by Linda Warren
“I need to make some private phone calls,” Gail said. “I have to talk to the D.A. in New York as soon as I can.”
“You can have my office.” Wade reached for his hat. “Just make sure there are no handcuffs in the deal. They’re not handcuffing her and the kids stay with her.”
“My sentiments exactly.” Her eyes caught his. “Are you going to tell Callie? Or do you want me to?”
Wade knew she wasn’t talking about the deal. She was talking about the fact that Nigel had killed Callie’s mother.
“I’ll tell her.” He didn’t want her to hear that from anyone else. As he walked to her cell, he searched for words and found there were none to make this easy.
He took a moment to call his father, then went into her cell. She was sitting on the cot as before and he sat by her, taking her hand. Slowly, he told her everything Simon had discovered. He didn’t leave out a thing. Her face fell, then her tears evolved into anger.
“That bastard. That bastard,” she cried.
Wade just held her.
“He murdered our mother and put us through hell.”
“I know.” He stroked her hair, his breath burning in his throat. “He’ll be put away for a very long time.”
She drew back, wiped her face with the back of her hands. “What happens to the kids?”
“Gail is on the phone with the D.A. in New York, trying to work out a deal.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “As soon as that’s done, the agents will take you back to New York.”
“So it’s time?” Her voice cracked.
“Yes, it’s time. I called Jock and he’s bringing the kids in.”
Her tear-filled eyes looked into his. “So this is goodbye?”
He nodded, unable to speak.
Her arms crept around his neck and they held on tight.
“Thank you for everything.”
He gently kissed a swollen cheek, then took her lips in a slow goodbye. “If you need me for anything, you call.”
“I will,” she breathed against his lips.
“Take care of yourself and those kids.”
She nodded and he quickly left the cell before tears overtook him. They’d known this day had been coming, but neither were really prepared.
CALLIE DREW UP HER KNEES and wrapped her arms around them. So many emotions threatened to choke her, but she had to be strong for the kids. She wouldn’t tell them about their mother just yet. It would be later when they were all strong enough to discuss what had happened.
She ran her hand along the cot, remembering the night she and Wade had stolen a time out of time. Sitting on the cot reminded her of all those good emotions—ones she’d never feel again.
Unable to stop them, more tears came. She cried for a mother she’d lost too quickly and needlessly. And she cried for the man she was leaving behind.
That done, she stood and dried her eyes. She was ready to face a future far away from Homestead, Texas.
GAIL WORKED A DEAL with the D.A. The agents would bring Callie and the kids to New York without restraints and the kids would not be taken from her. In the morning, Callie would face a judge to decide her fate. But Gail assured Wade it was only procedure. He knew Gail would make sure Callie didn’t spend any time in jail.
Jock called as they entered town and Wade brought Callie out. Rod was waiting with a car to take them to San Antonio for a flight. David had left with Nigel earlier.
When Wade opened the door, half the town was waiting outside on the lawn and across the street. They wanted to see what happened to Callie. She’d touched a lot of people in the short time she’d been here.
Jock slowly drove his truck behind Rod’s car. The back door opened and three kids jumped out, running to Callie. She knelt and caught them close to her.
“Callie, Callie, Callie,” they all cried, and she hugged and kissed them.
Adam drew away as he saw her face. “What happened?”
“I’ll tell you later,” she answered. “We have to go.”
“Where we going?” Mary Beth asked.
“Home to New York.”
Three faces fell. “We have to go,” Callie said again. “The FBI agent is waiting.”
The kids ran to Jock and Buddy, who were standing by the truck. They hugged and said goodbye.
“You come back soon,” Jock said, his voice shaky.
“I promise.” Adam kissed his palm and held it to his chest.
Callie hugged her father. “Goodbye, Buddy.”
He blinked away a tear. “Now I’ve never been out of Texas or on a plane, but if you need me, I’ll get on one of those big birds in a second.”
“A visit would be nice.”
“Miss Lambert,” Rod called. “It’s time to go.”
The kids ran to Wade. He lifted Mary Beth in his arms, and Brit and Adam clung to his waist. He fought to breathe.
“Goodbye,” he managed. “Take care of your big sister.”
“I will.” Tears trailed down Adam’s cheeks.
“I love you,” Mary Beth said, then whispered, “I’ll leave Fred then we’ll have to come back and get him.”
“I’ll take care of Fred.” Wade tried to smile, but his face was frozen. They wouldn’t be coming back for Fred.
“I love you, too.” Brit held him tighter.
His heart melted and he didn’t know how much longer he could keep this up. He knelt down to face them. “Love you guys, too. Be good for Callie.”
One more fierce hug and they walked slowly to Callie, who was hugging Ethel, Odell, Wanda, Noah, Kristin, Kayla, Ethan and Miranda.
Callie glanced briefly at Wade before she joined the kids in the backseat. Gail was already in the front. The car slowly pulled away and the townspeople waved goodbye. His eyes stayed with the car until it rounded the courthouse. They were gone and his life would never be the same.
Not ever again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THE NEXT MORNING CALLIE WENT before the judge with the kids clinging to her. She couldn’t make them sit with her friend Beth. They’d decided if she was going to jail, they were going with her. But in light of the new evidence against Nigel, the judge dismissed the charges with a sharp reprimand, and awarded her full custody of the children and made her executor of their estate. It was over. The terrible nightmare was over.
Nigel went to jail with several charges against him. Callie left his fate in the hands of the court, grateful he was out of their lives.
They went out to eat to celebrate, but the kids were quiet. Callie was, too. The transition to their old life wasn’t going to be easy. They’d left their hearts in Homestead. But as they’d proven when they’d gone to Texas, the kids adapted easily. Soon, they would fall back into the routine of their lives and their time in Homestead would be a distant memory.
For her, it would be more difficult. The memory of Wade would always be with her. But now she had to concentrate on the kids and their future.
WADE WALKED INTO THE LIBRARY for a meeting of the Home Free Committee. Everyone was present—Arlen, Frances, Ruth and Miranda.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said slipping into his seat. He knew what the meeting was about—what to do with Callie’s house.
“Everyone knows why we’re here.” Miranda started the meeting. “We have to make a decision about Callie’s house.”
Wade leaned forward. “We signed a year contract with her.”
“But she broke it,” Arlen pointed out.
“Not necessarily. Her father is running the café, keeping it open and taking care of the place.”
“Who gave Buddy permission to do that?” Arlen asked.
“I did,” Miranda said. “The café is good for Homestead and as long as we can keep it open, it benefits everyone.”
“You people are missing the point here. The house is in good shape now and we could put it on the market and get a fair price. I could probably get a buyer within the month, and in my opinion that would benefit Homestead. Isn’t
that what we all want? The city could use the money.”
“There’s no place in the contract that stipulates the owner can’t leave the property for a period of time.” Miranda folded her hands across the contract. “We signed a contract with Callie and legally the house is hers. Her father is there taking care of things and that doesn’t say to me that Callie has abandoned the house.” She paused. “I vote to honor the contract.”
“Everyone knows how I vote,” Wade said.
Arlen slumped back in his chair. “The owner is not here. Do you people not understand that?”
“I think you’re the one who doesn’t understand,” Wade snapped back.
“Why do these meetings have to be so stressful?” Frances asked in her perfect librarian voice.
“Because we all have different opinions,” Wade told her. “That’s just the way it is.”
“Sadly, yes.” Frances thought for a minute. “I vote to honor the contract.”
Arlen snorted. “Well, Ruth, you don’t get to be the deciding vote this time.”
Wade pushed himself to his feet, needing to get away. He strolled quickly to the door.
“She’s not coming back, Wade,” Arlen shouted after him. “It’s time you faced it.”
Maybe it was. Maybe it was time to face a lot of things—just as soon as the pain stopped. And he didn’t know if that was ever going to happen.
AUGUST WAS COMING TO A CLOSE and the kids were getting ready to go back to school. Callie was looking for work, but the kind of job she wanted wasn’t available. Beth still worked at the old restaurant and told her the new chef was working out quite well and had no plans to leave. And Callie had a different kind of problem—she found Nigel had gone through a lot of the kids’ trust funds and he’d sold the house in the Hamptons. She wasn’t sure what he’d done with all the money, but now she desperately needed a job—a job where she could be at home at night for the kids. She not only needed to support them all, she also needed to replenish the money in the children’s college funds.
During the day, she was restlessly searching for that perfect little restaurant that needed a daytime executive chef. But there wasn’t one. She kept looking, though.
One day, she drove to New Jersey to thank Simon Marchant in person. She figured she owed him that much. They had a very good visit and she learned a lot more about Wade. He and Wade had gone to the police academy together and had also been street cops on the same beat. Simon said that Wade had saved his life once and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for him.
Callie left, impressed but not surprised at what Wade had done for his friend. He’d risked a lot for her, too, and oh, how she missed him. The kids had talked to Wade, Jock and Buddy several times, but Callie hadn’t talked to Wade. It would have been too painful.
The kids were upstairs and Callie sat in John’s study, trying to figure out their finances. They’d have to sell the brownstone and move into something smaller. Everything overwhelmed her and despair wedged in her throat. She was unhappy and the kids weren’t adjusting like she’d hoped.
What should I do?
She wanted to honor John’s wishes. He’d been the only father she’d ever known and she loved him. A paperweight with Harvard on it caught her eye.
What should I do? I need a sign—one small sign.
She heard the kids coming down the stairs and wondered what they were up to. They marched into the study, holding hands.
“We want to have a meeting,” Adam announced.
“Okay.” Callie got up, came around the desk and sank to the floor. They gathered around her. “What’s up?”
“We’ve been talking about Daddy.”
“You have?” That surprised her. She was sure they’d been talking about the people in Homestead.
“Yes. Daddy and me talked a lot about the future. He wanted me to enjoy all the things he had as a boy and he wanted me to go to his alma mater. That was fine with me ’cause I wanted to be just like him.”
Callie touched Adam’s serious face. “I know, sweetie.”
“But Daddy also told me if I decided to do something else, that he’d understand. He only wanted me to be happy.”
“He told me that, too,” Brit said.
“I don’t remember,” Mary Beth said, crawling into Callie’s lap. “But I loved Daddy and he said I was his little princess and I was always happy. But I’m not happy now, Callie.”
Callie kissed her cheek. “You’re not?”
“No.”
“Me, neither,” Adam said.
“I’m certainly not.” Brit made a face.
Callie knew where all this was leading. The sign she’d asked for had come.
“Your daddy is there,” Adam went on. Callie had told them the story of Buddy and Glynis. “And you should be with him. Our mother was born there and we have roots there, too. When Mommy and Daddy were alive, our home was here. But they’re gone and now our home is with Wade, Jock and Buddy and all our other friends.”
Adam’s words rang true, but she had to be strong. “I appreciate what you’re saying and I know you miss everyone. I do, too, but we haven’t given this enough time.”
Three gloomy faces stared back at her.
“You always said we could discuss things and vote,” Adam reminded her. “We’d have to be united or we’d be miserable.”
Callie chewed on her lip. She hated it when they threw her words back at her. They were too young to make these kinds of decisions, but then she’d let them vote to run away. So now…
“We’ve changed, Callie. You have, too. And if we return to Homestead and I still want to go to Harvard when I graduate high school, I can apply. It would be a long way, but if Brit, Mary Beth or I really wanted to, we could. Of course, we wouldn’t be able to go to Dad’s private school, but I don’t think he’d mind.”
This kid was getting too smart and Callie felt a kink in her resolve. Going back to Homestead would certainly alleviate their financial problems. She had a job and a home there, but… She glanced at the family portrait on the wall of John, Glynis, Adam, Brit, Mary Beth and herself. They were all smiling and happy—a family, like John had wanted for his ideal world. Sometimes life wasn’t ideal, though. Theirs certainly hadn’t been. That family in the portrait was a loving memory—of the past.
John couldn’t have known what would happen to them because of Nigel. So many things had happened to her, and to the children, that were beyond her control. It was time for new plans, a new future. It was clear now. They had a new family who’d been there for them when they’d badly needed someone. And she needed Wade more than she’d ever imagined.
She smiled at Adam. “How did you get to be so smart?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Brit raised her hand.
“What are you doing?” Callie asked
“Getting ready to vote.”
“Oh.”
“I vote we go home and marry Wade,” Brit said quickly at her silence.
“Me, too,” Adam said before she could get another word in.
Mary Beth raised both arms, then looped them around Callie’s neck. “Let’s go home, Callie. Fred misses me.”
She gave the portrait one last glance. “I vote we go home, too.”
“We’re Texans,” Adam shouted. “And we’re going home.”
Darn tootin’ they were Texans. Callie knew that now. Once a Texan, always a Texan. They gave high fives, laughing and happy—the way they should be.
CALLIE’S CAFÉ WAS CLOSING for the night. It was Saturday and it had been a busy day. Jock and Buddy relaxed in the rockers, enjoying the warm breeze. Wade sat on the steps, his back against a pillar, watching the brilliant array of stars and wondering where Callie was tonight.
Wherever she was, he hoped she was happy. The publicity over her arrest hadn’t hurt the Home Free Program. It was still going strong. People were coming just about every week. Greer Bell had been approved and was moving into the old Farley pla
ce. She’d been born in Homestead and was coming home to Loveless County with her nine-year-old daughter.
Outgoing Brit would have been a perfect playmate for her, but Brit wasn’t here. Neither was Callie. Again, he wondered how long before the pain stopped.
“Ever been to New York?” Buddy asked.
“Nu-uh,” Jock said.
“I was there once a long time ago,” Wade replied. “Why?”
“I’m thinking of going to see Callie and the youngins. Never been on a plane, though, and that scares the crap out of me.”
“You know, I might like to see New York,” Jock said.
Was he serious? His father hated every place but Texas. The kids were just too big of a pull, though.
“Why don’t we all go and surprise them?” Buddy suggested.
The offer was tempting. The thought of never seeing her again was about to kill him. So why couldn’t he go? Virg could handle things around here for a few days. He’d see her face, be able to touch her, then maybe the pain wouldn’t be so bad.
Ethel, Essie, Odell and Wanda came out the door. “There’s a dance over at the VFW tonight, Jock. How about you and me go dancing?”
“Ethel, are you out of your mind? I haven’t danced in years and dancing with you just might kill me.”
Ethel laughed. “Oh, Jock. You’re a devil with compliments.”
“Hummph.”
“How about you, Buddy?” Essie asked. “Care to go dancing?”
“Thanks for the offer, Essie, but I gave up dancing when I gave up drinking.”
“Well, Sheriff, that leaves you.” Essie zeroed in on him. “But with that hangdog expression, we wouldn’t have any fun.”
“Wanda and me are going,” Odell said. “And no, Mama, you can’t go with us.”
“Your sister and me will find our own dates or just go by ourselves.”
“Just don’t expect me to take you home when you’ve had one too many.”
“Now you listen here…”
A car drove up to the curb. “Ethel, looks like you have a late customer,” Jock said.