Candle In The Wind

Chapter Twenty Seven

Then Came The Rain

“You kissed him?”

Ava smiled.

I nodded.

“Can’t say I didn’t see it coming.”

She raised her cup of coffee against her lips then took a sip. “How was it?”

I took a sip of my own coffee. “How was what?”

She sent me a long look and left me to fill in the blanks.

I placed two fingers over my lips and closed my eyes, still smelling Callum on me—he smelled sweet and pleasant, a mix of cedarwood and lavender. And that kiss was the safest I felt in months. It was a moment written so well I knew I’d think about it during unpleasant times. It was a memory I found myself holding onto because it provided me with so much comfort.

“It was stars and fireworks.” I smiled.

Ava chuckled. “Not many women kissed a guy and said it was stars and fireworks, that’s—that’s a really high rating, Jules.”

I smiled, “yeah, Callum is something else.”

“Not to interrupt the girl talk that’s happening here but, Jules, your toilet’s broken,”

Val said as he wiped his hand with napkins from the table next to him.

My brows furrowed. “What? You knew?”

“Yeah, I just decided not to tell anyone,”

he said sarcastically, “of course I didn’t know, I was just using the bathroom and it wasn’t flushing.”

Ava looked disgusted, and my mouth dropped. “Val—”

“No, it wasn’t number two.”

“Okay,”

I released a breath, “I can call a plumber or some repair services.”

“Or we can just rent a shop vac and unclog it ourselves,” Val said.

“Yeah, you guys do that, I’ll take care of the customers,”

Ava said as a customer walked through the door.

“Welcome to the Barn!”

I immediately greeted the customer then turned to look back at Val who had his hands on his waist waiting to hear what I had to say about his shop vac idea.

I finally nodded. “Yeah, Val, great idea, go rent us a shop vac.”

“Alright then,”

he smiled, “be back soon,” he said as he walked off.

I walked back to my office and sat in my chair. I placed a hand over my stomach as I opened my phone and looked at the recent call log. The same Unknown ID had called over and over again—and since I picked up the phone once with that number, I knew who was calling.

I knew the voice behind that number.

My finger hovered over the number as my breath trembled.

I didn’t know what to do with all this fear inside of me, fear that he would find me again. I wanted to let go—but I couldn’t. I was scared—I was scared that if I really did let go, what happened last time could happen again. Everything was so different now. I had more to lose than ever, and that made me more vulnerable than I’d ever been.

I couldn’t lie to myself and say that he wouldn’t be able to find me because he already got a hold of my phone number.

So, letting go wouldn’t be simple.

I set the phone down and leaned back as I took a long breath trying to relax myself, and when that didn’t work out I moved to my birthing ball and started bouncing up and down, practicing my breathing for birth.

I’d been trying to work on my birthing plan since it seemed like I’d be on my own anyway. Ava and I were still working on the playlist, and since I’d started sleeping in my office, having the baby was now a lot more complicated. I was trying to save up the first few months of rent to afford a place to stay or to at least move back to where I was before.

Ava was even trying to talk to me about a baby shower but I had too much going on to be thinking about throwing a baby shower.

I was still bouncing on the ball when Ava knocked on my door. “Jules, you have a student,” she said.

I smiled, “yeah, I’ll be right there.”

Jacks has been coming every week for his throwing lessons. He was one of the three kids I’d been teaching since I opened. I wanted to start teaching groups but that would require more than three kids. But Jacks was still my highlight of the week. He was so patient and funny, and he had this way of matching people’s energy. It was the brightest part about him, no matter what the situation was, he didn’t dwell on it for too long and I found that a little sad because that’s what being a kid is all about.

“Hey, Jacks.”

I smiled as I walked into the art room and as expected, he was ready in his seat patiently waiting for me to begin today’s lesson.

“Hi, Miss Juliette,”

he said as he smiled back, “how’s the baby?”

“Still trying to come up with a name.”

I glanced at him over my shoulder, grabbing a few items from the shelf.

“I thought of one.”

“You mean another one?”

Every week he comes by with at least three rather unique names for the baby. “Last week was Desmond, Ben, and Bernard.”

I chuckled, “what you got today?”

“Michael,”

Jacks said.

“Michael?”

I grinned. “Well, now that you mentioned Michael I’ve always liked Micah.”

“Micah’s pretty cool.”

He nodded. “What are we making today?”

“For the last two weeks we made pinch pots—you’re officially next level now,”

I looked at him to catch the excitement from his eyes, “so today we’re making a succulent planter.”

“Succulent planter?”

“Yeah, I’m sure your mom will love it.”

“She has a little garden.”

I beamed. “Well, how about that.”

He smiled.

“Today you’ll learn how to throw, decorate, and glaze a succulent plant holder.”

I tied my apron around my neck and stood in front of my station while Jacks watched me from his. “I’m going to list all the tools we’re using so you can get familiar with the names just like I always do.”

He nodded.

“Today we’ll be using a sponge, needle tool, wire cutter, small red rim, loop tool, wooden modeling tool, kemper circle clay cutter giffin grip, and finally, a mardili bat system.”

I took a deep breath. “It’s a mouthful I know.”

“I can tell this is a sponge.”

He grabbed the yellow sponge and waved it.

“That’s good Jacks.”

I laughed. “What about the brush we’re using today? Do you remember it?” I lifted the brush so he could see it.

“Yeah, it’s a fan brush.”

I smiled. “Good.”

We got started on working with the stoneware clay. Jacks was becoming familiar with centering his clay, so that part was simple to guide him through. And the fact that he caught on pretty quick when it came to learning made teaching him easy, and that meant we moved fast.

I watched him carefully use both thumbs to open his clay like I suggested. Jacks looked like he was holding his breath. The corners of my mouth twitched because if I remembered it correctly, I used to be just like that.

“Relax, Jacks, I know it seems like the plate is spinning too fast, but you’re actually in control so just…breathe.”

He nodded then took a breath.

He continued opening the clay with his index fingers on the side of the clay.

“Can I ask you a question, Miss Juliette?”

I looked up at him as I started opening my clay/ “Sure.”

“How old were you when you started doing this?”

“Pottery?”

“Yeah.”

“Um,”

I moved my head as I tried to shake some hair out of the way, “I think thirteen.”

“So I could get better then?”

He grinned.

“Better than me?”

He nodded. “If I keep taking lessons until I die, I might get better because I started out younger than you, right?”

I chuckled. “Right on, you’ll have more years on me, especially now that I’m having a baby. I don’t think I’ll have time to make pots and pans.”

His brows furrowed as he quickly looked up at me and his clay mashed into a ball because his whole body moved with the action.

“You can make pots and pans?”

I shook my head as I laughed. “No, Jacks, it was a joke,”

I kissed my teeth, “well, I could make pots and pans but I wouldn’t be able to use them.”

“Why not?”

“You have to start over, Jacks,”

I said when he tried to reform his clay without throwing it again. “And pots and pans made out of clay aren’t suitable for fire.”

“It would be nice if it was,”

he said as he recreated the hole in his clay.

“I agree. Now let’s check for the thickness at the bottom, shall we?”

Once we agreed that the thickness was good, we compressed the bottom of the clay then raised the walls until it started to get to the desired height.

“I love this part so much,”

Jacks said as he pulled up his clay.

“Add more water if you feel any friction, Jacks,”

I warned as I brought the walls of my clay up.

“Now curve the planter out by gently pushing it from the inside. Gently,”

I pressed.

“Got it,”

Jacks whispered as he focused on his planter.

“Collar in the rims with both hands, and keep using water, and make sure you’re also removing water out with your sponge,”

I said as I watched him. So far he was doing great. He was a true natural at this.

Once we got through the worst, we smoothed the rim with the edger. Then we smoothed out the side with the red rim. After making the double-edge foot with the edger, we created the drainage hole at the bottom of the planter.

With the help of the giffin grip and the loop tool we trimmed some of the bottom of the planter.

For the decorating part, Jacks made his planter look tie-dyed. And I mostly drew flowers on mine.

Once Jacks left after his session, I helped Ava restock a few things we were running low on, took care of a few customers, and I finally got around to eating the sandwich Ben-Ben made for me as well. He made one for Jacks before he left too and I gave him an orange juice to pair it with.

Our toilet was working again. Ava told me Val came back when I was with Jacks and fixed the toilet himself.

“It’s beautiful,”

Ava said as I added my planter on the shelf for sale.

“What happened to the green vase?”

I asked when I spotted the empty vacant spot on the bottom shelf.

“Someone bought it.”

She smiled as she pushed the strap of her purse over her shoulder.

It was already closing time.

“That’s great.” I smiled.

She bobbed her head. “You closing again?”

I bit my lips as I awkwardly nodded.

Ava’s been making me feel awkward about closing my own store for days now. It felt like she was onto me.

“I thought I could throw away the trash before heading home,” I said.

“I could’ve done that.”

I shook my head. “It’s alright,”

I whispered, “go home.”

“I don’t like it when you close alone, Jules.”

“Live together, die alone,”

I whispered under my breath.

Ava laughed, “Oh my god, have you been watching Lost?”

I immediately nodded, “You watch that show too?”

“I used to, I stopped at season four.”

“Why?”

“I hit my last straw, the characters were so unbearable.”

She rolled her eyes. “I only liked Sun and Jin.”

I suppressed my smile. “I like Locke, he’s crazy and that whole kidney thing,”

I laughed, “it was fucking evil but so funny to joke about.”

Ava laughed as she shook her head. “You sure you don’t want my help with that trash?”

I nodded.

She pressed her lips into a thin line. “Get home soon, it’s supposed to rain tonight,”

her eyes softened as I nodded, “goodnight then.”

“Goodnight.”

I smiled, closing and locking the door behind her, then walked off into the kitchen still laughing about how John Locke’s father stole one of his kidneys.

I collected all the trash into one big bag and went out the front door.

I grunted as I pulled the bag up, but it kept slipping and I wasn’t even half way out of the door yet.

“Juliette!”

a voice called out and my head turned in the direction.

It was Callum, rushing out of his car and coming to my rescue.

When he finally reached me, he grabbed the bag out of my hand, “stay here, I’ll take care of the trash,”

he said, then disappeared behind the building.

When he came back, he was dusting his hands off.

“Thank you,”

I whispered, still trying to catch my breath.

“Of course.”

He nodded. “Why are you still here?”

My brows furrowed. “I’m closing my shop, why are you here?”

I looked up at him.

“You’re here,”

was all the explanation he offered. “Are you still closing or will you be heading home now?”

“I was thinking of making some tea, you want a cup?”

Cal bit his lips then smiled. “You know I’d never turn anything down from you, sweetheart, but why are you stalling?”

“Stalling?”

I repeated as I pretended to be offended or confused. “What? I’m not stalling, why would I be stalling?” My brows pressed together. “How long have you been out here anyway?”

“Just an hour before closing time,”

he shamelessly admitted.

“Did you talk to anyone?”

He nodded. “I talked to Ava.”

I sighed as I pressed my lips together.

“Why are you sleeping in your office, Juliette?”

Cal asked as he tilted his head to the side, cornering me as he looked right through me with his piercing blue eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,”

I mumbled.

“C’mon, Julie,”

his voice was at a plea, “this can’t be good for the baby. Being vulnerable isn’t a flaw, being too proud to admit you need help however—”

“I’m not proud,”

I cut him off as the sky cracked with thunder and rain started falling down. In just ten seconds we were practically drenched, it was coming down strong.

“I’m embarrassed,”

I screamed over the rain, “you practically opened my shop, Callum, all I did was decorate it…with the money your brother gave me for artificially impregnating me with his baby.” My chest rose and fell as my breathing quickened with the rain falling harder than before.

“You’re just doing the best you can, Juliette,”

he yelled over the loud pouring rain, “this life…you didn’t ask for it, none of us did. All we can do is the best we can with what we’ve got, so screw anyone who tries to make you feel ashamed or embarrassed or even silly about anything you’ve done to live because they’ve never lived a day in your life, they never walked in your shoes. They don’t know the first thing about you.” His breath quickened as he took a step closer in front of me. “You don’t have to be embarrassed in front of me at all, Julie, you’re the furthest thing from whatever it is that you think you are,” he said softly.

My eyes softened as tears welled into my eyes.

He took another step and this time he cupped my cheeks. He looked into my eyes and my lips started to tremble.

“How could I ever judge you for trying to live, Julie? How could anyone?”

My nose flared as my throat burned from holding back a loud sob, but I still didn’t say anything.

“Move in with me,”

Cal said. And since it was raining so loud I thought it was a mistake—I heard it wrong, and my vision was blurry from the rain and the tears still at bay so I waited for him to repeat himself again.

“Move in with me, Julie. I live on a ranch, it’s a little far from here but it’s nice, I’ve got three horses, couple pigs, chickens, and some cows, goats. They’re all good, patient and kind with people—”

“The animals?”

I finally spoke as I broke out a smile. “Am I supposed to move in with you because of the horses, the cows, and the goose?”

He laughed. “And because I’m the baby’s uncle. It’s what Ardley would probably want.”

I nodded. “We kissed.”

I watched his expression change into a confusing one, like he didn’t know if us kissing was a deal breaker or not. Then he swallowed, pushing everything he felt aside.

“If you don’t want it to happen again, I completely understand—”

I pulled him in for another kiss.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close as I kissed him—this kiss was sloppy compared to our first one, it was like he knew exactly what he wanted and nothing or anyone else could change his mind.

His hands dipped and fell onto my ass, he grabbed a fistful of it and pushed his tongue into my mouth. I groaned as our tongues danced and the rain kept falling and falling. My heart pounded out of my chest, and his tongue was massaging mine, tasting me every now and then he sucked my tongue and gripped my ass harder with a ragged groan leaving his lips.

Callum kissed like a starved man—I wasn’t even sure he was capable of pulling away from this and I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to.

I fisted his hair and kissed him harder at the thought of letting him go and in response he bit my bottom lip before letting go then pushing his tongue into my mouth again, kissing me deeper this time.

A thunder clapped in the sky and that shook me out of our trance as I pulled away.

Cal chuckled. “You scared of a little lightning and thunder, sweetheart?”

I rolled my eyes as I nodded, frantically looking around.

“That’s cute.”

He grinned before leaving a quick chaste kiss on my lips. “So is that a yes on moving in with me?”

I tilted my head back with a smile. “What do you think?”

“I’m thinking about the cold shower I’m gonna have to take, sweetheart., seemed like the rain wasn’t nearly enough.”

I raised my brows as I laughed, slapping his chest as I walked back into my shop, “I’ll take what I need to your truck,”

I said as I laughed.