She works at the same tattoo shop as Caspian, doing admin. She’s not ready to stop working just yet, but she doesn’t want to move right before she delivers. Thankfully, there was a short-term position at my work, covering for someone going on vacation. It’ll take her right up to her due date, and then we can worry about what she’s doing for work after the baby’s born.
I’ve managed to convince her to stay with me for the first few months. I know she really wants to start over on her own, but my spare bedroom is big enough for a bed and a cot, plus it’s downstairs, so we can still maintain some distance. If Callie goes into labour in the middle of the night, I don’t want her to do that alone. She’s also worried about waking me up once the baby arrives, but I don’t mind. I want to be around to help.
“How soon do you want to do this, sis?” Caspian asks, his pitch-black hair in messy disarray as he flicks his head in her direction. He watches her intently, searching for any sign of doubt, always the protector, even if he couldn’t warn her away from her ex. Cas understands that sometimes, people need tomake mistakes, to carve out their own path, so they can live fully in every step taken.
“Maybe in two or three weeks. I’ll start looking for a doctor in the city so I can book my twenty-week scan.”
“I can ask Liv?” I offer.
Callie smiles, and the bun piled on top of her head falls to one side. “I already asked her. She goes to a fancy, private doctor that my health insurance doesn’t cover.”
“I can pay for it.” Caspian and I speak at the same time.
“Aww, you guys are gonna be the best uncles.” Her smile drops slightly as she takes a breath, almost like she’s psyching herself up for something. “I went and saw Derek the other day.”
Caspian’s ice blue eyes look menacing as he rolls them at the mention of our sister’s ex-boyfriend.
“I told him I was moving away, and to expect communication through my lawyer once the baby’s born, so we can make the official arrangements of granting me sole custody.” Caspian shifts his arm around the back of Callie’s chair, rubbing a hand over her shoulder. “It can’t happen until the baby’s born, and he’s still adamant he doesn’t want anything to do with us, but that’s fine. My conscience is clear, and I’m kinda relieved anyway.”
Callie struggled with her own father—our father—constantly coming in and out of her life. I know she’s scared of history repeating itself with Derek and her baby. Having a legal agreement feels like a form of protection for her.
“We’ll do whatever we can to help,” I say, just as I notice headlights flashing out the window of my study.
Looking past the computer screen, I watch as a pizza delivery car stops in the driveway. A guy steps out with two boxes and knocks on Maevyn’s door. He waits a few minutes before knocking again. I watch as he checks a slip on the top pizza box, then he sets it on the doorstep, heads back to his car, and leaves.
I haven’t been home much today. I helped Phil run his self-defence classes, stopped by my parents’ place for lunch, then took Patch for a run.
I’m about to rejoin the conversation my siblings are carrying when I notice Maevyn’s front door crack open. A face appears, watching for a moment before the door pulls open and Aurora sneaks out, dressed in a pair of plaid pyjamas with slippers on her feet. She quickly snatches up the pizza boxes then runs back inside. So much for the two of them being out tonight. Maybe that was some inside joke they have. Another illusion Maevyn paints for the outside world. But all it does is gnaw at me to figure them out.
“What do you think, West?” Callie asks.
“Sorry, I missed that,” I say, shaking my head.
“Cas can ride up the night before, then drive your ute down when you come in the moving truck. That way, we have extra room just in case we need it.”
“Yeah, sounds like a plan.”
“Cool. Now that the boring stuff is out of the way.” Callie folds her arms over the computer desk in front of her. “What’s this about you inviting Liv to Vera and Crew’s wedding?”
“I thought you told me there was nothing between you two?” Caspian flicks his attention between me and our sister as I wave him off.
“There’s not. I asked her as a friend.”
Callie leans into Caspian’s side. “Because Phoebe will be there.”
My brother frowns. “You’re not over her?”
I sigh. “Yes, I am. I just don’t want to be caught in a situation with her where we have to talk about us. Or her assuming I’m still single because I’m not over her.”
“You are still single, though,” Caspian points out.
“Not because I’m not over her.”
Callie and Caspian share a look of disbelief.
“I’m over her, you guys,” I insist, exasperated. “It would never have worked. And I’m completely okay with it. I promise.”
“So why are you single?” Callie asks slowly.
