Chapter Seven #2
Alara was slowing the Suburban as they approached the gates at the Stratton place. Reaves turned in his seat to smile at Zia. "They love to swim. And I'm sure they'll especially love to swim with you."
~ ~ ~
There was something very reassuring to Alara about seeing Callie's beat-up old truck parked next to Ollie's Cullinan. She parked her Suburban next to the truck and cut the engine.
"Can I get out now, Mom? Can I go and see Peanut and Butter?" Zia asked.
"Give me a second. I need to get your things out the back and—"
"Please," Zia interrupted. "I want to see them. We're going to swim together."
"I'll get the bags," said Reaves.
"Thanks. Give me a minute, Z, and I'll come and get you out."
Zia met her gaze in the rearview mirror. They'd both known for a while now that Zia was more than capable of unbuckling her own belt and climbing out of her car seat. Alara held her gaze steadily until Zia dropped her chin.
"I'll be right there."
She didn't stop Reaves—she was going to have her hands full with Zia. He gave her a small smile as he opened the back and took out the bag she'd brought with towels and Zia's things.
Once Alara had unfastened her belt, Zia reached her arms up. "Hug, Mom."
Alara wrapped her arms around her daughter and held her tight for a moment.
"Love you," Zia whispered, before sliding out of her seat.
"Z, remember what I said," Alara called after her.
"I know. I promise I'll be good. I promise I'll be careful around the pool, and I won't go in unless someone's with me."
Alara raised her eyebrows, and Zia toed the gravel with her purple sandal. "Okay. I know that Peanut and Butter don't count as someone with me."
"That's right. I mean it, Z."
"I know, Mom. Can I go see them now?"
"Okay."
They'd been over here a few times now to visit with Callie and Ollie, and Zia knew exactly where she was going. Since Alara knew that the path she would take didn't lead her by the pool, she didn't mind letting her run ahead.
"Are you okay? Do you want me to catch up with her?" Reaves asked.
It was tempting to send him on so that she could have a moment to herself. But she wasn't blind. He kept trying to show her how much he wanted to be there for her—there with her. And if she were honest, she'd love for him to be.
She wasn’t going to entertain any ideas about no longer being around for him to be with. She'd decided that she was going to push away all thoughts of anything happening to her. At least for today.
"She'll be fine. We can catch up."
Reaves set down one of the bags and rested his hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure you're all right with this? We can keep it short if you want to. I'd hate for you to feel like you're stuck here all day. If you'd rather have some time for yourself at home, to sit and…" He shook his head. "Think."
She nodded. She knew what he meant, but she wasn't going to name it any more than he had.
"Thanks, Reaves. I think it'll be a good day. Zia will enjoy it. And I will," she added hurriedly. "I think it'll be a good distraction."
"Okay. But if you decide you've had enough, if you want to go, just give me the nod." He smiled. "I'll make an excuse so that it's me who needs to leave, not you. All right?"
She reached up to cover his hand with her own. "You don't need to do that."
"I know you're more than capable. But I also know that you won't do what you need to for yourself if you think it'll upset someone else. All I'm saying is, if you want out of here, we can blame me, not you. Okay?"
"Thanks, Reaves."
"And if you want to talk…"
She nodded. She wanted to. She desperately needed to. But…
He gave her shoulder a squeeze before removing his hand. "Sorry. I know I keep saying it, but…"
She felt bad that he assumed she was rejecting his offer, when really all she was doing was wrestling with herself about how to maybe somehow accept it.
He made to pick up both bags, but she grabbed hers before he could. "I am letting you help, but I can’t let you carry everything."
"There you are." Ollie appeared around the side of the house, grinning at them. "Zia arrived safely," he told Alara with a smile. "She and the dogs are busy getting reacquainted. Callie's supposed to be supervising, but last I saw she was rolling around in the grass with them."
Reaves laughed out loud, and Alara smiled. "Thanks for inviting us."
"Thanks for coming. Want me to take your bag?"
"That's okay, thanks."
When they reached the back of the house, Alara laughed out loud at the sight that greeted them and didn't even try to stop herself when she noticed the way both Reaves and Ollie turned to watch her.
Nothing brought her more joy than seeing her daughter loving life, and there was no denying that was exactly what she was doing.
She was lying on the grass, giggling loudly as both dogs sniffed and licked her, Callie sitting beside them, watching.
Both dogs turned at the sound of her laughter, and Zia sat up.
"Come say hi to Peanut and Butter, Mom. They missed me. I missed them too," she said, running her hand over Peanut's back.
Alara hurried over and loved the way both dogs sat to attention and offered their paws to shake.
They might be scary looking—and she had been a little apprehensive the first time she met them—but they'd quickly proved Reaves's description of them right.
They might look like monsters, but they truly were marshmallows with people they liked.
Ollie cocked an eyebrow at her. "You're not worried, are you? They really have missed her. They love her to pieces, you know."
"No, I'm not worried at all."
Callie got to her feet and came to greet Alara with a hug. "Hey. It's so good to see you. I've missed you too, you know."
"And you. I'm sorry I haven't called you more. I've been…"
"Hey, don't apologize. I know you've been busy." Callie filled the silence for her. "I'm just glad you're here now."
She went to greet Reaves, and he kissed her cheek. "It's good to see you."
"And you." She looked at the bags he was carrying. "Do you want me to take those for you?"
He turned to Alara, and she shook her head. "It's okay. I just brought towels and a few things."
"Want me to put them inside?" Reaves asked. "I'm going to dump my bag in the sunroom."
She nodded.
"And who wants a drink?" Ollie asked. "I'll go get them." He smiled at Zia. "We have grape juice."
"Yes!" Zia punched the air before glancing at Alara. "I mean, yes, please. I'd like some."
"And you?" Ollie asked.
"That sounds great, thanks."
She felt bad. Zia had had grape juice last time they were here, and she'd intended to get some for her since she liked it so much. But then she hadn't been to the grocery store.
She frowned a little at that, and Reaves seemed to know what she was thinking. He rested his hand on the small of her back and smiled down at her. "Sorry, I've been meaning to pick some up on my way over to Dad's. Maybe we can get some on the way home."
She nodded gratefully. And as he stepped away, Callie took her arm.
"Want to come sit at the table by the pool?" she asked. "I figure we'll be able to hang out and catch up while they do their boy thing."
Ollie made a face at her, but she just laughed. "Don't try to pretend you're not eager to get to the grill."
He laughed with her. "I'd never claim that I wasn't. But it's a man thing, not a boy thing."
Callie led her around to the terrace by the pool, and Zia and the dogs came too—although whether she brought them or they brought her, Alara couldn't really say.
"So," Callie said once they were seated. "How do you want to work this? Do you want to swim first?" She glanced over at Zia. "Do you want to play with the dogs while Mom and I catch up? Or…"
She turned back to Alara, but Zia answered for her. "I can catch up with Peanut and Butter while you catch up with Mom." She came and rested her hands on Alara's knees. "You can hang out with your friend while I hang out with mine. Right, Mom?"
"I can. Thanks, Z."
She and Callie watched Zia run around with the dogs. She loved seeing her daughter so happy.
"Ollie wasn't joking, you know. They really do love her. She's such a special kid."
"She is. And she loves them." She stared out at the rolling hills for a few moments.
"Did I say something wrong?" Callie asked. "You went all quiet."
"No, it's fine. Sorry, I was just thinking…"
"I know. She wants a dog of her own, doesn't she?"
Alara nodded. "Yeah, but…" She shook her head. "It's just not an option for us."
Callie reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. "I know. It wasn't for me either, for the longest time. But maybe one day…" She let her words trail off.
Alara shrugged. She knew Callie meant well. But the last thing she wanted to do today was start trying to figure out what might happen in the future for her. She was trying to stay away from that subject.
"Sorry, I don't mean to push about you and Reaves. But I am hopeful, you know? That one day, in the not-too-distant future, when you've worked out what you're going to do, that maybe…"
"I know."
Usually when she and Callie talked, she avoided the subject of where things could go between her and Reaves, because she had to sort her own life out before she could think about him maybe becoming part of it.
Now, she was desperately trying to stay away from the question of how much life she might have left.
"Hey. What's wrong?" Callie asked.
She shook her head.
"Oh, my God, I'm going on about Reaves. And I haven't asked you how you got on at the doctor. What happened?"