Chapter Twenty-Seven
When she woke up on Wednesday morning, Callie snuggled closer to Ollie.
She was supposed to have gone home on Monday, but neither of them had wanted her to, and she didn't see any reason to pretend she should.
As it had worked out, she'd needed to be here anyway — she'd met with Delaney about how to maximize the opportunity this moment had created.
She made a face. That's how Delaney had phrased it.
Callie was pretty sure her dad would call it making hay while the sun shines.
Ollie turned to her with a sleepy smile. "Morning," he said, his voice still gravelly.
"Morning yourself. Do you want coffee? I'm going to get up."
He curled his arm around her and rolled them so she was on her back looking up into his eyes, laughing.
"Do you have to go?"
She laughed. "No, I don't. You're the one who has to go, remember?"
"Oh, crap, yeah." He dropped his head and nuzzled his lips against her neck. "I wish we didn't have to get up."
"Me too, but we do. We both have work to do."
He grinned. "I love that you can do your work here."
"Only the stuff I don't enjoy," she said.
"Shit, that's right." He made a face. "I'm being selfish, aren't I? After this morning's flight, I'm free until Monday. Should we go to the cottage and you can work there?"
"I do need to get back."
"And we will. But promise me you'll stick around this morning? I should be back by two. And you said you'd help me find the lilac bush down by the pond."
Butter jumped up on the bed to join them, and Peanut whined.
He rubbed Butter's ears. "These two would love a swim down there."
Callie shook her head with a smile. "Okay, I'll stay."
Peanut jumped up too, not wanting to be left out.
"Do you think they'll like it at the cottage?" Callie asked.
"Sure they will." He rubbed Peanut's ears. "They'll get used to it." He rolled off her. "As long as we're welcome there, then the cottage is going to be as much a part of our lives as this place is."
"Of course you’re welcome. And you really don't mind?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I do have a request, though."
"Oh no, that sounds ominous. What's your request?"
He made a face. "I was going to put off asking because I don't know how you'll feel about it—"
She gave him a stern look.
"I know, I know," he said with a laugh. "That's why I'm saying it instead of holding back. Remember when you talked about the great light in the conservatory and I said you could set it up as your workspace?"
"Yeah, I remember. But Ollie, I love my workspace at the cottage. I couldn't move everything."
He put a finger to her lips. "If I have to be honest about what I'm thinking and not keep it secret, then you have to let me finish," he said with a smile.
She pushed his hand away with a laugh. "Okay, fair enough. Carry on."
"Can I get you a kiln and wheel for the conservatory?"
"Oh, Ollie, no, I—"
She stopped and inhaled deeply when he raised his eyebrows.
"I figured you'd say that," he said. "But I was kind of thinking — what if I want to learn?"
She smiled and pursed her lips. "But you don't."
"But what if I did? I'd need my own kiln and my own wheel, and the conservatory would be the perfect place to put them. Will you at least think about it?"
"I will. Thanks, Ollie. And it's not that I'm rejecting you. I don't still have the same old hang-ups that I used to. But it's about me, you know? Being able to make my way in the world by myself."
"I get it. And I don't want to trample on any of that. But I think our future's together. Don't you?"
She nodded. "I hope so."
"Well, I do too. And if we're going to be a team, you know it makes sense."
She gave him a sassy smile. "I do. But who knows? Maybe with all these new orders coming in from Delaney, and the crazy prices she’s asking — that people are actually paying — I'll be able to buy myself a second wheel and kiln for this place."
She was glad to see that he looked pleased at that possible solution. Even better, he said, "You're right. What am I even thinking? You're going to be one of those stealthy wealthy artists soon."
She laughed. "Stealthy wealthy? What does that even mean?"
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It means you don't have to worry about the fame or the name."
She touched his cheek. "Neither do you, Ollie."
"Yeah. I know." He paused. "I didn't tell you, did I? Dad texted me again yesterday, while we were at the airport waiting to bring the guys back."
"No. But I'm so glad."
Ollie nodded. "Me too."
She poked his side. "But come on. We need to get this day started."
~ ~ ~
As soon as Ollie pulled out of the gates, he told his phone to call Reaves.
"Hey, bud," Reaves answered. "Are you on the way?"
"Yeah, I'm just leaving the estate now. I'll be with you in a few."
"I can't believe you're going to do this. I mean, I can. It's awesome. But are you sure that Callie...?"
Ollie let out a short laugh. "No, I'm not sure at all.
But I'm hoping, and that's enough." He paused.
"Something Luigi said really made me think.
And then seeing my dad, thinking about all the time we lost that could have been so different.
I just don't want to let time pass me by.
Callie might hate the idea, but I don't think she will.
It might be too soon. But as you know, I promised her no more secrets.
This is what I want, so I'm not going to keep it secret from her. "
Reaves laughed. "Even though you're kind of keeping a secret about where you're going this morning."
Ollie laughed with him. "Yeah, but I'll tell her later where I went. It'll only be secret for a few hours."
When he reached Charles's place, Zia came running out to meet him as he got out of his SUV.
"Sunshine King!" She peered past him. "Is Sunshine Queen with you? And Peanut and Butter?"
"Not today, I'm afraid."
He felt bad when the kid's face fell.
"I know she wants to see you, though. And so do Peanut and Butter."
Zia sighed. "That's okay. I know grownups are busy."
He ruffled her hair, smiling when it seemed to sparkle with glitter. "Not too busy for you, though. Never too busy for her forever friend."
She smiled up at him. "Lady Sunshine's your forever now, isn't she?"
He grinned. "I truly hope so."
Zia nodded sagely. "I know so. You were only secret till she turned you into sunshine."
Reaves came around the corner. "There you are, little miss."
She ran to him, and Reaves scooped her up to sit on his hip.
"Are you leaving now, Prince Daddy?"
"Yeah, but I won't be long." He grinned at Ollie. "Don't worry, we just have some business to take care of this morning. I'll be back later."
"Can we swim when you come home?" She turned to Ollie. "Prince Daddy's teaching me to swim, you know. I'm not very good at it yet, but I will be."
"I'm sure you will," Ollie agreed.
"We'll see how we go," Reaves told her. "For now, let's get you back to your mom."
She reached up to press a kiss to his cheek. "I can go. I'll see you later. I can go myself!"
When he set her down, she ran to the corner before turning back to wave at them. "Bye, Prince Daddy! Bye, Sunshine King!"
"How's Alara doing?" Ollie asked as they pulled away from the estate.
"Still not great," Reaves said with a sigh. "But she insists she's not going to see a doctor until the health insurance kicks in."
"Damn." Ollie ran his hand through his hair. "There's no way you can talk her into it?"
Reaves made a face. "You think I haven't been trying?"
"I know, bud. Sorry."
"She does seem to do better some days. But I'm worried it might be something serious."
"Me too." Ollie glanced at him. "And you're still sticking with just being a friend?"
Reaves nodded. "She couldn't handle anything more than that.
Not yet. She's working with Dad for a few hours every day.
She takes naps in the afternoon. And of course she hangs out with Zia.
She has enough on her plate. If our time comes, it'll come when she's in a better position.
It wouldn't feel right to go in that direction yet. "
"I hope when the time's right, she'll see what she has in you."
Reaves punched his shoulder. "Thanks. But today isn't about me. It's about you. Where are we going first?"
"First stop is to see Willow, to collect the flowers."
Reaves laughed. "You know, when Callie caught them, I was worried it might freak you out."
"That was the weird thing," said Ollie. "It really didn't. It would have done in the past, but with Callie..." He shrugged. "Things were different with Callie right from the start."
"That's because she's the one," said Reaves with a knowing smile.
Ollie just nodded. He hadn't used to believe in the concept of there being the one. But he knew better now. There was no question that Callie was the one for him.
~ ~ ~
Callie kept staring at the number on her phone. It had to be a mistake. There was no way.
Delaney had taken over her orders since Monday.
Callie had been a bit pissed at her at first, especially when she insisted that the Etsy store had to close down right away.
But when Delaney had forwarded her an email with a request for a mug — just one of her regular, straightforward mugs — and the buyer wanted to pay more than what she usually charged for a dozen of them, Callie was prepared to listen.
But this...
She looked down at the text again. Delaney said that the biggest custom order yet had come in, and she'd be back with more details soon. The number they were willing to pay made Callie shake her head. It could not be right.
She jumped when her phone rang in her hand.
"Hey, Delaney. Are you sure this is right?"
"No, that's why I'm calling you."
Callie nodded to herself. "I knew it. There's no way someone would pay that much."
"No, hang on. It's not the price that's the problem. It's the request."
"Why? What's the request for?"