Chapter 7
SEVEN
CALLIE
Mercer and Yeti walked in carrying a massive six-foot pine tree. It wasn’t as full or as aesthetically beautiful as one that we would get from a tree lot, or even hiking out in the forest to find ourselves, but it was tall and green and most importantly, the kids loved it.
“We have a tree!” Ellie yelled excitedly.
The hours had dwindled, and it was getting closer to dinner time.
Penelope had Connor in the kitchen with her, along with Ford and Royce who were all helping chop potatoes while Natty was adding chicken and rice into a large pot.
The room smelled divine, and I knew the kids had hit their limit of being cooped up in one space.
“Who’s ready to help me find some Christmas decorations?”
Ryle, Nova, Taryn and Ellie all stood excitedly.
Yeti and Mercer managed to find a way for the tree to have a base, using a few tools from the garage that still sat off to the far side of the club.
While they worked, I held out my hand toward the kids and wandered to Laura’s office with all the kids in tow.
My best friend was at her desk, typing furiously on her laptop. Her dark brows were furrowed, her hair was in wild waves of gold down her back, and while I knew she was doing something for the club, I also knew that mother’s heart in her chest needed to be a part of what we did next.
“Laura, do you think you can find us some flashlights or headlamps? We need to go hunting for Christmas decorations.”
Pushing away from her desk, Laura beamed and gently closed her laptop. “Oh my, that sounds like an awfully big adventure. Can I join you?”
“Yes, join us, Mommy!” Taryn left our little line of hand holding and ran toward her mother. Laura opened her arms and scooped her daughter into a tight hold.
“Flashlights would be in the cellar of all places, but I think we have a few in here somewhere.” Laura glanced around the room and stalled on the far side of it, where Killian’s desk sat.
“Taryn, can you go look in the bottom drawer of your daddy’s desk?”
With a huge smile, Taryn ran over and pulled the bottom drawer open. “There’s one in here!”
Laura slid the bottom drawer open near her leg and sifted through a few things before bringing out another flashlight that matched the one her daughter had found.
“Daddy and I sometimes play hide and seek in the dark.” Laura laughed as she turned on her light and flashed it at her daughter. Taryn tried to do the same, but the button wouldn’t click.
“Here, Aunt Callie. You can carry it, it’s too hard for me.” Taryn walked over to me, placing the large metal light in my hand.
I smiled over at Laura who joined me, and together, we clicked the butt end of our lights against one another and walked toward the stairs that would lead us up to the attic.
“Are there really decorations up here?” Ryle asked, trailing as we hit the very top level of the house.
“There’s a few lights, but honestly I’m not sure what else. I haven’t been up here in a long time.” I smiled at him then twisted the knob to the door, while Laura clicked on her light.
“I’m scared,” Ellie said, clinging to my arm. Nova joined her, holding onto my other side.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of up here, except dust and maybe spiders,” I mused while walking farther into the attic until I found the light switch.
The room illuminated, showing bookcases against the wall, a card table, two folding chairs, an old radio and a bottle of whiskey on the other side of the room.
“Let’s dig through a few of these boxes.” We all moved toward the edge of the space. Ryle peeked from behind me as Nova did the same, until she moved and picked up a box all on her own.
“I see Mickey Mouse!”
My face flushed as an old memory surfaced of when I was seven and begged my father to buy me all Mickey Mouse themed Christmas decorations.
He didn’t have the money for it, but Red had found a whole box at a garage sale.
It was one of the best Christmases I ever had because the snow was intense, my father couldn’t ride, and at the time he couldn’t afford any other form of transportation.
So he remained home with me, Killian, Red and Brooks.
It felt like we were just a little family, no club, no one else to steal my father from me.
“There’s an entire box full of Mickey, Minnie and,” Ellie began pulling out piece by piece and shrieked when she found my Cinderella star that went on the top of the tree.
“Cinderella!”
“Is there anything in here that’s not for babies?” Ryle asked, pulling another box out.
Lord knew what he might find up here; in retrospect, this was a terrible idea.
“Hang on, wait for me to look in there.” I helped him open it, but it was just a bunch of Killian’s old things from when he was a kid. Ryle smiled as he pulled out a few action figures and a toy motorcycle.
He dropped the action figures and immediately started driving the bike around the room, along all the surfaces. Laura took the box with gentle hands and began sifting through it, gently pulling tiny little items out, one at a time, with a dreamy smile on her face.
“Do you think he’ll let me keep this?” Ryle asked, holding his hand out, while he maneuvered the toy up the wall and around the thick wooden trim.
Taryn’s head popped up as she huddled around her mother. “There are two! I’ll have one and you’ll have one, Ryle. We can match.”
Laura smiled. “Ryle, I’m sure Killian would love for you to have that.”
Taryn moved until she was right next to Ryle, the two of them moving their toy bikes at the same pace across the folding table.
“We will have to keep it for always, Ryle. Promise.”
Ryle was quiet for a moment, just making little engine sounds when he finally replied, “Okay. I promise.”
From downstairs, someone yelled that dinner was ready, so I pulled the Mickey box up and encouraged everyone to follow me back down. Laura fell into step next to me as the kids headed back down the stairs ahead of us. On a whispered tone, she said, “It’s the Destroyer’s. Giles confirmed it.”
My stomach felt like concrete, as though the next blow would land like a sledgehammer and make me crumble to pieces. My fingers tightened around the box, digging into a corner so hard, I knew blood might be drawn if I kept pressing.
“How is that possible?” I whispered back.
Laura shook her head as we descended more steps and cleared the third floor then moved to scale the next section, lowering us to the second story.
“Silas is still missing. He has to know something…we need to figure out where he is. It doesn’t make sense that he’d leave Natty and the boys here.”
I silently agreed with her as we neared the last staircase, which would take us to the bottom floor.
The scent of chicken and vegetables, butter and bread permeated the air, making my stomach growl.
Laughter flitted up like a cheery jingle from the back of the kitchen, where the older kids were playing.
Killian, Wes and Jameson were back there with them, all having a whip cream fight.
The younger kids ran to join them, as Laura remained next to me, continuing our conversation.
“Laura, I know you’re feeling worried, but it is possible that Natty doesn’t know and is twice as panicked as we are.
I’m not willing to risk my friendship with her just to figure out where he is.
Silas would die before he ever let anything happen to them, which means if he isn’t here, then they’re safe. Let’s take comfort in that.”
I squeezed her hand tight then broke away, wishing I could believe the words I just said.