Page 73 of Unexpected Love
It’s late morning after the longest night I’ve had on shift in a while.
As soon as I was released from the ER with instructions to go home and rest, I made Jules drive us directly to the inspector’s office.
“Cal, we can do this later,” she mumbles from beside me.
I pin her with a look that tells her to zip it, much like the looks she gave me back at the hospital when she righted my world just by showing up.
“We’re gonna find out the next steps,” I declare.
An elderly woman sporting a vibrant patchwork sweater, even though it’s hot as hell in the office, mans the front desk. I ask for the dweeb who did her inspection and wait by Jules’s side.
“I know you.” The lady gives us the once-over. “You’re the one who was in Maggie’s booth at the festival.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jules replies with a smile. “We’re here tocheck out why my CO was denied. The inspector said the paperwork wasn’t filed properly. We need to confirm that we’ve done the proper permits and see how the situation can be rectified.”
“Okay, I’ll let him know you’re here.”
I trace my thumb over the back of her hand—I especially love the soft skin there—as we wait. I haven’t let go of her except to remove the IV line so I could be released.
A half hour later, the dweeb still hasn’t come out to meet with us, and instead, we are forced to make an appointment to return later in the week.
Resigned to another interminable wait, I drop Jules off at her car and make my way over to Nancy’s. Charlie should be waking from her afternoon nap soon, and I just want to see my girl.
So much went through my mind when I thought I was truly injured. So much about what would happen to Charlie in the event that something happened to me. Would she go to the state? Would Dani take her back? And given her past actions, did I truly trust Dani to take care of this little girl who’s become my whole world?
On impulse, I dial Dani’s number, fully prepared to leave her a voicemail.
“Hey, Cal.” She picks up on the third ring. “I was just getting ready to call you. I’m about an hour out from Senoma. Are you at home?”
My blood turns to ice.
There’s no way she’s coming back for Charlie fresh out of jail. But what if she is? Instead of blurting that out loud, I say, “Not yet. I’m just getting Charlie from day care.”
Dani speaks, but I’m not sure what she says before the line falls dead. The second she announced that she wasnear, my mind kicked into overdrive. What does she want? Why now?
I’m torn on what to do. Let her into my place or make her meet me somewhere public. Hide Charlie at Jules’s apartment or allow Dani to see her.
Then I remember that Jules had a meeting with Lissette, so she’s out. I pull up Chief Collins’s contact info and natch, he answers on the first ring.
“Cal, how are you? I heard about your accident. I was going to come by and see you later.”
“Not great, Chief. I need some help.”
“Talk to me.”
“My sister is on her way to Senoma. She’s fresh out of jail, and she’s headed to my apartment.” The words tumble out. “I’m not sure why she’s coming now, when she’s been ignoring me since she ditched Charlie. But now, all of a sudden, I don’t bail her out, and she’s on her way? Something doesn’t jive.”
“How’d she make bail?”
“I have no idea.” I’m not sure I want to know what deal she made, nor the devil she made it with. “But I’m terrified that she’s coming to take Charlie back with her. Or what if she wants to stay with me now? I’m mad as hell at her, but I don’t want to say something to ruin things and make her take Charlie if she’s ready to turn her life around.” I pause in my tirade, then add the truth through a tight throat. “I don’t want to fuck this up, Chief.”
“We’re on the way.”
A wave of something I don’t understand and haven’t had that much experience with slams into my chest. An intense relief at being able to call on someone and have them support me without question is new and foreign. ButChief and his wife have been there for me in ways I’ll never be able to repay.
I’m not sure what they can do, but having someone on my side feels like the smart thing to do right now.
I beat Dani to the apartment and hustle Charlie inside. She’s playing happily in her baby kennel when a knock raps at the door.
