While Callie tried on clothes, Sadie went over and spoke to Biff, and when she returned, she had a big smile on her face. “What are you so happy about?”
“Al’s has a contract with Orange County, so they have our logo. He’s making her two T-shirts with our logo on them, one in dark green and one in white, which is the motors color. Anyone can buy them, they just never make kid sizes.”
I cupped her face. “Thank you, you are making such a difference for Callie.” I leaned in and kissed her. “And me.”
The dressing room door opened, and Callie stood there in pink camouflage cargo pants. “You look awesome. What do you think?” Sadie knelt in front of Callie.
“I like them. Can I get these?” She glanced up at me, and I nodded.
“Why don’t we also get them in plain black?”
“Are two pairs of pants enough?” I asked.
“We will do pants and then a few pair of shorts from here and then head over to another store.”
“I need some shirts,” Callie said.
“I’m on it.” Sadie gave a thumbs-up.
We walked out of Al’s with several bags of clothes and shoes, and Callie was trying to change in the car. “Can I put my sheriff shirt on now, like Sadie is wearing?” Sadie waited for me to answer.
“Yes.” My heart stopped when Sadie unfastened her seat belt and then climbed into the back. I glanced up in the rearview mirror, saw that no one was behind me, and pressed hard on the brakes, not quite slamming them, then turned into the first parking lot I found and pulled to a stop. “Please get your seat belt on, now.” Yes, that was panic in my voice.
“I am, I just wanted to get back here and help her.”
“We could have done that once we were parked.” Each word was accentuated.
“I’m fine, Ryan. But I promise not to do it again.” I couldn’t answer her, so I just nodded, letting her know that I heard.
I regained my composure and then pulled back onto the street once Sadie was fastened. “Where to now?”
“Tanger Outlets.”
“Where?” I asked again, having no clue where she was talking about.
“The outlets on International Drive.”
“Oh, hell no. Can’t I just pay full price and avoid that mayhem?”
“Nope, there are stores there that we can’t find anywhere else. Sorry, buddy.”
“Yeah. Sorry, Daddy, we have to go to the . . .”
I laughed when I heard Sadie whisper, “Outlets.”
“Outlets.”
“Two beautiful women against one man, not fair.” Callie giggled. I locked eyes with Sadie in the rearview mirror.
She mouthed, I’m sorry. But she didn’t get it, there was nothing to be sorry about. As much as I pretended to hate the mayhem—okay that wasn’t pretend, I really did hate it—I would venture out in it ten times to see Callie like this and see her respond and interact with someone like she was.
When Sadie led us to the next store, I almost thought it was a joke. “Bass Pro, are you serious?”
“Trust me.” Sadie patted my arm. Callie giggled.
Leaning close, I whispered, “Sorry about freaking out in the car, but I get nervous when people aren’t secure in vehicles. I’ll explain later.”
“I’m a deputy, I understand and truthfully, I know better. I was just excited for Callie, you weren’t going fast and no one was around us. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything like that again.”
“It’s more than that, it’s . . .” I squeezed her hand as I said it.
“Callie’s mom?”
“Yeah.”
“There, now I know. We don’t have to discuss more unless you want to.” Sadie squeezed my hand in return.
God, she made this easy.
Bass Pro ended up having a lot for Callie, and we picked up a full stock of jeans, denim shorts, and basic shirts. Sadie took Callie over to a rack where bandanas and belts hung. “We are going to get a few accessories, okay?”
I smiled as Callie took in every word as if it were gospel. By the time we made it over and through Justice, Callie had an entire new wardrobe and I was exhausted.
When we turned on Sadie’s road, Callie freaked. “No, Sadie, don’t go. Not yet.”
“Callie, I’m just running inside to get something real quick.”
“You promise?” My daughter’s tantrum ended as swiftly as it started, and she blinked wide eyes at Sadie.
“I promise. I’m coming right back out and then I’m coming over to your house for a while.”
“What are you getting?”
“A surprise, you’ll like it.”
“Okay, but hurry. I’ll count.”
Once I stopped, Sadie got out and ran in. “Callie girl, you like having Sadie hang out with us, don’t you?”
Callie nodded, not stopping her counting. Thankfully, Sadie must have packed a bag for Wasabi earlier, because she came out carrying two bags: one was plastic and the other a pet carrier. Since she had full hands, I slid from the car and opened the back door for her. “Where do you want him?”
“This bag buckles in to a seat belt, but let me get him out so Callie can see him before we strap him in.” She unzipped the carrier, and Wasabi lunged for her.
Callie screamed.
“This is Wasabi, he’s my dog. He’s going to come over to your house and play today, is that okay?” Sadie handed him to Callie, and the dog began washing her face as she giggled like a madwoman.
“Oh, Sadie, I love him. He’s so little, he’s a baby.”
“He isn’t a baby. In fact, he’s older than you are.”
“He is?”
“Yep, he’s just tiny.”
“Can I hold him until we get home?”
“No, he has to get into the seat belt just like you. We want him safe, don’t we?”
15
Sadie
Ryan released his hold on my hand as we pulled in front of a sprawling house. I was very familiar with this area and had seen many of the homes, but it was still shocking to envision someone living here, especially when I had a duplex and had grown up in a small Florida cracker box house with two bedrooms. I was way out of my league. Shit, that’s when it hit me . . . Wasabi.
“Sadie, are you okay?” I nodded. “You look freaked out, what’s wrong?”
“I was just thinking about Wasabi.”
“What about him?”
“Your house, what if he has an accident?” I rubbed my hands on my shorts, trying to wipe off the sweat.
“Does he usually have accidents in the house?” Ryan asked, somewhat puzzled.
“No, not since he was a puppy.”
“Then why are you worried?”
“I don’t know, I just am.”
“You’re crazy, now come on, food is getting cold.” Ryan was out and opening the back seat to unfasten Wasabi while Callie was busy grabbing her bags.
We walked in and the first thing that seemed to catch my eye were photos along the wall. I wanted to look at them but, at the same time, I didn’t want to come across as though I was gawking. My curiosity got the best of me and I looked. Holy hell, she was beautiful, I felt sorry for whomever Ryan fell for next, because there was no way she could compete with that. The woman looked angelic. She was a combination of Martha Stewart, Mother Theresa, and Miss America all rolled up into one.
“That’s my angel-mommy.” Callie’s soft words seemed to carry. Glancing up, I noticed that she was standing in the living room watching me.
“She’s very beautiful, but you look just like your daddy.”
“That’s what Nana says.”
“Did I hear my name?” A woman, who was obviously Ryan’s mother because she looked just like him and Callie just older, stepped around the corner. “You must be Sadie. We didn’t get to officially meet that day you saved our Callie . . .”
Our Callie? Her words punctuated something, and I liked that emphasis on the word our. It was as if she knew that I cared about Callie, an
d I did. Not sure why it was this kid out of all the kids I’d met over the years, but it was.
“I’m Kathryn, Ryan’s mother.”
“Hi, Kathryn. That’s my middle name.”
“It is? I knew that I liked you. And who do we have here?” Callie had removed Wasabi from his carrier and held him up for Kathryn.
“That’s Wasabi.”
“Oh my word, that is a perfect name, and his haircut? How funny. He is adorable.” She took him from Callie, and Wasabi greeted her with a face bath like he did everyone while I moved to unpack his food.
“Why don’t you wash your hands and then we can eat before you give Nana a fashion show?” Ryan walked up to me, wrapped an arm around my waist and led me into his home.
This was another huge difference. I rode my bike, got fast food, and ate. Never once thinking about washing my hands. I was always on the fucking go and never really took germs into consideration like he did.
I willed myself to relax, and by the time we were seated, I was totally at ease.
“So, Sadie, how long have you been a deputy?”
“Eight years, I went right into the academy after high school.”
“And have you always been a motorcycle deputy?”
“No, only five months. I’m still new.” I twisted my neck and slowly took in everything around me as I answered him. “I was a road deputy before this.”
“Did you not like being a road deputy?”
“That’s not it, motors is just different. I like the feel of being on the motorcycle.”
“Believe it or not, I’ve never been on one,” Ryan stated.
“I want to ride a motorcycle,” Callie exclaimed.
“When you’re older,” all three of us said in unison as the cell phone on the counter started to ring. Callie jumped up and ran to answer it.
“That’s my phone.” She grabbed the cell phone and looked at it. “It’s Grammy.” Ryan and Kathryn let out mutual groans. “Hi, Grammy.”
Callie brought her phone over to the table and slid back into her seat.
“I got her a phone to keep in her backpack. It is for emergencies. After that whole debacle, I want to know that she always has a way to call for help or I have a way to call her. We have it set up so that no calls can come in except those listed as her favorites and all notifications are turned off.”
“The school doesn’t mind?” My question wasn’t answered, because my name in Callie’s conversation captured all of our attentions.
“No. Sadie is here. She spent the day with Daddy and me. She helped me pick out new clothes that are Callie clothes. I also got boots that look just like hers. She also got me these really cool sheriff’s T-shirts.” Callie waited a few minutes and then answered. “No, but Wasabi is here, that’s her dog. Yeah, she brought her dog over with her.” Callie waited another second and then answered whatever was asked. “I don’t know.” She pulled the phone away from her mouth. “Daddy, do you kiss Sadie?” She paused to listen again before saying, “Oh, sorry, never mind, Daddy.”
“That’s enough. Tell your grammy that we are eating and she can call you later.” Ryan had obviously reached his breaking point.
“Daddy, Grammy wants to know if she can get me tomorrow morning. They’re going to Animal Kingdom.”
“I hate these games. She tells Callie these things so that I’m the bad guy if I say no,” Ryan whispered to me before taking the phone from Callie. He stood and walked into the other room, but I could still hear him. “Louise, I’m tired of these games. I’ve told you not to ask Callie about stuff like this, you ask me. You write me horrid emails about what a bad parent I am and then you ignore my parental rules. I’m removing you from Callie’s phone, and if you continue to undermine me, there will be no more visitation. I’m tired of the manipulation. Callie can go, but she is to be home by seven because she has school on Monday. All future contact will have to be cleared through me first.” There was a short stretch of silence, which I assumed was Louise yelling at Ryan. “I’m out of line? I’m not the one grilling a six-year-old about someone else’s personal life. Whether or not I kissed someone is none of your business.” I was so uncomfortable sitting there listening to him. “No, it is not. My wife died, remember? I’m single and have been for four years” . . . “No, I haven’t forgotten, I have a beautiful little girl who reminds me every single day. I’m done with this conversation, I need to hang up or my next words will be that she can’t go. So, stop . . . now.”
Callie moved from her chair and disappeared for a second then came back with Wasabi. “Don’t bring him up to the table,” I whispered. She sat on the floor petting him while Ryan continued talking in the other room.
Everything went silent and Kathryn and I stared at each other for several minutes. I needed to go home. Ryan’s family obviously wasn’t ready for him to be dating, and I wasn’t ready to be in the middle of drama.
I tensed as he walked back into the kitchen and sat. “Callie, you can go tomorrow but listen to me.” Callie’s eyes widened and she nodded to let him know he had her full attention. “If you get uncomfortable, if Grammy or Aunt Sonya start asking you a lot of questions about me or Sadie, then just call me, okay?”
“Okay, I promise.” Ryan handed her phone back to her.
“Keep that with you at all times. Now, hop back up and finish eating.”
She glanced to her plate and then her brow furrowed into cute lines. “I’m done, Daddy.”
There was a beat of silence as Ryan clearly debated arguing, his mother debated whether to intervene, and I shifted uncomfortably. It got to be too much, and I ended up cracking.
“That’s a neat phone,” I said, trying to lessen some of the tension.
“Can I have your number, Sadie?”
I glanced to Ryan, who nodded. “Okay, but this is my personal phone so don’t share it. It’s just for you, okay?” Callie nodded. I leaned over and helped her create a new contact and then added my number. “Voila, Sadie Lazar. There you go.”
Callie looked at it. “But it doesn’t show up on my screen.” Callie held out her phone.
Ryan reached for her phone. “We have to move it to your favorites so that it’s an approved number. Daddy will go online and add it on your account, okay?” I gave him a quizzical look. “I have to say, they have phone safety for kids down to a science. Now, if they could just figure out how to stop solicitors, I’d be happy.”
“Word.” I gave him a weary smile because I was still uncomfortable. “Thank you for dinner.” I pushed back my chair and began cleaning up the mess of fried rice and broken fortune cookies no one wanted to eat, and the sticky sauces that had dripped everywhere. “Do you have containers you want me to put these leftovers in?”
“Just toss them, no one will eat them,” Kathryn instructed.
“You’re joking. There are two containers of fried rice that we didn’t even open.”
“I know, but this family has never been a leftovers family.”
“Fine, then if you all don’t care, I’m taking them. I’m single, so it saves me from figuring out what to eat.”
“Absolutely. I’ll put it all in a bag for you and set it in the fridge.” She scooped up as much as she could carry, which was pretty much all of it, and disappeared into the kitchen.
“I’m going to go change into my first outfit, come on, Wasabi.” Callie raced off, picking up a few bags on her way back to her bedroom.
Warm, strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind me. “You ready for this fashion show?”
I turned, and we were almost nose-to-nose. “Why don’t you spend time with Callie and your mom? I can call an Uber.”
“Hell no. I want you here, unless you want to leave, that is.”
“Ryan, look . . .”
“Oh, god.”
“What?”
“You sound like you’re trying to prepare me for bad news.”
“I just think that maybe we’re moving too fast. Obviously, your family i
sn’t ready to see—”
“My family? From what I see, my family is fine with everything. Or do you mean Callie’s other grandmother, who is absolutely no relation to me and has absolutely no say in my life? You’re going to allow her to dictate how you feel about me?”
“It’s just that . . . you were so upset.”
“I was pissed because she was manipulating Callie. Instead of asking me, she puts me in a position where, if I say Callie can’t go, then I’m the bad guy. I’ve asked her not to do it, but she ignores me. And she was obviously grilling Callie about you and me. I don’t play those games. I’m just pissed, not at you but at the situation. You haven’t met this woman, but she and her daughter are horrid.”
“Umm, well, I have met them.”
“You have? When?”
“They picked Callie up from school one day, and let’s just say they weren’t too happy with the fact that she liked me. Or that, according to them, they paid my salary and I was obviously goofing off with Caroline instead of working.”
“I’m sorry. I need to figure out what to do, but I will. Please stay. I want you here.” Ryan cupped my cheeks and gazed into my eyes. He lowered his lips to mine, and I forgot what it was I wanted to do. Leave? No . . . stay. Yeah, that was it. Stay right here and do this with this man all night.
16
Sadie
I grabbed squishy—you know, the oldest pillow you have, that is too smooshed to sleep on but perfect to cuddle with—and rolled over, pulling it tight against me. I had no clue what I was doing. Was it just Callie getting close or was I getting close too? I stared at my clock and watched as the numbers flipped to six-twenty. Balling up my fist I hit my mattress, there was no way. I hadn’t slept one bit and it was already morning. There was one person that I knew was always up at this time, even on the weekends. Snagging my phone off my nightstand, I dialed and waited for her to answer.
“Hello sweetheart, you’re up awful early.”
“Hi Margaret.”
“What’s wrong, Sadie? You don’t sound like yourself.”
Book'em Sadie (Iron Badges #1) Page 11
