"Wow.You want to watch yourself, though, Callie — in fact, no, let's just go back to wow, tell me more."
Callie grinned."Okay.So, he lives in Napa.We haven't seen each other as much as we'd like, but we're figuring it out."
"Is he good to you, Callie?That's what matters."
"Oh, Mom, he's awesome.He's such a sweet guy.And he has two dogs."
Her mom laughed."Oh, well, he can't be all bad, then."
Callie laughed with her."He's awesome, Mom.I really, really like him."
"This sounds serious, Cals.Does 'really, really like' mean...?"
"Yeah, Mom.I love him."
"Oh, Callie, I'm thrilled for you.Well, I have my reservations, of course, and I will until I meet him.But I hope you'll bring him with you next time you come home."
"I'd love to, and I know he'd love to come.He's part of the reason I finally decided to tell you about me not having a job here — he encouraged me to."
"Well, tell him thanks from me, then, would you?And maybe you can do one of those video calls with him so that we can meet him that way until you can come."
"Yeah, we'll do that."
"Oh crap.Listen, Callie — Wyatt's flooding the laundry room.I don't know what I'm going to do with him.I'm gonna have to go.But call me again soon, okay?Say hello to this Ollie of yours for me."
"I will.Thanks, Mom.And thanks for being so understanding."
"Of course I understand you.I'm your mom.I love you, and your dad's the same too.We'll talk soon.Gotta go.Love you, Cals."
"Love you, Mom.Bye."
Callie set her phone down with a smile.She let out a breath, feeling so much lighter now that the truth was out.Although, apparently, the truth had been out all along — she just didn’t know it!
She picked her phone back up when she saw that she had a voicemail from Ollie.
~ ~ ~
As soon as Ollie sat down on the sofa in the den, both dogs jumped up beside him.He wrapped his arms around them, pressing his face into their fur.Peanut pawed at his thigh.
"What do you want, lady?Do you need to go out?"
She rested her head on his leg and covered her nose with her paws, making him laugh.He wasn't sure, but he thought she'd come to associate that gesture with Callie now.
"Yeah, I know.I miss her too."
Butter let out a low woof, as if voicing his agreement.
"She'll be back this weekend," he told them, "and when she comes, I'm gonna see what we can do about getting her to spend more time here."
Two tails waved back and forth in unison.He'd never know for sure if they understood, but in his mind, they understood every word he said.
He snatched his phone up off the coffee table when it rang and grinned when he saw Callie's name on the display.
"Hey, you.How are you doing?"
"I'm great, thanks.I miss you."
"I miss you too.But not long to go now."
