15. Liam

“Daddy, Daddy!” Marie jumped up and down on the spot, swinging our joined hands between us as we waited for the green light to cross the road safely.

“Yes, darling?”

“Did you mean it?” She paused her jumping and stared straight up at me.

“Did I mean what?” Quickly, I wracked my brain just in case I had agreed to get her something that, in the cold light of day, was something I no longer wanted to commit to.

“I heard you on the phone last night, talking to Uncle Sawyer.”

“When you should have been sleeping?” I asked, grinning down at her.

“I was sleeping,” she insisted, batting her lashes at me. “I heard you in my dream.”

“Of course, of course.” The green light beeped into life and I tightened my grip on Marie’s hand as we crossed the road. “Well, what did you hear in your dream?”

As we reached the other side of the road, Marie jumped rather than walked the last few steps. “I heard you said we’re going to stay in the city.”

Ah.

The conversation with Sawyer had been along those lines, as the earlier trouble with the patent had me staying in New York for longer than I’d intended. Not that I minded, with someone like Callie to keep me entertained. Being back in New York had been unexpectedly pleasant and when Sawyer asked if I was sticking around, it felt like a good idea.

“Would you like that?” I asked while we strolled down the street. “To stay here? Or would you rather go back home?”

“I want to stay!” Her excitement was unexpected, but the smile on her face pulled one onto my own lips. “I really like it here.”

“What do you like about it?”

“Hmm.” She pressed her fingers to her mouth as we walked. “I like the colors and how fast everyone moves. Like superheroes! I like the noise and Uncle Sawyer, and I like Kane too. He’s so fun.”

Listening to her babble on about what she enjoyed was really the final nail in the coffin of my decision. I’d never envisioned being back in the city like this or back at the company, but it felt good. It was a true sign of Sawyer’s kindness that he kept me on as COO even though I stepped away to raise Marie. Any time I asked him about it, he would wave me off.

Now I’m thankful. I’d put a lot on hold after my daughter”s surprise arrival, but maybe this was a sign—a sign that I could start moving forward again.

“Well,” I chuckled, squeezing her hand affectionately. “Maybe it’s time I start trying to find you a new school, huh?”

“Yes!” Marie declared, and she started to jump again. Then she spotted something down the street, and her eyes turned into saucers. “Callie!”

My heart jumped and I followed her line of attention. Two stores down, Callie was walking out of a bakery with a box in her hand but looked far too stressed to be someone dealing in baked goods. She was still breathtaking though.

Marie slipped from my grasp and sprinted toward Callie, thankfully stopping just before she reached her.

“Hi!” Marie grinned up at her.

Callie’s eyes widened, and her beautiful face melted into a warm smile as she peered around her box at Marie.

“Marie! What a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?”

“We’re going to the park!” Marie declared, and then she looked at me. “Look, Daddy, it’s Callie!”

“I can see that, yes,” I laughed. When Callie lifted her head and our eyes locked, my heart skipped another beat, and my own smile softened.

“Hey, stranger.”

“Hey.” Pink dusted her cheeks and she shifted her stance.

“Special occasion?” I glanced at the box while holding my hand out for Marie, who took it and gripped tightly.

“Sort of.” Callie puffed air upward, trying to remove a few strands of hair from her face. When those strands fell back in place, irritation bled into her smile. So, I reached across and delicately tucked those strands behind her ear.

Callie’s blush deepened.

“Care to share?”

“It’s my mother’s birthday tomorrow,” Callie explained. “And she’s having a good run, y’know? She knows who I am, so this is the first birthday in a few years where we’ll get to spend it together but the facility she’s at?” Callie shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t want to bore you.”

“I want to know,” I said firmly. “Walk with us.”

It was more of an order than a request, and there was something satisfying about Callie automatically falling into step beside me.

“I’m sorry. The facility she’s at just hasn’t been clear on what is and isn’t allowed. On one hand, they’re great because she’s doing so well, and they give me daily updates. But on the other hand, trying to get answers about how much we’re allowed to celebrate is like pulling teeth.”

I nodded along, keeping one eye on Marie as I led the way to the park.

“I know they do great things and their job must be so hard, I just wish it was easier for the family of patients to understand exactly how our parents are being taken care of and how to spend time with them without filling out eight forms and hoping.”

“God,” I muttered, my heart going out to her. “I’m sorry. That sounds like much more stress than it should be.”

“You’ve no idea,” Callie groaned and her face fell slightly.

As I took a breath to offer more comfort, Marie got there before me.

“Come to the park! It always makes me feel better!”

While Marie wouldn’t understand most of what Callie said, she was smart enough to see the pain and my heart warmed at just how perceptive my daughter was.

“Oh, I don’t want to interrupt,” Callie said bashfully.

“We insist.” I smiled. “It’ll be fun.”

——

Seated on a wooden bench with Callie by my side and her boxed cake between us, I kept one eye on Marie as she tackled the climbing frame.

“Marie is adorable,” Callie said, her attention on Marie also.

“Isn’t she? I’m still getting to know her but everything I learn is so mind blowing. How can so much smartness exist in someone so small and young?”

“Children are observant,” Callie chuckled. “Though sometimes that can be a bad thing.”

“Tell me about it,” I agreed, casting my thoughts back to when Marie had just come out and asked about staying in the city. I couldn’t complain though. She was raised so well.

“Is it strange?” Callie’s attention shifted to me. “Knowing you missed so much of her life?”

“A little.” Marie’s start in the world was tough to talk about but Callie felt like someone who would listen and understand without question.

“I sometimes worry about that on the days my mother has clarity. I don’t want her to feel like she’s missed out on things, but then, if she remembers how long it’s been then maybe it’s inevitable?”

“I don’t know if it compares,” I answered honestly. “But it’s a strange kind of guilt. When I was twenty-seven, I was in a motorcycle accident. I was always stupid and reckless with that kind of thing.”

“Oh my god.” Callie’s eyes widened, then she smirked lightly. “A hot thought, though. You in motorcycle leather.”

“Thank you.” I grinned. “I ended up falling for the use that took care of me and we had a fling. More than a one-night stand but nothing to write home about. Then she upped and moved away and I never heard from her again. I moved on with my life until two years ago when she turned up on my doorstep, sick, with Marie in tow. My daughter.”

That day still felt like a fever dream, even after all this time.

“Lucy was dying. She wanted to ensure Marie came to her dad because no one else was there. It was a hard transition from party boy to father but I’m doing my best. I’m lucky Marie is so gracious.”

“Poor kid,” Callie mused. “I can’t begin to imagine.”

“She’s a tough kid. The hardest part for a long time was the questions I had. Why Lucy stayed away and why she didn’t find me sooner but they all felt… pointless. She didn’t have much time left, and I was not a responsible man so I couldn’t blame her.”

“You? Not responsible?” Callie giggled. “Unheard of.”

“Oh I know,” I nodded seriously, laced with light sarcasm. “In my youth, I was a right rascal. In fact, that scar Kane has on his right eye?”

Callie nodded, her brow furrowing in thought. “Let me guess, you both had a very manly, very important wrestling match.”

“Nope. A drunken brawl over who was the beer pong winner.”

Callie burst out laughing and the sound brought a wide smile to my face. Her tinkling laugh was gorgeous. Infectious actually, and I couldn’t help but grin at her.

“I can’t imagine Kane being that kind of guy. You, for sure. Sawyer, maybe. But Kane?”

“We were all reckless and stupid back then.” Before life got in the way. “Kane had to shoulder a lot of his family money and that kind of responsibility sobers a man up quickly. Sawyer’s mother died so he had to step in with his father and I was just the reckless, broken third wheel four beers deep until Marie turned up.”

“Wow,” Callie breathed, crossing her legs and turning her attention back to Marie. “It’s kind of nice then, isn’t it? That you’re all coming back together for this brilliant new project that helps people. I don’t know much but I do know Sawyer’s been a bit lighter with you around. Kane too. It’s just… nice.”

Callie was right. It was nice. And so was she.

The wind picked up, ruffling through her brown hair and causing many of the strands to catch the sun. Amber tones glowed through her hair, and when she glanced at me with a smile, her brown eyes looked like honey.

Not once did Callie consider that we were all happier because of her. She saw a renewed friendship and didn’t even factor herself into the situation. It was adorable, and a strong urge rose inside my chest to kiss her.

Maybe not in front of Marie. Not yet.

“Come to dinner.”

“What?” Callie’s head whipped around.

“Come to dinner. I’d love to have you, and I know Marie would.” Not wanting to give Callie the chance to back out, I turned and called to Marie. “Do you want Callie to come for dinner?”

“Yes!” Marie yelled back, dropping down from the monkey bars. She sprinted over at top speed. “Please come! It’ll be fun and maybe Dad won’t be so boring when he’s doing the dishes.”

“Hey!” I exclaimed, sweeping Marie up into my arms. She dissolved into giggles and squeals as I tickled her sides and tummy. Callie’s laughter joined in like music, and we almost felt like a family for a few moments.

That was a dangerous thought. I knew better than to entertain those kinds of feelings about Callie but I couldn’t help it. Being around her felt so natural.

“See?” I laughed, setting Marie down the right way up. “You can’t say no.”

“Okay,” Callie chuckled, her cheeks pink once again. “I’ll come to dinner.”

“Yay!” Marie threw herself into Callie’s arms and I narrowly managed to drag the cake out of the way before there was any kind of disaster.

“Come on then.” With a tilt of my head, I stood. Cake in one hand and daughter in the other, we headed slowly toward the park’s entrance. My mind ran quickly through dinner options, finding that I wanted to impress Callie. Even if it was just to take her mind off of her mother for a little longer.

But when we reached the gate, I noticed the sounds of her heels had fallen off slightly. Ushering Marie through the gate, I glanced back to see Callie had stopped in the middle of the path and was scrolling rapidly through her phone.

Whatever she saw made her face fall drastically. The sight was like a physical punch to my heart, and pain lanced through my chest. I moved behind Marie, not wanting her to see Callie’s face.

Something was wrong.

And I had a terrible feeling she wasn’t going to share.