The McCallans (Complete 5 Books Series)

by Hadley Quinn

  “Because Max could recognize how much it was affecting me, he intervened just in time. He told Aidan to back the fuck off and leave me alone, and he took me to Maui for a couple of weeks to get away from it all. It was like a huge breath of air that I didn’t know I needed, and I’m so thankful that he saw what I couldn’t see. I’ve been just fine the past few years, but every once in a while I get plagued with some of those thoughts that I’m not good enough and…it’s been happening again.”

  She felt her hands shake as she brushed her hair away from her face. Admitting that out loud was one of the hardest things for her to do. Moisture stung her eyes, and even though she could have willed herself to not cry, she decided to just let it go.

  She continued to explain that it was way too damn hard to pretend like this shit didn’t bother her; it was exhausting putting up walls all the time. She’d done it all her life, but the one time she let down her guard just a bit—with Aidan because he’d convince her she needed to tell him what the hell was going on so his P.R. team could be prepared—he turned on her. He didn’t want to deal with any of it; he was more concerned with his future and what his personal life would look like to the public. He told her to get her shit together and that they would resume their relationship when she wasn’t such a mess.

  That’s when Max had lost his shit and it was all over the news. Headlines like: MCCALLANS TO KICK ROCKSTAR BOYFRIEND TO THE CURB, and AIDAN SANDERSON FED UP WITH MCCALLANS’ ENDLESS DEMANDS. It was a media nightmare, and when Aidan threatened to expose Kellie’s problem, her grandfather had pulled out the big guns to protect her privacy. To this day she still did not know what made Aidan keep his mouth shut, but she never doubted her grandfather’s reach. But just like so many burned bridges in this industry, Neil McCallan had some sort of arrangement with the Sanderson entourage that put them on friendlier terms recently.

  Kellie wasn’t a part of it. No fucking way did she want anything to do with him. He had crushed a part of her soul and had never felt any remorse for it.

  When she finally paused from sharing with Tate, she let out a huge breath of air. It was a relief to get all of that out in the open with him, but she was nervous about whatever his response was going to be. She expected he’d be sympathetic or supportive of what she’d gone through, or make some sort of comment about what had happened.

  But he didn’t.

  “What’s it going to be like when you see your mom again?” he asked.

  She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “My mom? Uh, why do you ask? You have nothing to say about any of the other shit?”

  “Stuff that happened in the past?” he asked as he slid his hand around hers and laced their fingers together. “No, Kellie, I don’t. My concern is for you right now and how seeing your mom again is going to affect you. I can’t change anything that happened, and I’m so very sorry you had to go through all of that heartache, but I can focus on you now. I want to make sure you’re okay, and if there are things that trigger these feelings of insecurity and self-doubt, I want to know what they are or when they happen. Do you understand?”

  She was beginning to understand quite well. In a way, he was reminding her that she was a different person now than she was back then and he was right.

  “I have no doubt you’ll overcome this again—I have complete faith in you,” he said. “But I’m here to do it with you, okay? You are not alone because I’ll always be by your side to support you, however you need it. So tell me about your mom so we can make a plan and stick with it.”

  She couldn’t help but smile right now. Yeah, this was some serious shit they were talking about, but that was just it. It was serious, but Tate made it tolerable. Knowing that he was there to help her through it made it so much easier to face.

  “Well,” she sighed. “My mom is going to look me up and down—not even subtly—and she’s either going to say something outright about my weight or somehow imply I’m looking ‘bloated.’ Then she’ll drill me about the things I’m doing with my life and specifically focus on what I’m not doing, like acting, singing, attending more awards ceremonies and movie premieres; why I’m not dating certain celebrities… Yeah, after that will depend on how I react,” she barely smiled. “We get into some pretty heated arguments, but she usually won’t pull all of that crap if Jay is around. Max, either. She likes to overpower people, get into their heads and attack when there’s no one around as backup.”

  “God, she sounds brutal,” he smirked.

  “Oh, she is. She’s also extremely intelligent and very manipulative.”

  “Both things I’m immune to.”

  “I’m sure,” she laughed, playfully nudging him.

  “I also won’t kiss anyone’s ass,” he added. “Just to forewarn you for dinner tonight.”

  “I don’t expect you to. I just hope you’re not entirely appalled by the other half of my parental configuration.”

  “I’ve never even met your dad, so technically she’ll be the first half.”

  She shrugged. “Yeah, I just kind of consider my dad to be out of the picture. I was talking more my grandpa and uncle, even though they were far too busy the other night to talk to you much.”

  “No skin off my back. I did spend some time with Max, though.”

  “Yeah I saw that,” she replied, her curiosity piquing. “And how did that go?”

  He gave her a mysterious smile and said, “Went well, I suppose. We get along.”

  She was happy to hear that, but her curiosity was still messing with her. “And?”

  He chuckled and stood, holding his hand out for her to get up. “And nothing. He’s a cool guy. Let’s go for one more walk on the beach and then go visit Gram.”

  She let him tug her upward and very eagerly replied, “Yes, sounds perfect!”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Kellie’s mom wanted an oceanfront reservation at her favorite restaurant in Malibu. Tate hadn’t thought much about the logistics of such a request, but after listening to Kellie try to make the perfect arrangements over the phone, he was feeling the frustration right along with her.

  “Does your mom seriously require a table that is a minimum of twenty feet from anyone else?” he asked as they pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot. Jay and Melanie were just stepping out of their car at the same time.

  “You’re kidding, right?” Kellie smirked at him. “And yes, she does. My mom believes she should still be treated like the Hollywood elite.”

  “She doesn’t even live here anymore, or work here anymore…”

  “Hmm, why should that matter?” she smiled sarcastically. “Seriously Tate, she’s a piece of work. I don’t even think I can warn you more than I have already. She even throws the McCallan name on whatever she can, even though she’s remarried. She still hasn’t taken my stepdad’s name—she keeps her maiden name, the one all of her acting titles are linked to. But she’s always thrown ‘McCallan’ in there when she can, even though she bashes them right and left.”

  Hmm, Tate wasn’t impressed and knew he never would be. However, he hated seeing Kellie so riled up when it came to her mom. He wished they could just say fuck it and not have to do this because he only wanted her to be happy. He didn’t want her to deal with unnecessary bullshit like this.

  But he was glad Jay was in attendance, and while they waited at their table for Amelia Brennan to show up “fashionably late,” it was fun just having the time with him and Melanie.

  When Amelia swooped in—dressed in sunglasses and fashionable attire, her eyes darting around assuming she was being celebrity stalked—the mood shifted entirely. She sat down, seeming annoyed that the waiter took too long to pull her seat out for her. Obviously Jay didn’t do the whole standing up thing, so Tate remained in his seat as well.

  “Well, it’s been way too long,” Amelia exhaled, looking between Jay and Kellie as she removed her eyewear. She sat prim and proper with perfect posture as she crossed her legs, gave a stiff nod at Melanie, and then look
ed at Tate. “And you must be Tate,” she acknowledged.

  “Yes, Mom. Tate, meet Amelia,” she motioned to her mother.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” he offered the appropriate greeting. But he heard Jay murmur, “That’s what you think.” Trying not to laugh, Tate added, “How was your flight?”

  She pursed her lips and barely shrugged. “Hmm. Bearable, I suppose.”

  He caught the direction of her eyes, trying to look Kellie up and down as much as she could behind the table, but the waiter returned and took down drink orders. Jay had slid his arm around Melanie and was whispering something in her ear. Just from the blushed cheeks that appeared above her smile, Tate figured it was something dirty.

  “So tell me about yourself,” Amelia directed her attention to Tate. “I’m not quite sure I’m familiar with any Sullivans in Hollywood. Who are your parents?”

  “You know he’s not in the industry, Mom,” Kellie’s eyes narrowed at her. “Cut the attempt at belittlement.”

  Amelia raised her eyebrows. “It may have slipped my mind,” she replied evenly, measuring her daughter up. “And what is the reason for your tone?”

  “The same reason we always have,” Jay said, reaching for a piece of bread from the basket that had just been placed on the table. He took a bite and added, “Step off the snooty bitch train, Mother.”

  Tate had to suppress a laugh, Melanie nudged Jay in the ribs, Kellie barely snorted under her breath, and Amelia blinked several times as she gaped across the table.

  “Excuse me?” she scoffed at her son. “I had hoped you’d finally grown out of being so rude to people.”

  “Not gonna do this, Mom,” he leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “We came to see you, so I suggest you enjoy your time and not waste it with your condescending comments and digs. Kellie is doing fine, I’m doing fine, we’re happy with our lives, and that’s all that matters.” He nodded across the table at Tate. “This guy has fucking awesome talent—”

  “Watch your language,” Amelia hissed, glancing around the restaurant with embarrassment.

  “He’s a decorated war veteran, has great taste in women,” he motioned to Kellie, “and I can actually tolerate him. I’d say we’ve got a good thing going, here.”

  Kellie smiled at him but shook her head. “You tolerate him?”

  Jay shrugged. “Yeah, he’s okay.”

  “That is huge for this guy,” Melanie softly laughed, linking her arm through Jay’s. “Huge.”

  “Yeah, I know it,” Kellie agreed.

  “So I saw a picture of you with Jaron Lancaster,” Amelia cut in deliberately as she stared at her daughter. “How did the premiere go?”

  Kellie eyed her mom for a few seconds, just as the waiter arrived to take down orders. Amelia made a big production of not being ready yet, but everyone else ordered first to give her more time. Finally she waved her hand to Kellie and said, “I’ll have the same as her, I guess. Good choice, sweetie.”

  Seeing this entire scene play out in front of him was almost a bit of déjà vu for Tate. Kellie had told him how crafty her mom was when she tried to make subtle digs now and then, and he could totally see the power and influence Amelia hoped to have on her kids. It was amazing, really. Not in a good way—more in a “wow she’s a manipulative piece of work” kind of way—but Tate was getting a pretty good idea of what Kellie had grown up with.

  Besides implying that Kellie’s choice of a salad was “smart,” Amelia also managed to insult both Jay’s and Tate’s career choices, Melanie’s decision to take Cade to work at Tyse’s house three times a week, complain about the restaurant repeatedly, and berate Kellie again on her lack of interest in the Hollywood scene—all within the hour that dinner lasted. Of course the woman never said any of those things directly, but her body language, facial expressions, lack of any type of compliment, and her round-about choice of words were all brilliantly formatted to make even the most confident person question their own life.

  When Amelia tried to pin down some more opportunities to spend time with Kellie—like shopping, manicures and pedicures together, and a couple of celebrity functions—Kellie’s excuses were numbered. Tate knew she didn’t want to be alone with her mom and he couldn’t agree with her more. He could only imagine the kinds of things Amelia would try to convince her of and he didn’t want her to deal with it. She didn’t need that kind of shit in her life.

  “She’s pretty busy this week, Amelia,” Tate finally said. Kellie’s hand was gripping his tightly under the table, and even though Jay had told his mom to chill out, he never fully told her to back the fuck off. Tate was getting pretty damn close to doing so. “Maybe we can take you out for breakfast before your flight leaves on Monday?”

  Amelia looked at him with cold eyes. Obviously she didn’t like him interfering in her attempts to spend time with her daughter. “I don’t eat breakfast, but perhaps brunch will do,” she answered.

  Well shit, he didn’t know the right terminology, apparently. “Okay, how about brunch?” he emphasized, but it was tough not to add with a side of stick up your ass. How the fuck did Jay and Kellie deal with this woman?

  Amelia turned to Kellie and said, “Sweetie, if your ball-and-chain could kindly take his claws out of you, I’d love to spend some time with you in Beverly Hills on Wednesday. I know you have the day off because I checked.”

  Ball-and-chain? Tate wanted to laugh his ass off. Right, because he’s so controlling and never let Kellie do what she wants… Damn, this woman was bold.

  Kellie looked offended, but Jay laughed and motioned to the waiter for the check. “I think it’s time to get out of hell right about now,” he said. “Mom, I really wish you’d realize that the whole world does not revolve around you.”

  She gasped at him. “When it’s my children’s world, yes it certainly does and I have every right as a mother to be concerned.”

  “And what exactly are you concerned about? Neither of us are going to be in the scene you or Grandpa wants us in, so it’s time to stop fighting for it and stop opposing everything we do because it’s not what you want. Like I said before, we’re both happy and that’s what’s most important.”

  She took a leveled breath of air, and clasped her hands together on the table, trying to seem in control. “Jay, I’ve been in this world twice as long as you, and not only am I disappointed in how disrespectful you continue to be, but I’m very sad that you think you’ve reached the jackpot in life. Do you not see how much you’ve deprived yourself of over the years? For what, to follow Teague and hold his hand while he rebels against his father?”

  “This has nothing to do with Teague,” Jay answered crossly. “However, it’s nice to have him in my corner; someone that holds the same beliefs as I do. Perhaps you need to accept the fact that someone else does as well.” His eyes drifted to Kellie, which caused Amelia’s to do the same.

  She eyed her daughter and said, “What is he saying?”

  Kellie was clearly uncomfortable about being put on the spot, and she even disregarded the question by asking if her mom planned on seeing someone named Tina while she was in town.

  “Yes, of course,” Amelia answered. “And you should come with me. She would love to see you. I don’t know why you don’t stop there more often. She’s always asking about you.”

  “I saw her at the premiere.”

  “Thank you, Mr. McCallan,” the waiter practically bowed as he handed Jay the black bi-fold with the check.

  Tate noticed Jay’s subtle frown as he stuck a stack of bills into the book and set it on the table. “We need to head out,” he announced, standing to help Melanie out of her seat. “Cade is at Teague’s and they have somewhere to be early in the morning.” He looked at Amelia and said, “You should come see him before you leave.”

  “I haven’t spoken to Teague in years, you know that,” she huffed.

  “I meant Cade,” he corrected firmly. “My son.”

  Tate knew that Amelia hadn’
t even laid eyes on the baby that Jay was intending to adopt. Supposedly she was against him marrying Melanie, too.

  Like that was ever going to dissuade him.

  After the two left, Amelia turned to Kellie and asked, “And what excuse do you have to leave early?”

  “None,” she shrugged. “But I am pretty tired because of a late night out,” she subtly glanced at Tate, “so we’re ready to go.”

  “How is your apartment situation? You no longer room with that other girl?”

  “No, I’m in my own place now. It’s a bit nicer.”

  “Good,” Amelia nodded resolutely. “I’d like you to be in the Hills, though. Not Burbank.”

  “Where I live is pretty nice and it’s close to where I work. And it’s close to Tate, so that’s even better.”

  Amelia eyed him but didn’t respond.

  Kellie stood from the table so Tate followed suit. Amelia looked a bit hesitant, but she finally rose as well. They walked to the exit—Tate’s arm around Kellie as her mother disapproved from the corner of her eye—and when they stopped outside, Kellie grunted.

  “A limo?” she asked her mom.

  “I’m not taking a filthy cab.”

  “Hmm, well how clean do you think limos are?” Kellie joked. “I hear people have sex in them all the time.”

  Her mom looked disgusted, and Tate had to choke back a laugh.

  “Oh come on, Mom. I’m sure you’ve had your glory days in the back of a limo.”

  Amelia scoffed. “Unfortunately my glory days are tainted with memories of your father. And how about I have the limo pick you up Wednesday around, say, ten? We’ll have the luxury of someone to drive us around, we can shop, go to lunch, see Tina—”