Chapter Twenty-Four
Ollie checked his watch when he arrived at Rosa's cottage to get the dogs on Friday afternoon.
The scheduling meeting had finished early.
He grinned. He owed Willow one — she hated those meetings as much as he did.
They seemed pointless to him, since all he and Reaves really needed was a text to let them know who was flying where and when.
Since they'd gotten out much earlier than expected, Reaves had gone straight to his dad's, and Ollie had said he'd meet him there after he came to get the dogs. He'd still arrive in plenty of time before Callie did, and Reaves had been saying for a while that Zia wanted to meet Peanut and Butter.
Rosa came out with the dogs at her side, since he'd texted ahead to let her know he was coming and would be in a hurry. She grinned as she opened the gate, and the dogs ran straight to him, jumping into the back of the Cullinan as soon as he opened it.
"I won't keep you," she said, "but be sure to bring Callie by this weekend. I'd like to get to know her better. I like her already."
"I told Luigi that you guys should come up to the house."
She smiled. "And we will, but you should be the one to figure out when it suits you. Get along, and we'll see you soon." She leaned in to kiss his cheek. "I know you don't want to hear this right now, but I spoke to your father last night. He wants to know that you're okay."
Ollie made a face. "Sorry — he's only following up with you because I haven't answered him."
"I know. Please text him, Ollie. Or better yet, call him. He loves you, you know."
Ollie just shrugged. After Callie had reminded him last night, he'd already decided he'd have to call his dad soon — but it was far from his top priority this weekend.
On the way to Charles's, he checked on the dogs in the rearview mirror. "You guys have to be good, okay? I don't think Zia will be afraid of you, but she's a small person. No knocking her over."
Butter barked twice, as if answering for both of them.
"I know, sorry. You'll figure it out. But she's looking forward to meeting you guys." He grinned. "And Callie will be there too."
Peanut whined at that.
"And then she's coming back with us for the weekend. You'll get to hang out with her again." He chuckled. "She even made you a gift. Water bowls of your own, apparently."
When he arrived at Charles's place, he grinned when he saw the sunflower glazes lined up against the low stone wall. They looked really good. When Callie arrived, he'd help Reaves set up the last four so that the display was complete.
He didn't know the story behind Charles and his sunflowers, but Reaves had told him that they reminded his dad of his mom.
Until recently, Ollie had kind of loved and resented that at the same time — it wasn't as though his parents had had decades together.
Reaves's mom had died when he was small. But at least he had happy memories, and knew that his parents’ love lived on.
In contrast, all Ollie knew was that his mom hadn't cared about him enough to even keep in touch after she left, and his dad had never had time for him.
He shot a guilty glance at his phone sitting on the passenger seat. To be fair, it was Ollie who didn't have time for his dad lately.
As he let the dogs out, Reaves came around the side of the house to greet him.
"Hey, come on out back. Zia's excited to meet the puppies."
Ollie gave them a stern look. "Remember what I said, guys?"
They fell in beside him, flanking him as they walked out to the terrace — where he had to laugh at the sight of Charles sitting next to Zia at the table, papers and shiny stickers spread out in front of them. Charles even had a shiny sticker on his cheek when he looked up with a sheepish smile.
"Ollie, it's good to see you."
"You too, Charles."
"Sunshine King!" Zia cried when she spotted him. "You're here, and you brought your doggos. Am I allowed to say hello?"
"Just a second," he told her.
Peanut and Butter went to Charles first and sat to offer him their paws. Zia watched with a big grin on her face as he shook hands with them.
"They're very big," she said.
"Yes, but they're kind and gentle," Charles assured her.
"Can I—"
Zia stopped short at the sound of a buzzer.
"That's the front gate," she announced. "It means someone's here."
"It does." Reaves grinned at Ollie. "I'll bet it's Callie."
"Lady Sunshine!" Zia squealed.
Ollie felt as excited as she sounded and was relieved when Reaves caught her hand and said, "Why don't you come with me to tell Mom that she's here?"
Charles winked at Ollie. "I'm sure the dogs won't mind waiting here with me while you go and greet your lady."
He hurried back around the side of the house, and a couple of minutes later, Callie's truck appeared. She grinned at him as she parked it next to the Cullinan, and by the time she cut the engine, he was there to open her door for her.
She climbed out and threw her arms around his neck. He crushed her to his chest and murmured into her hair, "Hey. I missed you."
"I missed you too. But I'm here now."
He held her a little tighter. "You are. And I may not let you go."
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up into his. "I may not let you go either. I've been thinking about that. I can stay here with you sometimes. You can come home with me sometimes. It's not where we are that matters — it's about not letting each other go. Isn't it?"
He nodded. "Yep." He tapped the middle of her chest before tapping his own. "This. Us. That's what matters. Not where we are. We both have lives. They both count. We just have to figure out how to live them together."
Her arms tightened around his waist. "Yeah. That's what I want, Ollie."
"Me too. I love you, Callie."
"I love you, too." She rolled up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips. He couldn't resist taking it deeper, pouring everything he felt into it. But then he pulled back before he wanted to, and she laughed.
"I know we need to go say hi to everyone, but you're going to owe me more of that when we get back to your place."
He wrapped his arm around her. "I'll be happy to deliver kisses and so much more when we get home."
She glanced up at him, and he held her gaze. She didn't question the word home. And he could see in her eyes that she was happy for him to use it.
"Come say hi to everyone."
She started toward the back of her truck. "I should get the glazes—"
But he took her hand. "Come say hi to everyone first. Reaves and I can carry them out when you're ready. But Zia's dying to see you. And Charles is too."
As soon as they rounded the side of the house, a little squeal rang out.
"Sunshine Queen! There you are!"
Callie squatted down to greet Zia with a hug. And it was only then that Ollie realized she'd greeted him as Sunshine King. Not Secret King anymore. He loved it.
Charles grinned at him as Zia and Callie caught up with each other. The dogs stood back, even though they were obviously impatient to greet Callie themselves.
When she straightened up, Zia pointed at them. "I know Peanut and Butter now. They're my new friends."
Callie grinned. "They're my new friends too. Aren't they wonderful?"
Zia nodded solemnly. "They're the best doggos in the world. I'm going to have a doggo of my own one day."
Ollie glanced at Charles, who gave him a wry smile, but didn't get the chance to comment before Zia spotted her mom and Reaves coming out from the drawing room.
"Look, Mom! Sunshine Queen's here. And Sunshine King. And Peanut and Butter too."
Ollie was disappointed to see that Alara still didn't look any better.
She was pale with dark circles under her eyes.
And he knew damn well that since she and Zia had come to stay here with Charles, she was getting all the rest and good food she needed.
He decided there and then that they had to get her to a doctor, no matter what.
Callie went straight to her and wrapped her in a hug. "It's so good to see you. How are you?"
Alara smiled and nodded and put on a brave face.
Ollie chuckled as Charles removed the sticker from his cheek and gave him a rueful smile.
"Are you doing well, Charles?"
"Never been better."
And from the look of him, it was true. Ollie didn't think he'd ever seen him this animated.
"How are things going with Delaney?"
Charles nodded. "Much better than I feared. She certainly knows what she's doing. And now that she's on board, I'm hopeful. Thanks, Ollie."
"Don't mention it."
Charles looked back to where Callie, Alara, and Zia were all chatting animatedly. "It's good to see the ladies together. Perhaps the two of you will come over again before Callie leaves. But for now, I imagine you'll be wanting to be on your way."
Ollie gave him a grateful smile.
"No need to explain," said Charles. "Let's get these sunflower glazes set up, and we'll let you go."
After he and Reaves arranged the last four glazes against the wall — with much supervision from Zia and a little from Charles — Ollie went back to Callie's side and caught her hand.
He was about to suggest leaving, and was relieved when she was the one to say, "I'm sorry this is only a flying visit, guys, but I'll be back to see you again soon. "
Zia came running and wrapped her arms around Callie's legs. "I'm sad to see you go, but I know we'll see you soon." She looked up at Charles. "Sunshine Queen is my forever friend, you know."
Charles nodded. "I can see that."
Callie turned to Alara. "I'll give you a call in the week, okay?"
Alara smiled at them. "I'll look forward to it." She met Ollie's gaze and added, "And thanks again. So much."
"You're more than welcome. Come on, Peanut. Butter."
Zia laughed out loud at that, and Ollie gave her a puzzled smile. "You haven't given them names — I thought you might."