“Brody called. That’s who I was talking to when you came in here. He said since the weather was so bad they were all staying in Nashville tonight.” I say, watching Ash take a deep breath.
“I guess it’s just me and you tonight. I can’t believe he left you here with me. He will probably show up in the middle of the night to make sure we are where we’re supposed to be,” he says, winking at me. It’s amazing what that little gesture does to my stomach.
“He said to tell you that you better remember what he said,” I say, smiling at him. “What did he say to you?”
“I told you he said he would shoot me if I touched you and I believe him. I hope you can keep a secret if you want me to live,” he says, getting up to put our dishes in the dishwasher. “You cooked, so I will clean up. Do you want to watch a movie when I finish up in here?”
“Sure, but I will help clean up. I made the mess.” We clean the kitchen in comfortable silence. In a way I am really glad Brody is gone tonight, but then again it would be nice to have another person here to keep the conversation going. The closer it got time to watch a movie, the more nervous I was feeling.
“There are some movies in the cabinet under the TV. They are mostly guy movies, pick out whatever you want to watch,” Ash says, when we are finally finished cleaning. He wasn’t kidding; these are all killing or war movies. I don’t know if I can handle this so close to bed. I finally find one on the bottom that doesn’t look too bad so I grab it. I take it over and hand it to Ash.
“One of my favorites,” he says, walking over to put it in. He grabs the remote off the top and comes over to sit by me. I have no idea how this can be one of his favorite movies. I am bored out of my mind and pretty sure if my body wasn’t so aware of his so close to me I would be asleep by now. I can’t stop the giant yawn that comes out of my mouth.
“Am I boring you?” Ash asks, laughing.
“Not at all, it’s just been a really long day.”
“You can go to bed if you want, you won’t hurt my feelings.”
“I have to see how it ends now, I would never be able to go to sleep not knowing,” I say, yawning again. Ash just laughs and puts his arm around me pulling me closer. When I lay my head on his shoulder, he kisses the top of my head. I don’t know how it happened, but this moment right now is the safest I have felt in ten years. I wish I could make it last forever.
I open my eyes when I feel Ash trying to push me off of him.
“Callie, you have to wake up. I think Brody decided to come home early. There’s a truck out there. Let me up and I’ll see if it’s him.” I look up to see the weather is back on the TV. I look at the clock and it is already after midnight. I can’t believe I fell asleep in here. Ash stands up just as the door opens and Brody and Jaxon are both coming in the door.
“What’s going on?” Brody asks looking back and forth from me to Ash. Ash is just standing there looking at him in the guiltiest way. Has this guy never had to tell a little white lie really quickly before?
“We were keeping an eye on the weather. It’s storming out there,” I say to Brody.
“I know it’s storming, I just drove two hours in this awful mess to get here,” Brody says.
“Why, I thought you were going to stay there?” I ask him. He actually looks embarrassed.
“I knew you didn’t sleep well at night sometimes. I got to thinking about what you said last night and I didn’t want to leave you here alone. I didn’t know Ash would stay up all night babysitting you,” he says, giving Ash the I want to kill you look again.
“That’s really sweet, but you didn’t have to do that. I’ve made it twenty six years without you. I think I could have made it one night. Besides, he wasn’t babysitting me. He was keeping a watch on the weather. I’m the one who fell asleep. Thank you for coming back though.”
“Why don’t you sleep?” Ash asks, sitting back down beside me. This is not a conversation I want to have with an audience. It’s actually a little embarrassing right now with all of these boys looking at me.
“Can we talk about it later?” I whisper to him laying my hand on his leg. “Please, I’ll tell you, just not right now.” He nods his head at me and smiles before looking at my hand on his leg. I pull it back really fast when Brody walks over to me.
“Are you sure I’m not missing something here? What have you two been doing all night?” he asks, sitting in the chair across from me. I was about to answer when the entire house lit up from a huge streak of lightning followed by a boom so loud it shook the house. Brody and Ash both jumped up and ran to the window. I followed them to the window not having any idea what I was supposed to be looking for.
“Do you think it got the barn?” Brody asks looking at Ash.
“It could have. I’m going to check on the horses. I’ll be right back,” Ash says, grabbing a raincoat out of the closet.
“You can’t go out in this. Did you not just hear that?” I say, grabbing Ash’s arm before he goes out the door. He looks at Brody then back at me.
“I’ll be fine. I just need to make sure the horses can’t get out. I’ll be right back,” he says, grabbing my hand.
“I’ll go with him,” Brody says to me. “Jaxon, stay here with her. Don’t let her come outside. We’ll be right back,” he says, before heading out the door with Ash.
I turn around to find Jaxon sitting in the chair Brody just got out of smiling. How can he be smiling right now? Is he not worried about them even a little?
“What was really going on before we got here?” he asks, with the same smug look Brody usually has.
“I told you. I fell asleep and Ash was watching the weather,” I say.
“I actually believe you. You are a really good liar. Unfortunately for you, Ash is a sucky liar. Lucky for you both, I don’t think Brody has his gun on him.”
“He would not shoot him,” I say, watching Jaxon shrug.
“You’re probably right, he won’t shoot him. He might punch him though. For some reason Brody is very protective of you,” he says, narrowing his eyes on me. He sits up in the chair and rests his chin in his hands. “By the way, you never denied something going on. You may want to work on that before Brody gets back.”
I look back at him. I guess I forgot these boys are all trained to find out the truth and to know when someone is lying. At least this one seems okay with everything.
I finally hear the door open and turn around to see Ash and Brody coming back inside. Ash doesn’t look like he’s been punched, so maybe everything is okay.
“The lightning struck a tree next to the barn. Everything is okay. It looks like the worst of the storm is over,” Ash says, taking his raincoat off.
“I guess I will head home,” Jaxon says standing up out of the chair. “You are welcome to stay with me,” he says to Brody on the way out.
“I’m good on the couch,” he says. “I need to talk to Callie anyway.”
“Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Do you want me to stay?” he asks Brody. What is going on now?
“It’s up to you, but you don’t have to,” he says to Jaxon. Jaxon just looks at me a minute before heading to the door.
“I think I’ll head out, it’s late. I’ll come by and talk to you tomorrow,” he says, looking at me. I’m not sure what we have to talk about, but it must be important.
“Okay,” I say, trying to figure out what is going on. He almost gets to the door when he turns around and comes back to give me a hug. “I’m really glad, just so you know,” he says, before turning around and walking out the door. Once again I feel like I am missing out on some big news.
“I’m going to take a shower and get changed,” Brody says, looking at Ash.
“I need to go put on some dry clothes too,” Ash says, looking at me before leaving the room.
“Okay,” I say to both of them. This has got to be the weirdest conversation I have ever had.
“I need to talk to you when I get changed if that’s okay. I know it’s late, but
it’s important,” Brody says to me.
“That’s fine; I’m not really tired anymore. I’ll be in here,” I say to him before he starts walking down the hall.
I go sit back down on the couch and grab the remote to the TV hoping to find something to watch during the night. I finally find an old sitcom to watch when I feel someone sit down beside me. I look over thinking it’s Brody ready to talk, but instead I find my face inches from Ash’s. “Hi,” he says, before kissing me.
“Hi,” I say back. “I thought you had gone to bed.”
“Not yet, I had to kiss you one more time today,” he says, smiling. “I’m right down the hall if you need anything tonight. I don’t know why you have trouble sleeping, but I’m here if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” I was fixing to lean in to kiss him again, but when I looked behind him Brody was standing there watching us. I hope he didn’t see or hear too much. “Goodnight, I guess I need to talk to him,” I say, looking behind him.
“Okay,” he says, standing up. “You know where I am if you need me.” He walks past Brody back down the hallway. Brody comes over to the couch carrying an envelope.
He hands me the envelope and I can see that it’s from the hospital. “That didn’t take long,” I say, opening it.
“I already know what it says. I saw my moms when she opened it,” he says, quietly.
I open it and take the paper out. I already knew she was my mom. I have known for quite a while now, but I think there was always a little part of me that thought maybe my parents were wrong. I look down and read the words ninety nine point nine percent chance. She really is my mom. She really did take the wrong baby home and not even know it for twenty six years. How does that really happen? I fold the paper back up and put it in the envelope. “Did she stay in Nashville with Molly?” I ask already knowing the answer. Of course she did, she’s her daughter.
“She wanted to come and bring you the results herself. But Molly got upset and asked her to stay with her so she did.”
“Okay,” I say standing up. “I’m going to bed now.”
“Don’t. Please don’t shut me out now. I know it sucks they aren’t here with you right now, but I am. She was really upset she wasn’t going to be here,” he says, like that’s supposed to make all of this better, but it just makes me mad.
“She’s upset? Well I am pissed. How do you take the wrong baby home and raise it for twenty six years and not even know it’s not yours. I missed out on everything. I have had one meal with the woman. One. I had to change my name and move to a town at sixteen by myself. I didn’t know anybody, but I guess that’s all okay because she’s upset.” I am sobbing and I am screaming and I am mad.
Brody just gets up and pulls me back to the couch and holds me while I cry for what feels like hours. “Finally, I was beginning to think you were born with no emotions,” he says.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken that all out on you. It’s not your fault,” I say, once I can talk again.
“It’s okay. I would probably be pretty pissed too. I know this isn’t the best time, but I have to go back to work tomorrow. Ash will be here and I think Jaxon is off tomorrow too. If you need anything just let them know. I’ll be back tomorrow night. If you want to meet Molly, we can do it then. Just don’t go over there without me.”
“Okay, I’m going to try to get some sleep now,” I say. I have no idea why he is being so nice to me about all of this, but I am very thankful I have him in my life now.
Chapter Nine
I think I finally got to sleep around three this morning. I heard Clay leave my car outside for me around two thirty, but I was too drained to go talk to him. I’ll call him later today and thank him. I have no idea who picked him up from here, but I’m sure he figured it all out.
I look at the clock and it is already nine in the morning. I can smell bacon and coffee, so I know somebody is already up this morning. I go to the bathroom and brush my teeth before going in there. I am definitely not used to having boys living with me. I go into the kitchen to find Ash and Jaxon eating omelets.
“Good morning. I can cook you one if you will eat it,” Ash says, smiling at me.
“I’m good with just coffee. Thanks,” I say, looking at Jaxon who is once again staring at me. I walk over to the coffee pot and pour me a cup. “I’m sorry if I woke you up last night,” I say, sitting down beside Ash.
He just continues to smile at me. “I wasn’t asleep yet, you didn’t bother me. I hope you’re feeling better this morning.”
“I’m good. Thanks,” I say, looking at Jaxon. “Do you not ever work?” I ask him.
“Of course I do, I just thought I would take the day off to check on you and Molly. She was supposed to come home this morning.” I just nod my head at him. I honestly don’t know if I will ever be able to meet this girl. I know she is going to hate me, but she is the one that grew up with this amazing family. Why would she just cut them out of her life the way she did. I know they said they don’t talk to her much, but there has to be a reason.
Jaxon stands up to put his plate up when there is a knock at the door. He walks over to answer it when Ash grabs my hand. “Are you sure you’re okay? I can kick him out if you want and we can have some fun,” he says, winking at me. He has no idea how tempting that is. His smile fades when he looks past me at whoever just walked into the house. “I’m here when you need me, okay,” he says, before standing up to put his plate up. I turn around and find Cindy standing awkwardly in the doorway.
“Hi, I was hoping we could talk,” she says to me.
“Okay,” I say looking at Ash and Jaxon. I really wish they could stay here, but I have a feeling she wants them to leave.
“We will be outside,” Jaxon says, pulling Ash out of the kitchen. He just smiles at me before giving Cindy a quick hug and walking out the door. I stand up and walk into the living room and sit in the chair. I didn’t want to sit on the couch with her. I don’t really know how I’m supposed to feel right now, but I’m pretty sure wanting to throw up is not how.
“I’m really sorry we weren’t here last night. We should have come back to be with you and I will always regret that decision,” she says. I guess Brody told her how I handled that news. No reason to deny it now.
“How is Molly?” I ask.
“She is……….okay. I really don’t know how any of this is going to work,” she says, with tears in her eyes. “She is not ready to meet you and I don’t want to make her. She has been very distant since she left for college. I don’t know what happened, but I’m glad she finally wants us around again. With that being said, we want you around too. Please don’t leave. I know this is going to get messy and complicated, but I can’t lose you.” She pulls a picture out of her purse and brings it over to me. “This is you and Collin with all of us. I know this is you because this is one of the pictures we took before you two ever left the room after you were born.” This picture definitely looks like me. I believe her because I have the same picture with my parents. Only it’s not me in the picture, it’s Molly.
“You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. We had two boys when we found out about the two of you. Every ultrasound we had you would hide and we never could find out what you were. We knew Collin was a boy, but you were a surprise. I wanted a girl so bad and when you came out and they said you were a girl that was the happiest moment in my life.” I know she means all of this, but it doesn’t change the fact she didn’t know they took me from her.
“The first night I was so exhausted it just seemed easier to leave the two of you in the nursery so I could get some rest. When they brought you back to me the next morning, I knew you weren’t the same baby. I told Bo, and then I told the nurse. She said our bracelets matched and she had been with you all night. She said all babies change in the first couple of days and I was just tired and confused. I kept going on and on about having the wrong baby, but they just said I had postpartum depression and needed an evaluation
. I guess I started to believe them and I shut up about it. I will regret that every day. If I had made them test you or something then, none of this would have happened. You would have grown up with us and you would not hate me right now. I love Molly. She is my daughter and I have seen her through everything that I missed out on with you. I raised her, but I gave birth to you and because of that I love you just as much as her.” She stands up and walks toward the door. “Please stay and let us get to know you. I know it’s asking a lot, but we really want you in our lives,” she says, before walking out the door.
I know she’s telling the truth, but it still doesn’t change the fact I got cheated. I know it’s technically not her fault, but I have to blame somebody and I still think she should have known. I decide to go back to bed and think about all of this. Molly doesn’t want to meet me and the feeling is mutual, but how can we share a family if we don’t even know each other. A few minutes later, Ash comes into the bedroom and lies down beside me.
“Is everything okay?” he asks, turning on his side to face me.
“No, not really,” I say, feeling the tears start up again. He is going to think all I do is cry. “She said she knew she had the wrong baby but no one would listen to her. Molly doesn’t want to meet me, but they don’t want me to leave either. I just don’t see how it is all going to work.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, wiping the tears off my cheek. “Can I ask you a question?” he asks.
“You can ask me anything,” I say, smiling.
“Actually I just thought of another question I want to ask you first,” he says, leaning toward me. “Can I kiss you?” I nod at him and scoot toward him to kiss him. He stops before it gets too far. “Now the hard one, what was Brody talking about last night? Why don’t you sleep?” I turn back onto my back and stare at the ceiling.
“I found my parents when they were murdered. Before I found them I ran into the person who did it in my living room. I couldn’t tell much about him. I only saw his eyes, unfortunately that was enough to ruin any sleep I would ever get for the rest of my life. They seem so real. Sometimes I wake up screaming or worse. I guess I should have warned you before staying here,” I say, looking back at him.
Finding You: The Switched Series book one Page 7