11. Callie
Chapter eleven
CASPIAN:
You were right.
ME:
I love to hear that. What about?
CASPIAN:
Dad. He does have another life. A wife.
My heart plummets as I hit call on my brother’s contact instead of texting back, stepping to the side of the grand double doors that lead into Smoke and Barrel.
“Are you serious?” Disbelief clings to my question along with betrayal and anger. “How did you find out?”
“Mum.” Cas sounds drained as he fills me in. “She got antsy not hearing from him. Sent an email to his work. They called her back, stating they had no active record of his employment. She asked Grandma if she’d heard from him.”
“She’s using Grandma as a source of accurate information?”
“Mum figured she had nothing else to lose, and she was right. The nursing home had an alternate address for paperwork located in the city. Mum took a drive.”
“Oh, shit.” My body all of a sudden feels sluggish, like trying to stay afloat in violent waters.
“He was with another woman. Mum said the house looked pretty lived-in, like he wasn’t just visiting.”
West holds the door open, letting Maevyn through first as he looks at me with a silent question. I tip my chin up, indicating for him to go ahead of me as I lean against the cool, brick exterior.
“How’s she doing?”
Cas lets out a deep sigh. “I knew something was up. She’d been quiet all week, but she seems to have moved into anger this morning. That’s when she told me everything.”
“Maybe that’s better? It might help her move on quicker.” My heart still breaks for what she must be feeling, but I know my mum wouldn’t have a chance of moving on if it were any other way.
“She stayed at my place last night. Didn’t want to be in his house, she said.”
I chew my lip in thought. “I can drive down tomorrow?”
“I don’t know,” Caspian mumbles. “Maybe text her and see how she responds first.”
Mum has always been closer to my brother than me. I think it’s because he looks more like our dad, and that was comforting to her in the times he was away. I tried not to take it too personally.
“How are you doing with all this?” I ask.
“He’s a piece of shit. We’ve always known that. I’m fucking pissed at what he’s done to Mum, but honestly, I’m not surprised he’s proved to be even more disappointing.”
I nod, though he can’t see me. “You’ll let me know if you think I should come visit?”
“Of course.”
I don’t want to rush my brother off the phone if he still needs to vent, but this is my first event as Mason’s assistant. This is the worst time to get too deep into something so emotional.
“Do you need me?”
Cas lets out a breathy chuckle. “I’m okay, Cals. Promise.”
He’ll probably retreat to his shed, reworking the engine of his old Triumph, or sketch out some piece of art he’ll squeeze onto his body somewhere. Those are usually the ways he works through anything.
We say our goodbyes, then I text my mum a photo I took of Navie this morning, along with a message saying we miss her and hope to call her soon. I throw my phone in my purse and head inside.
The music is low enough that a conversation can take place without yelling.
Brown leather lounges and velvet green armchairs line the walls.
Most of the floor is dark wood until you reach the bar, where bottle-green and antique gold tiles are laid in a diamond pattern.
In the centre of the room are round booths with high-backed chairs, some raised on a platform with heavy drapes hanging from the ceiling so they can be sectioned off.
Westley and Maevyn are just ahead, talking to Lee and his girlfriend, Claire.
“Hey,” West says once I step up to the small circle they’ve made. “Everything okay?”
“It was Cas,” I say under my breath. “I think Dad’s officially out of the picture.”
His eyes widen before he wraps an arm around my shoulder, hugging me to his side. “Are you okay?” he whispers.
I nod quickly, squeezing him before pulling away, not wanting to draw any attention. “Later.”
“How are you doing, Callie?” Lee asks. “How’s the job?”
“It’s great. Thank you so much for recommending me.”
“Happy to help.” He smiles just as a waiter comes around with a tray of appetisers.
I made sure to eat a big meal before we left.
I’m used to vegan food not being readily available, especially when I’m added to the guest list last minute.
But it doesn’t bother me. I always keep snacks in my handbag so I’m never caught hangry.
Learned that the hard way. Caspian also carries vegan snacks with him for a completely unrelated event that didn’t involve me biting his head off for the way he drives.
As our group settles into conversation, I continue to marvel at the design of the space when my eyes catch Mason standing with his sister, Steven, and another man I don’t know. Mason’s bouncing his niece in his arms while Beth is talking about something that requires the overuse of her arms.
“Hey, I’m gonna let Mason and Steven know I’m here,” I say to West.
“Okay.” He nods.
I feel out of place as I walk through the fancy club. We didn’t have anything like this back home. Half the clubs we had, you could walk in still wearing your bathers after spending a day at the beach.
Beth spots me first. “Callie!”
I hold up my hand, waving awkwardly. Why did I do that? “Hello.”
“Callie!” Steven links his arm through mine. “I’m so glad you’re here. This is my husband, Barrett.” He pats the shoulder of the man standing behind him.
Where Steven loves an assortment of bright colours, Barrett seems the polar opposite.
Steven’s wearing a gorgeous mauve suit with the shirt sleeves rolled up and an intricate gold brooch pinned through his lapel.
His black shirt is covered in a myriad of purple, red, and pink flowers, opening at the neck to reveal two gold chains.
Barrett’s wearing round, black-rimmed glasses with a midnight blue suit, vest, and turtleneck.
He’s bald, but his face is covered in light stubble.
Simply put, they’re both freaking gorgeous.
I tilt my head up to whisper in Steven’s ear. “Nice.”
“I know, right?!” Steven winks, making me chuckle. “Bear, this is Callie, the little darling filling my shoes and making it possible for us to actually leave for Port Yarra without me stressing that my boss will fall into a conniption.”
Mason throws one hand in the air with a huff, the other still cradling his niece. “Why do you always make me out to be the drama king?”
“Because you are,” Steven and Beth say together.
I chuckle. “It’s very nice to meet you, Barrett. Congratulations on the new business.”
“Thank you, Callie.”
“When do you two leave?” I ask, trying to distract myself from watching my boss hold a tiny baby.
“I’ve been in Port Yarra all week,” Barrett answers.
“The construction team fortifying the structure had to start before the temperatures dropped for snow season. We need the worst of the external damage repaired so the winter months can be spent doing the internal upgrades, and then we’ll be ready to open before the next big tourist season.
” He squeezes Steven’s shoulder. “Stevie flies out this Wednesday with the dogs, and the biggest challenge of our relationship begins.”
“Renovating?”
“Convincing Stevie we don’t need a dancing staff at a ski resort.”
My brows furrow in question as Steven looks at me. “Nobody puts Stevie in the corner.”
My head falls back with a bellowing laugh.
“That actually sounds amazing,” Beth says. “I’d be so on board with that.”
Steven smacks his husband’s chest. “See!”
“Thanks, Beth,” Barrett says, full of sarcasm.
“You’re welcome.” She smiles around the straw in her mouth, which is dipped into a brightly coloured cocktail.
“I think I need another drink before you undoubtedly pitch your roving cabaret plan to me again,” Barrett says, pulling away.
“Am I wearing you down yet?” Steven turns to follow him.
“Of course, love.”
Steven turns back to us, pumping a fist before he and his husband disappear through the crowd.
“So, Callie.” Beth pulls me over to a nearby booth, and I slide along the leather as she takes a seat opposite me. “What do you think of the place?”
I nod, looking around. “It’s beautiful. I absolutely love how you blended the Art Deco with industrial. It’s like grunge meets elegance.”
“A bit like Gage and his wife.” Beth points her chin to a couple standing by the bar. A huge guy, covered in tattoos, towers over a petite woman with golden curls that fall loosely down her back.
Mason joins us, no longer holding his niece, and slides into the booth beside me.
“Can I get anyone a drink?” A waiter appears, standing at the end of our table with his hands behind his back.
“I’d love a martini, please, Jason.” He gives Beth a nod, then turns to me.
“With a straw, please, Jase,” Beth adds as I quickly snatch up the menu on the table, scanning the list of opening night specials on the front.
Westley’s parents are watching Navie and Maevyn’s daughter, Aurora, tonight.
I expressed two bottles just in case I wanted to have a drink.
After my phone call with Cas, it feels more like a need than a want.
“Rose and lemon spritzer, please. Do you have agave instead of honey?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.” I smile, then look at Mason, letting him know I’m finished ordering so he can place his.
“I’ll have the same,” Mason says.
“Traditional recipe with honey, or would you like to swap to agave?”
“Agave. Thanks, Jase.” With a nod, the waiter steps away, making room for someone else.
“Callie?” I’m quickly hit with recognition of Lee’s cousin, Tristan.
“Hi.” I smile. “I forgot you worked on this place too.” He’s an architect and often collaborates with his cousin’s business. He even did the plans for Maevyn’s new pole studio.
Tristan nods, sliding into the bench beside Beth. “I did. Did you come with West?”
I like Tristan. I only met him a few times while I was working at Lee’s company, and he was always polite and funny.