3. Callie
Chapter 3
Callie
June 2023
“Hey Mom,” I say as I push through the front door.
“Hey sweetie,” she calls from somewhere down the hallway.
I slide my shoes off before following her voice through the house. As much as I didn’t want to move here I’m going to miss this house when they sell it. I’ve always loved the layout of this house. Coming through the front door you walk into the foyer that leads to a hallway to the kitchen. To the left, stairs take you up to the second story where all of the bedrooms are. On the right is the living room and dining room which is connected to the kitchen, separated by a bar island.
I finally find her in what she’s always called the breakfast nook of the kitchen. There’s a bay window that looks out over the backyard she’s meticulously put together. Mom and Dad sit at the small table here watching the sunrise every morning. An area like this was on Mom’s required list for their new house because she loves it so much.
“Wow, you’ve gotten a lot of packing done since I was last down. It’s basically show-ready.” I’m looking around at the empty walls. Most of Mom’s decor has been taken down.
“Yeah, we’ve been doing a little bit every weekend. Your dad ran out to get us some more boxes. Emily was down last weekend to get the last few totes from her bedroom. I can’t believe we’re moving. I’m excited. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just very bittersweet.” You can see the many emotions she’s dealing with right now on her face.
“I know what you mean. I’m so excited for you and Dad’s new chapter in life, but this house will always mean something to me.”
“Is leaving this house harder than leaving the last one was?” The house we lived in before this one was where both Em and I were brought home from the hospital. It was their first house as a married couple.
“I wouldn’t say that it’s harder . It’s just different. When we left our last home we still had y’all at home. Now it’s just your dad and I. Packing up the last of y’all’s things and seeing your bedrooms empty knowing that our next house won’t have a bedroom made up for y’all hits differently.”
“I get that. Maybe you can decorate the guest room to reflect a little of both Em and I and it’ll make you feel better about us not having our own rooms.” I offer, even though I know it’s not the same.
“Hey Nat, I found us a few more boxes. I think I bought out the store, though.” Dad says, walking into the kitchen. “Hey, Cal. You come to grab your last few things?”
“Hey, Dad. Yeah, Mom told me y’all had a tote of my stuff and I figured I could stay for a bit and help y’all out.”
“We won’t turn down any help, that’s for sure.” Dad laughs and sets the boxes down against the wall.
Mondays are not my favorite, as I’m sure most people will agree.
On top of it being, well, Monday… It’s also the day that I’m stuck in the office all day and catching up on everything from the end of the prior week and the weekend. I’d much rather be out visiting with my patients but paperwork is a huge part of my job, too.
I walk around my bed to my closet to figure out what I will be wearing today. Summer in Georgia is miserable, and we aren’t even to the hottest part yet. After a lot of back and forth, I decide to go with one of my black pencil skirts and a lavender blouse. I pair it with some cute sandals and call it a day. I do my hair into a side braid. I’m hoping that it won’t be too hot to have it down today but if it does get too hot, I’ve got a brush and claw clips in my desk drawer.
I grab my phone off the bathroom counter and make my way to the kitchen. On my way there my phone dings, a new text message. It’s Jo Ellen.
Jo Ellen : Good morning! Two things: I’ve got something I need to talk to you about when you get to the office and don’t forget you’ve got two new patients this week.
I have no idea what she’s got up her sleeve but I’m already not looking forward to it. My fingers hover over the keyboard debating what to say before finally typing out a reply.
Me : Good morning. I’ll be in shortly to wrap up everything for my new patients.
As I pass through the living room I drop my phone and tablet into my work bag and finally make my way into the kitchen so that I can make my lunch. I thank my past self for prepping overnight oats for the week because I do not have enough time to eat breakfast before I have to leave.
I grab them out of the fridge along with leftovers from last night, an apple, and a bottle of water. I throw them in my lunch bag, and then grab my work bag and head out to my car to get this Monday going.
Noticing that I’m the first one to work this morning I make sure I’ve got my office keys in hand, lock my car, and make my way to the front door.
I’m in the middle of playing catch-up from the weekend when I hear footsteps and then in a sing-song voice, Jo Ellen says “Hello! You and I need to talk! It’s very important and not about work. So can we do lunch today?” She comes barreling into my office all perky and cheerful as always.
“Talk about something… not about work?” I ask, wondering what we would need to talk about that doesn’t involve work. Jo Ellen and I aren’t close. I’ve worked with her for a few years but that’s where our relationship ends. It’s nothing against her, at all, I just keep my circle very small.
Jo Ellen looks like she’s scared to have whatever conversation she claims to need to have with me. She’s standing there fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
“Umm.” She starts. Looking from the floor to me before adding, “I think it’s best if we discuss this privately. I’m not sure how you’ll take it but I’m hoping that it won’t be negative.”
“Well, now you’re worrying me. I guess we can meet for lunch. I’ve got a few things to finish up this morning, but I can meet you at Val’s Diner at noon. Does that work?” I ask, nervous as hell about what we need to talk about.
“Yeah, that’s fine. Thank you, Callie.” Jo Ellen says as she steps back and turns to leave my office in a hurry.
Great now that will be the only thing I focus on until I meet her for lunch.
I decided to walk to Val’s since it’s only a couple of blocks from work. That will give me more time to overthink what Jo Ellen wants to talk to me about. She said it’s not work-related and I can’t think of a single thing outside of work she’d need to talk to me about.
Upon entering the diner, I notice Jo Ellen sitting at a table to my right. My feet go against what my brain is telling them to, walking me closer to the table.
“Hey,” I say sitting down across from Jo Ellen. I’m looking around the restaurant, stalling having to make eye contact with her.
I love the way the family has decorated–family pictures are hanging in groups on every wall with small Italian art pieces thrown in the mix. The walls are painted a gray blue and arches adorn every doorway.
“Thank you for meeting me, Callie. I guess I’ll get right to the point so that I don’t keep you guessing too long. You look kinda nervous.” Jo Ellen chuckles quietly, almost sounding nervous herself.
“You think? I have no clue what you’ve asked me to meet you about. I couldn’t come up with anyone that we’d need to talk about that doesn’t involve work. And trust me… my brain tried with all the overthinking it’s done since this morning.” I try not to sound snarky but I’m literally spiraling on the inside.
“Okay, so.” Jo Ellen starts and is cut off by the waiter coming to the table to take our order.
“Callie, yesterday I met with a friend of my brother’s. I don’t know him all that well, we were never close, but my brother was his roommate in college. We got to talking about his personal life and I think you know him.” She spits out as soon as the waiter is out of earshot.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, making sure I heard what she said right. “How would I know him? And if I did, wouldn’t he just tell you he knew me?” I ask, confused.
“Well, I think you two went to high school together….” she says just above a whisper.
There’s no way she knows Mason. Is there? This can’t be happening. It just simply cannot happen.
“Jo Ellen, what’s his name? That’s the only way we’re going to figure this out.” I say, beginning to get annoyed.
“Mason.” Jo Ellen replies, playing with the napkin that’s wrapped around her silverware.
My silverware drops from my grasp, clattering against the table.
“Callie, are you okay?” Jo Ellen asks.
“Uh, yeah. I’m fine. Yeah, I know Mason. Why?” I say, trying to sound unaffected by the mere mention of his name.
“He’s in town. Well, he’s back home, at his parent’s farm. I told him I would talk to you.”
“Talk to me about what, exactly?” I already have a feeling I know where this is going.
“He’s the one who needs to have this talk with you, not me.” She pauses to gauge my reaction. “He’d like to meet up with you if you’re okay with it.”
The look on Jo Ellen’s face tells me everything I need to know about my reaction to that. “Forget I said anything, Callie. It’s clearly not something that you are interested in. I’ll let him know.”
“Wait.” I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “I will meet with him. Tomorrow at 1:30. Val’s Diner. This will happen on my terms, not his.” I say sternly, making my point very clear.
“Yeah, I’ll let him know. I’ll just text him and tell him where and when to meet you.” She says, grabbing her phone out of her pocketbook.
I hope this doesn’t undo the years of healing I’ve gone through.