"And maybe she'll let you.But it has to be on her terms.And the thing is, if anything's going to happen between you guys...it can't if she feels like...if she's going to feel like she's dependent on you.Think about it for a minute."
To his credit, Reaves seemed to do exactly that.He walked away from them, staring up at the trees, before turning back and slowly nodding."Yeah.If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't have told me I was still here either."
Callie started to relax a little, glad that he was so understanding.She shot a glance at Ollie again.If anything, he seemed more put out than Reaves.
They all turned when Zia came running back."She's coming, she's coming."
Callie turned to Ollie."Maybe we should go and wait in the cottage."
She was surprised when he shook his head slowly."We will.In a minute.I just want to see that she's okay.Is that all right with you, Reaves?"
Reaves nodded."Sure.But after that..."
"Yeah, after that we'll give you guys some space."
Callie felt for Alara when she appeared between the trees.She looked pale again, but whether that was from the shock of being discovered, she didn't know.
Without even thinking, she reached for Ollie's hand when Reaves said, "Hey.How are you?"in such a gentle tone that Alara visibly relaxed.
"I've been better."
"You're still not well, are you?"
She glanced at Zia."I get my headaches.I'm doing okay.Callie has been so kind to us.I don't want you to be mad at her."
"I'm not," Reaves said immediately."I'm not mad at anyone.I just wish there was something I could do to help."
Callie was proud of Alara when she said, "There might be.But I just need to take a couple of days and figure out my options.It was a shock to discover that there was no job in Oregon.That's been my goal for a while, and I'm kind of lost now that the goalposts have shifted.Especially because..."
Callie was surprised when Ollie stepped forward.He didn't let go of her hand — he even gave it a squeeze.However, she let go of his when he said, "I can understand why you wouldn't want Reaves stepping in, but it seems to me there's a straightforward solution."
Alara watched him curiously as she asked, "And what's that?"
"I'll put you on payroll starting tomorrow.Then you'll have all the benefits you need.Everything will be taken care of."He even smiled as he added, "It'd mean you'd need to move back to Napa, though."
Alara just stared at him.And Callie did the same.What the hell was he talking about?He'd put her on payroll?How?To do what?
She glanced at Reaves, but he just looked grateful.Why wasn't he shocked?
"What's going on?"she asked eventually, when her brain felt as though it might short-circuit if she didn’t get some answers.
Ollie turned back to her, and his eyes grew wide."Oh shit."
"Oh shit what, Ollie?What's going on?What are you talking about?Payroll?How do you have payroll?Why?"
He closed his eyes and ran his hand over his face."There's something I haven’t been telling you."
He took a step toward her, but she immediately stepped back.
"Are you okay, Miss Callie Clay?"Zia asked, finally breaking out of the spell that seemed to have been cast over her as her little gaze followed the conversation bounce around the adults.
Callie shot her a tight smile."Yeah, I'm fine.I..."
Alara reached for Zia’s hand."We should go back to the camper."
"Okay.You can come too, Prince Daddy."
Reaves looked at Ollie, but he just shook his head."We'll be here in the cottage when you're ready to go."He turned to Alara."And I mean it — you don’t have to worry, okay?"
