She was getting married.
To someone else.
My Callie.
I was doing this all for her.
I was shattered.
How could I have let my life get so messed up?
I took two months off work and drove up the coast. No particular destination, and I questioned why or even if I should return.
Then came the realization—I had to try one last time.
For Callie.
I had some money now, not enough for a house but enough for something.
I had to try.
So, I turned around and drove back to Mornington Vale as fast as I could.
It was dark, but I drove to the King mansion hoping like hell Callie would be there. I arrived late, and all I could think about was Callie. I pulled up and raced out of the car and to her bedroom window. I knocked lightly until the light turned on. She opened the window and looked at me in shock.
Callie.
“Mike, what are you doing here? Where the hell have you been? We’ve all been worried sick?” she asked softly not to wake her parents.
“No time to explain. Can you just come with me, please?”
She smiled and nodded. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
I raced back to the car, which by now, I had fully restored and was no longer a rust-bucket. A few minutes later, I saw the front door open, and she walked out and closed the door gently behind her. Callie ran to the car, slid into the passenger seat, and closed the door quietly.
“Are you going to tell me where you’ve been?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
I couldn’t help but notice the giant engagement ring on her left ring finger. I winced and put the car in reverse.
“Mike, where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” I replied with a smile and drove the short trip to old-man Harris’ farm. I watched her from the corner of my eyes as we got closer, and the realization hit her of where we were. I stopped the car and got out, running around to her side and opening the door.
Callie stepped out, and the look on her face was not a pleasant one.
I ignored it and took her hand, dragging her inside the barn.
“Mike… Mike, what are you doing?” she asked as we stepped inside.
I stopped in front of the door frame, where I had carved our initials in the love heart. She reached out and touched it, and a slight smile crossed her face.
“Can we just talk?”
She turned and looked at me, then nodded her head.
We walked over to the haystack and started to climb. With this simple action, I smiled a real smile for the first time in years as I climbed up after her. She sat on the hay and cradled herself. I sat opposite her and exhaled loudly.
“So, you wanted to talk… so talk,” she barked, sounding all too short and extremely distant.