Chapter Eleven
Ollie laughed when the dogs started whining excitedly in the back as he pulled up at Charles's house on Sunday morning.
"Okay, guys, I know you're excited to see Uncle Charles, but remember — don't get too boisterous. We're here to cheer him up, not knock him over, all right?"
Butter barked twice as if answering for them both.
Ollie climbed out and went around the back to let them out. They jumped down and pranced around his feet as he closed up.
"Hey, Ollie."
Reaves appeared around the side of the house, and the dogs took off to greet him. "Hey, guys." He squatted down to make a fuss over them, and Ollie waited until they were done.
"How's your dad this morning?" he asked when Reaves straightened up.
"Yeah, he seems to be doing a bit better. He's curious about the idea of rebranding, but I don't know that he's all in."
"What do you think's best, then?" said Ollie. "I don't want to push him if he's not sure about it, but at the same time, if we want to get things rolling, I'm more than happy to—"
Reaves met his gaze. "You don't have to pay for anything, you know."
Ollie shrugged. "I know I don't. And if it's going to cause a problem, then tell me now — or tell me at any point if it starts to become a problem."
Reaves lifted a shoulder. "Maybe that's something you and Dad should talk about. I just don't know. Maybe he could cut you in on the profits. To repay you."
"He doesn't need to do that," said Ollie.
"I know," said Reaves, "but he might want to. Just stay open. You know damn well that I prefer to pay my own way, and I got that from Dad. Just..."
"I'll follow your lead, then. You do the talking."
"Thanks, but I'm not sure he'll even want to talk about it this morning." Reaves smiled. "But don't be surprised if he asks about Callie."
"Callie? Why?" Ollie's heart rate picked up.
He hadn't managed to talk to her again yet, and he was getting a little antsy about that.
They'd texted a couple of times, but she seemed short with him.
He was hoping that now she was back at home, she hadn't changed her mind about wanting to see him again.
"Don't worry, he's not prying into your love life — although I think he wants to help it along. He was saying something about some sunflower glazes, whatever they may be."
Ollie smiled as he glanced over at the row of sunflowers that grew along the side of the house. "Oh yeah, right. She mentioned that. He wants me to pick them up from her or something. Has he talked to her? Has he bought them?"
"I don't know. Let's go see."
They found Charles out on the terrace behind the house. And it struck Ollie that if they could use a photograph of him sitting just like that in a marketing campaign, his wine sales would probably shoot through the roof.
He looked like the quintessential wealthy older gentleman — relaxed, approachable, genuinely likable.
All of which he was, of course. But with the warm stone of the house behind him and the vine-covered hills rolling away into the distance, it seemed perfect to Ollie.
It might not be a hip and trendy vibe, but he was pretty certain that it was the kind of vibe that people would buy.
Charles turned and smiled when he saw the dogs. Ollie was proud of them when they went straight to him and sat, each offering their paw to shake with him. They were always much more placid around Charles. They seemed to know who appreciated their exuberance and who needed a gentler approach.
"Well, greetings, you fine creatures," he said with a smile. "I'm glad Ollie brought you over to see me. It's been a while."
He looked up at Ollie. "I'm assuming that you think I might need cheering up, and I appreciate the thought, but I'm fine."
"I'm glad to hear it."
Ollie glanced at Reaves, but rather than launching into the details of what Delaney had told them about rebranding possibilities, Reaves went with, "Ollie was just asking if you've talked to Callie about the sunflower glazes."
Charles beamed. "As a matter of fact, I have. And I’m pleased to report that I managed to persuade her to take a handsome fee for them."
That made Ollie smile. From what he understood, Callie could and should charge a lot more than she did for her work.
Charles raised his bushy eyebrows. "I told her that I'd leave it up to the two of you to decide when you want to go and collect them. It seemed unnecessary for me to get involved."
"Okay, I'll give her a call tonight."
Ollie was glad to have the excuse to actually call her again. Even more so, to have good reason to go and see her.
"I was thinking that you might want to call her today," Charles suggested.
"I'm eager to get those things here." He pointed to the low stone wall that divided the lawn from the fields beyond.
"I was thinking that I'd like to line them up right there.
I've never been able to grow sunflowers in that spot, but I'd love to see them there. "
Ollie glanced at Reaves, but he shrugged.
Charles laughed. "Don't look at each other like that.
Yes, I'm trying to manipulate you. I'll come right out and say it.
It seems to me that you need an excuse to go and see that young lady again.
And I'm happy to provide one." He looked at Reaves.
"If the two of you go today, it'll give you the chance to fly together, won't it? "
Ollie looked at Reaves again, and he made a face. "Those two spent too much of their time talking to me on their last date, Dad. I don't think they need me riding along again."
"It's not a problem," Ollie said immediately. As much as he'd like to see Callie again, he and Reaves loved any chance they got to fly together. They flew the jet together for work all the time, but this would be one of the rarer occasions when Reaves got to go up in the Cirrus with him.
"Even if you entertain yourself when you get there," Charles told Reaves. "Let the two of them have some time together. You'll still have a joyride in the sky."
He got to his feet and set his napkin down on the table.
"I have some business in town to attend to today, so I'll see you later.
I've already arranged to pay Callie online somehow.
" He frowned slightly. "I might need your help with that.
But otherwise, your day is your own, and I suggest you use it wisely.
And by wisely, I mean take a trip to Fort Bragg, why don't you? "
He took his cup and saucer and went back in through the drawing room doors.
"Were you expecting that?" Ollie asked.
"Hell no," said Reaves. "But what do you think? You know what he's like — once he's made his mind up, that's it. We won't get the chance to have a decent conversation with him until you get him his glazes." He made a face. "I really don't even understand what they are."
Ollie laughed. "I'm not sure that I do either, but since they're something that Callie's made, I know they'll be awesome."
Reaves chuckled. "You're a goner, aren't you?"
"I'd like to be," he said honestly. "And if today's a chance to go and remind her what a great guy I am, then I'd like to make the most of it."
"What do you think, though? I'll be happy to fly with you, you know that. And I can hang out at the airport or take myself for a walk or something while you go see Callie. Or — how heavy are these things? Will you need help loading them and bringing them? Maybe we can do that first."
"I have no idea," said Ollie. "I guess the first thing I need to do is call her, make sure that it's okay for us to go. We'll figure out the rest from there. What do you say?"
"Yeah, let's do it."
~ ~ ~
"We should probably get going," Alara said.
"Only if you want to," Callie told her. "I have nothing else to do, and I'm enjoying hanging out with you guys. But don't feel you need to stay."
Zia looked up from the spot on the floor where she was arranging the pendants into a pretty mosaic pattern. "I'd like to stay."
Alara smiled. "Okay. And I would too, if I'm honest."
"Good," said Callie. "Do either of you want another drink or anything?" She frowned when her phone rang. "Sorry, I just need to check who it is."
Her heart leaped into her mouth when she saw Ollie's name on the display.
She felt so bad that she hadn't talked to him again.
She wanted to — she wanted to see him — but she didn't feel like she could talk to him and not tell him that Alara and Zia were here.
And Alara had insisted that she didn't want anyone, especially Reaves, to know.
It wasn't that she didn't like him — she hadn't said as much, but Callie knew that she did.
But they both knew that if Reaves knew she was here, especially if he knew what was going on with her, he would want to help.
Callie thought it might be a good idea to let him, but she understood that Alara had her pride.
While she had her camper parked here at the cottage, she was still in charge of her own life.
Sure, she was using the hookups, but beyond that, she wasn't dependent.
She looked down at her phone again.
"Is everything all right?" Alara asked.
"Yeah, it's Ollie."
"And you don't want to talk to him?"
"I do, but..."
"Oh." Understanding dawned on Alara's face. "You don't need to mention us — that we’re here."
"I know. That's the problem." She met Alara's gaze.
"I'm sorry. I'm putting you in a difficult situation, aren't I?"
"No." As she said the word, her phone stopped ringing, and Callie's heart sank. He was probably going to think she was blowing him off, and she wouldn't blame him.
A minute later, her phone beeped with a voicemail. Alara gave her an apologetic look. "You should at least see what he has to say for himself. I feel terrible that you're not talking to him because you don't want to lie to him — and I'm asking you to lie to him."