Leaving Barringer

by Tina Martin

He laughed, lowering his arms. “Yeah. I got it. A good meal will do that to a man. You mind if I crashed on the couch tonight?”

  “Uh…um…” Wait, is he serious, or is this a part of the joke?

  “I’ll stay out of your way,” Garrison added. “You have extra clothes and formula here for Junior, right?”

  Oh goodness. He is serious. Calista swallowed. “Ye-yeah.”

  “Then would it be okay?” he asked again.

  “Yeah. That’s fine. I don’t have extra blankets or anything.”

  “I don’t need any. I just don’t want to be there tonight. Alone, again. I want to…I need to talk. To you.”

  “To me?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

  “Yes.”

  “Gary, you have your brothers. Kalina told me Bryson has been trying to get ahold of you. And Everson. Candice. Your parents. You have plenty of people to talk to.”

  “I do, but I want to talk to you. The night of the repast, you held my hand and told me if ever I needed to talk I could come to you, right?”

  Calista smiled warmly. “Right.” It took him three months, but he finally wanted to talk.

  Garrison stood up and walked over to the living room where he checked on Junior, adjusting him slightly in the car seat before he sat on the sandy brown, microfiber couch.

  Calista followed him, choosing to sit on the loveseat. She looked over at him. His long, outstretched legs nearly touched her coffee table. He threw his head back and spread his arms out on the backrest of the couch. “So, what do you want to talk about?”

  “The fact that I have yet to visit her grave, and I don’t know if I should. If I do, what do I say?”

  “Well—”

  “And what am I supposed to tell my son when he’s older? When he asks, where’s mommy? What am I supposed to say?”

  “That’s years down the road, Gary.”

  “I know, but this is what I think about. It’s constantly on my mind.” Garrison released a frustrated breath.

  “When he’s old enough to understand, you tell him the truth. He’ll learn the truth anyway, so there’s no use in keeping it from him. And it’s a personal choice whether you want to visit her grave, but I wouldn’t be opposed to going with you for support.”

  “You would?”

  “Yes, and I’m sure any one of the family would. I loved Vivienne, too. Loved her like a sister. We all loved her. Still do.”

  A half smile touched his lips.

  “And you can visit her grave whenever you want, however many times you want.”

  Garrison scrubbed his hands down his face. “I’m going to let you get to bed. I’m overstaying my welcome. I’m aware of that.”

  “No, it’s fine,” Calista said standing. And it was fine. She was uneasy at first, but the truth of the matter was, Garrison needed her and she wanted to be there for him. “I hope you have a good night’s sleep.”

  “Thanks again, Calista.”

  “You’re welcome, Gary.” Calista turned around to head for her bedroom when she had a thought. “Gary.”

  “Yes?” he said. He’d already stretched out on the couch, his body expanding the length of it. “Have you thought about going back to work?”

  “At Blackstone Financial?”

  “Yes,” she nodded.

  He sat up a little. “No. Why?”

  “Because working can help keep your mind off of…things.”

  “You mean Vivienne.”

  Calista nodded. “Yes. Vivienne. It helps to know you’re working to accomplish something…that you’re making a difference and from what I’ve heard, Barry could use the help.”

  Garrison lowered his head again, staring up at the ceiling. “I haven’t given much thought to going back.”

  “Well, think about it,” she said. “Oh, and I’ll take Junior in my room so you can get a full night’s sleep.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Cali. You’ve already watched him the entire day.”

  “It’s okay. I don’t mind it. I’ve been waiting a long time to take care of a baby. Looks like this is as close as I’m going to get.” She bent forward and scooped Junior out of his car seat, carefully securing his head and neck, cradling him in her arms. “Plus, his crib is in my room…can’t have my baby cramped up in a car seat all night.”

  My baby…

  “Well, if you insist.” Exhausted and full, Garrison closed his eyes.

  Calista continued on to her bedroom whispering, “That’s right, little Gary…come on to Auntie Cali’s room so daddy can get some sleep.”

  Chapter 16

  Alcohol, music and sports – the combination of the three should’ve been enough to level Barringer out for an hour or so. At least that’s what Bryson thought since he’d chosen to meet Barringer at Bayside Billiards to talk. He wanted to get an idea of how his brother was holding up with the company and with his marriage.

  Barringer took a sip of Southern Comfort. “How’s business at the tree service?”

  “It’s going pretty good,” Bryson said. “Staying busy. No complaints. What about you? How’s life at Blackstone Financial Services?”

  “Hold on,” Barringer said while he keyed a reply to a text from Colton. Colton had called him when he couldn’t reach Calista. Before their separation, Calista had scheduled Colton and his painting crew to come by the house (now Barringer’s house), to paint two bedrooms. After texting Calista’s address to Colton and instructing him to go there to talk to her about the upcoming paint job, Colton responded back with a single question mark.

  Barringer placed his phone down next to his glass, returning his attention to Bryson. “What were you saying?”

  “I was asking how business was going at Blackstone Financial.”

  “Oh.” Barringer shook his head and took another sip of his drink. “It’s not going good. For the first time in the company’s history, we may need to lay off some workers.”

  “How many?”

  “Don’t know yet. If I had to guess, I’d say between fifty and a hundred.”

  “Man…that many?”

  “Yep. If Candice hadn’t worked so hard to secure the Telmark deal, it would probably be more than that.” Barringer picked up his phone, deciding to reply to Colton’s question mark.

  Barringer: Long story. Tell you about it later.

  “Have you reached out to anyone at Blakeney?” Bryson asked.

  “I have. They told me they’re getting a better deal with advanced technology and if we couldn’t top it, there was no need to discuss anything further.” Barringer looked at his phone.

  Colton: Maybe I shouldn’t be discussing anything about the house with Cali since she no longer lives there. Makes no sense.

  Barringer frowned, shook his head and responded back:

  Barringer: Just go.

  He placed his phone down again.

  “Who did they end up going with, anyway?” Bryson inquired.

  “What?”

  “Blakeney,” Bryson said. “Who did they sign with?”

  “TCC out of Asheville, North Carolina.”

  Bryson’s brows rose. “TCC as in The Champion Corporation?”

  Did Barringer even hear his question? He was looking at his phone. Again.

  Bryson glanced at Barringer’s cell phone then back at him.

  “Colton’s texting me,” Barringer said, grunting about how much he hated texting. “He wants to know about the paint job Calista scheduled for some of the bedrooms. I told him to go by her place, but you know how Colton is. I’m surprised he hasn’t called me yet.”

  Just then, his phone rang.

  “Looks like you talked him up,” Bryson said.

  Barringer let out a rough sigh. “Colton, just go over there and talk to her, man,” he answered.

  “You don’t have her number?” Colton inquired.

  “No, I don’t.”

  “In that case, I’m canceling the job.”

  “Colt, don’t cancel the job.”


  “I booked four hours for this slot, Barry. If you don’t need the rooms painted—”

  “Go by her place in the morning, man,” Barringer interrupted him to say.

  “Why?” Colton snapped. “To get her to make design decisions on your house, because it is your house now. Why would Calista care what color your walls are? She can’t even stand the sight of you? You really think she gives a crap about your walls?”

  Colton’s words left Barringer speechless as he thought about what his rude, straightforward cousin was telling him. Calista had been gone for three months. She showed no indications of coming back. She didn’t call or text him. While he didn’t have Calista’s number, she still had his, and she made it apparent that she didn’t intend on using it.

  “Look, I’ll go over there in the morning and see what she has to say. Jeez…” Colton said before he hung up.

  Barringer mumbled his frustration and placed the phone on the bar next to his glass. “What were you saying?” he asked Bryson.

  “You said Blakeney went with TCC. I was asking you if that was—”

  “The Champion Corporation. Yes, that’s correct. You’re familiar with them?”

  Bryson nodded. “Some of my guys did some landscaping at the resort TCC owns on Carolina Beach…had no idea they were in the finance market.”

  “According to their website, they’re into everything,” Barringer said. He’d researched the company, finding out that Dante Champion was the CEO and President. His brother, Dimitrius Champion was in charge of accounts and then there was Desmond Champion who headed up marketing.

  “Maybe a meeting with them would give you some insight into what their aim is.”

  “Their aim is what every company’s aim is…to make money. I can’t have a meeting with the competition.”

  “You can if you have something viable to offer.”

  “Something viable like what? Should I just hand them all of our clients, Bryce?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying, man.”

  Barringer tossed back his drink, finishing it.

  “I still can’t believe Vivienne’s gone,” Bryson said.

  “Me either. By the way, have you heard from Garrison? I tried to call him the other day. Got voicemail.”

  “You should probably go to his house. I stopped by there yesterday…talked with him for a minute. He’s still trying to get himself in order. Said he wanted to get Vivienne’s clothes and things together soon…donate them to charity or something. You know Cali’s been watching the baby.”

  Barringer nodded. “Yeah. Guess she finally gets a baby after all, huh? Too bad I couldn’t give her one.”

  “Don’t look at it like that, man. When was the last time you talked to Calista?”

  “At the hospital when Vivienne was in labor. Saw her at the funeral and afterwards at Gary’s house, but didn’t say anything to her.”

  “Why not?”

  He shrugged. “She was pretty clear about us when we last spoke. She doesn’t even wear her wedding rings anymore.”

  “Yeah, man, but did you tell her about the baby situation?”

  “Why? She already left me. What’s the point?”

  “Are you that prideful? Come on, Barry. Tell her, man. Don’t you want her back?”

  “No woman has ever left me,” he touted.

  “Do you want her back or not?”

  Barringer spun his empty glass on the wooden bar top. “Yes. I want her back.”

  “Then get her back, man. You can’t put all this time and separation between the two of you and expect things to fall into place.”

  “You must be mistaken. I didn’t leave her. She left me. She put the separation between us. And she changed her number so I couldn’t contact her. I can’t even pick up the phone and call my wife.”

  Bryson shrugged. “So what? You know where she’s living now, right?”

  Barringer sighed heavily. “Right.”

  “Then looks like you need to pay Calista a visit.” Bryson took out his wallet and placed a twenty-dollar bill on the bar for their drinks. He stood up, patting Barringer on the shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

  “What’s the rush?” Barringer asked, not wanting to go home to an empty house just yet.

  “I have a wife waiting for me at home, man. And you have to go home and figure out a way to get yours back.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  “It is, but you have to try.”

  Barringer stood up, walking with Bryson towards the exit.

  Chapter 17

  In the morning, Calista tied a robe over the blue cotton pajama set she’d worn to bed. She took a diaper and a package of wipes from Junior’s diaper bag. Looking down at him, she smiled. He smiled back, showing her those big bright eyes and pink gums.

  “I see you smiling at me beautiful baby boy,” she said, lifting him from the crib and lowering him gently to the bed. “You have eyes like you mommy. You know that?”

  She proceeded to take off his messy diaper and clean him up with baby wipes before sliding the new diaper underneath him, fastening it. “Now we have to find you some clothes, little man.”

  She took a blue onesie from the diaper bag and maneuvered his little hands and feet into it until she could clasp the buttons. “There. Now you’re all clean and comfy. Let’s see if daddy’s awake. Do you think daddy’s awake?”

  When Calista opened the door, Garrison was sitting upright on the couch, checking his cell phone.

  Garrison looked up when he heard the door open and said, “Yeah. Daddy’s awake.” He smiled.

  Calista smiled back. “These thin apartment walls…”

  “Yeah, that’s apartment living. I especially enjoyed listening to you sing to him last night. I think you put me to sleep after Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Garrison grinned.

  Calista did too, with a red, embarrassed face. “Sorry. I don’t have the best singing voice.”

  “Are you kidding me? You sounded beautiful. Like a loving mother.”

  “Thanks, Gary. Did you sleep okay on the couch?”

  “Yeah. It did the trick. It’s comfortable.”

  “Good. I’m glad. Um, do you want coffee or anything?”

  “No. I should actually get going,” Garrison said, standing tall walking up to her to take Junior out of her arms.

  “You’re taking him?” Calista said, feeling like he was losing a piece of herself.

  “Yeah. Figured I’d give you the day off since you did day and night duty. We’ll have a father-son day today, right Junior?”

  “Okay. Let me get his car seat.”

  Once Garrison secured his son in the seat, Calista handed him the pacifier and said, “You don’t want to leave without this. It’s his favorite.”

  “Thanks.”

  She walked to the front door, opened it for him, but he set the car seat down for a moment to hug her, and it wasn’t one of those carefree hugs. He really embraced her, squeezing her snugly in between his arms while he palmed the back of her head, pulling her against his chest.

  Calista squeezed him back.

  Before they separated, Garrison left a kiss at her temple, then looked into her eyes. “Thank you.”

  Calista knew his ‘thank you’ actually meant something, because she didn’t have to do what she was doing. She could’ve declined the responsibility of taking care of Junior. Kept her job. Her freedom. But she hadn’t. She went above and beyond for Junior and for him. “You’re welcome, Gary.”

  He smiled.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat when she saw him glance at her lips. Her breath quickened when he leaned down, but relief rushed through her when she realized he was leaning down to pick up the car seat. He wasn’t trying to kiss her.

  “See you later, Cali.”

  “Yep. Later,” she told him.

  After watching him walk away, Calista closed the door, closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. Now she could breathe.

>   * * *

  After watching Garrison drive away, Colton decided to get out of his work van. He’d been watching the exchange between Calista and Garrison, confused about why Garrison was leaving Calista’s apartment at six in the morning, hugging her tight like they didn’t want to turn each other loose.

  Ringing the doorbell, he waited a moment then saw Calista snatch the door open and say, “Did you forget—? Oh,” she said with bright, surprised eyes when she realized it wasn’t Garrison. Colton was standing at her door. “Colton? What are you doing here?”

  “Your husband sent me here to ask you about the color schemes for the bedrooms. I would’ve called you but—”

  “You don’t have my new number,” she finished saying. “Right. Sorry about that.”

  “So did you still want to—?”

  “You’ll have to discuss that with Barringer. I don’t live there anymore and I have no clue why he sent you here to discuss anything with me.”

  Colton scratched his head. “Y’all are really screwing with my schedule.”

  “Sorry, Colton. I should’ve called and cancelled, but it completely slipped my mind with the funeral and everything…can you come in for a sec?”

  He frowned. “Why?”

  “Because I want to write you a check for the missed appointment. I know how valuable your time is. Come in.”

  His expression softened as he stepped inside. He looked around, scoped out the place. When Calista opened her bedroom door to get her purse, Colton saw the unmade bed. He didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but it nagged him to have seen Garrison leaving so early in the morning and now an unmade bed? Then Calista had on a robe – what was going on?

  “Here you go,” she said, handing Colton a check.

  Colton took it from her grasp. He looked at it. Eight-hundred, seventy-five dollars.

  “I know your cancellation fee is a few hundred lower, but I owe you.”

  “Thanks,” he said, sliding the check inside his back pocket. “Hey, did I see Garrison leave a few minutes ago?”