Page 35 of Together at Ruby's

Tate smiled and went to work. As she started to knead the tight feeling out of Liza’s foot, she suddenly had a question she hadn’t really contemplated. “Liza, I know turning thirty is a big deal for a lot of people, but it seems especially so with you.” She hesitated and waited for Liza to comment, but when the woman stayed quiet, she continued. “Why are you so against turning thirty?”

Liza sighed and gave a little shake of her head. “I don’t expect you to understand,” she said. “You have no problem celebrating your birthdays. But it is different for me.”

After considering her words for a moment, Tate nodded as she continued rubbing one of Liza’s feet. “You’re right,” she said. “I have no problem growing older.”

“And that’s the difference,” Liza replied. “I’m afraid.”

Feeling tears burn her eyes,Liza swallowed hard as she thought about her statement. She was afraid of growing older. There were a lot of reasons, and she wasn’t sure if she could express them all to Tate.

“Can I ask why?” Tate asked, doing an amazing job rubbing Liza’s feet.

“Well, it’s not simply a vanity thing,” Liza said trying to make the conversation a little lighter. “Although I do want to keep my youthful appearance, so you’ll stay interested.”

Tate tilted her head. “Babe,” she said. “I will always be interested.” Somehow Liza knew that was true. The last week was craziness. Even when she thought for second that Tate might be interested in another woman, deep down Liza knew that wasn’t the case. Tate would never cheat, of that she was certain, and she honestly believed the woman loved her unconditionally.

Tears threatened again. “Thank you,” Liza said. “I love you so much.” For a second she hesitated to bring up a topic that she knew was sensitive. It was deep and emotional, and it might not be the right time.But then Tate did start this, Liza thought.Maybe this is the opportunity I have been looking for. “It’s also because I am afraid I will soon be too old to have children safely. I know thirty is not a cut off like it used to be. But I want to make sure I start young enough to maybe have more than one.” Tate was quiet as she focused on Liza’s feet while she worked. There was a long minute of silence, and then the woman looked at her.

Liza saw a mixture of emotions but the one that surprised her was fear. “Liza,” Tate finally said. “Maybe I should explain a little more about how I feel.” She hesitated, but Liza watched her take a deep breath to continue. “You have mentioned having children since we met, and I have never said that I don’t want them. It never occurred to me you worried about getting too old for it, but now I think I understand.”

“Do you?” Liza asked, her heart filled with hope.

Tate nodded. “Yes,” she said. “But there’s more. I think having children would be an interesting experience. The problem is, I’m not sure I’d be a good parent.”

Nothing could have surprised Liza more. “Why?” Liza asked. “You’re the most loving and gentle person I know. You’re smart and you’re funny, and I think you’d be a great mom.”

A small smile broke out on Tate’s face. “Thank you for saying that,” she said. “But I have very high standards to live up to. My parents were probably the best a person could have.” She moved to Liza’s other foot. “I’m lucky. I never ever doubted their love, and I always knew they would support me.”

Liza considered Tate’s words. She had to agree that Tate’s parents were wonderful people, and she was very fond of them. The stories Tate told of growing up were warm and entertaining. All those facts did not, however, mean they were impossible to live up to or even if they should try.We need to build our own memories and traditions,she thought.And not worry about anyone else.

“Tate, I’m just going to say this, and I don’t mean to hurt your feelings,” Liza said. “But you are a perfectionist. I have always seen that.”

Tate raised an eyebrow. “I’m a perfectionist?”

“Yes,” Liza said. “If you think about it, you would agree.

Looking into the distance, Tate was clearly considering her statement. “You’re right,” she said with a sigh. “It’s always been a problem with me. I’ve always wanted to be the best at everything—sports, school, work. It’s what drives me so hard.”

“I know,” Liza said, pulling her feet away and sitting up to slide closer to Tate. “But you don’t have to be perfect. Especially not for me.” She took Tate’s hands. “Don’t let that stop you, I mean, don’t let that stop us from having a family of our own.”

Tate put her arms around Liza and pulled her close. “I will try,” Tate said. She kissed Liza and then pulled back. “Hold on a second.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to get something,” Tate replied and started across the room when her phone rang in her jeans pocket. Acting instinctively, she pulled it out. Liza watched her whole body stiffen when she saw the screen.

Liza raised her eyebrows. “Who is it?” With a sigh, Tate held the screen so Liza could see the name on it. Aurora Price.

Knowingthere was no way she was going to answer the phone in the middle of going to the bedroom to get Liza’s engagement ring, Tate tossed it on the coffee table. “Wait,” Liza said. “Will she leave a voicemail?” As if in answer, the phone chimed, letting Tate know Aurora had left something. She was sure she did not want to know what it was, but Liza was clearly curious. “I want to listen to it.” Tate hesitated. She had thought the moment was right to propose to Liza after their conversation about children but now the moment seemed to be spoiled.Because of Aurora Price again, she thought.That woman keeps screwing up my life.

“All right,” Tate said returning to the couch to sit next to her.

She opened her phone and pressed the voicemail button. “Tate, Tate, Tate,” the sexy voice of Aurora Price said from the phone. It was low and sultry and in Tate’s opinion, there was no mistaking it was not officially business.

She almost wanted to end it then and reached for the phone, but Liza waved her off. “I want to hear this.”

“Where have you been?” Aurora purred. “I have missed you… because I have so manybusinessquestions to ask you.”She’s clever, Tate thought.She’s not going to say anything that I could use against her. “Call me. I’ll be up all night.”

The call ended and Liza sprang to her feet. “I am going to kill that woman,” she said, starting to pace the room with a furious look on her face. “How can she be doing this and getting away with it?”

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