Chapter 12

 

Callum stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting for Georgie to bring Macy from her room. Georgie had taken her up to get changed for their lunch in his parents’ house.

He sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked up and down. He wasn’t in the mood for an afternoon with his family, but he had promised his mother, so he knew there was no getting out of it now. Besides, Macy was excited about going; she had made a cake to take with her.

Callum smiled as he recalled the pride that beamed from her little face when she showed him her finished cake when he came down after his shower. Callum knew that Georgie had really done all the hard work, but she allowed Macy to take all the credit, and once more, Macy was happy.

There was something about this girl, something that Callum couldn’t put his finger on, but right now wasn’t the time to figure out what that something was. Letting out another sigh, he checked his watch, before he glanced up the stairs once more.

He had no idea what could be taking them so long. He was due at his mother’s in thirty minutes, and he hated to be late.

Callum’s mind wandered back to the meltdown he had in his bathroom earlier that morning. He had no idea where it had come from, but somehow he had managed to pull himself together.

Now he was more worried about spending the afternoon with his family and Georgie.

He had no idea why he had invited her to join him and Macy for the afternoon, but he had the words out of his mouth before he had time to even think about what the hell he was doing.

At first, Georgie declined, saying that she didn’t want to intrude. He could have left it there, but no, he had to push.

What the fucking hell is the matter with you? He sighed to himself as he continued to pace up and down. You really have lost the fucking plot, Callum. Awesome job!

The sound of Macy giggling pulled Callum from his thoughts. He instinctively looked up towards the top of the stairs, where he found Macy, and Georgie making their way down toward him.

Macy looked perfect in a little pink dress, Callum knew he had never seen before. Her dark curly hair was hanging loosely, with a little pink bow at the side of her head.

Then his eyes fell on Georgie, and his breath caught in his throat.

She was wearing a pale green summer dress, with a light cotton, white cardigan and a pair of flat, nude coloured shoes. Her hair was tied back in a braid, showing off her beautiful face even more. As she got nearer to Callum, he noticed that she had removed some of her earrings from her ears, and somehow it made her look softer, more innocent even.

She was beautiful. No matter how Callum felt, he couldn’t deny that fact.

“Wow!” He exclaimed, as they two girls reached the bottom of the stairs. “You look… different.”

“A good or a bad different?” Georgie asked, giving him a nervous smile.

“Definitely a good different,” Callum replied, smiling at her, his eyes holding her a little longer than necessary. He was surprised to see her face blush a little before she quickly pulled her eyes from his.

Callum quickly turned his attention to Macy who was giving him a confused look.

“And look at you, Sweetheart,” Callum said, now focusing all his energy on his daughter. “I love your dress.”

“Georgie said I’m a princess,” Macy said as she gave Callum a twirl.

“Yes, you are!” He exclaimed with a chuckle, allowing his eyes to meet Georgie’s once more. “I haven’t seen this dress before.”

“There are lots of new dresses hanging in her wardrobe,” Georgie explained with a laugh. “She has more clothes than I do.”

“That would be my mother and Amelia,” Callum sighed, checking his watch once more. “We should be going.”

He turned to pick up Macy’s bag from the chair before he turned back to look at Georgie.

“Don’t move!” She exclaimed suddenly, as she lifted her hand, moving closer to him. Callum held his breath as she softly brushed her finger below his eye.

“You have an eyelash,” she explained, looking up into his eyes, smiling. “Make a wish!”

I wish I didn’t feel like this! Callum thought to himself, as his heart hammered in his chest.

She held her finger in front of his mouth, still smiling at him.

“Blow,” she instructed him, as Callum swallowed hard before he did as she instructed. It was singularly the most erotic thing he has ever experienced, as there was a stirring deep inside him.

“Daddy!” Macy exclaimed, pulling down on his hand, pulling him back into the here and now. “I want to go see Liam.”

“Okay, Sweetheart,” Callum said, reaching down, picking Macy up. “Let’s do this.”

He glanced at Georgie one more time before he made his way to the front door. Stepping into the elevator, he focused on Macy, refusing to let his mind wander back to Georgie, or the confusing feelings he had for her.

By the time they arrived at Callum’s parent’s house twenty minutes later, Macy was bouncing with excitement, but Callum’s mood had just darkened more. As he switched off the engine, he glanced over at Georgie, who was staring out at his parent’s house with amazement.

“You grew up here?” She asked, glancing back at Callum for a moment before she turned back to the house. “It’s beautiful.”

“I guess it is,” Callum replied, giving her a genuine smile. There was something so sweet and innocent about this girl. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of life she had growing up. In the few conversations that they had, she had never really said much about her past, other than her parents were still living in Ireland, and that she had two older brothers.

“It must have been amazing,” she sighed as she unfastened her seatbelt.

“I suppose it was,” Callum replied as he too unfastened his seatbelt. “We should be going in.”

Georgie reached for the handle of the door, before hurrying back to the back seat, where she unfastened the straps of Macy’s car seat too.

“Are you ready to give your Nana her cake?” Georgie asked, giving the little girl a warm smile.

“Yep!” Macy replied with an excited squeal. “Papa is going to eat some too.”

“I bet,” Georgie laughed as she lifted the little girl from the car.

The sound of a car moving along the gravel driveway made Callum turn, and he smiled when he saw Finn pulling his car up behind his. He reached into the back seat of the car, lifting out the cake Macy and Georgie had made.

He glanced over at Georgie, who was now standing on the steps, holding Macy’s hand, and he was surprised to see a nervous look in her eyes. She absentmindedly straightened down her dress, then patted down her hair. He realized right at that moment; she had dressed the way she had, not because she wanted to, but because she thought that was what was expected. He hated that she felt that way.

He walked towards her and Macy, waiting for Finn and Emmy to join him on the front steps.

“I thought I was late,” Callum said, smiling at Finn. “But I’m here before you, so I guess I’m not.”

“Nope,” Finn replied with a laugh. “We’re late too. Totally Emmy’s fault.”

“Don’t believe a word of it,” Emmy said with a laugh as she kissed Callum on the cheek. Callum smiled, thinking how shy and nervous Emmy once had been when she was with the family. Now she was completely at ease with them. He glanced over at Georgie, and once more he could see the uncertainty in her eyes.

“We made a cake!” Macy exclaimed excitedly.

“You did?” Emmy asked as she crouched down in front of Macy, and gave her a bright smile. “I can’t wait to try some.”

Emmy looked up at Callum, giving him a broad smile. Callum knew she was surprised by the change in Macy.

“Georgie helped me make it,” Macy added, as she glanced up at Georgie and gave her a bright smile.

“Emmy, Finn,” Callum said, knowing he needed to introduce Georgie. “This is Georgie Taylor, Georgie, this is my brother Finn, and his fiancé, Emmy Warner.”

“It’s lovely to meet you, Georgie,” Finn said, giving her a genuine smile, as he offered her his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s nice to meet you finally.”

“You too,” Georgie said, giving him an uncertain look.

“Amelia,” Finn explained, clearly reading her uncertainty. “She told us how amazing you were with Macy. She hasn’t stopped singing your praises. Neither has Liam.”

Callum didn’t know why, but the last part of his comment bothered him. He knew that it probably meant nothing, but still, he was bothered.

He knew Liam. He knew how he was with women. He glanced at Georgie and sighed. What the hell was wrong with him? He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

“It’s lovely to meet you, too,” Georgie replied to Finn, giving him a grateful smile before she turned to Emmy and greeting her too.

“I love the new car,” Emmy said, turning her attention back to Callum before they both turned and looked at his new Audi. Callum loved his Aston Martin more than anything, but he realised that it wasn’t practical for carrying around a child and the ever-growing collection of paraphernalia that Macy insists on dragging everywhere.

So a few days after he arrived back from New York, he went to the dealers, and picked out the best Q7 the dealer had on the forecourt, knowing it was time for him to have a sensible car.

“Thanks, Emmy,” Callum said with a smile. “I figured that Miss Macy here needed to travel in style.”

“You mean more style than an Aston Martin?” Finn asked with a laugh. “Did you get rid of your pride and joy?”

“Yeah right,” Callum laughed as he turned and walked towards the door. “The only way I am getting rid of that car is if you pry the keys out of my cold, dead hands.”

“Charming,” Nell said, opening the door, catching the end on Callum’s remark. “You made it. I didn’t think you were coming.”

“Better late than never,” Callum replied, kissing his mother on the cheek. He held out the cake he was carrying. “Macy made this for you.”

“Did you now,” Nell exclaimed, looking down into the container that Callum was holding, before turning her attention to Macy, scooping her up in her arms. “Well, aren’t you the best girl in the world!”

“Yep,” Macy said, giving her grandmother a proud smile. “Georgie helped me.”

“Well, it looks very yummy,” Nell replied, looking at Georgie, giving her a warm smile. “It’s lovely to see you again, Georgie. Please, come in, make yourself at home.”

“Thank you,” Georgie said, glancing nervously at Callum before she stepped in through the front door of his parent’s home. Callum was surprised by just how unsure she seemed.

Over the last nine days, he had found that at the times, she appeared to be lacking in the confidence she had shown the first day he met her in the coffee shop. He had seen glimpses of it whenever she was with Macy, and she didn’t think anyone was watching her, but when she met someone new, or someone she was unsure of, her confidence seemed to diminish.

Callum couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to this girl to make her so unsure of herself. For a girl who gave the outward appearance of confidence, with her pink hair, and earrings, she clearly doubted herself all the time.

“Everyone else is here,” Nell explained, as she led them all along the hallway, out towards the patio at the back of the house. “Your father thought it might be fun to fire up the barbeque seeing as he won’t be next week.”

“Please tell me that Dad isn’t still sulking because we are going to Landen’s next week,” Callum laughed, but Nell stopped and turned back to look at her son.

“No,” Nell replied, but then added with a knowing smile. “But best not mention it.”

Since Callum could remember, they always spent the Fourth of July here in his parent’s house. His father would man the barbeque, refusing to allow anyone else to even touch it. It had been the source of great amusement for Callum, and his brother’s over the years.

When Landen suggested that, given that it was Henry’s first Fourth of July, maybe everyone could go to his house instead. Sean had been less than happy, but Nell told him that maybe it was time for some new traditions.

Nell turned, opening the door to the patio.

“Look who I found at the front door!” She exclaimed, setting Macy down on the ground.

The moment Macy spotted Liam, she ran to him, as he quickly scooped her up in her arms, and swung her around.

“Hey, Macy Cakes!” Liam exclaimed, blowing a raspberry on her face as he always did. “I thought you were standing me up for our date.”

“You’re silly,” Macy giggled before she tried to blow a raspberry on his face.

“Really, Liam,” Nell said she walked over to her son. “I sometimes wonder if you’re ever going to grow up,”

“Not if I can help it,” Liam laughed, sticking out his tongue at his mother, making Macy laugh once more before he turned his attention to Georgie, giving her the biggest smile ever. “Hey, Georgie. Nice to see you again.”

Callum glanced over at Georgie, as the tiniest stab of jealousy shot through him. He could see she liked Liam the moment she looked at him. She gave him a bright, genuine smile, and Callum hated that she seemed more comfortable with Liam, than with him.

“You too,” she replied her face flushing with embarrassment, ever so slightly.

“Why don’t you sit here,” Liam said, as he retook his seat at the large patio table and pulled out the seat next to him. “Next to Macy and me.”

“She can sit where ever she wants to,” Callum replied, giving Liam an impatient look before he looked at Georgie. He wondered if bringing her here hadn’t been the best idea in the world. “Georgie, let me introduce you to everyone else.”

Callum introduced her to his father, Landen and finally Dylan before they all took their seat. He tried not to react when Georgie took a seat next to Liam, but he felt like he had been kicked in the guts.

Soon the barbeque was ready, and they were all tucking into their burgers, and drinking beer.

“Are you doing okay?” Landen asked Callum after they had all eaten. “You seem, I don’t know, a little distracted.”

“I’m okay,” Callum replied taking a sip of his soda. “Just been a long week. A long month actually.”

“So, it has nothing to do with Liam and Georgie?” Landen asked, surprising Callum. He released a long breath, then sighed as Landen added. “I thought as much.”

“I just don’t want him to mess things up for Macy,” Callum whispered, but he knew that wasn’t the only reason why he was so bothered. He just wasn’t about to admit that to anyone. Not even Landen. “This is Liam we’re talking about. You know how he is with girls. He hurts her; it’s Macy that will get hurt too if she quits.”

“Have you talked to him?” Landen asked, giving him a questioning look.

“And say what?” Callum asked, looking at his brother. “Hey Liam please don’t fuck the help, oh and thanks for teaching my four year old how to swear.”

Landen coughed, almost choking on his drink as he looked at Callum.

“That’s right,” Callum sighed, looking over at Liam, watching him work his magic on Georgie. “Macy informed me the other night that Uncle Liam said, Camilla, is a crazy bitch.”

Landen laughed out loud, as Callum sipped his soda still watching Liam and Georgie. Callum hated that he felt so jealous of his brother, but he did.

“Talk to him, Cal,” Landen said, as he placed his hand on Callum's shoulder. “Liam is a lot of things, but selfish is not one of them. You know if you tell him you’re worried how it will affect Macy, he will do the right thing.”

“Maybe,” Callum shrugged as he pushed up from his seat, and blew out a long breath. “Anyway, I’m gonna hit the head.”

Callum set his soda down, then turned, heading for the house.

When he reached the bathroom, he locked the door, walking to the sink. He stared at himself in the vanity mirror above it and let out a long sigh. He felt like he was coming apart at the seams, but he had no idea why.

Reaching out, he turned on the water, then splashed some onto his face, before he looked at his reflection once more.

“You need to get a grip,” he sighed, turning off the taps. The sooner today was over, the better.