“Would you like to come in, dear?” my mother asked.
Callie’s eyes were still wide as they darted from me to Mom and back again.
“Ma, I don’t think–”
“Sure,” Callie said, interrupting me. “Thank you.”
Mom stepped aside as Callie walked into our house and my worlds collided.
It felt like this moment should be more dramatic. Maybe some crashing symbols or thunder and lightning to symbolize the enormity of what was going on. Instead, my mother offered to make Callie some tea as she took a seat on our couch.
“That would be great. Thank you so much, Mrs. Carter.”
She waved a hand, her smile bright. “You call me Nora, sweetie. And I didn’t catch your name.”
“Oh, sorry. I’m Callie McCoy.”
Mom’s eyes widened along with her smile. “You wouldn’t be related to Abraham and Beatrice, would you?”
Callie shot a questioning look my way before she turned back to my mom. “Those are my siblings.”
“Oh, my goodness! How many are there of you?”
“Five, ma’am.”
“Five! Oh, lordy. You kids must have been a handful growing up.”
Callie’s smile dimmed the smallest bit and my heart tightened in my chest. “That’s what I’ve heard, ma’am.”
“Nora,” Mom repeated. “Enough with the ma’am stuff.” She shot Callie a wink before turning toward me. “Wyatt, you entertain our guest while I grab us all some tea.”
I glanced at Callie, making sure I avoided her eyes like the coward I was. Her expression was clearly unhappy, although she was putting on a good show for my mom. Which led to my next spineless act. “Ma, why don’t you sit with Callie and I’ll make the tea?”
That would serve two purposes. First, I could take care of Mom and get her off her feet like I’d been trying to do all day. And second, it would prevent me from having to be alone with Callie. I knew the time was coming when I’d have to face her, but the longer I could put it off, the better.
Like I said, coward.
“That sounds great, Wy.” She sat down on the couch next to Callie, her face still beaming. “Don’t forget to grab some of those little cookies you brought home.”
“Got it,” I mumbled before hightailing it out of the living room.
Once in the kitchen, I took a minute to close my eyes and take the first deep breath I’d allowed myself since I heard the knock on our door. I couldn’t believe Mom had answered it herself, and it was an even bigger shock when it turned out to be Callie on the other side.
Although, I shouldn’t have been that surprised. There was only so many times you could disrespect a woman like Callie before she came looking for her pound of flesh, and it seemed like my time was up.
With a shake of my head, I filled the kettle and put it on the stove to boil. I took my time gathering milk and sugar for the tea, in absolutely no rush to come face to face with Callie again.
What was I even going to say to her?
I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone, but I can’t do anything about it?
That was about as bad as walking away from her moments after sharing the most life-altering kiss of my life. Even now, I could vividly remember how soft and warm her lips were. How easily her body fit against mine.
Sorry I kissed you then ran away, but I really can’t get involved?
Even more lame.
You wouldn’t want anything to do with me if you really knew who I was?
But now she did know, didn’t she?
I’d been so desperate to hide the secret of who my mother really was. Especially from Callie. I wanted to bask in the way she looked at me a little longer before she found out. Before her looks of lust turned to disgust and I was discarded by her like I’d been by every other woman I’d ever been involved with.
I clenched my hands into fists and shook my head to rid it of those thoughts. I needed to get over Callie, no matter how hard it might be. I couldn’t pursue something with her and take care of Mom. Especially when this thing with Callie promised to be as consuming as it was.
I knew it would be all too easy to lose myself in her. To completely let go and fall into her pale blue eyes. To kiss her again without having to stop myself. Without having to walk away from her. Without having to avoid her eyes so I didn’t have to see the anger and disappointment and hurt in them.
Hurt that I’d put there.
I really had made a mess of things. Worse, it seemed like every time I was around her, I dug myself a deeper hole. Did something else to confuse her and then left. It wasn’t like me and I hated myself for it.
I sighed loudly as the kettle started whistling. Pulling it off the stove, I poured the hot water into my mom’s serving pot. I checked to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything and took a fortifying breath before grabbing the tray and leaving the safety of the kitchen.
“–and by the time I turned around, he had his pants around his ankles and his little weenie in his hand yelling ‘Mama, I got a firehose like the fireman!’.”
“Oh my God.” Callie giggled.
“Oh my God,” I groaned, my face instantly heating. “Please, Ma. Not the penis stories.”
My mother turned to me with a sweet smile on her face and a vindictive glint in her eyes. “Oh, but I have so many, baby.”
I shook my head as I placed the tray on the coffee table in front of her. Mom wasted no time picking up a teacup and pouring some water in it for Callie.
“Then there was this time he got it stuck in–”
“All right! Enough stories about my junk.”
“Don’t call it junk,” my mother reprimanded.
“I preferred firehose,” Callie chimed in.
I met her eyes for the first time that day and that crazy thing that always happens happened. The whole house got still and quiet except for the two of us. Something in me reached out to her instinctively. Almost like my soul was communicating with hers.
I shook my head and accepted the cup of tea my mom handed me. “I don’t care what you want to call… it, but we’re not talking about it anymore.”
Mom sighed, but there was still a wide smile on her face, and I was grateful for it. Even if it came at my expense.
“All right, Wy, I’ll quit embarrassing you.”
“It’s not your fault he’s given you so much material to work with,” Callie muttered into her teacup.
My mom snickered.
Snickered.
I didn’t think I’d ever heard her make a sound like that in my life. And it was all because of Callie. She seemed to bring out something in her. Some carefree happiness I hadn’t seen in so long.
Mom sighed and stood up, her joints audibly cracking as she did. “All right, I know Callie came here to talk to you, so I’ll leave you kids alone. You can head back to the garden if you need some privacy.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, not sure if privacy would be helpful in this situation. Last time we were alone, I’d kissed her. Although, judging by the way she looked when she got here, I had a feeling kissing was off the menu.
Which was something I should have been happy about. I just needed to remember that.
“You have a garden?” Callie asked.