Prince Charming Wears a Badge (19 page)

“Call me a fool. I'd really like to think that you're trying to change for the better.” Callie held up one finger. “But that doesn't mean I'm totally sold on your about-face.”

“Fair enough.”

“How's your mother? Is she still in the hospital?”

“They're keeping her for a while. She's pretty drugged up right now to keep her calm. She barely recognizes me and when she does, she thinks I'm a little girl and she wants to walk me to school.”

“I'm sorry. It must be hard to see her like that.” Callie was surprised that she meant it.

Wendy nodded. “It is. But at least she can't hurt anyone while she's there.”

Callie couldn't agree more. She and her dad were safe as long as Ellen was hospitalized or under constant supervision. “Have you thought about an assisted living facility? Unless she shows marked improvement, I don't think my dad can continue taking care of her at home.”

“I agree. I've been so involved in my own drama that I haven't paid enough attention to their situation until recently. I think I'll be able to find a good living situation for her now that I've taken a job at a medical office. They have a lot of information available for all ages.”

They were silent for a few moments before Callie said that she would be doing a final class the following evening. She'd scheduled it for before her appointment with Dr. Hammond. “I hope you can make it if you're interested, Wendy.”

“I am. Now that I'm on my own with my son, I need to think about what you mentioned the last time. How to save for those unexpected bills and still provide everyday basics.”

They chatted for a little bit longer before Callie left the diner feeling better about a lot of things. She was almost done with her community service hours, she had the possible beginning of a new start with her stepsister, and she finally knew the cause of her stepmother's hatred. Talking with Wendy even made Callie consider coming clean with her therapist about her past.

Only one thing wasn't resolved.

Tyler.

* * *

T
HE
NEXT
DAY
,
SINCE
Callie was teaching an evening course at the women's shelter, she arranged to visit her dad that afternoon.

Pulling into the driveway, she was more confident than she'd been a few weeks ago when she'd chickened out. Maybe it was knowing her stepmother wasn't there or maybe she had more confidence in herself now to deal with whatever may come. She didn't know, she just enjoyed her new strength.

“Hi, Dad,” she said as she came through the unlocked front door. Funny how she was comfortable enough to walk in without knocking now that her dad was the only occupant of her childhood home.

Her dad came from the hallway to greet her. “Callie! How are you?” He hugged her and they took seats in the living room.

“I'm okay. How are you feeling?” Her dad's head bandage was gone, but he still had the wound on his arm covered.

“I saw the doctor Friday and he said I'm doing okay. I don't know about Ellen, though. I haven't been able to drive, so I haven't seen her.”

“How did you get to the doctor?”

“My neighbor drove me.”

“You should have called me. I would have taken you.”

“That's okay. She didn't mind. And Ellen will never know.” He leaned over and whispered, “She's a little jealous of other women.”

A little? That was an understatement for sure. Visions of Ellen wielding a knife and the hatred she emitted were still fresh in Callie's mind.

She sucked oxygen into her lungs to aid her in broaching a difficult subject. “Wendy and I met up yesterday.”

“That's nice. Two sisters spending time together.” He smiled as if everything was normal.

“We got together to talk about things. Bad things. You know we've never gotten along, right?”

“Oh, all sisters have disagreements. At least, that's what Ellen always told me. I never had a sister, so I took her word for it.”

Callie decided he'd probably taken her word for a lot of things.

“We had more than disagreements, Dad.” Callie kept her tone even, controlling the emotions that wanted her to shout the truth at him. “Wendy has hated me since the first day we met.”

Her dad's eyes widened. “She has? Why?”

Callie swallowed. “Because that's what Ellen told her to do. Ellen has always hated me, too.”

“That's impossible. She's your stepmother. Of course she doesn't hate you.”

She relayed what Wendy told her about Ellen's longtime love for him.

“She never said a word to me.” Her dad got quiet. “I had no idea that she resented you or your mother.” His eyes filled with tears. “I wish I'd known.”

“Me, too.” She breathed in and out to calm her quickly beating heart. She needed to know something and couldn't wait any longer. “Dad, did you know how Ellen treated me when you weren't around?”

His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Did you know that Ellen would lock me in a closet in the basement?”

“Oh, that's impossible. I know she was strict with you, but locking you in a closet? You're making that up.”

“No, Dad, I'm not. Sometimes she would leave me there for more than a day at a time. I had no food or water and no bathroom.” Her own eyes blurred with tears. “It was cold and dirty and dark. There were bugs that crawled on me and I could hear her laughing when I'd yell for help.”

Her dad was shaking his head as if he didn't believe her.

“It's true, Dad. I'm not making this up. She always yelled at me for the littlest things. Sometimes she would make dinner for herself and Wendy, but I wasn't allowed to eat. Not even something I made myself. If I did, then I'd have to go back into the closet.”

Her hands were shaking by this time. She had never disclosed this much and she still wasn't sure if her dad believed her.

He was silent for a long time. “I...I don't know what to say.” He was also shaken up by her confession. “I know you came to me once about a problem, but I talked to Ellen and she claimed you had exaggerated. She said she was strict with the two of you because I wasn't around much. So she needed to be firm about the rules.”

Callie's hands fisted on her lap. “As soon as you left after I talked to you that one time, she locked me up for two days to teach me a lesson.”

Her dad slumped, shaking his head. “I'm so sorry. I had no idea. You should have come to me again.”

“I couldn't. The thought of being put back into that closet the minute you left for another trip nearly crushed me.” She posed another question. “You never had any clue about how she was treating me? Or how she'd brainwashed Wendy into hating me?”

He wiped a tear from his cheek. “No. I thought everything was fine. That's what she always told me.”

Callie nodded. From her dad's emotional reaction, she believed him. “The abuse is why I studied so hard to get into Maryland on a full scholarship. It's why I never came back here. At least, part of the reason.”

“I can never make up for what you went through and I'm so sorry for that.” He pulled himself together before continuing to speak. “I wish...I wish you had been able to trust another adult with what was going on.”

“She kept us isolated. Besides, I worried that if I told a teacher that she'd find out.” She hesitated. “I know now that I could have trusted an adult, but as a child I was too scared.” She could see the guilt overwhelming him, so she changed the subject. “Why didn't you ever answer my letters after I moved away?”

He cocked his head. “I could ask you the same thing. I was on the road a lot, but I always wrote you a quick note before I left town. Ellen mailed them for me. Oh.” He covered his face with his hands. “You never got them, did you?” When she shook her head, he continued. “And you also didn't get the presents she said she sent on your birthdays and Christmas?”

“Nothing. I never heard a word from you. No letters, no gifts.” She could feel her emotions bubbling to the surface, but she shoved them down. “And you never got the letters I sent? The invitation to graduation?” She already knew the answer.

Her dad rose, his arms out to her. She met him halfway across the room and they held each other, both allowing their tears to fall freely.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

B
Y
THE
TIME
Wednesday night rolled around, Tyler couldn't wait to get home from training with his officers. He was exhausted. Aunt Poppy had taken the girls for a sleepover, so he was sure to get a decent night's sleep. Not that he'd had an easy time sleeping since he and Callie had parted ways.

With thoughts of her lingering in his mind, he checked his phone to see a text from her. She wanted to know if she could stop by his house when he got home. He replied.

On my way home now. See you there.

Callie was waiting for him when he arrived. She sat on the top step by the front door. Her arms were crossed over her chest, a serious expression on her face.

“What is it? What's wrong?” He unlocked the door and invited her in.

She remained just inside the entryway. “I came to say goodbye.” She spoke calmly. “My bags are packed. I've dealt with all of my family issues, and I'm driving home first thing in the morning. If you think I haven't fulfilled my service hours, then too bad. You're so good at calling people, call my therapist and report me. Or better yet, call the judge and tell him. You have the power. Use it as you wish.” She turned to go.

“Callie, wait!”

She was actually leaving. He'd known it was inevitable, but he hadn't prepared himself for the acute pain.

“Can't we work this out?” he asked.

“There's nothing to work out.” She stopped but didn't face him. “You've shown me your true self. I can't be with someone who wants to control my life. Talking to my therapist about everything tonight made your deceit fresh again. I can't stay here any longer.” She paused as if trying to maintain her composure. “I've already said goodbye to Madison and Alexis.” She opened the front door and turned to face him. “This one's for you.” She stepped outside and slammed the door hard enough to rattle the windows.

How had things between them gone from near perfect to disastrous in such a short period of time?

* * *

C
ALLIE
REACHED
HER
car and drove about a block before she pulled to the curb and fell apart completely. The anger and hurt came pouring out of her. She banged her fist on her steering wheel several times. Slamming Tyler's front door must have been the catalyst to what was now turning into a maelstrom of released emotions.

Several minutes later she searched her purse for tissues to wipe her tears and blow her nose. When she could finally pull herself together enough to drive, she headed to Poppy's.

Callie found Poppy sitting alone at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, her expression sullen.

“Are you okay?”

Poppy shrugged. “Not really.”

“We make quite a pair.” Callie hadn't told Poppy why she was going home tomorrow, but she had to know that Tyler and Callie had reached an impasse. “Is it Gino?”

“Isn't it always a man?”

“That's because they think they should be in charge of us.”

Poppy's eyes widened. “They do, don't they?” She sipped her tea. “Gino has no idea why I won't marry him. He won't listen, no matter how often I explain it.”

“I get it. Tyler went behind my back to speak to my therapist. He thought he knew better than I did what my therapist should know about my life.”

Poppy shook her head. “At least he thought he was doing something to benefit you. Gino didn't take me into consideration at all when he bought the Lincoln Hotel.”

“You can't come up with a compromise?” Callie asked, glad to focus on someone else's problems instead of her own. “Are you really in direct competition with each other?”

“We both provide meals and lodging.”

“But won't they be different and each attract different customers?”

Poppy seemed to mull over the question. “I'm looking for typical bed-and-breakfast clientele.”

“And isn't he making the Lincoln Hotel a high-end inn? With a spa and an exercise room? It doesn't even sound like you're in the same price range.”

“I never thought about it that way.”

“That really surprises me, Poppy. From what I've seen, you're pretty smart about business.”

Poppy chewed her lower lip, seeming to think about Callie's observation. “I guess I was too busy being mad about him not hearing me when I talked about making this house into a B and B. That it's been my dream for most of my adult life.”

“So what are you going to do now?” Callie asked.

Poppy pushed her chair back and took her cup to the sink. “I need to talk to Gino.”

“What are you going to say?”

Poppy's grin started slowly and grew. “That I think with some ground rules, we might be able to coexist in Whittler's Creek. And I might just accept his marriage proposal.”

At least Callie had been able to help Poppy and Gino. Because she and Tyler simply had irreconcilable differences.

* * *

P
OPPY
RACED
TO
her bedroom to freshen up before heading to the Lincoln to see Gino. He had moved his things into his suite there after she'd turned down his marriage proposal.

She drove as quickly as possible, parking in the lot behind the hotel. Because it was after ten at night and all the workers were gone, leaving Gino alone in the hotel, the front doors were locked tight.

Poppy stood outside, wondering what to do. She looked up at the fourth floor where Gino's suite was located. There was a light on, so he was still awake. He'd never hear her if she yelled from the street. So she pulled her cell phone from her purse and texted him.

I came to talk. At the front door of the Lincoln.

He must have taken the steps down because he arrived to unlock the front door faster than the ancient elevator would have gotten him there.

He wore jeans, a threadbare T-shirt and a tentative smile on his face as he welcomed her inside and locked the door again.

“Let's go upstairs,” he suggested, leading her to the elevator.

They were silent as they rode the sluggish elevator up to the fourth floor and then walked down the hall to his suite. “Come this way.” Gino walked through the living area to a doorway. He stepped aside so she could enter.

She hadn't seen the suite before, but as soon as she walked into the bedroom she couldn't help noticing that the furniture was the same as in her own bedroom. The linens were the same, as were the lamps and other details.

“This looks like my bedroom,” she said, taking in every detail.

“I tried my best,” he said. “I took pictures and attempted to duplicate the room. I know you redid your bedroom when you expanded into the attic, and I wanted you to be just as comfortable when you're here.” He walked over to a framed picture on the nightstand. “I even had this family picture copied. The frame isn't exactly the same, though.”

Poppy's eyes blurred with tears. “I can't believe you did all this.”

“I was going to show you after dinner on the roof, but we never got that far.”

Poppy nodded.

“You said you wanted to talk?” Gino sounded hopeful, which gave her the incentive to tell him her ideas.

“Yes, I'd like to talk.” They returned to the living area and Poppy sat at the end of the couch. Gino chose the chair closest to her.

“Would you like a drink?” he asked.

“No, thank you.” She wasn't sure now where to begin. “I talked to Callie tonight and she pointed out that your inn and my B and B will attract different customers.”

His eyebrows lifted. “That's true.”

She swallowed and continued. “There are some things I think we could work on to make sure we're both operating successful businesses, but we need to come to an agreement first.”

“I'll agree to anything,” he said. “I've actually been coming up with some ideas of my own, trying to figure out how to resolve this issue between us.”

Poppy was glad to hear that. “The biggest issue for me is that you haven't listened to what I want and need. You make decisions based on what you
think
I want or need.”

Gino digested her words. “You're absolutely right. And there's actually something I'd like your opinion on right now.” He rose and walked to a small desk in the corner of the room. He picked up a folder and brought it over to her. Then he sat next to her on the couch. “Take a look.”

She opened the folder and saw a résumé. “What's this?” Below it was another résumé.

“Those are people applying for positions at the hotel like innkeeper and assistant innkeeper.”

“Why are you showing me this?”

“Because I'd like to offer you a deal. If you're running a B and B alone, then you'll never be able to take time off. Same goes for me. So I'm suggesting we share an assistant innkeeper.”

She considered the idea. “So it would be a full-time position, but we'd each get the person twenty hours a week?”

“Right.” He held up a hand. “But if you don't like the idea, it's okay. I can hire someone part-time just for the inn.”

“It's not that I don't like it, I had just been thinking that I'm not sure I can afford a second part-time employee.”

“A second?”

She grinned. “I was hoping we could hire a chef that would handle the food at both places. Not that I don't want to cook sometimes, but after we're married it would be nice to not have to run back to my house to make breakfast for guests.”

“Married?” Gino's jaw dropped and she loved his reaction.

“Unless you've changed your mind?”

“N-not at all,” he stammered. “But I never got around to asking you.”

Poppy looked at him wide-eyed and waited.

He jumped up from his seat and went to a drawer in the desk. He returned with a small box and gingerly got down on one knee.

“On one condition,” Poppy said.

“I haven't asked yet,” Gino joked. Then he sobered. “What's the condition?”

“That you listen to me. I know you'll mess up sometimes and I have my faults, too. But I need you to work hard at hearing what I want and not deciding for me.”

Gino took her hand. “I promise to do my best.” He groaned and shifted positions slightly. “Now can I ask you? My knees aren't made for this.”

Poppy laughed. “Now.”

“Poppy, you are and always have been the love of my life. Please marry me and make me the happiest man alive.”

“Gino, I love you with all my heart and I would be honored to marry you.”

He fumbled with the ring box and placed a gorgeous sapphire in a silver setting on her finger. “I love you,” he said and then kissed her to seal their promise.

* * *

A
WEEK
AFTER
Callie returned home and forced herself back into her usual routine, she arrived at her condo from work to a message on her home phone. She tried not to hope it was Tyler—she hadn't heard from him since she'd left Whittler's Creek.

The message was from Andrew. Her heart sank in disappointment. What could he possibly want? She could delete it and never think about it again. Her finger hovered over the delete button before moving to the play button.

“Um, hey, Callie. It's Andrew. Andrew Slater.” As if she didn't know her scumbag ex-boyfriend by his voice. “I'm calling to tell you that you were right about the vase.”

Callie's eyes widened. Not a sentence she'd ever expected to hear from Andrew.

“You didn't break it. I found out last week that Lori was the one who broke it.” Lori must be the woman Callie had caught Andrew in bed with. “She accidentally knocked it over right after you left my apartment that day. When she found out its value, she decided to let you take the fall. So, anyway, just thought you should know.”

No apology, no nothing. Typical Andrew. She should probably see if she could sue him for false arrest and get her money back, but she'd rather not ever see him again.

She changed out of her work clothes and into running clothes. Connecting her ear buds to her phone and attaching the phone to her upper arm, she headed outside. There was a school a few blocks away where she liked to do laps on the track. She stepped from the air-conditioned hall of her condo building into the unpleasant mugginess outside.

And there, standing on the steps leading to her building, looking as gorgeous as ever, was Tyler.

Her mouth went dry.

“Callie.”

The sound of her name coming from him nearly did her in. She reminded herself to be strong. He'd hurt her. He'd disrespected her. She needed to remember that he'd had power over her and he'd used it against her.

“I'm afraid you've come at a bad time.” She struggled to keep her tone neutral. “I'm on my way out. Besides, we have nothing more to say to each other.”

“I disagree.” He stepped closer. “I've thought a lot about what you said. You were absolutely right about me overstepping when I talked to your therapist.” He took a breath. “But I'd do it again if I had to.”

Callie's eyes widened in astonishment. “Well, now I
know
we're done here.”

She tried to go around him, but he caught her arm.

“I'm not explaining this very well. Can we go inside and talk?”

“No, here is fine.”

He looked into her eyes. “When I said I'd do it again, I meant that I love you enough to do something you don't like. I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy. And at the time, pushing you to face your past by revealing something to your therapist was the only way I could see that happening.”

“But you
still
don't understand,” she said vehemently. “I don't need protection. I've taken care of myself my entire life. I did what I had to do to protect myself against my stepmother and stepsister.” She got louder and angrier the more she spoke. “I even accepted a plea deal to protect myself against my ex-boyfriend. I can take care of myself.”