Chapter 10—Secrets
1
Callen decided to stop at the deli. He picked up two medium-sized portions of the pulled pork and mashed potatoes. Then he stared at the cupcake and cookie stand for the longest time. Eventually, he chose Anna's favorite snacks, and bought those, too.
The drive to St. Anne's was easy, and he was glad. Parking was a little difficult, but he managed. The closer he got to Room 215, the more jaunty Callen's steps became. He really wanted to see Anna and spend time with her.
When he arrived at her door, she was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. All of a sudden, she turned toward the door, and smiled. He felt that she was looking directly at him, and he smiled at her.
Out of the corner of her eye, Anna saw Callen outside the door. She couldn't resist turning toward him, and smiling. His smile made her blood tingle, and she was super happy to see him. She had news to tell him, and she couldn't wait to show him.
2
He knocked lightly, and then entered the room. He noticed that her roommate was gone.
"What happened?"
"She went home."
"Oh, wow! How nice for her. When do I get to take you home?"
Anna smiled at him radiantly. "Not quite yet, my love. But, soon."
He nodded, having to be content with her response. Then he leaned over and kissed her.
Anna broke the kiss by scritching his head and face. She held his head steady, and sniffed the air. Then she kissed him again, inhaling deeply while she did. A huge smile burst across her face.
"What did you do, my love?" She pulled him close again, and sniffed him again. Then she fussed with him, trying to find the source of his scent. Suddenly, she decided that she didn't care. She rubbed her face against his until he purred.
"Not much," he answered, pulling her outfit out of his bags. "Can you sit yet?"
"Sometimes. Usually with help."
"Not a problem. Tell me how."
3
Anna poked two buttons on her bed remote, and suddenly, she was lying flat. Callen looked startled.
"Pull me up by my good arm," she instructed.
"It won't hurt?"
"No." She held her arm out to him, and he pulled on it. Soon, Anna was sitting up straight, and Callen's heart was pounding.
"Hmmph…hey…You need to stop!"
"Okay, okay!" he answered. He was very mindful of her injured arm, but he wrapped her in a proper embrace anyway. "Oh, my God, have I missed you!" he gushed, snuggling her. He loved feeling her arms around him.
"Moya lyubov'," she said softly. She shifted slightly, and buried her face in his neck. "Ya tebya lyublyu."
Callen was content to hold her. He would have held her all night if she would let him. But, that was not to be. Not yet.
4
Anna hissed and moaned. "Dammit!"
Callen let go. "What happened?"
"I have to pee."
"So? Don't you have that external catheter?"
She smiled at him. "Not any more! Look!" She pulled up her gown and showed him her regular self.
"Awesome, baby!" He put his hand against her.
"Callen, you better not. You might accidentally knock the pee out of me!" She reached for her call bell, and pressed the thumb thing.
Laughing, he backed off, and then sat on the clunky chair. "What other surprises do you have for me, baby?"
She grinned. "I can eat real food now, too. No more I-V!" She showed him the bruising on her right arm from the port.
"My baby. My bat baby! You're getting better!" he said in a rush.
5
A knock sounded on the door, and then it opened.
"Come in," Anna said. "I need to use the bathroom."
"Okay," the girl said. "Do you have slippers?"
Anna shook her head. "No."
"You cannot go in your bare feet. I will get you some non-slip socks." The girl disappeared, and returned quickly. She opened the package, and slid the bright purple socks up Anna's legs.
The girl held her hand, and Anna slid off the bed. Holding the girl's hand, she made her way to the bathroom. Once inside, the girl pulled the door closed, much to Anna's chagrin; she wanted Callen with her, but it wasn't possible. Then the girl bundled up Anna's gown and draped it over her injured arm.
Anna took hold of the grab bar, and sat down fast. She was very happy to be using a toilet again.
"Miss, is there any way I can wear underpants? I don't like my butt showing."
"Maybe. It depends on what the doctor says. You have to be able to manipulate them yourself."
"Okay. Thank you." Anna took a handful of toilet paper and wiped herself. Then she stood up and flushed. "This is awkward." She tried holding the gown closed, but failed.
"They don't close, unless we tie the backs," the girl said.
"Maybe I'll do that." Anna turned on the sink and washed her hands, and dried them with a wad of paper towels. "I want to stay sitting up."
"Sure."
6
The girl escorted Anna back to her bed, and helped her to sit down. She swung her legs, but missed her target.
The aide took her leave, and Callen moved the clunky chair closer to the bed. Anna immediately swung her legs again, coming in contact with him this time. He caught her feet by the ankles.
"Think you're slick, don't you?" he quipped.
Not missing a beat, Anna replied, "I know I am." Then she held her arms out, and Callen let go of her fee. Then he went right to her.
He hugged her as tightly as he could, and didn't want to let go of her, even though she squeaked a little. He jumped off her.
"Oh, my God! I am so sorry, baby!" He looked so woebegone that she felt bad for him.
Anna held his face in her hands. "It's okay, my love. I'm okay." Then she leaned in and kissed him softly.
7
Once he was sure that she was all right, Callen became very animated again. He unpacked his bag, putting his things on the wheelie table, which he placed between them.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing. We are going on a date!"
"I beg your pardon?"
Callen drew the curtain around her bed, making sure there were no gaps. He shook out her blouse and skirt, and laid them across the table. Then he shocked Anna by lifting up and removing her gown over her head. He folded it, and put it on her pillow. After, a huge, loving smile filled his face.
He loved seeing her naked, and this afternoon was no different. Even though she was banged up and stapled together, she was beautiful, and he couldn't get enough of her.
Then he picked up the blouse, and opened its buttons. He very gently dressed her, and then buttoned it for her.
"Can you stand up alone, baby?"
"Yes, but not for long."
"That's okay." He picked up the skirt and shook it out. "Please?"
She nodded, and slid off her bed. He picked up her hands and put them on his shoulders. Then he slid the skirt up her legs and centered the waist before he buttoned it.
"You look so beautiful," he oozed, pulling out his phone. He took several pictures of her, showing her each shot.
"No more, please," she said, snatching the phone from him. "Now you!"
"Oh, boy!"
"Nuh-uh," she shot back. "Fair is fair!" And she took exactly the same amount of pictures of him.
When she was finished, he sat in the clunky chair and smiled at her.
8
Anna put the phone on the table, and then sat on his lap. She leaned into him, placing her ear over his heart. After he wrapped his arms around her, she relaxed a great deal.
"You smell so good," she oozed.
"You're not too bad yourself," he replied, sniffing her.
Only then did she become aware of the Shalimar. "Oh, my gosh! What did you do?"
"Nothing. I want to go on a date with you, and that's what we're doing!" He nuzzled her. "You smell so good!"
A big, happy grin filled Anna's face, and her entire being. She loved sitting on him, but her side was beginning to hurt, so she had to get up.
"Papa?"
"Okay, baby," he said, helping her to stand up. Then he guided her onto her bed before he hugged her. "You good now?"
"Yes," she said as she spied his extra bags. "What else do you have up your sleeve?"
"Hopefully, nothing. Or my clothes would become a sticky mess!" He unpacked his bags carefully, and she was delighted with his dinner choice.
"Oooh! Thank you!" She tipped her head back, and he leaned right over and kissed her.
"The sister restaurant to Chez Nikolaev is still under construction, but I think we can eat there anyway," he said as a huge smile filled his face.
9
An equally big smile filled Anna's face as she watched Callen fiddle with the wheelie table and clunky chair. He was determined to be on the same level as she, and he eventually turned the chair sideways, and sat on its arm. Anna laughed.
Callen scrunched up the bags, and threw them onto her bed. He wanted the table to be devoid of junk while he was eating. He set both places, and she was thrilled with her napkin and plastic silverware. Her dinner was in a mid-sized, covered deli cup, and that sent her over the edge.
"This is perfect, Callen! Spasibo, moya lyubov'! I couldn't ask for anything better!"
They took their time eating and enjoying their dinner, and while they ate, they filled in each other with their most current news, including the ugly parts. He felt horrible telling her about Raisa's latest escapade, but he knew he had to. Anna was as thorough about her experiences in the hospital, too. When they were finished, Callen cleaned up. Then he took her dancing.
Anna was highly amused by the dancing, and together they decided which song to dance to. He held her gently, and she managed to put her head on his shoulder. They danced only one dance, and Anna was thrilled. After, she stood there, holding him and hugging him, until she had to sit down again.
10
"Papa, I want a picture of both of us, please."
"Not a problem, baby." He picked up his phone and stood next to her, with his arm around her, supporting her. After he took the picture, he gave her a gentle kiss on her temple. "Thank you, baby," he said, putting his phone away.
"I love you so much, Callen," she breathed, laying her head on his shoulder.
He held her away from him, and then kissed her forehead before he leaned his forehead against hers. "Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu." Then he hugged her again.
"I don't want you to leave," she whispered.
He put his hand on the nape of her neck and held her close. "I know you don't, baby, but I'll be back tomorrow." He felt, rather than saw, her start to cry. "Shh, shh. Don't cry. You'll be okay." He felt like crying himself. "It's okay, Anna. I got you, bat baby."
Anna held onto him for several more minutes, and then sat down on her bed again. She knew that he had to change her back into her gown. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
11
Callen clutched her to him, and she rubbed her face on his middle. He stroked her hair from her face, and then kissed her.
"You ready?"
With a smirk that showed in her eyes, Anna said, "Nope."
"Cute," he replied, unbuttoning her blouse. He gently slipped it off her, and put the gown on over her head. "Stand up and hold me."
She smiled at him, and stood up. He slipped the skirt off her, and then straightened out her gown. After she sat down, he picked up the skirt, and folded it, placing it on the table. He packed up his belongings and threw out the trash.
"Do you need to pee, baby?"
"Probably."
He gave her the Eye before he laughed. He knew from experience that she definitely needed to pee, so he escorted her to the bathroom. He didn't help because he didn't need to, although he was ready just in case.
With his heart in his throat, Callen picked her up and carried her to her bed where she settled on her side. He straightened out her gown, and then tucked her in, up to her chin. He even found the undershirt and gave it to her.
"You good, baby?"
"Yes." She raised her arm, and he leaned in to kiss her, and let her hug him within an inch of his life. "Thank you, Callen. I appreciate everything you did. I'll see you tomorrow, my love."
He kissed her one more time, and then picked up his bags, and took his leave. He seriously wanted to stay with her, but knew he couldn't. He went home feeling far happier than he had been.
12
Callen's house was surprisingly quiet when he got home. He found half of his children sleeping on the couch, and the other half he found upstairs in their beds, and it was barely eight o'clock.
He went up to his room, and put Anna's clothes in the basket by the door, and then changed his own clothes. He added his own clothes to the basket, and then put on a pair of sweats. For a shirt, he swiped one of Anna's, even though it was snug.
Then he went down to the kitchen, and was thrilled to see that it had been cleaned up. Even the dining room was orderly. Pride in his children surged through Callen's body. He decided right then and there that he and Anna had the best children in the world.
Callen went back upstairs, and checked on his sleeping children. He covered each one, and kissed them good night. Then he made sure that the other two beds were ready for their children before he carried them upstairs. Nikolai woke briefly.
"Hi, Papa!"
"Hey, baby. You need to stay asleep now, since it's bedtime."
"Okay, Papa. Kira gotted us pizza again."
"She did?" Callen kissed his little boy. "Tell me about it tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay, Papa."
Callen covered him up and kissed him, and then went downstairs to get Raisa. He carried her to her room, and put her in her bed. Again, she did not have on her pajamas, but her father didn't care. He tucked her in and kissed her good night.
He went downstairs one more time, and made sure doors were locked and lights were off and then went up to his own room. He got ready for bed very quickly, and made sure to turn on the dim lamp. Then he snuggled into his bed, holding Anna's shirt close. He fell asleep with a smile on his face.
13
The following morning, Callen woke up earlier than usual. He lay in bed for a little while, thinking and dreaming of Anna. He loved her so much, and was having as hard a time waiting for her to come home as their children were.
Then he got up, showered, and got dressed. He made his bed, and straightened up his room before he went downstairs for coffee. After he finished his first cup, he laid out five bowls and filled them with cold cereal and cut up fruit. He put them on the dining room table, along with their spoons. The milk he would bring after the children were assembled.
Waking them up proved to be a chore. They all gave him a hard time until he offered several days' worth of grounding in exchange. He chose the outfits for the slower children, and they weren't happy about it. Callen shrugged.
"Get ready, and get downstairs within the next five minutes!" he told them. "Your breakfast is waiting."
"Okay, Papa," Kira said, stuffing herself into the outfit he had chosen for her. Then she looked at herself in her mirror. "Oh, boy."
Anya looked as distracted. "What did Papa do? My clothes look funny!"
Kira laughed. "I don't think he did anything except teach us to hurry up when we have somewhere to be!"
"Maybe," Anya agreed. She stopped in her tracks. "You must be right. He never looks out of order!" She laughed, too.
They raced to the dining room and sat down. Callen passed them the milk, and they fixed their cereal…after they switched their bowls with Raisa and Nikolai.
"Papa," said Anya. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing much," he replied. "You have to be more aware of your surroundings."
Kira frowned. "Mr. Goldblatt said that last week in my Self Defense class!"
"I believe it," said her father with a smirk.
"Papa, what are you doing?" Kira asked firmly.
Callen smiled. "Not anything. Kira, if truth be told, your class is missing a guest speaker, so I agreed to fill in for her."
She choked on a mouthful. "Say what?" she gasped. "Mama?"
"Yep!"
"Mama was coming to my class?!"
He nodded.
"Oh, my gosh!" She was horrified by the idea of one of her parents teaching a lesson in her Self Defense class. Then Kira did some hard thinking. "Papa, a few days ago, Mr. Goldblatt was late to class. He said he had to take care of something in the Office."
Callen nodded again. "He did. He was making the final arrangements with Mama."
"When?" she squeaked.
He patted her hand. "Not until next week, after Mama comes home."
Kira became speechless. She shook her head in disbelief as Anya laughed at her. Both finished their breakfast and got ready for school.
Shortly afterward, both Raisa and Nikolai appeared. They sat down in their own places, and ate their cereal.
"Papa, that was gooder!" Nikolai declared as he wiped his mouth on his arm.
"Thank you, baby," said his father. "Guys, when you're finished, please put your bowls and spoons in the sink, and then wash up." He got up and stood by the bathroom door, holding a wad
of washcloths in his hand.
"Oh, man," Anya grumbled good-naturedly as she took hers. She washed her face and brushed her teeth, and then went by the front door to get her bag. She waited for the other kids.
A few minutes later, they all piled into Callen's car, and he drove each one to their own school.
Raisa dawdled. "Papa, you didn't tell us about Mama," she observed.
"You were all sleeping when I got home yesterday. She is okay, Raisa. She wants to come home, but the doctors told her 'not yet,' and there's nothing I can do about it. Do you want us to walk you to class?"
She glanced at her little brother. "No, Papa! My school isn't for babies."
Callen looked hard at her. "Do. Not. Start. Up. Do you understand me?"
She hung her head. "Yes, Papa."
"Then go inside and behave, please!"
After, Callen drove over to the Preschool Center. He started to get out of the car.
"I do it, Papa!" Nikolai said. He saw Ms. Veronika in the doorway. Then he paused. "Papa, did you hug and kiss Mama?"
"Yes, I did, Nikolai. Why?"
"Because I want Mama to get better really fast," he replied.
Callen's eyes opened wide. "So kissing and hugging Mama will help her get better?"
"Yep!" Nikolai smirked in a perfect imitation of his father. "'Bye, Papa!" He slammed his door closed, and went on his way.
His father sat back, shocked. "'Bye, baby," he gasped. "Damn!"
14
"Settle down, people! Settle down," said Mr. Goldblatt to his unruly class. "I regret to inform you that the speaker I had planned for today cannot come. She was in a car accident."
Kira's jaw dropped, but she didn't say anything.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Tone cried out. "We don't want speakers!"
Mr. Goldblatt smirked. "That's fine. The school found a substitute speaker to come in her place."
Jerzy tumbled off his chair, and played dead. Mr. Goldblatt ignored him.
"He will be here the day after tomorrow," the teacher continued. "While he is here, you will need to take copious notes."
"Why?" asked Tone.
"Why not?" asked Mr. Goldblatt. "In two years, you will be going to college, and they give lots of notes there."
"No, I'm not," Tone argued.
"That's fine," said Mr. Goldblatt. "Take out your cards. I think we'll start with Number Five."
Tone looked at his cards, and blanched. "Oh, no, we won't!"
15
"Oh, no, Mr. Cohn!" Anya cried out. "What does this even mean?"
"It's how you find the area of a circle," the Math teacher explained.
"Why would I want to do that?" she persisted.
"Ms. Callen-Kolcheck, you need to stop, and focus on your task." Mr. Cohn walked over to her desk. He put his finger on the radius of the circle on her paper. "What's pi?"
"Three point one four," Anya answered.
"Okay. Multiply that by the radius, which is _?"
"Mr. Cohn, doesn't it mean to multiply the radius twice first?"
"Yes, it does, so please get started."
Anya did some figuring, and found the answer. "It's nine!"
"So, pi R squared is nine?" asked Mr. Cohn.
"Yes!" she shouted.
"Okay. You did the R squared part. Multiply it by pi."
"Mr. Cohn, you mean multiply the nine by the three point one four?"
"Exactly!" he praised.