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Niall took hold of Callie and helped her inside as she held her hand to her mouth like she wanted to be sick. She must have caught a bug or something, and that’s why they finally came home from their honeymoon. I wanted to check in on her to see if she was doing okay, but I thought it was inappropriate. I knew I’d be leaving any day now.
Patty had been interviewing some lads from town for my position, and he was doing the last rounds of interviews. So, hopefully, by this time next week, I’d be out of there and on my way to somewhere where I could try to build a better life for myself and hopefully be happy.
The next day I was getting ready for work when Niall came barging into my room. “Mike, I need you to take Callie to the doctor. She has an appointment in thirty minutes. I’m taking Father into work, so you can bring Callie home after her appointment and then go about your normal day,” he demanded and then walked out as quickly as he came in.
I stood there in a stunned silence.
The last thing I wanted was to be alone with Callie. But I figured this was an ideal opportunity to say goodbye and to do it properly rather than simply leaving. I walked to the main living room and saw her sitting on the sofa, waiting. I nodded at her, and she half-smiled back at me.
“Are you ready to go to the doctor, Miss King?” I asked, and she frowned at me.
“Mike, I’m Mrs. O’Connell now,” she said and then looked away from me. That little statement was like a sucker punch right to my chest. “But, Mike, you don’t have to be formal with me. I’m still Callie, okay?”
I didn’t answer but watched as she stood and then stumbled. I lunged forward and steadied her. She grasped at her stomach and took in a couple of deep breaths.
“Are you okay?” I asked, feeling helpless because all I wanted to do was to make her feel better, but I knew that wasn’t my job anymore. She belonged to Niall now, and I had to keep my hands to myself, so I waited until she was steady on her feet, then I let her go.
She swallowed and looked into my eyes. “Mike, there’s something you should know.” I had an inkling as to what she was going to say, and I knew I wasn’t going to like it. “Niall and I, well… we’re pregnant,” she announced, and then I was the one stumbling on the spot.
Our relationship was beyond saving now.
They were going to be parents, and there was no way I would ever tear a family apart. In that moment, I knew for sure that Callie and I would never be together. Our time had indeed passed, and there was going to be a baby—his baby—and I think that’s when I truly died inside.
“Right… well, let’s get you to the doctor then,” I suggested, trying to show no emotion and gesturing for her to lead the way.
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
I scoffed. “What do you want me to say? Congratulations? You’re the love of my life, and you’re having another man’s baby…” I swiped my fingers through my hair. “Sorry if I’m not over the moon about that. But I am sure you’ll be an amazing mother. Now, shall we?” I asked, sounding harsher than I meant, but I was hurting badly, and I realized that most of the hurt in my life was because of Callie, so some resentment had also crept in.
She exhaled and stormed out of the room. I mentally kicked myself for saying that to her, but I moved ahead and walked out to the car to take her to the doctor. The car ride was silent. She sat in the back, and I thought I even heard her crying at one stage, but I simply kept driving.
I waited in the car while she had her appointment—I wasn’t going anywhere near that kind of hurt. Doctors, surgeries, and hospitals freaked me out, anyway. So, I sat in the car simmering, getting angrier and angrier at myself with each passing second.
Why didn’t I run when she agreed to marry him?
I should’ve known that it would’ve turned out this way.
They got married, of course, that meant they were sleeping together and would eventually have a child. I just didn’t think it would be so soon. I was lost in my thoughts when the back door opened, and Callie slid in. She was a mess. Sobbing and barely containing herself, and instantly all my anger vanished into concern.
Maybe their baby was sick?
Could they tell that this early?
“Hey, are you all right?”
She looked up at me, and all I could see was the desperation in her eyes. “Mike, take me to the barn.”
“Ahh… I don’t think that’s a good idea, Callie. It only brings up memories we have no right to.”
“Mike, please? I need to think, and I feel safe there. Please, will you take me?”
I rubbed the back of my neck and exhaled.
Damn! I could never refuse her. Even though she belonged to someone else, she still had so much power
over me. So, I drove her to old-man Harris’ barn.
Callie didn’t say anything on the way, she simply cried, and the sound was like razors to my ears. I hated her crying. I knew something was terribly wrong, but it wasn’t my place to ask. Not anymore.
