Chapter 7 Meet Tatum

Four years ago

Tatum

Nigel always saw me as a child and a little sister when I was already so obviously in love with him. We didn't talk again because he went back to college and I didn't see him for a while. Those were my most depressing days. I was so hurt and felt so insignificant. If I wasn't important enough to someone who I'd know since I was a baby, then I was probably not too important to anyone else. I could've never gotten over my feelings for him but I was beginning to accept my fate until he came back from college one Christmas. I had just turned seventeen then and hadn't seen him for more than a year, he didn't come back home after the incident so when I saw him, I was not only surprised but my feelings came rushing back like a hurricane. He was there and he was looking as beautiful as I remembered. He got me a gift for Christmas and one to wish me a happy birthday since he hadn't come back that year for my birthday but wanted to wish me anyways. I thought we were finally going back to how we were, but I was wrong, soon after the day he gave me the gifts, he went back to ignoring me and I felt so broken, I hid in the cottage throughout the next day till dad started looking for me. Nigel was the one to find me, I was in the cottage crying my heart out. When he asked me what was wrong, I was too drained to answer him and he was so worried, he turned pale. He begged me to come back to myself and I burst into tears again but he held me till I stopped crying. The next day, we woke up, tangled in each other in the bed. He looked so shocked that if my heart hadn't been breaking, I would've laughed. We had only slept but his reaction would make you think otherwise. It wasn't the first time we shared a bed but he looked at me all wrong and that's when I realized we could never go back to before. He took me back home and went back to ignoring me until the day my classmate asked me out on a date. Nigel stormed the date and literally carried me out of the park. He was livid. I was angry too because he had no right. It was a big argument but then he kissed me to shut me up and that got me even angrier so I slapped him and walked out. How dare he leave me hanging only to come back when I was finally becoming happy and kiss me the way I've wanted him to all those years??. It was uncouth and totally unacceptable. That seemed to wake him from some slumber because he trailed me every day after then, ruining all my dates and trying to make me talk to him without the anger in my eyes. His actions wore me down and even more so when he finally confessed that's he's loved me for the longest time but couldn't show it because he didn't think I'd reciprocate and also because of our age gap. He wasn't comfortable with how young I was but that didn't really stop his feelings. We started dating when I finally turned eighteen last year and since then, I can't describe the weight of my happiness. I've been on a constant high since then and we've made our relationship work. I love him and always have. I don't know if I can ever stop. Which means I'm fucked.

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Present

Noah

Dorothy isn't at the counter when I walk into the restaurant the next day, instead, I see Tatum. She's wearing an apron and taking orders from people. I've never seen her at the restaurant before and I've been frequenting Dotties for years now which makes me wonder if she just started working here recently. I don't walk to the counter immediately, instead I watch her from where I am, following her every move and expression and admiring how accommodating she is with the customers. Dorothy steps out from behind Tatums back and I wonder how lost I was that I didn't see her step out from the back door.

"Oh, hey sugar", she greets and Tatum raises her head to look at me, her expression changing immediately. I'm guessing she's mad at me because she thinks I assumed she was going to steal Dorothy's money the night before. Seeing that Dorothy has managed to drag everyone's attention to me with her loud voice, I have no choice but to walk up to the counter. Tatum refuses to acknowledge me as she keeps attending to the customers while Dorothy tries to monopolize my attention.

"How did you enjoy your meal last night honey?", Dorothy asks, calling all my attention to her.

"It was great Dorothy, as always. You're amazing."

She beams widely, and I'm pretty sure if she wasn't a black woman, I would've seen a blush rise up her cheeks.

"Well you know me, I always serve to please", she says, still smiling.

"The food seemed different though. It tastes different but in a good way. Your recipes change?", I ask her Tatum has still not turned to us. She's acting busy and ignoring my presence altogether, not even bothering to ask if I'd like to order anything which is usual protocol. Dorothy notices where I'm looking.

"Oh, well, that's all on Tatum. You must have met her last night. She's the one that cooked the dinner. She's one of my junior chefs. A wonderful talent indeed", she's smiling at Tatum which forces her to finally turn to me