Chapter 37- Callie
Changes, the planned and unplanned alike, are going to happen.
After Ezra and Wyatt surprised me with pancakes in bed (and talked me into playing hooky for the day with them), the following week passed in a blur of happiness.
Wyatt and I met Levi yesterday. There’s a gruffness to him, like an old bear, but a gentleness as well. The look in his eyes when he shook Wyatt’s hand made mine well up. He’s going to be a wonderful granddad.
But, it’s back to work this morning.
All the partners, the top executives (myself included) and several department managers are munching on muffins as Anthony Sorvino strides toward the podium in the conference room wearing a fearsome scowl. Grace recently shared with our friend group that public speaking makes him extremely uncomfortable. I never would’ve guessed but, like Ezra with crowds, anyone can have struggles. Sometimes, you’ve just got to dig a little deeper to see.
As the noise level drops, I take a moment to survey the wreckage of crumbs, pastry boxes and discarded coffee cups on the buffet table. Someone will have to clean all this up and I don’t know if that someone will be Daisy. I’ve not seen her since the morning she spilled coffee on Grant. I’m afraid she’s quit or lost her job. Grant’s been very tight-lipped about it when I’ve asked.
Mr. Sorvino commands our attention soon enough and then floors me when he welcomes a special guest to our meeting – Ezra.
The room applauds my man but I notice that his smile is a touch artificial. I feel the strong urge to rush up and join him, to offer a pleasant distraction or simply a hand to hold but I won’t embarrass him that way.
Yet, the CEO of Power Play Investments has come with an agenda of his own. “I appreciate Mr. Sorvino giving me this opportunity to speak to you all so I might praise the fantastic team that’s responsible for San Francisco’s new, billion-dollar sports arena…”
I think Jameson and I are wearing matching glares as Ezra and Anthony force us to join them at the front of the room – guess they’re not alone in not loving attention like this – but we accept the applause of everyone else with as much grace as we can muster.
“Are you sure I can’t steal you away to work in finance with me, Ms. Anderson?” Ezra murmurs, his green eyes sparkling with mischief over my discomfort. “I promise the fringe benefits are more exciting than free pastries.”
Smirking, I shake my head at him. “I love my job and I think I’ve spent enough time working on something for you, Mr. Sokolov. I’d rather work on things with you from now on that don’t involve hockey.”
“No hockey at all?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.
“Well… a little hockey,” I concede. Wyatt still has a couple of weeks left in his peewee season and I’ve rediscovered my enjoyment as a spectator of the sport when it means watching the Fog play with Ezra and Wyatt at my side.
As the meeting breaks up, I’m planning to take Ezra up to my office to discuss what hypothetical fringe benefits he might have to offer if he were my boss.
Instead, we’re both distracted by a discussion amongst the partners and the wives who work for Golden Gate regarding the company’s annual charity Christmas ball.
“You’re coming, right, Sokolov?” Dean asks Ezra and I love Dean all the more for that. I want Ezra to feel like he’s got friends here with the divide which currently exists between him and his brother.
“Well, as long as I’m invited…” he replies, wrapping his arm around me.
“As my date, you’re definitely invited,” I tell him, squeezing his hand.
“That’s great, Ezra. You’re a serious upgrade from Callie’s dating app dud from the last charity event.”
I glare at Tabitha who seems to realize she may have shared too much from the way Ezra’s laughing. “Is that how you met good old Dud, hummingbird?” he asks once he’s stopped wheezing, the jerk.
“If you tease me about that, I will be forced to call him and check in.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” he growls, nipping at my ear. No, I wouldn’t but it’s fun to tease him back.
“What about you, Grant?” Tabitha asks, taking the attention off me. “Will you bring a date this time?”
Everyone fully expects him to fly solo based on his past comments so it’s hardly just my jaw that hits the ground when he frostily replies, “If you must know, Tabitha, I’ll be bringing my wife.”
“Wife?! You’re not married!”
“I have a marriage certificate which says otherwise, Culver.”
“What’s her name?” Grace asks, keen to make a new friend.
Anthony sounds less keen to make friends and more like he’s calling a bluff. “When did you marry this person?”
“What are you blackmailing her with?” Jameson sounds like he’s preparing an enquiry for treason.
“My, you’re all full of questions, aren’t you?”
“Of course, we are, Grant.Come on.Fill us in,” Samuel urges.
“We got married last week. We preferred a quiet ceremony. Her name is Daisy. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
At that, he walks away, ignoring the dozens of questions we hurl his way and leaving us to our speculations. Daisy… What have you got yourself into, girl? I can’t help wondering.
∞∞∞
Like the new Mrs. Barclay, we’ve all been adapting to changes lately. I’m eager to see Daisy at the ball and find out what induced her to marry Grant. I mean, he is handsome and filthy rich but there has got to be more to the story than what he’s sharing… which is next to nothing.
For Wyatt, the changes haven’t been drastic. He still goes to the same preschool every day but Ezra makes a point of making breakfast with him every morning which Wyatt adores. And, of course, he’s here most evenings except when the Fog has a home game.
“When are you going to stop being so stubborn and move in with me, woman?” Ezra whispers.
He’s massaging my tired feet after another ice-skating lesson while Wyatt plays with his dump trucks on the floor so I can’t really be annoyed by being asked the same question again. “This isn’t about being stubborn. As I said, after Christmas and during the holiday break will be a better time for a major life change like moving.”
“Fine. But, I’m staying over Christmas Eve.”
“You stay over most nights. And, of course, you’ll be here to see him waking up on Christmas morning. That’s not to be missed.” That stops his muttering. “What did Levi want when he called? Is he going back to Massachusetts for the holidays?”
Ezra’s smile dims but only for a moment. “He’s not sure yet but he found a book of dinosaur trivia he wanted to get Wyatt for Christmas and wanted to make sure no one else was going to buy it for him.”
Laughing, I promise to pass the information on to my mother. Wyatt already loves his other grandfather dearly and he’ll be excited over the gift.
For Ezra, the changes have been welcome, even as he learns becoming a full-time dad isn’t all fun and games. “I never thought it was.”
“I don’t know who pouted more last night when I said no to ice cream right before bedtime, you or him.”
“You exaggerate,” he huffs, making me grin.
For my part, change means both gaining and letting go. I have gained so much having Ezra’s love. I’m happy and fulfilled in new ways and that particular loneliness I once lamented is gone. It’s not all on me when it comes to taking care of my son though my mama would make a valid argument that caring for Wyatt has never been fully on my shoulders alone. I’m learning to accept Ezra’s help, learning to let him in on the big decisions and realizing how magnificent it is to share a child’s growth and laughter with a loving partner.
“We make a good team,” I comment after we’ve tucked Wyatt in for the night.
“Yeah, we do. But, sometimes, the mama and the daddy need time just for them.”
“You don’t have to convince me. We’re heading to bed, aren’t we?”
“That’s not what I meant. I’ve made plans for us tomorrow night. Just us, Callie. Wyatt’s going to stay with Waela and Charlie for the night.”
“What are you plotting, Big Bird?”
“You’ll see.”