Chapter 26-Arizona
What a weird day, first Callie's mom shows up out of nowhere, and now she's staying with us. Callie hasn't yet told me what happened, I'm not sure if she will, but it doesn't matter to me, as long as she has her mom. I just finished putting clean sheets on the bed in the guest room, the dirty ones are in a pile on the floor. I toss the last pillow back on the bed and look around the room. I hear footsteps and look up, a smile immediately graces my face "you done already?"
"yeah" I nod "it didn't take long" Callie nods and steps into the room, with her mom's bags. "I would have liked to dust, but"
"she'll be fine, I'll do it tomorrow" Callie says walking up behind me putting her arms around me pulling me back into her. I take a deep breath, I felt safe in her arms, this feeling still new to me. "thank you" she whispers.
"for what?" I ask a little confused
"for letting my mom stay" I thought maybe she was going to elaborate, but she didn't "it's no big deal, we have the room"
"hmm" she hums, and kisses my cheek "I love you"
"love you too" she then lets go, I let out a sigh, and pick up the dirty sheets, leaving the room I head down to the laundry room. It was a small room, on the other side of the downstairs bathroom, but we had the state-of-the-art washer and dryer. The damn things even sang a song when it was done, something Alex thought was hilarious, and still laughs every time he hears it. I toss the sheets in and get it going. Heading back into the kitchen I find it empty, noting the sun was getting ready to set I make my way to the back porch, sitting down in my chair. Yes this one was mine, I even made it, I reach into my pocket and pull out my smokes. I haven't been smoking much lately, which is good, maybe I can cut down enough to actually quit, for good this time. I was a little surprised when none of the dogs came running up, I hadn't seen much of them today, Jack and Rose must be showing Pen the grounds. Lighting my cigarette, I take a long drag, and watch as the smoke rolls up into the air as I blow it out. I hear the screen door open and shut, I didn't have to look up to know it was Callie, she quietly sits in the chair next to me, and lets out a deep sigh. I look over at her, her beautiful face was sad. "everything ok?" I ask, knowing she'd tell me if she wanted to. I hear her sigh again, then she reaches over, taking the cigarette out of my hand and takes a drag. I have to hold back a laugh as she coughs it out, then hands it back to me "I don't know how you do that"
"years of practice" she laughs between coughs, once she's finally coughed out, she sighs again. "he hit her" her voice was quiet as she said it, I wasn't sure if I heard her right. I give her a confused look "my dad, he hit her"
"oh" I wasn't sure how to respond
"I couldn't leave her there"
"no" I shake my head
"we went to see him, he was" she pauses, her voice was sad, she shakes her head "he was drunk, Arizona" she pauses "drunk like I've never seen him, and pissed"
"at you? Because of me?"
"I think it has more to do with something that happened between him and your dad" she shakes her head "I don't know, but I knew I wasn't leaving mom there"
"she's welcomed here as long as she wants"
"I knew you'd say that" she reaches over for my hand, taking it she put it to her mouth kissing the back of it "you guys are amazing" I smiled at her, as she laces our fingers together. The screen door slams shut and Alex is there "am I interrupting something?"
"no" Callie smiles, Alex nods and reaches for my pack of smokes "mind if I join"
"it's your house too" Callie laughs as Alex takes a seat
"gonna be a gorgeous sunset" he says looking out into the field. Just to clarify things, the house has a wraparound porch, one side faces the east the other the west. We are currently on the west side. It's not long before the screen door slams again, looking up I see my dad and Lucia. I was about to stand and offer her my seat, but dad pulled up two more chairs. And we sit watching the sun go down. Finally dad breaks the silence "what does everyone think about going up north next week?" I knew something was coming, no one had mentioned my birthday yet, outside of someone asking me if anyone has brought anything up. "sounds exciting" Callie says.
"Lucia you're more than welcomed to come, we usually do a lot of fishing, the place we go to is right on the water, we could bring the kayaks, or rent some" dad goes on.
"I'd love to, sounds like just the vacation I need" she smiles looking at Callie, I could see the resemblance, and realized that's what Callie will look like in 20 years. I would be honored to be her wife. Shaking my head, I don't know where that thought came from, so I shake it away. "you ok?" Callie asks, turning my head I see she's looking at me, I laugh "yeah I'm good" I lean over placing a kiss on her lips and sit back in the chair. That's how this weird day ended, the 5 of us, sitting on the porch, watching the setting sun.