Paris distracts me before I can reply. “I’ve gotta go, Luke. Are you sure you’ll be okay to figure something out for tomorrow night?”
I nod and wave her goodbye before giving my attention back to Callie.
“Is everything okay?” she asks.
I run my fingers through my hair. “Paris can’t be home for Sean tomorrow night, so I need to find a babysitter. I’m about to cave and ask my mother if she is free because Tyler isn’t available either.”
“I can do it,” she blurts out, before saying, “Unless of course you’d rather I didn’t have too much to do with Sean until you and I are more involved.” Her words fall out of her mouth in a rush, and my heart constricts at her hesitation. I hate hearing that doubt in her voice.
I grip my phone hard. “Callie, as far as I’m concerned, I’m involved here. Completely and utterly involved. I want you to spend time with Sean, and if you’re free tomorrow night, it will save my ass.”
“Okay, I’m in then. What time do you need me?”
“Paris can stay until six thirty. Does that work for you with your new job?”
“Absolutely. I’ll be over before then.”
“I’ll organise someone to cover me at the bar after eleven, so you don’t have to stay too late.”
“I don’t mind, Luke. Whatever you need.”
Sean wanders into the kitchen where I’m standing. Tugging on my shirt, he says, “Daddy, I need you to come and get my plane down from the shelf.”
I press my fingers to my lips. “I’m on the phone, little man, but I’ll be there in a minute, okay?”
Callie interrupts. “You go and get his plane. I’m heading out to the supermarket. I’ll talk to you later.”
We end the call, and I think back on the hesitation she had about looking after Sean. I need to get this damn divorce sorted so that Callie can relax into this relationship. Because as sure of it as I am, she’s still not feeling settled. And I need her to be settled. That woman is my future.
Five hours later, I receive a call from the detective handling Jolene’s case, and as we talk, I realise my divorce is not as close as I hoped.
“We need you to go back and see your wife. Tomorrow,” he says.
I grit my teeth. “I told you I was done. I’m not going back.”
“If you don’t do this, Mr Hardy, we will
bring you in for questioning over the armed robbery.”
“If I do this, will it be the end of it?” If he agrees I’ll ask Barry to work out a deal with him.
“That depends on whether you get the information we need. You bring me the information as to Jolene’s whereabouts on the day in question and whether she ever visited that carwash, and we’ll renegotiate our terms.”
As I listen to him, my mind has already drifted away. Callie feels further out of my grasp than ever before. Because I’m lying to her if I don’t tell her what’s going on. But to confide will only be bringing her further into a fucked-up situation I don’t want to taint her with.
12
Callie
“Thank you so much for doing this, Callie,” Paris says with a huge smile as she grabs her bag to leave.
I arrived at Luke’s place ten minutes ago, and she gave me a quick tour and a few instructions for Sean’s dinner and bedtime.
“Anytime. I’m happy to help wherever I can.”
She reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Luke hit gold with you.”
“I feel the same way.”