Forty-Three
forty-three
A THOUSAND MILES - VANESSA CARLTON
CALLIE - JULY 25, 2013
M y phone buzzes softly on the nightstand, nudging me from sleep. I blink groggily, fingers brushing over the cool surface as I bring it closer. Owen’s name lights up the screen, making my chest flutter with warmth.
Owen:
Good morning, dollface. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
A smile tugs at my lips. Even in the stillness of early morning, his text chases away the quiet of the room, flooding me with a sense of anticipation. I linger on the message, savoring the moment before instinctively pressing the call button. I need to hear his voice.
He picks up after the second ring, his voice a mix of grogginess and warmth. “Morning, dollface. Didn’t expect you to call this early. ”
“I could say the same to you,” I tease, leaning back against the pillows. “Why are you up so early?”
He hesitates, as if searching for the right words. “I couldn’t sleep,” he admits, his tone soft. “Had a lot on my mind.”
“Anything you want to talk about?” I ask, hoping he’ll open up.
He pauses, and I can almost picture him rubbing the back of his neck, contemplating. “I had this dream… about us,” he finally says, his voice quieter. “It felt different, though. Like it was trying to tell me something.”
His words send a shiver down my spine. I had a similar dream last night too—something that felt bigger than just a regular dream. “Good different, I hope?” I ask, keeping my voice light.
“I think so,” he says. “It just made me realize how long I’ve been waiting for something like this.”
His confession hits me like a gentle wave, wrapping me in warmth. I swallow, finding my voice. “Owen…”
“I know it sounds crazy,” he cuts in, his voice steady but vulnerable. “But it’s like I’ve known you forever, longer than a few months. Like my soul is drawn to you, and that doesn’t make any sense because I’m not someone who believes in stuff like that. But with you… I don’t need proof. I just know it’s real.”
His words send my heart racing, the truth of them resonating deep within me. “It doesn’t sound crazy,” I whisper. “I feel it too.”
There’s a silence between us, not empty but full of everything unsaid. Finally, he breaks it, his voice softer, more certain. “I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait either,” I reply, my heart light. “It’s all I’ve been thinking about.”
We stay on the phone for a while longer as I get things ready to take Sara with me to work. When we finally hang up, I’m left with a sense of certainty I haven’t felt in a long time. Owen has this way of making me feel cherished in a way I’ve never experienced.
The memories from last weekend linger—a mix of laughter, shared glances, and quiet moments. Tomorrow feels like a promise, and I’m ready for it. But more than that, there’s something deeper—an undeniable pull, a connection that seems to have been there all along, drawing us into each other’s orbit. I wonder if Owen feels it too.
I run my fingers along the edge of the phone, grounding myself in the coolness of the metal, trying to hold onto this feeling, like I could bottle it and carry it with me through the day.
I take a deep breath, smiling softly. This feels different from anything before. With Owen, it’s not just going through the motions—it’s real. And I’m ready for whatever comes next.
I glance at the clock on the wall, noting the hands inching closer to my shift’s start time. Sara stirs slightly in my arms, her small body fitting perfectly against mine, her soft breath warm on my shoulder. I kiss the top of her head, savoring this quiet moment before the day begins.
“It’s going to be a busy morning, baby girl,” I whisper. “But Grammy and Poppy Wayne will be here soon to pick you up.”
She sighs softly, snuggling closer, and I can’t help but smile. Even though juggling work and motherhood has been overwhelming, these small moments make it all worth it. I gather her diaper bag and my purse, balancing everything as we step out into the crisp morning air .
When we arrive at Brooked & Brewed, Sara is more awake, her big, curious eyes taking in the shop. I set her up in one of the cushioned chairs near the back, pulling out her favorite toys, including her beloved plush giraffe.
“Okay, let’s get you settled,” I say, placing a few more toys in front of her. She immediately grabs the giraffe, babbling happily to it.
I start setting up for the morning rush, grateful that Brooke has been so flexible, letting me bring Sara in for these early shifts. It’s a juggling act, but seeing Sara here with me feels right. She’s part of everything I do now.
The rhythmic hum of the coffee machines fills the air, and I lose myself in the motions of the morning routine. As I glance at Sara, who is happily playing with her giraffe, a wave of contentment washes over me. Despite the craziness, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
A couple of hours later, the door chimes, and I smile as Mom and Wayne walk in, their faces lighting up when they see Sara. My mom swoops in, planting kisses all over Sara’s cheeks.
“There’s my sweet girl!” she coos, as Wayne gives me a warm smile, always the quiet one.
“Thanks for picking her up,” I say, stepping out from behind the counter. “She’s been a little fussy this morning, so just keep an eye on her.”
Wayne nods, his hand resting on my shoulder. “We’ve got her covered. Make sure you rest your feet when you can, honey. They look a little swollen.”
I laugh softly, appreciating his concern. “I’ll try, I promise.”
After they leave with Sara, the shop falls into a comfortable rhythm. The morning rush keeps me on my toes, but there’s a lightness in my chest knowing I’ll see Owen tomorrow. As I catch my breath between customers, I pull out my phone and see a text from Owen, along with a link to a song.
Owen:
Made me think of you.
My heart flutters, and a small smile tugs at my lips. I quickly type out a response:
Me:
Sorry, I’ve been swamped! I’ll listen to it as soon as I get the chance. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!
The steady stream of customers keeps me busy, and the usual hum of chatter fills the space. It’s not until a lull in the morning rush that I finally have a moment to take a break just as my sister Taylor’s name pops up with an incoming call on my phone.
“Hey, Tay,” I say, wiping my hands on my apron as I lean against the counter.
“Hey, Callie! How’s my favorite niece doing?” Taylor’s voice is bright, the kind of cheerful that instantly makes you feel lighter.
“She’s good, went with Mom and Wayne this morning. What’s up?”
There’s a brief pause on the other end, then a playful sigh. “Okay, I’m just going to come out and say it: I have baby fever. Like, seriously considered calling Nick to ask if he will procreate with me again. It’s that bad!”
I double over with laughter. “Procreate? Really, Tay?”
“Yes! I need my fix. Can I steal Sara for a few days so I can remember what it’s like to have a smaller child and talk myself out of it?”
I can’t help but laugh at the way she says it, imagining the exaggerated pout on her face. “Steal her, huh? You really want to take her for a few days?” I tease, already knowing Taylor’s answer.
“Yes! Besides, it’ll give you a little break. You’ve been running yourself ragged lately, and you deserve some downtime.”
I hesitate for a moment and feel a bit guilty for considering taking her up on this offer because Sara was just with Adam last weekend and I don’t want to pawn my daughter off on other people.
“Listen, Callie. I’m the one asking you if I can take her so stop feeling some type of way about it and let me take care of my niece for a couple days,” she says, as if she can see directly into my mind. “You were already going to have me watching her for the Halestorm concert since Mom and Wayne can’t do it. What’s a couple more days? I can even pick her up tonight. Before too long, you’re not going to have time for yourself at all. Please let me do this.”
“Okay,” I finally say with a grin. “You can have her for a couple days. But if she gives you any trouble, don’t hesitate to call me. When would you like to pick her up?”
We decide Taylor will meet me at Mom’s tonight after my shift so we could all go out for ice cream. I’m looking forward to seeing Ava, and the girls are going to have a little movie night. They will probably stay up watching Sara’s favorite Strawberry Shortcake movies while my niece and sister treat Sara like their real-life babydoll.
“Thank you for letting me take her for a couple days. Ava is going to be so excited. And you need to take some time for yourself. You deserve it.”
Her words are sincere, and I feel so grateful to have her. “I appreciate you, Tay.”
We say our goodbyes, and I hang up, feeling lighter than I have in days. Knowing that I get to spend tomorrow and Saturday with Owen sounds like exactly what I need.