to get out of the cabin. She threw on a pair of leggings with a sports bra and grabbed her hoodie. Time to explore the retreat.

  Walking trails weaved throughout the compound. After a brisk walk to warm up, she started an easy jog. Moving felt better than sitting and doing nothing. Relaxing never came easy for her.

  She passed several guests, either running alone or in pairs. They all looked way too happy. After running for a half hour, she stopped at a glass-walled building. She followed several people inside and discovered a yoga class.

  “Come on in, we’re just starting.” A friendly lady, she assumed was the instructor, waved to her.

  Tatum couldn’t remember the last time she went to a yoga class. She knew it would be awkward, but it was better than doing nothing. She claimed a small space in the back and intended on hiding.

  “Before we get started, raise your hand if this is your first yoga class,” the instructor said. A few people raised their hands. “Good. I always like working with new people. The most important part of yoga is to remember each of us is working on different levels. Our yoga practices are individual, and you get out what you put in. So, if I can get everyone settled, we’ll begin.”

  The instructor coached them through a series of warm-up stretches and breathing exercises. She had a soothing voice and a gentle teaching manner. Tatum soon forgot about her worries except for balance and centering her mind. Within an hour, sweat dripped onto the floor and her muscles quivered.

  “You did a good job.” The instructor rolled up Tatum’s mat for her after class.

  “Oh, I can do that,” Tatum said tying her shoes.

  “It’s fine. You’ve earned a break.” She put the mat away and came back. “My name’s Wednesday. I’m glad you came to class.”

  “Wednesday?”

  “Yeah, it’s a strange name, but what can I say?”

  Embarrassed, Tatum said, “I’m sorry. I meant nothing by it. I’ve just met no one with that name.”

  Wednesday chuckled. “Me either.”

  “My name’s Tatum. I’m staying in the Canyon Cabin.”

  They headed to the door. “That’s the nicest cabin here. Are you having a good time?”

  “I guess.” Tatum zipped her hoodie and tightened her ponytail.

  “Are you here by yourself?”

  Tatum nodded.

  “Well, I’m headed to the juice bar. Would you like to join me?”

  “Why not? Lead the way.”

  They went through the main lobby and headed to the pool deck.

  “We haven’t closed the pool yet, but it’s too cold to swim.” Wednesday nodded to the spa and a small group of people laughing and having a good time. “The hot tub never gets too cold, though.”

  They gave their orders and found a table.

  “Are you the only yoga teacher here?”

  “I teach most of the exercise classes, but Caleb helps with yoga.”

  “Do you like it?”

  “I’ve been here over a year and I can’t imagine being anywhere else. The canyon is like a small piece of heaven. I’ve loved it since Caleb brought me here.”

  “Caleb brought you here?” Tatum reached for her smoothie.

  Wednesday put down her drink. “That sounds a little barbaric, doesn’t it?” She giggled. “We met at a health conference. I needed a job, and he had an opening.”

  “You and Caleb are a couple?”

  Wednesday smiled and sipped her smoothie. “For a while, I was the only girl here among all the testosterone. It got old, fast. Have you met Caleb?”

  “Yes, I met him the first night. He seems like a nice guy.”

  “He’s a big mess most of the time, but he’s my mess, so I guess I’ll keep him around. What do you do when you’re not here?”

  Oh great, more small talk. How can I get out of here?

  “I was in my last year as a resident working in the ER.”

  Wednesday raised an eyebrow. “Was?”

  Tatum didn’t want to answer this but didn’t know how to avoid it. “I needed to take a leave of absence for some, um, personal reasons.”

  “Well, if there is anything I can do to help you get yourself sorted out while you’re here, let me know. My life was complicated not too long ago.”

  “Oh Tatum, there you are. I’m glad I ran into you.” Connor sat at their table. “The photographer is back today with the models and wanted pictures of your cabin. Would that be okay?”

  “Why not? I’m just a guest here.”

  “I didn’t want to invade your space. We’re getting this campaign ready in time for wedding season. I think we can sell this place as the best honeymoon spot around.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Wednesday said.

  Connor nodded. “We barely have time to finish it. I need to push the idea before the end of t
he year. Your significant other is dragging his feet and making it hard, as usual.”

  “What’s he doing? Do I need to kick his ass?” Wednesday finished her smoothie.

  “You might. He won’t sign off on the gazebo Cameron and I want to build. We can set it up to handle small weddings, then this could become a destination wedding venue.”

  “I like that. Let me see what I can do for you.” Wednesday stood to leave. She said to Tatum. “Thanks for sitting with me. I enjoyed the company. If you want to hang out again while you’re here, call the front desk. They can find me.”

  They watched her walk away.

  A couple arguing at the bar distracted them. Connor sighed. “I’m so tired of those two.”

  “Who are they?”

  “They are the newly married couple we chose for the shoot.”

  “They’re newlyweds?”

  “Not in real life. Steve, the photographer, brought them. He told me they tested perfect for this place. They may look good, but they can’t stand each other. All they’ve done today is fight.”

  “That doesn’t sound like much fun. Do you have to use them?”

  “I don’t have time to find someone else. I keep telling myself, ‘It’s only for a day.’ We were supposed to do this yesterday, but Caleb wanted to push it back a day.”

  “He seems busy.”

  “Yeah, but he forgets that my brother and I are here to help him and doesn’t have to do it all alone.”

  “Is it hard to run a place like this?”

  He shrugged. “There are a lot of small details and it’s non-stop, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

  Tatum finished her smoothie. “When do you want to come around the cabin?”

  He checked his phone. “It’s eleven o’clock now. I think we can be up there around four if that works for you.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll see you then.” As she walked past him, he reached out to hold her hand. His whole face brightened when he smiled.

  “I appreciate this. I promise we won’t be in your way too much.”

  The giddy tingle building in the bottom of her stomach surprised her. She must look horrible after running and the yoga class, but he didn’t seem to mind. “I’ll see you then.”