ll was always with us, so our moments together were few and far between. But when I could steal a sly kiss, I’d take the opportunity every single time.
Niall was smart, he knew something was happening between Callie and me even though we both denied it. We would have come clean at some stage, but I was worried about what Bernard would say regarding his only daughter going steady with a lowly carpenter’s son. Bernard was a tough man, but fair, and in those days, class meant everything. He was nice enough and let me be friends with Callie and Niall, but if he got a whiff that Callie and I were locking lips every chance we could get, he would have me hightailed out of there so fast I wouldn’t know what hit me, and I absolutely could not afford for that to happen.
Niall’s parents, Patty and Eleanor, were always lovely. They, just like Bernard, treated me kindly, and we spent most of our time at the O’Connell mansion. Patty had to go out of town for a weekend, and Eleanor was making us some afternoon tea when her oven had broken down. I stepped in and figured out how to fix it—Niall was useless with anything that involved manual labor.
Callie was smiling at me the whole time, and I noticed Eleanor watching Callie and how she was interacting with me. I think that’s when things started to fall apart. Eleanor began asking if I could help her with a few odd jobs around the house, and she would pay me to do them, kind of like a handyman. It would take time away from being with Callie and Niall, but I would have money, and I’d be able to save to buy something pretty for Callie. So, I agreed to work for Niall’s parents and save, so I could prove that maybe I was in Callie’s league.
When Patty returned, he saw all the work I’d done, which he was suitably impressed by, and agreed to keep me on full-time for not only work around the house but his many businesses as well. Most of my time was taken working, and damn hard too. Callie would pop into the garage and see me when I’d be fixing Patty’s rust-bucket which, for some strange reason, he wanted restored. She couldn’t stay for long, but it was long enough for a quick kiss before Niall would take her off for another picnic or trip to the theater.
Years blend together, and before I knew it, we were eighteen, and even though I couldn’t afford a car, Patty taught me how to drive the old rust-bucket I was fixing for him. He was a nice man, a little grumpy at times, and definitely not going to win any husband-of-the-year contests, but he was kind enough, or at least I thought so.
One day, I came to work early and was in the garage when I heard him laying into Niall. He was beating him with a belt and yelling about how ungrateful Niall was, and that he was doing him a favor by employing me. He told him that it would give Niall and Callie more time to be together, and eventually, she’d stop talking and thinking about me.
I was shocked.
The people I was employed by, the man who I had grown closer to, only wanted me working for him to keep me away from Callie, so their son would have a better chance with her. My vision clouded, and my throat went dry from my rushed breathing. Adrenaline surged through me, and I wanted to quit immediately, but I thought better of it. Instead, I would double my efforts, working harder and longer, so I could be paid more. If I worked longer then, in the long run, it would be less because I could leave with Callie sooner. And, with a lot more money, I could buy her the house she deserved and all the things she would need to make her house a home.
Everything I did, I did it for Callie.
But my plan backfired.
Callie’s visits to see me were becoming fewer and fewer. I was working hard to get the money together for us to start our lives, but she was spending all her time with Niall. I needed to make things right with her, so I asked for the night off. Lucky for me, they let me take the time and even allowed me take the rust-bucket. I knew there was a dinner-dance being held at old-man Harris’ farm that night, and I thought it would be the perfect place to take Callie.
I drove over to her house to pick her up. She had absolutely no idea I was even coming. I even wore a cheap suit that my mom had altered for me. I knocked on her door, and she answered wearing a cute little summer dress.
“Mike? What are you doing here?” she asked, with a look of complete shock, which was overshadowed by joy moments later.
She melts my damn heart.
“I’m here to take my lady to the dinner-dance at old-man Harris’ farm. That is… if she wants to go with me?” I pulled the flowers I’d picked from her front yard around from their hiding place behind my back and handed them to her.
Callie smiled and bit her bottom lip. “Oh, Mike, you did all this for me?”
“Of course. I’m working so I can save enough to make myself worthy of you,” I told Callie, and she threw her arms around my neck and giggled.
“You’re already worthy of me, Mike, in every way. I thought you didn’t want me anymore, and your work was more important than being with me.”
My heart sank. “Callie, no. I’m working hard so I can buy us a house… so we can be happy together, and then I can give you everything you deserve. So, how ‘bout it? Wanna dance with me?”
Callie leaned in and kissed me on the front porch of her house. “I wouldn’t want to dance with anyone else,” she said and took my hand.
The old rust-bucket was parked and waiting, so I walked her over and held the door open. The smile never left her face for the entire drive to the farm, even though it wasn’t that far from Callie’s place. We could have walked there in thirty minutes, but I loved driving, especially with my girl in the car.
We pulled up at the farm, and cars were lining the driveway. I ran around and opened the door for Callie, and she stepped out, then she stood up on her toes and then back down in excitement.
“Oh, Mike, it’s my first real dance, and I’m so glad it’s with you. I tried to talk Niall into taking me, but he didn’t want to go. But now, it’s worked out even better,” she stated, taking my hand and leading me toward the back of the farmhouse.
As much as I tried not letting that comment about Niall get to me, the truth is, it did. The fact she had asked him instead of me hurt. A lot. But I guess she thought I cared more about work than her, so maybe I deserved it. I needed to show Callie just how ‘in this’ I was, and how committed to her I felt. She was the reason I existed, and my sole purpose in this life was to make her happy. So, I swallowed my pride and led my girl to her first dance. I had no idea what I was doing, not having danced a day in my life, but I’d do it for her, whether it be bad or not.
Callie’s eyes were lit so brightly, I’m sure her cheeks must’ve been hurting from the massive grin that fell over her face. We turned the corner, the band was playing, and people were dancing. Her eyes looked over the yard, taking in everything around her. There were lanterns strung out in patterns, giving the dance floor a light and romantic feel. Callie looked up at me, and I could see the excitement in her eyes as they glistened brightly.
God, I was so in love with her—her energy, her spark, everything about her I adored. I pulled her to my side and walked with her to the dance floor. I could feel how excited she was from the way she was bouncing up and down. With a few steps, we made it to the edge of the makeshift dance floor, and I held her tight. Lucky for me, the music slowed, and I was able to hold and rock her in my arms. I was so grateful for the slow music because at that moment, it gave me time to adjust my body to the rhythm and try to get this dancing thing down pat.
Callie’s head rested on my shoulder as the band played, and nothing had ever felt better than Callie being in my arms. I loved every second of it. Plus, I guess dancing isn’t so bad—it was not one of my finer moments but not my least favorite either. I gazed at her and noticed her eyes were closed as she nuzzled into my shoulder, so I moved my hand to caress her cheek. Callie’s eyes opened, and she looked directly into mine. It didn’t matter how many times she’s looked at me in the past, every time felt like the first. Her beautiful blue eyes stared up at me lovingly, and it only made me fall for her more.
“Mike,” Callie said softly. I
smiled and raised my eyebrows waiting for her to continue. “Can you take me to the haystacks?” she asked, then bit her bottom lip.