Chapter 23
twenty-three
HARLOW
“Did she just say damn?” Willa asks, breaking the silence we’ve been sitting in while we wait for my dad. Cora is supposed to be napping, but all her favorite people got here before we could put her down. Now there’s no way she’s going to go to sleep.
“Da-da,” Cal says, trying to get Cora to stop saying her new favorite word.
“Da-dammm,” Cora responds, giggling and clapping when Kai barks out a laugh he was trying to contain.
“Not helping, Uncle Kai,” Cal says sternly, which just causes everyone else to laugh.
“Alright, let's make this quick because you’re about to have bigger problems,” my dad says, coming into the room followed closely by Jason. I do a double take. I’ve never seen Cal’s dad look so distraught.
“What do you mean?” Cal asks, sending a questioning look to his dad, who just shakes his head. Jason heads straight for the kitchen, not even greeting anyone.
My dad takes a seat next to me on the couch. Cal is on my other side with Belle and Kai taking up the loveseat. Willa is on the floor with Cora and Mav is pacing. Jo quietly watches him from where she’s leaning on the wall. I know she feels like she’s intruding on private moments with these meetings, just like I do. But they’ve all assured us that they want us here. Cal’s hand on my thigh reassures me.
“As I’ve mentioned,” my dad says, getting right into it and not telling us what the bigger problem is. We all focus on him without speaking up, wanting to know what information he has just as much. “Ezra’s phone was erased, but that’s not as permanent as people think. I have a guy that’s able to get the information back.”
“You have a guy?” I ask before I can stop myself. I’m barely able to contain my snort. My dad is making himself seem like some sort of mob boss.
My dad shoots me a look telling me to shut up, but he answers anyway. “He was a kid I brought in when I was still a cop. He was hacking into his school’s system to change his grades and the grades of all his friends. I talked the school out of pressing charges since he was only sixteen and it would’ve ruined his life.” My dad shrugs. “Now he helps me out.”
“He got Ezra’s phone restored?” Kai asks, looking both scared and hopeful. He reaches out to Mav who grabs his hand and holds on.
My dad nods and hands them a piece of paper. I watch their eyes fly back and forth, a single tear falling from Mav’s eye. Kai’s face loses all color. Belle gently takes the paper and reads it over, with Willa and Jo behind her. By the time it gets to us, our friends are either pale or crying. Cal takes the paper gently from Belle and holds it out so I can see it too. It’s a printout of a text conversation.
Unknown
I know what you saw. Meet me at the river at 10.
Ezra
I already told you no.
Unknown
Meet me at the river at 10 and no harm will come to Maverick.
Ezra
What are you talking about? I don’t know anything!
Unknown
I know what he means to you. I know you saw what I can do to people. Turn yourself over to me, and I’ll spare him.
Ezra
He has nothing to do with anything. Leave him alone!
Unknown
Whether or not I leave him alone is up to you.
Ezra
I have your word that if I meet with you, nothing will happen to Maverick?
Unknown
Nothing will happen to Maverick. 10pm. The small bend in the river.
Ezra
I’ll be there.
My eyes fly to Maverick. That single tear is the only one that fell, but his gaze is unfocused, and he isn’t moving. Kai is next to him, his gaze just as unfocused, but their hands are still joined in a white-knuckle grip. Like they’re holding on to each other for dear life.
“I heard him arguing on the phone with someone that night,” Cal says. “He was mad at someone. I thought it was Kai all this time until now.”
“What did he say?” my dad asks.
“Just that he couldn’t do something and that whoever he was talking to couldn’t be serious. Nothing helpful,” Cal says, sighing into his hands. “I should’ve checked on him.”
“If you thought it was me and I was pissed, I would’ve punched you,” Kai offers.
“Why do you think I turned in the other direction instead?” Cal says, trying to smile, but it’s more of a lip twitch.
“I’ve tried tracing the number, but it was from a cheap burner that was purchased at a gas station that no longer exists. So I have no way of looking into who purchased it,” my dad says, sympathy on his face. “The number that texted him was also in his call log from that night, so we can assume it was the same person. The call came first.”
“No. This is not where this ends!” Willa exclaims, making everyone jump. “I’m so sick of all these dead ends! Did you look at his call logs? Search history?”
“Of course I did,” my dad says calmly.
“Dad?” I ask, getting that itch that tells me we’re missing something.
“You know I wouldn’t have shown up here if I didn’t go over that phone with a fine-tooth comb, Harlow,” he says, sounding disappointed.
“I know. That’s not it.” I chew on my bottom lip, thinking. “What’s in place of the gas station?”
“A garden or something. I drove by it to check. It’s just grass and flowers now. There’s nothing there that can help us,” he says.
“Can you send me the address?” I ask.
“You’re not going,” Cal says immediately.
I glare at him and cross my arms.
“Uh, I mean. Please don’t put yourself in danger. I don’t think I could handle it if something happened to you,” Cal says, looking a little guilty.
“That’s what I thought. And I’m not going. I was just going to look it up,” I explain. My dad looks at me with curiosity and sends me the address. I immediately look it up on my phone. “It’s a community garden,” I explain, looking over the town page that the address pulled up.
“What does that mean?” Jo asks.
“It looks like you can rent space and plant things,” I say, continuing to read. “They also offer classes on gardening and field trips where kids can plant something themselves.”
“Not sure how any of this pertains to the case,” my dad says carefully. He knows better than anyone that I can be like a dog with a bone when I think I’m onto something.
I open my mouth to agree that nothing is here, but then I get to the bottom of the page. I gasp and almost drop my phone. I look up to see everyone’s eyes on me, even Cora’s.
“What is it, Firecracker?” Cal asks, squeezing my thigh gently.
I show him my phone, at a loss for words. He takes it from me and reads it out loud. “Community Garden was generously donated by the Wolfe Family to the community of Summer Bay.”
I watch as Mav stomps out the front door and slams it behind him.
“I’ve got him,” Kai says, following him.
“Is he taunting us?” Cal asks my dad.
My dad runs his hand through his hair, which is becoming more white than red these days.
“That gas station was bought and demolished within a month of Ezra going missing. If anything, I think it was meant as a warning,” my dad says, considering the new evidence.
“He’ll claim ignorance if you confront him,” Willa says, cuddling Cora to her.
“Covering his tracks by donating land for community use. It’s smart. Really smart,” I admit.
Cal’s phone rings, the guard station number coming up. He picks it up and immediately looks angry.
“So tell her to leave,” he says. We’re all watching him as he listens. “Fine. Let her through.”
“I’ll get out of your way,” my dad says, looking like he’s in a hurry to leave.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Paula’s here,” Jason says, coming in from the kitchen and taking Cora from Willa. He gives her a quick kiss on the head and hands her back.
My eyes fly to Cal. He looks just as angry as his dad. “Willa, can you take Cora to your house?”
“Of course,” Willa says immediately. “I’ll take her through the backyard.”
I quickly get up and put a bag together for Willa to take with her. She grabs it and squeezes my arm. Jo follows them out.
“I’m staying,” I hear behind me and sigh.
“Belle, come on. She’s here to yell at me, not you. There’s no reason you need to deal with her. You don’t either, Dad,” Cal says, looking suddenly exhausted.
The doorbell echoes through the room. Cal sighs again, knowing he isn’t going to win. He looks at me, his eyes pleading for something. I don’t have time to figure out what before he’s turning and heading to the door. The three of us follow him, silently offering our support.
It’s ridiculous that this is happening for one woman. But I guess that’s what happens when it’s a parent. I can’t imagine what it’s like being raised by someone who uses you more than they love you.
The moment the door opens, Paula storms in like she owns the place. She looks around the foyer and then spots everyone else.
“Of course you’re all here. You always love to gang up on me,” she sneers, storming past everyone, not even acknowledging I exist. Which I’m honestly not that mad about.
“What are you doing here?” Belle asks her. She looks just like her mother. They have the same shade of dark brown hair and blue eyes. But where Belle likes to leave her curls free, Paula’s are pulled tightly into a bun at the back of her neck.
“I came to meet the granddaughter you were hiding from me,” she says, glaring at Cal. I want to punch this woman in the face. I’ve never punched anyone before, but I think she might be the exception.
“You’re not welcome here, and you will not be in my daughter’s life,” Cal says, much more calmly than I think I would’ve managed in his place.
“Of course I am! You are my son, and she is my granddaughter. I will be in her life, and you will let me see her this instant!” Paula stomps her foot. I snort at the action before I can stop it. It was such a childish move coming from a grown adult.
“Oops,” I say under my breath as Paula turns her hateful gaze to me.
“And who are you? The help? My bags are in my car. Go get them and take them to the biggest guest room.” The woman tosses her keys to me. I keep my hands down and let them fall to the floor at my feet.
Cal moves in front of me, forcing his mother to look at him instead. “That is my future wife you’re speaking to, and you will show her respect.”
Paula laughs humorlessly. “Oh, is that how this all came about? She tricked you with her magic cunt and now you have a baby with her? She trapped you, Callahan. Don’t be such a fool.”
“Magic cunt?” I say, baffled by her language.
“You should have listened when I warned you,” Paula sneers.
“You’re the one who texted me? I wouldn’t call it a warning. I thought some tabloid got my number. I blocked it and haven’t heard a peep since.”
“What texts?” Cal asks, eyes narrowing on me, but I shrug.
“It was literally two texts that told me to watch my back and then nothing. It was a while ago, and I honestly forgot about it.”
“I have to take out the trash, as usual!” Paula yells, reaching out like she might grab me. Cal pulls me behind him again.
“Enough, Paula!” Jason yells, shocking us all. Apparently, his ex-wife brings out the anger in him. “How dare you come into this house and be so disrespectful!”
Paula looks shocked. So do Belle and Cal. I don’t think Jason has ever raised his voice to her. I’m kind of loving it.
“That woman has been more of a mother to my granddaughter than you ever were to our children, and you will not speak to her like that,” Jason continues. “Callahan has made the choice to remove you from his life. Maybe instead of coming in here and embarrassing yourself by pointing fingers, you should go do some self-reflection.”
“You’re not welcome here,” Cal says. I move to his side, taking his hand. He squeezes it, letting me know he appreciates it, but he keeps his eyes on his mother.
“I’m your mother!” Paula screams. “I raised you! You have no right to push me away like this!”
“I was done with you the day you accused Belle of ruining her relationship with her abuser,” Cal says, standing his ground.
Paula scoffs, sounding a lot like Mav’s mom. Maybe there’s something in the water up there. “You know how dramatic your sister is. How was I supposed to know he’d get a little too obsessed with her?”
“He tried to kill her!” Jason shouts. There’s a vein pulsing in his forehead that has me a little concerned for his health.
“She’s not even the dramatic one,” I mutter. Everyone’s eyes turn to me. I really need to work on saying things more quietly. “What? It’s not my fault she doesn’t know her kids.”
“She’s right,” Cal says. “You don’t know us. I’m sure you’re here for money or clout or something just as selfish, so please see yourself out.”
“I am not selfish!” Paula argues. “I raised you two on my own!”
“Because Dad was working two jobs to support your spending habits. And if we’re really being honest, Cal raised me more than you did,” Belle says.
Jason looks defeated, and I hate that Paula can come in here and disrupt everything like this.
“Leave. Now. And if you ever try to come back here, you will be arrested on the spot for trespassing,” Cal says, turning his back to his mother, who is sputtering, trying to come up with something to say. Belle ushers her out the door and locks it.
“I’m guessing she was the bigger problem?” I ask Jason. He nods sadly, plopping down onto the couch and resting his face in his hands. Belle sits next to him and hugs him. I tug on Cal’s arm to get his attention and gesture to his dad. Cal looks up from his phone and nods, taking the seat on the other side of Jason.
“I notified the guard house. She’s on the no entry list, and they’ve been informed they can call the police to remove her if they need to,” Cal says.
“I’m so sorry. I failed you both,” Jason says.
“You didn’t, Dad,” Belle says, hugging him.
“I did.”
“You tried your best to make your family happy. You can’t do better than that,” Cal says.
I feel like I’m intruding on a family moment and try to back out of the room.
“Harlow.” I look up and see Jason watching me. “I’m sorry for what she said about you.”
“You’re not responsible for her actions, Jason. I would never have blamed you for what she said.” It hurts my heart that he blames himself.
“I should’ve divorced her much sooner. I should’ve been around more to make sure my children were being taken care of. I just assumed she was being a mother. I should never have assumed.”
“We’re both happy and healthy, Dad. What else can you ask for? That’s all I want for Cora.” Cal bumps his dad’s shoulder, and Jason gives him a small smile.
“I guess that’s true,” he admits.
I sit on the coffee table in front of Jason. “You’re here now. You love Cora, and she loves you. You’re a huge part of her life, and you see your kids almost every day. You show up and prove that you want to be in their lives for no other reason than you love them. Everything you do just shows how amazing of a father and grandfather you are. Don’t let the dragon-woman plant doubts in your head.”
Jason stands and pulls me up into a hug. “I’m so glad Cal found you,” he whispers into my hair.
“Not as glad as I am,” I whisper back.
“Secrets don’t make friends!” Cal whines, breaking the tension and making everyone laugh.
“I need to go check on Mav and Kai,” Belle says, giving her dad a quick hug.
“I’m going to go and get some Cora time in,” Jason says.
Once they’re both gone, I turn to Cal. “Future wife?” I raise an eyebrow and watch him turn pink.
“You caught that, huh?” he says, smiling as he grabs me by the waist, pulling me into him.
“You didn’t exactly whisper it.”
Cal shrugs. “It wasn’t a lie. One day, you’ll have my ring on your finger and my last name.”
“You’re pretty confident,” I say, staying calm on the outside, but on the inside, I’m squealing and kicking my feet.
“I don’t need to be, Firecracker. When I think of my future, I see you. I see Cora playing with as many siblings as we’ll give her. I see us in rockers on a porch in some country house we retire to, old and gray, watching our grandkids. I see your hand in mine as we take our last breaths together and become stars in the sky, watching over everyone we love.” He kisses the top of my head while my jaw hangs open, and I try to get my body to move. “You’re not ready for that yet. But when you are, Firecracker, I will be asking. And you will say yes.”
“Stars?” is all I’m able to say in my shocked state.
Cal shrugs. “I always kind of liked the idea of becoming stars after we die. Belle and I used to lie in the grass at night and point to where we thought our grandparents were in the sky. It’s an idea that planted itself in our heads after she made me watch The Princess and the Frog.”
“I think I like that.”
“Come on. Let’s go get our girl,” Cal says, pulling on my hand. I follow him, still in shock.
I might not be ready yet, but I could really get used to his idea of our future.
Later that night, Cal and I are snuggled on the couch watching Talladega Nights and eating popcorn. He pauses it and looks at me like he has a question but doesn’t want to actually ask it out loud.
“What’s the deal with your mom?” he finally asks slowly.
I snort. “Were you afraid to ask that question?”
“You saw my mom. You’ve never mentioned yours. So, honestly, yeah. What if she’s worse?” Cal says, throwing his hands up defensively.
I just laugh and shake my head. “She very well could be. I have no idea. I’ve never met her.”
Cal looks puzzled for a moment. “But you’re so good with Cora.”
Now it’s my turn to be confused. “Yes. And?”
He shakes his head. “I guess I just thought people learned to be maternal from their mom.”
“A lot of people do, I guess. Is that where you learned to be good with Cora?” I ask, knowing the answer definitively after today.
Cal just laughs. “Touché.”
“My dad has always been enough for me. My mom got pregnant right after my parents got married. She didn’t want me, but my dad begged her to have me. Said he would take full responsibility and never come after her for anything. I think he even paid her off, but he won’t admit that to me.” I shrug. “But my dad never made me feel like I was missing something. There were definitely moments when I was a kid, seeing other little girls with their moms, that I would get sad. As an adult, though? I can never thank him enough for the way he loved me and made sure I was always his priority.”
Cal’s eyes are glassy from tears he hasn’t let fall. “I worry about that. With Cora.”
I move myself into his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. “You are more than enough for her, Cal. Plus, look at the support system she has around her. She has so much love around her that she won’t know what to do with it.” I kiss him on his cheek. “Cora’s going to be fine.”
A look passes over his face that I can’t identify. His lips are on mine, quickly making me forget about it.
“I talked to the guys,” Cal says, pulling away from the kiss. I pout, that’s not where I thought this was going. He just laughs. “I know. I just wanted to mention this to you before Mav talks to Jo.”
I pull back even more so I can see his face. He has my attention, and judging by the smirk on his face, he knows it.
“We want you and Jo to do the podcast, and we want you to start with Ezra.”
I almost fall off his lap. He has to grab my waist to keep me there. “What?” I ask, making sure I heard him.
Cal’s smile is sad. “With it looking a lot more likely that Ezra is actually dead,” I watch his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows, “we need all the help we can get. Your dad already agreed to sorting through all the tips that are bound to come in.”
“But . . .” I say. But what? I have no words.
“And it has to be you, Firecracker. You’re close enough to this case to do Ezra justice and removed just enough to keep a logical head when people start sending you their opinions.” Cal makes sure my eyes are on his before he continues. “You see things others don’t, baby. You knew you had to look into that garden when even your dad had dismissed it. You might be the only one we would ever trust with this.”
I mull it over for a minute. “How is that going to work? You’re going on tour soon. Won’t that bring the kind of attention to your shows that you wanted to avoid? What about the podcast? We don’t even have a name for it since we shelved the idea. Can I even do that from the road? I’m not leaving you and Cora, so don’t even suggest that.” Cal kisses me to stop my rambling.
“The tour starts in August, baby.”
I count on my fingers, not trusting my brain not to fail me right now. “That’s two months away.”
“The album comes out in July,” Cal offers.
“Right. It’s June right now. So we have time to figure this out before all the chaos of the album and then not much time between the album and the tour. So really, Jo and I need to figure this out now.”
“The tour is three months long, and we’ll be on the road for all of it,” Cal says, searching my face for my thoughts.
“I knew that. I’ve been planning with Jo on what to do with Cora the whole time. She got us our own bus so she can sleep without her noisy aunts and uncles bothering her. Oh, and I found a bunch of children’s activities I can take her to in each city. Since her first birthday is going to be on the road, I was thinking we could rent out this water park I found and have a party for her there.” I was excited to show Cal the whole schedule Jo and I have inked out so that Cora has fun on the tour. I know that was a big hangup for him.
Cal smiles and kisses me. “Cora is so lucky to have you, Firecracker.”
“What about Cora’s dad?” I ask him, wiggling closer.
“Oh, her dad is the luckiest bastard there ever was,” Cal says, nuzzling into my neck.
“Stop being in love. We don’t have time for that right now.”
I yelp and practically fly out of Cal’s lap. He laughs and shakes his head at me.
“What the hell, Jo?” I stand, putting my hands on my hips and glare at my best friend.
“We need to get to work on the podcast and rework the tour schedule we have for you to add in time for it. You can make out with your unfairly pretty boyfriend later,” she says, grabbing my hand. Cal is grinning, and I know it’s because she called him pretty.
“It really is annoying how attractive he is,” I say, letting Jo tug me into the kitchen.
“No one compares to you, baby!” he yells after us.
I’m smiling like an idiot as I watch Jo pull out her notebook and iPad.