Page 15 of Ripple Effect
“I walked away. I had no choice.” And at the time, I hadn’t. Not that Cal held that against me.
He rarely held anything against me.
Nothing, that is, until I walked away from our marriage without giving him a chance to explain.
10
Calhoun
Twelve Years Ago from Present Day
As we pull through the gates, I have to school my expression not to gawk at the overwhelming beauty I’m faced with. Sam slams his foot to the pedal, racing the rushing water to determine which one of us will get to our destination first. I have a feeling Sam’s determined to win even though I have no idea why we’re even here. “What the hell are we doing, Sam? Don’t we have a funeral to go to?” I demand. I’m clenching the stems of the sunflowers in my hand so tightly, I’m afraid they’re going to snap. It’s the only thing betraying my nerves at seeing Libby again.
“We are. And I’m going to be royally fucked because I’m late.”
“Dude, where the hell do you plan on putting someone else in this car? The trunk?” Sam picked me up in a silver Corvette after I finished my part of the debrief at Alliance. He was discharged hours earlier and went to get our ride. Not that I don’t appreciate the sweet set of wheels, but with both of us being as tall as we are, the only thing that will fit into the tiny jump seat is a toddler.
Maybe. But it will still be a tight fit.
He doesn’t say a word. When I hazard a look over, there’s a ticking in his jaw. “We’re not picking up anyone. Nonna’s being buried here.” Sam drops the gear and presses the pedal again, whether to make up for time or his pent-up frustration, I don’t know.
And I forget about it as the house comes into view. I can’t hold back the “Holy crap” that escapes my mouth.
“And that’s just the main house. Wait till you see the rest of the homes on the property.” Sam slams on the brake, which flings us both forward, before sliding his car expertly into a reserved parking spot. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear we’d just pulled into a luxury-used-car lot because there isn’t a single car here that doesn’t cost less than my former military salary.
“Sam?” I start to ask, but before I can get the question out, a little girl comes running toward us wearing an adorable pink velvet hat on her head. In her hands, she’s carrying the ugliest monstrosity of one I’ve ever seen.
“Sam! This is the last one left!” She flaps the hat at him. He scoops her up in his arms and twirls the pretty princess around in his arms for a moment, burying his head deep into her neck. “I told Nanny it wasn’t your color.”
“And what did she say to that?” He blows a raspberry into her neck, making her giggle.
I stand back, not wanting to intrude. She could have been Libby’s child with her shining dark hair down the middle of her back.
“Nanny said you should have been here on time, and then you could have worn…” Suddenly, the little girl notices me. Scooching next to Sam, she says, “Hello.”
Smoothing a hand over her head, Sam says, “Sydney, I want you to meet my friend Calhoun.”
Instinctively, I squat down to her level and hold out a hand. “Hello, Sydney. My friends call me Cal.”
Her green eyes, so like Libby’s, widen. “You know my Aunt Libby too.” She begins to edge forward.
Dropping my hand, I flick my eyes up to Sam, who shrugs. “I do.”
She studies me a moment before coming to a stop next to me. Even though I don’t want to intimidate the child, something tells me to stand. Neither of us say anything while I get an inspection that would have done Admiral Yarborough proud. Finally, Sydney does something I’m sure my many enemies would have loved to have done on many an occasion.
She stomps on my foot. Hard.
I yelp in surprise, almost dropping the sunflowers. Who knew such a tiny thing had such power?
“Sydney Elizabeth!” Sam yells. “What was that for?”
“Boys aren’t supposed to make you cry. You taught me that, Sam.” Stomping past him, she shoves the hat in his hand. “Here. We’re in the back waiting on you.”
After Sydney runs out of earshot, I turn to my partner and hiss, “Care to explain?”
He sighs before slipping the ridiculous hat on his head. “I honestly have no idea. But right now, I have to say goodbye to the woman who taught us all everything.”
I nod. Even though I never had what Sam did growing up—a family, ties to keep me in one place, love—I appreciate the bonds that form over time when you’re with people for extended periods of time. It’s why I’m here to support him.
