Chapter Twenty-Five
Ollie drained the last of his latte and set the mug down on the table beside the remains of their breakfast. The morning sun was warm on his shoulders, and the pool glittered in front of them, perfectly still.
Beyond it, the vines stretched out in neat rows toward the hills, the leaves catching the light.
A bird was singing somewhere in the oaks near the fence line, and the air smelled like coffee and warm stone and something faintly sweet from the gardens. Everything about this morning felt good.
He and Callie had gotten a late start, but that was hardly surprising considering how little they'd slept last night. She'd been so buzzed after she heard from Delaney, and he felt the same way — he was excited for her.
They'd sat at the computer in the office so they could see all the comments and orders that had come in from Delaney's post. He was thrilled for her.
When it had started to sink in for her that this was real, he'd asked her more about her business.
Of course he'd looked at her Etsy shop online before, but he still didn't know much about how she ran things.
She'd brought up her photo galleries of all her work, and it was amazing — some of it was breathtaking. His favorites were still the wind chimes, though. The ones made from broken pieces of pottery. There was something about them that got to him.
With all of that, it had been late before they went to bed. And once they were there... A shiver ran down his spine. They'd made the most of it. He'd been right when he told her they had nothing to worry about when it came to their compatibility in bed. She was amazing — they were amazing together.
He chuckled when he realized she was watching him.
"You look like the cat that ate the canary. What's up?"
He shook his head with a smile. "Nothing. I feel that way too. It's just that everything's good in my world. I'm enjoying it."
He reached for her hand, and she gave his a squeeze.
"I'm loving this, Ollie. Everything feels so right."
"That's because it is."
They both laughed when Butter barked.
"See? If the big guy says so, it has to be true."
She stood up and stretched, the morning light catching her hair.
She was wearing his sweats again. She'd brought her own clothes with her this time, but it seemed they both liked the idea of her wearing his — at least for breakfast by the pool like this, with the dogs sprawled at their feet and the whole day ahead of them.
"What do you want to do today?" he asked.
"Be with you," she said with a smile.
He chuckled. "Wish granted. Anything else?"
She looked down at the dogs, and Peanut rested her chin on Callie's thigh. "Take these babies for a walk."
He laughed when two tails started to wag. "Oh, I think we can definitely do that. And maybe swim too."
Callie glanced over her shoulder at the pool. "Yeah, I'd like that. And I brought my swimsuit with me."
He made a face. "Damn. And I was hoping you'd forget."
She shrugged. "I might tonight. But I figured this afternoon I should probably wear one."
"Yeah, you may have a point there."
She frowned at the sound of her phone ringing.
"Take it," he said. "I'll go make us a refill. Do you want another?"
"I'd love one, thanks. I do need to take it. It's my mom."
Ollie hesitated, but when she didn't invite him to stick around, he went to make their coffees. He was looking forward to getting to know her family, but he knew he'd have to wait until the right moment came.
When he came back outside with two mugs, she was still talking. She raised her eyebrows at him, mouthing, Do you want to say hi?
He nodded eagerly, and she grinned.
"Yeah, anyway, like I said, Mom—" She grinned. "He's back now. Do you want to see him and say hi?"
Her mom must have said yes, because Callie took a moment to turn the camera on then turned her phone around so he could see the screen.
Her mom waved at him. "Hi, Ollie! It's nice to meet you — even though I know this isn't meeting you properly."
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mrs. Claiborne. I look forward to the day we can meet properly. You guys are welcome to come out here any time you like, you know."
"Well, thanks, love. We might just take you up on that. We kept talking about coming to see Callie, but her place isn't that big, you know. She only has one bathroom, and I really don't like to— I wouldn't make her share a bathroom with her dad."
Callie laughed and covered her eyes. Ollie just smiled and said, "Well, if you want to come and stay here, you'll have your own bathroom."
"That's great, thanks. Listen, I won't keep you guys too long. I just had to call Callie because I saw that photo online. Her brother Wyatt showed it to me."
Ollie went to stand beside Callie so they could both see her mom as she talked. A guy who looked a little younger than Callie stuck his head in front of the camera.
"Hey, guys. Did you see all the likes you got, Cals? That thing went viral."
Callie laughed. "I know. I'm still trying to get used to the idea myself."
"Oh, sorry — you must be Ollie," said Wyatt. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. I was just telling your mom you guys are welcome to come and stay here whenever you want."
Wyatt grinned. "Thanks. That'd be awesome. You make wine, don't you? Oh — you're a pilot, aren't you?"
"I am."
"That's so freaking cool."
Ollie grinned. "We can take you up, if you want."
"In a plane?"
"Yeah, in a plane." He looked at Callie, and she nodded happily.
"Get this, Wyatt — I've flown it."
"No way!"
Callie laughed. "Way."
"Oh, right," said Wyatt. "I was going to ask how. But it's yours, isn't it, Ollie? You're like some rich guy."
Callie covered her face with her hand and groaned, but Ollie just laughed.
"Yeah, I guess I am. But I'm not all bad. And one of the perks is that I have my own plane we can go up in."
"Doesn't seem like there's anything bad about it to me," said Wyatt. "Ouch! Okay, Mom, I'll move."
He disappeared, and Callie's mom reappeared.
"Listen, we'll let you go, but your dad just wants a word."
Ollie tensed, hoping this would go as well. He relaxed when Callie's dad appeared and gave him a warm smile.
"I won't keep you long. Just wanted to say hello. Our Callie thinks the world of you. She knows her own mind, and I trust her judgment — so you must be all right."
"I do my best, sir. And I promise you I'll be good to her."
Her dad nodded. "That's all I need to know. I look forward to getting to know you, son."
That last word made Ollie's throat tighten. All he could do was nod and croak out, "You too."
Callie took over. "We'll figure out about coming to see you guys soon."
"You do that, love. Love you."
"Love you too. Bye."
After the call ended, she reached out to squeeze his arm. "They love you. I can tell."
He nodded. "They're great. I look forward to getting to know them."
"What do you say — should we get dressed and take these guys for a walk?"
"Yeah, let's do that."
As they were gathering the dishes to take inside, Ollie's phone rang. He rolled his eyes at her. "Why does everyone want to talk on a Saturday morning?"
She shrugged. "No idea. But now it's my turn. You take it and I'll take the dishes inside."
As she walked away, he took his phone out, and his heart sank when he saw the name on the screen. Dad.
He didn't want to talk to him. Not after feeling the warmth of Callie's family. He didn't want to feel the contrast of a cold, stilted conversation with the man he called Father but didn't really know.
He felt like an asshole, but he waited for it to stop ringing and go to voicemail.
When it did, he hit play.
"Hi, Ollie. I've been trying to get hold of you for a while now. I was hoping you might have called me back."
There was a long pause, and Ollie held his breath, waiting for his dad to continue.
"I've been wanting to come and see you. I was hoping we could figure out when, but since I haven't heard back from you, I decided I'll just come by.
I'll be there this afternoon — I should land around four.
If you really don't want to see me, then I don't suppose you'll be home. But I hope you will."
The message ended, and he sat there staring at his phone.
He could take Callie out somewhere for the day. They could even go to her cottage. That way, even if his dad decided to stay overnight, they wouldn't come back and find him here.
Callie came back out and hurried to him. "Oh no, what's wrong? Has something happened?"
He looked up at her. "Why?"
"Your face. You look terrible."
He let out a short laugh. "Thanks."
She gave him a gentle slap. "I don't mean it like that, and you know it. What's going on, Ollie? What was your phone call?"
He ran his hand over his face. "It was my dad."
"Oh no — is he okay?"
"He's fine. He's coming."
"Coming here?"
"Yeah. This afternoon. Four o'clock."
"Oh. Well, that's nice."
He made a face. "No, it's not."
"Maybe it could be — if you let it."
He blew out a sigh. "He's going to ruin our day."
"Only if you look at it that way."
He looked down when Peanut rested her chin on his thigh and Butter came to sit on his other side.
"Oh, look at them," said Callie. "They're trying to help you through, aren't they?"
He nodded.
"And that means they know it's tough for you."
He shook his head. "It shouldn't be tough, though. What does it matter? Some man who doesn't care about me wants to stop by and see me. Shouldn't be a big deal, right?"
"Oh, Ollie. Don't. It is a big deal. He's not just some guy who doesn't care about you. He's your dad."
Ollie closed his eyes and nodded slowly. She was right. Miles Stratton was his dad. It was just that he'd never behaved like one. And if he wanted to start being buddies now—
He looked up at Callie. "No secrets, right?"
She nodded.
"Want to know what my ugliest one is?"
She nodded again and, to his surprise, plopped herself down on his lap, curling an arm around his shoulders. "I do. They're the most important ones to share."
He shrugged. "I still feel like the little kid who's angry and hurt. I even think he might want to make it up to me. But it's that little boy inside who's saying, 'What's the point now?' He didn’t want to be in my life when I needed him; he doesn’t get to be now that I don’t."
She tightened her arm around him. "I can understand that.
It must be so hard. And it's totally up to you what you decide.
But he can't make it up to you if you won't let him.
That little boy has every reason to feel hurt.
But the man you are now has a chance to build a relationship with his dad — if he wants one. "
She rested her forehead against his and looked into his eyes. "It's up to you. I'll support you no matter what you decide. But why not hear what he has to say today?"
He nodded slowly, then said, "Because it'll ruin our day."
"It won't. We won't let it. I can go to Becca's. Give you two some space."
"No." He paused. "I mean, yeah, of course, if that's what you want to do. But if you're just going for my sake, then please don't."
She raised her eyebrows. "Maybe the two of you need the time together."
"No." He shook his head adamantly. "If he wants to be a part of my life now, then he needs to get to know you." He rested his head against her shoulder. "And besides, I'd like you to be there with me if I have to face him."
She kissed the top of his head. "Then of course I'll be here with you. We'll do it together. But promise me something, Ollie. Promise me that you'll give him a chance."