Page 52 of Operator
Visiting Ian’s grave had been rough for both of us, but cathartic. I think we both needed to say goodbye, to ask for forgiveness. It doesn’t bring him back or absolve our respective guilt, but I don’t know. Why does anyone have funerals or wakes or celebrations of life? There’s an inherent human need to respect the people you’ve lost. Maybe this was our way.
People in town may not understand, and Bunny sure won’t, but I’m growing to not care. I’ve always loved Callum, and maybe for a long time I’ve been punishing myself for that. I was a good wife to Ian, and I never thought about Callum when we were together. But the naked truth is, he’s not here anymore and I’m only human. Faults and all.
Callum does end up doing the dishes, and the house is as spotless as I can possibly make it a half hour before they’re supposed to arrive. Windy Point is a good three hours from Sweet Creek, a little north from us. I haven’t said it out loud to Callum, but it’s funny most of them have settled so close together. Almost like they couldn’t be separated, even if they no longer spoke.
That would change today.
Callum’s anxious energy doesn’t abate all afternoon. Aside from the front porch light, he’s also fixed a leaky faucet, changed the oil on my truck, aired up my tires and edged the front gardens. None of it needed doing, but it’s almost like he’d jump out of his own skin if he had to sit still for more than five minutes.
I catch him as he’s coming in and wiping his shoes on the rug. He pauses and I run my hands up his arms. I don’t know what it is, but I can breathe easier around him now. Maybe it’s because I’m not fighting my feelings for him anymore. I haven’t defined them yet, that’s a struggle for another day, but I’ve accepted they’re not going anywhere. Whatever happens, I owe it to myself to see it through.
Callum stills underneath my touch, and based on the smile pulling at his lips, I can tell he’s pleased by my show of affection. He inches closer at the slightest pressure. His heat wraps around me, and for a moment, I forget what I was going to say. All I can think about is kissing him again. Feeling his skin against mine. There aren’t enough hours in the day being an adult and a parent. What I wouldn’t give for another night in the backseat of his truck.
“What is it?” he asks, his voice husky.
My eyes go half-lidded for a second as I remember how hoarse his voice was this morning. Shivering a little at the memory, I say, “I just wanted to tell you everything will be fine. We’re going to get through this.”
“We are, huh?” He puts an extra emphasis onwe.
I pull him a little closer. “That’s right. We.”
Now he puts a hand to my waist, and the distance between us shrinks to nothing. “I like the sound of we. Know what I like the sound of even more?”
Before I can answer, he presses me close to him and seals his lips over mine. My hands fly to his hair, and I sink in against him with a sigh. Will it ever wear off? This attraction? It zips through my body and straight to my core.
My lips part automatically, and I search for him with my tongue. His hands bite in at my waist and I’m instantly wet and mentally calculating if we have enough time to sprint to the bathroom for a quicky before Ford and his girlfriend arrive.
“That sound,” he says, coming up for air. “The one you make when I kiss you. Like you’ve never wanted anything more.”
Daisy springs to her feet at the sound of a car door slamming outside. She sprints out of the doggy door, her deep bark echoing around her and waking Violet from a nap. They’re here.
Callum gives me a rueful smile. “Hold that thought. I’m gonna need more of your mouth when they leave.”
“Didn’t get enough this morning?” I ask wickedly.
A knock interrupts his response, and he narrows his eyes at me. “Tease.”
I giggle and smack him on the butt this time. “Only for you.”
Callum squares his shoulders and moves to the door while I scoop Violet up from her bouncer where she’d been taking a quick nap. She is dressed in a sweet little teal romper with bright yellow anchors embroidered along the bodice. The matching yellow bow is on her head. Sometimes I think they’re a little silly, objectively, but at the same time they’re so stinking cute I can’t help but dressing her up now and again. Besides, this is her first time meeting any of Daddy’s friends and she naturally has to be adorable.
My smile falls as I realize what I’ve just thought. Ford is Callum’s friend. I called him Violet’s dad in my head. Callum glances back at me, noticing my expression and frowns. I paste on a sunny smile, which he seems to accept as he opens the door.
It’s okay. I’ll deal with that thought later. All that matters right now is this dinner and figuring out all the puzzle pieces to what happened with Ryan Tate, and in turn, with Ian. Hopefully, we’ll come out of tonight with more answers and no brawls between Ford and Callum.
One can hope.
When the door opens, it reveals a knockout couple on the other side. A super stacked natural blonde with the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen. She’s dressed head to toe in expensive looking clothes and a designer bag dangles from her elbow. She is influencer pretty and that would have been intimidating if the smile she sends in my direction wasn’t so friendly and inviting. At her side is a beast of a man with shoulders nearly as wide as my doorway. He’d be a linebacker if he hadn’t joined the Marines, I’m certain of it. His face is all broad planes and severe lines, but he’s holding the blonde’s hand and has a sulky teenager underneath his other arm.
“Oh my God, Ford. We need to have a baby. Why haven’t you impregnated me yet?” The woman, Peyton’s, eyes go triple wide as she takes in Violet and immediately starts cooing.
Ford rolls his eyes at Callum. “Because we’re helping to raise a teenager and, with my luck, we’d have twin girls.”
At this, the tension leaves Callum’s shoulders, and he relaxes next to me. He wraps an arm around my shoulders nonetheless, and I lean into his side. Ford and Petyon share a covert look at the display of intimacy, but they don’t say anything.
Callum says, “Join the club, bro. It may be your lot in life to be surrounded by beautiful women. It’s not so bad.”
Peyton sends Ford a haughty look, which he ignores. “It’s good to see you,” Ford says more seriously. “It’s been too long.”
