He’d been shocked—who wouldn’t be—but he realized the knowledge didn’t change anything. He’d seen her around enough people to have a sense of who she was inside. Everybody screwed up—the difference was she’d been forced to pay in a huge way. And she had. She wasn’t angry or bitter or jaded. Instead she’d learned and moved on.
“You didn’t tell me about Callie’s past.”
Malcolm’s gaze flickered slightly but otherwise he didn’t give anything away. “She asked me not to. How did you find out?”
“She told me.”
“And?”
“I thought about it for a few minutes, but it doesn’t matter to me. I accept her for who she is. What about you? Is what happened before the reason you were so reluctant to accept her?”
Malcolm leaned back in his chair. “Partially. Maybe. I’m not sure. Keira was different. She’s a kid, but Callie is a grown woman with a life and a future. I guess I was suspicious and reluctant to trust her.”
“And now?”
“She’s growing on me.”
“Me, too.”
Santiago told Malcolm what had happened the previous day and how the truth had come out.
“What did your mom say?” Malcolm asked.
“That everyone deserves a second chance.”
Malcolm grinned. “That sounds like her. Did you tell Hanna and Paulo?”
Santiago hesitated. “My mom is going to. Hanna has a right to know, because of the kids, but I don’t think she’ll care. I’m more concerned about Paulo.” He had a feeling he couldn’t fully define.
“You think he’ll tell people at the warehouse?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. It’s just something. I guess I don’t have a choice. Mom isn’t going to ask Hanna to keep secrets from her husband.” Not only was it not right, they were already having problems. He didn’t want to contribute to that. “I’ll talk to Callie before I do anything. Oh, and I asked Callie to the gala.”
“You expect me to have a problem with that?”
“Just checking.”
“She’s my sister, Santiago. There’s no problem.”
Santiago grinned. “About time you started thinking like that.”
* * *
Callie logged into Keira’s school’s website and went to the section for parents. She and Malcolm had agreed she would take care of checking on things like assignments and ongoing projects while Malcolm handled the therapy end of things.
She scrolled through the notes from the various teachers and read the entries. They were all variations on a theme.
Keira is doing much better in class. She’s more outgoing and frequently volunteers answers rather than being asked. She talked to me about our outreach program for students transferring in.
“All good news,” Callie murmured quietly, trying to remember the last time her sister had screamed in her sleep. It had been at least a couple of weeks, maybe longer. Keira was finally starting to feel at home.
Callie could relate to her difficulties in finding her way. She was twice Keira’s age and there were times she wasn’t sure what to make of her new circumstances. Santiago’s acceptance of her past still left her breathless. She enjoyed her work and the people she met there and she was starting to think about crazy things, like maybe going on to get her bachelor’s degree. Not that she would ever compete with Malcolm but she thought maybe that if she really did own a significant part of the company, she should get a business degree so she could understand more than the basket assembly line.
She returned her attention to the computer screen and noticed an alert. When she clicked on it, there was a request to confirm Keira’s personal information including contact info. Callie followed the link and confirmed the phone numbers and the address. She was about to log off the page when she saw a date that drove her to her feet.
“What? How could I not know this?”
She double-checked, then thought about all the times Keira had mentioned being “almost thirteen.” No wonder. Her birthday was in two weeks. What if she hadn’t seen the information? Did Malcolm know his sister’s birthday? Did anyone?
She logged out of the program, then went to find her brother. He was just walking out of his bedroom when she entered his study.
“I need to talk to you,” she said. “It’s about Keira.”
“I’m having dinner with Delaney. Let me text her that I’m going to be a few minutes late.”
Callie had the strangest urge to hug him. A few weeks ago he would have said he didn’t have time right now and that they could speak later. They’d all come a long way.
“This will only take a second. Keira’s birthday is in two weeks. She’s going to be thirteen.”
His frown confirmed he hadn’t known, either.
“We are so getting a family calendar,” she told him. “We’re going to put on all the birthdays and any other big events. We act like we’re roommates, not family.”
“You’re right and that’s a good idea. So what should we do for Keira’s birthday? Have a party?”
“Let me ask her,” Callie said. “I don’t want to do too much or too little. She always has a clear idea of what she wants in any given situation.” She smiled. “I’m hoping she wants a party. That would be fun to plan.”
“How can I help?”
She smiled at him. “Let me talk to Keira and I’ll let you know. While I appreciate the thought, I’m not sure a party for a girl turning thirteen is going to be exactly your area of expertise.”
“I’d still like to be involved.”
“Good for you. Okay, I’m off to talk to Keira. Tell Delaney hi for me.”
“I will.”
Callie went back down the hall and knocked on Keira’s open door, then walked in the room.
“It’s me.”
“I’m here.”
Callie walked into the playroom and found Keira sprawled on the sofa, her schoolbooks scattered on the floor.
“I have two quizzes this week,” she said with a dramatic sigh. “My life is pain.”
Callie scooped up Lizzy and sat in one of the chairs. “I’m sure that’s true. Let me distract you with a question. It’s your birthday in a couple of weeks.”
Keira sat up. “That’s not a question.”
“See how smart you are?” Callie stroked the purring kitten. “I didn’t know it was your birthday until just now. I’m glad I found out because I wouldn’t want to have missed it.”
Keira’s eyes were hopeful, but her body language warned she was still wary. “Okay, again no question.”
Callie gentled her voice. “I think a party would be fun. What do you think?”
Keira relaxed. “Really? A party for me?”
“You seem to be the birthday girl.”
“I know but I’ve never had a party.”
A simple sentence that cut Callie to her heart. She wanted to ask how that was possible. Surely her mother had...only Keira’s mother had never bothered.
“Then it’s past time,” Callie told her. “I need you to think about how many friends you want to have and what kind of party. Maybe a sleepover?”
“No, I don’t think so. I’m not ready for that.”
“Then how about something in the afternoon followed by a family dinner?”
Keira beamed at her. “That sounds perfect. I love it. Yes, let’s do that. I have five friends I’d like to invite. So there will be six of us. That’s enough for this year. Maybe next year I’ll have a sleepover.”
“It’s a date. Do you want to talk about what kind of party? I mean like a theme?”
Keira wrinkled her nose. “Surprise me. I trust you to make it right.”
Callie wondered if that was the real reason Keira didn’t want to brainstorm her own party, or was she afraid that if she asked for too much it would all be taken away? She thought about the preteen sleeping in her closet because the room was too big and how she was terrified of being abandoned yet again.
“I have a million ideas,” Callie said confidently. “You’ll see. It’s going to be fabulous. You and your friends will be talking about it for weeks.”
She stood and was surprised when Keira jumped to her feet and ran over to hug her tight.
“Thank you,” her sister whispered fiercely. “For all of it.”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
“I know, but you will.”
* * *
Saturday morning Delaney practically danced to the front door. She pulled it open and laughed.
“I’m ridiculously excited,” she admitted as Callie entered. “And I have no idea why.”
“Parties are fun. Plus, it’s Keira, so what’s not to be excited about?”
Delaney wondered if there was more to it for her. She was caught up in some weird space-time continuum where some days seem to last forever and others just sped by. She was confused, unsettled and way too emotional. When Malcolm had mentioned Keira’s upcoming birthday and the fact that Callie was planning a party, she’d had to get involved.
“Thanks for letting me help,” Delaney said as they walked into her living room. “I’ll do anything. Seriously. I can blow up balloons or run errands. I just want to be a part of this.”