“How’d you?—”
Callum winked.“Small town, sonny.And your mama goes to my church.”
I laughed.Of course she did.Of course he knew who I was.
He smiled and nodded.
Inspecting Stu’s silly grin in the photo, I widened two fingers over it to make it bigger.“How do I make it stay on the screen?”
“Take a screenshot, and then you can make that your background.”When confusion showed on my face, Callum chuckled and took the phone out of my hand.“My other son works in the tech industry.He wouldn’t allow me to be technologically illiterate, so I’ve gotten pretty handy with these things.I could write a book on your phone, edit it, and make a book cover.Could apply to run for office or play a game of Gin Rummy with someone in Belgium if I wanted to.
“There,” he said, and he handed the phone back.“I put my number in too, so if you ever need anything or want someone to talk to, you can call me.I know I’m old, but I can connect you with Auggie if you’re lookin’ for sober friends.”
I managed to thank him, but it was hard with the big lump blocking my throat.“That’s… It’s pretty cool of you.Thank you.”
Callum was nothing like Noah Lee, and I felt foolish for worrying he would be.
When we leftthe retirement home and walked through a corridor to the children’s wing, I was quiet.
“You okay?”AJ asked, and she took hold of my hand as we strolled.
“Yeah.Just thinkin’ about some things.”
“What did you and Callum talk about?He loves to gab.”
“Oh, nothin’ really.Just family.Life in general.He showed me pictures of his kids and grandkids.He’s a nice guy.”
“He really is.He’s a big flirt, too, but he’s still very much in love with his wife.She passed last year.”
“He told me.I was sorry to hear it.”
“Dixon,” AJ said, and she stopped in the middle of the hallway and stood in front of me, still holding my hand.“If you want to talk, I’m here, okay?I know you’re feelin’ out of sorts today, but?—”
“I’m fine,” I said, swiping a loose lock of her hair away from her face.Her skin was fresh and clean.Her lips, bare and the prettiest pink color like the softest, most delicate rose, blushed a little darker when I touched her.“I promise.It’s just that I don’t talk to a lot of older men.My history with father figures isn’t the best, so I’m uncomfortable around them.But Callum wasn’t like that at all.He was easy to talk to, and I guess he’s got me rethinkin’ some of my relationships over the years.”
“Oh,” she said, surprised, “that’s really nice.”
“I guess I’m still learnin’ how to relate to people, y’know?I’ve spent a lot of time alone.”
She nodded as expectant thunder rumbled outside.“When we have time, I’d love for you to tell me about it.”
“Not much to tell,” I said, shrugging.“Chopped down a bunch of trees and ate a lot of cold SpaghettiOs.C’mon.”I squeezed her hand.“Let’s go make some kids laugh.”
“Okay.You have some jokes you can tell ’em?”
“No,” I said, stopping dead in my tracks when she started back down the hallway.“I thoughtyoudid.”
“I got nothin’.We usually play Go Fish or War with a deck of cards, and some of the kids like to brush and braid my hair or just sit and tell me about their day.It doesn’t really matter.They just like to know someone’s there.”
“And you’re sure it’s okay that I’m here?I’m not— I don’t have— I mean, their parents might not want them talkin’ to an ex-junkie.”
“The children’s parents have to sign a waiver to allow them to interact with volunteers.If they don’t, then those kids stay in their rooms or are taken to another part of the building while I visit.I’ve met most of the parents, though, and they consent.Plus, my mom’s best friend, Cela, is the director of Mountain Home, and I already texted her to let her know you were with me.She’s fine with it.She knows your mom.”
I laughed as AJ pressed a button on the wall and pushed the door open when it buzzed and unlocked.
“Of course she does,” I said.“It seems everybody in this town knows Merv.”
ChapterSeventeen
