“It’s not fair, is it? To fall in love and not be able to give it your all.”
“You did.”
He gives a scoffing laugh. “I fought it every step of the way.”
“You had issues. The fire. Floyd Jolly.”
“I did. And now you have issues as well. My best advice? If you truly love Callie—if you can see a life with her—she has to come first.”
“Interesting, coming from a man who just said he’s not telling his wife about our gas leak situation.”
Dale exhales. “Point taken.”
“Which means…” I pause a moment, hating what has to come next. “I have to end things with Callie.”
“It doesn’t mean that.”
“Of course it does. I can’t tell her everything.”
“You can. If you trust her.”
“Then you have to tell Ashley. Except seriously, the fewer people who know what’s going on, the better. John Lambert’s word is good. If he takes us down, he goes down with us. Ashley and Callie can both be trusted.”
“You’re not hearing me, Don. I do trust Ashley. I trust her with my life. I just don’t want to burden her.”
“She won’t consider it a burden.”
He sighs. “I know.”
“Look. I’ve struggled with this. Believe me. I love Callie Pike. But it was quick love, you know?”
“I know. It was the same with Ashley and me.”
“Right. I know that, so let me ask you this. When it comes like a lightning bolt like that, how do you know it’s real?”
“You just know. When I look back, I can’t recall not loving Ashley. It hit me when we first met.”
“You say that now, but what if she’d turned out to be a huge bitch?”
He laughs. “That’s just it. I already knew she wasn’t. Or I think I did.”
“You didn’t. You were attracted to her, but you didn’t know she was the one until you got to know her, which you did do very quickly.”
“I did. But it’s real. I never doubted it, and I was ready to let her go because I didn’t want to drag her into my screwed-up life.”
“Then you know exactly where I’m coming from.”
“God, do I. But Donny, don’t give Callie up. If you love her the way I love Ashley—and I think you do. I can see it in your eyes. You can’t let her go, man. Let her in.”
“I want to. I just… I guess I just don’t feel like I have the time. All this other shit requires me twenty-four seven. It’s like I said. I need to be cloned about ten times to deal with it all.”
My phone buzzes with a text, and my heart nearly stops. “Damn. Please let Dad be okay.”
I pull the phone out of my pocket.
It’s not about Dad.
It’s a text from Callie.
I’m in the office. Are you
coming in today? Is everything
okay? Where are you?
“Is it Dad?” Dale asks anxiously.
“No, thank God. It’s Callie. But I thought I…” Then I see my text to her this morning. I forgot to hit send. “Jesus, fuck.”
“What?”
“I texted her this morning that I was heading into the city, but I didn’t hit send.”
“Call her. Make plans with her tonight. You deserve it.”
I’ve already punched in the number.
“Donny!” Callie’s voice is frantic. “Where are you? Are you all right?”
“I’m so sorry,” I say. “I thought I texted you this morning, but I didn’t hit send.”
“You’re kidding. I did the exact same thing. I texted you when I got in but didn’t hit send.”
“I guess we both have a lot on our minds,” I say. “I’m in Grand Junction. Dad had to go back in surgery this morning, but he’s okay.”
“Oh my God! What happened?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it…tonight. Okay? Dinner? At my house? Mom’s still here, so we’ll be alone.”
A short pause. She has to think about it? What’s going on?
“Okay. Yeah. I’d like that, Donny. Do you want me to bring in food from town?”
“No. I’ll text Darla. See you there around seven?”
“Sure.”
“Good. I love you, Callie.”
“I love you too. Bye. And Donny?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t ever scare me that way again.”
“I love you,” I say again, intentionally not making the promise she asks for. I feel like a giant dick as I end the call.
I turn to Dale. “You and Ashley should come for dinner.”
“I just heard you tell Callie you’d be alone.”
“We will be. Later. But if I’m going to level with Callie, you’re going to level with Ashley. We need their help.”
“Don…”
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
“Except we’re both ganders.”
“Fucking semantics. Christ, Dale. For a guy who couldn’t get through college, you’re the smartest man I know.”
“I think about that sometimes.”
“About what? That you’re the smartest man I know?”
He scoffs. “Hell, no. And not college, either. But you’re brilliant. Look how well you did for yourself. Genetically, we’re not Steels, so where did our smarts come from?”
“Mom, I guess.”