Chapter 1

Heidi walked into Cal's office after knocking lightly on his door. "There's a call on line five…"

"Whoop de do…," Cal answered sarcastically then looked up at her when he heard her sigh. "Why do I care?"

"The woman refused to talk to anyone but you and she claims it's an emergency…"

"Of course it is," Cal muttered as he continued to watch the computer screen in front of him.

Heidi seemed uncertain. "Should I have Dr. Foster talk to her?"

Knowing Gillian was doing accounting and it always put her in a cranky mood, Cal rolled his eyes and suddenly grinned at Heidi mischievously. "Nah, don't bother Foster, it's probably just my adoring public…"

Since his second book had just recently come out, several calls a day came in from various fans wanting to tell him how much they enjoyed his writing.

Heidi chuckled as she walked away and Cal walked over to his desk and grabbed the phone.

"Yeah?"

"Dr. Lightman?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you the same Dr. Lightman that wrote them books?"

Cal's face showed his impatience. "Yeah, that was me, how can I help you?"

"You still good friends with Gillian Foster?"

Cal frowned at the odd question. "Dr. Foster is my business partner."

"So…is that a yes?"

"Yeah…why?"

"I seen you once before you know…you was the guy that was with her the day they come and took her baby?"

Cal blinked in surprise. Not many people knew the details of that day and he sat down hard in his desk chair as he listened intently to the voice on the other end of the line. "Yeah, I was."

"Cause I remember how close you two was and I was wondering if you was still that close."

Cal was getting agitated with the caller. "Ma'am, can I ask what this is about?"

"I'm getting to that…just needed to make sure I was talkin' with the right person…I'm that baby's meemaw and I was wantin' to speak to you about her."

"Sophie?" Cal gasped.

"Sophie? Is that what you all called her? That's nice…"

Cal swallowed hard as his mind raced. "You said you wanted to talk, should I get Dr. Foster on the line as well?"

"No! No…I want that poor lady left outta of this. I want you to come out and see me by yourself!"

"Look…I think…" Cal started to object.

"Alone!"

"Okay! Whatever you want…I'll come alone."

"Remember your promise…"

"Uh…." Cal hesitated as he jotted down her address when she rattled it off.

Shock was setting in as he struggled to find his voice.

"Mister?"

"Aye, I promise, I'll come alone."

"How quick can you come?"

"Well what day is good for you?"

"Day? Today! You need to come now…"

He thought quickly as he glanced at his watch. "Okay…give me two maybe three hours with traffic."

"Okay, I'll try to wait for you."

"No! Please…I'm leaving right now and I swear I'll be there. Take my cell phone number and if anything happens call me and I'll meet you wherever."

Cal heard the sadness in her voice when she sighed. "I'll do my best," she said as she hung up.

Cal frowned at the unusual call but didn't take the time to dwell on it as he grabbed for his car keys. On his way out the door, he hesitated then ran into his private study to grab a box off the top shelf in his closet. He was coming out of his study when he promptly ran into Gillian.

He was walking so fast that he had to grab for her to steady her so she wouldn't fall back. "Bloody hell, Foster!"

"Did I scare you?" Gillian chuckled as she looked down. The contents of the file folder she had been carrying had scattered around the floor. Her expression changed when she looked back at him. She knew immediately that he was hiding something from her. "Whatever it is you're planning on doing…don't!"

Cal squirmed. "I don't have a choice, Luv."

"You always have a choice, Cal!"

"Not this time…"

"What is it? What are you going to do?"

"Can't tell ya, Foster."

"Cal?!" she questioned angrily.

"I've got to go; I'll talk to ya when I get back."

Cal leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth then squeezed past her. Gillian grabbed his elbow and pulled him around to face her. "I swear Cal; if you do anything stupid…I am so tired of straightening out your messes…"

Cal sighed as he shook his head and faced her. "This time it's not my mess. Look, can you trust me…just this once?" After she snorted derisively, he realized she was furious with him for not telling her where he was going. He took a step towards her so she would have to make eye contact with him. "Please Gillian?"

She saw the plea in his eyes and softened then sighed as she wordlessly nodded.

Cal was filled with relief. After everything he had done recently, she was giving him her trust. He couldn't stop himself from cupping her cheek and hesitating briefly before he kissed her.

When he pulled away, he glanced quickly at her to gauge her reaction before he walked away.

Gillian watched him leave and was filled with conflicting emotions. She stood for several minutes then finally smiled widely when she thought about his kiss. She almost skipped back to her office to wait for him.