Twenty-One
twenty-one
HOME - DAUGHTRY
CALLIE - DECEMBER 24, 2013
T he living room is a mess of torn wrapping paper and ribbon from the kids opening presents. Barrett demanded that he have the opportunity to “swim” in the tissue paper. The Chrstimas tree casts a magical glow over everything, making the space feel warm, cozy and alive. Laughter echoes from the corner where Barrett and Sara sit huddled together around a new set of building blocks they got from my mom and Wayne. They are constructing what appears to be a very lop-sided… castle?
Ruby sits in her swing, babbling and cooing away. Mom and Wayne are in the kitchen with Wayne’s kids, swapping stories while the ham bakes. Owen sits on the couch, overseeing castle construction and providing building tips the kids are ignoring.
It’s the kind of moment I wish could last forever, pure, uncomplicated joy. Owen catches my eye from across the room, his dark eyes crinkling with a smile. This has been the Christmas I’ve always dreamed of, the kind where love and laughter make the rest of the world’s worries disappear.
However, nothing lasts forever, and the happiness I feel is replaced by dread at the thought of seeing Adam later tonight. Dropping the girls off with him is going to ruin every ounce of joy I have.
I glance at the clock on the wall and freeze. It’s 5:20 p.m.
Oh no.
My stomach twists as I grab my phone from the counter, swiping it open. The screen is alight with a flurry of angry unread texts, all from Adam. The tone of his texts cut straight through the peace of the evening.
Adam:
Callie, where are you?
Adam:
We agreed on 5:00. This is ridiculous.
Adam:
If you’re not here in 15 minutes, I’m coming to get them myself.
Adam:
Unbelievable. You’re doing this on purpose.
A knot tightens in my chest as I scroll through the messages. Time completely got away from me. I was supposed to drop the girls off at Katie’s parents’ house twenty minutes ago. My hands shake as I type back a quick response.
Me:
I’m so sorry. I’m on my way now. I’ll be there in ten minutes.
I don’t even wait for a reply. I grab Ruby from her bouncer and call for Sara, who looks up at me confused.
“Come on, baby,” I say, forcing a smile. “We’ve got to get you and Ruby to Dad. Mommy is running late.”
Sara pouts, holding the blocks tight in her hand. “Barrett!” she demands.
“I know you want to stay and play with him, baby. But we have to get going. Dad’s waiting for you and sissy.”
Owen is already on his feet, stepping into the chaos. “What’s going on?”
“I lost track of time,” I admit, fumbling to get Ruby into her carrier. “Adam was supposed to get the girls at 5:00, and I didn’t check my phone. Now he’s blowing up my messages, and I can’t…” My voice trails off as frustration and guilt knot together in my chest.
“Take a breath, dollface,” Owen says, his hand landing on my shoulder. His voice is a steady and calm anchor–exactly what I need to hear. “I thought the girls weren’t leaving until 6:00.”
“They were going to originally, but Adam called this morning and asked to change the time. I told him I would try, but then Sara woke up from her nap, and we were already running late coming here. Then we got busy and–”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to have them there until 6 o’clock according to your papers right?” Owen asks, running his hands up and down my arms, trying to keep me grounded.
“Right, but–”
“But nothing, honey. You said you would try and unfortunately, things didn’t work out how he wanted them to. Even if you leave now, you’re still dropping them off earlier than you have to. You’re still doing him a favor, and that’s going to have to be good enough. I’ll help get them ready. We’ll get them there.”
I nod, trying to focus. We bundle Ruby and Sara into their coats, grab the diaper bag, and quickly load them into the van. I promise Mom and Wayne we will be back soon; concern is etched across their faces.
The short drive feels endless, even though we don’t have far to go. Katie’s family is also from Hawkridge. Snow drifts lazily onto the windshield, illuminated by the glow of Christmas lights strung along the streets. Ruby coos in the backseat, oblivious to the anxiety radiating off of me.
When I pull up to Katie’s parents’ house, the driveway is packed with cars, and Adam is standing on the porch, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. The snow swirls lazily around him, but his rigid posture and sharp glare make the air feel colder than it already is. Christmas lights twinkle on the house behind him, but there’s nothing festive about the look on his face.
I take a deep breath, unbuckle the girls, and carry Ruby to the door while Sara walks with me, staying close to my leg as if she’s unsure about where we are going. The sound of crunching snow underneath my boots feels deafening in the tense silence. The moment I step onto the porch, Adam steps forward, his voice low and cutting.
“You’re unbelievable,” he snaps. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“Adam, I said I was sorry,” I say, keeping my voice calm even though I feel like I’m going to wretch. “Time just got away from me. It’s Christmas Eve, sorry I wasn’t glued to my phone!”
“Exactly. It’s Christmas Eve,” he spits. “And you’ve ruined it. Do you even know why I wanted them here early?”
I hesitate, my brows knitting together. “No, Adam. I don’t.”
He laughs bitterly, shaking his head. “You’re too busy pretending to be the perfect mom with your perfect little family to care about anyone else.”
“Excuse me?” My voice sharpens, and Ruby squirms in my arms.
“I’m proposing to Katie tonight,” he says, throwing the words at me like they’re meant to hurt. “I wanted to do it in front of her family, and clearly, you’re too busy with your own bullshit to care about how you’re ruining the day for everyone else.”
I blink, stunned. “Proposing?”
“Yes, Callie. Proposing. And instead of being decent about the holiday, you’re late. Took your sweet ass time to get here because you’re jealous.”
My jaw drops. “Jealous?” I repeat, disbelief and anger flooding my chest. “Adam, I didn’t even know you were proposing. Time got away from us because we were with my family opening presents and spending time together. You asked me to move up the time we originally agreed on. I told you I would try. I never promised I would for sure.”
“Don’t play dumb,” he snaps. “This is exactly like you, making everything about you, ruining things for everyone else.”
I step back, holding Ruby tighter while Sara clings to my leg. “You’ve got a lot of nerve,” I say, my voice shaking with barely contained fury. “I said I was sorry. I explained what happened. But that’s not enough for you. You have to twist this into something ugly because you can’t stand the idea that you might be the one in the wrong here!”
Adam glares at me, his chest rising and falling sharply, like he’s barely holding himself together. The tension crackles between us, heavy and suffocating, but before he can launch into another tirade, the door creaks open. Katie steps onto the porch, her face pale and pinched with unease.
“Adam,” she says softly, placing a hand on his arm to steady him. “Maybe we should take a step back.”
“No,” he snaps, shaking off her touch, his eyes locked on me like I’m the sole cause of his misery. “She needs to hear this.”
Katie glances at me, her expression tight and apologetic, like she’s caught in a storm she never signed up for. Her voice is softer when she tries again. “Adam, this isn’t helping anything. Just let it go.”
But I’ve had enough. My patience, my restraint, all of it shatters like ice under his boots.
“No, Adam,” I say, my voice firm and unshaking as I meet his glare head-on. “We are done here. I’m not jealous of you, and I’m not trying to ruin your night. You changed the pickup time at the last minute and expected me to drop everything to fit your schedule. That’s on you, not me. Don’t stand here and try to twist this into something it’s not.”
For a second, he says nothing, his jaw tight, his fists clenching at his sides. I can feel Katie’s gaze bouncing between us nervously, but I don’t back down.
I shift Ruby in my arms, her soft whimpers cutting through the sharp tension, and pass her over to Katie. I crouch to kiss Sara’s curls. She clings to me for a moment, her small arms warm around my neck before I stand and straighten my shoulders.
I hold Sara’s bag out to Adam, my fingers trembling despite my effort to appear steady. “Take care of them,” I say softly, though my voice cracks around the words. I lean down to kiss Ruby’s forehead one more time, lingering for a beat longer than necessary. “Bring them back when you’re done. No later than nine o’clock.”
Adam scoffs, his voice dripping with frustration. “Callie, that’s barely three hours.”
I whip my head up to glare at him, my patience snapping. “Well, the papers say eight o’clock. Would you prefer I stick to that?”
He falls silent, his mouth pressed into a thin line as his glare burns into me. Katie shifts uncomfortably at his side, Ruby on her hip and her hand curling around Sara’s bag like she doesn’t know what to do with herself.
I don’t wait for another word. Without sparing him or Katie another glance, I turn on my heel and head back toward the van. My boots crunch against the snow. The moment I’m inside, I slam the door shut and let out a shaky breath.
Owen doesn’t say anything at first. He just reaches over and covers my hand with his, the warmth of his touch steadying me, anchoring me.
“Are you okay?” he asks after a long pause, his voice gentle, careful.
I blink back the tears threatening to fall, swallowing the tight knot in my throat. “No,” I whisper honestly, my voice barely audible. “But let’s just get back to my mom’s.”
Owen squeezes my hand, his grip strong and reassuring. “Okay,” he says quietly.
The snow continues to fall as I pull out of the driveway, dusting the windshield in soft white flakes. The glow of the Christmas lights fades in the rearview mirror, but the sting of Adam’s words lingers like a bruise I know will take days to fade.
The warmth of Mom and Wayne’s house envelops us as we step back inside, a stark contrast to the cold chaos with Adam. I finally feel my chest loosen, the knot of tension easing as the aroma of ham and cinnamon wraps around me like the hug I didn’t know I needed.
I kick off my boots and hang up my coat, Owen mirroring my actions before leaning in to press a soft kiss to my cheek. His arm slips around my waist, his touch grounding me back to the present moment.
Laughter echoes from the living room, light and unrestrained, pulling me in like a lifeline. Barrett’s voice rises above the rest, excitement bubbling over. “Grammy, look! My castle has a moat now!”
Owen chuckles softly, his smile reaching his eyes. “Sounds like he’s having a great time.”
“He always does here,” I reply, my mind drifting to all the times he’s run through this house, pockets filled with dollar bills and wearing the goofy neckties Wayne loves to give him. It’s a place of comfort for him, and that thought fills me with a sense of peace.
We step into the living room to find Barrett proudly showing off his creation to Mom and Wayne, who are perched on the couch. My sister Taylor is sprawled out on the floor with her daughter Ava, who is carefully arranging crayons in a rainbow pattern. Meredith, Wayne’s daughter, sits cross-legged in an armchair with a steaming mug of cider, laughing at Barrett’s enthusiastic storytelling.
“There you two are,” Mom says, her voice warm and welcoming. “Everything okay?”
I hesitate, glancing at Owen. He gives me a small nod, his hand brushing against mine in quiet encouragement. “Yeah,” I say finally. “The girls are with Adam now. It wasn’t… smooth, but it’s done.”
Mom’s face softens, her eyes filled with quiet understanding. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Come sit. Dinner’s almost ready.”
I nod, but before I can take a step toward the couch, the sound of jingling bells cuts through the air. Everyone freezes, heads turning toward the front door.
“What on earth…” Mom starts, but her voice trails off as a deep, booming “Ho, ho, ho!” echoes from outside.
Barrett’s eyes widen, and he scrambles to his feet, nearly tripping over his castle. “Santa?”
The front door creaks open, and in steps Santa Claus himself, his red suit dusted with snow and his sack slung over his shoulder. Mrs. Claus follows closely behind, her silver glasses perched on her nose and a wide smile on her face.
Barrett lets out a gasp of pure delight. “It is Santa!”
Everyone bursts into laughter, but I freeze as realization dawns. The height, the voice, the way Santa pauses to adjust his sack like he’s done this before—it’s Scott.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, my hand flying to my mouth. Tears sting my eyes as Scott spreads his arms wide, his grin as big as ever.
“Merry Christmas, Callie.”
I rush to him, flinging my arms around his neck, and I’m suddenly not holding back anymore. The tears spill over, hot against my cheeks. “Scott,” I choke out. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
He hugs me tightly, his voice warm and full of emotion. “I couldn’t let another Christmas pass without seeing you.”
Four years. It’s been four years since I’ve seen him. My stepbrother who’s been stationed in Denver with the Air Force, too far away for surprise visits like this.
As I pull back, wiping my tears with shaky hands, Mrs. Claus removes her wig and glasses to reveal Miranda’s smiling face. “Surprise!” she says, her voice bright and familiar.
“Miranda!” I hug her next, holding on tightly. “I can’t believe this.”
Scott glances around, soaking in the sight of the house and our family gathered together. His eyes finally settle on Owen, who steps forward and extends his hand.
“You must be Owen,” Scott says, his grin wide and curious as he clasps Owen’s hand.
“That’s me,” Owen replies with a nod and matching grin. “It’s great to finally meet you. Callie’s told me a lot about you.”
Scott raises an eyebrow. “All good things, I hope?”
“Mostly,” I tease, rolling my eyes even as I smile through the tears.
Barrett pulls on Scott’s sleeve, his excitement barely contained. “Santa, are you real? Or are you Callie’s brother? Callie says you’re her brother, but you’re wearing Santa’s clothes.”
Scott crouches down, his grin softening. “What do you think, kid? Maybe I’m both.”
Barrett’s eyes narrow suspiciously, but then he nods, satisfied. “That’s cool. Callie’s brother and Santa? That’s the best.”
The laughter in the room is light and contagious, and the stress of Adam’s nonsense feels far away. Scott straightens up, his smile falters, and I can see the unspoken question in Miranda’s eyes.
“They’re not here,” I say quietly, glancing at Scott. “The girls. They’re with their dad right now.”
Scott’s face softens, and his voice drops. “I’m sorry, Callie. I really wanted to meet them.”
“You will,” I say quickly, wiping at my cheeks again. “How long are you two in town for?”
“We’re here for a week,” Miranda replies, stepping up next to Scott. “We figured if we couldn’t be here Christmas morning, we could at least surprise everyone tonight and spend some quality time while we’re home.”
A smile spreads across my face. “That’s perfect. I’ll make sure you get to meet Ruby and Sara before you go. You’re going to love them.”
Scott nods, his expression soft. “I can’t wait. And you know I want to get to know Barrett better, too. This kid looks like he’s a handful.”
Barrett puffs out his chest proudly. “I’m a dragon builder!”
Scott laughs, ruffling Barrett’s hair. “I don’t doubt it.”
Owen slips his hand into mine, squeezing gently as he murmurs, “You okay?”
I glance up at him, taking in his steady presence, the warmth in his eyes. “Yeah,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I really am.”
Wayne comes into the room, his booming voice cutting through the chatter. “Well, look who it is! You didn’t tell me you two were coming, Scott!”
Scott grins. “Had to keep it a surprise, Dad. You’re not the only one who gets to play Santa.”
Laughter echoes again as Wayne pulls Scott into a bear hug and the room fills with chatter and cheer. Taylor appears with Ava in tow, and Meredith offers everyone fresh mugs of cider.
I glance at Scott and Miranda again, my heart both full and aching at once. They’re here, after so long, and I’m devastated they didn’t get to meet my daughters tonight.There’s still time for them to meet Ruby and Sara, to hold them, to be part of their lives. I focus on the joy of the moment—the surprise, the laughter, the family that’s here with me.
Owen presses a kiss to the top of my head, murmuring softly, “Merry Christmas, Dollface.”
“Merry Christmas,” I whisper back, leaning into him as the room buzzes with warmth and light, the kind of Christmas magic that only happens when you least expect it.
And this? This is exactly what I needed.