She chuckled."And don't you have to work during the week anyway?"
"As far as I know, we only have one flight this week."He glanced over at the remaining sunflower glazes."Even if it's just a quick visit, can I come back and get those one day?"
She nodded slowly."Yeah.Like I said, it's not that I don't want to see you."
They smiled at each other when Reaves knocked on the door before opening it to pop his head inside."Don't mean to disturb you guys.Just letting you know — take all the time you need.I'll just be out here hanging out with the trees."
Callie gave him a puzzled look, but Ollie laughed."He's not being sarcastic.Honest.He means it.He loves the redwoods.I'd forgotten that."
Reaves nodded eagerly."And Dad does too.He used to bring us up here to see them when we were kids, right, Ollie?"
"He did."
Reaves smiled at Callie."Don't be surprised if he wants to come visit you when I tell him about your trees out back.I'm just gonna go take some photos of them, if that's all right with you."
Ollie was a little surprised at the way Callie tensed — as if she didn't want him to.But after a moment, she nodded."Yeah, that's fine.We won't be long."
When the door closed after him, Ollie brushed a strand of hair off her face."He won't go far."
She frowned."No, I know.It's not that I mind him taking a look.It's just..."She glanced around the cabin."We're done here anyway, aren't we?We should go and—"
She froze when the sound of a little voice shouting "Prince Daddee!"came from outside.
"What the...?"Ollie shook his head."I must be hearing things.Because that sounded like..."
Callie's face told him that he wasn't hearing things.Thatwaslittle Zia outside.
But what he couldn't figure out was why.
~ ~ ~
Callie's heart sank when Zia called again."Prince Daddy, Prince Daddy, you're here!I knew you'd come; I made a wish and it came true.I asked the big trees and they brought you to me."
Callie cringed.Ollie was staring at her, looking totally confused."What's going on?"
She blew out a sigh."It's not that I didn't want to tell you.I'm really sorry that I didn't.But that's why things have been strange around here for the last couple of days.And the reason why I haven't called you back when you left messages.I wanted to talk to you — of course I did.But I couldn't talk to you and not tell you the truth."
"And whatisthe truth?"
She glanced over her shoulder, thinking that they should probably go out there.Although what she'd be able to do to smooth things over at this point for Alara, she didn't know.She turned back to Ollie.
"Well, as you can hear, they didn't make it to Oregon.I stopped by where they were parked again on Friday morning and they were still there.Alara didn't feel up to making the drive, and when she called to ask for more time, the job offer had fallen through."
Her heart sank when he asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Like I said, it's not up to me."
"So she's staying here with you?"he asked.
"Not in the cottage, no.Her camper's parked up there in the trees."
He shook his head."So that really was Zia's glitter on the coffee table?"
She nodded guiltily."I felt so terrible when Reaves saw it."
"Yeah.But why doesn't Alara want him to know that she's here?"He glanced toward the door too, looking worried for his friend.
She reached out to touch his arm."It's not that she doesn't like him.She already said that she'll get in touch with him again.But she needs some time to figure out what she's going to do next."
