And somehow a heart that hears,I love you, Fae.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Gregory Jackson.”
The name echoes in the house, clashes with the soft blue walls.
But I know that I’m only imagining it because his voice is in my ears, coming through the phone.
Him being Reed’s dad.
I got his number from Tempest, who also warned me against calling their dad. She told me that Reed would flip the fuck out, her exact words.
But I told her what I told my girls at St. Mary’s.
That I’m not going to stand by any longer and let him suffer.
So yeah, after getting back from the woods and having dinner, I decided to send Reed on a grocery store run for that ice cream I like so I could call his dad.
I’m sitting down for this.
And good thing because I’m quaking,quaking, on the inside.
But I grab the edge of the cozy couch and say in a calm and determined voice, “Mr. Jackson, hi. You probably don’t remember me but I’m a friend of your daughter.” I cringe; greatintroduction. “And also Reed. My name is Callie Thorne and I was hoping that I could talk —”
“Calliope.”
I cringe again. Because no one has called me that in like forever.
But it’s not exactly the fact that he’s called me by my full name. It’s how he’s done it.
With so much interest. And I’m not going to lie, that creeps me out a little bit.
That intense interest.
Even so, I’m glad he knows who I am. It might save me from telling him the whole sordid tale from two years ago.
“Yes, I —”
He speaks over me. “How nice of you to call. I’ve been meaning to have a conversation with you.”
Mr. Jackson’s voice is smooth and deep, like his son’s, but there’s a quality in it that I find… slimy. Halo finds it slimy too I think because she kicks in my belly angrily and I have to rub the spot to make her go back to sleep.
Not now, honey.
Before I can respond to that, he continues, “I hear congratulations are in order.”
“You know?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
I didn’t think he knew.
Reed has been so adamant about not letting me go anywhere near his dad or getting him involved in my pregnancy in any way that it comes as a surprise.
As a shock actually.
Unpleasant and vexing.
Something that gets my heart rate up.
