She ran to him, and Reaves scooped her up to sit on his hip.
"Are you leaving now, Prince Daddy?"
"Yeah, but I won't be long."He grinned at Ollie."Don't worry, we just have some business to take care of this morning.I'll be back later."
"Can we swim when you come home?"She turned to Ollie."Prince Daddy's teaching me to swim, you know.I'm not very good at it yet, but I will be."
"I'm sure you will," Ollie agreed.
"We'll see how we go," Reaves told her."For now, let's get you back to your mom."
She reached up to press a kiss to his cheek."I can go.I'll see you later.I can go myself!"
When he set her down, she ran to the corner before turning back to wave at them."Bye, Prince Daddy!Bye, Sunshine King!"
"How's Alara doing?"Ollie asked as they pulled away from the estate.
"Still not great," Reaves said with a sigh."But she insists she's not going to see a doctor until the health insurance kicks in."
"Damn."Ollie ran his hand through his hair."There's no way you can talk her into it?"
Reaves made a face."You think I haven't been trying?"
"I know, bud.Sorry."
"She does seem to do better some days.But I'm worried it might be something serious."
"Me too."Ollie glanced at him."And you're still sticking with just being a friend?"
Reaves nodded."She couldn't handle anything more than that.Not yet.She's working with Dad for a few hours every day.She takes naps in the afternoon.And of course she hangs out with Zia.She has enough on her plate.If our time comes, it'll come when she's in a better position.It wouldn't feel right to go in that direction yet."
"I hope when the time's right, she'll see what she has in you."
Reaves punched his shoulder."Thanks.But today isn't about me.It's about you.Where are we going first?"
"First stop is to see Willow, to collect the flowers."
Reaves laughed."You know, when Callie caught them, I was worried it might freak you out."
"That was the weird thing," said Ollie."It really didn't.It would have done in the past, but with Callie..."He shrugged."Things were different with Callie right from the start."
"That's because she's the one," said Reaves with a knowing smile.
Ollie just nodded.He hadn't used to believe in the concept of there beingthe one.But he knew better now.There was no question that Callie was the one for him.
~ ~ ~
Callie kept staring at the number on her phone.It had to be a mistake.There was no way.
Delaney had taken over her orders since Monday.Callie had been a bit pissed at her at first, especially when she insisted that the Etsy store had to close down right away.But when Delaney had forwarded her an email with a request for a mug — just one of her regular, straightforward mugs — and the buyer wanted to pay more than what she usually charged for a dozen of them, Callie was prepared to listen.
But this...
She looked down at the text again.Delaney said that the biggest custom order yet had come in, and she'd be back with more details soon.The number they were willing to pay made Callie shake her head.It could not be right.
She jumped when her phone rang in her hand.
"Hey, Delaney.Are you sure this is right?"
