Chapter 15 - Callie
I awakened to the smell of fresh coffee and bacon. Michael was lying next to me, propped up on one arm, fully dressed and sipping a cup of coffee as he watched me. "How long have you been watching me?" I asked.
"A while. You were tired and needed the rest."
"Dad!" I remembered and sat up, the sheet falling away from me as I searched the room for my phone. Michael handed me the phone, but his fingertips stroked my nipples and he held one breast in his hand as though weighing it as I tapped out the number. The hospital answered and I asked for the nurse's station in the ICU. I spoke to a nurse who said Dad was doing much better. They'd removed the intubation during the morning rounds and he was breathing comfortably on his own. They said I was welcome to drop by, but that he was in and out of consciousness as they were still keeping him heavily sedated. I thanked her and hung up. Throwing back the covers, I raised to my knees, looking around for my clothes. "I need to go see Dad," I said. "Where are my clothes?"
Michael kissed my rump and ran his hand over it. "Jesus, but you're sweet," he said. "I got you a few new things. They're hanging in the alcove by the door."
I turned and gave him a threatening look.
He held up his hands, spilling the coffee on the blanket and then laughing. "I know, I know, you're pissed. Well, it's just going to be that way, because what you had on last night took a beating. Just wear the damned clothes and we'll call it a belated birthday present."
I glared, but I had no choice. It looked like he'd gotten rid of my old clothes entirely. I dressed hurriedly, munching on a piece of toast from the food cart. Michael finished his coffee and handed me a cup. "C'mon, bring it with you."
"That's stealing, Michael!"
"No, they'll bill me for it. Let's get going." He opened the door and we were out of it and outside in two flashes. Michael opened my car door, too, and in a matter of minutes we were on the highway headed to the hospital, which was only a mile or so away.
"I'll come in with you."
"No!" I cried out in alarm. "I mean, no, I've got this. He's better this morning, so it's not so scary. Besides, I've got to hurry. I've got things to do."
"I need to talk to you, Callie."
"It'll have to wait. I need to go. Thank you, Michael, for being there when I needed you."
"Will you let me know?"
I nodded and got out of the car, sprinting toward the hospital door and then the elevators leading up to the fifth floor.
They were right. Dad was doing much better. His eyes opened briefly, and when I smiled at him I saw recognition in his eyes. "It's okay, Dad. Everything is fine. I've got everything taken care of. You don't worry about a thing but getting better, you hear?"
He lifted a finger, and I was overjoyed. I saw it as a sign that there was no paralysis. I kissed him on the cheek and told him I had to go and see about Josiah. His finger moved again and I knew he'd understood, and agreed.
I was feeling more positive as I left the hospital. I drove back toward home, calling Deb along the way to say I was stopping by to pick up Josiah.
"He's no trouble at all, Callie. Why not leave him here another day or two? He's a sweetheart, and you need some time to get things lined up." I'd told her about Dad, and she knew immediately what that kind of recuperation would entail.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. Mom is enamored of him. She's already pushing me to find a husband and give her grandchildren. I think you've just spiced up my love life, if you must know!"
I laughed, and it felt good. "Thanks, Deb. Okay, I'll take you up on it." I headed for the farm and went inside the house, looking around and taking stock of what we actually owned and what would have to be left behind. Most of the furniture had come with the place, so there wasn't much of a move to be accomplished.
I went out toward the barn to walk Hector. He was one problem - there was no way I could stuff him in a suitcase. As I reached the barn I heard a vehicle behind me and turned around to see Michael pulling in. Putting my hands on my hips, I walked toward him. "What's up?"
"Your Dad doing better?" he asked, rolling down his window and shutting off the motor.
"Yes, much better, actually."
"How about you? You doing better?" he grinned, and we both knew what he meant.
"Yes, I'm much better, too."
"Callie, I need to talk to you."
"About...?"
"We both know things are going to change here... that you can't stay. I promised you I would see to it that you were okay. I'd like to keep my promise."
"I'm not holding you to anything, Michael. You're entirely on your own."
"I was, and thank God, that selfish bastard is gone now."
I looked at him in amazement. Maybe Dad was right after all. Maybe Michael was finally growing up. "I never thought I'd hear you say that."
He laughed and stepped out of the car. "To tell you the truth, neither did I. Seriously, though. Can we go inside and talk for a few minutes?"
"Of course. Come on in."
Michael walked into the kitchen and looked around. I realized he was looking for the baby. "He's not here. He's still with my girlfriend for a couple of days."
Michael nodded and gestured to the kitchen table. "Mind if I sit down?"
"Be my guest. Coffee?"
"Maybe a glass of water?"
I turned to the sink and poured him a glass, plopping in some ice cubes from the tray in the freezer. I handed it to him, but he took it from my hand and set it on the table, quickly grabbing me and pulling me toward him. He fastened his hand around my chin and lowered me a couple of inches to his face level, kissing me, hard.
"I've wanted to do that since I got here," he said, and I smiled. I couldn't be mad at him. There was too much between us to stay mad for very long.
"So, let's talk," he said with resolution in his voice. "I'm going to sort of lay things out the way I understand them, and you correct me if I'm wrong, okay?"
I nodded. "Go on."
"So, your dad has been a trainer here for a lot of years, but I don't imagine he had a chance to put much away over those years."
"Go on."
"He's not going to be able to work again for some time. How long, you don't really know. So right now you're trying to figure out how you're going to support your family on your own."
"Keep on going," I urged him.
"You've got school, a part-time job, and you've got your baby now, but eventually you'll also have to look after your dad. That's too much for one person to take care of. No one can do all that; there are just not enough hours in the day."
I just looked at him, waiting for him to go on.
"I'm fairly sure this house goes with the job, so you'll be looking for somewhere to live."
I nodded.
"Okay, so I've put the word out. I know you don't like me interfering in your life, and I respect that, but this isn't any more than any friend would do, right?"
"I suppose."
"If you get any phone calls, then you'll know where they came from. They're not scammers, but people you can trust."
I was suspicious. "What did you tell them I was willing to do?"
"Mostly I said you were a horsewoman and your dad is a trainer so you've grown up around horse farms. There's all kinds of jobs that can figure in to. Just wait a few days, see to your dad, and you may hear something. If not, we'll figure something out. I promised you, I have your back."
"Michael?"
"Yes, lassie?"
"I apologize for all the horrible things I've been thinking about you."
"Pretty bad, were they?"
I scrunched up my forehead. "Well, I wouldn't hang around any black cats or voodoo dolls if I could help it."
"Got it." He grinned. "I think I probably deserved every word of them."
"One more thing..." I ventured.
"Yes?"
"Last night..."
He paused, but I couldn't read anything into it. "What about it?"
"I don't know how to think of it."
"We can think of it any way you choose - I think it's about time you had a voice in who we are."
"I think I would like to stay in touch...?"
"I think that's a wonderful idea!"
Michael hugged me and left. I didn't need to get away now, so instead, I got into the truck and went to town to get some boxes at the grocery store. I had packing to do.