“Rhona helped me see the things from my own childhood that were getting in the way of my healing. It took a long time, but we worked through some of it, and she challenged me to formulate characters that might represent some of the people in my life and tell stories to say the things I feel I need to say.”
The pieces click into place. “Leo and Johnnie.Liv and…Gavin?”
“Gavin John Mackenzie,” he tells me. “I’m not sure I could have been more transparent had I tried, but no one has seemed to notice. If they have, they haven’t said as much to me.”
“That’s incredible. So you used your therapy to create the books, then sold them to the BBC?”
“Not quite like that. The initial stories were much more therapeutic, but I realized I could use these characters to teach children the lessons I wished people had taught me. Things I think all children need to hear.”
“You are important. You have worth. It’s okay to make mistakes.” I’m not going to admit to him I read a bunch of his books after I found them in one of the bedrooms. The messages are subtly integrated into clever stories, but they’re there.
Gavin sits taller. “You’ve read them.”
“A few,” I say nonchalantly.
All of them. I’ve read every single one.
“Rhona’s cousin is an agent in London. After I wrote the first two books and showed them to her, she knew her cousin would love the books and connected us. The rest is kind of history. It’s amazing how quickly everything took off, really. I know I’m blessed, that this is a once-in-a-lifetime situation.”
“It’s amazing, Gavin. Think of all the kids you’re helping. The lonely ones who need those reminders.” The ones whose parents forget about Christmas, I want to say. But we aren’t that close yet.
Not that we’ll ever be. I’m only here for two more weeks. For the first time, that thought makes me heavy and sad.
“You’ve overcome a lot. It’s amazing how you’ve used all that hardship to create something so good.”
“I’m not a saint, Callie. I have my faults.”
“Of course you do. You didn’t want to kiss me the first night you met me, remember?”
Gavin laughs, the deep, throaty sound filling the office. “A daft mistake.”
My chest gets fluttery, so I laugh to dispel the shakiness in my hands. He’s only joking. He must be.
“My depression near swallowed me whole, Callie. It wasn’t good. I’m constantly afraid of falling back into that dark place.”
“Which is why you’re so sunny and bright?” I guess.
“Maybe? It’s certainly why I’m careful not to be too negative.”
“Well, I don’t think anyone can blame you. Three years of practically being that little girl’s dad and then she’s ripped out of your life? That would mess up most people.”
He gives me a soft smile, his eyes raking over my face. We’re sitting on opposite sides of the small room, but I feel like he’s right beside me. Like if I reach out, I’ll be able to touch him.
“Blair came back afterLeo and Johnniemade it to the telly. My parents had almost lost the house and asked me if I could buy it to keep it from the bank, so I had moved back here alone. Blair brought Liv to see me. She was six.”
“Was it good to see her?”
“I thought so, but it was clear fairly quickly Blair wasn’t interested inmeas much as my newfound success. Liv was sweet, but she didn’t remember me. It broke my heart. I told Blair I wanted to be part of Liv’s life, but I couldn’t be with her again. When she realized she wouldn’t get anything out of me, she left. I haven’t seen Liv since. When Blair comes back to town to see her parents, she doesn’t bring Liv.”
“Is she punishing you?”
“Feels like it, but I don’t know. I’ve had to move on and put it behind me. I can’t control them. I have no power where Liv is concerned.”
“I can see why Katie and Nat wanted to kick her out last night.”
“Katie can be protective. She fancies herself my older sister.”
Well, I like the sound ofthatkind of relationship. “Next time we see Blair, we should make her extremely jealous.”
