41. Callie
Chapter 41
Callie
September 2023
The last few months have flown by. We’ve had so much going on at work and then trying to fit in a weekly (at the very least) FaceTime call with Mason. In the four weeks, I’ve lost three of my patients which is never easy. Plus we’re in the process of moving into a larger building. We’ve recently added additional services to our team so we’re making room for more offices and meeting rooms.
I’ve been packing my office little by little all last week and I’ll be finishing up today and tomorrow. A moving company is coming to take all our stuff and they’re saying we should be all moved in before next week. Thankfully all our patient charts and documentation are electronic since we’re all boxing up our offices. I’m hoping to have everything packed today. It shouldn’t be too hard since I don’t have a lot in my office to begin with.
Packing... It seems to be all my life is right now.
Packing up my office, packing clothes for all these visits to New York.
Summer is over according to the calendar but not actually over here in Georgia. I checked the weather for Hendersonville, North Carolina for the upcoming weekend. I will be jumping on a flight Wednesday evening and Mason is picking me up at the airport before heading to the hotel we will be staying at. I’ll be meeting Holden and his family while we spend time at their fall festival. I’m a bit nervous because Holden met Mason right after we broke up and helped him through those troublesome times. Even though the breakup wasn’t my doing I’ve been told it did a number on Mason and Holden was there for it all.
According to my weather app, it’ll be in the mid-70s while I’m there and I’m more than ready for the cooler weather. The one thing I hate about living in Georgia is our lack of fall. We don’t get the cold weather until much later than those north of us and even then, it’s not for long.
I’m walking out of my closet with my hands full of clothes I’m thinking of packing for North Carolina when my phone buzzes.
Mase : I just made it to Holden’s. They’re all very excited to meet the infamous Callie. I can’t wait til you get here.
Me : Infamous Callie? I hope that’s a good thing. Lol. I can’t wait to see you either. Two more sleeps!
Mase : Of course, it’s all good things! Even back in the day, it was all good things. I’m the one who messed up, not you. I think Holden and I are both grabbing you from the airport if that’s okay.
Me : That’s fine with me! I’m currently packing. Can you believe it?!
Mase : Picture or it didn’t happen!
Me : *sends picture*
Mase : Wow… you’re usually a procrastinator, what’s gotten into you?
I guess I did this to myself. He's witnessed me running around at the last minute trying to pack everything numerous times.
Me : Haha. Very funny. I’m just so excited to see you and meet everyone!
Mase : I’ll call you later, Cal. Just wanted to make sure you were good with Holden and I picking you up from the airport.
Me : Okay, can’t wait!
Placing my phone in my back pocket I head towards the hall closet to grab my suitcase. I’ve got to get this bag packed so I can show Mason I am not always a procrastinator.
I lay out the outfits that I’ve picked to take with me so I can make sure I still like them. I don’t know about you, but packing is a whole adventure for me. I’ve got 2 long sleeves, 3 short sleeves, a cardigan, some leggings, 2 pairs of jeans, undergarments, and 2 pairs of shoes. I’m not sure what all we’re doing while we’re there so I’m packing both laid back and nice clothes, just in case.
I ended up switching out one shirt for another because I didn’t love it with the bottoms I had, and it was summer wear anyway. I opted for my long-sleeved waffle knit shirt that sits off the shoulder. Now that I’m happy with my outfit choices, I begin rolling everything up to fit them in my suitcase. A friend of mine taught me the rolling trick a few years ago and that’s the only way I pack now. It saves so much room. Which means I can pick a couple of books to put in as well.
Later that night I’m sitting on the couch watching the newest season of Love is Blind when my phone rings. It’s the FaceTime sound, so it’s got to be Mason. I pause the TV and get up to grab my phone off the kitchen table.
“Hey Cal, what are you up to?”
“I just finished dinner not too long ago and now I’m sitting here watching Love Is Blind . How’s your day been?”
“ Love is Blind? Is that one of those trashy reality shows? I had a few meetings for work and added two new clients. Then I headed to the farm and helped set up a few things. So, it was a pretty busy day for me. I’m lounging in the hotel room now, though, eating a bowl of ice cream.”
“Yeah, it’s a Netflix show that I’ve become addicted to for no real reason. Work was chaotic but not in a bad way. I met two of our new employees–a physical therapist and one of the family training educators. They both seemed really nice and I’m excited about this new addition to our agency.”
“That’s good. Working with people you enjoy being around always makes it that much easier. Did you finish your packing earlier?”
“Oh my gosh. Yes, Mase, I finished packing.” I say before busting out laughing. “See, I’m not a procrastinator.”
“Maybe not this time but you definitely have been multiple times in the past. I happen to recall you still packing the morning we left out for summer vacation with your parents our junior year.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
FaceTime with Mason always brings my mood up. Even on the nights when we don’t have much to talk about, just hearing his voice brings me peace. It always calms me in a way I didn’t think was possible, shutting off the inner thoughts in my head that always seem to bring me down.
It’s Wednesday morning and I’m back at work. The only thing I have left to pack up is my desk and I have to get that done before I leave tonight because our desks will be staying behind for the company that bought the current building we’re in. I’ve got four boxes sitting on the floor to my left that I’m organizing things in as I pull them out of the drawers. I reach way into the back to make sure I’ve gotten everything when I feel something. What could this be?
I unfold the paper and in it, there’s a note. It’s the note that Mason left on the flowers he had delivered to me at work back in June. That feels like forever ago. So much has happened since then. We’ve gone from hanging out to dating to telling each other ‘I love you.’ I put that on top of my desk so that I remember to put it in my pocketbook.
I still can’t believe Mason and I are together again. I’ve ruled out my feelings being ones that have washed up from high school. I’ve never felt the calm I feel with Mason with anyone else. The overall sense of home I feel with him is something I’ll never have with anyone else. There’s no one else I’d rather do this long-distance thing with. He’s the one.
As the end of the day inches closer I’m finishing up the last of my desk. Everything is labeled and stacked by the door for the movers. I’ve just got one thing left to do. I leave my office and head to the right up the hallway towards the break room. I grab the vacuum out of the small closet and carry it back to my office. I made sure to get all the small pieces of paper and such that came out of my desk as I cleaned it out before taking it back to the break room.
Well, that’s done. It’s a little sad leaving this building. This is my first grown-up job and the only building we’ve worked in since I’ve been here. I know we’re moving for such amazing reasons and I’m so proud of my upper management for the growth they’ve done for the agency but it’s still a little sad leaving.
Standing there staring out the office window I hear my door open. I turn to see Jo Ellen standing there, bags in hand.
“Are you ready to go, Cal?”
“Um, yeah. Let me just grab my bags and I’ll meet you in the parking lot.”
“Okay, Cassidy is coming back for my car tonight so it won’t be here after we’ve all been moved out of the building. So, I’ll go give her my keys and then head out to your car.”
“Here, take my keys,” I say before tossing my car keys towards her.
Jo Ellen catches my keys and backs out of my office. We’re flying into North Carolina together and I’m assuming that’s a part of the reason Holden is meeting us at the airport. I grab my pocketbook, work bag, and lunch bag taking one more look around before closing my office door for the last time.
When I get out to the parking lot Jo Ellen is putting her suitcase and other bags into my trunk. I step up behind the car throwing my bags beside hers, and then we jump in and head towards the airport.
“How do you feel about meeting my family?” Jo Ellen asks, turning the music down a smidge.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous, but I think it’ll all be fine.”
“My parents are easy to get along with and Holden basically knows you so you’re fine on that front. The kids will all love you. It’ll be okay, Cal.”
“I’m honestly most worried about your brother. I don’t want him to think negatively of me because of what happened with Mason and me in high school.”
“Why in the world would anyone think negatively about YOU for that? Mase is the one that broke things off and if I’ve been told correctly, YOU didn’t do anything to provoke that breakup.”
“I know but my irrational thoughts tell me otherwise.” If my fingers drumming on the steering wheel don’t give me away, I don’t know what will.
“It’ll all be fine, Cal. I promise.”
The rest of the car ride to the airport is quiet aside from the music flowing through the speakers. We make it with more than enough time to park and get inside to our gate.