Forever Falling (Sunshine and Moonlight Book 2)

by Paige Randall

  Victoria works hard to keep a neutral facial expression and not frown.

  “Are you with anyone special?” Grace asks.

  Victoria wonders if this is a polite way of redirecting the conversation away from her marriage. Or is she just asking if Victoria is married, gay, boyfriended, divorced, single, etc. Victoria has no idea how to explain Callum so she shrugs and then realizes the looks like a spoiled teenager.

  “Sort of, in a way. It is a long, strange story. Can I get away with it’s complicated?” she asks.

  Grace smiles and shakes her head slowly. “Nope.”

  Victoria can’t help but like her. “Okay then. I am sort of living with someone. Well really he is sort of living with me. But we aren’t really dating, but we kind of are seeing each other. Of course we see each other. We live together. But you know, we are maybe seeing each other.” Victoria sighs in frustration. “See? It’s complicated.”

  Grace sips her tea and smiles at Victoria over her cup. “Not complicated at all. You are sleeping together, but you aren’t fully committed. I get it. The living together is interesting though.”

  Victoria blushes and offers no more of an explanation.

  “Is he cute?”

  “He is fucking gorgeous. And British,” slips out of her mouth before she can stop the words from flowing.

  Grace smacks her hand on the table with a loud laugh. Tea cups sway for a quick second.

  “I like you already Victoria.”

  In spite of every reservation, Victoria says, “I like you too Grace. “ She can’t believe she is talking to the wife of the man who raped her. “How old is your daughter?” Victoria asks.

  “How’d you know I have a daughter?”

  Victoria panics. Because I have been stalking you at school, on the internet and I might hire a lawyer and an investigator before this is through. Then Victoria remembers she is on the auction committee. “Just chatter at the meeting. I was assigned to visit your store.”

  “Of course. More power to you, braving those PTA mommas. Did you meet Mindy?” Grace rolls her eyes.

  “Oh I’ve known Mindy since I was three years old. She’d been bossing me around most of my life. But I love her.”

  “Well, you go on ahead darling. I’m sure she has a big heart. But she is a little scary on the PTA. There are too many rules and not enough booze. Do you know she has a little gavel and a Lucite name plate she sets in front of herself at meetings? It is terrifying.”

  Victoria laughs because Grace has Mindy pegged. She has a big heart, but she is a little terrifying.

  “Will ya’all come to dinner Saturday night?” Grace asks out of nowhere. “I’d love to get my eyes on the gorgeous Brit. And your daughter? What’s her name? George, too of course.”

  As Grace goes on, Victoria rises sharply, pushing her chair back into the wall with a thud. “I’m sorry. My Dad’s not well and we aren’t able to get out much.” She moves toward the red curtain. “Thanks for the tea.” Without waiting for a response, Victoria darts out the door. She doesn’t see Grace chasing after her, waving the package for the auction.

  Victoria pulls into the driveway at the same time as Callum and Marina. Callum insisted on taking over the lease on George’s Lexus when George stopped driving. Marina runs over and kisses Victoria’s cheek and takes the stairs two at a time into the house. Victoria lingers with Callum in the driveway to tell him about meeting Grace.

  “She is wonderful. I could be friends with her Callum. How is she married to that piece of garbage?” she asks.

  Callum understands how she could be married to that piece of garbage, perfectly. He really isn’t a piece of garbage, but Victoria isn’t ready to hear it. “I don’t understand it at all Victoria.”

  “She asked us to dinner. I really stuck my foot in it this time. Dinner!” Victoria punctuates her frustration by grabbing Callum’s arm.

  He doesn’t know why, but he has an overwhelming urge to shut her up. To pull her close and explore her mouth with his tongue. He’d like to undress her here in the yard. He’d rather rip her clothes from her body and bury himself inside her than continue this conversation.

  Two things are clear to Callum. Number one, he can’t help keep Marina away from her sister and brother anymore. Number two, pretending he can behave like a normal, supportive, decent human being is getting harder and harder.

  "No dinners, certainly,” he says, keeping a smile. “Marina seems very happy here, doesn’t she?”

  “She stopped giving me that peck on the cheek after school years ago. She does seem happy here. I think a lot of it is you.”

  He tenses almost imperceptibly but not quite.

  “Callum?” she asks, because she noticed. “Are you starting to feel pressured here?”

  “Of course not Victoria. I am exactly where I want to be. I thought you could see that?” He speaks to the wind rushing through the treetops. It isn’t pressure he feels, it is obligation. He feels obligated to help Marina find her way to her family. He takes a moment to decide. What if he can’t have both? What if he can get Marina to her sister and brother, but he loses Victoria in the process? He decides he needs to think that through and make a choice. He’s not sure he can have both.

  “You have an exit strategy too. You have an apartment.” He won’t meet her eyes. “Callum, look at me.”

  And he does. He looks into her blue eyes, so full of hope and promise that he can be a different man. “I just want us all to be happy Victoria.” But there is that leopard and spots things. And the scorpion and the frog thing. There is only one you. In this case there is only one Callum. He smooths his thumb along her lips. She has wonderful lips, full and red without tint. Why won’t you love me? He wonders.

  “I am just starting to realize that if you break up with me, you are breaking up with Marina, too. You poor man. You’d have to break up with two women who are coming to care for you and rely on you.” Her tone has an edge to it. She is mocking him.

  That isn’t what he wants. “And I care for and rely on you both. More than you can imagine. Stop talking about break-ups you lunatic. Are we breaking up? No we are not. One of these days you’ll ask me about my school and you will see how serious I am.” When he brings his mouth close to hers, she parts her lips and invites his tongue. It affects him more than a kiss should. Sometimes he feels like an adolescent with her. His pants tighten at just a kiss.

  “I will Callum. I promise. Soon,” she says and kisses him again. “Are you angry with me?”

  “No,” he lies. Lying comes back too easily. “I understand things are complicated. I do. I’m just a bit mopey. I need to go downtown for a bit. I’ll be back in an hour.” He kisses her nose and gets into the car. He watches as she walks up the stairs and into the house, letting his pants settle back into place. He loves her, but he is growing impatient with her. He is growing impatient for Marina to have her siblings. If he isn’t careful, he is going to make Victoria hate him.

  Callum knows that Christopher takes Jessie to dance class on Tuesday afternoons and he knows where. He also knows they often stop in for dinner at Early Girl Eatery. Callum drives the city streets and parks nearby. He times it well and within two minutes Christopher and Jessie are walking down the street in his direction.

  “Callum, hey man. What’s up?” Christopher slaps his back.

  “Well fancy meeting you here young miss. Hello Jessie.” Callum rumples the hair. Her smile is all too reminiscent of Marina’s. It eats a hole right through Callum. He can’t let this go on. Victoria will never see reason. Keeping these children apart is criminal.

  “How was dance class?” Callum asks.

  “Good.” These girls are all about one word answers.

  “Jessie have you met Marina? She is a year ahead of you,” Callum asks even though he hates himself for it.

  “I think so. We don’t have any classes together though,” she answers. “Is she your daughter?”

  “She is the daughter of my lady frie
nd.” Callum heard the expression on TV and he liked it.

  “Lady friend? I didn’t even know you had a lady friend.” Christopher over accentuates lady friend. “What’s with the secrets?”

  “Sorry, I thought we were men. I’ll share more if it pleases you.” Callum over accentuates share.

  “Where are you headed?” Christopher asks.

  “I’m picking up a little something for my Mum. Some birthday trinket to send back to England,” Callum lies well.

  “You want to grab a bite with us? It’s just the two of us tonight. Grace has Jack at a soccer party. Divide and conquer.”

  “No no, you go ahead. I have something in the oven at home. Thanks though.” Callum backs up a few steps with no intention of leaving. Christopher holds the door open.

  “At least sit and have a beer,” Christopher demands with an easy smile and Callum agrees, walking through the open door.

  Christopher and Jessie order breakfast for dinners, apparently a favorite of Jessie’s. Pancakes of course. They chat about school, working out and a contract Christopher is trying to win. Jessie mostly texts and plays games on her phone. Typical. After a few minutes, Callum downs his dark lager and pulls his wallet from his pocket.

  “No, I got it,” Christopher protests.

  Callum leaves the wallet behind his draft glass and stands to go. “Thank you. I’ll see you later in the week. I won’t make the gym for a few days. Lots going on, as they say.”

  Driving home, Callum is sure what he did is unforgivable. He makes calls to furnish the apartment. Staying close by for George is essential, but if Victoria cuts him out, he has a place to go.

  Callum ladles chicken and dumplings into a large white tureen edged in ivy. He arranges a platter of roast broccoli. Marina love roasted vegetables. Callum’s pulse becomes erratic with nerves. He waits, but not for long, and then there is a knock at the door. Marina jumps to answer the door with Victoria close at her heels. Callum keeps his place at the kitchen counter facing out the window at the beautiful mountains surrounding the city.

  He has come to love Asheville. He could have made this his home. He tries to remember if his suitcase is in the closet or if he stored it in the basement. He will miss them, but Marina needs this more than she needs him. He knows it in his heart. You can’t change the course of someone’s life without sacrifice.

  With that thought, he decides he’ll head to Osprey Island and spend more time with Anna and John. He likes spending time there. Maybe he could lease the space here and set something up there. The beach is as good a place as any to recover from a broken heart. Callum sees George sitting alone at the table. He almost feels the worst about George. He feels bad about Marina and Victoria, but he made them no promises. He gave his word to George. Why won’t she love me?

  “Look out the window first, don’t just open the door to anyone,” Victoria instructs. Every moment is a teaching moment when you are a mother.

  “It’s a man and a girl. She goes to my school.” Marina opens the door wide. The night air is warm.

  And there he is. He stands with hands in his pockets leaning against the railing. He appears easy, relaxed. His daughter stands at his side. Victoria’s memories hit her like the falling snow of an avalanche.

  She danced to be polite, but her heart wasn’t in it. Her lilac dress was itchy and her shoes hurt. Her mother would have helped her to choose better. Christopher and his buddies were drinking from a flask and drinking a lot. She’d probably have to call her Dad to pick her up before the night was done. Damn him for making her come. But Christopher’s Daddy was her Daddy’s boss and his date fell through at the last minute. There wasn’t a real choice in the matter. An orchestra played loudly and she was getting a headache. She excused herself to visit the ladies’ room.

  “What’s wrong? You don’t look like you are having much fun?” His words were starting to slur and he grabbed her arm roughly. “What’s wrong?” He repeated for no reason.

  “Nothing Christopher. I’m just a little under the weather. I need some air.” She pulled loose from his grip and moved toward the gardens outside. She lifted a link fence intended to keep her from the gardens and went through anyway. When her feet hit the grass, she took off her shoes and enjoyed the freedom of wiggling toes in the lush grass. She walked by the rose bushes and touched a new, pink bud. She thought how lovely it was and wondered at the short life span of roses. As soon as they open, they are dying.

  She didn’t even hear him come up behind her. In one move, he swept her legs out from under her and pinned her to the ground with the full weight of his body. He was a wrestler and he knew how to restrain her with minimal effort. She was completely over powered but she fought for traction with her feet, her hands. Everything. Her brain struggled to accept her circumstance. His hand was over her mouth so she couldn’t scream.

  “I’ll make you feel better. You just need a little loving. You miss your Momma. Let me help you.” As he spoke, he pulled her dress around her waist and pushed her underwear down with his foot. She screamed and screamed into his hand as he kissed her neck.

  “That’s better, right?” he insisted.

  When he forced himself into her, she stopped screaming. She stared at the roses and suddenly understood.

  She stays standing, but the nausea hits her hard. She won’t stay standing for long. She takes her eyes off the face of her rapist and studies his daughter.

  “Oh,” he says. “Sorry. Come on Jessie, we have the wrong house.”

  “No Dad, this is Marina.” Jessie points to her sister. “Callum lives here.”

  “Victoria?” Christopher asks.

  She nods. She is nowhere near accessing words.

  “Does Callum live here? With you?” he asks, looking confused by this information.

  Again she nods. Marina steps outside to chat with Jessie. Victoria wants to stop her, but she can’t.

  “I don’t understand. I thought you moved west years ago. Callum lives here?” He asks again since he is getting no answers.

  He hands her Callum’s wallet. “Callum left this at Early Girl. I found his gym card inside with this address. I thought maybe your Dad had sold the place or something.”

  Victoria ignores him and watches Marina and Jessie sitting in the porch swing both looking at Jessie’s phone, watching a video and laughing. The sound of a little boy comes from the phone, “I like turtles,” he says over and over again. Victoria studies their faces. Their coloring is different, but the shape of their eyes is similar. Their chins are identical.

  She finally finds her voice. “Come on Marina. Say goodbye to your friend.” Sister.

  “Callum and you are together?” He asks, still understanding nothing.

  Marina reluctantly slides from the swing and waves goodbye with one hand held low.

  “Victoria, I…” He starts to talk, but the door closes in his face.

  Marina runs into the kitchen to reclaim her seat at the table, but Victoria freezes at the door, bracing herself with a hand on the heavy wood. What did he do?

  “What did you do?” She says to the door in a low voice. “What did you do?” She says, louder the second time. “Callum, what did you do?” The third is loud enough to hear next door. She turns just as her father falls from his seat onto the floor.

  Dammit George, you are such a drama queen, Callum thinks when he catches George’s eye on his way down.

  “Oh my God, Daddy,” Victoria cries, runs to his side and grabs his wrist to take a pulse. “Callum call 911. No, we can get him to the hospital quicker. Pull the car up to the steps.”

  Callum pauses before following Victoria’s instructions and glances at George just as his eyelids flutter.

  “I’m okay, I was just a little lightheaded. Everything is okay,” he lies.

  Marina holds George’s ankle looking afraid but bewildered.

  “George?” she asks.

  “Marina, I am perfectly fine. I might even be a little hungry. Just help me
back up into my chair.” He struggles to get his hands under him.

  “No Daddy. Hold still. We have to get you to the hospital.” Victoria protests, all words of Christopher forgotten. Damn, George is unbelievable.

  “They can’t help me a lick, Victoria. This is called dying. But I’d like to go with a full belly and that chicken smells good so please just help me up.” George demands.

  They get him into the chair and serve him a bowl piled high with chicken and dumplings.

  George smiles at his frightened daughter and takes a big bite of chicken. He makes a face of very great satisfaction and then tastes a dumpling. “Callum. You did it,” he says chewing thoughtfully.

  “I did what?” Callum thinks, wondering if George is going to out him right here and now for bringing Christopher to their front porch.

  “Chicken and dumplings, just like my momma made.” George leans over and kisses Callum’s cheek.

  “Really?” Callum asks.

  “Absolutely,” George answers smacking his lips.

  Callum decides to play along. “I got it? It’s the thyme. It was so simple all along. Just a bit of thyme.” Callum has been adding thyme all along. George is so full of shit.

  “That’s it Callum! It is the thyme,” George agrees.

  Marina cheers. “How many was that Callum?”

  “I’ve lost count. Fifteen? Twenty?”

  Victoria remains silent, looking conflicted over George’s quick turnaround. They finish dinner with an apple pie Marina baked. George eats every bite, making easy conversation, and goes back for a second piece. When he is done, Marina joins him in front of the TV for one of their Discovery channel fishing shows or mining shows or something with little people. Callum isn’t sure. Callum swirls a knife into the dirty pie plate, creating van Gogh’s Starry Night sky out of pie remnants, in his imagination at least.

  Victoria sips her wine and watches him. She says nothing and her mouth forms a thin line of anger. Those beautiful lips are absent from this conversation.