She wrapped her arms around Jade, pinning her arms to her body and squeezed her tightly. “You might even have some fun.” Callie gave her sister a quick peck on the cheek, then released her and headed toward the kitchen to make some lunch. “And lots of people go out for drinks on Thursday night. You live in New York, for goodness sake. Don’t tell me you leave work every night and head straight home to get your beauty rest.”
“I know, but this is different. This town has one bar.” Jade held up one finger and shook it in the air. “One bar, Cal.”
“So? What’s your point? That just means everyone will be in the same place.”
“That. That’s my point, right there. Even if every person who lives in this town goes, it will still be…” Jade searched for the right word, “boring.” She drew out the word like she might actually die from lack of entertainment. She flopped onto the couch and threw an arm over her eyes.
Callie laughed as she opened the refrigerator and leaned in to grab the left-over sloppy joe meat she’d brought home from Eve’s the night before.
Jade propped up on her elbows. “Hey, I could stay here and watch Alex. At least that kid is cool. We could watch some of those Netflix shows she’s been telling me about.”
“Nope. Sorry, but you’re going. You know, you might actually like it here if you give it a try.” Callie turned toward the microwave to warm up the loose meat.
Jade took a long, deep breath. She couldn’t deny there was something about the sweet solitude of the farm that called to her. At night, when she and Callie would sit out on the back porch with nothing but the moon reflecting off the lazy, flowing stream, she understood. It was the kind of calm that seeped into your soul searching out the aching parts with a soft, healing touch. She’d never found anything like this in the city.
Even the beach house didn’t offer this kind of peace. Although, she suspected the memories it held had something to do with that. Their mom had always tried to make that place bright and cheerful, bringing in fresh flowers and always changing up the décor to keep it new. Fresh. But everyone knew it was the ‘waiting place.’ They were either waiting for Callie to get the lifesaving call or waiting for her to die.
She was tired and sore. Eve had worked them hard the last few days getting ready for the upcoming event the O’Brien’s were hosting. Although she had never planted a thing in her life, she’d been Callie’s assistant and really enjoyed being outside in the fresh air.
Her sister stood at the island, humming a tune while setting out the food, and suddenly Jade’s heart constricted tightly in her chest. Her sister was…happy. She was as healthy as she had ever been and there was something else. She was in love.
Not the juvenile kind of stuff they’d sat on Callie’s bed and dreamed about as young girls. It was so apparent to Jade now. This was real, deep love that people look for every day.
The kind that makes a person whole.
The kind that is both your greatest strength and your greatest weakness. A connection to another human being that stretches who you are as a person and allows you to become more than you ever believed you were capable of.
But it was also the type that took everything with it when it was gone. It ground out the last bit of who you were when you had it and destroyed the future you’d planned when it left. The absence of it raged like a fiery demon consuming your spirit and changing the direction of your path.
But Callie was too far in now and her sister knew it. There was no stopping it. All she could do was be here for the fallout.
Jade sat down across from her sister and gave her a forced smile. “Tomorrow’s the day. Are you ready?”
Callie continued to busy herself with retrieving containers of leftovers and spooning them into dishes. She kept her back to her sister, “Yep, I’m ready.” Jade couldn’t help but notice the sudden acceleration of Callie’s breathing.
Callie spun around, the bowl of macaroni salad shaking in her hand as she tried to set it down. Jade rushed around the island and took it from her and set it on the counter.
“Cal?” She asked with concern, reaching for her sister when she saw her sway, holding onto her upper arms.
Callie trembled in her arms, her face suddenly ashen. Jade pulled her in and held her close, stroking her sister’s hair like she used to when they were both young girls and scared Callie was destined to succumb to her illness.
“Shh. Just concentrate on your breathing, Sis. In and out. I’m right here.”
Jade’s eyes burned with unshed tears as they shared an unspoken understanding.
Callie would lose Trey to the truth that he deserved to know.
“I can’t…I can’t…” Callie gasped and cried as she took comfort in her sister’s embrace.
Twenty-Three
Jade slammed the door of Callie’s car, stepping onto the sidewalk and smoothing her peach-colored sundress down as she looked around the main street of the town that had crawled its way into her sister’s heart. There wasn’t much to see – a bank, a craft store, something that looked like a hardware store, and a post office. Down the block sat a brown building which looked more like a warehouse than a bar. If it wasn’t for the obnoxious, flashing sign poking out of the front of it with the name Tipsy’s scrawled across it in the worst font possible, Jade was sure she would’ve walked past it, assuming there was nothing but tractors parked inside.
Callie grabbed Jade’s hand as they walked up the sidewalk toward the lone bar in town. She'd promised Jade the best-tasting pizza she had ever had, which was a significant promise considering she'd been living in New York City for the last two years. Just thinking about it made her stomach growl loudly.
“You okay?” Callie laughed as Jade put her hand on her stomach.
“No,” Jade complained as her sister pulled her along. “I’m sore, exhausted, and starving. Eve is like a pocket-sized Army sergeant. I’ve never worked so hard in my life.”
Callie rolled her eyes, “Okay, drama queen. I think you’ll survive.”
Callie didn’t slow at all, forcing Jade to continue her quick steps. “Oh, and I should warn you,” Callie mentioned, glancing over her shoulder. “At this time of night, there will be people in here eating pizza with their kids.”
Jade frowned, pulling her eyebrows together as she rushed after her sister. “I thought we were going to a bar?”
“We are.”
“So…kids are allowed in bars here? What the hell kind of place is this?” Jade asked with a hint of humor in her voice.
“Well, they serve food, too.”
“So, it’s a restaurant?”
“Yes, that too.”
“This town is so weird,” she mumbled under her breath, almost running into her sister who had stopped a few feet short of the front door.
When Callie didn’t say anything, Jade stepped up next to her, nudging her sister’s shoulder with her own. “How about you? You good?”
Callie took in a deep breath and nodded, forcing a smile as she squeezed her sister’s hand. “I don’t have a choice anymore, do I?”
Jade slowly shook her head. “No, not really.”
“I have to see it through to the end and hope like hell he forgives me.”
“He’s an idiot if he doesn’t.” Jade meant every word of it. As scared as she was for her sister if Trey O’Brien couldn’t see what a catch Callie was, it was his loss. She wasn’t exactly sure she was ready to lose her sister to small hick town, USA, but would take that any day over the broken heart she sensed her sister stood on the edge of.
Callie looked away from Tipsy’s and down the empty Main Street. “And if he doesn’t?” she wondered, not really a question to Jade but more to herself.
“I don’t know,” Jade answered honestly. “I guess we deal with whatever happens.”
Callie forced out a small smile as she centered herself with a deep breath but still didn’t move. Jade grabbed her sister’s other hand and pulled them up between them, forcing Callie to
turn and look her in the eye.
“Okay?” Jade asked with a touch of encouragement in her voice.
“Okay,” Callie responded with something that sounded more like acceptance.
Jade was pleasantly surprised at how full the place was. The booths and tables in the front part were filled with families trying to eat quickly while their kids ran back and forth from their seats to the old-time arcade games lining the opposite wall.
“Hey, guys, over here!” Lauren shouted as she waved at them from the table in the back of the building. Jade followed Callie across a small, empty dance floor. There was a band setting up on the stage to the left and Jade could see the fully stocked bar that ran along the back wall.
She laughed as they approached the table and looked at Lauren, “Why do I feel like I just crossed over to the wrong side of the tracks?”
Lauren smiled and opened her mouth to respond but before she could, a thick, husky voice ran over Jade’s skin, making her turn around, facing a giant of a man behind her. “But doesn’t the wrong side feel good?” He held out his hand to her, “I’m Jesse.”
“Dear God, aren’t you beautiful,” Jade admired aloud as he wrapped his calloused hand around hers.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” he lifted one eyebrow and gave a quick nod of his head in her direction and took a drink of his beer. Jade thought she saw a hint of pink blushing across his cheeks.
“Stop it, Jess,” Callie scolded as she playfully slapped at his arm. “This is my sister Jade. Jade, this is everyone,” mimicking the way Trey had introduced her to his friends.
Trey adjusted his chair and offered his lap to Callie. “Come here, Crazy Girl. I haven’t seen you all day.” She sat down, wrapping her arms around his neck as he hugged her close, rubbing softly up and down her back. “I missed you. Where have you been? I thought maybe you changed your mind and skipped town on me.”
Callie tensed, her face draining of color.
“Nope, it was my fault,” Jade admitted. “I didn’t know what to wear to a restaurant slash bar slash arcade slash dance hall.” Everyone chuckled except Trey. She knew he didn’t trust her and he was smart not to. If she had her way, she would take Callie far away from all of this and protect her from the fallout that would soon happen. She waved her hand in the air, “I must’ve changed a hundred times.”
Jesse pulled out the chair next to Trey and Callie and offered it to Jade. She paused as her stomach did a funny, little flip thing. “Thank you,” she said to Jesse and he flashed her a smile and gave her a wink. You chose well because you look beautiful. You both do.”
“Thanks, Jesse,” Callie said appreciatively.
Trey tightened his grip around Callie’s midsection.
“Are you hungry?”
“Famished. I think we finally got all the planting done for the fundraiser.”
“Your mom certainly knows how to put a girl to work, Trey. So much for my vacation in the country.” Jade crossed her arms over her chest, trying to look upset but couldn’t keep a straight face when Lauren started laughing.
“Thanks for showing up, Jade. Otherwise, I would’ve been the one out there next to your sister.”
“I didn’t really do much except whatever Callie told me to. She’s just as bossy as Eve. But honestly, I don’t know if you guys have noticed, but my sister has a real talent with flowers.”
“Jade,” Callie said, trying to hush her sister.
“No, it’s true, Cal,” she affirmed, reaching for some shelled peanuts from the bucket in the middle of the table. “You really do. You are so happy when you’re doing it.”
“I’ve noticed,” Trey chimed in, silencing everyone around him.
“You fit in here, Callie. I hope you know that. This is where you belong, here with me. With all of us.” He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss as Jade made eye contact with a worried Lauren. “I hope you’re here to stay.”
Callie wrapped her arms around his neck, laying her head on his shoulder, tears wetting her eyes.
“Who wants another drink?” Andy blurted, standing abruptly.
“Just get a couple of pitchers and tell them to put it on my tab,” Trey instructed, making Andy turn around toward the group.
“Why don’t you guys come with me?” he suggested. “Leave the ladies to talk about us behind our backs.”
Trey stood and kissed Callie’s hand whispering, “I’ll be right back.”
“Come on, Romeo,” Jesse teased as he slapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “She can’t escape. Unless she’s smart and bolts out the back door.” He smiled and winked at Callie.
Trey gave him a slight shove, “Don’t give her any ideas, dumbass.”
As soon as they were out of earshot, Lauren leaned in. “Everything is going to be okay.” She reached across the table and held Callie’s hands.
“She’s right,” added Jade. “There’s nothing to be upset about tonight. Dance with Trey. Let him hold you and whisper all those sweet things to you. You deserve to be happy.”
“Even if it’s only for tonight?” Callie asked, her eyes dropping to the table.
Lauren let out a long breath, leaning against the back of her chair, “For as long as it lasts.”
Twenty-Four
“Jade, are you ready? We can’t be late.”
Jade hopped down the stairs, trying to get one shoe on her foot while holding the other in her hand. “Have you seen my black and white scarf?”
Callie pointed to the other side of the living room where the scarf hung on the back of the chair.
“Hey,” she smiled, pointing at the scarf, “that’s right where I left it.”
“Okay, how do I look?” Callie smoothed down her white pencil dress that she’d topped with a baby blue cardigan. Her hair was straight with the top pulled back into a knot. “Do you think this is acceptable for a first grader’s Star Day? I mean, we’ll meet her teachers and all of her friends.” She looked up at Jade with pleading eyes.
With her scarf in one hand and a black flat in the other, Jade looked down at her skinny white jeans and black and white striped summer sweater. She looked back at her sister, equally panicked. “How the hell should I know?”
“Jesus, Jade, you’re the fashion photographer. What good are you?” Callie grabbed her clutch and headed toward the door.
“I don’t exactly shoot the kid’s spring catalog for JC Penney, ya know.” She called out to her sister as she slid her other shoe on and followed her outside.
The O’Brien family was coming down the steps of the main house and Callie let out a breath of relief when she saw Lauren also wearing a summer dress.
“Well, don’t you two look beautiful!” Eve said as everyone met in the middle of the driveway.
“I’m not sure how we pulled it off, Andy, but we are escorting the four prettiest women in the county to Jefferson Elementary this morning.” Trey sauntered up to Callie, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her forehead. “Good morning, sweetheart. How’d you sleep?”
“Not well,” Callie admitted.
“Me either. Seems I’m getting kind of used to you in my bed.”
“Alright, that’s enough. Is nothing sacred with you two? Do you not see your mother standing right here?” Jade shook her head.
“It’s okay, honey. When an O’Brien man falls, he falls hard. They are passionate men and it’s not in his nature to keep something like that to himself. His daddy was the same way.”
“Well, dear God. You’d better put a cap on that before you meet our parents.” It was out of Jade’s mouth before she could take it back and everyone froze. Everyone but Trey, whose face lit up. “Thanks for the advice, Jade. I’ll remember that when your sister takes me to meet your folks.”
Andy looked at his watch. “I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want the wrath of Miss Alex if we are even one minute late for this thing, so we should probably get going.”
“Let me go get the flowers I bought for her and I
’ll be ready to go.” Jade turned, rushing back toward the guesthouse.
Callie looked up at Trey, “Did you remember –”
“Oh shit, baby. I forgot it on the table.” He started toward his truck as Callie looked at Lauren and explained, “We bought her a stuffed firefly.”
“You’re so sweet,” Lauren said as Jade rejoined them, “both of you.”
Jade laughed, “She’s the sweet one,” pointing at Callie. “I’m just the sister.”
“Well, it seemed Jesse was pretty smitten with just the sister,” Andy teased.
“Oh my goodness. You and Jesse? I love that boy.” Eve said, clapping her hands excitedly. “And he needs a strong woman exactly like you to keep him in line.”
“Whoa, slow down. I only kissed him. It’s not like we’re engaged or anything. I mean, it was a really, really good kiss, but…” she shook her hands in front of her face, trying to erase the memory that was flooding into her mind. Everyone stood smiling at her, “No. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you guys are great, but all of this…” she made a circle above her head with one finger, “no…it’s not for me. I’m a city girl, who just so happened to kiss a country boy in the backroom of a restaurant slash bar. A really dreamy country boy who kisses really, really good…”
“Uh huh,” Eve and Lauren said teasingly at the same time.
“No. Stop giving me those lovey-dovey eyes.” Jade walked to Andy’s truck and pulled open the back door. “I am not going there,” she announced as she climbed in and slammed the door.
Andy looked at the other two women, “Guess I’m driving,” he said with a laugh.
Lauren threaded her arm through his, “I guess so.”
Trey pulled up and rolled his window down. “Babe go ahead and ride with them. I’ll meet you there.”
“Are you sure? I could just ride with you.”
“No, I don’t want you to be late. Go ahead, I’ll be right behind you.”
Trey cursed himself as he drove down the gravel road after picking up the stuffed animal at his house. How could he have forgotten Firefly’s present? He smiled remembering how much fun he and Callie had picking it out. Being with her was comfortable and even though he knew there were a lot of things about Callie he didn’t know yet, he hoped they would have the rest of their lives to find out everything about each other.
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