“Told you, you can trust me,” I replied, entering the elevator before her.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you trust takes time? Even in normal families, let alone this one,” she stated, leaning against the elevator walls, looking over my dress carefully.
“No one had to tell me.” I smiled as we went down the hall. I’ve trusted no one since I was a child.
“Well, seeing as you want me to be close, excuse me while I say this,” she paused and turned to me.
I turned to look at her smooth, painless, unmarred brown face. “Go on…”
“Give us time,” she asked. “All of us…all of us have been through…a lot.”
“You don’t think I’ve been through a lot?”
She froze, paused, honestly thinking over her words carefully. How unlike the man she apparently loved. “I don’t know what you’ve gone through. I won’t pretend to, either. I just know what it’s like being a Callahan. Being raised as one, living as one…trying to stay one. You are family now, so you’ll see it eventually; you might already even know. But the rest of us, we are adjusting. Wyatt is abrasive because, well, he doesn’t want to lose anyone else. Give us time and—”
“What makes you think I can do that?”
“What?” Her eyebrows rose in confusion.
“Time waits for no one, Helen, so how can I give it to you?”
“I mean—”
“You mean that while the rest of the world has their guns and knives pointed at this house, at my husband, at me, at my daughter, at this family, I should somehow take out time from the little time I have on this earth to protect what is important to me. So, you all can sort out your feelings?” I chuckled, shaking my head and walking toward the guest room. “You’re funny, Helen.”
“I…”
“You’re serious, I know.” I exhaled deeply. “We really did grow up differently.”
“I can’t tell if you are upset or not.”
“Upset? Why would she be upset?”
We both turned and found Coraline there.
“No reason,” Helen lied, obviously. “What are you doing?”
She lifted an ibuprofen bottle. “Your father had a headache, and the maid couldn’t find the ones he likes.”
“He’s so picky,” Helen snickered.
“Right.” She shook her head. “Calliope, do you need help?”
“I’m fine,” I said, moving to open the bedroom door. “Actually, I lied. I left my other heels in my and Ethan’s room. Can you get them? I’ll start changing.”
“I’ll get them,” Helen replied, already rushing.
“They’re on the bottom shelf. Don’t touch anything else.”
“Of course.” She nodded.
I thought about what Ethan would do if he ever found anyone snooping around his personal things. Of course, she knew better.
“Your daughter is smart,” I said to Coraline as I reached behind myself to unhook the back of my dress.
“Of course she is. She’s my daughter,” she said proudly, helping me.