“No cars for Christmas, either, Bryan.”
He laughed irreverently. “You know that’s not what I meant! What are you doing Christmas? The guys and I have decided that things are going so well that we’re going to take a couple of days for the holiday.” His voice dropped to a seductive whisper. “I miss you so much. baby. Would it be okay if I came back down there for a visit?”
“Oh, that would be great! I’d hoped y’all would break for the holidays, but I wasn’t sure you’d be able to. It would give my folks a chance to get to know you better, and you could help out in the store. This time of year we need all the help we can get.” Callie chuckled at the last comment. Clearing overstock bins was not her sweetheart’s idea of fun.
“Okay, I should’ve known you’d find a way to get more free labor out of me. I assume I’ll be staying with you?” Bryan asked, making love again foremost on his mind.”
“Actually Bryan…” Callie hesitated, she knew this was not going to go over well. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. I don’t want Cynthia and Addie to think that I’m sleeping around. My folks said if you came they’d like it if you spent the holiday at their house.” Bryan yelped into the telephone just as she’d known he would, but at least he hadn’t started swearing. Yet. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there too.”
“Yeah, but who’s going to call in the S.W.A.T. team?” Bryan retorted irritably. “Callie, I don’t think staying with my girlfriend’s parents is ever a good idea. Especially when her daddy’s already made it clear that he don’t like my kind around there,” he said in such an excellent imitation of her father’s big booming voice that Callie couldn’t help laughing.
“Bryan, we’ll have a great time.” Then at his snort of disbelief, “Okay, we probably won’t have a great time, but I really need to do it this way. Please? I want to see you, but I can’t just pretend my family doesn’t exist.”
Bryan groaned inwardly. Clearly there would be little or no opportunity for him to have her sweet body again, but he couldn’t resist doing anything Callie asked of him. “Okay, I’ll come to Alabama and let your dad kick my ass, again, but you’re going to owe me big time.” He perked up. “What about after Christmas? We’re doing a gig up in Canada for New Year’s. It’s just a warm-up really, to give Thad a chance to adjust to playing in front of a crowd. He’s really going to lose it. That boy just doesn’t like playing in public, but anyway, it’s at this really cool ski resort. You’ll love it. There’s a great spa, so you can even say you’re doing research for your five-year plan to dominate the American economy.”
“You’ve already had poor Kelly buy my ticket, haven’t you?” Callie asked suspiciously, knowing how Bryan operated.
Bryan hooted with laughter, but didn’t deny it. “You do know me so well. So, will you come?”
“Yes, Bryan, I’ll be there,” Callie agreed, relieved that he’d capitulated so easily and agreed to stay with her parents. Another cross-country trip paled in comparison.
The conversation continued as Callie asked about the band and Bryan told her how well Thad was working out. He explained that the situation was still strained at times, but they were playing great. Adversity sometimes produced the best music, or so Bryan sincerely hoped. Like all the other nights they strung the conversation out for as long as they could, but eventually they had to say goodnight.
After she hung up the phone, Callie lay in bed staring at the bear she’d decided to call Bartholomew. Somehow he looked right at home in her bedroom. Her taste was very tailored and the soft pink tones of her bedroom were absent of any lace or flourishes. Tonya referred to it as the “ruffle-free zone.” Of course any bedroom would be plain compared to Tonya’s, which in Callie’s opinion resembled an upscale bordello. Decorated in bright jewel tones, everything in Tonya’s room was festooned with ruffles, lace or bows, and sometimes all three. Tonya called it her “girlie” room. Callie preferred much softer, relaxing hues, and of course, a clutter-free environment. Her large brass bed was a hand-me-down from another relative, and the cozy pink quilt had been made by Big Mama, her father’s mother. Callie studied Bartholomew a little longer, then feeling lonelier than she had in her life, she pulled the bear into bed with her. Wrapping her arms around the furry creature, she fell into the first peaceful slumber she’d had since leaving L.A.
Chapter 13
Tonya moved another stack of books, paused to wipe the sweat off her brow, then glanced back over her shoulder at Callie. “So when were you planning to tell me that you and Bryan did the ‘do’ while you were in L.A.?”
Her question was greeted by a resounding crash as Callie knocked over the pile of books she was moving out of the overstock bins. “Tonya,” Callie hissed in a high-pitched whisper, “did you forget that Cynthia and Addie are here?”
Tonya merely shook her head. “Callie, they’re in the break room getting something to drink, and you didn’t answer my question,” she pointed out.
Callie flopped down on the floor next to the stack of books she’d knocked over. It was well past midnight, and she was exhausted. Christmas Eve was only two days away, and they would open early with all kinds of door busters and special discounts for their early-bird customers. This was an ideal opportunity to eliminate their overstock and remaindered books, but keeping the shelves stocked was backbreaking work. With extended hours the store was open until nine o’clock the week before Christmas and customers were taking advantage of the specials. Cynthia and Addie had come down to help them restock the shelves, tidy the store and help maintain attractive merchandising.
Callie looked up at Tonya balefully. “How did you know?”
Tonya sank down beside her friend on the floor. “Let’s see, you come back glowing like an alien invasion, and old boy starts inundating you with diamonds and pearls and you didn’t think I’d guess what happened? Hell, I started to ask how it was, but I think it’s obvious because dude’s been spending money like Tiffany’s is having a fire sale.”
Callie buried her face in her hands, mortified by the accuracy of what Tonya was saying. “Tonya! He’s only sent one piece of jewelry, and I had every intention of sending it back.”
Sharp as ever Tonya caught her slip of the tongue. “Had every intention? Hmmmm, what happened to ‘most definitely’ sending it back? Told you those twelve carats would grow on you!” she added smugly.
“Hush, I don’t want Cynthia and Addie to hear about it! You know what my folks will think!” Callie paused, reflecting on what Bryan had said the last time they’d discussed this topic. “You know, Tonya, when he first sent the bracelet, I thought he was trying to buy me or treating me like a kept woman. I told you that.” Tonya nodded. “But the other night, we talked about it again, and I could see that he just really wanted to give me something pretty. It wasn’t about trying to own me or anything. I think I was being unfair to him.”
Tonya pursed her lips, “What do you mean by unfair?”
Callie rubbed her hands over her thighs as she tried to frame her words. “I think I was holding him to a different standard than I would a black man. I mean, would I have questioned a black man’s motives in giving me a bracelet? I think I let other folks’ stereotypes mess with my head. I know Bryan better than that. He’s not that way, and I shouldn’t have thought it for a moment.” She paused to mull over that thought. “Did you have these problems when you went out with Nate?” Callie referred to the white guy Tonya had dated when they were in college. She hadn’t asked too many questions about the relationship at the time, assuming that he was just another one of Tonya’s flights of fancy. The relationship had lasted more than a year, though, which was much better than her usual track record.
Tonya laughed self-deprecatingly. “I don’t think Nate and I ever got that deep. We were too busy doing other things.” She stared off into space as if lost in thought. “I never looked at it that closely, but you know me, I never really gave a damn what other people say. Folks have been calling me a whore since high
school, big deal,” she said dismissively.
Callie saw through the bravado. She remembered those rumors and knew how much they had hurt Tonya as they both had been virgins until they were in college. Nate had been Tonya’s first, and the relationship had lasted until he went off to join the Peace Corps their junior year.
“So what’s the deal between you two?” Tonya asked.
“I guess you could say we’re dating. He said he wants to be with me as much as he can, and I want that too.”
“Cool, so when are you seeing him again? Didn’t you say they’re about to go out on tour soon?”
Callie began straightening the books. “Yeah,” she said glumly. “They’re going back on the road in January. He’ll be here day after tomorrow. He’s spending Christmas here at my folks’ house, and then we’re going to Canada a few days before New Year’s. After that, who knows?”
“Callie, why are you leading that boy into the lion’s den? You know how your daddy feels about white men, especially white men who are trying to get,” she paused with a wink, “have gotten into his daughter’s drawers.” Then the second half of Callie’s statement sank in. “You’re going to Canada with him for New Year’s? Wow! Have you told your folks about that yet?”
“No, I haven’t told anyone besides you.” Callie tried to change the subject by asking, “Do you think you’ll be okay with the store? The literacy group and the financial planning workshops don’t start back up until after New Year’s. It’s only for a few days, and Cynthia and Addie are out of school and they can help. Plus Roshonda…”
Tonya interrupted, “Of course I’ll be okay. That’s why we hired Roshonda in the first place, remember? So that we could have a personal life. Of course,” she continued sarcastically, “some of us have way more life than others.” Much to Callie’s chagrin, she wouldn’t be distracted from the previous topic. “But you still didn’t answer my question. What about your folks?”
“Tonya,” Callie said earnestly, “I really like Bryan, and I want to spend as much time with him as possible. I know Daddy will be difficult, but I don’t think they’ll do anything to hurt his feelings. I just want them to get a chance to know him as a person, you know? Not as the ‘long-haired, drug-using rocker from California,’ but as Bryan, the man I lo…” She stopped. Where on earth had the “l” word come from? “Anyway, Tonya, I miss him. You know how the poems and stuff talk about missing somebody so much you ache?” Tonya nodded. “I always thought that was a bunch of nonsense. Now I know better. A thousand times a day I think of something I want to tell Bryan about, then by the time he calls I’ve forgotten, and we end up just sitting there breathing into the telephone because we don’t want to hang up. I didn’t think it was possible to miss somebody so much.”
Tonya hadn’t missed her friend’s slip of the tongue, but deciding that Callie had been tortured enough for one long day, she reached over and gave her a brief hug. “Girl, you know I understand, but…”
“I know, but I’m an adult now. I’ve never given my folks any reason to question my judgment or choices. I know they don’t like it, but they’ll have to live with it. Being with Bryan is worth it.”
Their little chat was disturbed by a shout from the stockroom. “Callie,” Cynthia called, “your cell phone is ringing.” She rushed into the room giggling. “I think it’s your boyfriend.”
Callie snatched the telephone from her hand and answered it, then walked to the back of the room for privacy to talk to Bryan.
“Did you see that cell phone he got her?” Cynthia asked Tonya. “It’s the latest Motorola, and it’s titanium plated! I can’t wait until I can finally tell the girls at school about all this. They’re not going to believe it! It’s the most awesome cell phone in the world, and he gave her a direct line! That’s sooo romantic!” she gushed.
Tonya grunted in disbelief at Cynthia’s enthusiasm. “Oh yeah, nothing says ‘I love you’ like titanium plating.”
* * *
“No, baby, please, I can’t take anymore. We’ve got to stop now,” Bryan gasped, moving away from Callie on the sofa. It was Christmas Eve, and Callie and Bryan were supposed to be watching a movie in the den of her parents’ house. The rest of the family had retired for the evening, leaving them alone. Bryan couldn’t believe Callie’s behavior. He’d come to Alabama firm in his resolve to keep his hands to himself while in the Lawson home because he had no intention of getting dressed down again by her father. Unfortunately he hadn’t taken Callie into consideration when making that resolution. He hadn’t a clue as to why, but his usually reserved Callie had suddenly turned playful. From the moment he arrived, he’d known he was in trouble. She’d jumped into his arms and planted a huge wet kiss on him right in front of her family. Bryan wasn’t sure but he thought he’d seen Jesse Lawson grow fangs right before his very eyes. During the embrace he’d been careful to keep his arms splayed to avoid even the appearance of having initiated it.
Fortunately her family hadn’t noticed when his eyes crossed from the bolt of desire that shot through him when he felt Callie’s bare foot stroking his calf during dinner. Despite that close call, she had resumed her antics while they cleaned up after dinner, playfully popping him on the backside with the dish towel.
The soft, wet kisses they’d shared since her family had left the den had quickly evolved into deep, passionate exchanges. And somehow they’d wound up prone on the sofa, feverishly straining to fit their bodies together in a way that was not possible through their clothing. The fierce grinding had stressed his perilous control to the point that he either had to end the embrace or make love to her right there on the sofa.
“But I missed you,” Callie pouted petulantly, as if that excused the way she had jeopardized his life. She leaned against him and reached up to stroke his hair. “I really, really missed you.”
Bryan disengaged again. “Callie, you know how your father feels about me. He made it clear that he didn’t appreciate me disrespecting his home the last time I was here. What if he’d walked in and caught me between your legs like that?”
Callie crossed her arms across her chest. She knew Bryan was right, and she really did appreciate the way he was working so hard to make a good impression on her family. He wasn’t accustomed to having to behave in any prescribed manner; indeed, people generally went out their way to accommodate him.
“I’m sorry, sweetie, I know I’ve been a bad girl, but I can’t seem to help it. I guess I’ve gotten used to having you around, and now that you’re not here…” She shrugged. “I realize what a big part of my life you really are.”
Bryan smiled. “I feel the same way, Callie. That’s why I don’t want to mess things up with your folks. I know they’re very important to you, and I want them to at least trust me to take care of you and respect their home, even if they can’t come to like me, okay?”
Callie nodded, seeing the logic in this. “I think dinner really went well, don’t you? You and Daddy talked about football and stuff.”
“Yeah, he’s a big Titans and Falcons fan, and I really like the Raiders, but all in all, it was pretty cool. That’s why I don’t want to blow it by having him catch us making out on the sofa like a couple of kids.” He leaned over and brushed her hair out of her face. “But I can’t wait until we get to Whistler. I’ll show you how much I’ve missed you.” Then he goosed her. “You’ll definitely pay for your misbehavior at the dinner table, young lady,” he growled.
Callie giggled. “I couldn’t help it, you were being just too well-behaved. ‘Thank you so very much, Mrs. Lawson,’ ‘I’ve never had such an incredible meal, Mrs. Lawson,’ ‘May I assist you in clearing, Mrs. Lawson?’” She mimicked his deep, rasping voice.
“ ‘Could I blow your nose for you, Mrs. Lawson?’ I just couldn’t take any more!”
Bryan continued to tickle Callie, delighted by this change in her manner towards him. It was yet another intriguing dimension of this complex woman he adored. Now if he could only survive it for
two more days.
He moved over to the end of the sofa, pulling Callie with him to rest her head on his shoulder. They sat contemplating the fire he’d built earlier. He suspected he’d impressed Callie’s father with his ability to build a fire and chop and gather wood. He had B.T. and his endless attempts to “make him into a man” to thank for that. While B.T. was no outdoors man, unless you counted his fanatical golf game, he had insisted that Bryan and Brodie learn manly skills.
Callie’s mother seemed to be warming up to him. She’d just beamed when he insisted on clearing up after supper. He’d even heard her tell Jesse, “That boy might not be so bad.” Jesse had only grunted in response, but it had to be a step in the right direction. He pulled Callie closer. Two more days of sexual frustration wasn’t too great a price to pay for the type of progress he’d made. He stroked her shoulder. Soon, very soon, he’d have her all to himself in the snowcapped peaks of the Canadian Rockies.
* * *
The next morning Bryan awakened to the sound of Cynthia and Addie knocking on everyone’s door to awaken them for the highlight of the day, at least as far as they were concerned: the opening of the Christmas presents. Though it was barely seven o’clock, he was already awake. Callie had given him advance notice of her sisters’ Christmas morning wake-up call. He lay in bed until he heard the family members move downstairs, then got up and hastily dressed in black jeans and a charcoal gray fisherman’s sweater. He didn’t bother to put on his boots and instead padded downstairs in his stocking feet.
The smell of sausage frying and coffee brewing greeted Bryan. Cynthia and Addie had begun breakfast as early as possible in an effort to speed everyone along to the main event. He followed his nose into the kitchen. He found Callie, as he’d known he would, at the coffeepot getting fueled up for the day. She looked deliciously rumpled in a pair of snug-fitting jeans and an oversized red crew-neck sweater. She gave him a somnolent glance and it was all he could do to resist the urge to take her back upstairs to her bed, or his bed, or for that matter, any flat surface. When he found himself contemplating the mechanics of making love without a flat surface, he moved to pour his own cup of coffee to distract himself from his prurient thoughts.
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