Chapter 745 Beaulieu Manor
Thursday, March 23rd, Afternoon
The sun was starting to go to bed after its long day. It bathed the galleries of Beaulieu Manor in the burnt orange of the end of the day. The long, expensively decorated galleries found her heading toward the East Range Kitchen. She wanted a snack, and the paperwork said that there was a kitchen or pantry that always was stocked. That was her destination.
Callie turned the corner and found a tall man standing in the pantry, looking into the fridge quizzically. His hair is long, his clothes are baggy, and he seems to have slept in. He would scratch his chin, and Callie would hear the sounds of his fingernails against his stubble.
He turned to her and smiled, "Hello, and who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Callie; who are you?" She quirks her brow at him, amused. She has an amused twinkle in her eyes.
"I'm Tucker, Brooke's son. So, you're the new stray," Tucker said.
She raised a brow, "I certainly hope people don't actually call me that?" She looked at most, highly displeased.
"No, no one does, but I was one of those strays too," Tucker said, "So, was Fallon come to think of it."
"Yeah," she rubs the back of her neck, "still don't know why I'm still here," she sighs. She wondered if she'd ever get comfortable.
"Well, my guess, knowing Brooke, is she has a big heart, and you're someone in need. So, I guess welcome to the family, sis," Tucker said, laughing and scratching his stubble.
Callie just sighs, "thank you," she mumbles softly, her stomach rumbling.
"What's wrong?" Tucker asked, giving Callie a quizzical look.
Callie shook her head, "Not ready to talk about it." When he called her sis, something inside her soul bent; it almost caused her to break. She missed her siblings so much that it was not just breaking her heart; it was crushing her soul.
"Well, I was about to crack into this. I guess it's some form of pizza; want to share?" Tucker asked, holding up a tray of Sicilian-style pizza.
"I'd be happy to," she nods, "plates and napkins?"
Tucker laughed, "Napkins, it's pizza a hand food," he said and carried the tray to a nearby table.
"A messy hand food," Callie points out amusedly.
"Live a little; you only get one pass at this thing called life," Tucker said as he sat down and grabbed a slice.
She put a napkin on the table, "easier to clean," she laughed softly.
"Whatever, this pizza isn't going to eat itself," Tucker said.
She grabs a slice, a happy purr falling from her lips as she bit into it.
"So, Callie, how are you finding this castle of the queendom," Tucker said, gesturing his slice around the room with a dry, sarcastic tone.
"Huh!" She snorts in amusement, "That's a loaded question sir." She reaches for another slice of pizza.
"You will find most questions are loaded in one way or another," Tucker said, "Just have to roll the dice."
"I'll never know how I managed not to roll snake eyes and end up here," she countered with a smile.
"So, what is so wrong with being in this palace?" Tucker asked.
"Nothing, there's nothing wrong. I just never had the freedom to be myself. There's going to be an adjustment period."
"Well, I think my sisters broke my mom, and you and Keni will benefit from it," Tucker said and laughed.
"Yeah, at least she cares about them," Callie says, looking away from him.
"She cares about everyone," Tucker said, "My Mom in high school basically came up with the idea for Uber. To make sure her classmates got home safe," Tucker shrugged, "That's at least what she says."
"You don't know what led me here, do you?" She scowls a bit.
Tucker shrugged, "No, I don't. But does it matter? You are here. To Quote my favorite warthog, you have to put your behind in the past," he said, with a twinkle in his eye.
"At least you didn't get disowned by your family simply because of who you love," Callie whispered brokenly, shaking her head and walking away.
Tucker gets up and follows her. He grabs her elbow to stop her. "Callie, you'll have to let go of that anger. It hurts, trust me, I know, questioning if your parents loved you or not. But that's unhealthy, holding on, and even if a speck of what you alluded to is true, you should be away from them, as that's even more unhealthy," Tucker said.
She shifts her body weight to throw him off balance, shaking her arm out, "Maybe I'm still working on it." She heads back to her room.
Tucker quickly catches up and stops her. "Maybe, just maybe, you should let people help you. This house is not built on perfect, loving people without flaws. So, we may seem to be," he said.
"I never saw anyone as perfect," she shrugged.
"They are far from it," Tucker said, "And I am somewhat like you. Questioning if a parent loved me, I got the answer I wanted. Yes, it was a happy ending for me; I know not all stories have a happy ending. I have seen how Brooke looks at you. You are one of her girls; you are safe now and loved. Believe me, you probably have two of the fiercest women I've ever known on your side now."
"Who's the other?" She wondered aloud.
"Izzy," Tucker said, "She's the one that first welcomed me into the family," he laughed, "She even got me to introduce myself to my girlfriend."
"I guess," she says.
"I know. Izzy being standoffish?" Tucker asked.
She shrugs, "I haven't really gotten the chance to talk to her."
"My sisters are, how shall we say, intense, especially the Adams Sisters," Tucker said.
"I can understand that," Callie nods, "I was born under the sign of Taurus, so I definitely fit it, admitting to being a bit bullheaded sometimes," she shrugs with a soft smile.
"I don't take much in those star signs; I believe Trin is a Taurus, but just know that they are taught," Tucker said, "Who have you met?"
"It's all been a bit overwhelming, but no one in the immediate family yet. The extended was the first to greet and help me with things. Ellie," she smiles.
Tucker chuckled, "Ah, the Scotts, an interesting lot they are. Ellie so much looks like her mom's family, but I share she reminds me of her dad. You probably know my baby sister, Keni; she's part of the Stafford lot," he said.
"Okay, rephrasing," Callie laughed. Keni has already introduced herself, but I have not met anyone else you're immediately related to," she laughs softly again.
"Ah, you know there are four more sisters, Chase, Izzy, Trin, and Fallon, right?" Tucker asked.
"I have been told," she smiles, nodding, "And I know Izzy represents us, that this is her congressional district."
"Come, let's finish the pizza," Tucker said, "They have an awesome pizza chef here."
She sat down, "You're not so bad, Tucker; thanks for taking the time to talk," Callie said.
"Someone has to, and I'm not always here, so I like to get to know my housemates when I can," Tucker said and grabbed a slice.
Callie sat back down, grinning, "I'd like to think I'm family."
"You are, but as you might have learned, there are a lot of last names going around here," Tucker said, "So, while family, we share a house...my sister Chase is my sister, but she's not my housemate."
"Yes, Everyone is out on their own," she nods.
"So, what does Ms. Callie want to do with her life?" Tucker asked.
"It was business related for the family's sake and per the requests from the elders, but then..." she trails off, knowing he'd know, "But now, something in the arts."
"There is only one expectation here: be the best person you can be while doing the best you can at what makes you happy," Tucker said, "Only Trin works for Brooke."
"Yeah, maybe the universe got rid of all the toxicity; my family will regret it one day," she declares, a serious look in her eye.
Tucker nodded, "I'm a film guy if you don't know...I am a filmmaker, so how I relate to people is through that media. What are your favorite movies?" he asked.
"I wasn't allowed to watch TV or movies growing up. My 'mother' had us play music," she says.
"Oh wow! You will find that a well-made film, cinema, movie, whatever, will touch your soul just like a well-made song," Tucker said, "I'll have to make a list for you."
She just nods.
"So, you play music. A song track is vital to a good film. Change the song, change the feeling of the scene. So, what type of music do you like?" Tucker asked.
"You should see my CD collection," Callie grins, "My digital library's pretty impressive, too. I'm a lover of all kinds of music. Even country."
"There is no wrong genre if it touches you emotionally," Tucker said, "So, you like metal and pop-punk?"
"Yeah! I've got a few albums in my CD collection; one is actually autographed. Took me a while to track it down and certify it, but once I did, it was game over."
"Oh, who is it from?" Tucker asked.
"The one that's local is Nordwind, and the others are Good Charlotte and Simple Plan," she says.
Tucker chuckled.
"The music resonated; my upbringing in the House of Ashe was very controlled, and then when I came out- "We no longer have a daughter!" She hangs her head.
"Have you ever met Nordwind?" Tucker asked.
"I'm hoping to one day," she smiles.
"Who would you want to meet?" Tucker asked slyly.
"Kat's my idol," she admits, "But it would be cool to meet all of them."
"Mhmm," Tucker said and nodded while typing on his phone, "What do you like about Kat?"
"You can tell she really appreciates the music, values it, and respects its healing power. She's not in it for the money; that's just a bonus to her. It's about the art."
"I already know that without my guitar, I probably wouldn't be here," she whispers.
Tucker glanced at his smartphone, nodded, and then turned to Callie. "She's great. Ever hear of Tacit Blue?" he asked.
"Who hasn't!" she grins, "I've got some of their stuff in my collection too."
"Most be mostly demos," Tucker chuckled.
"Tucker, I had money," she laughs, "music was the thing for me. My brother has a set of guitar picks signed by Paul McCartney in his memorabilia collection. We bonded over it; he had the memorabilia, and I had the actual music."
"I meant that Tacit Blue just has a single album," Tucker said, "So, what do you think about Alix?"
"What are you trying to tell me?" she smirks.
"Be nice, and you might get to meet Kat Hartmann," Tucker said, stood up, and walked towards the door. Callie turned and saw him hug a tall blonde woman. Once they stopped embracing, he looked at the blonde woman, "Danke mein lieber," he said.
"„Gern geschehen, worum geht es hier?" the blonde asked.
Callie's jaw dropped; Tucker had just revealed that he was dating Alix Hartmann! "Uh... hey!" she waves, "How are you doing?"
"Callie, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Alix Hartmann," Tucker said, "Alix, this is Callie, my new little sister."
"Hey," Alix said.
Callie just laughs, the sound joyful instead of sad, "This- I, you... hah!" she can't help but laugh harder. What a remarkable turn of events this was.
"I guess Little Sister is tongue-tied," Alix said.
"Yeah, the first time since I met her, she is," Tucker said, smiling.
"Slow down, breathe, and think before you speak. I am a person just like you," Alix said.
"Who happens to be a role model to many people," Callie gasped with a grin, getting up and extending her hand to Alix.
Alix shakes her hand. "I would hardly say I'm a role model...maybe you confused me with my sister," she said.
"Oh, she's humble, that's awesome," Callie grins at Tucker, "I can see why you like her!"
Tucker chuckled, "The more important question is why does she like me," he said.
Alix shook her head, "Yeah, why do I like you?" she asked, teasing.
Callie giggles, sprinting off to get something, and she's back with them five minutes later, "Hey Alix, I can't believe I get to show you this, but a few years ago, my brother got this signed for me. Thanks for taking the time to do that." A copy of Tacit Blue's only release was in Callie's hands, personally signed for her.
Alix took it and looked at it. "You're welcome," she said, confused, "We only did signing CDs at Ironclad. Like ten people showed up."
"One of them was my brother, Parker," she grins.
Alix nodded, "Okay, well, thank you," Alix said, "You don't know how much that means to me, hearing how much it means to you."
"I think I do, my friend," Callie whispers softly, "I really think I do," she smiles, walking off to put the CD away before rejoining them again.
"So, Callie, you're the newest princess in the castle," Alix said with a grin and an attempt at humor.
Callie snorts in amusement, "I guess so. I wouldn't see any other way of putting it making enough sense."
"Don't worry, they only lock the prince in the tower," Alix said, pointing to Tucker.
"The Clock Tower," she laughs, nodding.
"Yeah," Alix said, "So, Tucker mentioned you play music."
"Yes! Piano and guitar: acoustic mostly, but I want to learn to play bass too," she tells the other blonde with a warm smile.
"Bass? Who wants to play bass? You know what they called the guy that hangs around with the band? The bass player," Alix said and laughed, "Even in That Thing You Do, the band's bass player was named The Bass Player."
"The truth is, you'd be missing a lot without your bassist," Callie raises a brow.
"Alix likes to tease her sister about being a bass player," Tucker said.
"I said what I said, and I meant it," Callie nods, her lips curling up into an impish grin.
"Careful," Tucker said.
She nods, "Pleasure, Alix, I'll see you soon, hopefully."
She walks toward the music room, sighing; man, what an exchange with her new brother.
"Callie!" Alix called.
She turns around, "Yes?"
"What are you doing Saturday?" Alix asked.
"No plans yet," She says.
"Do you have your guitar with you?" Alix asked.
"Of course, it's in one of the cases next to the shelf with my CDs," she said.
"Have it ready Saturday Morning, you're going with me, and we might jam," Alix said.
"Electric or acoustic?" she grins.
"What are you more comfortable with?" Alix asked.
"What would you need in the studio?" she counters, a smile on her face.
"Who said anything about a studio?" Alix asked.
"I'll bring both," Callie grins wider.
Alix shrugged, "Okay," she said.
Callie heads down to the music room, shaking her head in disbelief.
Callie's hands glide expertly over the piano, and she gets lost in the music, as usual. All she could think about was that she really couldn't wait for Saturday, so she kept playing, the smile on her face staying put. Sometimes, the universe leads you to a place you never expected but are glad to be in. And this moment was one she'd remember forever.