Chapter 20- Arizona

I still had yet to get a new, or new to me truck, so here Alex and I were driving this huge thing. It costs a fortune to fill the gas tank, and with the prices climbing, I kind of feared we'd go broke trying to. I was behind the wheel, Alex in the passenger seat, the radio played softly as Alex and I sat there in our own thoughts. He then looked at me "where are we going?"

"I need to make a quick stop" I say as I turned

"you finally getting the new truck?" he asked when we pulled into Torres Motors, I sigh "something like that" I say pulling into a parking spot and cutting the engine, opening the door and jumping out, after all I was a little on the short side. "you coming?" he gave me a questioning look then nodded. Taking a deep breath I opened the door to the dealership, and stepped in, Alex right behind me. "dude why are we here?" I hear him ask in almost a whisper.

"hello" a man in a blue polo shirt said, I noticed his shirt said Torres Motors, one of the same that Callie had hanging in our closet.

"hi" I smiled

"can I help you with something" he asked, I looked around the room, noting the brand new cars they had for sale in there, taking a deep breath, hoping my voice wasn't shaky as I ask "I'd like to see Mr. Torres" the man, Derek, his name tag read, nodded and went over to a desk. Alex and I watched as he picked up the phone, and a page rang out over the loud speaker. "why are we here, and why the hell do you want to see him"

"relax" I said, I could tell he tried to but it was hard. We didn't have to wait too long before we heard footsteps, that slowed when he saw who wanted to speak with him. "Ms. Robbins"

"hello Mr. Torres" I give him a tight smile

"what can I do for you?" he asks, his tone I could tell was fake, putting on a show for his employees.

"I was wondering if we could talk" I said, as I see the confusion on his face, I add "in private"

"now's not a good time"

"ok" I nod, with a look at Alex, I went on "I'll say what I need to say here" I take a deep breath "Callie needs her dad"

"I'm not discussing my daughter with you, I don't know you"

"you're right, you don't" I said fidgeting a little "I don't know what you have against my family, but we've done nothing wrong"

"you've done everything wrong" he stepped closer and lowered his voice "you turned my Calliope down a road of sin"

"sin?" I asked confused, since when is loving someone, in this time, sin.

"you are taking her down a road of sins" I got it now, although that still didn't explain why he hated my dad. "well Mr. Torres" I started "you remember my grandfather?" when I see him nod "then you know he was a tough Marine" he doesn't say anything "when I told him I was a lesbian, I was expecting, him and my father to tell me to pack my things and get out" I pause "but you know what he said to me" I could tell he didn't really care but I went on "he looked at my dad, and then asked if I was still the same person they raised me to be? When I answered yes, he nodded patted my dad on the back and said he did a good job with me" I let out a breath and watched for some reaction from Mr. Torres. When nothing came, I nodded and said "I protect the things I love, and I love your daughter" I pause, taking another deep breath "Callie loves you, and it's killing her you turned your back on her" I turned and walked out the door. Once outside, I took a deep breath, Alex was right behind me "you've got balls Zo"

"yeah" I sighed and leaned against the truck, I was about to climb in when I hear my name being called. I don't know the voice, but I turn anyway. I see a man holding a box "this is the stuff from Callie's office, there's some pictures in there that she might want to keep"

"thank you" I say taking the box, I still didn't know who this man was

"I'm Mark Sloan" he says reaching out a hand, but with mine on the box, Alex quickly appears and takes it, putting it in the truck for me. I reach for this guy Mark's hand and shake it. "I've talked to Callie a few times, since" I nod "she seems happy"

"she is"

"good" he smiles "just take care of her"

"that's my plan" I smile and reach for the door, as I was about to climb up into the truck "Arizona" he says "give him some time, he'll realize he's wrong"

"doubtful" I said "men like that" I point to the window, I could see people standing there watching us "never change" Mark nods and I finish my climb into the truck. Slamming the door, I let out another sigh of relief, and start it. Now it was off to the feed store, we had come to town for more dog food