Page 57 of The Cowboy's Unshakeable Love

“I can’t promise you anything until I know what you’re talking about.”

Callie shrugged. “Okay, you can get mad at me if you want, but it won’t change anything – it’s all already set up.”

“What is? Would you just tell me?”

“I set you up a bank account – with some money.”

“We’ve been through this before, Callie. I don’t want your money. I …”

“Mama, stop!” Callie’s tone was so sharp that she did stop.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to yell at you, but I’m done with how things used to be between us. You’re making a change, and I am so happy that you’re going to stay here. But that’s not the only thing that’s going to change. You know I’ve made more money than one person could ever spend. I’ve made more than ten people could spend. I could buy pretty much anything I ever wanted. I kind of understood why you’d never take anything from me. I know it’s not just pride, it's more than that. But Mama, I want to see you happy. I know money can’t buy you happiness, but it makes life a damn sight easier. I want you to relax and enjoy life. I want you not to have to worry about a thing. And if you turn me down again, you’re going to hurt me.”

Callie’s eyes shone with tears. “Even more than you already have over all these years. I want you to have it all. I want you here in my life, and I want to see you relaxed and happy. I want to know that if you take a job – with Travis or anyone else, it’s because you want to do it, not because you need the money. I want to know that if you stay with Travis, it’s because you want to be with him – not because you think you need a place to stay.

“There’s enough money in that account that you can buy your own place if you want to. You can pay yourself a salary every month, and you’ll only be living on the interest. You gave me my life, Mama. I want to see you start living yours.”

Retta closed her eyes but couldn’t stop the tears that leaked out.

“Please?”

She nodded slowly. “Okay, baby girl.”

“Yesss!!!” Callie punched the air. “You have no idea how happy you just made me.”

Retta blew out a sigh and Callie came to crouch beside the wheelchair.

“Please tell me that you’re happy, too?”

She shrugged. “I’m proud of you. And I’m grateful to you.”

“But you’re not happy?”

“I … am.”

“There’s nothing to feel bad about.”

“A parent is supposed to give their child what they need – not the other way around.”

“Only when the child is small. And you did – you gave me everything I needed to believe in myself and go out into the world and live my dream.”

“You did that all by yourself.”

“See, that’s where you’re wrong, and I wish you’d believe me. You gave me enough belief in myself that I knew I could do it. Do you know how many girls at school told me I was stupid to even think about it? They told me that becoming a country singer is just a dream, that thousands of people want to do it and only a handful ever make it. Well, you taught me that someone had to be one of that handful; so why not me? You always told me I could do anything. And I believed you. And here we are.”

Retta wiped the tears off her cheeks. “You did it all by yourself, Callie.”

“Yeah, because you taught me that I could. Anyway, we can talk more about all that. For now, I’m going to take the win. Thank you for accepting something I’ve wanted to do for you for a long time.”

“I feel weird about it.”

Callie grinned. “You’ll get used to it. I felt weird about it at first, too, but it’s kinda nice after a while, knowing that you don’t have to worry about anything – not about bills coming in, not about your paycheck coming in, not about what time you have to be at work or who might yell at you.”

Retta sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “That’ll all take a lot of getting used to.”

Callie leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “That’s okay, I’ll help, and I bet Travis will, too.”

She nodded. “I … I’ll be honest, I’ll feel better about him – about seeing where things go between us if I …”

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