Chapter 48- Arizona

The first stop we made was to the lawyers, dropping off Lucia's divorce papers, I pull up outside the office, and watch as Callie runs them in. I thought it'd be a quick toss them on the desk and run, but no, she's been in there for going on a half hour now. "what the hell is she doing" I grumble to myself, reaching over I turn on the radio, scanning through the stations. Nothing caught my attention, and like always I didn't bring my phone with. Shaking my head, I stare at the door, willing Callie to hurry up, to the right something caught my eye, I turn my head and see a young girl, sitting on the ground in the alley next to the lawyer's office. Cocking my head to try and get a closer look, I can tell she's dirty, and she looks like she hasn't eaten in days. I was about to get out of the truck, when Callie finally came out. "hey" she says climbing in "sorry it took so long, he wanted me to sign some papers, and I'm supposed to send Aria in within the next few days" of course I wasn't paying attention to her, I mean I heard her but my focus was on the girl. "what's got your attention?" Callie asks.

"you see that girl there" I nod

"where?" she looks around

"the alley" I nod again in the direction

"no" she shakes her head, and she must have saw her "oh" she says "poor girl is dirty, and she looks hungry" she says opening the door

"what are you doing?"

"going to see if I can get her anything"

"how about some parents" I mutter, and Callie looks at me, slamming the door. I watch as she walks up to the girl, she seems nervous at first but Callie has charm and wins her over. The next thing I know there's' a stranger climbing into the backseat of my dad's truck "Arizona, this is Sofia, she's going to be joining us for lunch" Callie says looking at me, I know I have a confused look on my face, Callie shrugs "Sofia, this is Arizona, my wife" I roll my eyes and bite my tongue to not say not yet, and roll with it. "hi" Sofia says quietly.

"hello" I smile and start the truck, as the engine roars to life "we do have one stop before we do lunch, you ok with that?"

"I've got no where else to be" Sofia sighs, as I back out I can feel Callie watching me. At the stop sign I look over at Callie, who shrugs, I smile and make my way through the stop sign and off to the destination. Pulling into the parking spot, I look at Callie who nods, and I hop out. I hear the passenger door open and Callie jumps down, meeting me at the back of the truck. "I'm sorry I couldn't leave her there"

"at least you got her name, how old is she?"

"13"

"13" I gasp "and her parents?"

"she doesn't know"

"oh good lord" I run my hands through my hair, and sigh "alright, we'll take her to lunch, then find a place to drop her off"

"can't we bring her home?" Callie asks her eyes pleading for me to say yes.

"Callie, she's not a puppy, she's a kid"

"teenager"

"teenager, even worse" I shake my head, for a moment I wonder what dad would say if we did bring her home, no, no that is not happening. Shaking my head "are you coming in with me or waiting here?"

"I'll wait here, don't want Sofia to run off again" I sigh and nod heading into the store. Owen was behind the counter, and we are quickly loaded and I'm back in the truck "we were going to go to Joe's, do you know that place"

"no" Sofia says her voice quiet

"oh you'll love it" Callie says clapping her hands in excitement, I have to bite my tongue to not laugh, as I pull into my parking spot at Joe's. Yes I refer to it as mine, I always use it when I come, a few years back Alex even spray painted my name in it, Joe just laughed, he was having the parking lot resurfaced anyway, so it really didn't matter. Callie takes my hand as we make our way to the door, Sofia beside us, and like the gentlewoman I am, I hold the door for them both. "there she is" I hear once Callie is through the door, and laugh. "I was wondering if I'd see you guys before the wedding"

"here we are" I mutter

"take your usual table, I'll be right over with coffee" I nod and follow Callie to our table, before we are sat, Joe is behind me with the coffee "oh, you're not Alex"

"who is Alex?" Sofia asks

"her brother" Callie says before I can answer, she nods and reaches for the water Joe had set down. I watch as she drinks most of it, then sets the glass down "what would you like to drink?" Callie asks

"more water is fine" she says looking at the glass

"honey, when was the last time you ate, or drank anything?" Callie asks her voice soft

"um" Sofia says and hesitates "a few days" she shrugs

"where do you live" I ask

"nowhere" she shrugs, I can feel Callie put her hand on my thigh, when I look over at her she's giving me the look, and I know she's silently asking if we can take her home. "what about your parents?"

"I honestly don't know" she says looking up meeting my eyes, she had the same dark eyes as Callie's, and her hair, although a little ratty from living on the streets, was long and dark, like Callie. I sigh "where did you live before" I ask still needing to know more.

"at a place in Burnsville"

"Burnsville? How the hell did you end up down here?"

"hitch rides, and walked mostly"

"are they looking for you?"

"probably not" she shakes her head, then shrugs

"so let me get this straight, you're 13?" she nods "and hitched a ride from Burnsville" she nods again. "and you've been living on the streets of Owatonna, for"

"about a month" she finishes for me.

"Arizona" Callie's voice is pleading, I let out a sigh "well" I look over at Callie then back at Sofia who meets my eyes "we've got a nice place just outside of town, you're more than welcomed to come home with us, we got a spare room, and you can shower"

"really?" I could see the hope in her eyes, and I feel my heart break, I nod, and see her smile "but first, let's have some lunch" I smile and hand her a menu.

What? lol I was wanting Callie to find her first, but this just worked out. Should she stay? What will everyone else say once they are home? I guess we'll find out.