He watched the jet taxi and take off, the dogs sitting on either side of him, until the sound of the engines faded and there was nothing left but the evening quiet and the birds in the oaks.
When he got back to the terrace, Callie was still there, curled up on one of the loungers, watching the sunset paint the hills gold and purple.She looked up when he approached but didn't say anything.Just shifted to make room for him.
He sank down beside her, and she curled into his side.Peanut jumped up and draped herself across their feet.Butter lay down on the warm stones beside them with a heavy sigh.
For a long time, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Callie said, "You okay?"
He thought about it.Really thought.
"Yeah," he said slowly."I think I am."
She pressed a kiss to his shoulder."It wasn't so bad, was it?"
He shook his head."No.It wasn't."He stared out at the hills, at the vines, at the place that had always felt more like a burden than a home."I didn't expect him to...I don't know.See things."
"The wind chimes?"
"Yeah.And the lilacs."His voice caught a little."I didn't know he planted them.I didn't know we used to..."
She tightened her arm around him.She didn't push.She just waited.
"I think maybe I remembered wrong," he said quietly."I thought he was never here.But maybe he was.At least for a while."
"That doesn't change how hard it was for you."
"No."He turned to look at her."But maybe it changes what comes next."
She smiled up at him, her green eyes catching the last of the light."Maybe it does."
He leaned down and kissed her softly.When he pulled back, Butter woofed once.
"The big guy approves," said Callie.
Ollie laughed."He always does."
They sat there together as the sky deepened to purple, the dogs warm against their legs.
"Thank you," he said quietly."For being here.For making me give him a chance."
She pressed a kiss to his shoulder."You did that yourself.I just reminded you that you could."
He pulled her a little closer.Tomorrow they'd figure out the rest.Tonight, this was enough.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
When she woke up on Wednesday morning, Callie snuggled closer to Ollie.She was supposed to have gone home on Monday, but neither of them had wanted her to, and she didn't see any reason to pretend she should.As it had worked out, she'd needed to be here anyway — she'd met with Delaney about how to maximize the opportunity this moment had created.She made a face.That's how Delaney had phrased it.Callie was pretty sure her dad would call it making hay while the sun shines.
Ollie turned to her with a sleepy smile."Morning," he said, his voice still gravelly.
"Morning yourself.Do you want coffee?I'm going to get up."
He curled his arm around her and rolled them so she was on her back looking up into his eyes, laughing.
"Do you have to go?"
She laughed."No, I don't.You're the one who has to go, remember?"
