With eyes locked, the space between them disappeared ever so slowly. “Yes?” he whispered, looking to her lips.
She let her gaze fall to his mouth as well, a strange force drawing her closer. Silence stretched out between them; the espresso machine gurgled at the bar and some dull conversation hummed in the air from other tables, but Calli forgot what she’d been thinking.
After a moment, the intensity of the connection passed, and he said, “Would you join me for dinner on Saturday?”
“Yes.”
There wasn’t thought. The word had escaped without permission. What was she going to do now? But she forgot about that, too, as the gap closed, and their lips met in a soft, chaste kiss that hid some underlying, electric, and base need.
Chapter 12
Calli
“Give me hugs,” Calli reached her arms wide to both Jax and Kent. Tonight was the first time they’d be leaving to spend the official four days with Bennett, and though they’d spent a night here and there with their father, this seemed more permanent. They were so close to leaving the nest for good, to going off to college or whatever path they chose, that it grated on her to know she’d be deprived of a third of what little time she had remaining. This was part of the hardship she thought she had been avoiding by staying in a dead marriage for so long. Reluctantly, though, she had to admit that her life away from the DB had been much better, even with the divorce negotiations and these times forced apart hanging over her. Heck, Jax was working now anyway, and Kent would likely be soon if he could keep his grades in a spot where he could spare the time.
Kent was the first to come into her arms. He was silent but tense.
Calli held his face to hers and said, “Hey, Superman.” When he looked at her with eyes softening, she continued, “You have your mobile. Text if you need anything. Call anytime. I know you don’t like to take them on the weekend, but don’t forget to take your meds tomorrow and Friday before school.”
“Okay, Mom,” was all he said as he hefted his backpack and went out the front door.
She turned to Jax. He didn’t look worried, exactly, but annoyed that he’d be away from his room and his setup for a few days. Being her young man and already setting his own ways, he liked his space. She pressed her lips into a line, then said, “I know it’s not your responsibility to look after your brother, but . . . well . . . you know how he is, and you know how your father is with watching him.”
Jax stepped closer. “Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll be okay. Just wish Dad didn’t insist on picking us up. I’d like to have my car there.”
“I know. He’s being a little weird about it. Give it a few times, and I’m sure he’ll be happy to not have to transport you.” A honk came from the drive. She squeezed her son and tucked her head as she nudged him toward the door. “I’ll see you on Sunday.”
In the kitchen, she tossed a frozen dinner in the microwave and grabbed her phone.
Cat:Hey sis.
Cat:I’ll be over after 7 after hockey practice.
Cat:Oh, and I talked to mom today. Dad’s got something in the cities soon. He wants you to call.
Calli’s sister had a much better relationship with their mother due to her ability to just let things roll off her back. It didn’t matter what good old Mom said, Cat just rolled her eyes and let it go. Calli wished sometimes she could be as tough, but most of what her mother said seemed judgmental or self-absorbed and stabbed her somewhere personal. When Calli decided to leave the family business, that had been the first divide that really stung. She wanted her mother to support her no matter what she did, and it wasn’t like she had been off making nothing of herself or partying away her life. She had still gone to college and held a bachelor’s degree with honors.
The microwave beeped, calling Calli from her musings. She pulled back the plastic, stirred, and put it back in for two more minutes. In that time, she picked up the phone and dialed her dad’s mobile.
“Hi, Callista,” Richard Lindley’s rich voice came over the phone. He had been her rock growing up, and she always felt reassured by hearing him call her name.
“Hi, Dad. Cat said you wanted me to call?” She turned on the speakerphone and left it sitting on the counter.
“Oh, yeah. Hang on a sec.” There was some rustling in the background, and she heard the distinct whine of the door to one of the greenhouses.
As she waited, her measly dinner finished cooking, and she plopped the plastic container on the counter to let it cool.
“All right. I have to come to the Cities to give a lecture at the U next week. I was wondering if I could stay at your house?”
“Of course, Dad. You don’t ever have to ask that. You’re always welcome here. When are you coming?”
“Oh, the lecture is Monday morning. I’ll be up on Sunday night.”
“I’ll have the guest room ready. Is Mom coming too?”
“No, she has a benefit that she’s hosting at the church that weekend. Will Kent be around?”
Calli grinned at him asking after her little superman. “Yeah, they come home on Sunday.”
“Do you think he’d like to go to the lecture with me? We can go to the botanical gardens afterward.”
“I’m certain he’ll love that, Dad, but he has school on Monday.” Calli’s dad remained silent, and after a minute, she added, “But I think I can get him excused. It’s educational after all.”
“Thanks, Callista. I’ll see you then. Love you.”
“I love you too, Dad. Drive safely on your way up.”
~ ~ ~
A few hours later, the alarm beeped on Calli’s back door. “Hey, Cal, where are you?”
“In here, Cat,” she called from the den.
From the hall, Calli heard some thumping and fumbling around as Cat took off her shoes and coat. When she was done, the fridge opened and glass clinked, then her sister finally found her way into the den where Calli was already curled onto the couch. She held two open beers and wore sweats almost identical to the black ones Calli had slipped into after dinner and a nice bath. Cat was her mirror image, a sensation she’d known all her life but one she knew was rare in the world. She had often wondered over the years how others would feel coming face-to-face with someone whose every curve, color, and structure was identical to their own. They’d had fun with it as girls from time to time, but had never quite pulled off a full swap. Their mother always seemed to know who was who. After becoming a mother herself, she understood how a mom learns the very essence and feel of each child as if they were a part of her. Confusing them would be like confusing your right hand for your left leg.
Cat plopped down beside Calli so that their shoulders touched and said, “How are you?”
“Happy you’re here.” Calli tried to smile but her lips just wouldn’t turn up.
“Been a rough week?” Cat took a swig of the beer and came away with a loud sigh as she read the label. “That’s hoppy.”
Calli reached hers over and clicked the necks of the bottles together. “Just the way I like my beer.”
“So . . . what are we watching tonight?”
“Something mindless.”