Saving You Saving Me (You & Me Trilogy)

by Kailin Gow

  “Perfect,” I answered back.

  “Now put the headset on so you can hear the conversation.” He put his headset on, and when we were ready, he gestured at a screen in front that was flashing green, indicating there was a call on hold.

  On his phone, there was a button with the light blinking green. He tapped on it, and began speaking in a calm but friendly tone. “Hi, I’m Derek from Sawyer House. What do you want to talk about tonight?”

  He was smooth, confident, gentle, and caring throughout the call. The girl, who calls herself Becca, said she was having a hard time dealing with some girls in school who started picking on her since she began dating their friend’s ex-boyfriend. She felt ostracized because of it, and her friends who wanted to be as popular as these girls, ditched her to become their friends instead. She didn’t know what to do.

  “Are you still with the girl’s ex-boyfriend?” Derek asked.

  “No and yes,” Becca said. “We just started dating but we’re not officially together like boyfriend and girlfriend.”

  “Do you like him and want to be with him still despite the girls’ tormenting you?” Derek asked.

  “I do,” Becca said.

  “How does he feel?”

  “I think the same,” Becca said.

  Derek and Becca talked for 15 more minutes while he asked her questions, and she responded stiffly at first, but gradually became more comfortable.

  “Then continue dating each other and forget those girls. If they start anything, walk away and don’t get into an argument or fight with them. It fuels them. Go to someone of authority like a teacher, principal, or even your parents and let them know what’s happening. Let your friends know what’s happening so they can help stand up for you, too. And if you feel threatened in any way, go to your local authorities.”

  “Well, thanks, Derek,” Becca said after a pause. “I feel better already, and I’ll let my teachers and principal know before anything happens.”

  “Good luck, Becca. Keep calling here if you need to talk. You are always welcome. Remember, You have what it takes to change things.”

  “Thank you,” Becca said shyly. “Bye.”

  “Bye,” Derek said gently.

  The green light on the button went clear, showing the Caller was no longer on the line. Derek turned to me, took off his headset, while I took off mine. “Well?” he asked. “What do you think?”

  I smiled widely at him, feeling good about how Becca felt afterwards. “You’re really good at this,” I said.

  “You’ll be good at it too, in no time,” Derek reassured me. “I’ve had two years more experience at this than you so I’m used to all different scenarios and issues. Not that everyone’s problems are only statistics. They’re not, but in time, you kind of figure out what to say.”

  I laughed. “No, you’re just good at this.”

  “True,” he admitted. “But what would you have said in that scenario?”

  “Almost the same thing,” I joked.

  “Then you have good instincts,” Derek said. “That’ll get you through.”

  The green light came on again, and Derek put on his headset.

  I placed my headset on, and listened in.

  “Hello, you’re calling Sawyer House. What do you want to talk about?” Derek asked.

  A guy came on and said he liked this girl, but she did not know what to say to her, and if he should make the first move… Derek raised his eyebrows while I grinned.

  For the next 30 minutes Derek asked a lot of questions, but ended up answering more than half of them. I thought if I had gotten that call, would I be able to answer it since I was a girl, and just when I thought that, the phone conversation ended, and Derek turned to me. “In that case, if you get a call that you felt you’re not equipped to handle, let me know or someone else. You could try to answer his questions or just listen to him,” Derek said. “It depends on how much you know about…romance,” he laughed. He stared at me. “What would you say if you had gotten that call? How would you advise a guy who finds himself liking a girl, even if he had just met her, and doesn’t know how to proceed?”

  Derek had stopped grinning and was seriously waiting to hear what I would say.

  I smiled. “I don’t have much experience in romance, really, Derek. I don’t know how I would have answered.”

  “No,” Derek said, genuinely surprised. “You haven’t had much experience at all? No boyfriend, no dating?”

  I shook my head smiling, feeling a flush cover my face. “I just never found time for it or was never that interested in anyone.” As I said that, suddenly the image of Collins McGregor’s face flashed in my mind. He was the first person whom I had ever felt a head over heels reaction to which I could not understand.

  “Unbelievable,” Derek said. “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you’re not exactly hideous or anything. You would have thought a girl like you would have your pick of guys.”

  I blushed. “Oh, come on, that’s not true.”

  “Hey Derek, Sam?” Gail popped around the corner. “I’m heading out, but I wanted Sam to know how happy I am she’s here.” She gave me a hug, and handed me a vanilla envelope along with my purse. “Here are your copies of records, before I forget. And your purse.” She looked at her watch. “It’s time for you to head out, too.” She looked over at Derek. “How did she do on her first day?”

  “Brilliantly,” Derek said, holding my gaze. “Just need to brush up on what each scenario is, and in no time, she’ll be ready to handle any call.”

  “That’s why she’s here!” Gail said, leaving. “See you again in a few days, Sam.”

  I nodded. Derek got up and walked me out of the building and to my car. “I think you’re going to do great here, Sam,” he said smiling. He opened my car door while I got in, our hands lightly brushing. It was warm, nice. “See you in a few,” he said before he headed back into the building.

  I let out a breath. Serious Susan was quietly applauding. I went through the entire night alright without thinking about Collins McGregor, except twice. Lola looked on, a pout on her lovely face.

  Chapter 7

  Sunday – Two Weeks Later

  It was Sunday, and I was at Dad’s church, playing the piano. I was not particularly good at it, but I knew all the songs because I have been playing the same ones since Dad was a pastor at a much smaller church. There he was in front of the church, a beautiful altar with a stained glass window depicting a scene with a Lion and a Lamb. Mom sat in the front pew with little Nydia, my beautiful little sister, dressed up in a sweet white puffy dress with a blue satin sash and embroidered blue flowers. It had been two weeks since Mom’s drunk incidence, but I was still mad at her for driving herself and Nydia around fully intoxicated. What if something had happened? I wanted to let Mom have it that day when I drove her car back after Collins McGregor and I found her and Nydia at Dad’s church. But she looked so miserable, and out of it, I held my tongue.

  I was glad Dad did not come back from the conference until late at night when Mom was asleep. He didn’t say anything to me the night he came home, tired-looking and grim. He didn’t say anything to Mom, either. It’s been two weeks, and he still hasn’t talked to Mom about it.

  I watched Dad as the song the congregation was singing came to a close. Dad was a good-looking man with thick dark hair and some grey on his temples. The women in church thought he was handsome, and the men thought he was charismatic, confident, and successful, the pastor of a large church with a beautiful family. Mom sat in the front pew, dressed in a green sheath dress that matched her big green eyes, her full brunette hair long and straight, her pale milky skin almost wrinkle-free except for the ones around the edge of her mouth. Mom was a beauty in her younger days, looking like a 1940s pinup girl and always wearing bold red lipstick on full lips. She was originally from a small town in Texas when she moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of being an actress when she met Dad. She could pass for being my older sis
ter at times when she wore her hair down straight like mine or in a Veronica Lake wave. When I was dressed up with full war paint on including the bold red lipstick, everyone said I got my looks from Mom. Next to her was Nydia, looking sweet and charming in her dress. She had Mom’s green eyes but Dad’s coloring and a square jaw like Dad. She looked more like Dad than Mom, while I did not look at all like Dad. Getting up from the piano bench, and smoothing the skirt of my pink sundress, I walked over after the song ended and sat down next to Nydia.

  The air between Mom and I was strained, but I made an effort. “Mom, you look nice in that dress.”

  “The Church Lady’s Book Club lunch meeting is right after service,” she whispered back.

  “Ah,” I said, thinking how ironic that Mom was The Church Lady, and how she kept a book blog called The Church Lady Blog, a blog that reviewed and recommended romances, cookbooks, Christian, children, young adult, and erotica books. “Which book is it this week?” I asked.

  “A juicy one,” Mom said. “Jane Eyre in Bondage.”

  I’d about bit down on my tongue and swallowed it, I was so surprised. Lola came out of her boudoir carrying a copy of Jane Eyre in Bondage, along with some accessories. Serious Susan had her hand to her mouth in shock. Me, too, Susan. Me, too.

  “You got a group of women from church to read that for the book club?”

  Mom’s eyes glittered with glee. “Can’t go wrong with a classic. And they loved it. Our lunch theme is Victorian Ecstasy – red velvet cupcakes, licorice shaped like whips…”

  “Mom!” I said, loud enough for people around us to look our way. My face burned.

  Lola was now sashaying around in six-inch heels carrying a red velvet cupcake in one hand and a ridiculously long black licorice in another, shaped like a whip. Serious Susan was in my worn yellow armchair, keeled over.

  I was glad when service was over and I could head out, avoiding the eyes of Mom and the other ladies in her book club. Knowing Mom, she probably would have spiked the punch, too.

  I took Nydia’s hand to take her to her music class when I felt a tap on my shoulder from behind.

  “Hi,” a sexy deep, but young male voice said, sending shivers down my spine. Collins McGregor was standing there, looking like he came out of a magazine in his cream casual suit, white shirt, and Prada shoes. His wavy blonde hair was swept casually off his face, revealing his beautifully sculpted face, and his icy blue eyes that blazed into mine. I nearly dropped Nydia’s hand. It was as though two weeks had not passed by since I last saw him, my heart was racing, and when he reached out to touch my hand, I felt the same electricity shoot between us.

  “Um, hi,” I said. “You’re at church. Here. Why?”

  “I wanted to see how it was. You know, when we came here on Monday to pick up your mother, I thought why not give your father’s church a try.” His eyes held mine, and the corner of his sensual lips lifted in amusement. He leaned in closer until he was whispering into my ears. “I wanted to see you, too.” It was so low, so sensual, I couldn’t take my eyes off his full lips.

  I didn’t realize my mouth had gone dry again, and I was licking my lips.

  Collins McGregor’s eyes blazed darker, and he leaned in to whisper. “Thirsty? I know I am…”

  “Ah,” Oh my. Hotness. All the blood from my brain left and my mouth was drier than before. Without thinking, my tongue shot out again to lick the perimeter of my mouth.

  His eyes were so dark, so predatory, I felt that he would pounce at me at any instant. He took my free hand in his, and said, “Come on, let’s get something to drink. I remembered passing a Seattle’s Best on the way here.”

  I swallowed. It had been two weeks since I last laid eyes on him, and I had moved on - getting myself entrenched in work at Sawyer House, becoming good friends with Derek, even once going out to the movies at the Newport Beach Lido Theater with him. Derek was so surprised I had never been on a date, that he wanted to show me what I was “missing out” on. I agreed, but only as friends. I knew if Collins McGregor ever walked back into my life again, though, he would be the one I wanted to go on a real date with.

  So here he was at my father’s church, asking me on a date. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to take my little sister to the music room. Want to come?”

  Collins McGregor’s face looked surprised at first and then embarrassed. “Oh, I didn’t see you there behind your sister,” he said bending down to speak to Nydia. “I’m Collins McGregor. How are you?”

  “Hi,” Nydia said with a mischievous grin. “You’re very handsome, like a prince. Are you and Sam screwing?”

  Gah! “Nydia,” I said, turning beet red, “Where did you hear that? Never mind.” I smiled and shrugged at Collins McGregor. “You just don’t know where kids pick up things like that.”

  “Mom said it,” Nydia said. “When you and Mr. Princely Lips picked us up.”

  Of course, where else would kids pick up sayings like “screwing” from? Their drunken erotica-reading moms. “Gotta love my mom,” I said, hugging Nydia too tightly. I ruffled her curls and said, “Come on Princess, let’s get you to the Music room. I hear they have a harp in there that you can play with.”

  “I want a drum set,” Nydia said.

  “We’ll see,” I said leading her to the Music room down the hall from the Sanctuary.

  Collins McGregor’s face was stuck in a state of amusement and something which I couldn’t define. He followed me along the way, a few steps behind me, his presence as intense as always. Once I turned around to see if he was still there, and he just smiled, as we walked along. Even behind me, I could feel his eyes blazing on me, and the thrill of that made Lola very happy, while Serious Susan looked on with caution.

  After I got Nydia situated in the youth music class, I turned around to see Collins McGregor leaning up against the wall of the hallway outside of the Music room. He was studying my face, from my eyes to my lips and back to my eyes again. It was intense, and it was hot. It could be below zero and snowing in Southern California, and I’d be burning up.

  “This is a nice cheerful music room,” Collins said. “Did you learn to play piano at a place like this?”

  “No,” I shook my head. “Growing up, we didn’t have a place like this. We had a hand-me-down old piano from Grandma that was always in the living room so I kind of taught myself how to play piano.”

  “Wow,” Collins McGregor said. “You play rather well.”

  “Do you play?” I asked.

  “If you can call it playing,” he said shyly. “I pretty much taught myself how to play but eventually broke down and hired a teacher. I thought it would help me to wind down, but I find I’d like pursuing other means of release.”

  “Oh,” I said softly, feeling as though he was implying something else. “You mentioned you have a younger brother,” I asked. “Does he live with you?”

  Collins McGregor’s face twisted into a look of uncertainty. He didn’t look like the Owner of Collins Companies at the moment, but the little boy with angelic blonde curls. How I wanted to run my fingers through his hair and pull him to me. Lola had her pom poms out, while Serious Susan had her arms crossed. My id and ego in full force.

  “No,” Collins McGregor said. “He doesn’t live with me, but I’m trying to get him to. He’s pretty troubled, and that’s probably because he didn’t know he had family.” He shook his head. “Just a month ago, I didn’t know he existed. I didn’t know I even had a brother, a half-brother actually.”

  “You didn’t know?” I asked. “That’s pretty much a shocker.”

  “I’ll say,” Collins McGregor said. “But I shouldn’t be so shocked. My father was a real bastard, knocking up my mother, and leaving her when he found out she was pregnant. It’s no surprise he would have other unwanted children littered around. But my mother was no saint. She ran away from home as a teenager, joined a gang, and got pregnant with me.” He smiled bitterly. “Not exactly the best way to raise a kid, and you know of course
that I would have some issues,” he said. He stepped back, his face disgusted. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, Miss Sullivan.”

  I was about to say “No, it’s okay” when out of nowhere, a big arm came around my shoulders and I was enveloped in a tight bear hug. Michael, the young pastor who was second in command at the church.

  “Sammy!” he said, looking at me warmly. “I didn’t get a chance to say ‘hi’ to you today. How’s it going?”

  “Well,” I nodded. “Busy with school, trying to get a scholarship to Stanford, you know, the usual.”

  “Don’t get too busy to hang out with me,” Michael said, his face almost serious.

  “Do we hang out?” I asked, smiling.

  “Of course we hang out,” Michael said, squeezing my shoulders, as he looked warmly at me, his chocolate brown eyes caressing my face with his gaze. He was cute, all right, and he knew it. All the women at church practically ate out of his hand. The young eligible bachelor pastor who had just returned from being a missionary in Southeast Asia. He was cute, but ruggedly handsome too, having blazed through jungles to reach villages where he would bring in food and medical supplies to people. He stepped back to take a look at me and laughed. “Sam, you’ve grown up before my eyes. I can’t believe you’re eighteen now, a woman, and beautiful.”

  “Why is it such a shock, Pastor?” I asked.

  He shook his head smiling. “You’ve always been beautiful, but now, you’re, uh, not a scrawny little kid.”

  I punched his shoulder. “I was when I first met you, Pastor, at 15.”

  “I remembered the day,” Michael said, “And believe me, you weren’t a scrawny kid back then, too.”

  I blushed. Of all the pretty girls at church and all the young available women, whose mamas were pushing them on the handsome young pastor, why did I get the feeling he kind of had a crush on me?

  Collins McGregor had stepped up to Michael and me.