Once she was in her condo, she set down her bag, slipped out of her shoes, then leaned against the wall. Something had happened to her tonight and she had no idea what it meant. Time had passed—had she unexpectedly healed? Or was her mind simply playing tricks on her? It had to be the latter, she thought grimly. Moving on had never been allowed.
chapter nine
Malcolm walked into the kitchen for his second cup of coffee. Carmen had taken Callie and Keira to church and Alberto was in his study, watching his favorite political shows. The house was quiet, which gave him the perfect opportunity to think about his date with Delaney.
He’d barely gotten to them sitting down to dinner when his grandfather joined him at the kitchen table.
“How was your evening?” Alberto asked.
“Good.”
“Delaney is the young woman who helped Keira at the hospital?”
“She is.” Malcolm briefly explained how they all knew each other and a bit about Delaney’s past.
“I remember when her father was shot. A sad time for the city.” His grandfather cupped his mug in both hands. “It’s nice to see you dating again. It’s been a long time.”
“It has.” While he’d gone out a few times since breaking up with Rachel, he hadn’t been all that enthused about the process...until now.
Malcolm braced himself for more questions but Alberto only smiled knowingly.
“I like having you all in the house,” Alberto said. “My grandchildren all close to me. I’m an old man, Malcolm. Having family nearby makes me feel content.”
“You’re not that old.”
“Old enough to know what’s important. Callie and Keira can help each other. They’ve both been alone for too long.”
An insight that surprised Malcolm. He wanted to point out that Callie was a grown-up and could have as many friends as she wanted, and that Keira was with them, so not alone. Only he knew that wasn’t what his grandfather meant. He was talking about belonging—connection. A sense of place in the world.
Alberto put his hand on Malcolm’s forearm. “You have to let go of Callie’s past.”
“What are you talking about? I haven’t said anything about it.”
“Still, it’s there between you. She’s a good girl who made a bad decision. Don’t hold that against her.”
His grandfather was assuming a lot. For all they knew, Callie had been on the road to getting locked up long before it had actually happened. She seemed all right, but who knew if that was just a facade?
“I’m neutral on the subject,” he said carefully.
“I know why you’re slow to trust. But she’s family, Malcolm. She should be welcomed with open arms.”
“I leave that to you.”
Alberto smiled. “I have every confidence she’ll win you over. I’m usually right about these things.”
“That you are.”
Neither of them mentioned that Alberto had been completely wrong once. When it came to his family, he offered blind loyalty. A loyalty his own son had betrayed. Not that Malcolm could blame the old man—none of them had seen it coming.
Regardless, Alberto had offered his heart first to Keira and now to Callie and he expected Malcolm to do the same. The hell of it was, saying no wasn’t an option. There was no one Malcolm loved more than his grandfather and he would do anything for him. Even trust when he knew he probably shouldn’t.
* * *
Callie woke to the sound of screaming. For what felt like forever, as her heart pounded and she found herself unable to catch her breath, she had no idea where she was. The dark room with its mystery shapes was unfamiliar. She knew she wasn’t back in prison—those screams were very different, but the ones she heard now were just as real.
She sat up and turned on the light by her bed. The room came into focus and she remembered where she was. Relief eased the tightness in her chest and slowed her breathing, then the scream came again.
Keira!
Callie sprang to her feet and raced from her room. She ran into the preteen’s bedroom and flipped on the overhead light only to see the bed was empty. She raced into the second room, but Keira wasn’t there, either. Callie was about to return to the hallway when she remembered the closet and crossed to the closed door.
Keira lay curled up in a corner, huddled in her comforter, Lizzy snuggled against her. Keira’s eyes were open and wide with fear, her mouth trembling.
Callie dropped to her knees and pulled her close. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Did you have a bad dream?”
Keira nodded without speaking. Her whole body shook like she’d just been plucked from an icy lake. She sniffed several times, as if trying not to cry. Callie continued to hang on.
“It’s okay,” she whispered, noting how small and delicate her sister felt through the thick comforter. “You’re okay.”
Callie shifted to get more comfortable and moved Lizzy out from between them. The kitten stretched and yawned before collapsing on the floor and closing her eyes. Callie wrapped her arms around her sister again and waited for the trembling to stop. After a few minutes, Keira was able to speak.
“I have bad dreams every few days,” she admitted in a small voice. “It’s different stuff. Sometimes it’s like the walls are laughing at me and I just can’t sleep in my bed. The room is so big.”
Callie thought about how before going into foster care, Keira had slept in a dining room alcove. Nothing in the girl’s life had prepared her for living in a palatial house with too many rooms. She thought about her terror the first few nights when she’d been incarcerated. How some of the inmates would cry or scream. It had taken a long time for the fear to go away.
She leaned back enough to smooth Keira’s hair off her face. “Want to come sleep with me?”
Keira bit her lower lip. “Lizzy, too?”
Callie smiled. “Yes, Lizzy, too. My bed is huge. We could invite Grandfather Alberto and Carmen, as well, if you’d like, but I think that would be weird.”
Keira managed a shaky smile. “Maybe next time.”
“Sure. Come on, let’s go get settled.”
Callie stood and scooped up the kitten. Keira scrambled to her feet. They went next door and all got into the big bed. Callie left the lamp on, but put it on the floor so the light wasn’t in their eyes. Keira pulled up the covers and sighed.
“Thanks, Callie. This is much better.”
“No problem. I’m right here. If you get scared, just wake me, okay?”
Keira yawned and closed her eyes. “I will.”
Seconds later, her breathing was slow and even. No doubt the kid was exhausted, Callie thought, shifting to get comfortable.
Lizzy lay between them. The kitten stretched before standing and walking closer to Callie. She sank onto the covers and curled up, her back against Callie’s stomach. Even through the layers of sheet, blanket and comforter, Callie felt the rumble of her purring.
Hope for what the future could be battled with a haunting sense of loss. She missed her mom, who had died while Callie had been in prison. She missed who she could have been if she hadn’t screwed up. She missed being just like everyone else. And while she wanted to believe she’d been given an amazing second chance, she couldn’t help thinking there was a massive catch somewhere. One that she had yet to figure out.
* * *
Monday morning Delaney alternated between giddy and nervous. She told herself she was being ridiculous. She’d been on one date and it had been nice. Not amazing or life changing, but nice. Or maybe promising was a better word. She could go that far. So it had been promising and now she was going to see him again and big whoop. She would be fine. When he walked in with his baby sister, she would simply smile and continue working. Because she was at work. Plus she was nearly thirty so she really should be able to do a decent job and crush on a guy at the same time. It was all about focusing on the right thing.
Her resolve lasted right up until she saw him walk in the door, Keira at his side. Malcolm spoke briefly to his sister before smiling at Delaney, then he walked away. Keira watched him go, her expression full of longing and pain.
Turn back and hug her! Delaney willed the message to Malcolm but he didn’t receive it. He used his ID card to access the elevator for the upper floors and then he was gone. She turned back to Keira, who had gotten in line, and shook off any sadness before smiling at her friend.
“I’m going on break,” she called as she started steaming milk for a hot chocolate.
She met Keira at the tables around the side of the coffee stand.
“How are you feeling?” Delaney asked as they sat down. “You look good. The bruise is almost gone. Any headaches?”
“I’m fine.” Keira smiled. “Thanks for the drink. You should let me pay for them. I have money.”
“I like treating you.” She narrowed her gaze and pretended to be mad. “No running into the street, okay? Next time I won’t chase after you.”
Keira rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You would so chase after me, but I promise I won’t do it again unless I see another kitten. Or a puppy.”
“No one wants a little animal run over, but you have to be careful.”
Keira picked up her drink. “Because you wouldn’t run into the street either?”