“Are you saying you’re tired of my cooking?”
I laugh at that. Nothing about Callan is tiring, and in fact the more time I spend with him, the harder it’s going to be to go back to my place when the summer comes to an end. But it must come to an end. My heart sits a little heavy at that truth.
“I love your cooking. I’ve just been around kids so much I forget what it’s like to be an adult.”
“You do need a break,” he says.
“Spoken like a true single dad.” I smile as I glance at all the happy kids getting dressed for the float as an achy need grips my stomach. I think the clock is ticking on my maternal instincts. I swallow, and glance at Callan, wishing he wanted the same things as me, but he doesn’t.
Then again, we have been playing house and having fun. Is it possible that he’s moved on, able to accept the past and move into the future, one that’s filled with a wife and more children? Or am I simply wishing for what I want? Yeah, I’m sure that’s probably all this is, and I’d be wise not to get my hopes up.
“Come on,” he says, and puts his arm around me. He walks to a vendor selling drinks and gets me an orange juice. My heart wobbles at his sweetness. “Drink this and go sit there while I get the float hooked up to the truck.” I sip my juice and do as he says. But I get antsy sitting, so I jump to my feet, and gather up the kids and we all finish our costumes. As I look at all the kids dressed as nature’s animals, I help them onto the float. Soon enough, we’re moving along, and we’re tossing candy into the crowd.
We all smile and wave, but my smile dies a quick death when I spot Brad. He’s standing there in his casual clothes, his gaze latched on me. My heart stalls at the strange look on his face, and I falter a little.
“You okay, Gemma?” Kaitlyn asks.
“Fine, sweetie. Just the movement made me a bit dizzy.”
The truck pulls us along, and I think we’ve lost Brad until I see him moving through the crowd, following us. What the heck is he doing? I catch his eye again, and he crosses his arms and stops. I haven’t heard from him since we visited my parents. A few times I thought I spotted him on the street, but in the end, I simply chalked it up to worry. I’m pretty sure he got the hint when Callan and I presented a united front. So why the heck is he here now? It has to be a coincidence. Nothing else makes sense. Right?
I briefly close my eyes to pull myself together and reach into the basket to toss out more candy to the crowd. I push Brad from my thoughts and brush it off as nothing more than a fluke meeting. Lots of people are out in the crowd watching the parade. That’s what people do at parades.
When the parade comes to an end, and all the candy is gone, I help the kids from the float, and wait for their parents to come collect them for the barbecue the firefighters are putting on. I shade the sun from my eyes, still a little spooked at the way Brad was smirking at me, when all of a sudden someone grabs me from behind. I scream, like actually scream, and all eyes turn my way.
“Whoa,” Callan says, “I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he says, his voice deep and reassuring. He turns me, and his gaze narrows. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He looks past my shoulders. “What’s going on, Gemma?”
“Nothing really. I saw Brad in the crowd.”
He stiffens. “Did he say something? Do something?”
“No. It was just strange seeing him, I guess.” I inhale when the scent of food reaches my nose, but instead of teasing my appetite, it makes me feel a bit nauseous. “Let’s eat. I’m starving,” I say, wanting to change the subject, even though I’m unable to dispel the twisted, angry smirk on Brad’s face.
Callan hesitates for a second, but when Kaitlyn comes bounding over, grabbing both our hands so we can swing her, he relaxes. We grab a couple of hot dogs and find a seat at the table. I nibble on mine. I don’t want Callan to think anything is wrong, even though seeing Brad again has really thrown me off. I changed my number again after the family gathering, and I’ve not been back to my small townhouse in ages. Is it possible that he’s been looking for me? As a police officer, he’d have no trouble finding out where Callan lives.
That thought gives me pause, and a huge stomachache. Surely to God, Callan and Kaitlyn aren’t in any danger, right? Brad has a temper, but he never laid a hand on me before. He might not have left any physical evidence of his abuse. But there was abuse. Still, I don’t think he’d go after Callan.
“Gemma,” Callan says. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” I say quietly. No sense in hiding this or trying to change the subject again. Callan can read me like an open book. “I guess…it was weird seeing Brad.”
“Weird how?”
“I don’t know. The way he looked at me seemed almost…threatening.” His jaw clenches with an audible click. “I’m sure it’s nothing, though. Maybe I’m just imagining things.”
“How about I have a talk with him? Find out what he’s really up to.”
I give a fast shake of my head. “No, I am not dragging you into this.”
“I’m already in it, Gemma,” he says.
I take a big breath. “I’ll call Mom and Dad later. Just see if he’s been coming around, or asking about me.”
“Okay,” he says, even though he doesn’t seem satisfied by that suggestion.
I take a big bite of my hot dog, chew it and force it down. I follow it by a big drink of soda, the carbonation actually helping a bit to settle my stomach.
“Daddy, can we have ice cream?” Kaitlyn asks.
“Of course,” he says, and pushes from the bench. We both take Kaitlyn’s hands like it’s the most natural thing in the world, like we’re a little family, and head over to the table where they’re scooping out big cones for the kids.
Mason comes up to us. “After the fireworks, the guys are headed to shoot some pool, why don’t you come along?”
Callan briefly hesitates, and I nudge him. “Go ahead.” Honestly, it’s been so long since he’s been out with his friends, I sort of feel guilty for hogging all his attention. “I’ll take Kaitlyn home after the fireworks, and get her ready for bed. We could use some girl time anyway.”
“You sure?” he asks.
“Unless you’d rather her paint your nails tonight.”
He grins, and makes a move to kiss me when he remembers Kaitlyn is standing there staring up at us.
“Are you going to be my mommy?” she asks, and as Callan and I go still, Mason gives a low, slow whistle and slaps Callan on the back.
“On that note…I’ll see you tonight, bud,” he says and walks away.
Callan opens his mouth and closes it, clearly not knowing how to answer so I come to his rescue. One thing is for certain, the shock of her suggestion—written all over his face—is a good indication that me being his daughter’s mommy is something he’s not interested in.
“No, Kaitlyn,” I say, and swallow against the rawness in my throat, because when it comes right down to it, I would love to be a permanent member of this family. But Callan is not interested in a wife, or more children. “We’re just friends.”