Page 182 of Small Town Firsts

Nat smiles and lays her hand on my shoulder. “You’re fine. I trust you.”

For some reason, her words warm me down to my very soul.

In the car, I ask Tatum what she wants to eat, and she immediately exclaims, “Burgers and fwys and ketchup and milkshakes!”

“I think I can handle that, pretty girl.”

I drive to my favorite burger joint, Homegrown. It’s a longstanding local joint, owned by the Bell family, that’s been around since my parents were kids. Though their menu has evolved with time, and I’m more than ready for one of their gourmet burgers. They’re a farming family, and pride themselves on using local ingredients and meat from animals that were both humanely raised and slaughtered. Basically, they’re my kind of people.

As we pull into their small lot, I ask Tatum if she’s ever been here before. She shakes her head. “Well then, you’re in for a treat.”

Getting her unbuckled takes me a hot minute—you have to reallysqueezeto get that buckle apart. I try not to let my frustration show, but Tatum catches it…and finds it hilarious. “Ta’mon, Alden! Use your mustles!”

I grin at my girl, my annoyance vanishing. “I am using my muscles!” I get the chest clip opened and go to unhook the buckles, which is just as hard. Finally, I am victorious, and we walk into Homegrown hand in hand.

The interior captivates Tatum. I get it though. The red brick floors have a yellow path painted on them leading back to the kitchen—Homegrown’s very own yellow brick road. The walls are a mixture of aged wood and corrugated tin, and the tables and chairs don’t match. “Dis place is cwazy!”

“Crazy good,” I assure her, leading her back to an open table. I help her up into her seat and then claim the one across from her. “Your mama’s never brought you here?”

She shrugs. “Nope.”

I snag a menu from the little holder on the table and begin perusing it. Tatum sees me reading it, and grabs one for herself, pretending to read along.

“Whatcha gonna get?” she asks.

“I am gonna get a Rob’s classic—a grass-fed patty, local cheese, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, and garlic aioli on a French roll.”

She tilts her head and looks at me a little funny. “I only know what some of dose things are. But I can tries it?”

I beam at her adventurous spirit. “Yeah, pretty girl, you can try it. What do you want on your burger?”

“I likes the cheese with the holes in it and crunchy bacon and ketchup and a egg.”

“That sounds really good.”

“It is. I thought it looked yuck but Mama made me tries it, and it wasn’t yuck! It was yum! I love it. With tots.”

“Tater tot likes tots, huh?” She giggles, and I wish like hell I could bottle the sound and carry it with me.

Our server approaches us wearing an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry to have kept y’all waiting. We’re short today.”

I wave a hand in the air. “Not an issue.”

“Thank you. What can I get y’all today?”

I place our order, along with two waters, and our server heads off to put them in. She returns almost immediately with our drinks. After spending most of the morning outside, the cool beverage is more refreshing than usual.

That is, until Tatum busts out with, “Are you Mama’s boyfriend?” Except she draws out the wordboy.

I suck my sip down the wrong pipe, choking. I pound my chest a few times, trying to regain my composure. “Do you even know what that word means?”

She looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Duh. I have two hubbands, remember?”

More coughing. “Ah. Yes. How could I forget?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “Well?”

“I…uh. I’m…we’re not. No.” A toddler has me utterly tongue-tied. “Your mom and I are just friends.”

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