“Finally.”
“Yeah, right, finally. What you said this morning is still in my head. You were right. I’ve failed to live up to what he needed. He’s had to shoulder everything alone. That is my fault. I can’t change that. But I am back home now. And no matter what he threatens, no matter what he throws or shoots, I will have his back even if he doesn’t want me to,” he replied, stepping closer to me. “I will put a bullet in you in the exact same place as Ivy if you dare hurt him.”
I stepped back, looking at the fool that had just openly threatened me. “What Ethan told you really did go in one ear and out the other. Is this how you show respect?”
“Are you going to run to tell him I threatened you?” he shot back.
I shook my head, walking around him, but not before petting his shoulder. “Keep up the good work, guard dog.”
I only took two steps from him when he spoke out again, “Normally, a woman would usually say ‘I won’t hurt your brother, I promise,’ to such a threat. Or, at the very least, try to come up with a reason to say my feelings are unwarranted. Why don’t you?”
“Because nothing about me can fit into normal. Even if I did that, you’ve already deemed me a liar, so why waste any more of my time,” I replied as I walked farther down the hall.
“You don’t give me much confidence, Calliope.”
“That’s not my job, Wyatt!” I called out, waving back at him as I turned to the stairs. Walking down, my jaw clenched.
Apparently, Wyatt was a good guard dog…just what I did not need.
13
“Everyone has a part of themselves they hide. Even from the people they love most.”
~ May Parker
CALLIOPE
When I woke up that morning, Ethan was already gone.
And I felt a pit in my stomach.
“Mommy, I want a bow here.” Gigi pointed to the top left side of her head as I worked on her hair.
“Pick the one you want,” I said, nodding to the box in front her, letting go of her hair so she could lean over and get it when there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called, picking up her hair when she leaned back, lifting the green bow for me to use.
“Good morning, ma’am, little miss,” O’Phelan stated as he walked into the room.
“Mornin’,” Gigi giggled, waving to him.
“Have you seen Ethan this morning?” I asked him casually as I tucked one of her
hairs behind her ear.
“No, ma’am. I needed one of your signatures,” he said, surprised Ethan wasn’t here in the room also, and that was all I needed to know.
“Give me it,” I said, outstretching my hand.
He lifted the tablet for me.
I read over it quickly before signing and return it to him. “And the chef?”
“He’s working on the things you requested for breakfast this morning.”
Nodding, I looked at my ringing phone, and the name ‘Big Tillio’ appeared on the screen. Leaning over, I kissed Gigi’s cheek. “Gigi, go with Mr. O’Phelan, and see if the chef did a good job.”
“Okay.” She hopped down, excited, rushing to O’Phelan’s side and lifted her small hand up to him. O’Phelan glanced at her for a moment, startled like she was a little alien. However, he sucked it up and took her hand.