Callum

by Holly C. Webb

  Georgie assured him that it too would eventually pass, Callum just didn’t know how much more he could listen to his little girl’s heart break every night.

  Saturday morning, Callum woke with a headache from hell, his eyes felt like lead. He couldn’t remember the last time he had slept so heavy, but rolling over in his bed, he just wanted to sleep some more.

  He tried to open his eyes, but the morning sun was pouring into his room, so he pinched them closed once more.

  Just a few minutes more, he thought to himself; then he would get up for Macy.

  “MACY!” He exclaimed pushing up in bed quickly before; he shoved back the bedclothes. Looking at the alarm clock on the nightstand, he was surprised to see it was almost ten a.m. Without even thinking, he was out of the bed, heading for the door, hurrying along the hallway to Macy’s room. He hadn’t heard her through the night. How could he have not woken up?

  Pushing open the door, he was surprised to find Macy’s bedroom empty. He hurried on down the hallway, passing Georgie’s room. He was about to knock on the door when he heard Macy’s excited squeal echo from somewhere downstairs.

  Needing to see her, he headed straight for the stairs. He had no idea if she had woken during the night. All he could think was, had she needed him, but he wasn’t there.

  When he rushed into the kitchen, he found a happy Macy covered in flour, sitting on a stool, helping an equally flour covered Georgie bake some kind of cake.

  “Daddy, look!” Macy exclaimed happily when she saw Callum standing there, wearing just his pyjama bottoms. “We’re making a cake!”

  Callum smiled, as he took a couple of calming breaths before his eyes meet Georgie’s.

  “Annie said she had to run some errands,” Georgie said, giving him a curious look. “She needed to go to the store, and she said she was picking up dry cleaning. She said she wouldn’t be too long.”

  “Okay,” Callum nodded breathlessly as he hurried across the kitchen, kissing Macy on the top of the head. “Good morning, Peanut,”

  “Are you okay, Callum?” Georgie asked, giving him a worried look.

  “I slept all night,” he said, by way of an explanation, but his mind was racing. “I don’t know why I didn’t wake up.”

  “Because you were tired,” Georgie offered with a smile. “And you weren’t the only one; someone else slept all night too.”

  “She didn’t wake up?” Callum asked, giving her a hopeful smile.

  “Nope,” Georgie confirmed with a broad smile. “She slept straight through.”

  Callum looked down at Macy, smiling as a wave of relief washed over him. Suddenly, for some unknown reason, Callum felt overcome.

  “I…eh… I’ve got to get ready for work,” Callum turned to leave, needing to get out of the kitchen before he cried like a little girl in front of this girl, who he hardly knew.

  “But it’s Saturday!” Georgie exclaimed, stopping him in his tracks. Callum blew out a long, tired breath. “Annie said that you were going to visit your mother’s today. That’s why Macy’s is baking a cake.”

  Forcing a smile on his face, he turned and looked back at Georgie. He had no idea what was wrong with him, but right at that moment, he just wanted to fall apart.

  “I guess I’m still half asleep,” he offered her as an excuse.

  “I could get you some coffee,” she said, her face completely unreadable. “Or make you some breakfast.”

  “I think I’m just going to jump into the shower,” Callum replied, giving her a grateful smile. He stared at her for a moment, as once more the pull he had felt so many times over the last few days was there. He gave her one more smile before he turned and headed out of the kitchen.

  His feet barely hit the steps of the stairs, as he took them two at a time. It wasn’t until he got to his bathroom, did he even realised he was holding his breath.

  He slumped to the floor of the bathroom, hot tears stinging his eyes.

  He didn’t know why he was so upset. Maybe it was that Macy finally was settling down. Part of him was so relieved; he could hardly hold the happiness inside.

  For the last four weeks, it felt like he was slowly drowning, and it didn’t matter how much he kicked and fought, he was sinking lower and lower, beneath the water.

  Now she was happy; she was smiling. Finally, Callum felt like he could breathe again, but there was a tiny part of him. A tiny part that hated he wasn’t the one to make his little girl whole again.

  He hated feeling like this, feeling so out of control of his own life; of his world.

  His brothers would joke that Callum was born with an old man’s soul. They would say that he was far too serious and anal about every tiny detail. Maybe they were right, but it was how he was built, it was who he was.

  He had learned at a young age to rely on no one but himself. He loved his brothers, he really did. But it sometimes felt like he was the odd man out. He knew that Finn often felt that way too, but Callum felt like Finn missed the point. Landen and Finn had a special bond. Callum knew it came from Landen’s need to protect Finn, and he got it. Finn was quieter than the rest of them, at times, he was almost painfully shy. So Landen, being the eldest, had made it his mission to protect Finn no matter what.

  Then there was Liam and Dylan. They were close too. They had the whole twin thing going on, and Callum understood that also. Liam would always say that Dylan was his first roommate and that they shared a womb with a view. It would always make Callum smile when he said that. He just wished that he had his person. The one he could turn to no matter what happened.

  Sure, he and Landen were close. He was probably closer to him than he was to the rest of his brothers, he just knew that he would never have the closeness Landen and Finn, or Liam and Dylan had.

  So, Callum decided early on that he would rely on himself. That he would never need anyone, he would be his own person.

  Now, that’s how it was; it was how he liked it. He knew no matter what happened; he would always be strong enough to deal with whatever life threw at him.

  Used to be, Callum thought to himself, bitterly.

  Because now he was in control of nothing. His life had been turned upside down by the cutest, sweetest, tiny terrorist who he loved more than he had ever imagined possible. He had wanted to be the one that made everything okay for her, but he wasn’t. Georgie had become her person.

  Callum hated that he felt jealous of what Georgie had with Macy.

  She had been amazing. She had been the answer to the prayer he had made to Carolynn. He asked for help, as he walked into that coffee shop, where he found her at the exact moment her life was in pieces too.

  She hadn’t really told him what had happened that had brought her to the coffee shop that day, but he knew whatever the reason was, it had been fate.

  Maybe he just needed to stop fighting this. Allow life to happen without him needing to control everything for once.

  Maybe Georgie was the answer to more than one question.

  Chapter 12

  Callum stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting for Georgie to bring Macy from her room. Georgie had taken her up to get changed for their lunch in his parents’ house.

  He sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked up and down. He wasn’t in the mood for an afternoon with his family, but he had promised his mother, so he knew there was no getting out of it now. Besides, Macy was excited about going; she had made a cake to take with her.

  Callum smiled as he recalled the pride that beamed from her little face when she showed him her finished cake when he came down after his shower. Callum knew that Georgie had really done all the hard work, but she allowed Macy to take all the credit, and once more, Macy was happy.

  There was something about this girl, something that Callum couldn’t put his finger on, but right now wasn’t the time to figure out what that something was. Letting out another sigh, he checked his watch, before he glanced up the stairs once more.

  He had no
idea what could be taking them so long. He was due at his mother’s in thirty minutes, and he hated to be late.

  Callum’s mind wandered back to the meltdown he had in his bathroom earlier that morning. He had no idea where it had come from, but somehow he had managed to pull himself together.

  Now he was more worried about spending the afternoon with his family and Georgie.

  He had no idea why he had invited her to join him and Macy for the afternoon, but he had the words out of his mouth before he had time to even think about what the hell he was doing.

  At first, Georgie declined, saying that she didn’t want to intrude. He could have left it there, but no, he had to push.

  What the fucking hell is the matter with you? He sighed to himself as he continued to pace up and down. You really have lost the fucking plot, Callum. Awesome job!

  The sound of Macy giggling pulled Callum from his thoughts. He instinctively looked up towards the top of the stairs, where he found Macy, and Georgie making their way down toward him.

  Macy looked perfect in a little pink dress, Callum knew he had never seen before. Her dark curly hair was hanging loosely, with a little pink bow at the side of her head.

  Then his eyes fell on Georgie, and his breath caught in his throat.

  She was wearing a pale green summer dress, with a light cotton, white cardigan and a pair of flat, nude coloured shoes. Her hair was tied back in a braid, showing off her beautiful face even more. As she got nearer to Callum, he noticed that she had removed some of her earrings from her ears, and somehow it made her look softer, more innocent even.

  She was beautiful. No matter how Callum felt, he couldn’t deny that fact.

  “Wow!” He exclaimed, as they two girls reached the bottom of the stairs. “You look… different.”

  “A good or a bad different?” Georgie asked, giving him a nervous smile.

  “Definitely a good different,” Callum replied, smiling at her, his eyes holding her a little longer than necessary. He was surprised to see her face blush a little before she quickly pulled her eyes from his.

  Callum quickly turned his attention to Macy who was giving him a confused look.

  “And look at you, Sweetheart,” Callum said, now focusing all his energy on his daughter. “I love your dress.”

  “Georgie said I’m a princess,” Macy said as she gave Callum a twirl.

  “Yes, you are!” He exclaimed with a chuckle, allowing his eyes to meet Georgie’s once more. “I haven’t seen this dress before.”

  “There are lots of new dresses hanging in her wardrobe,” Georgie explained with a laugh. “She has more clothes than I do.”

  “That would be my mother and Amelia,” Callum sighed, checking his watch once more. “We should be going.”

  He turned to pick up Macy’s bag from the chair before he turned back to look at Georgie.

  “Don’t move!” She exclaimed suddenly, as she lifted her hand, moving closer to him. Callum held his breath as she softly brushed her finger below his eye.

  “You have an eyelash,” she explained, looking up into his eyes, smiling. “Make a wish!”

  I wish I didn’t feel like this! Callum thought to himself, as his heart hammered in his chest.

  She held her finger in front of his mouth, still smiling at him.

  “Blow,” she instructed him, as Callum swallowed hard before he did as she instructed. It was singularly the most erotic thing he has ever experienced, as there was a stirring deep inside him.

  “Daddy!” Macy exclaimed, pulling down on his hand, pulling him back into the here and now. “I want to go see Liam.”

  “Okay, Sweetheart,” Callum said, reaching down, picking Macy up. “Let’s do this.”

  He glanced at Georgie one more time before he made his way to the front door. Stepping into the elevator, he focused on Macy, refusing to let his mind wander back to Georgie, or the confusing feelings he had for her.

  By the time they arrived at Callum’s parent’s house twenty minutes later, Macy was bouncing with excitement, but Callum’s mood had just darkened more. As he switched off the engine, he glanced over at Georgie, who was staring out at his parent’s house with amazement.

  “You grew up here?” She asked, glancing back at Callum for a moment before she turned back to the house. “It’s beautiful.”

  “I guess it is,” Callum replied, giving her a genuine smile. There was something so sweet and innocent about this girl. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of life she had growing up. In the few conversations that they had, she had never really said much about her past, other than her parents were still living in Ireland, and that she had two older brothers.

  “It must have been amazing,” she sighed as she unfastened her seatbelt.

  “I suppose it was,” Callum replied as he too unfastened his seatbelt. “We should be going in.”

  Georgie reached for the handle of the door, before hurrying back to the back seat, where she unfastened the straps of Macy’s car seat too.

  “Are you ready to give your Nana her cake?” Georgie asked, giving the little girl a warm smile.

  “Yep!” Macy replied with an excited squeal. “Papa is going to eat some too.”

  “I bet,” Georgie laughed as she lifted the little girl from the car.

  The sound of a car moving along the gravel driveway made Callum turn, and he smiled when he saw Finn pulling his car up behind his. He reached into the back seat of the car, lifting out the cake Macy and Georgie had made.

  He glanced over at Georgie, who was now standing on the steps, holding Macy’s hand, and he was surprised to see a nervous look in her eyes. She absentmindedly straightened down her dress, then patted down her hair. He realized right at that moment; she had dressed the way she had, not because she wanted to, but because she thought that was what was expected. He hated that she felt that way.

  He walked towards her and Macy, waiting for Finn and Emmy to join him on the front steps.

  “I thought I was late,” Callum said, smiling at Finn. “But I’m here before you, so I guess I’m not.”

  “Nope,” Finn replied with a laugh. “We’re late too. Totally Emmy’s fault.”

  “Don’t believe a word of it,” Emmy said with a laugh as she kissed Callum on the cheek. Callum smiled, thinking how shy and nervous Emmy once had been when she was with the family. Now she was completely at ease with them. He glanced over at Georgie, and once more he could see the uncertainty in her eyes.

  “We made a cake!” Macy exclaimed excitedly.

  “You did?” Emmy asked as she crouched down in front of Macy, and gave her a bright smile. “I can’t wait to try some.”

  Emmy looked up at Callum, giving him a broad smile. Callum knew she was surprised by the change in Macy.

  “Georgie helped me make it,” Macy added, as she glanced up at Georgie and gave her a bright smile.

  “Emmy, Finn,” Callum said, knowing he needed to introduce Georgie. “This is Georgie Taylor, Georgie, this is my brother Finn, and his fiancé, Emmy Warner.”

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Georgie,” Finn said, giving her a genuine smile, as he offered her his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s nice to meet you finally.”

  “You too,” Georgie said, giving him an uncertain look.

  “Amelia,” Finn explained, clearly reading her uncertainty. “She told us how amazing you were with Macy. She hasn’t stopped singing your praises. Neither has Liam.”

  Callum didn’t know why, but the last part of his comment bothered him. He knew that it probably meant nothing, but still, he was bothered.

  He knew Liam. He knew how he was with women. He glanced at Georgie and sighed. What the hell was wrong with him? He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

  “It’s lovely to meet you, too,” Georgie replied to Finn, giving him a grateful smile before she turned to Emmy and greeting her too.

  “I love the new car,” Emmy said, turning her attention back to Callum before they
both turned and looked at his new Audi. Callum loved his Aston Martin more than anything, but he realised that it wasn’t practical for carrying around a child and the ever-growing collection of paraphernalia that Macy insists on dragging everywhere.

  So a few days after he arrived back from New York, he went to the dealers, and picked out the best Q7 the dealer had on the forecourt, knowing it was time for him to have a sensible car.

  “Thanks, Emmy,” Callum said with a smile. “I figured that Miss Macy here needed to travel in style.”

  “You mean more style than an Aston Martin?” Finn asked with a laugh. “Did you get rid of your pride and joy?”

  “Yeah right,” Callum laughed as he turned and walked towards the door. “The only way I am getting rid of that car is if you pry the keys out of my cold, dead hands.”

  “Charming,” Nell said, opening the door, catching the end on Callum’s remark. “You made it. I didn’t think you were coming.”

  “Better late than never,” Callum replied, kissing his mother on the cheek. He held out the cake he was carrying. “Macy made this for you.”

  “Did you now,” Nell exclaimed, looking down into the container that Callum was holding, before turning her attention to Macy, scooping her up in her arms. “Well, aren’t you the best girl in the world!”

  “Yep,” Macy said, giving her grandmother a proud smile. “Georgie helped me.”

  “Well, it looks very yummy,” Nell replied, looking at Georgie, giving her a warm smile. “It’s lovely to see you again, Georgie. Please, come in, make yourself at home.”

  “Thank you,” Georgie said, glancing nervously at Callum before she stepped in through the front door of his parent’s home. Callum was surprised by just how unsure she seemed.

  Over the last nine days, he had found that at the times, she appeared to be lacking in the confidence she had shown the first day he met her in the coffee shop. He had seen glimpses of it whenever she was with Macy, and she didn’t think anyone was watching her, but when she met someone new, or someone she was unsure of, her confidence seemed to diminish.