Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Brynn was grateful that she had plans to meet Zoe at Bayside Pizza at noon. By the time Max and Prim left, Brynn felt like she’d been through the wringer. Sensing that boy and dad needed time alone, she’d excused herself for a quick shower and to get dressed.
When she came out of the shower, she found Callum sitting on her bed.
Her heart gave a leap. “Where’s Parker?”
“Playing with the action figures my parents gave him.” Callum watched her dress but made no move to touch her.
“It was a rough morning.” She took a seat on the bed beside him.
“When he said he thought I’d left him…” Callum closed his eyes and exhaled a shuddering breath. “All I could think of was how I told you I was considering adoption.”
She heard the guilt and the regret in his voice. “You were just sorting through options.”
“That’s off the table.” Callum swiped the air with his hand. “I was floundering.”
“And now?” She took his hand, lacing her fingers with his .
Her heart swelled when he brought their joined hands to his mouth for a kiss.
“Now I feel confident I can give Parker what he needs.”
Brynn met his gaze. “I never doubted it for a second.”
By the time she strolled into Bayside Pizza, Brynn felt energized and, well, happy. The crowded lobby gave her a sinking feeling, until Zoe texted that she had a table.
“How did I miss you?” Brynn asked when Zoe added that the table was outside. “I had to pass right by you on my way inside.”
Zoe smiled, looking cute and stylish in a blue wrap dress. A slight chill in the air made Brynn glad she’d matched a long-sleeved shirt with a favorite skirt.
She’d been reaching for a dress in her closet when she remembered Callum’s words about how it took longer to get out of a dress and went with a skirt and top instead.
Not that she expected anything intimate to happen between them this evening. This was his time to focus on his son.
“Look at the crowds.” Zoe gestured with fingers sporting several sparkling stones. “They’ve been like that ever since I was seated. They probably blocked your view of me.”
“Most likely.” Brynn stared at her friend’s bejeweled fingers. “You know who you remind me of when you flash the bling?”
“Gladys.”
They said the name at the same time.
“I miss her.” Brynn sighed. “And Ruby and Katherine.”
Zoe nodded. “The three of them were forces of nature. They’d been friends forever.”
“My mom says they were all blessed with happy, long lives, and that’s all we can hope for.”
Zoe nodded. “I went by the fountain the other night. Just for kicks, I tossed in a coin. ”
“I did that a couple of weeks ago,” Brynn admitted. “Callum promised Parker that he’d take him there, but I don’t think he has yet.”
“Speaking of the scrumptious Mr. Brody…” Zoe was forced to pause when the waiter appeared to take their order.
Zoe gave Brynn her full attention as soon as the young man stepped away. “Have you slept with him yet?”
Brynn found herself grateful for the glass of iced tea the waiter had dropped off. She took a long drink, conscious of Zoe’s assessing gaze on her.
Finally, her friend smiled.
“You have.” Excitement filled Zoe’s voice, and she leaned forward. “How was it? As good as you expected? Disappointing?”
Brynn set down her glass and smiled. “Definitely not disappointing.”
“Omigosh, tell me all.”
Though not accustomed to sharing intimate details about her love life, Brynn knew she needed to toss her friend a bone, or Zoe would keep at her until she gave in.
“Callum is an amazing lover.”
“He should be.” Zoe’s eyes took on a mischievous gleam. “He’s had enough practice.”
The last thing Brynn wanted to consider was Callum with other women, so she ignored the comment and moved on.
Zoe lifted a hand. “Before you go any further, I have a logistics question. Where was Parker while you were making merry with Callum?”
“He spent the night with Callum’s folks. They were to bring him back at lunchtime. I planned to be dressed and ready to greet them when they arrived.” Brynn’s exaggerated sigh had Zoe’s expression going on alert.
“The best-laid plans…” Brynn let her voice trail off.
As she expected, Zoe jumped on the ambiguous comment. Her eyes went wide. “They caught you in bed? ”
“Not quite.” Brynn smiled at the waiter when he set down their goat cheese salads.
“Anything I can get you right now?” he asked.
“We’re fine.” Zoe spoke quickly, obviously eager to get the deets, but remembered her manners just in time. “Thank you. This will be all for now.”
Once he was out of earshot, Zoe became laser-focused on Brynn. “Don’t keep me in suspense. Tell all.”
Brynn laid it out for her friend. Her sleep shirt and bare feet, Callum’s casual attire and Max and Prim’s unexpected arrival. She left out the reason for the unplanned early arrival, hoping Zoe wouldn’t ask.
“Do you think Prim and Max knew you had sex?” Zoe asked.
Made love , Brynn corrected in her head before answering, “Not a single doubt in my mind.”
Zoe stabbed a bite of endive with her fork, her gaze thoughtful. “What I can’t figure out is why they showed up so early. Were they tired of the kid?”
Brynn chose her words carefully. “Parker has become attached to Callum. He missed him, so they brought him home.”
“Sucks for you.”
Brynn considered her friend’s words. While it was certainly true that Parker’s unexpected early appearance had ended any thoughts of heading back to bed, the tender way Callum had responded to his son’s distress had warmed her heart.
“You should have seen him, Zoe.” Brynn drizzled more honey balsamic vinaigrette on her salad.
Zoe pointed her fork at Brynn. “You’ve gone all gooey and sentimental.”
“I’m just saying that when Parker needed him, Callum stepped up.” Brynn loved how he’d reassured the boy that he would never leave him.
She didn’t mention that Callum had assured his son that he would be there for him, because Brynn knew that would prompt more questions from Zoe, like did that mean that Callum planned on staying in Good Hope?
After all, how could Callum return to Boston and deal with a demanding job and a little boy with separation anxiety?
“You are so in love with him.” Zoe offered the pronouncement the same way she would order extra salad dressing.
“I am.” Brynn knew it wasn’t just Callum she would miss. She’d grown to love Parker, too. He was such a dear little boy. Despite being dealt a tough hand, he still had a great capacity for love.
“Do you think Callum has decided to stay in Good Hope?” Zoe’s voice rose. “Maybe he’s going to propose. If he does, can I be your maid of honor?”
In many ways, the direction of Zoe’s thoughts didn’t surprise Brynn. Though she hid it well, deep down, Zoe was a romantic who loved nothing more than a happily ever after.
“Brynn,” Zoe prompted.
“I don’t know his plans for sure.” Brynn couldn’t stop her smile as she thought of her conversation in her bedroom with Callum only an hour ago. “But right now, all signs point to him staying.”
Callum hadn’t seen Brynn since she’d left to meet Zoe for lunch. She’d told him she planned to run errands afterward and had a volunteer gig she’d committed to, and then she might stop to see her folks.
He knew what she was doing. She was giving him the gift of alone time with Parker.
He’d gone back and forth and nearly texted her to come home. Callum found her a steadying presence, and God knew this morning had knocked him to his knees.
But as much as Parker adored Brynn, his son’s emotions were all over the place, and Callum felt it important to give Parker the one-to-one attention he needed.
They played several games, and when they were tired of Sneaky Snacky Squirrel and Candyland, he pulled out the UNO cards. Hoping to offset the Cocoa Puffs, Callum prepared a late lunch consisting of a turkey sandwich, fruit and a glass of milk.
Then they went for a bike ride, with Parker pointing out squirrels and birds that Callum would have missed if they’d been going faster.
After a half hour, they stopped to explore a field of wildflowers, talking about the various flowers and using an app on Callum’s phone to identify the ones Callum didn’t recognize.
Listening to Parker’s excited chatter only solidified Callum’s belief that his son was an observant child with a keen mind who took delight in the everyday.
Parker looked up at him. “I bet Brynn likes flowers.”
Callum nodded. “Most people do.”
“We could pick some for her.” Eagerness threaded through Parker’s words.
Callum put a staying hand on the boy’s arm as he reached for the stem of some bright yellow flowers. “If we pick these, others who come here won’t get the pleasure of seeing them. Understand?”
Parker’s shoulders slumped. “I guess.”
“How about we go back into town and buy Brynn a bouquet?” Seeing the indecision on his son’s face, Callum added, “I’ll pay. You pick the flowers. Do we have a deal?”
To his surprise, Parker stuck out his hand. “Deal.”
Grinning, Callum gave the little hand a firm shake.
The ride back to Good Hope went quicker, and they parked their bikes outside the General Store.
Parker shoved his hands into his pockets as he gazed up at the wooden structure that boasted a front porch with rocking chairs. “I don’t see any flowers. ”
“They’re at the back of the store.” At least Callum hoped that Lindsay Vaughn, who specialized in wedding and event flowers, still rented space for regular floral customers.
Parker followed him as Callum wove his way past fishing lures and bug sprays, past first-aid items and bolts and screws.
When they reached the back corner, Callum experienced a surge of relief when he spotted the refrigeration units filled with bouquets of cut flowers.
“May I help you?” Olivia, Lindsay’s daughter, suddenly appeared, shifting her gaze from him to Parker.
“Buying flowers for someone special?” She directed the question to Parker.
“We’re buying them for Brynn,” Parker announced. “She likes flowers. Daddy is paying. I get to pick.”
While Olivia rang up the purchase, Parker hopped from one foot to the other. “Do you think Brynn is home yet?”
Though the question was directed at Callum, Olivia answered. “I saw Brynn down by the fountain.”
“What was she doing there?” Parker asked.
“She was selling raffle tickets as a fundraiser for the Giving Tree.” Olivia’s head jerked as the bells over the door dinged, indicating another customer had arrived.
As soon as he and Parker stepped out of the store, Callum texted Brynn to see if she was still at the town square, only to learn she was at her parents’ home and would be staying for dinner.
“I wanted to give her the pretty flowers,” Parker said when they arrived home and set the vase on the kitchen counter.
“We will,” he promised his son. “As soon as she gets home.”
Callum prepared a light dinner. After they ate, he tidied up the kitchen while Parker sat at the table and played with his action figures. Each time Callum heard a car engine, he got up to glance out the window .
The third time it happened, it struck him that he was in imminent danger of turning into Loretta Sharkey.
The retired schoolteacher and head of the neighborhood watch in his parents’ area spent most of her summer hours and evenings at her front window, monitoring the block.
Because the similarities hit too close to home, Callum topped off his coffee, pulled out a chair and sat at the table.
He smiled as Parker had Leonardo and Raphael, who’d quickly become his two favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, jump off the table onto T-Ruff.
The trauma of this morning appeared forgotten, but Callum knew it was still there and was grateful for Parker’s upcoming appointment with Dr. Gallagher.
As Callum’s fingers encircled the mug, the heat creeping through the ceramic warmed his hands.
Heat, like the warmth he’d felt when his hands had slid across Brynn’s soft and yielding flesh.
The depth of the passion between them had taken him by surprise. Over the years, Callum had been with several women. Not many, but enough to know that what he had experienced with Brynn had been a whole other level of connection.
He wondered what Brynn would say if he told her just that. Then again, what would be the point? He couldn’t see himself staying in Good Hope, just like she couldn’t see herself living elsewhere.
No. He stood abruptly. There was no point. He flung the rest of his coffee into the sink.
Parker was in his pj’s and climbing into bed when Callum heard Brynn’s car pull into the driveway.
His son must have heard it, too, because he hopped out of bed and made a beeline for the window. Pushing back the curtains, he glanced out and then turned, his voice quivering with excitement. “She’s home. We can give her the flowers now.”
For the briefest moment, Callum considered telling his son that they could wait until morning. But he already knew that Parker wouldn’t be able to sleep.
She’d barely stepped inside when Parker flung his arms around her. “You’re finally home.”
Pleasure skittered across her face at the child’s warm welcome. “I’m happy to see you, too.”
“We got you something. Come into the kitchen and see.” Parker jumped from one foot to the other. “Daddy’s been looking out the window all night, hoping you’d come home, and now you’re here.”
Amusement danced in the blue eyes Brynn settled on him. “Is that right?”
He returned her smile and found himself fully relaxing.
She took Parker’s hand and made a great show of glancing around the living room. “I don’t see anything.”
Parker giggled and tugged at her hand. “That’s because it’s in the kitchen.”
Seeing his son so happy melted away the last of the day’s tension. Or maybe his world felt centered because Brynn was finally home.
“There they are.” Parker pointed to the flowers in the vase on the counter.
The bright and colorful spring arrangement was nothing special. There had been more expensive options in the refrigeration case, but these were the ones that Parker had chosen.
Brynn’s mouth formed a perfect O, and her hand rose to her chest as she turned to Parker. “Are these for me?”
“Yes.” Parker’s gaze turned watchful. “Do you like them?”
“I don’t just like them, I love them.” Crouching down, she encircled the boy with her arms and pulled him close for a hug. “Thank you so much. ”
Parker pulled back, grinning. “I picked ’em out myself. Daddy paid, but I picked them out.”
Brynn’s gaze shifted to Callum briefly, and the warmth in her eyes wrapped around him before she refocused on Parker.
Leaning over, she made a great show of sniffing the fragrant flowers. “These smell heavenly. And do you know what?”
“What?” Parker asked.
“Every time I look at them, I’ll think of you and your dad.”
“Did you hear that, Daddy?”
“I heard,” Callum confirmed.
“Where were you tonight?” Parker asked. “We waited and waited.”
“I told you, Parker,” Callum reminded the boy. “Brynn was having dinner with her parents.”
“You could have had dinner with us. We had lots of food.” Parker’s smile turned wobbly. “I thought you were never going to come home. I thought you were going to miss reading time. But here you are.”
Brynn’s gaze slipped briefly to Callum before returning to Parker. “I am here, and you know what?”
“What?” Parker asked.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”