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She smirked before answering. “Now that’s an understatement.”
“She’ll come around eventually.”
Callie was glad he didn’t try to make any excuses for his sister.
“But I wanted you to know I’m glad you’re here.” Looking a little uncomfortable with the discussion, he continued on. “If you need anything, let me know. We’re family now, sis.” The way he said sis lightened the atmosphere and made her smile.
She’d always wanted a sibling. Maybe after all this time, she would finally have one.
“So you’re all right with this whole situation?”
“It happened a long time ago, before Dad even met my mom,” he answered. “I’m just glad you’re a woman. One older brother is more than enough,” he finished with a boyish smile very similar to Dylan’s. Throwing an arm around her shoulders, he started walking again. “Now let’s go eat, I’m starving.”
For the first time since her initial meeting with her father, some of the anxiety about being a part of this family melted. At least someone else besides Warren wanted her there. It was better than nothing.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Relax and try to enjoy your time here.
The inside of the Tea House was just as lavish as the interior of Cliff House. Not that it surprised Callie one bit. Walking into the small structure, she actually felt as if she’d just stepped into a teahouse in China.
“Callie, it’s wonderful to see you,” Warren said, coming to his feet as soon as she and Jake entered. Without a moment’s hesitation, he hugged her and dropped a kiss on her check. “And I see you’ve already met Jake.”
Warren pulled a chair out for her. Memories of Dylan doing exactly the same thing for her on countless occasions flooded her mind.
She really needed to do a better job of not thinking about him.
“He surprised us and showed up last night.”
Lost in her own thoughts, it took Callie a moment to realize Warren referred to Jake, who now sat next to her.
Please don’t let there be any other surprise guests this weekend. One surprise was enough.
Reaching for her water glass, Callie took a sip, content to sit and listen to the conversation around her. It wasn’t like she had anything to add to it anyway. They were talking about politics and the campaign.
“Marty said you did a fantastic job in New York and Ohio, Jake. Our poll numbers among voters under thirty took a definite jump.”
Callie choked on her water at the mention of Marty Phillips. Overcome by a coughing fit, the water in the glass she held sloshed over the sides and all over her shirt.
Jake pried the glass out of her hand. “Are you okay?”
Still coughing, Callie could only nod yes until it stopped. “It just went down the wrong way. I’m fine,” she answered once she could speak again.
“Are you sure?” Warren asked, sounding concerned.
Heat climbed up her neck and she wished the floor would swallow her up. Somehow, she managed a nod.
“Do you want to go up and change?” Elizabeth asked, eying Callie’s wet shirt.
Callie thought the older woman had been looking at her oddly since she walked in, and so far, Elizabeth hadn’t really said much to her.
Does she know? Her father might not know about Dylan’s little arrangement with the campaign advisor, but that didn’t mean his wife was also in the dark. More importantly, did Elizabeth know how involved she and Dylan had been?
Please don’t let her know. A burst of pain and anger exploded in her heart. How she wanted to hate him. Unfortunately, even as angry as she was with Dylan, she just couldn’t. Callie hated herself instead. She should have known better.
“We don’t mind waiting,” Elizabeth continued to say, pulling Callie out of her own thoughts.
“I’m okay. It’s just a little water. It’ll dry.”
Elizabeth let the matt
