Chapter 55
Callie's P.O.V:
"Hola Mija, what do I owe the pleasure this evening?" my dad answers, after picking up after the third ring. I rarely go to my dad for anything, but since it had something to do with him as well, I knew he would be the right person to ask.
"Hi Daddy. I..um..I was calling to see if I could get your advice on something,"
"Advice? Mija, is everything okay? Did something happen to Noah or Arizona?" he asked, sounding a little concerned.
"Oh..no. Noah and Arizona are fine," I assure him.
"Okay, good. Had me a little worried. You hardly ever call me looking for advice, Mija. So, tell me, what is it that you need my advice on?"
"Mom," I blurt out.
"Oh! What about her? She's been gone thirteen years. I don't understand why you would need my advice about-"
"She's back," I cut in.
"What do you mean she's back?"
"Just what I said. She showed up on my doorstep last week, then showed up at my Label,"
"Oh, boy," he says softly, "did she say what she wanted?"
"She said that she wanted to apologize for leaving..." I could hear my father chuckle at my words, "she also wanted to have dinner. Explain to me why she left,"
"What's there to explain. She said the affair was finally her way out,"
"Yeah, I know. That's what I told Arizona,"
"You told your wife about your mother?" How did he know.
"How did you know Arizona and I got married?" I ask, sounding a little shocked at the fact he knew.
"I'm a father, Mija. Dads know everything," he chuckles, "but as for your mother, I can't tell you what to do. You have to decide whether or not you want to actually sit down and talk to her. I mean, probably should listen to what she has to say but-"
"Arizona said that too," I let out sigh.
"See, and this is why I love that girl. She's smart," he chuckled, "but I can't tell you what to do, Mija. You're 26 years old, you're not a child anymore. You have to decide that for yourself,"
"Yeah, I guess I do," I say quietly, more to myself.
After hanging up with my dad, I take out the business card that had Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland printed on the front that my mother had left on the desk. Flipping the card over, I dial the number that was written on the back of it.
"Hello?" came a reply.
"Meet me at The Pink Door near Pike Place Market tomorrow at noon," was all I said before hanging up.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," I say, rubbing my face with both hands. I shift nervously in my seat waiting for Lucia to show up. Looking up at the clock on the wall, I see that it 12:15, "of course she's late," But a moment later, I finally notice the woman I've been dreading to see since I made that phone call. I watch Lucia say a few words to the receptionist before following her to my table.
"Here you are, Mrs. Torres," the receptionist says, before leaving. Lucia takes a seat across from me.
"I'm sorry I'm late, you won't believe the traffic I had this afternoon," she says, getting herself situated, "So, tell me what's been going on? How's everything?"
"Well, not that you actually care," I say with a little sass, "things have been great. No thanks to you,"
"Are you married? Any children?" she asks, ignoring my snarl remark.
"I am actually. We've been married almost two months now. We have a son together. His name is Noah,"
"Oh. How old?" she asks with a small smile.
"He's 8 months," I reply shortly.
"They are so cute at the age, huh. I remember when you were that small, you-"
"I don't care to hear about your little anecdotes, starring you as the good mother, okay," I snap, cutting her off, "I'm only here because I want some answers,"
"What do you want to know?" she asks.
"What I want to know is, why? Why did you leave?"
"Your father had an affair, Mija," she says, "he's the one that caused all this,"
"Okay, I'm going to stop you right there. He's not the one who did it. I stood in the doorway, without either of you knowing and I heard every word you said. You said that the affair actually gave you a way out. You always treated me differently. Dad said, from the moment I was born, you didn't want anything to do with me. You never changed me or fed me. It was him. So, don't. Don't put this on him. But even if he maybe had something to do with it, you could've stayed in contact with Aria and I, but you didn't. Not once. I needed you," She sat across from me, without saying a word. I could tell that she wanted to say something but was afraid that she would say the wrong thing again.
"I'm sorry, Callie," she whispered out, "I loved you, always have. I just... I was in denial that my baby was..."
"Was what? Born with a penis?" I ask, a little too loudly.
"I was going to say born differently, but yes. I didn't know how to handle it," she confessed.
"So, instead of dealing with it and accepting it, you used my dad's affair as an excuse to leave. I mean, hey you already had one foot out the door because of my condition, so all you needed was a little shove. So, when dad's affair was brought up, it finally gave you the opportunity you needed,"
"Have you talked to Aria?" she asks, changing the subject.
"We talk from time to time. She's busy living her life and managing her own career," I tell her, "Why do you care? She was ten when you left. She probably doesn't remember much of you,"
"Then there are things you don't know. Things that she's keeping from you," I furrow my brow in confusion. There's no way Aria would be in contact with this woman. Not without telling me anyway.
"What do you mean?"
"You should ask her," she says, "so, tell me about your wife. What's her name? How did you guys meet?" and once again, she changes the subject.
"No, I'm asking you. What did you mean that there are things she wasn't telling me? and things I don't know? Have you guys been in contact with each other?"
"Something like that," she says, "we've been in contact for a year now, Callie. She was the one who convinced me to contact you,"
"I don't believe this," I scoff, "so, you're only coming around because she told you to,"
"No, not exactly. I would've contacted you eventually," she says.
"Eventually?" About that time, I've finally had enough of. I excused myself from the table and made my way to the lady's room. I pace the room, trying to figure out my next move. Finding out my sister had something to do with this did not sit well with me. We always had a close relationship. We stuck by each other growing up, even after our mother had left us. She would've told me that she would've been in contact with her. Would she? Taking my phone from my pocket, I dial Aria's number. It rings several times before she answered.
"Hey, Callie, surprised to hear from you. How's my nephew?" I take a deep breath before saying anything to her.
"Did you know about this?" I ask angerily.
"About what?" she asks.
"About Mom?" I shout, "Did you know?"
"Callie..."
"No, don't Callie me, Aria. So, all this time, you've been in contact with her, and you didn't even bother to fucking tell me? How could you?"
"I'm guessing she found you?" she asked.
"Oh, yeah, she found me alright. She showed up at my house, my label...did you tell her where I lived?"
"I...may..had something to do with that..." she confesses, "but Callie..."
"No. I don't want to hear anymore..." I say, hanging up on her, then turn and chuck my phone against the wall, shattering it.
Entering my home several hours later, Arizona was sitting with Noah on the couch. I could hear Coco Melon playing on the t.v screen. Even at eight months old, he settles down after his little crying fits when we turn the cartoon on. Hearing the door close, Arizona looks over at me and smiles.
"Hey, how did it go with your mom?" she asks. I sat down next to my wife and son on the couch and place a hand on her thigh.
"Not so well," I say, letting out a defeated sigh.
"I'm sorry, babe. At least you talked to her, right? Got the answers you needed?"
"Something like that," I lean my head on the back of the couch and closed my eyes.
"I've been trying to get ahold of you today, but you didn't pick up, so I assumed you were busy with your mom. I called the studio and Doug said you never showed back up,"
"Yeah, after meeting with my mom, I just drove around for a little bit to clear my head. It was Aria,"
"What was Aria?" she asks, sounding confused.
"Aria was the one to convince my mom to contact me,"
"Why would Aria be the one who convinced her? Had they been in contact?"
"It appears to be so. Apparently, they had been in contact for year now,"
"How's that possible? She would've told you. Wouldn't she?"
"That's what I thought too. But everything Lucia had said was all true. I excused myself to the lady's room and called her. I heard it come straight from her mouth. My own sister admitted to me that she had been in contact with her,"
"O-okay?" she draws out.
"Hence, the reason why I need a new phone," I chuckle, "I got angry when she admitted to me and I ended up throwing my phone at the bathroom wall,"
"Callie!" she exclaimed.
"I know, I know, but she just made me so angry," I tell her, leaning forward, placing my elbows on my knee, "my own sister,"
"Your son has been waiting for you to get home," she says, trying to enlighten the mood. I look up at Noah, then reach out to take him from my wife. Holding Noah close, the stress from today finally starts to fade. She places her hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze, "everything is going to be okay, Calliope,"
"Yeah, it will be," I say, smiling at Noah.
*Okay, here's an update on what happened with Callie and her mom. Hope it's not too boring. let me know your thoughts *
