Callie drew towards the low level gate and pushed it open. Behind it, was a simple brick house flaked with a mighty pecan tree and enough car space to fill a dozen cars. Callie's mom had inherited it from her own deceased grandfather, though they didn't move here until almost a year after her mom's demise. The Blancos didn't actually own much and renovations weren't a peak in their thoughts. Though its dark driftwood doors and brick walls were in good shape, the windows on the other hand, needed proper replacements because of the rotten corners that had been there for over three decades. Despite the little flaws, it had become their home and they had grown to love it.
Pinnate branches from the pecan tree swayed back and forth, following the soft whistling sounds of the wind, as its withering leaves fell on the evenly cut grass and chirping birds tweeted loudly over the rising pitch. Leaves crunched under her feet as Callie made her way to the front porch of her house. She wasn't surprised to see Aunt Georgia skimming inside the house when Callie entered. "Hi, everyone."
Aunt Georgia bustled towards her, with a glowing smile twirling on her lips. "Oh Lissie. You're back, what took you so long?"
Not ready to talk about Larkin, especially with dad eyeballing her with curiosity, Callie decided to go on the defensive. "What I'm interested in knowing, is why dad thought it'd be convenient for him to quit his job?"
Abe grunted. "I'm not going to be held accountable by the daughter for doing what my gut told me to. I want nothing to do with that family and that company. All a bunch of psychotic beasts."
"Again with the choice of words, dad. Some people may find it offensive." Callie's words tethered with caution.
Giving another grunt, his brown eyes darted around the room. His manic expression resurfaced. "I just don't want to hear about those people again."
Callie tensed. Now there was no way she'd tell her dad about her new job. "So what are you going to do for money? We can't survive with my job at Alpha's."
"Fine, I'll get another job. I don't want you to worry about that. I'm your father and you're my responsibility." Then his eyes sparkled up. "I could professionally open a restaurant. Your mom did say that I made the best waffles."
Aunt Georgia glanced at Callie, before her goddaughter let out a disgruntled sigh. "Dad, this isn't the time for risks. I know how badly you want this, but we need to be logical."
His lips tightened, the excited look in his eyes had extinguished. "You think I'm not logical?"
Sensing the displeasure in his tone, Aunt Georgia quickly averted the topic. "Let's take a break for a while. We wouldn't want Ava to return from visiting her friend and overhear this conversation."
Abe grunted. "Noreena's mom won't drop her off till eight. It's impossible for her to come so soon."
Aunt Georgia burbled her words. "Never say never. Anyway, I have some amazing news for you, Lissie."
Abe shook his head, when he realized what was going to happen. "When you two start your gossip, it never seems to end. I'll be upstairs in my room." As he dragged his feet to the staircase, without waiting for their responses.
Once Abe was out of earshot, Callie's ears perked up immediately. "Now you've got my attention."
Judging from the way Aunt Georgia was beaming, Callie had an idea what it was about. The pale green hue of her eyes had a twinkle in them. A twinkle that would brighten because of- "I went on that date that I told you about, yesterday. I was almost going to cancel it because of Abe's arrest. But I am glad I didn't, cause it was worth it."
Callie couldn't help letting out a snort. "We all know that you're going to find one fault in him and dump him faster than a kid, who's running after an ice cream truck."
Despite her comment, Callie had always adored everything about Aunt Georgia. With her wavy strawberry blonde hair and her not-giving-a-damn-about people's-opinions attitude, Callie had always felt welcome in her arms. Being almost forty years, didn't stop her from being young at heart. Aunt Georgia always chased love whenever she could. Not in a crazed love obsessed kind of way, but a demure way of seeing the beauty of affection. She loved everything. People, animals, plants. The list doesn't end.
At best, Aunt Georgia was a firm believer in fate. But if there was something she adored more than love, it would be her job. When she wasn't picking up new hobbies, like rescuing animals or snowboarding, Aunt Georgia found her calling as a lead guitarist in an indie band. When they weren't on tour, she'd work as a masseuse in some fancy spa upstate. As cliché as people found her life choices, Aunt Georgia wasn't one to let people's opinion deter her, and took pride in choosing her happiness over everything else. That was why Callie adored her godmother-turned best friend, Aunt Georgia was a free spirit, not shackled by anything.
Aunt Georgia loafed herself gently on an arm chair and cocked her head to the side. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but this one is different. He's good looking and funny. He has the most beautiful red hair I've—"
Callie's eyes jolted to hers. Red hair? She knew it was crazy to wonder if it was remotely possible for him to be a Doherty. Callie was sure there were many redheads in this town, but she just had a niggling feeling. "Is his surname Doherty?"
Faint traces of red wisped eyebrows shot up. "Yes, how did you know that?"
Callie grinned. "Wow, so you're going out with Deputy Doherty. Damn, I don't even remember his name. Lucky you, he's cute."
"Deputy Doherty? Who the hell is that? The guy I went on a date with, is a manager at a b&b."
Now it was Callie's turn to wear a surprised look. "Wait, Another Doherty? How many Dohertys are there?"
Aunt Georgia shrugged. "He told me he has four younger siblings."
"Wow, I just realized how little I know about Peter."
"Who's Peter? Slow down a little. Wait a little damn second, is it the Peter you work with?"
Callie nodded. "The same redhead."
Aunt Georgia flickered her light reddish hued tendrils to a side of her face as she ran her delicate fingernails through it. "Wow, what a small world. Who would have thought."
"Tell me about him. I'm curious now more than ever. Is he younger?"
"Of course." She winked. "Just the way I like it."
Callie chortled a small laugh which Aunt Georgia joined in with a tilt of her head backwards and an elated smile.
Aunt Georgia had a habit of dating mostly younger men. Not that she was discriminating older guys, she wouldn't dare. But as she always said. "If men could openly cast aside women in their forties and date women half their ages, then I'd do the same. No one's gonna tell me what age of a man I should date." And since then, she stuck by it.
Once her laughter had died down, Callie asked. "How much younger?"
"He's 34."
"Not much younger then." Her reply earned an eye roll from Aunt Georgia.
Aunt Georgia countered. "Hey, four years is plenty enough, thank you very much. Weirdly for a moment, I forget he's the younger one. He's so mature. I'm guessing it's because he raised his younger siblings with his mom all alone, after their dad ran off with some younger lady. It messed up his family."
"He told you all that. On the first date? He must be a very open guy." Callie uttered in disbelief.
Aunt Georgia sent her a disapproving look. "Not everyone's afraid to open up about their tragedies. It's not as scary as you'd think it'd be."
Callie felt a lump in her throat and her cider irises hardened. "I guess he's had a lot of practice, probably because he's trying to win you over with his sad life story." She hated saying that, but there was such an annoyance she felt when everyone expected her to be okay and fine with everything that had happened to her. Well, she wasn't. And she hasn't been in years.
Aunt Georgia frowned. "Don't be like that. What's come over you? You become so defensive when I talk about death. I thought you'd be able to relate to his problems cause you did all the taking care of."
Callie was taken aback. She felt like a ticking time bomb that was about to go off. "I should be allowed to grieve privately. It's like everyone expects me to get over mom's death. But I can't."
"That's not true." Aunt Georgia said sharply. "But I won't always be around to comfort you."
A pang of fear doused in her eyes. "What does that even mean?"
"Relax, kiddo. I'm not dying, or anything like that." That eased Callie a little bit, but it was clear she wasn't done talking. "But I'll be leaving this town next week. My band would be going on tour and we could be gone for six months or more. I'm so sorry, Lissie."