“I can’t believe after all this time the two of you are getting married,” I finally say, tired of the stilted silence between us.
“Jeff deserves better,” Katie says, turning her head to look at him. “But he doesn’t give up on me and I’ll be eternally grateful,” she says, giving him a smile.
“I was hoping you’d bring Lennon tonight,” I interject when the air suddenly becomes thick around us.
“Spoken like a confirmed bachelor who hasn’t had to wrangle a kid,” Jeff laughs. “Lennon is a miniature tornado. We take him out often just to try to get him used to it, but one trip wears both me and Katie out.”
“He’s not lying. I swear that boy will be the death of me. He never stops. He goes at everything a hundred miles an hour,” Katie adds.
“Reed, you’ve never seen a kid fight sleep like Lennon does either. He literally holds his eyes open with his fingers and will press against his eyes until the point of pain—just to stay awake.”
“Yikes,” I laugh.
“He’s not that bad,” Callie argues. “He’s an angel when I watch him.”
“That’s because you’re his aunt who spoils him rotten,” Katie mutters, making Callie laugh—the sound reminding me of bells.
“I wouldn’t say that I spoil him rotten.”
“Yeah, right,” Katie says, her voice full of sarcasm.
“I’m serious. I just let him know his auntie Callie loves him.”
“By giving him everything he wants and filling him up on chocolate.”
“He likes to help me make cookies for the Johnsons,” she says. “I mean, after all his hard work, he has to help sample them.”
“I had dinner with them,” I speak up. I don’t know why I do. Part of me feels out of place because their conversation makes it clear that I’m the outsider sitting here tonight. Mostly, I’m tired of watching Callie look everywhere but at me.
“Huh?” Callie says, slightly confused.
“The Johnsons. I ate there a couple of nights ago.”
“Oh, that’s nice. I bet they enjoyed that. I know they’ve missed you,” she says, giving me a slight smile. Her eyes still look anywhere but directly at me.
“We had meatloaf. Henry bragged on your cooking all night. It’s nice of you to fix food for them like that.”
“It’s the least I could do. They’ve been really good to me over the years.”
“Seems like that’s a mutual kind of thing.”
“I don’t do that much. They’ve become the parents that I never had,” she says. Her gaze drops down then. She’s uncomfortable, so when Katie changes the subject to the rehearsal we’re supposed to attend tomorrow, I talk with Jeff.
I don’t know what I expected when I saw Callie again for the first time, but it wasn’t this. There’s a mountain of space and control that seems to take over when she’s talking to me. That was never there before. It’s completely different. I thought I had mourned Callie in every single way possible over the years. It turns out that I was wrong. Tonight, I’m mourning the loss of the friendship I had with her.
There’s certainly no trace of it at all now….
CHAPTER 10
Callie
We walk outside. Jeff is beside me and he’s been somewhat quiet for a lot of the evening. Katie and Reed are talking quietly with one another. Everything feels wrong. Yet, it is as it should be I suppose. Jeff is wrestling with his decision to marry Katie. He loves her so much. I know he does. He also knows that she doesn’t truly love him—not like a wife should love a husband. I understand that. It’s probably why I didn’t agree to go out with Kurt—my pastor. I just couldn’t, even though I feel safe with him.
All in all, tonight was good, though. About halfway through, we slipped into a more relaxed dinner like only old friends can do. I still wasn’t completely comfortable with everyone, but I made it through without a panic attack. It’s a small victory, but a victory just the same.
“I never thought I’d see the day you’d be driving a minivan,” Reed laughs, talking to Jeff.
“I bought this for Katie, but honestly, with Lennon, it does give us more room. Don’t worry,” he laughs. “I still have my Chevelle in the garage and drive my old truck.”
“I wondered. That was a damn fine car.”
“You should come over. I’ll show you everything I’ve done with it. The girls have plans anyway, so it will just be me and Lennon.”
“Afraid not, Jeff. Lennon is going with me and Callie. We’re picking up his tux, remember? I need to make sure it fits,” Katie interjects.
“I still say that qualifies as child abuse,” Jeff points out.
“You promised you didn’t mind having a big wedding,” Katie counters, sounding worried. I see the look on Jeff’s face, and I know what he’s thinking. I wonder if she does.
“You had your heart set on all of this, and you should have what you want, Katie.”