Hollywood House Call

Fifteen



Callie ran her fingertips up Noah’s back, but she had a feeling he’d fallen asleep. His breathing had slowed and his body had relaxed against hers some time ago. And even though her belly growled, she didn’t care. The sun had set and they were lying in the dark, completely naked, and she finally saw a sliver of hope in this darkness she’d been living in. Could they have a future together? He seemed to not even worry about her looks, the scarring.

Admitting to herself that she was in love with Noah didn’t frighten her or make her wonder about their future. He might not admit he had feelings for her, but she knew in her heart that he felt something beyond friendship or he wouldn’t be so giving, so patient and caring with her. He’d totally put all her needs first for the past several weeks, even choosing to take care of her over going into the office.

The man who was known for dating a different woman nearly every night and during the day making his clients perfectly beautiful was now devoting all of his time to her. Callie knew he had deep feelings for her, but she also figured that past, and that photo in his room, kept him from moving forward. She only hoped he’d open up to her, let her further into this world of his she so desperately wanted to be part of.

But she wouldn’t be that clingy woman, wouldn’t be the one who put her heart out there with the possibility it could get stomped into unrecognizable pieces.

“Thelma,” Noah murmured in his sleep. “Don’t. Please.”

Callie sat up, shifting Noah’s body a little more off her and onto the oversize chaise. She looked down to his tortured face, his brows drawn together, his jaw clenched.

“No,” he cried. “Don’t worry.”

Callie shook his shoulder. “Noah. Noah, wake up.”

He muttered something else she couldn’t quite make out and the intense look on his face tore at Callie’s heart.

Shaking him harder with one hand, Callie tapped at his cheek with her other. “Noah. You’re dreaming.”

His lids fluttered open, his eyes darted to hers, held there, and then he closed his eyes again.

“Damn,” he whispered.

Callie wasn’t sure how to proceed on this shaky ground, but she wasn’t backing down.

“Care to tell me what just happened?”

Noah shook his head, running a hand down his face. “Just dreaming about Thelma.”

Callie nodded. “I got that. Who is she to you?”

His gaze met hers. “She’s the lady at the assisted-living facility I visit.”

Noah got up, walked naked through the room and rummaged around to find his pants, using only the pale glow of the distant city lights cutting through the windows.

Callie eased back on the chaise, hoping he’d elaborate more, needing to understand why this woman who wasn’t even a blood relative was in his nightmares.

“So, how does she have such a hold on you?”

Noah pulled up his dress pants, leaving them unbuttoned, and rested his hands on his hips. Callie watched as he struggled with himself. He lowered his head between his shoulders and rubbed the back of his neck.

“It’s a long story, Callie, and one I’m just not comfortable getting into.”

Hurt filled her, tugging at her heart she’d so freely given to him.

“I’d like to think we are here for each other, Noah. I want to help, but you won’t let me in.”

He turned to face her, that look of torment still all over his face. “If I could let anybody in, Callie, it would be you.”

Callie came to her feet. That declaration was bittersweet. She knew he wanted to open up, but something in his past simply wouldn’t let him, and he was hanging on to whatever it was that was not healthy for him or this relationship they were starting.

“Can I come with you?” she asked, placing her hands on his shoulders.

“To see Thelma?”

Callie nodded. “She’s obviously very important, Noah. I’d like to be there for you.”

“That’s not a good idea,” he told her.

“Why not?”

His hands slid around her waist. “Because she’s confused. She won’t know who you are.”

“If she’s got Alzheimer’s, then she won’t even remember I was there.” Callie squeezed his shoulders and slid her hands up to frame his face. “I want to be there for you, Noah. You’ve done so much for me. Please, let me do this for you.”

His lips softly slid over hers before he leaned back and smiled. “Can you go tomorrow?”

“I’d love to.”

* * *

Noah’s nerves kept him up most of the night.

Since it was Friday, he had taken half a day off after doing some minor in-office surgeries. Now he and Callie were traveling to the assisted-living facility. He only prayed Thelma didn’t start rambling about the wedding.

“I should warn you that Thelma may flirt with me.”

Callie laughed. “Then she’s sharp if she’s flirting with a hot guy.”

Noah reached over, gripped her hand. “Just don’t get too jealous.”

Once they arrived at the facility, Noah led the way to Thelma’s room. As usual, the door was closed and locked. Noah knocked and waited.

Soon the door eased open and he reached over, gripping Callie’s hand. She squeezed back, silently supporting him.

When Thelma saw him, then looked beyond and saw Callie, her whole face lit up.

“Malinda! My Malinda!”

Thelma reached out, pulling Callie beyond Noah and into a full embrace.

A feeling of dread overwhelmed him. He hadn’t even thought that Thelma would mistake Callie for Malinda. Yes, the two had the same dark red hair, but he’d spent so much time with Callie lately he’d forgotten the similarities.

This was a bad, bad idea and nothing good would come from these next few minutes. He prayed to God again that Thelma didn’t mention the wedding.

“Come in, come in.” Thelma eased back. “I’m so glad you two are here.”

Noah followed the ladies into the sweltering room. Once again, he turned the heat down…way down. Because with his nerves, he was already sweating.

“I can’t believe my Malinda is finally here,” she gushed. “You’re such a beautiful sight, my dear.”

Callie glanced to Noah as if silently asking him to intervene.

“Thelma,” he began. “This—”

“Is such a surprise.” Thelma reached out for Callie’s hand and squeezed. “I’ve been waiting for you to come.” Thelma’s eyes narrowed on Callie’s face. “Darling, what happened?”

Callie’s eyes sought Noah’s again and he stepped forward. “She was in an accident, but she’s fine. Just a cut.”

Yeah, more lying to keep an old woman happy and worry-free.

“Oh, are you all right?” Thelma asked, searching Callie’s face.

Callie offered a smile. “I’m fine. How are you doing?”

Thelma laughed. “I’m old. That’s about it. I’ve been waiting for you to come. I can’t wait to hear how the wedding is coming. Noah has told me very little. I want to hear more details from the bride-to-be.”

“Oh, we’re not engaged,” Callie said. “We—”

Noah rested a hand on Callie’s shoulder in the silent gesture for her to stop talking.

“Thelma loves to talk weddings, but I’d rather discuss how you’re feeling today,” he said, turning to Thelma. He had to change the subject.

Thelma waved a hand in the air. “I’m fine. I already told you. I’d much rather discuss the wedding of my beautiful granddaughter.” Thelma pushed out of her recliner. “Hold on just a moment. I have something for you.”

Callie turned to Noah and whispered, “Who does she think I am?”

Swallowing, Noah replied, “Her granddaughter.”

“Were you engaged to this person?” she whispered between gritted teeth.

Noah could only nod. He was a coward. He was a jerk. Was he going to regret bringing her here, finally opening up to her in his own way?

Perhaps subconsciously he’d brought her here as a way to tell her. Callie deserved to know, and there was no easy way to break the news about his past.

“Here we are,” Thelma stated as she came back with a photo. “I’ve had this here for a long time and I love looking at it, but I think maybe you could put it in your new home together.”

Noah barely caught a glimpse of the photo as it passed from Thelma’s hand to Callie’s. And with that simple exchange, he knew any hope he’d had of not sharing the full truth with Callie was gone.

Callie looked down at the photo and nearly choked on instant tears that filled her. Noah had not only been engaged, but he’d been engaged to a woman who looked very similar to her.

Noah’s arm was wrapped around the shoulders of this Malinda person and they were both smiling into the camera with their heads tilted toward each other. Callie wanted to tear it up, throw the confetti pieces into the air and run like hell out this door.

But because Thelma was looking at her with such hope and admiration, Callie smiled. “Thank you. This is wonderful.”

“I’m giving this to you and hopefully you can give me another photo of the two of you, but this time I’d like one from the wedding.”

Callie nodded. “Um, I’m not feeling so well.”

Noah tried to put an arm over her shoulder, but Callie stepped aside. She didn’t want him to touch her.

“Oh, darling,” Thelma said with a frown. “Are you all right?”

“I’m just tired, I think. Would you mind if we discussed the wedding another time?”

“Of course.” Thelma looked to Noah. “Get her home and take care of her.”

“I intend to,” Noah told her. “It was good to see you.”

“Please, come back soon,” Thelma said with a smile. “I miss seeing you both together. It just warms my heart.”

Callie accepted the hug from the frail woman and managed not to burst into tears at the innocent endearment.

When they got back in the car, Callie didn’t even know where to begin. The hurt was so deep, so all-consuming, she feared she’d break into a million pieces before she learned the full extent of his lies.

“You were engaged to her granddaughter?” Callie asked.

Noah sighed. He didn’t start the car, didn’t even turn to look at her…which should’ve told her the amount of guilt he carried.

“Yes.”

She closed her eyes. “And you didn’t think to mention that to me? Or the fact we have similar features?”

“Honestly—”

Callie laughed and glared at him. “Yes, Noah. Let’s try for honesty.”

Now he did turn to face her and Callie had to steel herself against the pain in his eyes.

“I didn’t think you needed to know,” he told her. “I didn’t want my past to play a part in my present.”

“Or your future?” Callie mocked. “Or did you not see me in your future, Noah? Did you think when I was healed I would just go back to my apartment, forget how good we were together and you could go on your way, too? Because I for one had envisioned more for us than just a few intimate moments. You met my family. You acted as if what we had was so much more. Was it all a lie? A way to pass the time until you got over your fiancée?”

“I never acted with you, Callie. And I never told you this was long-term.”

That knife he’d stabbed her with slowly turned. “You never told me any different,” she whispered through tears. “And your actions sure as hell told me what you were afraid to admit was in your heart. Apparently, you’re still a coward.”

But she would not cry. She’d hold on to this last bit of dignity she had.

“What happened to Malinda?” Callie asked, almost not wanting to hear the answer.

Noah’s eyes hardened as he held her gaze. “She died of a drug overdose a year ago.”

Of all the things she’d imagined him saying, that hadn’t even made it on her list.

“She wanted to be an actress,” he went on. “She wanted that big life she’d always dreamed of, and before I knew what was happening, she was hooked on drugs. Painkillers. I tried to get her help. She even went to rehab twice, but checked herself out both times.”

Callie listened, knowing this confession was costing him, but right now they were both bleeding out for the other to see.

“I should’ve seen the signs earlier, should have done more. But in the end, I failed her.”

Callie’s heart broke for the man, the doctor who thought he should save everybody. But her heart also broke for herself at the realization of what he was not saying.

“So, was I the charity replacement?” she asked. “You couldn’t save her so you thought you’d save me?”

Noah’s gaze darted away, then came back. “I didn’t see it that way, but probably in the beginning, yes. I didn’t want to fail someone I cared about.”

“Care about?” she cried. “You didn’t care about me, Noah. You cared about redeeming your flawed image of yourself. You cared about that damn ego and didn’t once think about how this would hurt me, humiliate me. Did you think we’d just be intimate and I wouldn’t fall for you? That I wouldn’t start thinking long-term thoughts about us?”

She’d come this far, might as well rip the rest of the Band-Aid off.

“Did you think I wouldn’t love you?” she whispered, no longer caring that tears had slid down her cheeks. She held his gaze, wanting him to see how he’d damaged her even more.

“I wish you’d never offered to help.” Callie swiped at her unscarred cheek. “I would’ve much rather been on my own than know I was a fill-in for someone else.”

He started to reach for her, but she shrank back against the door. “Don’t even think of touching me.”

Noah dropped his hand and nodded. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Callie. You’ve come to mean more to me than I wanted.”

“If that were true, you wouldn’t have used me as a replacement or tried to hide your past.” She refused to listen to another lie or another excuse. “Take me home. And by home, I mean my apartment. You can bring my other things later and leave them on the stoop. I don’t want to see you again, Noah.”

“Callie, you can’t mean that.”

Her eyes slitted. “Oh, I mean it. And consider this my notice for the office. Effective immediately.”