Chapter Fifteen
Callie: I've been thinking. Can we talk?
Ollie: I'd like that. When? And listen, I'm really sorry. I didn't want this whole deal with Reaves coming to get Alara to make you feel like you were under pressure, but I couldn't exactly tell him no.
Callie: You're gonna have to fill me in. I don't know what you're talking about.
Ollie: Ah, OK. Can I call you? This'd be so much easier to do in person.
Callie stared at her phone. She had wanted to talk to him, so why not?
Callie: Sure. I'll call you.
She hit the call button and held her breath as she waited. She didn't have to hold it long; he picked up on the first ring. The sound of his voice wrapped around her like a blanket when he said, "Hey, how are you?"
"Hey. I'm okay. I don't know what's going on with Reaves and Alara. That wasn't why I was texting."
"No?" She hated the note of wariness in his voice.
"No. I told you I needed some time to think, and I've taken it. And... I think we need to talk. But I'm not trying to drag this out, Ollie. I was hurt and shocked, but it's like you said at the time — you haven't done anything worse than I have. I'd be a hypocrite to hold it against you."
"I shouldn't have done that, Callie. Shouldn't have thrown it in your face about Reaves."
"No." She cut him off. "You absolutely should. I can't have one standard for you and hold myself to a different one, can I? Sure, this hurt more because I was the one on the receiving end. But my point is, I want to put it behind us — if you still do."
She could hear the smile in his voice when he said, "Yeah, I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."
"But what's going on with Reaves and Alara?"
"Sorry, maybe I jumped the gun. Maybe Alara doesn't even know yet.
But Reaves is going to suggest that he should come up there and drive them back down here — drive her Suburban and the camper.
Charles has offered them a place to stay at his house, and he has a job for Alara whenever she's well enough to start on it. "
Callie frowned. "I thought you were the one giving her a job."
"Yeah. Sorry, I still need to explain myself, don't I?"
"No, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just trying to keep up. You don't need to explain yourself, Ollie. We just need to talk, that's all."
"Well, if Alara says yes, then I'll need to fly Reaves up there and drop him off so that he can drive her Suburban back without having to leave his own truck there."
It made sense. "So, you're going to want me to pick you up from the airport?" she asked.
"I'd like that. If it even happens. Like I said, maybe I'm jumping the gun. And I want to be clear — I didn’t plan to just land on you. If you didn’t want to see me anymore, I was going to drop Reaves off and fly right back out again."
"You don’t need to do that."
"I’m glad."
"Okay, well, do you want to let me know when it's all worked out?"
"Sure. Or maybe Alara will tell you herself after she talks to Reaves. Like I said, it's not a foregone conclusion. He's only going to make the offer."
Callie smiled. "Yeah, but I can hardly see her saying no, can you?"
He chuckled. "No. Especially not if Zia hears about it."
Callie glanced out the window. Zia had been playing out back a little while ago, skipping around in the trees, shaking her glitter on the ferns. "That little lady will think all her wishes have come true if she gets to stay with Charles."
"I know. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for all of them. That it'll work out."
"Yeah, I have a feeling it will."
The line went quiet for a few moments. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and me too, Callie."
Her hand came up to cover her heart, and she had to swallow a couple of times before she said, "Me too."
"I'm sorry."
She nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "I am as well. We'll figure it out. Let me know when you're coming."
"I will. I'll see you soon."
She inhaled deeply and let it out before saying, "Yeah, see you soon, Ollie."
~ ~ ~
Ollie set his phone down on the counter and smiled when Peanut came and rested her paw on his knee. "Thanks, lady," he told her. "I have hope again now, at least."
Butter woofed and came to butt his head against Ollie's thigh.
"I know, I know. You guys liked her too.
I'm hoping that you'll get to see her again.
But..." He sighed as he looked around. Maybe bringing her here would only make her uncomfortable.
But at the same time, it was where he lived.
If they were going to start dating for real — let alone anything else — he needed to bring her into his life, let her see how he lived.
He petted the dogs. "Maybe you two can help her get used to it. I mean, it's not all that bad, is it?"
Peanut whined, and he had to laugh when she ran over to her bed and lay down in it, rolling on her back, paddling her legs in the air, as if to demonstrate that life around here was pretty cushy, actually.
He grabbed for his phone eagerly when it beeped with a text. But he set it back down when he saw the name on the display: Dad.
"What do you think he wants?" he asked the dogs. "We haven't heard from him in — what, six months? Now I get two texts within a couple of days?"
Peanut ignored him completely, but Butter met his gaze and held it.
"Damn you," said Ollie. "You're not supposed to be able to make me feel guilty. You're supposed to be just a dog, you know."
Butter growled at that, making him laugh.
"I know, I know. I never said that's all you are, but that's how it's supposed to look to the outside world.
They don't need to know that you guys are my best friends and moral conscience, do they?
Best friends along with Reaves," he added hurriedly.
Even when Reaves wasn't around, he wouldn't want him to feel left out.
He opened his dad's text.
Dad: Any chance I might be able to talk you into a visit sometime soon?
Ollie's eyebrows shot up. He hadn't been expecting that. And there was no way he was going to reply without taking his time to think it over first.
In fact, this was the kind of thing that made him glad Reaves was such a good friend. He dialed his number and waited. But it went straight to voicemail.
"Hey, bud. Don't know what you're up to today. I'm just hanging out with the dogs. I could do with bending your ear if you have a minute later. My dad asked if I want to go visit!"
He set his phone back down and went to stare out the windows.
The house was beautiful. The pool was awesome.
He let out a short laugh. In the past he’d never been sure if women — or most people — liked him for himself or for his name and money.
It seemed to him that a lot of women would like him even more for all of this.
Callie was the only one for whom it was a problem.
He went back to the counter when his phone rang.
"Hey, Reaves," he answered.
"Hey, bud. What's the deal with your dad?"
"Damned if I know. He messaged me the other night asking how I am. And today he wants to know if there's any chance I might visit."
"And is there?"
"Not likely. He's bound to want something."
Reaves sighed. "Yeah, he is. He's your dad. Maybe he just wants to see you."
Ollie scowled. "As if. You know how he is. There'll be a reason."
"And like I said, the reason could just be that he wants to see you, Ollie."
"Nah. I think you romanticize him too much. You always do. He's not like Charles."
"I know he isn't, but I think you're too hard on him."
Ollie made a face.
"I do," Reaves insisted. "These last few years, it seems to me that he's been trying to make an effort. And you're the one who doesn't have time for him now."
"Why should I? He never had time for me."
"I know, but I think he's trying to make up for it. And he'll never be able to if you don't let him, you know."
"Okay, wise one. Thanks for the advice, but let's move on."
Reaves chuckled. "I'll be happy to. You get pretty stubborn about your dad, so I know I'm not going to get anywhere with that. And besides, I have some good news."
"You do?"
"Yeah, I do. Or at least, I think it'll be good — if you and Callie..."
"You mean you've spoken to Alara?"
"Yeah."
"Then don't worry, I've talked to Callie too."
"Awesome. Or is it?"
"I wouldn't go as far as awesome, but I'm hopeful. Put it that way. What did Alara say?"
"That yeah, she and Zia would love to come and stay at Dad's place. And that she's happy for me to drive them down here. She's still not up to it. And I don't want to be a pain or anything, but have you done anything about...?"
"Yeah, I talked to Rosa. She does all the payroll for the staff on the estate.
I figured that was easier than making Alara an employee of the business.
So anytime Alara wants to swing by — anytime you want to bring her — she can get all the paperwork signed and be good to go.
You know me, I don't know much about the details when it comes to the health insurance.
There may be a waiting period or something, I don't know.
But Reaves, no matter how that works out, take her to a doctor as soon as you can, okay?
I don't want her to have to wait. I'll pay. "
"Thanks, bud. I'm not even going to say anything about no or you shouldn't have to. This is one of those situations where it just needs to happen. And I'm just grateful that you can make it happen."
"I am too. I still have my issues with him, but it’s times like this that I truly appreciate my dad and all the money he gave me."
"And that takes me back to — if you really appreciate him, maybe you should try giving him a chance."
Ollie sighed. "I'll think about it, okay? If it'll make you feel any better. Have you and Alara decided when you're going up there?"
Reaves chuckled. "No, that's what I'm calling you to decide. I wanted to make sure that it's going to be okay for you and Callie. But it sounds like it is."
"I'm hoping so. And as far as I'm concerned, the sooner the better."
~ ~ ~