Chapter Fourteen – Cal

The shift had been quiet, just how they all liked it. They had cleaned the rig, and checked inventory, and were now sitting around the common room playing cards or watching the TV. Cal had pulled out his book and found himself a quiet corner, although he wasn’t doing too much reading, he was too busy thinking about Teagan.

“Can I have a word?” Chief Turner asked. “Privately.” A few of the other members of the crew looked up, but then went back to what they were doing. No one eavesdropped on the chief if they valued their jobs.

“Sure.” Cal followed the chief out. “What can I do for you?”

“I want to clear the air.” The chief put his hands on his hips; the guy might be getting old, but his authority was not diminished.

“Do we have air to clear?” Cal asked. “I know you encouraged me to leave, but I’m not sure why you are pissed with me for coming back.”

“I’m pissed because you came back. I figured you would work your way up to chief somewhere. That’s what I wanted for you,” Chief Turner told Cal.

“That’s what I wanted, Chief. It didn’t work out, they promoted someone else.” Cal shook his head. “I worked hard, did everything right. But it came down to connections, not who was best at the job.”

“So you gave up?” Chief Turner asked.

“No, I came home.” A lump rose in Cal’s throat, but he swallowed it back down. “I missed this town every day I was away. I missed my family, I missed my friends, I missed the crew, and I missed the mountain.”

Chief Turner’s body language softened. “I see.”

“I don’t know if you do.” Cal shook his head. “I know you aren’t a shifter. I know that. So I don’t know if it feels the same way for you. Your heart yearns for wide-open spaces and family, the connections that give your life meaning. I tried to be something else, to live somewhere else, but when it came down to it, it wasn’t in me.”

“I didn’t realize you felt so bad,” Chief Turner admitted.

“I didn’t realize I would feel so bad. If I did, I would never have left. I concentrated on getting that promotion, and when it ended in nothing, I realized it was hollow. Wanting to be a fire chief somewhere else did not fulfill me.” Cal looked the old chief straight in the eye. “I would rather live here and just be a regular old crew member than be unhappy somewhere else. I’m sorry if that makes me a disappointment to you.”

“I see. I’m sorry if you felt I was tough on you.”

“It’s OK, I know you wanted me to go out there and make something of myself. You spent time coaching me, you went out of your way to help me get the job. I feel as though I let you down,” Cal admitted.

“You never let me down. If anything, it was me who let you down. I wanted to watch your career soar. I wanted to be able to look at you and say I helped him get there. I was selfish. If I’m honest, it’s because I looked on you as the son I never had. I was too old to have kids by the time I settled down with my wife. There, I’ve said it. I’m an old fool.”

“But a good fool.” Cal clapped Chief Turner on the shoulder. “And I appreciate what you tried to do.”

“Ah, let’s forget about it. I’m glad you’re back here. I haven’t had a decent game of chess since you left.”

“I’ll bring my board in tomorrow,” Cal promised.

“Good man.” The chief grinned. “I hear you found a girl… Or what is it you call it, a mate?”

“Yes, I have.” Cal’s face dropped as he thought of Teagan. “She’s gone to meet her real mom, if her real mom wants to meet her.”

“You should have gone with her,” Chief Turner said.

“And risk pissing off my cranky boss?” Cal ventured a joke, even though he was not sure the chief was ready for that kind of familiarity yet.

“Am I that bad?” Chief Turner asked.

“You’re my boss, so I’m going to be diplomatic and not answer,” Cal replied.

“Truth is, while you were away, I got some bad news myself. I have cancer.”

“Damn it,” Cal said, his voice choked with emotion. “Why the hell didn’t you say?”

“I didn’t know if you knew.” Chief Turner was fierce when he spoke again. “I didn’t know if you gave up the chance to be chief because of me. If you came back because I was ill.”

“I didn’t know. And no one has mentioned it since I got back. None of the crew.”

“I’ve kept it quiet. I don’t want my problems spread around town. Anyway, it’s treatable. I just might need some time off.”

“You take care of yourself,” Cal told him. “Anything you and Mrs. Turner need, you let us know.”

“I will.” Chief Turner nodded. “Maybe it is a good thing you came back after all. You might make a half-decent temporary chief.”

“Don’t skip over someone else for me. I know how that feels.”

“Truth is, not one of the others want the responsibility. Do you? If it comes to it.”

“Like I said, anything you need.” Cal gave the old man a reassuring look. “Anything.”

“Good to know.” Chief Turner nodded and turned away. Cal gave the old man a moment before following. He might have been mistaken, but Cal was sure the chief was wiping a tear away.

Cal returned to the common room a few minutes later, and picked up his book. Before he got a chance to read more than ten words, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw a text from Teagan. Can I meet you at home xoxo

I’ll be there at seven xoxo

See you then xoxo

He desperately wanted to call her and see if she was OK, but he resisted, preferring to talk to her in person. He glanced at the clock: only fifteen minutes more to go.

He stood up and went to his locker, putting his book in his pack before placing it back in his locker, which he didn’t lock. As soon as his shift ended, he would grab it and be gone. The minutes ticked down, and the guys and girls from the next crew started to arrive. Always early. He smiled as he thought over Chief Turner’s words of wisdom that had been imparted with great love and respect to all his men over the years.

“You in a hurry?” Burke asked. Burke had been here for as long as Cal could remember.

“I’m meeting someone,” Cal replied.

“It’s good to see you back, Cal,” Burke said. “I like old familiar faces on the crew.”

“Hey, not so much of the old,” Cal returned.

“You know what I mean, Cal.”

“Thanks, Burke. It’s good to be back.” Cal checked his watch, trying not to be too obvious about it.

“We usually hit the bar on a Friday evening, so if you are free this Friday, why not come join us?” Burke asked. “Unless you have a hot date.”

“She’s very hot,” Cal said. “But I’ll join you for a beer. It will be good to catch up.”

“Good man.” Burke grinned. “Time to go.”

“See you tomorrow,” Cal said and grabbed his pack, walking briskly out of the station. Don’t run was another of Chief Turner’s rules. It was like being at school, but it made sense, and the crews all stuck to it. Once he was outside though, he ran for his truck, slinging his pack onto the passenger seat and climbing in. The engine rumbled to life and Cal put the truck into drive and pulled away from the station. Observing the speed limit at all times, he guided his truck through Bear Creek and back to his house, to find Teagan waiting on the doorstep. Literally.

He parked his truck and got out. “Hey, you OK?”

“Yeah, I just wanted to see you that’s all.”

He took two long strides to be by her side and then sat next to her, putting his arm around her. “Want to talk about it?”

Teagan rested her head on is shoulder. “There isn’t much to say.”

“She didn’t want to see you?” Cal asked, rubbing her upper arm with his hand in an attempt to comfort her.

“No, I saw her. I spoke to her. But she was so… empty.” Teagan clasped her hands together and put them up to her chest. “She was so empty, as if there was a huge gaping black hole in her soul.”

Cal looked up at the sky, watching the clouds, trying not to think of what it would be like to lose Teagan. His brain, however, seemed to focus in on it and try to pull him into the depths of despair that would await him. “Let’s go inside.”

He got up and offered her his hand. She took it. “Thanks.”

Teagan pulled herself up and stood beside him. “You’ve been crying.” He wiped his fingers across her cheek.

“Yeah.” She sniffed loudly. “I got the name of my dad off my mom. Only the name she gave doesn’t exist.”

“Maybe she got it wrong?” Cal asked.

Teagan shook her head. “Fiona managed to magic up my birth certificate.” Teagan shook her head.

“And the name matches the one you have been searching for?” Cal asked.

“Alder Sampson. Not exactly a forgettable name. And there are none. Not a one. He either didn’t exist, and my mom made it up. Or he did exist and gave my mom a made-up name.” Teagan shivered. “He lied to her. He slept with her, made a child with her, and never even gave her his real name.”

“Oh, Teagan, I’m sorry. For you and your mom.” He frowned, resting his forehead against hers. “No wonder she was so distressed over it.”

“Yeah, she never stood a chance of having a happy family.” Teagan pulled back, her eyes big, and filled with confusion. “They were fated mates, but fate got it wrong.”

“I supposed fate isn’t as infallible as we all thought.” Cal sensed he knew where her pain stemmed from, and he wanted to reassure her. “But that is not us. That is not you and me. We both know how much the other one means to each other.”

She nodded. “Hold me.”

And he did, all through the evening, and through the night, until the morning sun rose in the sky.