Her heart leaped into her mouth when she saw Ollie's name on the display.She felt so bad that she hadn't talked to him again.She wanted to — she wanted to see him — but she didn't feel like she could talk to him and not tell him that Alara and Zia were here.And Alara had insisted that she didn't want anyone, especially Reaves, to know.
It wasn't that she didn't like him — she hadn't said as much, but Callie knew that she did.But they both knew that if Reaves knew she was here, especially if he knew what was going on with her, he would want to help.Callie thought it might be a good idea to let him, but she understood that Alara had her pride.While she had her camper parked here at the cottage, she was still in charge of her own life.Sure, she was using the hookups, but beyond that, she wasn't dependent.
She looked down at her phone again.
"Is everything all right?"Alara asked.
"Yeah, it's Ollie."
"And you don't want to talk to him?"
"I do, but..."
"Oh."Understanding dawned on Alara's face."You don't need to mention us — that we’re here."
"I know.That's the problem."She met Alara's gaze.
"I'm sorry.I'm putting you in a difficult situation, aren't I?"
"No."As she said the word, her phone stopped ringing, and Callie's heart sank.He was probably going to think she was blowing him off, and she wouldn't blame him.
A minute later, her phone beeped with a voicemail.Alara gave her an apologetic look."You should at least see what he has to say for himself.I feel terrible that you're not talking to him because you don't want to lie to him — and I'm asking you to lie to him."
"You're not asking me to," said Callie."It just doesn't feel right.I wouldn't even have to lie."She blew out a sigh.Technically, she wouldn't have to lie, but in her mind, hiding the truth amounted to the same thing.
She held her phone up to her ear and listened to his message.
"Hey, Callie, it's me, Ollie.I was hoping I might catch you.I saw Charles this morning, and he said he'd talked to you about those sunflower glazes.Reaves and I are going to be flying the Cirrus today, and I wondered if it'd be okay if we came to see you — I mean, came to get the glazes."
She smiled at the sound of his laugh.
"I mean, obviously I want to come and see you, glazes or no glazes, but this seemed like a pretty good excuse.Anyway, call me back if you want to."
He laughed again, and it sounded a little more strained this time.
"Or tell you what — call me back even if you don't want to and let me know, would you?See you soon, I hope."
She closed her eyes.He was such a good guy, and he was trying to do the right thing.Shehadsaid that she wouldn't mess him around, and now it seemed — to her as well as him — that she might be doing just that.
Alara smiled at her."Sorry, I could hear that.Please give him a call.We can go back to the camper."
Callie looked at Zia, who seemed to be totally oblivious to what they were talking about — which was probably a good thing.If she'd overheard Ollie say that Reaves would be with him, Callie had no doubt that nothing would satisfy her until she got to see her Prince Daddy again.
"I could go and meet them at the airport," Callie suggested."I mean, I'll have to anyway," she added when it dawned on her."It's not as though they can rent a car from there.Oh, but no — he's coming to pick the sunflower glazes."
"Like I said, we can go back to the camper.Maybe we'll just close the curtains and I'll take a nap."
"I can stay here if you need to take a nap, Mom," Zia called.
"No, you can't, Z.I don't mean right now, but a little later.We'll go back up, I'll take a nap, and you can too."
Zia nodded but didn't answer.
And now Callie felt bad for her, too.There was no doubt that she would absolutely love to see Reaves again.This whole thing was just so complicated.
Alara reached out to touch her arm."Please call him back.Say that he can come.I'll feel terrible if you don't."
"Okay."
