43. Callie
Chapter 43
Callie
September 2023
I feel someone shake my arm and open my eyes to see Jo Ellen staring at me. I flutter my eyes open, trying to clear the sleep out, not remembering at first where I am.
“Hey, sleepyhead. We are getting ready to land.”
As nervous as I am about this trip, I can’t believe that I was able to fall asleep.
“I don’t even remember falling asleep.”
“You didn’t last long after takeoff. Holden told me that he and Mason would be picking us up. I guess we are stopping by you and Mason’s hotel before heading back to the farm.”
“Yeah, that’s what Mason told me, too. He said something about dropping my stuff off at the hotel and changing if I wanted to, before heading to the farm to meet everyone.”
“It’ll be fine, Cal. Don’t sweat it.”
“Mason said the same thing. I’m still sweating it, though.”
“Callie, it’s so good to finally meet you,” Holden says as soon as we’re out of the airport and away from the crowds.
“Uh...” I start, quickly embarrassed at my inability to speak right now. “It’s nice to meet you, too. Mason has told me so much about you and I’m excited to not only meet your family but all the animals, too.” I’m also very nervous, but I’ll leave that part out.
“I’ve heard a lot about you as well. I think you and my wife, Jessalyn, will get along great. You two seem to have a lot in common.” He says before turning to Jo Ellen and adding, “Don’t you think?”
“Yes. Cal reminds me a lot of Jessalyn. They have some of the same interests and their overall demeanor is similar.” Jo Ellen nods in agreement.
“See, Cal... it won’t be that bad,” Mason says, wrapping his arm tightly around my shoulder and pulling me into a hug, placing a kiss on my forehead.
“You keep saying that, but my heart is not in agreement with you.”
Holden and Mason grab our suitcases and walk us through the parking lot to Holden’s SUV.
“Thank you so much for taking us to the hotel first. I want to get into some clothes that don’t scream I just woke up and threw the first thing I saw on before meeting everyone.” I say, laughing shyly.
“Don’t even worry about it, Callie,” Holden says, smiling at me through the rearview mirror.
I can already tell why Holden and Mason get along so well. They’re a lot alike in many ways. Except for their looks. Holden has short dirty blonde hair that’s longer on the top, but not by much. He’s got a dimple on the left side of his face and eyes that are the color of the sky. I guess the saying is true. Every brunette needs a blonde friend.
Conversation flows easily as we make our way through the country roads. We’re all sharing stories from our teen years. Jo Ellen tells us all about how Holden used to sneak out through his bedroom window to go see his then-girlfriend. How one time he broke his leg when he miscalculated the fall. That brings back memories of Mason’s finger getting slammed in the window of my bedroom back in high school when he snuck in one night. I swore my parents were going to hear him cussing under his breath and my laughing, but if they heard they didn’t do anything about it.
As we pull into the hotel parking lot I’m feeling so much better about meeting Holden’s family. If they’re as easy to talk to as he is I will be just fine.
“Cal, this is my wife Jessalyn. She’s holding our youngest, Abigail.” Holden says before grabbing the young child then looks my way before adding “And this is Cal.”
“Oh, it’s so nice to meet you!” Jessalyn says before grabbing me into a hug. “I hope you’re not against hugging. I’m a big hugger and I always forget not everyone is like me.”
“It’s nice to meet you, as well. And I’m okay with the hug.” I say, actually meaning it. If Mason trusts them then I have no reason not to.
“Where’s Weston? I didn’t see him when I first got here, either.” Mason asks from behind me.
“Oh, he’s over there with Gramps. Can’t get that boy away from him when he’s around.” Holden says, pointing off in the direction of the barn.
“Yeah, he’s definitely a Grampa’s boy. He just loves being around the farm and all the animals.” Jessalyn says walking a few steps back to stand beside Holden.
“Awe, that’s so sweet. I was like that with my grandparents when I was young, too.” I say, smiling at Abigail who’s wearing the biggest grin with a dimple she got from her daddy on her face.
“Alright, let’s head over to the house. Moms got together a meal for everyone tonight and I believe they’re all done with the setup for this weekend so we can just hang out and catch up tonight.” Jessalyn says, before turning to walk towards the house.
Mason was right. I have nothing to worry about. I can easily picture Mason and myself, along with our children, coming back here for fall festivals and visiting in the future. Thinking about the future used to make me sad knowing that it wouldn’t be what I had originally thought back in high school. But now, walking hand in hand with Mason and meeting all these wonderful people, it’s all happy thoughts again.
This fall festival is everything I could have imagined and then some. Jessalyn’s family really goes above and beyond to give their community an event to remember and many memories to make. They’ve got so many different activities going on—petting zoo, apple bobbing, face painting, a small corn maze for the kids, hay bales to climb, a sandbox full of corn and different toys, and an area for families to have their pictures taken in front of the farm sign.
From every angle, children are running and parents are following closely behind. The smile on the kids’ faces, the screeching and screaming coming from them as well, is putting a huge smile on my face. I am so glad that I’ve been able to be a part of this, no matter how small. I have yet to come across a child that’s not having a blast.
Mason and I have been walking around helping with the activities in whatever capacity we can. I’ve been helping out with the petting zoo since the kids want to get up close and personal with the animals. I’m keeping watch of the ponies while the kids come in and walk them around the field or ride them if that’s what they want. I have always loved being around animals and would love nothing more than to have a small farm of my own one day.
“What’re you thinking about?” Mason asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Oh, just about life in the future and how this could be us and our family running around laughing and screaming.”
“Our family? Does that mean you’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what our future will look like?” Mason says with a smirk on his face.
“You caught me,” I say laughing. “I can’t help it. It’s been something I’ve thought of since high school. Us growing older together, our kids and grandkids growing up with animals, and a great community. The whole white picket fence... yeah.”
“I won’t lie. I’ve thought about it, too. I even thought about what I gave up while in college. What I thought I wouldn’t get a chance to have again. One of the hardest parts was thinking of you having everything I could have had with you, with someone else. Because he wouldn’t walk away. He wouldn’t break your heart.”
“Let’s not go there. We’re in a good spot right now and I don’t want either of our heads to get in the way of it. Please.”
“You’re right. Let’s not even focus on the what ifs or what could’ve beens. It won’t help us now. And as you said, we’re in a good spot. A great spot if I’m being honest.”
Mason wraps his arms around my shoulders pulling me into his chest. This is what I was looking for during those years that I didn’t have Mason. The easy conversations, the fun times, the feeling of being safe. Of being home .