Chapter 27 #2
“Those are the best kind.” My eyes dart to Cal who’s looking at me in a way that takes me from feeling warm and fuzzy to on fire.
I’m alive in a way I haven’t been before. Not on red carpets or at award shows. Not on TV or in movies. I’m alive in way only someone tucked away in this house with a man and his little girl, about to play tea party could be.
Junie holds our hands and skips between us all the way to the kitchen, then drops us like hot potatoes and rushes back down the hallway. “I’m getting my stuffies!”
Cal goes to the pantry while I lean against the counter, ignoring the temptation to follow him, close the door behind us, and pick up where we left off at Flamingo’s.
He comes back out holding a loaf of bread in one hand, a jar of peanut butter in the other, and a dangerous grin on his face. He leans close and says, “was hoping you might follow me in there.”
His breath sends a delicious, tingling sensation across my skin that grows sharper when, still holding the bread, he puts his hand on my hip and angles me toward him.
He sets the peanut butter on the counter before cupping my cheek.
I meet his kiss with all the eagerness I originally held back when I didn’t follow him into the pantry, sending my hands around his neck to pull him closer.
Too soon, the sound of Junie’s feet breaks us apart.
She casts a glance our way before dropping an armful of stuffed animals on the floor and running out again, calling, “I need my table, Daddy!”
He drops his chin and sighs, then draws his eyes back to mine. “I’d really like to get you alone.”
“I’d like that, too.” I brush a kiss across his lips, then step back, all business. “Let’s start this tea party. Then maybe Junie could have a bit of Bluey time while we enjoy some alone time?”
His eyes wrinkle in the corners. “Excellent idea.”
While Cal makes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I help Junie lug a little table and chairs from her room and set up her plastic Disney princess tea set. He mixes up lemonade for Junie’s tea, but the real stuff—iced—for us because it’s ninety degrees outside.
Then we sit at her little table, drinking from tiny teacups and eating our sandwiches cut in triangles, talking in our best posh British accents.
Junie’s is actually pretty good. Obviously, mine is better than Cal’s, but he makes a valiant effort, lifting his pinky finger every time he tips back the teacup and asking Lady Junebug if she’d like crumpets with her tea.
I’ve been to high tea before, at a posh hotel in London with Mum. I’ve been to parties with celebrities, champagne, and caviar. I’ve eaten at Michelin star restaurants more times than I can count.
But I’ve never been as happy anywhere as I am right here, sipping iced tea from a plastic teacup, eating cucumber sandwiches made of peanut butter and jelly with Junie and Cal.
Putting aside the excitement Cal stirs in me every time he looks my way, what I feel right now is different from anything I’ve ever felt.
It feels like family.
I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I reckon that’s what this is. Family.
Then Cal’s mobile buzzes. He glances at Junie, who doesn’t notice, then me. “I’m sorry. I have to take it. I’ve got coverage at the clinic, but I’m still on call.”
He digs it out of his back pocket and answers, “This is Dr. Holloway.”
I don’t hear what’s on the other end, but I know Cal’s brow-crease-worried look well enough to guess it’s not good. Junie hums and helps a stuffed bunny sip tea.
“Yep. On my way,” he says, then ends the call and sends me an apologetic look. “I’ve got to go,”
“Another mare?” I ask.
He stands, already prepping to go. “Heifer in distress.”
“Do you need help?” I follow him as he grabs his keys from the hook by the back door. “I make a good assistant.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t want to go on this call with me. This isn’t an expensive horse in a clean stall.” He stops, looks at Junie. “But you could help me by staying here with Junie. Mom wasn’t planning to have her today, so I’m sure she has things to do. I hate to ask…”
I put up my hand to stop him. “Cal, no worries. Course I’ll look after her.” I glance back at Junie to make sure she’s still busy with her toys, then lean into him. “Long as I still get that alone time you promised.”
His eyes dance. “Absolutely.”
Then he turns serious again. “I’ve gotta go take care of a mama cow, Bug, but Frankie’s going to stay with you until I come back. That okay?”
Junie’s head shoots up. “Frankie’s staying?”
Cal looks at me for an answer.
“Yeah. We’ll finish our tea party, then play some games, and…”
Junie shakes her hips back and forth in a little dance. “Yay! And we play tomorrow too? And yesterday?” Junie asks.
I look to Cal for clarification. He shrugs like he doesn’t understand either, so I answer, “Definitely tomorrow.”
Then Cal leaves. Junie and I finish our tea party and play a million games of Go Fish where she cheats with no shame whatsoever. We jump on her trampoline, even though it’s blazing hot, and watch an episode of Bluey, which she doesn’t get through before falling asleep on my lap.
I can’t move without waking her, and I don’t want to. I smooth her hair off her damp forehead and run my finger along her long, feathery eyelashes. I can’t reach the remote, so I watch another episode of Bluey while her chest rises and falls in heavy breaths.
My mobile buzzes with a voicemail notification. I’ve had it on silent all day and only check it now in hopes it’ll be good news from my solicitors. Instead, there’s a message from my agent.
I stare at the transcript of the message, then press play and hold my mobile to my ear, hoping Junie won’t wake.
Alison Fisher wants you back for a chemistry reading tomorrow at three. This is huge, Frankie. For all practical purposes, you've got the part. Call me ASAP.
A squeal of excitement escapes and Junie’s eyes flutter open, then close again.
It’s only then I remember I’ve promised her a tomorrow.