Promises of Someday 4/5
By koaladeb
Disclaimer information in part 1
~~~~~~~~~~
After lunch, the trio made their way to a nearby store so Calleigh could pick out a new shirt. Finding a blue button-down in her size, Calleigh walked over to the dressing room to try it on. Horatio followed with Maddy and found a bench they could sit on to wait.
Maddy curled into his side, and Horatio put an arm around her, basking in the unrestrained affection she always gave. He concentrated on the small form cuddled against him, forcing his thoughts away from the curtain ten feet away and the knowledge that Calleigh was changing clothes behind it.
Calleigh reappeared a moment later asking, "What do you think?"
Maddy didn't move from her position and his side, but her head immediately perked up and she clapped happily. "It's perfect, Calleigh!" she called. "It matches your eyes!"
Horatio silently agreed with his perceptive niece. The shirt did indeed match Calleigh's eyes, the color of the fabric making them stand out even more prominently. The image she presented caused him to be struck speechless for a moment, losing himself in a fantasy he had been fighting all afternoon, allowing his dream world to layer itself over reality until he existed in both simultaneously.
In fantasy he was a married man, doing something as ordinary as shopping with his wife and daughter on a Saturday afternoon, and it felt so right and natural that he could hardly breathe. Calleigh spun around, her golden hair flying over one shoulder and coming to rest, the ends resting perfectly against a petite form that filled the shirt perfectly.
Dragging himself unwillingly from this train of thought, Horatio remembered Calleigh was still waiting for a response. He met her quirked eyebrow with an apologetic shrug and a smile.
"It's definitely you."
Calleigh grinned and walked over to him. "Can you help me with the tags? The salesperson said I could wear it out of the store if I wanted to, but I need the tags for the cashier."
Horatio nodded and sent Maddy to collect Calleigh's purse and discarded clothes while he helped with the tag. He stood as she turned, presenting him with her back, completely still, completely trusting, completely provocative.
The action only took a few seconds, but they seemed like an exquisite eternity for Horatio. He gathered up her hair and caught the scent of vanilla before he brought it over her shoulder, allowing the strands to run through his fingers as he let go. His hands were hesitant as he reached for the collar of the shirt and the price tag hanging out of it, dangling on a plastic cord. He had to dip his fingers into the shirt to find the cloth tag through which the plastic cord was positioned, brushing against the bare skin of Calleigh's neck and back in the process.
Horatio's breath caught at the contact and Calleigh started as well. Her body told him of the effect his hands and proximity were having as a slight blush made its way up her neck, now covered in goose bumps. Holding onto the collar of the shirt, Horatio tugged at the plastic until it gave way. He pulled the pieces from the shirt and folded the tag back into place, lightly stroking Calleigh's neck again under the pretext of straightening the collar.
She turned slowly without backing away, so that her face was just centimeters away when she whispered, "Thank you, Handsome."
He felt her hand against his and broke eye contact to see her slender fingers take possession of the price tag. He looked up, locking gazes with her and something within him burned to close the remaining distance between them. But he was locked in place, unable to produce sound, let alone movement.
Calleigh showed no such difficulty. "I'll meet you and Maddy out front in a minute," she said softly, taking a small step backwards and putting an end to the moment and Horatio's paralysis. She made her way back to the dressing-room, appearing a moment later, Maddy by her side.
The little girl crossed to where Horatio was standing, holding his windbreaker. He took possession of the item, resisting the temptation of testing to see if Calleigh's scent remained on it, and led Maddy to the front of the store. Calleigh appeared a moment later carrying a bag containing her torn shirt. They began walking toward the parking lot.
"Where are we going now?" Maddy asked, breaking the silence that had enveloped them.
Horatio glanced over at Calleigh. "We've taken up a large part of your day. I guess we'd better take you home."
Calleigh nodded and looked down for a moment, putting sunglasses on before locking her gaze on the official Miami-Dade PD Hummer, standing silently in front of them, an object currently serving as a visual representation of the separation that was coming—both this day and once work started on Monday.
Maddy protested. "But I don't want you to go home!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Calleigh's waist and burying her small head in her stomach.
Helpless, Calleigh looked up at Horatio. Her sunglasses hid the emotions in her eyes, but Horatio could sense her inner conflict.
"This time is so precious for you," she said, speaking to him but directing her comments at Maddy. She unwrapped the arms from her and kneeled to face the child. "I've loved spending time with you Maddy, and I'll see you again, I promise. But I don't want to prevent you from spending time with family, and that's what I would be doing if I stayed."
"Please!" Maddy responded, looking back and forth between Calleigh and Horatio. "Uncle Horatio, please tell her to stay."
Horatio knelt next to Calleigh and looked at her, allowing the image of her with Maddy to enliven his imagination even as it tore at his heart, knowing the moment could not last.
"Stay," he said, the tone making it sound like an appeal, the hand on her arm turning it into a statement of reassurance. "It would mean a lot to both of us."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll stay."
Maddie squealed with delight and hugged Horatio. "Thank you! I knew you could make her stay!"
Horatio shut his mind away from the knowledge that the rest of the day would be filled with exquisite torture, allowing himself only to smile in affection and looked up to see a similar expression on Calleigh's face, as though she were experiencing the same inner turmoil.
"Come on," he said, unlocking the Hummer and opening doors. "Let's go walk on the beach."
~~~~~~~~~~
They drove to the shore and took off shoes and socks before heading down to the water. Calleigh walked with Horatio and they both kept an eye on Maddy, who would stop every few feet to pick up a shell and bring it back for approval and safekeeping. At some point, she slipped her arm through his and they continued on that way, walking leisurely, as though they had all the time in the world instead of this one afternoon.
Horatio found himself wandering in and out of the fantasy again, imagining what the rest of the day would be like if he did not need to worry about taking Calleigh home and returning Maddy to her mother the next day. Imagining what it would be like if they were both his to cherish forever.
They would probably keep walking, making their way over to a small beach restaurant where they could watch the sunset. Then they would go home, give Maddy a bath and dress her in pajamas before settling on the couch and watching cartoons. When the time came for Maddy to go to sleep, he could carry her to bed and read her stories. Calleigh would join them and help him tuck Maddy in and give her good night kisses. Then they would go back out and cuddle on the couch, or sway together to some soft music, or maybe even go to bed and work on giving Maddy a baby brother or sister. There would be no goodbyes, no nights spent alone, no professional distance, only love and fulfillment.
He looked over at Calleigh, who was turning over shells in her hand, looking through the collection Maddy had made. She looked up and smiled, and Horatio's heart constricted at the thought that she was not part of his reality like she was in his dreams. He couldn't lean over and kiss her softly, or stroke her face like he was desperate to do in this moment.
Calleigh must have noticed something was wrong, because she frowned in concern. "What is it?" she asked.
Horatio looked ahead and rested his eyes on Maddy, who was searching for yet another shell before returning his gaze to Calleigh, but he couldn't look her in the eye and lie to her, so he deflected, dropping his head to stare at the sand sticking to his feet.
"I was thinking we'll never be able to hold onto all the shells Maddy keeps picking up," he said, avoiding deeper revelation.
He heard Calleigh sigh, and when he examined her face, he saw again an echo of the longing he felt. She directed his gaze over to a food stand.
"Go ask them for an empty cup. We'll put Maddy's shells in that."
Horatio nodded, and felt it was punishment for his cowardice when he had to slip Calleigh's arm from his and walk away from her. He reached the stand quickly, made his request, and was handed a small paper cup. Horatio thanked the man behind the counter and was about to walk away when he heard the comment that stopped him in his tracks.
"You have a beautiful family."
Horatio looked over at Calleigh and Maddy, who were laughing together at some seagulls, and did not even think about correcting the man; even if he could have spoken, the roughness of his voice would have betrayed the emotions he was desperately trying to keep hidden. He watched and pined for something that was within his reach and yet did not belong to him.
Horatio kept his back turned to the stand, not wanting anyone to see the tears that sprung to his eyes at the innocent remark.
Disclaimer information in part 1
~~~~~~~~~~
After lunch, the trio made their way to a nearby store so Calleigh could pick out a new shirt. Finding a blue button-down in her size, Calleigh walked over to the dressing room to try it on. Horatio followed with Maddy and found a bench they could sit on to wait.
Maddy curled into his side, and Horatio put an arm around her, basking in the unrestrained affection she always gave. He concentrated on the small form cuddled against him, forcing his thoughts away from the curtain ten feet away and the knowledge that Calleigh was changing clothes behind it.
Calleigh reappeared a moment later asking, "What do you think?"
Maddy didn't move from her position and his side, but her head immediately perked up and she clapped happily. "It's perfect, Calleigh!" she called. "It matches your eyes!"
Horatio silently agreed with his perceptive niece. The shirt did indeed match Calleigh's eyes, the color of the fabric making them stand out even more prominently. The image she presented caused him to be struck speechless for a moment, losing himself in a fantasy he had been fighting all afternoon, allowing his dream world to layer itself over reality until he existed in both simultaneously.
In fantasy he was a married man, doing something as ordinary as shopping with his wife and daughter on a Saturday afternoon, and it felt so right and natural that he could hardly breathe. Calleigh spun around, her golden hair flying over one shoulder and coming to rest, the ends resting perfectly against a petite form that filled the shirt perfectly.
Dragging himself unwillingly from this train of thought, Horatio remembered Calleigh was still waiting for a response. He met her quirked eyebrow with an apologetic shrug and a smile.
"It's definitely you."
Calleigh grinned and walked over to him. "Can you help me with the tags? The salesperson said I could wear it out of the store if I wanted to, but I need the tags for the cashier."
Horatio nodded and sent Maddy to collect Calleigh's purse and discarded clothes while he helped with the tag. He stood as she turned, presenting him with her back, completely still, completely trusting, completely provocative.
The action only took a few seconds, but they seemed like an exquisite eternity for Horatio. He gathered up her hair and caught the scent of vanilla before he brought it over her shoulder, allowing the strands to run through his fingers as he let go. His hands were hesitant as he reached for the collar of the shirt and the price tag hanging out of it, dangling on a plastic cord. He had to dip his fingers into the shirt to find the cloth tag through which the plastic cord was positioned, brushing against the bare skin of Calleigh's neck and back in the process.
Horatio's breath caught at the contact and Calleigh started as well. Her body told him of the effect his hands and proximity were having as a slight blush made its way up her neck, now covered in goose bumps. Holding onto the collar of the shirt, Horatio tugged at the plastic until it gave way. He pulled the pieces from the shirt and folded the tag back into place, lightly stroking Calleigh's neck again under the pretext of straightening the collar.
She turned slowly without backing away, so that her face was just centimeters away when she whispered, "Thank you, Handsome."
He felt her hand against his and broke eye contact to see her slender fingers take possession of the price tag. He looked up, locking gazes with her and something within him burned to close the remaining distance between them. But he was locked in place, unable to produce sound, let alone movement.
Calleigh showed no such difficulty. "I'll meet you and Maddy out front in a minute," she said softly, taking a small step backwards and putting an end to the moment and Horatio's paralysis. She made her way back to the dressing-room, appearing a moment later, Maddy by her side.
The little girl crossed to where Horatio was standing, holding his windbreaker. He took possession of the item, resisting the temptation of testing to see if Calleigh's scent remained on it, and led Maddy to the front of the store. Calleigh appeared a moment later carrying a bag containing her torn shirt. They began walking toward the parking lot.
"Where are we going now?" Maddy asked, breaking the silence that had enveloped them.
Horatio glanced over at Calleigh. "We've taken up a large part of your day. I guess we'd better take you home."
Calleigh nodded and looked down for a moment, putting sunglasses on before locking her gaze on the official Miami-Dade PD Hummer, standing silently in front of them, an object currently serving as a visual representation of the separation that was coming—both this day and once work started on Monday.
Maddy protested. "But I don't want you to go home!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Calleigh's waist and burying her small head in her stomach.
Helpless, Calleigh looked up at Horatio. Her sunglasses hid the emotions in her eyes, but Horatio could sense her inner conflict.
"This time is so precious for you," she said, speaking to him but directing her comments at Maddy. She unwrapped the arms from her and kneeled to face the child. "I've loved spending time with you Maddy, and I'll see you again, I promise. But I don't want to prevent you from spending time with family, and that's what I would be doing if I stayed."
"Please!" Maddy responded, looking back and forth between Calleigh and Horatio. "Uncle Horatio, please tell her to stay."
Horatio knelt next to Calleigh and looked at her, allowing the image of her with Maddy to enliven his imagination even as it tore at his heart, knowing the moment could not last.
"Stay," he said, the tone making it sound like an appeal, the hand on her arm turning it into a statement of reassurance. "It would mean a lot to both of us."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll stay."
Maddie squealed with delight and hugged Horatio. "Thank you! I knew you could make her stay!"
Horatio shut his mind away from the knowledge that the rest of the day would be filled with exquisite torture, allowing himself only to smile in affection and looked up to see a similar expression on Calleigh's face, as though she were experiencing the same inner turmoil.
"Come on," he said, unlocking the Hummer and opening doors. "Let's go walk on the beach."
~~~~~~~~~~
They drove to the shore and took off shoes and socks before heading down to the water. Calleigh walked with Horatio and they both kept an eye on Maddy, who would stop every few feet to pick up a shell and bring it back for approval and safekeeping. At some point, she slipped her arm through his and they continued on that way, walking leisurely, as though they had all the time in the world instead of this one afternoon.
Horatio found himself wandering in and out of the fantasy again, imagining what the rest of the day would be like if he did not need to worry about taking Calleigh home and returning Maddy to her mother the next day. Imagining what it would be like if they were both his to cherish forever.
They would probably keep walking, making their way over to a small beach restaurant where they could watch the sunset. Then they would go home, give Maddy a bath and dress her in pajamas before settling on the couch and watching cartoons. When the time came for Maddy to go to sleep, he could carry her to bed and read her stories. Calleigh would join them and help him tuck Maddy in and give her good night kisses. Then they would go back out and cuddle on the couch, or sway together to some soft music, or maybe even go to bed and work on giving Maddy a baby brother or sister. There would be no goodbyes, no nights spent alone, no professional distance, only love and fulfillment.
He looked over at Calleigh, who was turning over shells in her hand, looking through the collection Maddy had made. She looked up and smiled, and Horatio's heart constricted at the thought that she was not part of his reality like she was in his dreams. He couldn't lean over and kiss her softly, or stroke her face like he was desperate to do in this moment.
Calleigh must have noticed something was wrong, because she frowned in concern. "What is it?" she asked.
Horatio looked ahead and rested his eyes on Maddy, who was searching for yet another shell before returning his gaze to Calleigh, but he couldn't look her in the eye and lie to her, so he deflected, dropping his head to stare at the sand sticking to his feet.
"I was thinking we'll never be able to hold onto all the shells Maddy keeps picking up," he said, avoiding deeper revelation.
He heard Calleigh sigh, and when he examined her face, he saw again an echo of the longing he felt. She directed his gaze over to a food stand.
"Go ask them for an empty cup. We'll put Maddy's shells in that."
Horatio nodded, and felt it was punishment for his cowardice when he had to slip Calleigh's arm from his and walk away from her. He reached the stand quickly, made his request, and was handed a small paper cup. Horatio thanked the man behind the counter and was about to walk away when he heard the comment that stopped him in his tracks.
"You have a beautiful family."
Horatio looked over at Calleigh and Maddy, who were laughing together at some seagulls, and did not even think about correcting the man; even if he could have spoken, the roughness of his voice would have betrayed the emotions he was desperately trying to keep hidden. He watched and pined for something that was within his reach and yet did not belong to him.
Horatio kept his back turned to the stand, not wanting anyone to see the tears that sprung to his eyes at the innocent remark.