Callie brought the truck to a stop."Do you want to grab the bags that are on your side?"
"Sure."
As he gathered the bags of groceries that Callie had bought and wouldn't let him pay for, he guessed that she'd gotten far more than Alara had asked for.He smiled when he noticed the strip of sparkly stickers in one of the bags.He'd bet good money that Alara hadn't asked for those.
~ ~ ~
Callie grinned when the camper door flew open and Zia appeared, waving madly at them.
"Lady Sunshine, you're here!"she cried.
"I am, Princess Zia."She held the bags up."And I brought you some goodies."
"Thank you."Zia's gaze only flicked toward the bags before she stared intently at Ollie."You're Prince Daddy's best friend," she exclaimed.
"I am," Ollie agreed.
When they reached the door, Zia clung to the frame with one hand and leaned all the way out, peering past them."Is he here with you?"she asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry, sweet pea, he's not," Callie told her.
She felt a little bad for Ollie.Zia had bestowed names on pretty much everyone at the Jacobs estate over the last few days, but she only referred to Ollie as either Reaves's best friend or one of the Flying Ones.
Alara appeared behind her in the doorway."I told you not to go out, Z," she said with a stern smile.
"My feet didn't leave the camper, Mom."
Callie and Ollie exchanged a smile as the little girl hauled herself back inside.
"Well, how about you let Callie and Ollie come in," Alara said."It's so nice to see you guys.Come on in, sit down."
Zia ran to the seating area and patted the cushions beside her."Come sit with me," she told them."I thought I might never see you again, and now here you are."
Callie glanced at Alara, who nodded and gestured for them to sit.Callie dropped her bags in the kitchen area."I got what you asked for and a couple more things I thought you might need."
Alara eyed the bags."That looks like a lot more things.You must tell me how much I owe you."
"That's okay," said Callie."Do you want to sit down?I know we just came along kind of uninvited.And you look a bit pale — are you feeling okay?"
She was surprised when Alara looked from her to Ollie to the sofa and back again.From what Callie had seen of her, she wasn't the kind to stop and sit down, but it was obvious that she was considering it — and likely that she needed to.
"Go on," said Callie."Take a load off.I'll feel awful if you start bustling around after us."
Alara sat, and Zia went to grab Ollie's hand.
"I wish you'd brought Prince Daddy with you," she told him."But I'm still glad you came.It'll give me one more chance to see if I can find your wings."
Alara shot Ollie an apologetic smile, but Callie just laughed.
Ollie sat beside Zia, and she stood up behind him on the seat, running her little fingers over his shoulders."They must tuck away so neatly," she said.
Ollie smiled, but it seemed to Callie that he was uncomfortable.She wouldn't have guessed that he didn't like kids — it didn't seem that way.Just that he didn't know what to say.
Alara smiled as she watched her daughter examine Ollie closely for any sign of his wings.Callie had thought she looked tired on Sunday at the brunch after the wedding, but she'd put that down to Alara having worked so hard on building the cornflower arch all week.
She pushed to her feet."Is it okay if I put some of the things in the fridge?"she asked.
Alara started to get up, looking guilty, but Callie said, "It's okay, I can do it if you don't mind."
