“How are you?” Callie asked.
“I’m okay.” One thing that hadn’t changed, however, was her mother’s unwillingness to elaborate. What made her okay or not okay? Did she miss Callie? Did she ever feel lonely? She’d never say.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” she said, not knowing how to proceed. But then, all of a sudden, it hit her, and she knew just what she wanted to say. She knew because it was the one thing she’d learned from Luke. Sharing things about herself and opening up made it easier for others to do the same. “I met someone,” she told her mom and immediately tears pricked her eyes.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. His name is Luke Sullivan. He’s probably one of the best people I’ve ever met.” Her heart ached for better circumstances to share this news, but the words were flowing, coming out so easily that she couldn’t believe it. Because they were true. “One day, I’d like you to meet him.” As she said it, the fear washed over her again, fear that she wouldn’t get a chance to let her mother meet him because he wouldn’t have forgiven her for putting him in the position he was in.
“Maybe one day.” She didn’t have a lot to say, but Callie swore she could hear her mother smiling on the other end. It had been a long time since she’d seen her smile.
“Promise you’re doing okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, I promise.”
Callie pushed herself off the wall and walked over to the door. “Well, I should probably go. I just wanted to let you know I wasn’t in harm’s way. Let’s talk again soon, okay?”
“Okay, dear.”
Callie got off the phone and went back inside. When Olivia came out of the bathroom, she was dressed casually, wearing a sundress and a pair of sandals. “What’s the latest?” she asked, shaking out her curls with her fingers.
“They’re still evacuating,” Callie said.
“I saw a TV downstairs in the lounge. We can probably pop out to check the updates throughout the meal,” Olivia said, but she was looking curiously at Callie, her head turned to the side just so, and Callie knew she could tell something was on her mind. “What is it?”
“Well, a lot,” she said after Wyatt went into the bathroom, her shoulders slumping in surrender, tears spilling over her eyes with no warning.
Olivia rushed over and put her hand on Callie’s arm. “Tell me.” She urged her to sit, her face full of concern. “Are you worried about the storm?”
“Yes. But there’s more. I called my mom,” she started, but the rest just flooded her mind and before Olivia could say anything, it all came tumbling out. “I have to tell you something about Luke,” she said. While the television spewed storm updates, the rain pattering at the windows, Callie sat, wringing her hands as she told Olivia the whole story.
“Oh my God,” Olivia said through her fingers, her hand clapped over her mouth. She grabbed the complimentary tissue box, yanking one out and handing it to Callie.
All Callie could do was nod her thanks. She felt terrible. Trying to slow the tears, she wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. “I can’t face them all,” she worried.
“Yes you can. I’ll be there with you.” Olivia’s phone lit up on the table—a text from Aiden telling them he was already downstairs and would order her a drink.
Callie grabbed another tissue, blotting her eyes as Wyatt joined them. Then she ran her fingers through her hair and took in a deep breath.
“Ready?” Olivia asked.
She nodded and grabbed her handbag off the bed on the way out the door, Wyatt following. She wondered what it would be like down there with everyone at a table together. How would Luke behave with her in front of everyone?
When they got downstairs and entered the dining room, the mood was serious. Mitchell was playing with action figures, rappelling them quietly down from the table with a cloth napkin. Aiden was checking his phone and Juliette, on the other side of him, was bouncing between conversations, a worried look on her face. Lillian, sitting opposite Frederick, had the menu in her hands, and looked up warily.
Luke, who must have also just arrived, kissed his mother on the cheek before pulling out a chair and taking a seat. Callie noticed that Luke sat quite a distance from Frederick, and he didn’t make eye contact.
“All things considered,” Juliette said from the end of the table as the waitress filled their glasses with water, “we got organized pretty quickly today. Has anyone checked to see the latest on the storm?”
Aiden briefed them all from his phone. “It’s made landfall in Waves,” he said, patting the chair beside him for Olivia to sit. Wyatt moved over by Mitchell, the two falling into giggles and chatter. “But it’s fast-moving. They expect it to be out to sea by tonight. They also think it might lose speed.”
Luke unwound his napkin slowly, as if he needed something to do with his hands.
“Thank God,” Juliette said. “What if it doesn’t and it destroys the house? Where will you go, Luke?”
Lillian sipped her water and gingerly set the glass down, shaking her head. “We have plenty of friends inland. I’m sure we can find someone to take us in for a day or so while we get ourselves organized. We’d find somewhere for Luke to stay until things were rebuilt so he can keep the sailing company running.” Lillian turned toward Callie. “How about you? Do you have anyone you can call if you have more damage than expected?”
“She can call me,” Frederick said. “So can you, if you need me. You know I’m always here for you.” His words were bold and direct, commanding attention.
Lillian knocked her water, causing it to slosh in the glass and spill over onto the white tablecloth. Luke stared at the spot, his jaw clenched. Juliette and Aiden zeroed in on Frederick at once, confusion and curiosity on their faces.
“Sorry,” Lillian said, the word coming out breathily as she blotted the water.
Callie’s hands started to rattle under the table and she put them on her knees. She glanced over at Luke but his eyes were still on the spilled water.
“Should we tell him now, Lillian?” Frederick said, to Callie’s complete shock. Acid burned in her stomach.
Lillian’s eyes were as big as saucers. There was an eerie silence among them; the only movement at the table was Lillian’s frantic gaze as it darted to Frederick and away again in panic. One could hear a pin drop. Olivia grabbed Callie’s hand under the table.
“You don’t have to,” Luke said, his gaze not leaving the table at first. Then he lifted his head up. “I already know.” His words were broken, too quiet for his personality, as if the knowledge had damaged him.
Juliette had her head cocked to the side, complete confusion on her face. Aiden looked on curiously. Frederick was staring at him as if he could see right through to his soul—the soul that he’d created, that was a part of him.