His Lullaby Baby

by Airicka Phoenix

  “Inside. Calla’s had them all day.” She sighed. “I had to do a rewrite on my article. Jeff refused to print it until I did.”

  “He’s an asshole,” Damon muttered. “Want me to talk to him?”

  Willa shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I got it in. Now I get to finally spend some time with my babies.”

  “Calla inside?” Jared asked, already making his way to the front door.

  “She texted me around three and said she was on her way here so I think so,” Willa replied.

  That was good enough for Jared. He walked straight into the house. Toby followed.

  The placed smelled like roasting meat, steamed vegetables, and pine cleaner. He kicked out of his shoes and made his way deeper into his childhood home. Colten sat in the armchair, one leg dangling over the armrest as he watched whatever was on TV with Cole and Sloan. Rosie sat in the matching armchair on the other side of the coffee table with a book open in front of her nose. No one looked up when they walked in.

  “Hey!” Jared greeted as he undid his coat and tossed it over the back of Colten’s seat. He ruffled his son’s hair. “Hey bud, how was your day?”

  “Long.” The boy griped. He tipped his head back on the armrest to peer up at his dad. “Hey, dad?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you think I could go camping with some of my friend next weekend?”

  Jared frowned. “Camping? Camping where? With which friends?”

  “He already asked me and I already said no.” Calla stalked out of the kitchen, dishrag in hand, eyes furious. “Nice try, but you’re not going anywhere overnight, especially not in the wilderness with a group of boys who spend their time flushing people’s heads down the toilet.”

  “The Emerson kids?” Jared rounded furious eyes down towards his son. “Oh hell no.”

  “They’re my friends!” Colten protested.

  “They’re little punks,” Calla countered. “And if I ever catch you with them or hear that you’re pulling the same crap they are, I will put you over my knee. I swear I will.”

  “That’s not fair! You don’t even know them.”

  “Oh, I know them. I know exactly what kind of little monsters they are. They bully other children to make themselves feel better. Well, I will not have my son turn into one of them.”

  Colten turned big, blue eyes towards Cole. “Grandpa, tell her she’s being unreasonable.”

  Cole shook his head. “Sorry, buddy. Your mom’s right. I don’t want you hanging out with those kids.”

  “This is so lame!”

  Leaping to his feet, Colten stormed from the room. They heard the thunder of his footfalls all the way up the stairs. Followed by the door slamming.

  “Thanks, Daddy,” Calla murmured, setting a hand on her father’s shoulder. “We’ve been having this argument a lot lately.”

  Cole patted her fingers. “He’s almost a teenager. You weren’t exactly a basket of roses yourself when you were his age.”

  Calla grimaced. “God, I hope he doesn’t turn out like me.”

  “Hey.” Jared went to her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m pretty fond of the way you turned out.”

  Looking away when the two kissed, Toby claimed the chair Colten had evacuated. “What are we watching?”

  “A documentary on crab mating habits,” Rosie answered without looking out of her book. “It’s fascinating.”

  “We are not!” Cole muttered. To Toby, he said, “She’s upset because no one wanted to watch the Second Dimension.”

  “Oh my God, Grandpa!” Rosie wailed, slamming her book shut. “One Direction! And it was a documentary of their rise to fame.”

  Cole met Toby’s gaze and raised an eyebrow.

  Toby chuckled.

  His mom walked into the room then. She caught sight of Toby and beamed.

  “Hey baby, how are you feeling?” She hurried over and brushed a kiss to the top of his head.

  “Really good, actually,” he replied.

  Beth blinked. “Really? No pains? Did you see your doctor? What did he say?”

  “I did see him and he said everything was good. I should ease up on the walking a bit, but other than that, he said I should be able to walk independently by next year.”

  His mom beamed. “That is fantastic!” She kissed him again, this time on the cheek. “So happy to hear it, but I hope you’re listening about the walking? Take it easy, okay?”

  Toby nodded. “I will.”

  Stroking his head once, she peered at the rest of the room. “Where are Damon and Willa?”

  “Probably making out in the backseat of their car,” Jared answered with a grin, his arm still slung loosely around his wife’s waist.

  “Oh, ew!” Rosie made a face.

  “Jared, can you go tell them to knock it off and come inside, please? Rosie, can you check on Kari and Owen? It’s been too quiet upstairs. Thank you!”

  Orders given, Beth returned to the kitchen. Jared went to grab Damon and Willa, and Rosie rose and hurried upstairs.

  “Toby?” Calla stepped around the sofa and stopped next to Toby’s chair. “About the event tomorrow, I was wondering how you would feel if we switched the set up? I was thinking, we could move the stage to the opposite end of the hall and circle the tables around the outer edges. That way, people won’t have to walk past the stage to get to the main area and—”

  “Cal, whatever you think is best,” he cut in. “It’s why I hired you on as the coordinator. I trust your judgment. Just please don’t make the whole affair pink.”

  Calla frowned. “I don’t even like pink.”

  “And that is why you’re my favorite sister.”

  “Hey!” Willa appeared in the doorway, small hands undoing her coat. “That isn’t fair. What about me?”

  Toby grinned. “You know I definitely love you more than I love her.”

  He barely managed to duck before Calla swatted at him.

  “You’re such a horrible brother,” she muttered, barely suppressing her grin. “Just for that, I won’t give you your present.”

  Toby narrowed his eyes. “I don’t believe you’ve got a present. You’ve lied before. My trust in you is shot.”

  Calla gasped. “I’m hurt.”

  “Liar.”

  Casting him a feigned glower, she started for the kitchen, only to stop and peer back at him. “I do have a present. Now you’re not getting it.”

  “She really did,” Willa vouched when Calla disappeared from sight.

  Toby exhaled and dropped back in his seat. “You McClain women are just mean.” Shaking his head, he glanced at the only person who hadn’t spoken since his arrival. “Where’s Aunt Lily, Uncle Sloan?”

  Uncle Sloan tore his eyes away from some home building show he was watching and seemed to notice him for the first time. The man blinked once before straightening on the cushion.

  “She’ll be here,” he said. “Had to take pictures of birds or bees or—”

  “Whoa! The birds and the bees? Just what is Aunt Lily into?” Toby gasped with mock outrage.

  Uncle Sloan shot him a glower, badly concealing his grin. “It’s some nature shot.”

  “The hummingbird exhibit,” Willa supplied, laughing. “They’re in Newburry for the next forty-eight hours before they go back to Arizona.”

  Willa hung up her coat and stalked into the kitchen without another word.

  “At least you were right about the birds,” Toby said to his uncle. “Good call.”

  “Speaking of calls.” Cole leaned forward to settle his elbows on his knees. “Ben called me today about the supplies for the inn project.” His gaze moved to Toby. “He wanted to know if you still wanted that extra lumber.”

  Toby nodded. “Yeah, I do. I’m going to build Hanna a playhouse like Kari’s. I haven’t told Addy yet.”

  His father’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly is going on with you two? Are you together?”

  Toby shifted to face his father better. “Would tha
t be bad?”

  Cole shrugged, hands splaying between his knees. “Not at all.”

  “It’s not official or anything. I mean, we haven’t even gone on a date, but … I really like her,” Toby confessed. “Her and her kids.”

  Uncle Sloan nodded. “She’s good people.”

  “And she’s raised some pretty special kids,” Cole added.

  Damon walked in then, followed by Jared. Damon claimed Rosie’s old chair and Jared dropped down on Sloan’s other side.

  “Oh, that reminds me.” Sloan glanced at Toby. “I have Max coming by the inn Monday to bring his disposal bin so we can get rid of some of that debris we’ve been accumulating. I was going to call and let Addy know in case Max gets there before us. She has to sign for it.”

  Toby nodded. “She’s home now. Want me to let her know?”

  Sloan shrugged. “Yeah, sure. If you want. I was going to do it in the morning—”

  “Or you can tell her tomorrow at the event,” Willa piped in, returning from the kitchen with a frosty glass of water.

  “She’s going?” Toby asked before he could stop himself.

  Willa blinked. “Isn’t she? I assumed she was, what with her catering and all. Calla?” she called over her shoulder.

  Calla poked her head out of the kitchen. “Yeah?”

  “Do you know if Addy’s coming to the event tomorrow?”

  Calla frowned. “Isn’t she? She’s catering.”

  “Uh, someone better let her know, because I don’t think she does,” Toby remarked. “She told me she wasn’t.”

  “Of course she is!” Calla retorted sharply. “She might not want people to know it’s her, but she still should be there.”

  Willa nodded. “How else will she know if people like her food?”

  “That’s what I said!” Toby cried, exasperated.

  With a sigh, Calla pulled out her phone and punched in what Toby assumed was Addy’s number. She mashed the device to her ear and waited.

  “Tell her about the disposal bin,” Sloan quickly put in while they watched her.

  Calla nodded that she understood, her mouth opened, but whatever she was about to say was silenced as Addy’s muffled voice broke through the speakers.

  “Hey, Addy, it’s Calla. Hi! How are you? No, everything is fine. Yes.” Calla’s blue eyes jumped to Toby. “Yes, he’s fine.” Toby felt himself flush under Calla’s amused smirk. “I’ll let him know. No, everything is all ready for tomorrow. I took everything out of the freezers myself this morning so they should be thawed and ready. No, everything looks great. Yes. Okay. I’ll check. Actually, there’s another reason I’m calling. Toby just informed us that you might not be coming tomorrow.” She paused as she listened to whatever Addy was saying. The silence stretched for several minute and was followed by the occasional nod from Calla. When it hit five minutes and Calla hadn’t argued, Toby began to worry she would let Addy off. “No, and I completely understand that, but Willa and I both agree that, as a partner, you need to be there. Yes. Oh! I see. Okay. Mhmm. Right. No, I understand. Okay. I’ll call you in the morning. Goodnight. Oh! Uncle Sloan wanted me to let you know that he has Max Hall swinging by the inn in the morning to drop off a disposal bin. You might need to sign for it if Uncle Sloan isn’t there.”

  There were a few more words exchanged. Then Calla hung up and stuffed the phone away in her pocket.

  “What did she say?” Willa asked when Calla took too long to speak.

  “She’s fine about signing for the bin,” she told Sloan first. “She said she’s up early anyway so that wouldn’t be a problem. She also wanted to know if we needed more hors d’oeuvres, but I think we have enough.” She looked to her sister for confirmation.

  Willa grimaced. “Last I checked the guest registry, we had close to about three hundred people.”

  “So, maybe a few more?” Calla guessed.

  “Maybe,” Willa agreed, looking unsure. “But we do have a ton of other stuff if we run out before the night is over.”

  Nodding, Calla dug her phone out and began jotting down notes. “We should alternate between hors d’oeuvres and maybe those tarts and…”

  “The cheeseballs,” Willa suggested.

  “Yes!” Calla put it into her phone. “That should be good.” She took a deep breath. “We’ll have the rest on the table.”

  “Cheeseballs and tarts?” Cole jumped in. “That makes my stomach churn just hearing them together, never mind eating.”

  Calla looked up. “You’re right. That is kind of gross.”

  “Where did everyone go?” Beth emerged from the kitchen. “I looked up and everyone’s gone.”

  “We’re trying to organize the food dispensary for tomorrow,” Calla explained.

  Beth moved closer. “What’s the problem?”

  Willa explained as Calla went through the list to see what to put together.

  “What kind of hors d’oeuvres did she make?”

  “Crostini,” Calla mumbled absently, still flipping through her phone. “And Canapés.”

  “I’d just have those with the cheeseballs,” Cole said. “Keep the tarts on the table.”

  Beth nodded. “That sounds good to me.”

  Calla clicked her tongue, relenting. “I think that’s the best we can do. We’ll improvise later if we need to.”

  “If all else fails, just pass out lots of wine,” Sloan supplied. “People get drunk enough, they won’t notice the lack of food.”

  The front door opened then and Aunt Lily hurried in, flushed and breathless. She dumped her camera bag and purse down next to the door, swung out of her coat and hurried into the sitting room.

  “I am so sorry!” She circled the coffee table and kissed her husband quickly. “I didn’t think it would run as long as it did.”

  Sloan offered her a lopsided grin. “Did you get your pictures?” At her nod, he shrugged. “Then there’s nothing to be sorry about.”

  Smiling, she kissed him again before straightening to face the rest of the room. “What did I miss?”

  “Nothing.” Calla stowed her phone away. “Just going over some last minute details for the event, but I think we’re set. Actually, I should call—”

  “Baby.” Jared rose and went to Calla. He put his massive hand over the one holding her phone. “Everything is fine. Just relax. Whatever’s left, I’ll help you with in the morning.”

  “Yes, but I should—”

  “No, you shouldn’t.” He took her phone and snuck it back into her pocket. “It’s family time. You know the rules.”

  Calla’s delicate nose wrinkled. “No business talk during family time. I’m sorry. I’m done.” She laughed when Jared raised an eyebrow. “I promise!”

  He planted a quick kiss to her mouth. “Good. Now, need any help in the kitchen?”

  “Yes, actually!” Beth jumped in. “Since everyone abandoned me!”

  Chuckling, Willa and Calla followed Beth back into the kitchen.

  “I should go help.” Lily sighed and smoothed a hand over her pale sweater. “Would you boys set the table, please?”

  The dinner continued as it always did with too much talking and laughing. Sitting there between Calla and his mom, Toby couldn’t help the familiar rise of bliss that always overcame him. That table was the glue that held the entire family together, or at least it always felt that way. All his childhood memories circled around that table with the same familiar faces. Over the years, new faces had been added, but the feeling never faltered. He knew no matter what, weekend dinners would never change. They would eventually need to buy a bigger table, but it would always be his place of peace. Even ten years of duty hadn’t changed that. Coming home, sitting at that table was all he looked forward to. Nights when the nightmares woke him up, drenched in cold sweat, it was the knowledge that those faces would be there smiling back at him that kept him going. His crew wasn’t on the ground, fighting the enemy head on, but he’d seen men get gunned down. He’d seen IEDs tear a grown man
apart. He’d had his men die in his arms, had their blood spilling over his hands. In all that madness and chaos, that table had held him together.

  “Tob?” Calla touched his arm. The gesture was barely a brush of her cool fingers, but Toby jumped as though electrocuted. His good knee struck the underside of the table and dishes rattled. Calla’s fingers tightened even as all heads turned in their direction. “Hey, you okay?”

  Heart thumping in his chest, Toby forced a grin. “Yeah, sorry. Guess I was daydreaming.”

  Blue eyes searched his face, scrutinizing and wary, but she offered him a small smile. “Lay off the coffee, huh? It’s making you jumpy.”

  Toby snorted. “You got it, boss.”

  She gave his wrist a squeeze before releasing him. “I was asking how Mark was.”

  “Mark?” He shrugged. “He’s all right.”

  “Have you talked to him since you left?”

  Toby frowned. “Yeah, he’s texted me this morning. Why?”

  Calla hesitated. “His dad had a heart attack yesterday. He’s at the hospital.”

  “What?” He was reaching for his phone even before Calla stopped talking.

  “It’s not serious,” she assured him quickly. “I thought you knew.”

  Toby shook his head. “No, he never said a word about it. Excuse me.”

  Pushing away from the table, he grabbed his cane off the back of his chair and left the dining room, fingers dialing his best friend’s number.

  Mark’s phone rang four times before it was answered.

  “Hey!” Toby said when his friend’s voice filled his ear. “What’s going on?”

  “Hey, not much. What are you doing?”

  Toby frowned. “Dude, Calla just said your dad was in the hospital.”

  “Yeah, heart attack or something.”

  The nonplussed response made Toby pause.

  “Seriously? Where are you?”

  “Home.” There was a rustling sound, like a bag of chips being torn open. “How’s the family dinner?”

  “Mark!” Toby cut in. “Your dad’s in the hospital. What the hell are you doing at home?”

  Crunching ensued.

  “Where would I be? Old man told me not to bother coming. Said he didn’t need me there. Nothing I can do about that.”