by Diann Hunt
“What do you mean?”
“For Brad. I knew you would be the one to straighten him out.”
Uneasiness filled her. The last thing she wanted to talk about was Brad, especially with his grandmother. And what did she mean by “straighten him out”?
“Would you like me to open the blinds for you?” Callie asked, already walking toward the window. “A little bright light might cheer you up.”
Gram chuckled softly. “Trying to change the subject, eh?” She straightened the sheet over her chest. “Probably just as well. I called Brad and asked him to come visit me. He should be here any minute.”
Callie whipped around. “You called him to come over during my appointment with you?” Her eyes narrowed. “Gram, if I didn’t know better, I would say you were trying to play matchmaker.”
“Just wanted to have my favorite people around.”
Her comment warmed Callie, though she still planned to make a hasty exit before Brad got there.
Too late. Callie’s breath stuck in her throat when she saw Brad and Annie in the doorway.
“Hello, Callie.” The haircut and color Callie had given Annie Sharp did her a world of good. She was an attractive woman, but life had strained her joy, making her look older than her years, Callie suspected.
“Hi, Annie. How are you?”
The woman brightened. “I’m doing better every day, thanks to you and Brad.”
Callie cast a glance his way, then looked back at Annie.
“How so?”
“You’ve helped me care again. About life. I’d pretty much given up.”
Callie walked over and grabbed her hand. “I understand.”
“The doctor put me on some medicine that seems to help.” She leaned in to Callie. “And I’m seeing a counselor to help me with Nicole’s death.”
Callie gave Annie a hug. “I’m so glad you’re getting some help.” When she let go, she saw Brad watching them.
“So, how was the dedication this morning?” Gram asked.
“It went well, don’t you think, Callie?” Brad studied her in a way that caused her stomach to flutter.
“Yes, it was wonderful.”
Brad went on to explain the events of the morning and how the house couldn’t have gone to a more well-deserving family.
“Yet you’re still ready to go,” Gram said with obvious disappointment.
He frowned at Callie, then looked back at Gram. “Why do you say that?”
Her bony shoulders lifted in a weary shrug. “You always seem to be chompin’ at the bit to get out of here, that’s all.”
“Now, Gram, you behave yourself.” He tried to joke it off, but Callie could sense his tension, just the same. “I haven’t been given my next assignment yet. I’ve got plenty of time.”
Gram seemed to relax. “That’s nice to know.” She reached over and patted his hand. “I like having you around.”
Callie didn’t dare look at him. He would think she had put Gram up to it, for sure.
“I like it, too,” Annie said. “But I know you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“And what is that, Brad?” Gram asked.
Callie could sense that Brad felt as if they were all ganging up on him. The conversation suddenly seemed uncomfortable.
Before he could speak, Callie said, “We have to go where our dreams take us—or leave us.” Callie smiled at Gram. “Where did your dreams take you?” She kept her eyes firmly fixed on Gram, though every square inch of her was aware of Brad’s gaze upon her.
“To Brad’s grandpa. Oh, I didn’t care where we lived. We lived here because we grew up here. In those days we didn’t flit off to other places on every whim.” She turned to Brad. “Not implying that that’s what you’re doing, Brad. I know you’re helping people, and that’s good. The important thing is to make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.”
Every nerve in Callie’s body tensed. It was as though Gram had eavesdropped on their conversation.
“But my dream was to work alongside the man I loved and to build a family,” Gram continued. “And that’s what we did.”
“You’ve had a good life, haven’t you, Mom?” Annie asked.
“It’s been a great life.” She lifted that gnarled finger. “And it ain’t over yet.”
Later, when Callie walked out to her car, she thought about Gram’s words. That’s the kind of life Aunt Bonnie and Uncle George had. They didn’t go to faraway places, but they had each other. They were living their dream—being together.
Maybe one day she could have that.
Chapter Twelve
“So how does it feel to be finished with your community service?” Heather asked as they jogged together after work.
“Great.” The ache in Callie’s heart told her otherwise, but she’d get over it.
Heather gave her a sideways glance, and Callie searched for another topic of conversation. Her friend knew her all too well, and she wasn’t up to a conversation about Brad today.
“Any plans for tonight?” Callie asked, ignoring the knowing look on Heather’s face.
Heather gave a nonchalant shrug. “Got a date with a new guy in town.”
Callie shook her head. “You have all the luck.”
“Yeah, right. Do you know how tired I get of the dating scene? Sometimes I just want to say forget it and not even try anymore.”
“Can we take a break? I need some water,” Callie said, slowing her pace.
“Sure. We can sit on that patch of grass over there,” Heather said, pointing.
“Great.” Callie pulled her water bottle from her backpack and held the cold drink against her face and neck.
“It is warm today, but it’s almost summer so I guess we should expect it.” Heather took a long swig of her water.
“So who’s this guy?” Callie said with a smile, refreshed from her drink and enjoying the rest.
Heather frowned. “How come we can talk about my dating life but not yours?”
“Oh, that’s easy—yours is much more exciting.”
“Well, not much to tell. He’s single. He heard I was single, and I think he needs a friend because he’s new in town.” She shrugged again. “He seems nice enough.”
“Wish I could do that,” Callie said.
“Do what?”
“Have noncommittal relationships.”
“Isn’t that what you and Brad are doing?” Heather asked, putting the cap back on her bottled water.
Callie let out a long sigh. “Supposedly.”
“Uh-oh, what’s that mean?” Heather stretched her legs out in front of her.
“Just that we try to stay friends, but then something always happens.”
“Such as?”
Callie looked at her.
“Listen, Cal, we’re good friends. Good friends are supposed to dig for information. You have to share. That comes with the deal. So spill it.”
Callie chuckled. “It’s just that we say we’re going to be friends, then we have a disagreement over something and then he kisses me and confuses everything—”
“Wait, whoa, stop right there.” Heather turned to her with eager eyes. “You’re saying that Brad Sharp kissed you, and you didn’t tell me about it? I can’t believe this.”
“I’m sorry, Heather. I just haven’t been able to talk about it. Everything is so confusing.”
Heather studied her. “You really care about him, don’t you?”
Callie hated to answer that, but it was true. “Yeah,” she said, defeated by the admission.
Heather took another drink. “Well, I’m not seeing the problem here.”
Callie turned to her, tears blurring her vision. “It would never work. He wants to traipse around the world, building homes for people, never settling down. I’m not about that, and you know it. I’m a homebody. I would never leave my family. Besides, there’s plenty to do right here in Burrow.”
“That’s true en
ough. I guess I was wrong. You’re not in love, after all.”
Heather’s words irritated Callie. “Why do you say that?”
“Well, the way I hear it, when you love someone, you’re willing to do most anything.”
“Well, the way I hear it, if someone loves you, they wouldn’t ask you to do something you were dead set against.”
“True love is patient, kind, not self-seeking,” Heather said with an irritating smile.
“To use your term, ‘whatever.’” Callie got up. “I need to get back and check on Chaos.”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry.” Heather stood. “Still, it’s something to think about.”
Callie said nothing. She was tired of trying to explain herself. It was her business where she chose to live her life. And she could manage it on her own, thank you very much. Well, okay, so she wasn’t doing such a great job just now. But still.
“So, how’s Chaos?” Heather asked as they started to jog again.
Callie knew that was Heather’s way of smoothing things over. “He’s doing all right, I guess.”
“That doesn’t sound very convincing.”
“I just feel guilty leaving him so much. Now that the Sauderses’ home is finished, I should be home a little more, but still he’s alone most of the day. Not much of a life for a puppy.”
Heather seemed to weigh her words. “You could always give him away.”
Callie looked at her. “Is that what everyone does? When things get hard, just walk away?”
Heather stopped jogging and put her hands on her hips. “Are we still talking about your dog?”
Callie ran her hand through her hair. Her mood was in the gutter, and she didn’t know why she was so upset.
Heather sighed. “Listen, Cal, sometimes the best thing to do is to offer your loved one a better chance.”
“Is that what you think he did, offered me a better chance?” Tears pooled in her eyes, but she didn’t care. “My dad just left me, Heather, when I needed him most. Mom was gone and it hurt something fierce, but having Dad beside me helped. Then he walked away and never looked back. How could he do that?” She brushed the tears away with annoyance. She didn’t want to be weak. Everything was bothering her all of a sudden.
Heather reached out to her, putting her hand on her shoulder. “I don’t know. But we don’t always know why people do the things they do. You want to give Chaos a better life, and that might mean a different home for him. Maybe your dad thought he could never give you the life you deserved, and he knew his brother-in-law and sister could.”
“So why didn’t he ever contact me?” Tears spilled down her face now.
“Oh, Callie.” Heather pulled her into a hug, allowing her to cry till she was spent. “Are you okay?”
Callie nodded, cleaning her face with tattered tissue from her pocket. “All these years of waiting.”
“I know,” Heather said. “People show love in different ways. But whatever his reason, good or bad, you’ve got to let it go. It’s eating you up.”
Callie thought of that statement all the way home. People show love in different ways. How did she show love?
“So, how’s it going?” Ryan grabbed a wooden chair. The legs scraped against the hardwood floor as he sat at the table with Brad at The Beanie Cup coffee shop.
A steady stream of customers kept the line going while a few retirees sat in cozy corners with the morning paper spread out before them. The whir and grinding of coffee beans hummed under the morning pleasantries between customers.
“Pretty good.” Brad was suspicious. Ryan had called and asked Brad to meet him. Brad wondered what could be so important that it couldn’t wait until later. Usually when Ryan set up a get-together, he was prying into Brad’s life.
“Yeah?” Ryan pulled the lid off his coffee and blew on it. “They sure make these hot.”
Brad took a drink from his latte. “What’s up?”
Ryan looked puzzled. “Can’t a guy meet with his brother without an agenda?”
“Sure he can. But I’ve never known you to do that.”
For a moment Brad thought he saw a flutter of pain in Ryan’s eyes. He wished he hadn’t said that.
Ryan sighed. “Look, Brad, I know sometimes you think I’m overstepping my bounds with you, but it’s always because I’m trying to help in some way, okay?”
“Yeah, I know.” Brad didn’t really want to have this discussion. He had a job to get to. The painters would be at the new job site soon. Then he wanted to drop in on the Sauders later, when they were home. Callie had been watching Micah, but Mick had told him that Andrea’s hours were getting changed at the diner and she would soon be able to be home with her daughter. He was glad. Callie already had a lot on her plate.
Callie. Always Callie. Did she have to consume his every waking thought?
“Brad, did you hear what I said?” Ryan stared at him.
“Huh? Oh, sorry.” He shook his head. “Just thinking about some things.”
Ryan leaned back in his chair and studied him. That always made Brad uncomfortable. Ryan was up to something. He could feel it.
“I hear you’re doing a great job on the Make a Home projects. You’re finishing up your third house now, right?”
“Yeah. I’ve enjoyed it.”
“You’re a gifted carpenter, Brad. Great supervisor, too, from what I hear.”
Brad almost fell off his chair. His brother was a no-nonsense kind of guy, not big on praise. “Thanks.”
Ryan leaned into the table. “What would you think of doing this on a full-time basis?”
Brad nearly choked on his latte. “What—what do you mean?”
“Just that some of the businessmen in town think it’s a great service to the community. They want to donate more, make it a major community project. Help our own—that kind of thing.”
Brad stared so hard he practically put a hole through his brother. Had Callie talked to him, too? Or maybe Gram?
Ryan studied him. “They’d like you to head up the projects here in town.” He smiled as though he’d just found the solution to world hunger.
“You know I want to build homes in third-world countries, Ryan. I really enjoy doing that work.”
Ryan shrugged. “This is the same thing, only on your own turf.”
Brad rubbed his jaw unconvinced.
“If it’s just a matter of helping others, you could do that here, right? Or is it that you want to travel?”
Ryan was trying to pin him down, make him come to terms with his motive. That’s exactly what drove him crazy. He didn’t owe an explanation to anyone.
“All I ask is that you think about it. This whole concept is in the beginning stages. You don’t have to make a decision overnight. But within the next month or two, they’ll need an answer,” Ryan said.
“I can tell you now,” Brad began.
Ryan held up his hand. “Think about it. More important, pray about it.”
Brad could hardly argue that. He would pray about it, but his gut told him he was already on the right track. He’d just allow some time to lapse so Ryan wouldn’t badger him about it. Then he’d be home free.
Soon he could get on with his life.
Strolling up the sidewalk to the Sauderses’ new home, Callie could see why Brad loved helping people this way. It gave life meaning. She was glad she had decided to rearrange her work schedule so she could watch Micah at her home. It was only for a few hours a week. She could do that.
“Chaos, no.” Callie tugged the leash so Chaos would stay on the sidewalk and not track dirt into their home.
The Sauderses’ yard was still leveled dirt, but Callie spotted a few sprouts of grass poking through here and there. Hopefully, they’d have a lush lawn by next year. Still, the house looked fresh, new and polished. Perfect for their little family.
Callie rang the doorbell and watched at the window to make sure Micah looked before opening, which she did. When she saw Callie, her face lit up.
&
nbsp; “Hi, Miss Callie.” Micah’s face still wore that out-of-school-for-the-summer glow. Her eagerness made it all worthwhile—the extra hours she had to make up at work, the missed sleep, all of it.
“Hi, Micah. I have a surprise for you.” Callie pulled on the leash and Chaos padded into view.
“Chaos!” Micah squealed and scooped the dog into her arms while Callie edged past them through the front door. It was easy to see who was important around here.
It appeared Andrea and Mick had been quite busy. Everything seemed pretty much in place, with only a couple of unpacked boxes here and there. The smell of fresh paint still scented the air.
Going through their normal routine, Callie fixed mac and cheese for Micah while Micah romped with Chaos in the living room. Andrea showed up earlier than expected, which worked out well, since Callie had to get to the salon for an appointment.
“Are we all set for the weekend? With Micah going to her grandmother’s for the week?” Callie whispered.
“Yes, we’re all set.” Andrea smiled. “Her grandparents can hardly wait to have her. Though they’re only three hours away, it’s hard for them to come visit. They will have a great time. And she will be so surprised when she gets back and finds the playhouse.” Andrea’s eyes sparkled. “You and Brad will make a little girl very happy.”
“She makes us very happy,” Callie said quietly.
“Would you like us to watch your dog tonight while you go to work?” Andrea asked.
“We can watch her dog?” Micah started jumping up and down, which caused Chaos to do the same.
“Micah, settle down,” her mother said. “It’s up to Miss Callie. I merely offered.”
“Could Chaos spend the night, Mommy, please?”
“It’s up to Miss Callie. I told you.”
“You’re okay with that?” Callie asked.
Andrea brightened. “Sure we are. We love Chaos. He’s like one of the family.”
“He is trained, but you’ll have to watch him. When he’s ready to go outside, he’ll let you know, but he’s not real patient.” Callie laughed.
“No problem. We’ll watch.”
“Well, if you’re all right with it—”
