44. Callie
Chapter 44
Callie
September 2023
Mase and I are on our weekly FaceTime call when he tells me he needs to discuss something with me. I immediately freeze at those words.
“It’s nothing bad, I promise Cal. It’s just some things I’ve been thinking about regarding work and us.”
“We need to talk never sounds good, Mase. What’s up?” I start bouncing my leg out of nervous habit. I hate the phrase we need to talk . It has never led to anything good. Remember how it went the last time? Yeah, me too.
“Well,” he pauses, taking a deep breath. “Like I said I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since our weekend with my parents. I’ve had some tough conversations with myself, my parents, and my partner… and I’ve made the decision that I want to move back home. My partner will be taking over the office up here and I’ll be opening a new office location down there, eventually.”
I couldn’t have heard him right...
“Wait... you’re moving back home? Opening a new office? Why?”
“Yes. I want to move back home. Be closer to both you and my family. I’m tired of only seeing you for two days at a time. My parents are getting older. I can figure out the whole office/job thing, that I’m not worried about. I just… I’m ready to be selfish and do something for myself, I guess.”
“Well, that’s not how I was expecting this conversation to go. Are you sure about this?”
“I’m 100% sure. This is what I want.”
“I don’t want you to give up your dream of being a lawyer because we’re together.” My brain is on high alert right now, expecting this to turn out bad.
“Don’t be upset Cal, I’d happily give up every one of my dreams if it meant being closer to you. Plus, this doesn’t mean that I have to give up my dream of being a lawyer. I want to take some time off and plan everything out so that it goes smoothly when I get to that point. It just means that the New York chapter of my life is over and I’m ready to start the next one with you, in Georgia.”
“I’m not upset. I think I’m more shocked that you’re willing to give up everything you’ve got in New York… for me.”
“The last few months have been no less than amazing, despite the struggles and rough conversations. We needed those moments to grow a more solid foundation. Where we are now is great, but it’s time to start building up from our foundation. So to speak.”
“I get what you’re saying and I’m okay with it. Please just make sure this is one hundred percent what you want. I don’t want you to ever feel like this is something I need or for you to feel obligated to do this for us to move to the next phase of our relationship.”
“Cal, I don’t feel obligated to do this. I know that despite the struggle of long distance you’re not going anywhere, and we could continue on like this for a while longer and be perfectly fine. Trust me. I will not regret this. I will not ever hold it over your head. I’ve put a lot of thinking into this. I talked to my parents less than two weeks after we spent that weekend with them. I promise. This is what I want to do. For me. For you. For us.”
“I trust you. When will all of this go down?”
“Well, I’ve already gotten the okay from my partner. I was just waiting to talk to you. So really… as soon as we’d like it to.”
“Oh, wow. Okay. So, you’ll be moving down here soon?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a few things I’ve got to square away up here but I’ll be down there soon.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m excited but also nervous. I’m guessing you’ll be staying with your parents to help with the farm while you figure stuff out?”
“That’s the plan for now, yes.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help let me know.” I pause before adding “I’m excited for you to be coming down here. I just wasn’t expecting it.”
“I wasn’t expecting it either. That weekend with you at my parents made me realize that New York isn’t where I’m meant to be. It was just a short chapter, not the whole story. I belong in Georgia. With my parents. With you. With us.”
“There’s nothing I want more than you to move back home. This long-distance shit sucks. I love you, Mase.”
“I love you too, Cal.”
I woke up this morning and immediately sent Mason a text making sure that I hadn’t dreamed up that whole “I’m moving home” conversation we had last night. It doesn’t seem real. After so long without him having him back feels like a dream I’m eventually going to wake up from.
I grab my phone off my kitchen island and shoot Jo Ellen a text before leaving for work.
Me : Hey! Good morning! I’ve got some exciting news to share with you. Will you be in the office this morning?
I set my phone in the center console and back my car out of the driveway. As I’m waiting to turn onto the main road my phone pings with a text from Jo Ellen.
Jo Ellen : Yep, I’ll be there shortly! Can’t wait to hear what’s going on!
I don’t bother replying since I’ll be at work in less than five minutes.
“Jo! Mason called me last night and you’ll never guess what he told me. Or maybe you will, if you’ve already heard about it from him or your brother but I am so excited that I had to tell you myself, too.” I word vomit as soon as I enter her office.
“Good morning to you too, Cal. I don’t believe I know what news you’re talking about. What’s up? You seem awfully excited about it.”
“Mason is moving back home. Down here. He’ll be staying with his parents for a bit while he figures out his work and living situations, but he’ll be back in Georgia! No more long distance for us!”
“Oh Cal! That makes me so happy for you! I hadn’t heard that yet. I can’t say I’m surprised though.” Jo Ellen says with a smirk on her face.
“Wait, what do you mean?”
“Nothing, I just saw how y’all interacted at the festival and could tell this is real. The way Mason was stealing glances of you any chance he could get or the pure love you could see just by looking at y’all.”
I didn’t realize our feelings toward one another were that obvious, but I guess so. “I was shocked when he told me, and I think my response came off a little bit I’m mad but honestly, I couldn’t be happier. I just don’t want him to do it because he feels he has to.”
“I had a feeling before the year was over one of y’all would be moving to be closer to the other. I thought it would be you, considering you loved New York when you went to visit Mason.”
“I did love it but not enough to move. I was willing to do the long-distance thing with Mason because I could tell he was in it this time. That’s not to say Mason isn’t worth moving for.” I hope she doesn’t take that the wrong way. I don’t mean anything negative by it.
“He’s got multiple reasons to move back down here. He’s mentioned before not liking the fact he was so far from his family, especially his niece and nephews. I think the two of you getting back in contact, and now dating, really set a fire under his tail to get back home.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t let it get to me and I know he won’t hold it against me if something doesn’t go as he has planned.” I say before grabbing my bag off the chair.
“Don’t overthink it, girl.” Jo Ellen says as I walk out her office door and head down the short hallway to mine.
I’m most definitely overthinking it.
Mason moving down here will change a lot for us but I’m more than ready for that next chapter of our relationship and whatever comes next is fine with me.