by K E Osborn
Alistair exhales. "You don't know what I want."
"Then what do you want?"
"For my son to follow in my footsteps. I've worked hard to get Aiden to where he is today, and your daughter is tearing him away from me and our business."
"He's in love, Alistair. Nothing you say or do is going to change that. My daughter is his soul mate, and I know, deep down, that you wish things were different. You wish you could let down your walls and your tough exterior. You wish you could tell Callie how much you love her. You wish you had control over everything, but you don't, Alistair, and that's no one's fault but your own."
"I have plenty of control, thank you. What do you know about how I feel towards Callie? That's none of your business."
"Play it that way, but sooner rather than later, they will all abandon you. One by one, mark my words, if you don't change, they will all be gone before you know it."
He swallows a lump in his throat. I think what Mom is saying to him is getting through.
Alistair walks over to the car and Bill opens the rear passenger door for Alistair to get in. We all take a deep breath and walk toward our cars.
"Do you want to come back to my place for dessert?" Mom asks Aiden, Chris, Sarah and I. I look at Aiden, who nods in agreement, along with Sarah.
"We'll see you at Ev's," Aiden says to Sarah and Chris. We walk over to the car where Mike and Callie are standing.
"Callie, would you like to come back to my place for dessert?" Mom asks.
"Sounds divine."
We hop into the car, girls in the back and guys in the front.
We pull up and get out of the car. Mom searches through her handbag to find her keys while we all chat among ourselves. She finds the keys and holds them up in the air.
"Found 'em." She shakes them in her hand.
Bella is there to greet us, barking and wagging her tail when we enter. Callie bends down to pat her. I think Callie secretly loves dogs, but of course, Alistair won't let her have any pets.
We make our way to the living room.
"Sorry about the lack of room, guys." Mom starts tidying up the cushions before people sit down.
"Oh this place is adorable, Ev," Callie says sitting on the sofa. Bella jumps on her lap straight away. Callie giggles as Bella snuggles into her. Sarah and I walk into the kitchen to get some tea, coffee, and biscuits for everyone. Once the drinks are made, we head back into the living room and sit.
"Is he like that all the time?" Mom asks.
"Yes," Callie says sullenly.
"Then why stay with him?"
Mike looks up.
"I don't really know why, there's no real reason to stay anymore. My reasoning used to be for the children, but that's not a good enough excuse anymore. I certainly don't love him, and haven't done so for many years. Sorry, Aiden, I shouldn't say that in front of you."
"No, Mom, I want you to be happy. I know there's no way he makes you happy," Aiden reassures her.
"But I can't leave. What about Brielle?"
"Mom, she's old enough to look after herself, and you need to look after yourself now. I'd be happy if you left him."
I smile up at him as Callie looks at my mother.
"He's right, Callie. It's better to be on your own than to be with someone you don't love," Mom says.
"And you wouldn't be on your own anyway." Mike gathers himself and quickly says, "What I mean is that, you have your children, and they'll never allow you to be alone."
Mom smiles and takes a sip of her tea.
Chapter 15
We end up bringing Callie back to our apartment because she wasn't ready to go home. I lie next to her while Aiden sleeps soundly on the sofa. I wonder how she got in so deep. Was Alistair like Aiden, kind and gentle before he turned into a power-hungry douche bag? It makes me wonder if I'm falling into the same trap she did when she married Alistair. I sigh as my thoughts run riot in my head.
Callie slowly opens her eyes and looks at me.
"Good morning, darling. Thank you so much for letting me stay last night. I know you didn't have to, but I'm thankful that you did,"
"It's no bother at all. I want you to be happy, so does Aiden. He's very worried about you."
"I know. I've been thinking about it all night and I think I need to leave Alistair."
"You're the only one who can make that choice."
"I know, and I think I've made it."
"Can I ask you a personal question?"
She looks at me curiously. "Of course."
I take in a deep breath. "Was Alistair different when you first met him? I mean was he nice and then he changed?"
She can see right through me.
"Sweetheart, Aiden is nothing like his father. Alistair has always been rude and obnoxious. Even when we were growing up together, he was like his father, Patrick. Patty was a ruthless man. He wanted Alistair to follow in his footsteps and work as an entrepreneur, dabbling in all the various businesses he had. But Alistair was so great with numbers and had a real eye for detail. He really wanted to be in finance, so when he told his father that he wasn't going to follow in his footsteps, Patty would scream and sometimes even hit Alistair, I guess to knock some sense into him. Patty was set in his ways, and he wanted his only son to be just like him and his father before him. But Alistair's personality was always just like his father's. I think that's why they clashed so much when Alistair was growing up. Aiden, on the other hand, has grown up just like Alistair did, with his father telling him what to do and how to do it, but he isn't like his father. He's much calmer and more tolerant than Patty or Alistair ever was. To be honest, I don't know what I saw in Alistair when I was younger. I think it was the bad-boy curse."
"I never pictured you liking the bad boys."
"Oh, yes, my first boyfriend rode a motorcycle, and in those days, that was the epitome of bad boy. My father was outraged that I'd choose someone so reckless. Then there was Mike. Do you know the story of how we met?"
I look at her, intrigued. "No, I thought he was just hired to drive for Aiden when he was five."
Callie smiles as if she's reminiscing. "No, Alistair and I practically grew up together; our parents were great friends and would socialize. I think they had Alistair and I paired from the start. It wasn't until we were around eighteen that Nana and Patty took Mike in. He was working for them doing odd jobs around the house, and he became part of the family. We were like our own little gang of three. Mike, Alistair, and me. No one could break our friendship. It wasn't until Mike and I became quite close that Patty and Alistair started referring to Mike as 'the help' and, therefore, he was in a different class than us. My parents were very set on being upper class so to have me connecting with someone from 'the help' was frowned upon. Mike was eventually made to do jobs where we could only see each other in passing, and then we drifted apart. My parents encouraged my relationship with Alistair, and I guess the rest is history. I often wonder how my life would've turned out if Mike had come along in a different way or at a different time. But there's no point in wondering. I guess I made my bed. I'd better lie in it, even if it isn't in the same room as my husband's anymore."
"You know you can stay here as long as you like."
"Thank you, honey, but I don't want to intrude. I mean you two are starting your lives together. You don't want me hanging around to spoil the romance."
Aiden walks in. "Mom, I have a spare apartment free on the second floor if you want to stay here. Honestly, I don't mind. I'd rather know you're safe here than alone somewhere else." He walks over to the bed and sits on the edge by his mom.
"I won't intrude. I promise."
Aiden hugs his mom.
"Mike's on the second floor. I'm sure he'll keep you company."
"Jeni!" Aiden says sternly.
"No, it's fine. Mike and I are great friends. It'll be nice knowing he's there."
I smile at her knowingly while he sits on the bed, his eyes darting between us with his brows furrowed
.
We get up and decide to have breakfast. I walk to the kitchen and look in the cupboard for something to cook, figuring that I'll give Aiden some alone time with his mom as they sit in the living room and talk. I make pancakes with strawberries for breakfast. It takes about fifteen minutes to cook and prepare them nicely on the plates, a stack for each of us, with strawberries and maple syrup and a dash of cream on top. I take them to the table and go back to the kitchen to pour the coffee.
"Guys, it's ready." I take the coffee over to the table; Aiden and Callie walk in and join me.
"Wow, this look delicious."
"You should come over more often, Mom. She never cooks like this for me."
"That's because you do all the cooking, babe." I gesture a kiss.
Callie takes a sip of her coffee.
"We're going to go shopping today to furnish Mom's apartment. Do you want to come?" he asks happily.
"Absolutely. I love furniture shopping."
"Now, are you sure you want to do this, Mom?"
"I'm sure, honey. It's time."
"Guess we'd better drop past the house and pick up a few things?"
Callie winces. "I don't know if I'm ready to see him yet."
"But won't you need clothes and your toothbrush and stuff like that?" he questions.
I look at Callie and see her rising angst. "I'll get it. Aiden, if you would like to take me there, I can pick out all the things you'll need and bring them back for you."
Her eyes fill with tears. "You would do that for me?" A tear runs down her cheek.
"Of course I would, Callie. You're like my second mom, and I'd do anything to help you out."
She stands up walking around to hug me. I hug her back and he mouths, thank you. I smile in return.
***
We head off after breakfast to a home center in Mike's car to look at different things for Callie's new apartment. We go through many stores picking out great pieces of furniture in her style. It takes us nearly all day to pick it out, but we manage to find everything she needs. Aiden pays for it to be delivered today so she has somewhere to call home immediately. We decide to drive from the home center to Callie and Alistair's mansion. We drive up the driveway, and Callie doesn't say a word. Mike pulls up and turns the engine off.
"Mom, stay here. We will get everything, and we'll be right back."
We get out of the car and walk to the front door, ring the doorbell, and stand and wait for what seems like ages, but no one answers. Aiden rings the doorbell again. Still nothing. He takes his keys out of his pocket and opens the front door. The place is dark.
"Father?" Aiden calls out. "Father, are you here?"
Nothing but silence.
I look down the hallway, and I see light coming from under his father's study door. I point toward the room. We both walk slowly to the study. We get to the doorway, and Alistair is sitting on his computer chair slouched over the desk with an empty bottle of whisky knocked over next to him. I feel a minute amount of sadness for Alistair. He obviously cares more than he lets on to get completely hammered and pass out. I look at Aiden, who exhales and shakes his head. I notice his lips are pursed as he walks over to his father, lifting him off the desk.
"What? Who's there?" Alistair mumbles, the smell of alcohol permeating the room.
"It's me," Aiden says, leaning his father back into his chair.
Alistair opens his eyes and they roll around in his head.
"Jeni, can you go and get Mom's things?" Obviously he wants to be alone with his father.
I walk out of the study and up the stairs to Callie's room, and I look around for a suitcase, which I find on the top shelf. I place it on the bed and start to pack.
I have a last look around to ensure I've retrieved everything Callie will need.
I walk back down the stairs with the heavy suitcase and amenities bag and place them at the bottom of the stairs. I walk back to the study to see they are no longer there.
"Aiden?" I call out.
"In here." The sound is coming from a room down the end of the hall. It's a room I've never been in, and Aiden has Alistair laid out on the sofa with a pillow under his head. I look at him with sympathy.
"Is he alright?" I ask when I enter the room.
"I'm fine, you little trollop." He tries to sit up, but when he does, he grabs his head and falls back down to the sofa.
"Bit dizzy, Father?"
"Shut up. I'm not dizzy, dizzy, no, not me," he slurs. If it wasn't so sad, I'd be laughing.
His eyes turn to me. "You, you ruined everything. Aiden's whipped, and I'm fucked!"
"Father, just rest here. Do you know where Bree is?"
"Ha, she sleeps somewhere, in Blair's," he responds. Aiden shakes his head.
"She's at Blair's?"
"That's what I said," Alistair shouts, making us both jump. He's such a grumpy drunk.
"Father, get some sleep. Mom's with us. She's not coming home."
"Riddens good." His eyes roll back and he slips into unconsciousness.
I shake my head. "Aiden, are you alright?"
He stands and looks at me. "Let's go." He walks past me to the stairs and grabs Callie's bags on the way out.
He walks briskly to the car with bags in hand. I stop at the doorway.
"Aiden, Aiden, wait, should we leave him like that?" I yell as he storms off.
He opens the trunk, throws the bags in and slams it shut. I close the door and then run toward the car.
"Talk to me," I yell as he gets in the car, slamming the door. I reach the car and open the front passenger door.
"Aiden?" I ask breathlessly.
"Get in the car. We're leaving."
"What's wrong?" Callie calls out from the back of the car.
Aiden scrunches his face. He talks softly and less demanding. "Nothing. Jeni, please get in the car."
I huff and walk around to the back of the car.
"Thank you. Mike, let's go."
Mike looks at me in the rearview mirror.
"Aiden O'Connell, you tell me what's wrong right now!" Callie bursts out, surprising me.
"Mom, it's nothing for you to be concerned about."
"Aiden, tell me."
"Mom, don't."
"Aiden!"
He turns to face us. "Fine, but you asked for it. He's in there shit-faced, and all he could say when I told him that you left is good riddance."
"Good, I needed to hear that."
"Huh?" Aiden asks, raising one eyebrow.
"I wasn't sure I was doing the right thing. Now I know I am. Thank you for telling me. Thank you for everything today. You really are a better man."
"Thanks, Mom." He turns back to face the front as Mike pulls out of the long driveway.
We get back to the apartment in time to see a truck unloading furniture. We pull up and make our way to the truck driver.
"Hi, we have a delivery for Mrs. Callie O'Connell."
"Yes, that's me." She walks over to him, signs the paperwork, and the deliverymen start to move the furniture into the elevator.
"I'll show you the way," Mike says to the deliverymen, going into the elevator with them.
I see how happy Mike is. His face is beaming with a smile so brightly that the wrinkles around the corners of his eyes become visible. I wonder when Aiden will pick up on what's happening.
We take the bags out of the trunk of the car and make our way to the elevator, waiting for it to come back down. The doors open, we step in, and Aiden presses the button for level two.
We proceed down the hall to apartment four, which is across from Mike's.
"Mom, this is home." He opens the door to the apartment which is small but big enough for one person. The deliverymen are placing and adjusting the furniture and the apartment slowly becomes Callie's.
"Mom, I'll get you a swipe card so you can come up to our apartment if you need us."
"I forgot to tell you. I might have lost my card. Can you get me a new one too, pr
etty please, with sugar on top?" I say.
He shakes his head. "Baby, you have to be more careful. It means anyone can get into our apartment if they find it. Luckily the swipe card doesn't have our address or any thing linking it to this building, so I don't think I have to worry about anyone getting in."
"I know. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened to it." I pout my bottom lip.
"I'll get you a new one, but seriously, don't lose it again."
"I promise." I lean in and kiss him.
"Oh, young love ... Isn't it wonderful?" Callie says.
***
It starts to get late as we finalize setting up Callie's new apartment.
"Oh, we've managed to get you everything you need, except you don't have any food in the fridge."
"I'll take Callie out shopping tomorrow for her groceries."
"Thank you, Mike." Callie touches him on the arm and smiles.
"How about we all go out for a celebratory dinner, on me?" Aiden says.
"I want to call Brielle and let her know what's happening first," Callie says then she walks into the other room.
"Mike, what's going on with you and my mother?" Aiden whispers when Callie leaves. Finally, it's clicked. Mike looks at him, his breathing escalates and his eyes widen.
"Oh, nothing, we're good friends."
"Okaaay." He sounds unconvinced.
I start to laugh, thinking about his father. Aiden looks at me curiously.
"What's funny?"
"Your father is going to have one hell of a hangover at work tomorrow."
"Yeah, great, my father plus hangover equals mega grouch," he says with a sarcastic tone.
Callie walks back in. "She's fine but upset that her father hurt her. You didn't tell me he pushed her into the table."
"I know. I didn't want to upset you any more than you already were."
"Thank you, honey, but I need to know these things. She's at Blair's; she's going to stay there for a while until things settle down."
"Is she working tomorrow?" I ask curiously.
"I think so."
"I'll have a chat with her tomorrow and see if she's all right."
"Thank you, honey, I'd appreciate that," Callie says with a yawn. "You know, it's been a long day. Can we stay in for dinner? I haven't had takeout in so long."