Chapter 23 -Callie

Lunch went amazing, my mom is a completely different person than she was a month ago. I wondered if it was because I left, or maybe she's always been this woman, my dad just controls her like he tried to control me and Aria. I walked my mom out to her car "didn't you say you were heading into town?" she asks once we got to her car.

"well" I smile "that was my plan, but" I shrug.

"what were you planning on doing?"

"well" I look around to make sure everyone had headed back into the kennel, and no one would hear me "Arizona's birthday is coming, and"

"you wanted to go shopping" she finishes for me with a smile, mom loves to shop, I nod, and see her smile get bigger "well come on let's go" she waves to her car. I contemplate for a moment "just let me go tell Arizona I'm leaving"

"ok" she smiles, I'm feeling almost giddy at the thought of going shopping with my mom. I enter the office, and find Arizona and Alex "so she just, with all of us in the other room" I must have walked in on Arizona telling Alex about our bathroom fun. When they notice I'm there he stops talking and sits up straight in his chair. Laughing, I look at Arizona "my mom and I are going to go into town to do some shopping"

"ok" she smiles

"do you need anything?" I ask, moving closer, she shakes her head "just you, back safe"

"can do" I smile and lean in placing a quick kiss on her lips, normally I'd leave a longer one, but Alex is right there and he always gives us shit. I personally think he's jealous, but I'd never say that. My mom was already in the car waiting, I pat my pockets to make sure I still had my wallet with me. I used to carry a purse but found out here, it's easy to forget it when we do a quick run to town, so I started carrying my stuff in an old wallet Arizona had. Opening the door I climbed in "everything ok?" she asks.

"yup" I smile as I put my seatbelt on

"good" she puts the car in gear and we drive off, a look in the mirror I see Pen chasing after the car and barking. I hear my mom laugh "she doesn't want you to leave"

"she'll be fine" I laugh settling in the seat

"I like her"

"me too" I say in a tone I used to make fun of people for using.

"I can tell you're in love"

"I am"

"she feels the same"

"I know" I smile, I have to contain my excitement, if she only knew. My mind goes back to the bathroom earlier, until I hear her ask "which store did you want to go to?"

"the mall" I see her nod and she speeds up, as we hit the blacktop. It doesn't take long before we're pulling into a parking spot and climbing out.

"which store?" I'm a little nervous at how she is going to react to my answer "um" I take a deep breath "Montgomery's"

"Addie's store?" I nod, and look at her for her reaction, she smiles "it's that serious huh?"

"it is" I nod, and smile

"good" she picks up her pace and before I know it we are entering the store and being met by the one and only Addison Montgomery. "well hello ladies" she smiles

"hi" I smile back

"hello Addison" my mom says

"Callie I haven't seen you in a while" Addison says looking at me

"I've been" I start to say, taking a deep breath "I quit my job, and moved in with my girlfriend"

"wow" Addison says I wasn't sure if it was the news of me quitting my job, or of me having a girlfriend that had her saying "wow" but I'd soon find out.

"what's her name?" she asks

"Arizona" I say then clear my throat "Arizona Robbins"

"the one who owns the kennel?" she asks looking at me, I nod "wasn't she the one who saved you from the tornado?"

"that's how we met"

"nice" Addison nods and smiles "Mrs. Torres how are you?"

"I'm great" mom smiles "we're here today because Calliope needs a birthday present for her woman" I had to bite my tongue to not laugh at how that sounded coming out of my mom's mouth. A look at Addison told me she was trying not to laugh also. "I see" Addison recovers and says "what exactly are you looking for?"

"a ring"

"a ring" Addison says looking at me, I nod and smile

"wow" she says again, but doesn't say anymore "well, I've met Arizona a time or two, so" she pauses and walks over to a case "I think these" she opens the case and reaches in, pulling gout two trays "would do wonderful" I look down and see they are plain either white gold, or silver bands. "do you know her ring size?"

"no" I look up and mentally kick myself in the ass for not trying to figure it out before I came.

"no problem" she smiles "what size shoe does she wear"

"um" I think and remember she gave me that pair of boots "8"

"ok" Addison says looking over the trays "this one" she carefully pulls out a ring "it's white gold" she says handing it to me. It was perfect, I feel my mom lean over my shoulder "it's perfect" my mom whispers "Zo will love it" I nod and slide the ring onto my finger, it was a little small for me, but I've got a bit more weight then Arizona does, looking down at the ring "I hope she says yes"

"I'm sure she will" Addison says, I look up in shock, I hadn't realized I said that out loud

"seeing you two together today, I know she will" my mom says

"you met her?" Addison asks

"I did" mom nods "just today" she smiles "turns out Mr. Robbins and Carlos used to be good friends back in the day"

"that's nice" Addison said I could tell she didn't know what else to say but knows exactly what to say when she doesn't know what to say. Working with the public like she does, you learn quickly what to say when people try making small talk. My mom starts going off about something, I think she found something she liked, a pair of earrings maybe, I wasn't sure. I was still looking at the ring. I didn't care how much it costs; Arizona was worth my whole savings. "I'll take it" I blurt out as Addison comes back. "do you want anything engraved on it?"

"um" I think for a minute then shake my head "no"

"are you sure?" she asks "no extra charge"

"I'm not worried about the money" I say and look towards my mom who is pulling out her wallet out of her purse. "what are you doing"

"paying for the ring" she says pulling out her card and handing it to Addison

"mom, you don't"

"nonsense Calliope, I'm your mother"

"but this is an engagement ring"

"and" she says taking her card back from Addison and signing the receipt "I didn't get to do this for Aria, please let me help with yours" rolling my eyes I give in, Addison hands me the bag, I thank her and we make our way out of the store. "is there anywhere else you'd like to go?" I look around "no" I shake my head, I hadn't planned on going anywhere else. I was surprised this was that easy. "alright" mom smiles and I follow her out to the car. Getting in, her phone is ringing, I caught a glimpse of it before she could hide it from me, and hit the ignore button "you could have answered it you know"

"he doesn't know I went to see you" she says shyly

"so he's probably thinking you left him too"

"maybe" she shrugs "it doesn't matter, what matters is that you and Aria are happy, and if being away from him is what makes that happen then" she stops talking

"take me to see him"

"what?"

"take me to see him, I want to see him"

"Calliope, I don't think that's a good idea, he's" she stops shaking her head "he's an angry man" she doesn't look at me, but I look closer at her "mom" my voice is quiet and soft "did he" I clear my throat "did he hit you" "only once" her voice is soft "he was drunk, and pissed off" I can feel my blood start to boil "it was after he saw you and"

"take me to see him now" I demand

"no Calliope it's not a good idea"

"mom I swear to God, if you don't take me I'll take myself" I see her take a deep breath "fine" she says starting the car and we back out of the parking spot, heading towards the house I grew up in.