by Susan Stoker
“Thank you,” Hope said quietly.
“For what?”
“For being there for me and Billy. For looking out for us. For not judging. For giving me a chance.”
“You’re welcome. Now…looks like you have an order up, your son has made his way over to your man, and your regulars are busting at the seams to find out if the rumors are true and you really are a millionaire.”
Hope rolled her eyes but quickly leaned forward and hugged Joseph once more. Then, without another word, she made her way to the food pick-up area and got the two plates waiting for her.
Around three o’clock that afternoon, Joseph told her to go home. Hope had called the lottery board and they’d confirmed that she really was the winner of a million dollars. They’d made arrangements for her to meet with them, and bring the ticket, and they’d give her an oversized check.
She felt numb. Yesterday, the fact that she’d won was still like a dream. Something that may or may not be true. But now that it had been confirmed, she was overwhelmed. There were so many things that she needed to do and think about, but she didn’t have the foggiest idea where to start.
Joseph was right. So was Calder. She wanted to move out of the city. She actually hated it there, but it had been her home for a while now. It was scary to think about going anywhere else. But it was time. Through Eli’s generosity and a bit of luck, she had the means to do it. Billy could go to school, she could get a job that she loved, and maybe, just maybe, continue her relationship with Calder.
She’d found out as she and Billy walked home that Joseph had been right, she’d gotten a lot more attention than she’d ever had before, as if everyone had already heard about the ticket. For the first time in a long time, she felt nervous about walking on the streets. She’d blended in with all the other people, first the homeless, and then those headed to and from work, for so long, she’d forgotten what it felt like to be an outsider.
And right now, she felt as if she had a giant bullseye on her back. And she hated it.
When Hope got back to the motel room, she called Calder. He picked up after only one ring.
“Hello?”
“Hi, it’s me.”
“Hope. Is everything okay?”
She chuckled. “Of course. Joseph sent me home early. Billy and I are at the motel. I just thought… Shoot.”
“What, sweetheart?”
“I just wanted to talk to you.”
Calder’s voice lowered. “I’m glad. I’ve been thinking about you since I left the diner this morning.”
“I called the lottery board.”
“And?”
“And the ticket’s authentic. I won.”
“I’m so happy for you, Hope.”
“Thanks.” And the thing of it was, Hope knew he was genuinely happy for her. He’d been interested in her before she’d won. She knew without a doubt that Calder didn’t want even one penny of her winnings. “The thing is…does the offer to talk to your dad about accounting and stuff still stand?”
“Of course it does. Why would you think otherwise?” Calder asked.
“I don’t know…I just…I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“Hope, I wish you’d ask more of me. I think at this point it’s safe to say I’d do just about anything for you and Billy.”
Hope had been standing next to one of the double beds in the motel room, and upon hearing that, she plunked herself down on the edge of the mattress. “You’re too nice to me.”
Calder snorted. “No, Hope. You’ve had too many people not be nice to you to realize that you deserve for everyone to be nice to you.”
“That was…convoluted,” she said, wrinkling her nose.
“I already called my dad this morning and he’s more than happy to help you…especially after I told him that you’re my girlfriend.”
“You told him that?” Hope asked, shocked.
“Yup.”
“I don’t…was that smart?”
“Hope,” Calder said gently. “If you don’t want to see me, if you don’t think of me like that, I need you to tell me. I’ll still help you with the ticket and I’ll still be there for Billy, but if you don’t have any feelings for me, please tell me now, so I don’t continue to fall harder for you and get my heart broken in the process.”
Hope swallowed hard. “I can’t believe you just said that,” she whispered.
“Why? Because guys aren’t supposed to admit it when they like a woman? Because we’re supposed to be all manly and macho and shit? Screw that. I like you, Hope. I can easily see myself falling in love with you and being with you for the rest of our lives. But if you don’t feel the same way, I need to know. It’ll suck, I can’t deny it, but I’d never force you into a relationship you don’t want. That wouldn’t be fair to either of us.”
“No!” Hope blurted. “Of course I want you! I just can’t believe that you’d purposely choose to be with me.”
“Why wouldn’t I want you? You’re smart, loyal, beautiful, brave, and dedicated to your son.”
Hope waited for him to say more, and when he didn’t, asked, “Are you waiting for me to actually answer that? Because I can think up a hundred or so reasons why.”
“No, you don’t have to answer it. But do tell me this…are you okay with being my girlfriend? With being in an exclusive relationship with me?”
“Yes,” Hope blurted. “God, yes.”
“Thank God,” Calder breathed. Then he said, “I’ll bring you my dad’s number tomorrow morning and I’ll let him know to expect your call. When are you supposed to meet with the lottery board?”
Relieved he’d moved on to safer subjects, still having a hard time wrapping her mind around the fact she and Calder were now apparently boyfriend and girlfriend, she said, “I’m not sure. I told them I’d call back and let them know. I’m not sure how I’m going to get there.”
“Just let me know when it is, and I’ll take you.”
Hope bit her lip and didn’t say anything.
“Hope?”
“I’m here. I just…”
“You are not taking advantage of me,” Calder said firmly, reading her mind.
“But you have to work, and—”
“I’m not chained to my desk. I’m on call, yes, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help you out.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“There’s something else I want you to consider.”
“What?”
“Now that we’re dating…would you consider trusting me to claim the money on your behalf? I swear I’d never try to take it from you or anything. We’d deposit it into your account. But if you claimed the prize, it would make it really easy for Earle to track you down.”
Hope bit her lip and thought about his offer. She’d already thought about Earle being able to find her based on the publicity that could happen when she came forward to claim the money. On the one hand, she wanted to be tough, and not let him scare her for one more minute, but she had to think about Billy’s safety as well.
As if he could tell she was struggling with the decision, Calder said, “Why don’t you start by calling them tomorrow and finding out when the first day they can do their thing is, and set it up.”
“Why the rush?” Hope asked, twisting the phone cord around her hand.
“Hope, it’s a million dollars. You’re living in a crack-house motel. I want that money in your possession so you can get the hell out of there. Yes, selfishly, I want you nearer to me, but more than that, I want to be able to get a good night’s sleep because I know you’re safe. So I won’t panic every time my pager goes off and I see a downtown address. So you can get Billy enrolled in school and start to really live your life, instead of simply making it through one day at a time.”
“Yeah…okay, you’re right.”
“I know I am,” Calder said without an ounce of humor.
Suddenly everything hit Hope all at once. She flopped back on the bed and whispered, “I won a million
dollars.”
“Yeah, sweetheart. You did.”
“I can afford to move into an apartment.”
“Yup.”
“And get Billy clothes that fit.”
“Uh huh.”
“Go to the store and buy a cart full of vegetables and not have to worry about where I’m gonna put them or how fast I have to eat them before they go bad.”
“Well, you might still have to worry about that last part, but otherwise, yes.”
A tear fell out of her eye, dripping into the hair at her temple. Then another.
“Hope?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you crying?”
“Maybe.”
“Shit, you need to stop,” Calder said sternly.
Hope was so surprised, she sat up and asked, “Why?”
“Because I can’t stand it. Because I’m not there to hold you. Because when you cry, it tears me up inside.”
“They’re happy tears,” Hope protested, feeling warm inside at his words.
“Doesn’t matter,” he said without pause.
Hope wiped her eyes and grinned. “Okay. I’m okay now. Just overwhelmed for a second there.”
“I’m gonna be at your side throughout this, Hope. I’m gonna help you pick out an apartment. Buy a reliable car. Go shopping for the first time. Even go to Billy’s school to get him registered if you want. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, I’m there.”
“I…Calder, you don’t have to do that.”
“I know. I want to.”
Hope took a deep breath and jumped. “I want that too.”
“Good. Hope?”
“Yeah, Calder?”
“Thanks for calling today. I was thinking about you all day and wondering what was going on with you.”
“I was thinking about you too,” Hope admitted.
“You know what else you can get now that you’re rich?” Calder asked.
“What?”
“A cell phone. So you can call and text me all day, every day.”
Hope smiled. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Sounds good. But I’m not getting Billy one. Not until he’s at least twelve. Maybe thirteen.”
Calder chuckled. “Smart. Kids are way too connected to their electronics these days.”
“But I might bend and get him a game console,” Hope admitted. “It’s going to be hard not to spoil him with a ton of toys and stuff. He’s never had a lot of that sort of thing, and I feel like an awful parent as a result.”
“Don’t. He’s a sensitive and caring kid. That’s what’s important.”
“I guess.”
“It is. You’ve done an amazing job with him. You’re a wonderful mother.”
“Thanks.”
“What are your plans for the rest of the afternoon since you have unexpected free time?” Calder asked.
“I hadn’t really thought about it. I don’t want to go outside because someone will ask me for money, and that sucks. Maybe I’ll see if I can find something on TV to watch with Billy. Do you…do you want to join us?” Hope asked the last part quickly before she lost her nerve.
“Oh, hon. I wish I could. I’m about to head into autopsy.”
“I’m sorry. Did I interrupt you?”
“Absolutely not. I wouldn’t have answered if I was busy.”
“Okay.”
“Would you mind if I sent something over though?”
“Sent something over?” Hope asked, confused.
“Supper. I know you usually eat at the diner, and I assume you didn’t grab anything to go?”
“No. I didn’t even think about it. But I’ve got some mac and cheese here, Calder. I can make that on my hot plate.”
“Please? I don’t like the thought of people asking you for money. If they don’t get it, things could turn ugly…then I’d have to hurt someone if they touched one hair on your or Billy’s heads. So since I can’t come over and hang out with you guys, I want to do the next best thing.”
Hope decided to ignore the part about Calder going after someone who might hurt them. It felt…good. Not like when Earle said it, since he was simply being possessive and crazy, but more protective and comforting. “Okay, but as soon as I get paid, I’m going to take you out. And pay.”
“Deal.”
Hope rolled her eyes. She had a feeling there was no way Calder would ever let her pay for something. She’d barely gotten him to stop giving her exorbitant tips.
“What time?” Calder asked.
Hope looked at the clock on the nightstand. “Maybe in a couple hours?”
“Perfect.”
“And if you get done early, you’re more than welcome to join us,” she said.
“I wish,” Calder said with a sigh. “When I go into autopsy, it usually takes hours. Even when it seems like an open-and-shut case, I always check every organ, every possibility, before I confirm the cause of death.”
“That’s smart.”
“I don’t want anyone coming back and questioning my methods and findings. And the last thing I’d want to do to a loved one’s family is to force an exhumation because I was sloppy or because I rushed through an autopsy. And I’d do the same for an unidentified DB as I would for the mayor of the city. If it was me, I’d want the medical examiner to do the same thing.”
“You’re amazing,” Hope whispered. “Most people aren’t like you.”
“No, hon. I think most people are like me. You’ve just had the misfortune to meet more of the other kind in your life. But that stops now. You’ve got a ready-made family now. Between me and my cop friends and their wives and girlfriends, and the firefighter family, we’re going to show you and Billy a whole new life.”
She didn’t really know what he was talking about, but agreed anyway.
“I’ll set up the delivery to be there in two hours,” Calder told her. “But don’t open the door until you check to be sure it’s the Battalion delivery guy.”
“Who?”
“Sorry, Battalion is the name of the restaurant. It’s an Italian place downtown that operates out of an old firehouse. Blythe’s fiancé loves it, as do the other firefighters. Anything you and Billy won’t eat Italian-food wise?”
“Oh, um…neither of us is that picky. It’s hard to be when you’re starving.” There was silence on the other end of the line, and Hope closed her eyes and mentally slapped herself on the forehead. “Sorry, I mean, no, anything is fine.”
“That shit is done,” Calder said firmly. “Neither of you will ever have to eat something you don’t like again.”
“Okay, Calder,” Hope said quietly, thinking it better to simply agree at this point than rile him further.
“I’ll order a variety of dishes to make sure there’s something you do enjoy.”
“You don’t have to do that. Spaghetti or lasagna will be perfect.”
“Two hours, Hope. Don’t open the door to anyone who isn’t from the Battalion.”
“I wasn’t planning on it. Calder?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve never felt about someone the way I feel about you.”
When Calder didn’t respond right away, Hope thought she’d gone too far.
“Good. Because as I said earlier, I have a feeling you’re it for me, Hope. I’ve spent my life feeling like I’m on the outside looking in. Seeing all sorts of happy families and couples. Wanting that for myself. And for the first time, I feel as if I’ve found it. Sweet dreams tonight, sweetheart. I’ll see you in the morning at the diner. Be safe.”
“I will.” There was so much more Hope wanted to say, but before she could get her thoughts in order, Calder had said goodbye and hung up.
Billy came over and pulled on her sleeve as if to ask what was up.
Shaking her head and smiling at her son, Hope informed him that they were going to have a lazy afternoon of TV and then dinner that Calder was sending over for them.
Billy jumped up and down in excitement
and immediately went over to the crappy motel TV and clicked it on.
Later that night, after Billy was asleep in the bed next to her, Hope looked at the remains of the food Calder had ordered for them. He’d sent way too much, of course, but she put the leftovers in the small fridge she’d bought at Goodwill and shook her head.
He’d had the restaurant send over small portions of beef and pork meatballs, Italian salad, spinach manicotti, fettuccine, lasagna, chicken parmesan, green beans, potatoes, and cheesecake for dessert.
She and Billy had tried every single dish and loved every bite. Billy ate way more than a normal seven-year-old would eat, but Hope didn’t scold him. She knew it would take a while for him to understand that he didn’t have to stuff himself at every meal. In the past, they didn’t know when they’d get to eat again, but now that she’d won the lottery, that wasn’t an issue anymore.
Hope wanted to call Calder to see how the autopsy had gone…not the details, but to ask if he’d figured out how the poor person had died. She wanted to ask what he’d had for dinner. Wanted to thank him for sending over the food for them. Basically, she simply wanted to hear his voice. She had no idea how she’d managed to fall for him so quickly, but she had.
For the first time in ages, she was looking forward to her future. Wanted the night to hurry up and pass so she could start a new day. To see Calder.
Chapter Eight
Hope was having a good morning. She’d gotten to see and talk to Calder when he’d stopped in for his usual breakfast. Billy had not only squeaked in happiness when he’d seen him, but he’d run straight to him and given him a big hug. Eli was back, and Audrey didn’t even complain when he’d given her a lottery scratch-off as a tip—although she seemed a little annoyed when she didn’t win anything from it.