"Sorry, maybe I jumped the gun.Maybe Alara doesn't even know yet.But Reaves is going to suggest that he should come up there and drive them back down here — drive her Suburban and the camper.Charles has offered them a place to stay at his house, and he has a job for Alara whenever she's well enough to start on it."
Callie frowned."I thought you were the one giving her a job."
"Yeah.Sorry, I still need to explain myself, don't I?"
"No, I didn't mean it like that.I'm just trying to keep up.You don't need to explain yourself, Ollie.We just need to talk, that's all."
"Well, if Alara says yes, then I'll need to fly Reaves up there and drop him off so that he can drive her Suburban back without having to leave his own truck there."
It made sense."So, you're going to want me to pick you up from the airport?"she asked.
"I'd like that.If it even happens.Like I said, maybe I'm jumping the gun.And I want to be clear — I didn’t plan to just land on you.If you didn’t want to see me anymore, I was going to drop Reaves off and fly right back out again."
"You don’t need to do that."
"I’m glad."
"Okay, well, do you want to let me know when it's all worked out?"
"Sure.Or maybe Alara will tell you herself after she talks to Reaves.Like I said, it's not a foregone conclusion.He's only going to make the offer."
Callie smiled."Yeah, but I can hardly see her saying no, can you?"
He chuckled."No.Especially not if Zia hears about it."
Callie glanced out the window.Zia had been playing out back a little while ago, skipping around in the trees, shaking her glitter on the ferns."That little lady will think all her wishes have come true if she gets to stay with Charles."
"I know.I'm keeping my fingers crossed for all of them.That it'll work out."
"Yeah, I have a feeling it will."
The line went quiet for a few moments."I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and me too, Callie."
Her hand came up to cover her heart, and she had to swallow a couple of times before she said, "Me too."
"I'm sorry."
She nodded, even though he couldn't see her."I am as well.We'll figure it out.Let me know when you're coming."
"I will.I'll see you soon."
She inhaled deeply and let it out before saying, "Yeah, see you soon, Ollie."
~ ~ ~
Ollie set his phone down on the counter and smiled when Peanut came and rested her paw on his knee."Thanks, lady," he told her."I have hope again now, at least."
Butter woofed and came to butt his head against Ollie's thigh.
"I know, I know.You guys liked her too.I'm hoping that you'll get to see her again.But..."He sighed as he looked around.Maybe bringing her here would only make her uncomfortable.But at the same time, it was where he lived.If they were going to start dating for real — let alone anything else — he needed to bring her into his life, let her see how he lived.
He petted the dogs."Maybe you two can help her get used to it.I mean, it's not all that bad, is it?"
Peanut whined, and he had to laugh when she ran over to her bed and lay down in it, rolling on her back, paddling her legs in the air, as if to demonstrate that life around here was pretty cushy, actually.
He grabbed for his phone eagerly when it beeped with a text.But he set it back down when he saw the name on the display:Dad.
"What do you think he wants?"he asked the dogs."We haven't heard from him in — what, six months?Now I get two texts within a couple of days?"
