by C. A. Harms
After I put Kate into bed for her afternoon nap, I made my way down the hall to my room. The moment my bed came in to view, I felt my body relax. Hospitals are supposed to be the place you recover, but there was nothing like your own bed. I lowered my exhausted body to the mattress, lounged back against the pillows, and took in a deep breath. As Callie’s flowery scent engulfed me, I groaned in frustration. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be sleeping much tonight.
Chapter Five
Callie
“Hello,” I hollered as I walked through the front door of my parents’ house. “Anyone home?”
“In here, honey,” my mother said.
I could smell greatness as I walked toward the kitchen. My mother was an amazing cook. I always thought she and Jude would be unstoppable if they teamed up in the kitchen at the restaurant, but my Mom would never consider cooking a job. She says she loves to bake for joy and smiles, and to help people. In fact, she spends ninety percent of her time volunteering at homeless shelters and hospitals.
“Something smells good,” I said as I placed my bag on a barstool and walked around the counter. Stepping up to her side, I bumped hips with her, and she smiled brightly. “You have a million things going on in here. Do you need some help?”
“Well, I have to frost the cupcakes and place them in those containers over there. Then I want to get the pans of lasagna in the oven.” She had five dishes of it set out along the back counter, and she was layering the sixth as we spoke.
“Where is all this food going?” I asked, spotting the three large containers of cookies on the kitchen table.
“Three different places.” She began counting them off. “I have Ms. Henry down the road. She had a hip replacement done, and I know she can’t get around well. So I’m making her dinner. Plus, I have to drop off three of these servings to Hope and Dreams.” Hope and Dreams is the women’s shelter my mother feeds on a regular basis. “And I made that large pan over there, plus one container of cookies and cupcakes for you to take to your friend’s house. Oh yeah, and there is a freshly made salad with two different types of dressing in the fridge too.”
My heart started hammering in my chest. “Mom…” I shook my head, and she stopped me with just one look. My mother had always been more like a best friend than a parent, and I had shared my feelings for Jude with her on more than one occasion. She also knew how difficult and intimidating Jude Calvert was.
“Callie, I expect you to deliver this food to those kids and Katelynn. You have developed a bond with them that you shouldn’t let him break. It’s not fair to those kids.” She had dried her hands and was now facing me. “There’s more to that man than he allows anyone to see. I think you’ve all figured that out. But do you think that maybe he pushes people away because he feels like no one fights for them, or for him?” She tipped my chin upward and locked eyes with me. “Sweetheart, I’m not saying to allow him to be mean or hurtful toward you. Because that wouldn’t be fair to you. But what I am saying is don’t give up so easily. Something is telling me that he just needs a little push. He needs to know someone cares enough to stick it out.”
“I do care. I just don’t know how to show him,” I whispered as I fought against the flood of emotions running through me.
“Just don’t give up so easily,” she reiterated. “You have that fight in you, and I know you just need to make him see it too.”
***
Sitting in front of Jude’s apartment in my car, I continued trying to talk myself through my nerves. I was on the verge of a panic attack and had fought the urge to leave more than twice.
It had been three days since I left feeling like an idiot for thinking Jude and I could ever have a relationship. Now here I was with a car full of food my mother had insisted I bring them. It would be just my luck if he slammed the door in my face the moment he saw me.
My phone chirped, and I dug through my bag to get it. Lifting it up, I could see the message was from my pushy yet loving mother.
Mom: Stop stalling and knock on his door.
At times it was almost freaky just how well she understood me and how my mind worked.
After typing out a quick response, I threw the phone in my purse, got out of the car, and opened the back door. I hooked the bag with the salad and dressings over my shoulder before lifting the other containers from the seat.
I was glad I had decided to wear flats because heels on this uneven sidewalk would not have been my best choice, especially when I was overloaded with enough food to feed a small army. Stepping up to the door, I balanced the containers in one arm and tapped the buzzer next to the door with my fingertip. The large Rubbermaid holding the cupcakes wobbled on top of the pile, and I cringed as I pictured them falling.
The front door came open just as they slid forward, and I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, waiting for the sound of the container as it collided with the ground.
“I saved ’em. You’re okay to look.” Jude’s gruff voice had my eyes shooting open. There he stood, shirtless, holding the container in his hand.
Heat rose in my neck and settled in my cheeks. “Thanks,” I offered with a timid smile.
“What’s all this?” he asked as he scanned over the dishes I still balanced in my hands.
“Dinner.” I shrugged. “My mom made enough to feed half the neighborhood, and she wanted me to bring all this over to you and your family. She made cupcakes for the kids, oh, and cookies.” I knew I was rambling, but my nerves were truly on edge.
He stared at me with an unreadable look, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing. Why the hell he made me feel so small was something I would never know. Wanting to impress someone so much yet feeling as if that was impossible was not a fun feeling.
“Here,” I said as I nervously thrust the pile of food into his arms. I then held out the bag for him to take as well. The analyzing look he was giving me only made my nerves worse. I looked down toward his chest, thinking maybe I could slow down my racing heart. Then I knew that was a mistake. I don’t often get the chance to see Jude without a shirt on, so when I scanned over his muscles and rippled abs, a whole new set of unneeded feelings washed over me.
“We don’t need anyone’s charity. I can feed my family,” he said, and it was like a cold pitcher of water on my heated body. I lifted my head, and our eyes met once more.
I was usually calm and able to hold myself together, but his words made any chance of this being a nice evening vanish.
“Are you serious right now?” I asked, angry at how he’d made a thoughtful gesture from my mother feel dirty. “You really are an asshole. This wasn’t charity, you dick. If you don’t want it, don’t eat it. But you could at least give it to the three beautiful people inside. Because they’re the only reasons I tolerate your fucking attitude. If it wasn’t for them, you’d be wearing that lasagna right now.”
I spun around and stalked off toward my car. Tears were burning my eyes, and the last thing I wanted was for that ass to know he’d gotten to me. He didn’t deserve the satisfaction.
“Callie, wait,” he called after me, and it only infuriated me more.
“Go to hell, Jude.” I yanked open my car door and got inside before the tears fell. As I backed away, he was still standing in the doorway of his apartment holding the dishes. Only now Matthew and Zoey stood at his sides, and seeing them only made my heart break even more as I drove away.
Chapter Six
Jude
Me: I’m sorry.
I sent the text three days ago and hadn’t received a response yet. I knew I fucked up the minute the words fell from my mouth, but it was too late to take them back. Just thinking about the hurt look on her face made me feel sick to my stomach.
I had just gotten off the phone with Jett, who informed me that he’d given me a raise. I was now making almost twice as much as I was before. Which was helpful, considering the cops had put a stop to the fights at Mason’s after my attack. He had also said I would be paid for the time I’d bee
n away from work the last two weeks. Then I got a call from my landlord, who told me my rent had been paid for the next three months by an unknown person. It pissed me off even more because I knew that unknown person was also the asshole that was my boss.
Taking handouts was not easy for me.
Opening the door to find Callie standing on my porch with a shit-ton of food was the last straw. Taking it all out on her was wrong of me. I knew Cal wasn’t the type of person to expect anything in return for her kind gestures. Hell, on more than one occasion, I had seen her take money from her own pocket to cover a bill at the restaurant for a guest that may have been running a little low. That’s just the way she was, and I had once again pulled a complete dick move by throwing her kindness back in her face.
I got my ass chewed out by Katelynn and had to calm down a crying Zoey, who was even angrier with me than my sister was. Hearing my niece tell me that I was a bully for making Callie leave was like a punch to the stomach. I knew she was right, but now I couldn’t even get Callie to respond to my apologies. I had tried calling her at least three times, and the text was the final resort.
Jett had also insisted I take another week or two off, but I had news for him—I would be going in tomorrow. This waiting game wasn’t me, and I needed to get out of this apartment before I lost my damn mind.
I dropped my phone to the mattress and stood up, stretching my arms above my head. The ache in my muscles felt good as I shifted from side to side. When I exited my bedroom, Matthew came skidding to a stop at my feet. He held something behind his back, and a look of pure evil covered his small features.
“What are you hiding?” I asked, giving him a stern look. “And before you answer, remember we don’t lie in this house. Give me the truth, boy.”
“I was just holding on to it for her,” he said as his face shifted to pure innocence. The kid was going to have all the ladies hanging on his every word when he got older. I could see it now. He knew how to play anyone with that charming smile and those big, brown puppy-dog eyes. He got better at it daily.
I held out my hand and wiggled my fingers. He slowly brought his hand out from behind his back and placed the item into my palm. “She called me a brat,” he stated, as if that alone was good enough reason for his master plan.
“Well, buddy, calling you a brat wasn’t nice. But that’s not reason enough to take her bracelet. And I’m pretty sure I know what you intended to do with it, and we’ve had this talk before, haven’t we?”
He nodded as his eyes remained locked on mine.
“And what have I told you?” I asked.
“That I can’t flush things.”
“That’s right,” I said. “Now go get dressed. Mrs. Reames is coming over, and running around in your Batman underwear isn’t appropriate.”
I waited for him to hurry off before I walked toward the bedroom the two of them shared. Zoey had her back to the door, but I could see she was messing with a small box she had slid out from under the bed. “What do you got there, Zoe?”
Her little body jumped in surprise, and she spun around with her eyes wide. “Nothing.” She hurried to cover the items in the box with her hands.
“Well now, you know I ain’t falling for that one, right?” I walked farther into the room, and she pushed the box under the bed and spun around again. With her back pressed against the bed, she gazed up at me with the same look of innocence her brother just tried to use.
It was then I noticed her lips looked glossy as if she was wearing lipstick. Her cheeks were a little rosy, and there was a faint pink, glittery look above her eyes. “Zoey, are you wearing makeup?”
“Yes.” She didn’t try to hide it.
“Where did you get makeup?” I had never bought her any.
“Um…” She looked to her side. Zoey couldn’t lie while looking you in the eyes. She was so easy to read. “I’ve had it for a long time. I found it when Matthew and I went outside to play.”
“You just found it outside?”
“Yeah.” She still wouldn’t look at me.
“Let me see it.” She looked up nervously. “Come on, show me.” I knew the story was shit, and I had a feeling what was in that box would confirm that. She knew it too.
I stood with my arms crossed, showing no signs of backing down. Zoey rose up on her knees and turned back to face the bed before slowly pulling the box out from under it.
In the center of the box was an electric-blue cosmetic bag with Callie embroidered on the top.
My throat grew tight. “Where did you find that, sweetheart?”
“In your bathroom. She left it,” she said with sadness in her eyes. “I didn’t want you to take it away.”
I walked past Zoey and sat on the edge of the bed as I held my hand out to her. “Come here,” I whispered.
She stood up, and I pulled her onto my lap. “You miss Callie?” I asked, and she nodded. Her lower lip trembled, and fuck if it didn’t make my stomach ache with sadness. “What do you say we go see her?”
“Really?” Her eyes instantly brightened up.
“Yeah,” I said with a smile. “Mrs. Reames is coming over to hang with your mom for a bit, and I have to go fill her meds and get a few things from the store. I was planning to let you kids stay here and play, but I’m rethinking that idea. I’m thinking maybe you, me, and Matthew could go to the restaurant and get some lunch.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Does he have to come?”
I chuckled and wrapped my arms around her. “Yeah, sweet girl, he does.”
She let out a deep sigh, which only made me laugh harder. Our little diva.
Chapter Seven
Callie
“Jett, she has to go. I’ve had four complaints in the last two hours,” I said as I walked into his office, interrupting the powwow he and Easton were having. “I’ve had to cover half her section because she’s so damn slow, and she continues to get people’s orders wrong.”
They both just stared at me as I continued to vent my aggravation with Georgia, the waitress from hell. “I told her to spit out her gum at least four times, because I’ve caught her blowing bubbles while taking orders. She dumped a soda in some poor guy’s lap and then proceeded to pat him dry while his fiancée looked like she was about to murder her. She gave her number to another guy because she said, and I quote, ‘He has hands that I’m sure would feel great gripping my ass.’”
Easton choked on his water, and Jett’s eyes almost bugged out of his head.
“Yeah, I know,” I said in a horrified tone. “So can we fire her now?”
Easton broke out in laughter, and Jett shot him a glare. “I’m sorry, but that shit is funny.” He shrugged it off and went back to drinking his water, doing his best to control his laughter.
“Yeah, tell her I need to talk to her. I know you’ve been covering her area, but can you do it for another couple hours? Rita comes in at three.”
“Yeah, I got it,” I assured him as I spun around to find her.
“Thanks, Cal,” Jett hollered, and I just waved it off over my shoulder. Anything was better than dealing with Georgia. I was barely holding it together. She had to go.
I rounded the bar and spotted Georgia but stopped abruptly when I saw who she was talking to. Jude was sitting at her table with Matthew and Zoey across from him. I didn’t like the feeling I got as she openly flirted with Jude. But when she reached out and touched Matthew’s cheek, a sense of possessiveness ran through me, and I felt like bitch-slapping her skanky ass. I knew they were not my family, but damn if I would let her taint them.
I forced my feet to move and closed the distance as Jude looked up to meet my stare, the side of his mouth tipping upward in a cocky smirk. I quickly looked away from him.
Zoey turned around then, and the moment she saw me, she jumped up from her chair and ran in my direction. I lowered to my knees just in time to catch her as she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Callie,” she squealed.
“Hey, sweetie,�
� I said in return as I hugged her close, choking up. “I’ve missed you.” I didn’t know just how much until I saw her.
“We missed you too. That’s why Uncle Jude brought us here,” she said as she released her hold on my neck.
To say I was shocked that he willingly brought them to see me was an understatement. “Well, I’m glad you’re here.” I couldn’t help grinning as I got a closer look at her face. I knew I had left my makeup bag at Jude’s, but I couldn’t get up enough courage to go back to get it. I remembered how Zoey would watch in amazement when she found me in the bathroom applying eye shadow.
“My makeup looks good on you,” I said. Her cheeks reddened, and she looked down like she was embarrassed. “You can have it.”
“Really?” she asked as she lifted her head, and that smile I adored had returned. I nodded, and she hugged me once more.
Looking over her shoulder, I found Georgia staring at me as if I had just interrupted some intimate moment she was having with Jude and the kids.
“Jett needs to see you in his office,” I told her, and she narrowed her eyes at me. “Now.”
“But I have tables to take care of.”
I closed my eyes tightly, relishing Zoey’s hug before I had to face the ugliness once more. I released Zoey, and she made her way back to the table as I stepped closer to Georgia. I was doing my best to keep our conversation as quiet as possible. The guests did not need to see or hear it. “Now you and I both know I’ve been waiting on over half your customers since you got here today. So you stepping away to go to Jett’s office won’t matter. I have it covered.”
Georgia huffed in frustration and pushed past me. I had the urge to yank on her hair as I stumbled, but I took a deep breath instead.
“Rough day?” Jude asked. He had heard me bitching about the waitress’ laziness and clumsiness on more than one occasion.
