Chapter 24
Tuesday, December 18
For the first time since graduating university, I had no job to get up for. At first, I intended to stay in bed after I reluctantly let Marco leave for Dessert Dudes right before dawn.
We’d had another incredible night. The first thing he’d done when he arrived at my place in the early evening was present me with a celebratory and heavenly dirty devil chocolate mousse, a bottle of champagne, and a brand-new 3D jigsaw puzzle of Winterfell from Game of Thrones .
“It was supposed to be for Christmas,” he said. “I figured, why wait?”
We’d talked excitedly about my plans for the coming year, including the possibility of working with EcoTalent if the interview with Daniella in early January went well. The entire day was such an adrenaline rush, it had been almost impossible to rest, even when Marco lay next to me hours later, breathing steadily, fast asleep.
However, by nine this morning, I was dismayed to find Cautious Callie had staged a roaring comeback. By nine-thirty, I couldn’t stop fretting about walking out of Whitlock & Blake’s offices without the security of another role, second-guessing my impulsive move.
My belly clenched when I thought about EcoTalent as whispers of I won’t get the job raced around my head. I tried pushing them aside, but overnight much of my confidence had ebbed away, letting doubts slip in through the cracks, especially when I received another rejection letter from a different company I’d applied to.
I took a deep breath, trying to reassure myself that I had enough savings to tide me over for six months until I found a new role, but then panicked all over again as I wondered if it would take me that long.
Although I wanted to work on the accounts for Marco, I couldn’t concentrate long enough to get much done. To take my mind off things, I picked up the Advent calendar box marked with the silver number eighteen. Seeing the six packages left on the floor got me pondering what would happen when I opened the last one.
Would all this newfound assertiveness, which admittedly had taken a hit overnight, evaporate completely? Could I hold on to it without the continual support and sideline cheering from my sibling? I hoped so because I couldn’t count on Anita to be my life coach forever.
With Dazey by my side as I sat on the sofa, I gently opened the parcel, slowly taking off the Christmas cookie wrapping paper and scrunching it into a ball before reading the note stuck to the empty box.
Today’s mission: Playtime.
We’re helping at A Different Drummer’s toy drive at 6 p.m.
Yes, you may choose a book when we’re done as an extra treat.
“Hey,” she said moments after I dialed her cell. “Are you working from home or at the office today?”
“Neither. I quit.”
“You what ?” she yelped. “Are you joking?”
“No,” I said, before explaining what happened with Grant and finishing with, “I’m terrified now. What if I made a huge mistake?”
“You didn’t,” she said with a little sniff.
“Are you all right?” I asked as I heard her blow her nose. “Are you crying?”
“Maybe a little,” she replied, her voice muffled, making my concern grow.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s because I’m proud of you, silly. What you did is so strong, so… confident . I’m impressed you told Grant to shove it, and EcoTalent would be beyond ludicrous to turn you away.”
“I hope you’re right,” I said. “When I spoke to the owner, she reminded me of Jennifer. I think it could be a great fit for me.”
“Crossing all my fingers,” Anita replied. “I bet Whitlock & Blake already regret losing you. Have you told Marco?”
“He came over with a bottle of champagne.”
“Ah, that’s why you didn’t tell me first. What about Hazel?”
“I called her last night, and she thanked me,” I said, recalling the conversation I’d had with her as soon as I’d made it home, after she’d told me Mikey had needed a single stitch on the inside of his upper lip and was happily watching cartoons with a bowl of ice cream in his lap. “Apparently, her mom’s partner offered her a job at his mergers and acquisitions firm in Buffalo over the weekend, and she’s been thinking about taking it.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah. They’ve badgered her for months to move closer to them so they can see Mikey and help more. She’ll probably move end of January.”
Anita let out a gasp. “Grant will have a fit.”
I shrugged. “Serves him right for treating people like garbage. Also, Hazel found out that Jennifer’s setting up her own accounting services company. Maybe Whitlock & Blake can be her first client, and she can charge them double.”
“Wouldn’t that be neat,” Anita said. “All right, enough about them. Did you open your task?”
“Yes, and I’m no longer wondering why you gave me the mini abacus,” I said with a laugh. “I’m excited for the toy drive. Not sure how much use I’ll be considering I’ll probably lose myself in a book within the first five minutes, and—”
“I have to tell you something,” Anita blurted. “I promise I didn’t know until today, but Sarah will be there, filming a TV segment. Sit this task out if you like, especially if Oliver goes with her.”
I thought about her offer for a second, and while the prospect of seeing Sarah still felt really uncomfortable, I said, “I think I’ll go anyway.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I mean, it was a bit frosty when Sarah and I saw each other, but this isn’t about her or me. It’s about helping Ian and Elizabeth and the kids. You’ve given me a calendar task, and I’ll complete it.”
“Does that mean you’ll come to Pineville for the holidays, too?” she asked.
“Please don’t, Anita,” I said. “You know that wasn’t part of our deal. Seeing her at a bookstore for an hour or so is vastly different to living next to her and Oliver for a week. This is about as much as I can handle for now, but at least it’s progress.”
“That’s fair,” she replied. “Will you ask Marco to go with you tonight?”
“As much as I want to, it might be better for me to do this one alone. He’s got a ton of work anyway, so hopefully I’ll see him afterward. Now, tell me what’s going on with you.”
“Work’s amazing,” Anita said. “The project’s going well, and my boss is so happy, he’s already told me I’ll get a bigger year-end bonus.”
“That’s fantastic, congratulations!”
“Wait, because it’s not the best thing that’s happened.” She paused, before saying, “Callie, I saw Jemma yesterday.”
It took me a second to connect the dots. “Jemma from the Rudolphs?”
“Yes, she came to the park with her sister and nieces. We met up at the Jurassic World VelociCoaster.”
“Did your eyes meet again across a crowded loop-the-loop?” I asked.
“Something like that,” she said with a laugh. “Jemma’s awesome. She’s in Tampa until Saturday, and we’ve made plans to see each other after I get back from Pineville.”
There was a vulnerability in Anita’s voice that I’d never detected before. Seconds later, a photo of her and Jemma landed on my phone, and from the way they looked at each other, I could tell the attraction was mutual.
“You’re so cute together,” I said. “I can’t wait to hear all about it and see you. When will you be back?”
“Friday night,” Anita replied. “My boss offered to drop me off, so no need for you to get me at the airport.”
“Great. Maybe we can spend the weekend together before you go to Pineville.”
“Please,” she said, but something in the tone of her voice told me she hadn’t yet given up on me going home with her.
—
After telling Marco I could manage the Advent calendar task alone today, I spent the rest of the afternoon playing with Dazey and working on my Winterfell jigsaw puzzle before heading to A Different Drummer. As soon as I walked in, I heard Ian’s panicked voice coming from the back of the store.
“This is a disaster,” he said. “A total disaster. We have to move everything.”
I walked over to where he was standing in the storage room doorway with Elizabeth. “Is there a problem?” I asked.
Ian turned around, took off his glasses, and rubbed a hand over his bearded face. “One of the pipes upstairs burst. It’s directly over all our stock and newest arrivals.”
“Oh, no,” I said. “Is there a lot of damage?”
“Thankfully not yet,” Elizabeth said. “Although there will be if we don’t get everything out of the way. The emergency plumber should be here any minute.”
“A new shipment came in this morning,” Ian added with a groan. “One side of the room is stuffed with boxes. We can’t let them be ruined.”
“We’ll have to cancel the toy drive,” Elizabeth said. “We have no choice, seeing as Beth called in sick and another of the volunteers can’t make it. We’re understaffed as it is.”
Ian looked as if he was about to agree with his wife, so I jumped in. “No, please don’t. We’ve still got an hour before the drive starts, don’t we?”
“Yes,” Ian said. “Not nearly enough time to get everything ready.”
“I think it will be,” I said. “Because I have an idea.”
As soon as they gave me the go-ahead, I sent an SOS message to Marco, who answered almost immediately. Got a free hour. Be right there.
Next, I called Hazel.
“A toy drive at our favorite bookstore, and it’s for the local hospital?” she said. “Count me in. Mikey convinced me to let him go to a birthday party, and I was heading to the gym, but I’m all yours until eight unless he calls.”
I made two more desperate calls. Fifteen minutes later, the plumber had already started fixing the leak upstairs. While Marco was in the back room moving boxes, Walter walked through the front doors with an unwrapped toy under his arm.
“I’m here,” he called out. “Put me to work.”
“Me, too,” Joe announced, arriving seconds later.
“Thanks so much for coming,” I said before Ian whisked Walter away.
“Happy to help out the Fallbrook community anytime,” Joe said, and I waved Hazel over.
As she walked toward us, I noticed her eyes widening when she saw Joe. It was exactly the reaction I’d hoped for, as I’d already decided that maybe it was time for me to follow in my mother’s and sister’s footsteps and do a tiny bit of meddling of my own.
“Joe, this is Hazel,” I said, watching them intently as they greeted each other. “Hazel, would you mind sending Marco to me and showing Joe what to do with the boxes in the storage room?”
“With pleasure,” she replied. “Follow me, Joe.”
As they walked away, Elizabeth rushed over. “Callie, this is incredible,” she said. “Thanks for getting such a terrific group of people together so fast. I thought you barely knew anyone in town.”
“Turns out, I do,” I replied, the admission surprising myself.
“You’re all wonderfully generous,” Elizabeth continued. “Okay, I’d better ensure everything’s ready, seeing as we’re trying to break last year’s fund-raising record. Did you know Sarah Barratt’s coming to film a segment?”
“Yes, and I think it’s fantastic,” I said, trying to keep my anxiety about seeing Sarah in check. “I won’t leave until the drive’s over, just in case there’s a big crowd.”
“You’re a great sport.” Elizabeth gave me a hug before dashing off again.
I puffed out my breath and looked around the bustling room. Not long ago, I’d lamented how I barely knew anyone in Fallbrook. Now, seeing all these familiar faces I’d helped bring together gave me the reassurance that this was somewhere I could be happy, no matter what.
“My goodness.” Hazel fanned her face with one hand as she walked up to me. “Fireman Joe’s amazing, and so nice, and hilarious.”
“And single.”
“Not for long if I have anything to do with it,” she replied, and when I laughed, she added, “I’m not joking. Lightning-bolt moments like this don’t happen to me very often. Thanks for not liking him as boyfriend material because I definitely might.”
“What about your potential move to Buffalo?” I asked.
Hazel smiled. “His parents live there. He’s a die-hard Sabres fan, too.”
She gave me another grin, and when she moved toward to the storage room, Joe walked out with a stack of boxes. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, making her laugh, and when she rested her hand on his upper arm, he gazed at her and smiled. Maybe I didn’t need to do more mixing in after all.
Marco came up behind me and slipped his arms around my waist before planting a kiss on my cheek. “Look at you, Little Miss Organized. Given half a chance, you’d run the world.”
When I turned around, I spotted his jacket draped over his arm. “Do you have to leave already?”
“No rest for the wicked.” Marco gave me a salute. “Well, for butter tarts and mille-feuilles, anyway. It’s going to be a late night and another early start. Can I see you sometime tomorrow?”
“Yes, please.”
We were about to kiss when the doorbell chimed and Sarah Barratt walked in with two of her colleagues carrying equipment. She was beautifully dressed in her trademark skinny jeans, which she’d paired with a pink V-neck chunky-knit sweater and black boots.
“Oh…hi, Callie,” she said, her eyes darting around the room.
“Nice to see you, Sarah.” Deciding I might as well try to defuse any tension before it started, I added, “You already met Marco at Lion’s Valley.”
Sarah raised her eyebrows a little as her eyes dropped to Marco’s arm around my waist. “Oh…yes. Pleasure to see you again.”
Before any of us had a chance to say more, Ian came to welcome the TV team, and Marco and I stepped away. After a long kiss goodbye outside, he disappeared behind the line of people who’d already arrived to support the toy drive.
Elizabeth officially declared the event open, so I took another moment and stood back, listening as Sarah interviewed Ian, Joe, and Hazel. Children ran up to Walter as he handed out cookies and graciously accepted each toy donation, stacking them in neat piles.
When the interviews were done, Joe’s face was in a colossal smile. “This has been amazing, Callie,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind me saying that I think Marco’s a lucky man. You look happy, and he and I were chatting earlier. He’s pretty cool.”
“Yes, he is. It’s all very recent, but so far, so good.”
He bobbed his head and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Thanks again for being honest with me. I appreciate it, and I’m glad you invited Hazel. She, uh, asked me out to dinner on Saturday night.” He paused. “Is that weird, considering you know each other well, and after what happened between us?”
“No, not at all. Hazel’s awesome. I have a feeling about you two.”
Joe grinned. “Thank you.”
After he went back to help Hazel, I slinked away to peruse the thriller section, but when I turned the corner, Sarah was there with a copy of Gillian McAllister’s Wrong Place Wrong Time in her hands.
“That’s a fantastic book,” I said when she looked up at me. “One of my all-time favorite novels. The storyline is utterly genius.”
“You like thrillers?” she asked.
“Crime fiction’s my favorite genre,” I replied. “I always get my books from Elizabeth and Ian. I love this place.”
“Me, too, although I’m more of an epic fantasy lover myself.” When she smiled, the gesture appeared so genuine, it took me by complete surprise. “I’m glad I bumped into you,” she continued. “I, uh, I think it’s time for me to apologize.”
“Apologize? Why?”
Sarah’s expression was one of deep discomfort. “First off, for what happened with Oliver.” I opened my mouth, but she held up her hand, rushing on. “Please let me say this before I lose my nerve. Nothing went on between us when you were together. I swear.”
“Sarah, I don’t—”
“I’ve been cheated on in the past, and there’s no way I’d put anyone through that. Even when Oliver invited me for lunch and said things were definitively over between you, we didn’t get involved for another few weeks.”
“I…I’m not sure what to say,” I mumbled, moving from one foot to the other, trying not to cringe at how uncomfortable this conversation was making me feel.
“You don’t need to say anything,” she replied. “I didn’t want you to wonder.”
“Thank you. It’s considerate of you.”
“Don’t mention it,” she said. “I’m glad we had this conversation. I wasn’t sure I’d find the courage to speak to you.”
I laughed. “Why? I’m not the one who’s an awesome TV star. I’m the clown who you saw flying off a so-called sled.”
Sarah grinned. “Sledding looked fun, and you are intimidating, at least to me.” When I let out another guffaw, she gave me a nod. “You’re a financial whiz kid, and I’m awful with numbers. You have all this history with Oliver. I mean, your mothers are best friends. That’s almost impossible to compete with.”
“We don’t need to compete with each other,” I said gently.
“Thank you, Callie. When I saw you this evening, I knew I had to clear the air, especially when you saved tonight’s toy drive.”
I waved a hand. “It was a team effort.”
“Well, I appreciate it. This segment will be fantastic, in large part thanks to you.” She waited a few beats before quietly adding, “I really needed this.”
“Oh? From what I’ve seen, you’re already the star of the station.”
“What a lovely thing to say,” Sarah replied. “I don’t want to seem ungrateful, I truly don’t. This story’s important for the community, and the hospital, but for ages I’ve requested grittier assignments. Investigative journalism’s my dream, but I don’t think they’ll ever take me seriously. I want to grow my career, not stall.”
“I think I know how you feel. I quit my job yesterday.” As Sarah’s eyes widened, I explained why I’d made the decision to leave Whitlock & Blake, and how, while I was filled with trepidation, I didn’t want to look back at my professional past, only forward.
“Good for you. I had no idea you resigned. Oliver never mentioned it.”
“He probably forgot.”
“Maybe,” she said, sounding a touch despondent. “He hasn’t talked much lately.”
“There’s a lot been happening at the office,” I offered, but when her eyes became a little shiny, I couldn’t stop myself from wondering if there was something more to it.