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“I don’t.”
Chris ran his hand down his face. “I’ve known you for a minute, Callum. I know you became a full-time parent at eighteen, and while it was the hardest thing you ever had to do, you did it with pride. You put your dreams and education on the back burner to make sure you two were straight when nobody else could or would. I know that even though Belle is married to a good man, you keep her on your payroll, so she is forever good just in case shit doesn’t work out. My point is, not only do you like to fix broken things, but you also like to prevent them from being broken again.”
I was quiet momentarily when he said that because it was true. Once you make it out of the struggle, you do everything possible never to struggle again. I’d like to say I’d become a bit of an empath. The trauma of losing my parents and being thrown into adult roles early on made me sensitive to others’ needs. I didn’t have a savior complex or anything like that. I just felt like it was my duty to help those in need if it was within my means.
I understood what it was like not to have anybody and be forced to depend on yourself, even when you may not be your best option. There were times after losing my parents when I was so burned out from having to pour into not only myself but my sister. She needed me, and I needed both of us. I knew that if I gave up, we would both suffer. I could never make Bella suffer. She was only a kid back then. Hell, I was still a kid, my damn self.
I sat back against the bench and blew out my breath. “I guess now would be a bad time to tell you about the woman I met then.”
Chris sat up in his seat and leaned forward on his elbows. He chuckled and shook his head.
“Have at it.”
For the next twenty minutes, I told him the story of Pasha while we watched the girls play. His face played many of the same expressions mine did as I experienced it myself. When I finished, all he could do was shake his head.
“You know, you see this in movies, but it’s always crazy to hear about it happening in real life.”
“Tell me about it. This is right out of a Tyler Perry joint.”
“You said you’ve been thinking about her... What’s up with that?”
I sighed. “I don’t know, man. I guess... I just want to know how it ends. I want her to be okay, you know?”
“I get that. Seems like you’ve already become emotionally invested. What are you gonna do if you ever see her again? Pursue that?”
“I wouldn’t push it that far, Chris. At least, I don’t think that I would. I mean, she’s gonna need lots of time and probably more therapy to get through this. She was already dealing with depression and anxiety. This probably set her back.”
“I can only imagine.” He looked at me curiously. “I feel like this has somehow embedded itself in you. I know you well enough to know that once you get a thought in your mind, you like to see it through. Just be careful. Don’t get weird, man.”
My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t go looking for her or show up at her job. Coincidently, seeing her in public is one thing, but looking for her will give that woman stalker vibes. Hell, you might even catch a charge. You did your due diligence as a good citizen. The Lord will bless you for that. Just let the cards fall where they may.”
“I hear you, Chris.”
Even though the urge to check on Pasha was strong, I would fight against it. The last thing I needed was to have my concern misconstrued as something it wasn’t. I knew when to leave well enough alone... even when I didn’t want to. Maybe our interaction was only supposed to be for that one night. Perhaps I had done my good deed, and it was time to go about my business.
“What did you do to my baby?” Bella asked as I carried Precious into her house.
We’d spent a good three hours at the park with Chris and Armani. They played to their hearts’ content. When she was good and tired, I took her back to my house and put on her favorite movie. She cuddled up in my arms, and before long, we fell fast asleep.
“I’ll never tell,” I jested, laying her on the couch. I covered her with a blanket and kissed her forehead before hugging my sister. “How was your day?”
“Ugh! It was a day! Come in the kitchen, and I’ll tell you about it.”
I followed her into the spacious kitchen. The delectable scent of whatever she was cooking pleased my senses. My lunch was gone, and I knew I’d stay for dinner. Bella retrieved two glasses from the cabinet, then pulled out a bottle of wine from the fridge.
“I don’t like how you treat me like one of your girlfriends,” I said, gesturing to the items. “You love to wine and gossip with me.”
She rolled her eyes. “First of all, you love this wine. I bought it just for you, so you’re welcome. Second, you’ve always been my best friend. If I can’t gossip with you, who can I gossip with? So, sit back, sip your wine, and shut up.”
“Have you forgotten that I’m the oldest? Don’t be talking to me recklessly. I’ll come over there and put you in a headlock.”
“Remember, you taught me how to fight. I’ll kick your ass.”
We stared at each other for a moment before breaking into laughter.
“What’s up, Bells?”
