Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
It didn’t take long for Brynn to realize that Callum was eager to divest himself of some pent-up energy. Oh, he’d moseyed on down the trail with them, but she knew him.
He’d been a high-energy kid. That hadn’t changed as he’d grown older. If anything, his desire for thrills had only increased.
This was why, after they’d reached the trail and gone a short distance, she pulled her bike to a stop.
When he and Parker stopped, she smiled. “I have an idea,” she said as if the thought had just occurred to her. “Callum, why don’t you see how far you can go in the next thirty minutes and report back?”
As eager as he was to take off, he glanced pointedly at Parker. “What will you two be doing?”
“I thought maybe we could ride slowly and count how many birds and squirrels we see during the time you’re gone.” Brynn turned to Parker.
“I can count way high,” the little boy said.
Brynn smiled at Parker. “You better get counting, because I already see a bird and a squirrel right over there. ”
She pointed, and Parker yelled, “I see two squirrels.”
“Listen to Brynn,” Callum told the boy, then shifted his gaze to Brynn and mouthed, Thank you . “Back in thirty.”
Callum was off like a bullet, his bike picking up speed with each rotation of the wheels.
Though Brynn would have liked using this time to get some exercise, this was her chance to get to know Parker.
They counted squirrels and birds as they rode slowly down the trail, the sun’s brightness tempered by the leafy tree branches shading the path.
When Brynn saw that Parker was moving slower and slower, she asked if it would be okay if they pulled over to rest for a few minutes.
His ready agreement told her she’d been correct that he needed a break. They parked their bikes off the trail, and after taking several drinks from their water bottles, she followed Parker to a large boulder that had captured his attention.
Though he was clearly enjoying the bike ride, she sensed an underlying sadness in him. It tugged at her heart and made her want to do whatever she could to make him feel better.
“So, how do you like staying at my house?” Brynn took another long drink of water.
She hid a smile as he did the same, drinking and then carefully putting the bottle back in the cage on the bike frame.
“It’s okay.” He wiped his mouth with his arm. “I have my own room. I like that.”
Brynn wasn’t aware if his grandparents had other children in the home. “You didn’t have your own room before?”
“Nope.” He shook his head and bent over to pluck a dandelion, then blew on it, sending the seeds flying. “I slept on the sofa. We had two bedrooms, but one was my grandpa’s workroom for his leather stuff.”
“Leather stuff? ”
He nodded. “Like, belts and stuff.”
Apparently, Grandpa had been willing to let his grandson sleep on the sofa rather than move his hobby elsewhere. “I can see where having your own room would be nice.”
“My grandpa—he was glad to see me go,” Parker told her.
The statement coming out of nowhere might have surprised someone else, but Brynn was used to clients blurting out whatever weighed heavy on their minds.
“You believe he was glad to see you leave?” She kept her tone easy and conversational.
“I heard him tell Grammy that. She wanted to keep me, but he said now that she was sick, she couldn’t take care of me anymore, and he wasn’t going to help. He never wanted me. That’s what he said. I was my mom’s screw-up and should have been her problem, not his.” Despite a slight tremble, Parker’s voice sounded almost matter-of-fact. “Grammy said she didn’t know where my mom was. That’s why she had to find my dad.”
“All that must have been very hard to hear.” With great effort, Brynn kept her expression impassive even as her heart ached for this little boy. Children always heard more than adults thought they did. “Sometimes grown-ups say or do things that don’t make sense, and it’s not your fault. You are very special, and you deserve to be loved and cared for.”
“My dad doesn’t want me either. I can tell.” The boy plucked up another dandelion, rolling the stem back and forth between his small fingers.
“He’s never been a dad before. I think both of you are finding your way.” She met the boy’s gaze head on.
“Maybe.” Tossing the dandelion aside, the boy scuffed the dirt with the toe of his sneaker.
“You seem sad.” Brynn studied him for a long moment and then went with instinct. “Would it be okay if I give you a hug? A hug always makes me feel better. ”
For good reason, most therapists had a strict hands-off policy regarding their patients. But Parker wasn’t her patient. He was the son of her childhood friend, and he was clearly hurting.
Taking an awkward step forward, Parker held out his arms, and Brynn wrapped hers around him. It took a few seconds, but then his small body relaxed against hers.
“Grammy used to hug me,” he whispered against her shirtfront. “She called me her sweet boy.”
“Your grandmother loves you,” she whispered back. Based on everything Parker had told her, she believed that to be true.
“I’m back. Did you miss me?” Callum pulled his bike to a stop beside them, glancing curiously at the embrace. Perspiration dotted his forehead, which he brushed away with his forearm.
“Of course we missed you.” Brynn glanced at the boy. “Didn’t we, Parker?”
The boy gave a cautious nod.
Callum had an air of contentment about him now, telling Brynn that riding hard and fast was just what he’d needed. She had a feeling there was something else he needed. Warmth and comfort. Something that a hug could provide whether you were a small boy or a man.
Keeping one arm around Parker, Brynn made a come-ahead motion with one hand once Callum got off his bike.
Callum stepped closer, a puzzled look on his face. “What’s going on?”
“Group hug,” she said and pulled him in.
That night, Callum fired up the grill, and the three of them sat on the back patio and feasted on a picnic dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs and homemade potato salad.
Parker had eagerly slathered the hot dog with mustard and relish but approached the potato salad with caution. After a few bites, he looked up in surprise and gave it a thumbs-up.
Callum smiled, knowing Parker would love what Brynn had planned for dessert—brownies with fudge topping, because this was a celebration.
Parker had not only gotten a new bike, he’d proven to be an able rider.
After dessert, Brynn excused herself and then returned with the glove and baseball from Parker’s toy sack.
At Callum’s speculative look, Brynn smiled. “I thought you and Parker might enjoy playing catch.”
Turning to his son, Callum cocked his head. “Want to toss the ball around?”
The boy eyed the glove and then the ball. One thin shoulder lifted, then dropped. “I guess.”
Callum rested a hand on Parker’s shoulder as they walked to the back of the yard, encouraged when the boy didn’t pull away.
“My dad taught me to play when I was your age.” Callum chuckled. “I think I dropped the ball more than I caught it those first few times.”
“Did he get mad at you?”
Callum blinked. “You mean when I didn’t catch the ball?”
Parker nodded.
“No.” Callum slanted a sideways glance at the boy. “If you drop it, I won’t get mad either.”
Callum sensed Brynn watching as he showed Parker how to hold the ball, then stepped back and had him throw it to him.
Maybe because he’d kept his expectations low, Callum was surprised at the force and accuracy of the toss.
“Good job,” he called out. “You’ve got a strong arm.”
A slight smile lifted his son’s lips.
“Now, I’m going to toss one to you. Hold your glove up like this.” He illustrated with his hand and waited until Parker had the glove in place. “Keep your eye on the ball. ”
Then he tossed it in a low lob directly toward the glove. It hit the edge and dropped to the ground. The happiness that had been on Parker’s face only moments before disappeared like an untied balloon.
“Good try,” Callum called. “You’ll get it next time.”
While the boy continued to show promise in tossing the ball to him, Parker had yet to catch one.
“You’re coming so close on those catches.” Seeing the child was getting stressed, Callum put extra warmth into his voice. “Hey, Park, is it okay if you and I work together on catching the ball? Sometimes you need to catch a few to see how the ball feels in the pocket. Once you do that, you’re on your way.”
When Callum crossed to him, Parker stared up at him.
“Is it okay if I put my arms around you?” Callum asked. “Then we’ll toss the ball up in the air and catch it together.”
Parker studied Callum for several heartbeats. “Okay.”
Callum tossed the ball high. When it connected with the pocket, and Callum tightened his fingers around the outer part of the glove to keep the ball in place, Callum wasn’t sure who was more excited.
“Woo-hoo!” Brynn, who’d apparently been watching, clapped her hands. “Great job, guys.”
“I did it.” Parker looked up at him, his eyes shining with wonder.
Callum ruffled his hair. “You sure did, bud. I’m proud of you.”
Once the toss-and-catch clinic concluded, Brynn poured herself a glass of wine while Callum did pull-ups on a tree branch in her backyard.
Standing to the right of his father, Parker counted.
Watching Callum’s muscles rippling beneath his cotton T-shirt was so compelling that Brynn found it impossible to look away. Only the solid thud of a screen door closing had her glancing toward the house next door.
“Hey, neighbor.” Daisy Fitz, looking fresh as a strawberry parfait in denim shorts and a stretchy red top, waved. She strolled over to the chain-link fence separating the two properties, a golden retriever at her side.
It appeared Daisy was dog-sitting again. The retriever studied Brynn with bright eyes and what appeared to be a smile.
Setting down her glass, Brynn crossed the lawn. She and Daisy had moved in around the same time and quickly become friends. The brown-eyed brunette’s hair had been blond when she’d moved in. It was now back to brown with newly added caramel balayage highlights.
Daisy didn’t have a regular nine-to-five job, but she seemed to do well enough with the money she earned from various part-time jobs.
“I love your hair,” Brynn said, reaching up to finger a strand of her own. “It makes me think I should try a balayage.”
“Marigold is a genius with color.” Daisy smiled. “I highly recommend.”
“She is amazing,” Brynn agreed. “She?—”
“What’s really amazing,” Daisy pointed, “is him. Who is the hunk?”
“Callum Brody. He’s a friend. That’s his son, Parker.” Brynn kept her tone casual. “They’re staying with me while in town.”
“Twenty.” Parker’s excited voice carried easily on the still evening air. “You did it.”
“Congratulations,” Brynn called out. Her heart quickened when Callum lifted the front of his shirt to mop the sweat from his face.
When he saw Daisy, he dropped the shirt and strode to the fence, Parker trailing behind.
“Callum. Parker.” Brynn smiled and gestured with one hand. “This is my neighbor and friend Daisy Fitz. ”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” Daisy smiled at Parker before returning her gaze to Callum. “Twenty pull-ups is amazing. My best is eight, and that’s on a good day.”
“Eight is a respectable number,” Callum told her before his gaze dropped to the dog.
“This is Buttercup.” Daisy stroked the dog’s head. “She’s not mine, though I wish she were.”
“She reminds me of Serenity, the Gallaghers’ dog.” Callum glanced at Brynn.
“I never knew Serenity, but Buttercup is a Gallagher. She belongs to Liam and Chelsea.” Daisy smiled at the dog. “I’m watching her for the weekend while they’re out of town.”
“Same people.” Callum once again focused on Brynn. “It doesn’t surprise me that they got another golden. Serenity was like their child.”
“I think they wanted Zeke, their youngest, to grow up with a dog in the home,” Brynn told him.
“Just like Connor and I did with Boris,” Callum murmured.
“Boris?” Daisy asked.
“Callum and his brother had a wolfhound growing up. He was a sweet, sweet boy.” Brynn flushed, realizing they’d been excluding Daisy.
“We were in middle school when Boris died.” A wave of sadness washed over Callum’s face. “I still miss that big lug.”
Daisy cast a glance at Parker. “Do you like dogs?”
“She’s humongous.” The boy whispered the words, his gaze focused on Buttercup.
“All this hair makes her look even bigger.” Daisy stroked a hand down the dog’s back. “Do you want to guess how much she weighs?”
Plastered against Callum’s side, Parker shook his head.
“A hundred pounds,” Daisy estimated. “Not really all that big.”
Brynn smiled at Parker’s wide-eyed response to that comment. “Buttercup has a job. ”
A skeptical look crossed Parker’s face. “Dogs don’t have jobs.”
“They can.” Brynn held up a hand and began counting off the fingers on one hand. “Police dog. Seeing-eye dog. Herding dog. Sled dog. Buttercup, well, she’s an emotional support dog.”
Parker’s brows pulled together. “What’s that?”
“She goes to work with Dr. Gallagher and makes people feel better,” Brynn explained.
Though appearing interested, Parker didn’t move any closer to the fence, seemingly content to keep plenty of distance between himself and the dog. “How does she do that?”
“Good question.” Brynn smiled her approval. “Simply petting a dog can make you feel better.”
“Really?” Parker’s gaze dropped to the smiling dog.
“Truth.”
As if on cue, Buttercup put her snout under Daisy’s hand and gave it a nudge. Daisy obliged by stroking the top of the dog’s head, which had Buttercup closing her eyes and emitting an audible humming sound.
“Does she bite?” Parker took a cautious step forward. “Next to Grammy’s house, there was this dog. He was mean. He didn’t like me.”
“Buttercup likes everyone.”
“If you want to pet her, I know she’d like that,” Brynn told him. “But if you want to wait until you know her better, that’s okay, too.”
The boy stared at the dog, who wagged her tail.
For a second, Callum thought Parker would approach the fence. Instead, he took a step back.
“Go ahead, Parker,” Callum urged. “She’s a nice dog.”
“No. No.” Parker shook his head violently. “You can’t make me.”
Before Callum could speak, Parker rushed into the house, the screen door banging shut behind him.
“If he changes his mind, let me know,” Daisy said. “Buttercup is here all weekend.” If she was at all troubled by the boy’s actions, it didn’t show. “It was nice meeting you, Callum. I think I’ll take this big girl inside and get her something to eat.”
With a jaunty wave, Daisy turned and led the dog across the lawn.
“I wonder why Parker was scared,” Callum murmured, his expression puzzled.
Brynn opened her mouth and then shut it, appearing to think better of what she’d been about to say. When she finally did speak, her tone was easy. “Often, kids are afraid because of something that occurred in their past to make them fear being bitten or otherwise hurt. Did he mention an incident with that neighbor’s dog? The one he said was mean and didn’t like him?”
“He hasn’t said anything before now.” Callum shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I really don’t know much about his life at all.”
Brynn’s expression softened. “Well, maybe it’s time to have a conversation and change that.”
After retrieving two bottles of water from the refrigerator, Callum went to where Parker sat in a chair in the living room, his knees pulled up to his chest, his blue eyes watchful.
“I thought you might like something cold to drink.” He held out a bottle to the boy, relieved when he took it. Callum grabbed a nearby chair. “Did I ever tell you the story of Mrs. Tarver’s cat?”
Callum knew he hadn’t told Parker the story. Heck, he’d remembered it only when Brynn had asked whether Parker had had a past incident with a dog.
The boy straightened in the chair, then shook his head, pushing back a strand of hair that kept falling into his eyes. “What about the kitty?”
For a second, Callum hesitated, then reminded himself, Greater good . He tried to forget how Connor had teased him for months about the day he’d screamed like a girl .
Callum cleared his throat. “Mrs. Tarver lived next to us in Milwaukee when I was five. She had this huge Siamese cat. Her name was Suki.”
“Suki.” The boy rolled the name around on his tongue. “That’s a pretty name.”
Pretty name for a nasty cat, Callum thought, but he didn’t say that.
“My mom, my brother and I went over to Mrs. Tarver’s house one day. When you came into her house, it had these stairs where you either went up or down.” Callum focused on the boy, making sure he was listening before continuing. “Connor and I were goofing around on the porch. My mom and Mrs. Tarver had already gone into the house. I heard my mom call for us to come inside. When I did, the cat leaped from the top of the stairs and landed on me, claws out.”
Parker’s eyes went wide. “What did you do?”
“I screamed. Those claws really hurt.” At the time, no one had laughed. “For a long time after that, I was afraid of cats, even ones that people assured me were nice.”
The boy lowered his gaze and took a long drink of water.
“Did you ever have something like that happen to you? With a cat? Or maybe a dog?”
The boy gave a slow nod.
“Want to tell me about it?”
The boy’s fingers tightened around the bottle, and the freckles on his pale face seemed to shine. He shook his head.
“That’s okay. Sometimes, talking helps. Sometimes, you want to wait to share.” Sympathy surged for this child whose world had been upended through no fault of his own.
“I don’t want to pet the doggy.”
“You don’t have to.” Callum finished off the water and stood. “ If you change your mind and decide you want to, that’s cool, but I won’t make you.”
“Did your mommy make you pet Suki?”
Callum recalled the horrified look on his mother’s face when she’d pulled the cat off him, then, later, when she’d tended to the scratches on his neck and arms. “No, she never did.”