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With him being her bully, and them never getting along during high school, she’d never had a reason to visit his home, and so as they parked outside his childhood home, she marveled at the beauty of the large house.
Callum and Leah were already there, their kids running around.
“Showtime,” Drew said. He got out of the car.
Callie followed suit, taking the pie from Meghan’s hand as they both walked over. Drew took her hand, which was clammy. He chuckled. “Relax.”
“See, I told you I’d get him to come and visit. Here he is, your youngest son.”
An older woman with graying hair at the temples but deep black hair rushed forward. Drew had no choice but to let her hand go as the woman tackled him in for a hug.
She grabbed his face and started to kiss him hard.
“I’ve missed you, son. Missed you so, so, so much. It was about time you got rid of that waspish woman. She was a viper. I’m glad you came to your senses.”
“Technically, she left,” Callum said.
“Shut up. Tilly’s out of the picture.”
“But she hasn’t signed your divorce papers?” asked the older man who looked like an older version of Callum. She saw Drew looked more like his mother.
“I can see someone has been keeping you updated on everything.”
“We worry,” his mother said.
“Tilly will sign the papers.”
“When she’s good and ready. That’s not good enough. You need to be able to move on.”
“We can argue about this, or you can say hi to Meghan.”
Callie had already given Meghan the pie to give to them.
“We made pie,” Meghan said. “It’s a chocolate one.”
She smiled as she looked at the older woman who crouched down. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Meghan. We have wasted so much time and you’ve gotten so big.”
“Does this mean I can call you grandma?”
“Yes, I’d love that very much.”
“Can I call you grandpa?”
“You certainly can, sweetheart.”
Drew took her hand, locking their fingers together.
“Can I go and play?” Meghan asked.
“Yes,” Drew said. “But remember to wash your hands when dinner is called for.”
She ran off to be with Rebecca. Callum and Leah stood close. The couple snuggled together.
“Drew, son, is there anything you want to be telling us?” his father asked.
“Callie, these are my parents, Killian and Jane. Mom, Dad, this is my ex-nanny Callie.”
Her cheeks were on fire. They were so hot someone could probably fry an egg on them. “It’s nice to meet you.” She decided to fill the silence.
“Son, what are you doing?”
“Simple, I found a woman I care about and I know she cares about me.”
“She was your employee.”
“And now she’s not. She handed in her resignation letter.”
The ground could very much open her up and swallow her right now, please.
“Are you even listening to yourself?”
“Callie is not like Tilly,” Callum said, speaking up.
“Didn’t you go to high school with Callie?” Jane asked.
“Yes,” Drew said. “And you know what, I was the biggest fucking jerk to her. I bullied her, along with Tilly.”
“Drew, I don’t really think—”
“Well, I do. They need to know that I’m happy, and I am. So freaking happy it’s insane. I didn’t think it was possible to be this free. I hurt her back then, and rather than leave me in the lurch with a child I was so clearly failing on, she stood up. She helped me.”
“She was employed by you, son.”
“No, she wasn’t. She didn’t have to be. She could have made my life hell, my girl’s life hell, but you know what? She didn’t. Callie’s mine now. She’s giving me a chance, and if you can’t accept that, if you want to put your opinions on how I live my life, then I’ll take my woman and daughter and leave right now. I don’t need you. I came to make peace, not to fight.”
Drew squeezed her hand and she held him a little tighter as well, hoping to keep hold of her sanity for as long as possible.
“Killian, please,” Jane said. “No more fighting. You said your piece over Tilly. Not now.”
“Do you intend to cause my son any harm?” Killian asked, looking directly at her.
“No.”
“Why are you with him?”
“Well, it’s kind of not your business.” Her embarrassment was complete. “I didn’t force him into anything if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Dad, leave it out. Either accept us or don’t, but stop trying to do whatever it is you’re hoping to do.”
She looked at Drew. His teeth were clenched.
“Fine, it’s good to have you back, son.” Killian closed the distance, shook his hand, and pulled him in for a hug.
With that, Jane grabbed her hand and marched her inside the room. This wasn’t what she was expecting, but she was taken to the kitchen.
“I’m so sorry about that. Killian only wants the best for his sons, always, you know. It really upsets him when he thinks one of his boys is being hurt.”
