by Nicole Helm
Lawson and the boys would be arriving any minute.
It hadn’t been that long since she’d seen them. Without fail, Lawson always brought the boys home for Christmas, even if Sue didn’t make the trip with them. But those visits were brief—a flurry of activity, food and wrapping paper, and then they’d be off again.
This was different.
After running AIF jointly with Em for two years, they were about to add a new voice to the mix. The extra hands would be welcome, but Callie had a few reservations about Lawson taking over Gramps’s role after so long.
The role of president wasn’t one Callie wanted. Callie wanted to focus on planes, just like Em wanted to focus on her library and museum. It made sense, but Callie couldn’t help but wonder if they were handing over a big piece of power to someone who had no idea what he was getting himself into.
It was Lawson’s rightful place, and yet he’d left AIF at eighteen when Sue demanded they move to California so she could pursue her acting career. Twelve years he’d been gone. What did he know about Antiques in Flight now?
Wrong thinking. AIF was in the blood. They couldn’t punish Law for caving to his wife’s demands. Of course, if he hadn’t knocked up the biggest bitch in Pilot’s Point when he’d been sixteen, he never would have left with her.
Callie sighed, squinting down the gravel road. Didn’t matter. Law had made his choices and they were what they were. Now he was choosing to come home and AIF would have to support three more Bakers.
Failure became more of a burden. As if on cue, that burden arrived.
The sound of gravel popping under tires had Em standing. Callie could make out a small SUV flitting behind the trees. For reasons Callie couldn’t understand, tears sprung to her eyes.
Lawson was home. Her family was in one place. When Lawson stopped the car and stepped out, Callie had to actively blink back those tears.
Em rushed into Lawson’s arms, tears already on her face, as always leading with her heart. Callie hung back, feeling caught.
It seemed forever ago Em had accused her of having walls built up, of never expressing to Lawson all the frustration she felt, all the reasons she wanted him to come home. Because she’d held that in, she’d mainly held herself apart. So much so it was hard to move now.
When Em finally relinquished Lawson, it only took his hazel eyes landing on her with trepidation to have her crossing the short distance between them.
She paused for a moment before powering through the uncertainty and letting her heart do the leading too. She hugged Lawson, hard, and said the words she felt. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Me too, Cal,” he replied, returning her hard squeeze.
Brandon and Evan stepped out of the car, gingerly stretching their cramped limbs. They were two younger versions of Lawson, the Lawson Callie remembered as a boy. Gangly with shocks of dark brown hair and skin tanned by the sun.
Brandon, the oldest at fourteen, didn’t look too enthused to be here. He had Sue’s eyes, a vibrant, cat-like green. His scowl looked permanent, like it had become his relaxed expression. Callie recognized something in it. The hurt of abandonment and the desperate attempt at toughness behind it.
Sue had always been a shitty mother, but Callie doubted Brandon or Evan felt they’d be better off with her half a country away.
“We’re glad you’re here.” Callie pulled Brandon into a hug. He stiffened, but after a moment hugged her back.
“Thanks, Aunt Callie.”
Callie smiled, she liked the familial endearment even if it wasn’t technically, biologically accurate.
Evan bounded around to where Callie stood, bouncing up and down with a sunny, ten-year-old enthusiasm, a direct contrast to his brother even if they looked so much alike. Callie bent down to bring him into a hug too.
Lawson went to the trunk of the car and popped the lid. Inside were the haphazard belongings of three very disorganized men. Evan looked around as if he’d landed on an alien planet. Brandon kept the scowl on his face and hefted a big backpack onto his shoulder. The three Baker men paused for a second, looking at the house before them.
“You’re home,” Em said, completely unfazed to be shedding a few more tears.
Callie and Em helped to unload the car, slowly picking away at the squished boxes, bags and random items until the car was empty and the contents had been put inside.
Lawson brought the last load in, set the box down in the kitchen, and looked around.
“Wow, this is weird.” He let out a breath. “It’s exactly the same.”
“Yeah, and it’s yours.” Callie patted his shoulder.
The grin made the skin around his eyes fold into wrinkles. “You have no idea how happy that makes me.”
Callie couldn’t fight it any longer, and a few happy tears spilled over onto her own cheeks as well.
They did their best to get everything settled, the necessities unpacked. Well, mainly Em, Lawson and Brandon did all that while Callie kept Evan busy and out of the way. They ate dinner together, like a family, and something about the whole evening had Callie feeling whole.
She wasn’t sure she’d ever felt that in her adult life.
After Lawson put Evan to bed and Brandon went to his room to try and get his computer connected to the Internet, the adults retired to the porch. The same porch they’d spent summer nights on as kids, catching lightning bugs or dreaming about the future.
Lawson sat on the swinging loveseat, his ankles crossed on the bench in front of him. Em sat next to him, curled into the corner. Callie took her usual spot on the railing. The night above was clear and perfect and for the first time in a long time, optimism won out.
Her family was in one place and AIF would be okay.
“Am I really here?”
“Home sweet home,” Em replied, moonlight illuminating her wide grin. “Just wait until we go up to AIF tomorrow.”
Lawson shook his head. “I can’t believe it’s real. I’ve been dreaming about this for years.”
“Then what took you so long?”
Lawson and Em’s heads both snapped toward her and Callie winced at her own words. She hadn’t meant them to come out sounding so harsh. Especially with how good she was feeling, but part of her had to wonder why this good feeling was so late in coming.
“Callie, come on. It’s his first night.”
“No, she’s right.” Law straightened in the seat. “It’s a fair question. Why not tonight?” He looked down at the can of pop in his hands. “From the moment I got Sue pregnant until only a few years ago, everything I did was because of two things. Guilt or the kids. Once the guilt was gone, it was all about the kids. I can’t feel bad about that.”
Callie swallowed. Guilt wasn’t permanent. Eventually it had lost its hold on Lawson. That was good for AIF, but it made her think about Trevor.
“When wasn’t guilt enough? I mean, when did you really decide to come back?” Callie wished she could eat her own words the minute they were out of her mouth, because they weren’t about Lawson. They were about Trevor.
He shrugged. “When there was nothing left to feel guilty for, I guess. When I found out Sue was cheating on me any guilt evaporated. Then the divorce and all that, well, I was trying to keep the kids in one piece. Once I knew coming home wasn’t just for me, once I knew it was for the boys too, then it was just a matter of getting Sue to agree. Which took way too fucking long, by the way.”
“Damn right it did.” Em patted Lawson’s arm, nodding emphatically.
Callie couldn’t focus on Lawson’s drama. She was too busy thinking about her own. Every instinct told her no matter how Trevor talked or how sweetly he kissed her, there was no way she was going to let him stay in Pilot’s Point. Because she wouldn’t be enough to keep him, never had been.
Chapter Fifteen
It took less than a week for the new Baker additions to fold into the AIF goings on like they’d always been there. With each passing week of having her family in
one place, of having three volunteers throw their all into AIF, Callie’s mood improved. If that wasn’t great on its own, there’d been enough flurry of activity to keep her from dwelling too much on Trevor.
Which was essential, because though Shelby’s graduation party had been weeks ago, Callie could still remember that kiss with perfect clarity. Being legitimately busy and avoiding being alone with Trevor were about the only two things keeping her sane.
Today was different. She was beginning to realize she wasn’t alone in putting up a wall; Trevor had been keeping his distance too. He’d been uncharacteristically quiet and introverted.
It made sense. He had a big decision to make. The right thing for him to do was head back to his normal life once September rolled around, but guilt was keeping him in limbo.
Callie wished she knew what to do to make it go away for him, but she didn’t think even Shelby taking back whatever she’d said to him at graduation would ease Trevor’s guilt. He always took on too much and took it too hard when he couldn’t find the perfect plan to solve a problem.
For the past few weeks, Em had announced a mandatory Friday lunch for all AIF employees and volunteers. Everyone would squeeze onto the picnic tables outside the Canteen with sandwiches or barbecue, chat about the week behind and the week to come, and bond.
It was a wonderful tradition, one that seemed to cement everyone together in the common goal of keeping AIF afloat, but Callie had been making a distinct effort to keep from sitting next to Trevor on these Friday lunches. Today she couldn’t muster the indifference. He was looking more and more miserable with each passing day, and she missed him.
If only there was a way to be his friend without all the other stuff getting in the way, but she was struggling with that line between friend and something more. In all her attempts not to lose him, she’d pushed them halfway there. He’d still be the first one in line if she needed help, but the day-to-day friendship that had bloomed since he’d been back was gone.
He might as well be in Seattle for as much time as they spent together.
She squeezed next to him on the picnic table and set a Mountain Dew in front of him. “You look like you need the caffeine.”
He smiled and said thanks, and if she didn’t know him so well she might have thought she was overreacting. But she knew him, and he wasn’t himself.
Before Callie could come up with a joke or something light to say, Em slid next to Trevor on the other side. “Someone please come up with an excuse for me tonight.”
“For what?”
“Billie’s rehearsal dinner.”
Callie immediately scowled. She hated that Em was in this damn wedding with Frank, but she’d been so wrapped up in all the other drama in her life she hadn’t had time to worry over it. “Isn’t Pete going with you?”
“He has to work, which means Frank and I get to be all nice and cozy.” Em grimaced. “I can’t believe I let Billie talk me into walking down the aisle with him. He’s so handsy. Blech.”
“You shouldn’t have let her.” Trevor bit into his sandwich.
Em shrugged, plopped her chin onto her hand. “It’s not my place. It’s her wedding and her husband-to-be happens to be friends with…” Em trailed off, glancing at Callie and then the ten-year-old standing next to them. “A not so nice person.”
“He hasn’t turned over a new magical leaf and become a considerate pillar of society then?” Callie asked, earning a grin from Trevor.
“Not even a little. When the groomsmen were in town for the bachelor party Billie made the whole wedding party have dinner together, and Frank spent the entire time trying to convince me his divorce was days away from being final.” Em shuddered. “Even though his mom is friends with my mom and, unless he’s lying to his mother, he’s not even separated from his wife. And I told him I was dating Pete. But he wouldn’t back off. Ugh.”
“You never told me about that.” Callie didn’t like it one bit. Frank should know better than to try and hit on her baby sister.
Em shrugged and avoided Callie’s stare. “I didn’t want you to get all angry about it and do something stupid, like come to the wedding.”
“I am coming to the wedding.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I sent in my RSVP the minute I got the invite. You’re crazy if you think I’m not going to keep my eye on that bastard when he’s got his hands on you.”
Em leaned closer to Callie, so that they were both squishing against Trevor in an effort to argue with each other. “We’ll be in a church. There’s not much Frank can do to me in front of Pilot’s Point and God. Pete will be there at the reception.”
“Pete’s a wuss,” Callie replied with a disdainful snort.
“I hate to agree with Callie on this, but it’s true. Pete isn’t exactly the protector type.”
Em scowled at Trevor. “I can take care of myself, guys.”
“Of course you can.” Callie smiled. “And I can take care of Frank.”
“Oh no.” Em groaned, smacked her forehead with her palm. “She’s morphing into Bad Girl Baker. Somebody stop her.”
Em wasn’t far off. Part of it was anger that Frank had actually spent an evening try to sweet talk her sister, enough for Em to call him handsy—a protective instinct kicking in—but part of it was something a little more self-gratifying. Callie felt old emotions rushing in to fill empty spaces, and those old emotions whispered revenge. Maybe it had been thirteen years since Frank Winston had made her feel like dirt, but revenge sounded really, really good.
Callie smiled wider, flashing her teeth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You shouldn’t go. You’ll end up doing something stup—” When she glared at him, Trevor searched for a better word. “Er, ill advised.”
Callie shrugged, practically giggled as her mind whirled with ideas of revenge. “It’ll be fun.”
“Trevor, you have to go with her and protect us all.” Em nudged Trevor with her elbow. “You’re the only one who can get through to her when she’s in BGB mode.”
Bad Girl Baker. Callie had missed her. The feelings of strength and purpose. New optimistic Callie was happier, but she missed this edge. This sharpness. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Yeah, you need an armed guard,” Trevor muttered.
Callie’s smile didn’t dim, and she sipped her pop thinking about all the ways to enact revenge on Frank. If he so much as laid a hand on Em that wasn’t expressly required by his groomsmen duties, well, he wouldn’t be able to walk out of Pilot’s Point.
“Who is this Frank guy, anyway?” Shelby asked.
“Just an old friend.” Callie laughed at her own joke and Shelby’s confused look.
Em cradled her chin in her hands. “Callie, you’re scaring me.”
“Oh, don’t be scared,” Callie replied. “I’m reformed, remember?”
“You don’t look reformed,” Trevor offered between bites of sandwich. He nudged her with his hip. “Go with me. It’ll be fun. I’ll keep you out of trouble.” He smiled and looked better than he had in days.
“Sure.” It would be nice to do something with Trevor again. Get away from AIF and spend some time together. Maybe it was a dangerous line to walk, but barely being a part of his life wasn’t really any better than the risk.
If letting him think he’d keep her out of trouble made him happy, it was just another benefit. Maybe with BGB taking charge, she and Trevor would finally get all the weird stuff between them out of their systems.
After she crushed Frank Winston under her heel, of course.
Trevor pulled up to Em and Callie’s cabin feeling oddly nervous. Like one might feel on a first date.
This wasn’t a date, of course. It was two friends attending a wedding together. Not to mention, he was still kind of pissed at Callie for talking to Shelby about his decision to stay or go. Added to that, she’d all but been avoiding him for weeks.
As he stepped out of the car, he wasn
’t thinking about being pissed. He was thinking about dancing with Callie at the wedding.
He knocked on the door, straightened his tie, and tried to remember he wasn’t eighteen and this wasn’t prom.
No answer. Frowning, Trevor tried to doorknob and it turned easily, so he let himself inside.
“Callie?”
“Sorry,” her muffled voice called from deep inside the cabin. “I’ll be out in a second.”
“Okay.” Damned if he could shake the teenage feeling of sick nerves. What was there to be nervous about? Other than the very real possibility Callie might throw a punch tonight or worse, but he’d gotten her out of tricky situations before.
A door creaked, and when Callie stepped into view, the words rushed out of Trevor’s mouth before he had a chance to put any finesse on them.
“Holy shit.”
She grinned, sauntered toward him. “You know, Trev, that was the exact reaction I was hoping for.”
Trevor had to clear his throat, had to look somewhere other than the dangerous dip of her dress.
She cocked her head as she pulled some big, silvery bracelet over her hand. “You okay?”
“Fucking fantastic.” He eyed a spot on the ceiling, refused to look away from it.
She laughed, a sound low and throaty, almost like she’d started smoking again. Oh, she had something up her sleeve. Except there was no sleeve on either nicely toned arm. “There’s no chance in me convincing you BGB is a bad idea, is there?”
“It’s just for the night. Enjoy her while she lasts. I’ll shut her down in the morning.” She walked past him, close enough he realized Callie Baker was wearing perfume. It had to be a first.
When she passed him, he couldn’t keep his eyes on the ceiling. The dress was something black and lacy that clung to every angle and curve leaving very little to the imagination, especially the way she was sashaying around in black high heels. The neckline of her dress plunged low, and the skirt ended well above her knees. It showed off every last asset Callie had to offer, and Trevor was having a hard time hearing anything beyond the roaring in his ears.
