Chapter 8

 

Callum woke suddenly, as Macy’s voice echoed through-out the apartment. Without missing a beat, he sprung from his bed, heading straight for the door. He reached Macy’s room just as she cried out once more.

“MOMMY!” She sobbed in her sleep, as she thrashed about in her bed.

“Macy,” Callum cooed, as he scooped her up into his arms. “Daddy has you, Sweetheart.”

“I WANT MY MOMMY!” Macy cried out, as she opened her eyes, looking up at Callum. Her bottom lips trembled once more, before she buried her face in his chest, sobbing softly. Callum held her closely, wishing there was something he could say to her to make her feel better.

“Is she okay?” Georgie asked, suddenly appearing in the doorway. “Is there something I can do to help?”

“She will be,” Callum replied, even though in his heart, he didn’t know if he truly believed that himself. “It happens every night.”

“Poor baby,” Georgie said, as she made her way across the room, sitting down on the bed next to Callum. Callum tried to ignore the fact she was dressed in a tiny top and equally tiny shorts. She reached up, softly rubbing Macy’s back. “She has been through so much in her short little life.”

The moment she touched Macy, the little girl lifted her head, as she moved quickly, climbing from Callum’s lap, to Georgie’s lap.

Georgie gave Callum a look of uncertainty, as Macy cuddled into her chest. He knew that she was worried his feelings might be hurt because the little girl had turned to her for comfort, but the truth was, he just wanted her happy. If Georgie was going to be the one that made her happy, then Callum would accept that. As long as Macy smiled, and finally settled into her life with him, he didn’t care how they got there.

Callum smiled at Georgie, trying his best to reassure her that what she was doing was just fine with him.

They sat there in silence as slowly Macy’s breathing returned to normal; then it became slower and deeper.

“I think she’s asleep,” Georgie whispered, looking up at Callum, smiling at him. “She must be exhausted.”

“Her and me both,” Callum sighed, rubbing the tiredness from his eyes.

“Why don’t you go back to bed?” Georgie offered, giving him another smile. “I will stay with her a little longer until she is settled.”

“I don’t…” Callum began to argue, but Georgie stopped him.

“I really don’t mind,” Georgie said, cutting him off mid-sentence. “Besides, she’s asleep now. I will just give her a few more minutes before I put her back into bed. Then I can return to my bed too.”

“Are you sure?” Callum asked, still feeling uncertain. He wanted to be there for Macy, but he also was beyond exhausted. The thoughts of going back to sleep was so tempting.

“Go,” Georgie pushed, her smile widening. “Get some rest.”

Callum stared at her for a moment, doubt raging through him. He would just be down the hall he reasoned with himself, if she began to cry again, he would come straight back. Finally, he slowly rose from the bed.

“Thank you,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss the top of Macy’s head, before looking up at the girl once more. “Goodnight, Georgie.”

“Goodnight, Callum,” She replied in a whisper, then smiled at him once more, before Callum turned and headed for the door.

As he climbed back into bed, Callum wondered if he had just done the right thing. He wanted to be there for Macy, but he wanted to show Georgie he trusted her too. If he was honest, he was surprised that he already trusted her as much as he did. He had barely known her a day, and already he trusted her with Macy completely.

Callum prided himself on being a good judge of character. Usually, his first impressions of a person were pretty spot on. He thought back to that morning in the coffee shop. When he first met Georgie, he looked at her clothes, her piercings, and her blonde hair, with the bubble gum pink dye running through it. He didn’t know what to make of her.

But then his eyes met hers, and instantly he could see something in her that told him she had a good heart.

He knew his mother was worried, if he was honest, he understood her fears. He just believed that he had made the right choice when it came to Georgie.

Still, walking out of Macy’s room had been hard. It wasn’t easy for him even to admit he needed help. It never had been.

Admitting it when it came to Macy was even harder. But he had admitted it to Georgie, now he needed to prove that he trusted her.

Suddenly he felt tired, as he struggled to keep his eyes open. He fell asleep, thinking about Macy and Georgie, hoping that tomorrow would be an even better day than today.

Callum walked into the kitchen early the next morning, feeling tired but more positive about the day ahead.

The fact that Macy had managed to sleep through the rest of the night was a bonus. For the last three weeks, Callum would be up three or four times without exception, but last night was just the one time. It gave him hope.

“Good Morning, Mr. Murphy,” Annie said, as she looked up, smiling at Callum as he took a seat at the kitchen counter. The day before had been her day off, Annie had arranged to visit her daughter. When she got home late the night before, Callum told her about Georgie. He knew she was more than a little surprised, however, Annie being the professional that she was, she didn’t offer her opinion. “How did Little Miss sleep last night?”

“Better I think,” Callum replied as Annie set a coffee down in front of him. “Just the one episode last night.”

“Poor little lamb,” Annie replied with a smile, but she gave Callum a knowing smile, like there was something she wasn’t saying.

“What?” He asked, curious what the look was for. “What was that look for?”

“There was no look,” Annie replied with a smile, as she returned to preparing breakfast for Callum. “I was just curious if you realised that Ms. Taylor appeared to have spent the night on the armchair in Macy’s room.”

“She did?” Callum asked, a wave of guilt instantly settling inside him.

“I popped my head into Macy’s room a short while ago,” Annie explained, as she set Callum’s breakfast down in front of him. “Little Miss was fast asleep, as was Ms. Taylor, who was curled into a ball on the armchair.”

“So, she didn’t have a better night,” Callum said as he looked down at his breakfast, suddenly his appetite was gone.

“Maybe she did,” Annie replied, offering him a little hope. “Just because Ms. Taylor was in her room, doesn’t mean she had more than the one episode.”

Before Callum could reply, the front door buzzer sounded. Annie gave him a reassuring smile, as she wiped her hands in a tea towel, then walked from the kitchen, to answer the front door.

Callum sat there for a moment, lost in thought, wondering if Macy had been upset again during the night and he didn’t know. He had just stood up, about to go up to Macy’s room to check on her himself, when Annie walked back into the kitchen.

“Ms. Gibson is on her way up,” Annie announced, knowing that this was the last thing that Callum needed. “She insisted that she wanted to talk to you, and she wasn’t leaving until she did.”

“Shit!” Callum groaned, knowing that Camilla was here for answers, and like it or not, he had to face her.

When Callum got the call about Macy, Camilla never even entered his thoughts. In fact, it wasn’t until he arrived back from New York, when Camilla called him, did she even come into the equation. Callum knew Camilla didn’t want kids, so the fact he had Macy now would be a huge game changer for her.

Callum chose not to return Camilla’s call. Right at that moment, Macy was his priority; he didn’t have the time for Camilla or the tantrum she would throw when she found out that Callum now had a daughter. She had tried to call him several more times, but each time Callum had decided just to let her call go straight to voicemail. He knew it was the cowardly thing to do, but he just didn’t have any more energy to give another human being. Now he wished he had just been honest with her from the start, and closed the door on that part of his life once and for all.

“I could tell her that you’re not here,” Annie offered, clearly sensing that Callum really didn’t want to face Camilla. “If you want to make yourself scarce, I will get rid of her for you.”

“Thanks, Annie,” Callum replied, giving the woman a grateful smile. “But I think I need to speak to her; I guess I owe her that much.”

“Very well, Sir,” Annie said as the bell to the apartment door chimed. “I shall show her in.”

Callum stood up from the stool he was sitting on and made his way into the living room, his mind racing with what he should say to Camilla.

“You’re still alive then,” Camilla quipped as she stormed into the living room. “I’ve been calling you for three weeks now, and you haven’t returned one of my calls. What the hell is going on Callum? Do you know who you’re messing with?”

“Good morning, to you too, Camilla,” Callum said, taking a seat on the sofa. He stared at the girl for a moment, considering what he needed to say to her, to get her out of here as quickly as possible.

For the briefest moment, he considered not even telling her about Macy. Not that Callum was ashamed of his daughter, far from it. He had simply chosen to keep her existence down to a need to know basis as he felt it was the smartest thing to do. He was, after all, Callum Murphy, CEO of one of the most successful companies in the US. He didn’t want Macy suddenly pushed into the spotlight. He knew if the paparazzi heard that he had a love child, it would be open season on his daughter until someone managed to capture a picture of the little girl.

No, keeping her existence private was the safest thing for her, and Callum knew it.

Still, this was Camilla, they had been dating almost five months now, and coming from a high profiled family like his, he knew she understood the need for keeping somethings private.

“Don’t you good morning me, Callum Murphy,” she snapped back, pouting as she crossed her arms, as she glared at him. “Why haven’t you called me back?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, leaning forward in his seat. “The last few weeks have been really hectic for me. I assure you, I was not avoiding you on purpose.”

Callum knew that wasn’t strictly true, but he also knew it wasn’t wise to poke a bear. If he wanted Camilla’s discretion, he needed to play her at her own game.

“Oh please, you were punishing me,” she whined as she paced up and down in front of Callum. “This is because I didn’t want to go to that stupid christening, isn’t it?”

Callum couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He had completely forgotten he had even asked her to accompany him to the party for Henry’s christening.

“Don’t laugh at me, Callum!” Camilla exclaimed, stomping her foot in anger. “This is not funny.”

“Camilla, I…” Callum began to say, but a sound from the staircase stopped him mid-sentence. It also pulled Camilla’s attention from him.

Callum looked up, sighing when he spotted Georgie making her way down the stairs with Macy. This was not how he wanted to tell Camilla about his daughter, nor did he want his daughter to know about Camilla yet.

“What the hell is this?” Camilla asked, looking from Georgie and Macy, to Callum. “Are you kidding me right now?”

“Camilla, I will explain,” Callum quickly replied, standing up, quickly closing the distance between him and his daughter. “But right now, I need you to stop talking.”

“Stop talking!” Camilla exclaimed with a stunned laugh. “You’re actually telling me to shut up. Fuck you, Callum.”

“Oh, Daddy,” Macy said, looking up at her father, then over at Camilla. “The lady said a bad word.”

“I know, Sweetie,” Callum said, scooping her up in his arms. “It’s okay.”

“Daddy, Georgie was asleep on the chair,” she told Callum, instantly losing interest in Camilla. “She’s very silly.”

“Yes, she is,” Callum replied, as he gave Georgie a look that said he wasn’t completely happy with what had happened the night before. Now just wasn’t the right moment to discuss it further. “Why don’t you go into the kitchen with Georgie, Annie has breakfast ready.”

“DADDY! DADDY!” Camilla exclaimed, giving Callum a confused look. “What the fuck, Cal?”

Callum sighed as he turned to Georgie and passed Macy into her arms.

“Georgie, can you take Macy to the kitchen for me please,” he asked, giving her a pleading look. “I will be right there.”

“Certainly, Callum,” Georgie replied, glancing at Camilla once more before she headed to the kitchen with Macy.

“Is this some kind of fucking joke, Cal?” Camilla demanded, giving him a look that said she was about to lose it completely. “I wouldn’t go to a stupid party, so you hook up with some cheap whore, and her fucking brat?”

“This is no joke, Camilla,” Callum said as he walked towards her, taking hold of her arm, then turned, leading Camilla towards the door. “And I would be grateful if you watched your damn mouth in front of my daughter.”

“YOU HAVE A KID!” Camilla exclaimed, pulling her arm free from Callum’s grasp. “When were you planning on telling me this? Why the fuck is she here? And who the hell is Georgie?”

“Camilla, now is not the time,” Callum insisted, taking hold of her arm once more, but once again Camilla pulled her arm free.

“NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME!” Camilla yelled, pushing him with all her strength. “You owe me, Callum. You vanish for three weeks, refuse to take my calls. I come here to find you shacked up with some tart, and her fucking kid. YOUR FUCKING KID!”

“Daddy!” Macy said suddenly from behind Callum.

Callum spun around, finding Macy standing there, tears dancing in her eyes, as her bottom lip quivered.

“Hey, Sweetheart,” Callum said, giving his little girl a bright smile. He hurried to her, scooping up in her arms, hugging her tightly just as Georgie came running out into the hallway.

“I’m so sorry, Callum,” Georgie said, hurrying towards Callum, reaching out to take Macy. “She was beside me; then she was gone.”

“Just take her inside,” Callum sighed as he handed Macy over to Georgie.

“Sure,” Georgie replied, smiling at him. “But you might want to lower your voices a little. She doesn’t have to be in the hallway to hear you.”

Callum nodded, blowing out a long, frustrated breath. He watched as Georgie turned, heading back into the kitchen before he turned back to face Camilla.

“I know you’re angry,” Callum said, giving her a pleading look. “And I know you deserve answers, but right now is not the time or place for that.”

“Then when?” Camilla demanded, pinning him with a look that said she was not going to be fobbed off easily.

“Soon,” Callum promised her. “We can go to dinner, and I promise that I will tell you everything. I just need a little more time.”

She stared at him for a moment, giving nothing away.

“Fine,” she finally sighed, as she turned, walking toward the front door. “But don’t blow me off again, Callum. You don’t want to get on my bad side.”

Without saying another word, she walked out the door, slamming it behind her. Callum took a deep breath, before he slowly turned, making his way back to the kitchen.

Macy was sitting on Georgie lap at the small kitchen table, still looking more than a little upset.

“Hey, Sweetie,” Callum said, crouching down in front of Georgie and Macy. “Everything is okay now.”

“The lady said bad words,” Macy whispered, slowly lifting her head from Georgie's chest, looking up at Callum.

“I know she did,” Callum sighed, knowing he needed to do better for his daughter. “But she’s gone now.”

“She’s a mean lady,” Macy sighed, as her breath hitched in her throat, showing that she was still a little upset.

“I know,” he whispered, reaching out as softly brushing her face, before he looked up, letting his eyes meet Georgie’s. “I think we need to talk about last night.”

“Okay,” Georgie said, giving Callum a worried look.

“Why don’t I take Macy up to run her bath,” Annie said, knowing Callum and Georgie needed a little space.

“That would be great,” Callum said as he stood up, looking at the older woman. “Thanks, Annie.”

“My pleasure,” Annie said, smiling at him, holding his eyes a little longer and Callum knew Annie already liked Georgie, more importantly, the look told him that he needed to tread very carefully in what he said to the girl.

Neither Callum nor Georgie said a word while Annie led Macy from the kitchen, but Callum could feel the uncertainty emanating from the girl as she waited to hear what he had to say.

“Did I do something wrong?” Georgie asked once she was sure Macy was out of earshot.

“I’m not sure,” Callum sighed as he pulled out a seat, sitting down in front of the girl. “Georgie, I know I only hired you yesterday, I also know I threw you in at the deep end with Macy, but maybe I have given you the wrong impression.”

“I… I don’t understand,” Georgie replied, giving him a confused look.

“I know I’m in over my head with her,” Callum explained. “I’ve known that from day one, but when I hired you yesterday, it was with the view you would help me.”

“I thought I was…” she said, her eyes still filled with confusion.

“I need you to take care of Macy when I’m not around,” Callum sighed, knowing he was making no sense to Georgie. “But when I’m home, I want to be her dad.”

“Okay,” Georgie replied, shifting nervously in her seat. “Is this because I slept in her room?”

“You should have told me that she was upset again,” Callum said, knowing how ridiculous he sounded. The girl was there for Macy, nothing more. Still, he wanted Macy to know he was there for her too. That last thing he wanted was for his daughter to think he had been replaced by Georgie.

“But she wasn’t,” Georgie replied in a rush of words as panic filled her face. Callum knew instantly he had made a mistake, and he felt dreadful about it. “She whimpered a little as I put her back into her bed, I sat in the armchair for a few minutes. I just wanted to be sure she was settled before I went back to bed. I guess I must have fallen asleep.”

“Oh,” Callum sighed, feeling his face flush with embarrassment.

“But if that’s a problem,” Georgie added. “It won’t happen again…”

“No,” Callum replied, wishing now he had just kept his mouth shut. He knew he was letting his own insecurities get the better of him. “No, it’s not a problem. I guess I’m just… I’m scared…”

“You’re afraid that I will replace you in Macy’s heart,” Georgie offered, giving him a knowing smile but still she looked a little unsure. “But that will never happen. You’re her father; nothing can ever change that. She loves you, she is just confused by her feelings.”

“I guess you think I sound like an idiot,” Callum replied with a nervous laugh, knowing he needed to make this right.

“I think you’re new at this,” Georgie said as she stood up, giving Callum another smile. “But I think you’re better at being a dad than you think you are.”

“Thank you, Georgie,” Callum said, standing up too. “I should go check that Macy is okay.”

“Okay,” Georgie replied smiling once more, but he could still see worry in her eyes.

Callum turned and headed for the door, but stopped when he reached it.

“I’m glad that we have you here,” Callum said, turning back to look at Georgie, giving her a bright smile.

“Me too,” she replied, returning his smile, before he turned, heading up to Macy.