Page 20 of My Song for You
“Nothing that will give you grandchildren—I can guarantee that.” I bit into my BLT sandwich.
“But you’re still seeing her?”
I shrugged. “We’re not currently dating. I agreed to be her date to an upcoming event in L.A., but that’s just as a friend.”
Needing to change the current line of questioning, I blurted out, “Hey, you’ll never guess who I bumped into yesterday. Callie Talbert.”
“How’s she and her family doing? I can’t remember the last time I spoke to her mom. Not for a few years at least.”
“Good, I think. Callie has a son now.”
Mom’s eyes widened. “She’s married?” She quickly recovered and laughed softly. “Of course she’s married. Just because she was a tomboy as a kid doesn’t mean she didn’t become a woman.”
“She’s not married.”
“Engaged?”
I shook my head.
“But the child’s father is still in the picture, right?”
Brilliant move, asshead.I had meant to distract Mom from her line of questioning about me providing her with more grandchildren. I hadn’t meant to freak her out about Callie and Logan and their well-being.
“I don’t think so.”
“Is there any guy in the picture to take care of them?”
I shook my head even though it would’ve been a better idea if I had lied and told her that there was. Or, better yet, if I had just kept my mouth shut to begin with. “But you don’t have to worry about her. She’s doing fine.”
“How could she be fine looking after a child on her own? The boy needs a father.”
“I’m sure her own father is doing a great job.”
“Jared’s right,” Dad said. “Gary and Violet aren’t the type of parents who wouldn’t step in and help out. They’ll be a great role model for the child until Callie can find the right man for her and her son.”
Reluctantly Mom agreed. Dad had a point. “So you and Callie are friends again?”
“I wouldn’t say that. I haven’t decided if I’ll see her again…as a friend.” I hastily added the last part before Mom got any ideas. “We’re both busy with our own lives, and we’re different people than we were back when we were kids.”
“It wouldn’t have anything to do with her being a single mom, would it?” Mom said, her gaze piercing my soul. I loved my mother, but she had a way of wringing the truth out of you with just that look.
“No, I really am busy with the band.” And there was also that matter of Callie not wanting me to be part of her and Logan’s life.
“What are the touring plans this time?” Dad asked, and I could’ve hugged him for the change in topic.
I spent the next few minutes explaining everything the band’s manager had told us so far about the next couple of months. We still didn’t know, though, which band we were opening for. The label was being very hush-hush about it.
Mom didn’t bring up Callie or Logan again, maybe realizing I really was too busy for them. And maybe realizing that being in a band wasn’t conducive to having a family—not that I planned on becoming a family with Callie and Logan.
After lunch, Dad and I disappeared into the backyard and began constructing the gazebo. It was hard work, but both of us were in good shape, which made the job a little easier. Any talking between us was kept to a minimum, our attention focused solely on building the large wooden structure. I didn’t have a chance to let my mind drift to Callie.
By the time we finished several hours later, we were covered in sweat and our muscles ached.
“What do you think?” Dad asked as we stood in front of the gazebo, studying it.
“Looks good.” I wasn’t just saying that. Like everything we worked on together, we had taken our time to ensure it was perfect. My father and grandfather had taught me the value of working hard and not settling for less—a lesson I put to good use when it came to writing songs.
We were still examining the structure when my sister and brother-in-law joined us. Kristen was lugging three bright green cushions with daisies embroidered on them. Craig had a bottle of beer in each hand and handed them to Dad and me. The hangover from this morning had long since been sweated away, and the cold beer couldn’t have been more welcome.
