Into the Future: A Callahan Novel (2 page)

THREE

Saturday morning, Lizzy sat on the hard bench at the soccer field, nursing a supersized cup of hazelnut coffee.   After Tristan left her house last night, sleep hadn’t come so easy.  In fact, she barely got any sleep at all.  That kiss was still on her mind as she prepared for the kids’ soccer games.

“Sorry, we’re late,” Izzy said standing beside her sister.  Cam was carrying a pillow for his wife to sit on while they watched the game. 

“No problem, the game just started,” she told her sister.  “You look cute.” Izzy was rocking an oversized Callahan’s Bar and Grill T-shirt, maternity capris, and canvas tennis shoes.

Izzy laughed, rubbing her t-shirt covered belly.  “I don’t feel cute.  I feel like I ate a balloon.”  She grinned.  “I couldn’t be happier.”

“I can tell.  You guys ooze love.”  She looked at her sister and brother-in-law.  “If I was a jealous woman, I’d be really upset with you.”  She smiled at her.  “But I’m really happy for you guys.  Now I’m just waiting on my niece or nephew to get here.”

“You and me both.  I can’t wait to fit back into regular clothes again.”  She took a deep breath.  “Now, since we have done the chit-chat thing, have you talk to Tristan?”

“So it was you,” Lizzy accused her pregnant sister.  “I thought it was Cam.  Yes, he came by last night after the kids were in bed.  He’s coming with me to the meeting.”

“Good,” Izzy said, leaning on her husband.  “I knew he’d step in.  I can’t believe Paul is being such an ass.  First, he never picks up the kids.  PJ told me it’s been months since he’s seen him.  It’s been his mother keeping them.”

“I know.  He’s got some kind of plan in his thick skull.  No more being nice, that’s for sure.”

Izzy nodded.  “Yes, he can pick them up at my place or Mom’s from now on.  No exceptions.”

Lizzy shook her head.  “You’re such a different person since Cam bulldozed into your life.  I’m glad for the change.  It’s just taking a little getting used to.  The old Izzy would have tried to defend Paul and his antics, but not now.”

Izzy laughed.  “That’s right.  That was the old me. Once I stared in the face of love, I realized that Paul was being selfish.  He doesn’t care about his kids, only what misery he could cause you.  That’s not love.”  She glanced around the crowded park.  “Where is Tatum?”

“With her soccer team, practicing.  Yes, the coach knows that Paul is not to talk to her.  The coach is going through a divorce, so she’s got my back.”  She couldn’t help it, she smiled at her sister.  “I’m so happy, that you’re happy.”

“Me too.” 

***

Monday morning, Lizzy sat in the parking lot of Cathay Williams Progressive Elementary School, trying to calm her nerves.  8:45 and no Tristan.  Okay, girl, you can do this.  You have a law degree.  Surely, you can face one principal and social worker on your own.  Of course she could.  She handled her own divorce from the idiot without having to reveal her true net worth, she could do this.

With that thought, she got out of her SUV, grabbed her purse and closed the door.  She started for the main entrance when she noticed Tristan’s BMW parked a few spaces down from where she parked.  He waved to her as he exited his car and walked to her. 

“Hey,” he said, kissing her on the cheek.  “How are you doing?”  He was dressed in a dark blue suit that complemented his tanned skin.  His blue eyes sparkled at her as he grabbed her hand. 

She welcomed the comfort of his hand in hers.  “I thought you were coming as my boss, not my man.  But thanks.”

He grinned.  How could he make her turn to mush so fast?  “I’m here as Tristan.  If anyone has a problem with it, then I’ll have them arrested.  One of my best friends is the DA.”  He kissed her hand.  “Quit worrying.  Let’s go see the principal.”

Lizzy nodded.  Feeling Tristan’s hands in hers brought back the memories of their very short relationship and her feeling loved for the first time in her life.  It made her rethink what she thought love was.  When she married Paul ten years ago, she thought that was love, but soon she discovered it wasn’t. 

“Lizzy?” Tristan tugged on her hand. “You okay?”

“Yes, I’m great now.  Let’s get this over with.”  They headed inside the building.

“Thank you for coming in, Mrs. Hall,” said Principal Miriam Hargrave, as she stuck out her hand.  She looked Tristan up and down.  “And this is?”

“Mr. Tristan MacDonald.”  Lizzy shook the older woman’s hand. 

“Of course it is.  Why is he here?”  She aimed her petite hand at Tristan.

He shook her hand and looked at Lizzy before he spoke.  “I’m here on behalf of Mrs. Hall.”

“I see.  We’ll be in the first conference room to your left.  I’ll be right in.  We’re still waiting on Mrs. Allen.”

Lizzy nodded.  “Thank you.”  She and Tristan walked silently down the hallway and found the small conference room.  Once they were seated, she let out a big breath. “Typical.”

“What?”

“Small room.  I’m sure we’re on camera somewhere.” She glanced around the room, easily spotting the camera.

“Okay, okay.  We’re not going down that road.  Don’t give them more ammunition.”  He patted her hand.

“Thanks.”  She was grateful he was with her.  If he wasn’t she’d probably be cussing a blue streak right now.  “I’m really glad you’re here.”

The door opened and Mrs. Hargrave entered the room followed by a younger, taller woman. “Pardon our tardiness, Mrs. Hall, Mr. MacDonald.  This is Natasha Allen, she is social worker for Child Protective Services for Suffolk County.”

Lizzy nodded.  So this was how it was going to go down.  “Nice meeting you, Mrs. Allen.  This is Tristan MacDonald, city manager for Turners Point.”

“Pleasure.”  She took a seat across from her and set a file folder on the desk. “Why don’t we get down to the reason that I’m here?”

“Yes, that would be wonderful,” said Lizzy sarcastically. 

Mrs. Allen looked at her, cleared her throat, and finally spoke.  “Your husband alleges that you’re neglecting your children by putting your job first.  There are times you have forgotten to pick them up, and you’re not adhering to the visitation schedule as prescribed by the court.  Now, according to Mrs. Hargrave, you stated that your husband had arranged with you to pick them up and failed.  Mr. Hall says he has no recollection of such an event.  Care to elaborate?”

Lizzy stared at the young woman.  “Each time was a time that he’d ask to pick up the kids, and I agreed.”

“Do you have that in writing?”

“Of course not.  Normally, it was a phone call or maybe a text.”  Her cell phone!  Thank goodness, she elected not to buy another phone just yet. She reached inside her purse and pulled out her phone.  “I might have a few text messages from him.”

“Oh, really?  A text message seems so casual being that it concerned your children,” Mrs. Allen said.

Lizzy tapped her phone screen to retrieve her messages.   “He’s their father, not a stranger.”  She looked from her phone to Tristan, who was also looking at her screen.  “Yes, I have several messages from him.  I’ll have to check the dates Mrs. Hargrave has to see if these are the same dates.”

The older woman pushed a sheet of paper toward her.  Tristan reached for the paper and handed it to her.  She checked out the dates and three of the six dates matched.  She looked at the principal.  “Yes, some of the dates match.  So yes, I have proof that he has set up the dates and failed to pick them up.”

Mrs. Hargrave cleared her throat. “That’s all fine and well.  I’m concerned going forward.  Who will pick up your children?”

“It will be me or my mother.  Paul is no longer allowed to pick up the children for any reason.”  She reached inside her briefcase and extracted a typed piece of paper and pushed it across the table.  “As you can see, it has been notarized.  Paul should be receiving his copy this morning by messenger.  So this kind of incident will not be happening again.”

Mrs. Hargrave nodded.  “Good.  PJ and Tatum are very good students and I would hate to think their home life influencing their school life and their grades were the victim.”

“I can assure that their home life is just fine,” Lizzy replied.  “My children always come first.  Besides, they don’t know their father has failed to pick them up.”

“Well that’s comforting to know, Mrs. Hall.  I’m glad we could get all that cleared up.”  Mrs. Hargrave rose and extended her hand to Lizzy.  “I appreciate you taking the time to come in.”

“As I said, my kids come first.  I also understand that you must investigate any unusual family events. Now that I have satisfied all your concerns, will there be anything else?” Lizzy shook her hand. 

“No, we’re good. I’ll place this in their file.”  Mrs. Hargrave motioned for Lizzy and Tristan to exit the conference room.  “Thank you again, for coming in.”

“Sure.”  Lizzy left the office with Tristan silently in tow. 

Once they were outside, Lizzy finally spoke.  “I don’t like it.  I feel like Paul has a mole somewhere in that office. Or worse, someone in the CPS office.”

“Who do you think it is?” Tristan stood directly in front of her.  “Normally, this kind of meeting would have been reserved for extreme measures.  Like there should have been several letters, phones calls, etc., before all this went down.”

Lizzy laughed.  “You sound so funny saying that.  I agree with you, but time will tell.  Paul will show his hand.  I’m not really sure who it is, but I’ll find out soon.”

Tristan took her hand in his.  “Look baby, I know I did the coward thing and I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have bolted.”

“Tristan, forget it.”

“No, I can’t.  I shouldn’t have let that jerk determine my place in your life.”

Lizzy stared at him.  “Are we really going to have this conversation on the school parking lot?”

Tristan grinned at her.  “No, I was thinking we could continue this conversation over breakfast.”

Okay, she could eat. “You got a deal.”

“Great, meet you at my place.”  Tristan kissed her quickly on the lips and left before she could utter a sound.

FOUR

Lizzy watched Tristan’s black BMW motored away and wondered what had just happened.  True, she could have said no.  He wouldn’t have heard her, but she could have said it.  She shook her head as she unlocked her SUV door and hopped inside.  Her cell phone rang as she started the engine.

“Hello Izzy,” Lizzy said, recognizing her sister’s cell number. 

“Actually, this is Cam.  Izzy is in the shower. How did your meeting go?  Did they have egg on their faces?”

Lizzy laughed as she headed home.  “Yes, they did.  They treated me like a criminal.  Thank goodness, I started keeping all of Paul’s text messages. That saved a lot of time.”

“I believed Tristan suggested that.”

“Yes, he did.  He was there with me today.”

“And?”

“After I go home and change clothes, I’m going to his house for breakfast and a conversation.”

Cam laughed.  “Good.  I love it when a plan finally comes together.  He knows a good thing when he sees her.”

Lizzy shook her head at her brother-in-law’s words.  “Cam, I know he’s your best friend, but I don’t want you getting your hopes up.  He apologized for breaking up with me, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

“You also don’t know Tristan like I do.”  He ended the call.

Izzy laughed, but continued on her way.  True, she didn’t know Tristan like Cam did, or Brad for that matter.  Those three had been friends since before time again and nothing would break that bond.

Once home, she showered and changed into something comfortable.  Since it was nearing the summer, Lizzy thought she’d dress for the occasion.  She dressed in a sleeveless blouse and her favorite denim short skirt, and sandals. The phone rang just as she was heading out the door. She muttered a curse as she recognized the caller.

“Hello, Paul.”  She secured her door locks and walked to her SUV.

“Baby, what the hell,” he said.  “So now I can’t pick up my own kids at school?”

“I’m not your baby,” she said.  Yes, that’s correct.”  She slid on the driver’s seat, but electing not to start to car.  She knew this was going to take a minute.  Paul hated not being in control.

“That’s not fair!”

“No, what’s not fair is you claiming that I’ve been neglecting my kids in lieu of my job. Or me having to defend my actions when you start tossing accusations around.  Do you know where I’ve been this morning?”

“When the messenger dropped off this little announcement, I called your job and they said you were out today.”

“I had a meeting with the principal and a social worker.”  Lizzy wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of hearing her lose it. 

“Why?”  He actually tried to sound surprised. 

“Because of you.  You filed a complaint and Child Services had to investigate.  And now, going forward, Mom’s house is now your point of pick up.”  She smiled in satisfaction. 

“Just because I missed a few pick up dates?  I’m going to contest this, Lizzy.  You have no proof that I arranged those times.”

“You can contest all you want.  I’ve filed a motion with the court and it has been approved.  You’re little trick backfired.  I do have proof of our conversations.”

“When did you start keeping text messages?  You instantly delete on general principle.”

She instantly thought of Tristan.  “I do a lot of things I didn’t used to do.”

“Oh, I get it.  It’s that white guy isn’t it?”

“No, this is about me.  If you want to pick up the kids, you need to work that out with Mom.  Good day.”  She ended the call.  She waited a beat before starting her vehicle, just in case he decided to call back. 

Five minutes dragged passed and she started the SUV.  Darn that Paul, always trying to get her mad over something.  Well, not today, she thought.  With a deep, calming breath, she started for Tristan’s house.  Hopefully, breakfast will brighten her day.

Tristan glanced at the clock on the wall in his kitchen.  It was almost ten.  Lizzy didn’t live too far from him.  The trip was ten minutes if she was driving slow, which was never.  He’d just taken his frittata out of the oven and placed it on the dining room table.   Okay, maybe he’d over done it a little, by making all of Lizzy’s faves, but a man had to try. Along with the egg dish, he also made pancakes, bacon, hash browns, and toast.  He poured orange into glasses and added them to the table.   The table looked great.  In fact, if Lizzy didn’t hurry, he was going to start without her.

The doorbell rang as he placed two plates on the table.  He hurried to the front door, opened it and smiled.  “I wasn’t expecting you.”

Korena MacDonald, stood in his doorway, smiling.  She was dressed in her traditional yoga garb.  Today it was a hot pink number and she had a matching pink tote bag slung over her shoulder.  “I know, but I was on my way to the gym and noticed your car.  Isn’t this a work day for all you crazy people?”

“Us crazy people that have regular jobs?”  He motioned his younger sister inside the house.  “What’s up?” He closed the door and followed her.

“I should ask you that.”  She inhaled the aroma of cooked food.  “Cooking on a Monday, when you should be at work.  Smells like I’m just in time for quick bite.” She walked toward the dining room.

“You’re a vegan.  So I’m not going to be able to help you.  Everything had a face.”  He grinned as his sister inspected the table.  Korena had been riding the fence of veganism since she’d returned to Turners Point.  She loved meat too much to make it stick, he thought.   “Why are you really here?”

“My final divorce papers arrived yesterday and wondered if you could do the lawyer thing and make sure I’m not signing my life away.”

“Sure, Kori.  Can I look at them later?  I got a visitor coming.”

Kori glanced at the table and then back at her big brother.  “Are you making up with Lizzy? About time.  This has been the longest week ever.”  She kissed her brother on the cheek.  “I’m so glad.”  She pulled a large manila folder out of her bag.  “I’ll just place this in your office and I’ll be off.  I have a class starting soon.”  She took off for his home office. 

Tristan shook his head.  His sister had only been back in Turners Point for the last year.  Had it only been a year when everything had imploded in their lives?  His own marriage had also crashed and burned around that time as well.  He was living in New York and miserable in a fifteen year marriage. Luckily, his wife decided to run off with her boss and ended the masquerade. 

“Tristan,” Korena called at the front door.  “I see Izzy’s Tahoe parked out front.  Good luck, and try to be accommodating.  Everybody has baggage. Deal with it.”

He walked toward his sister.  “Yeah, I know.  Brad Callahan already read me the riot act.  So did Campbell.”  He brushed a kiss on his sister’s cheek.  “Go to your yoga class.  I’ll let you know when I’m done with your papers.”

“Great. Bye.”  She opened the door and left. 

Tristan watched as his sister and Lizzy exchanged words and laughter before Lizzy made it to the front door and his sister to her Malibu Hybrid. Korena was always trying to save the Earth, he mused. 

“Good morning, Tristan,” Lizzy said, standing in front of him. 

“Good morning, Lizzy. You look beautiful. You know we’ve already seen each other this morning.”  He leaned down and kissed her briefly on the lips.  “Breakfast is ready.”

“Really?  I thought you’d still be cooking.” She walked inside the house, throwing her purse on the couch and headed straight for the dining room. 

“I was highly motivated,” he said, closing the front door.  After securing the lock, he went to the dining room, which was now minus one sexy city attorney.

“Lizzy?”

“In the kitchen.  The food was warm so I’m heating it up.  Sit down, I’ll be right back,” she called from the kitchen.

He did as she suggested.  Then Lizzy emerged with two plates, steaming from the microwave.  She placed one in front of him and took her place across the six chair table.  He watched as she ate heartily.   He loved her appetite. There was nothing shy about it.  She was a true foodie, just like her sister. 

“This is delicious, Tristan.  I missed your cooking.”  She continued eating. 

“Honey, it’s only been a week.  But thanks for the compliment.  I missed watching you eat.  I missed watching you dress and undress,” he said.  “I just missed you.”

She smiled between bites of food, and sips of coffee.  “So why did you break up with me?”

He knew this was coming, but still the admission was going to hurt.  “I felt like a third wheel.  Every time we went somewhere, there was Paul.  He was at the office, at your house, at the soccer games, I just couldn’t take it anymore.”  He waited for her to defend her ex as she always had in the past, but she merely nodded. 

“I know and that’s my fault.  I was trying to please everyone involved.  I didn’t want him saying I was trying to keep him from his kids.”

He nodded.  “It’s a tightrope act, trying to please everyone.  Someone always gets the short end.  I’m sorry, I over reacted. I did exactly what Paul wanted.  I ran at the first sight of trouble. I should have known better.  I’m Irish, we don’t run.”

She laughed.  “It’s a lot for a man to take in.  I get it.”

“No, you don’t get it.  I should have stayed by your side and not let a man with too much time on his hands run me away from you.”

The look of surprise on her beautiful face was priceless.  “So you’re taking responsibility for this?”  She reloaded her plate, then stared at him waiting for his answer. 

“Absolutely.  In my marriage, there was always drama and it drove me bananas.  I just didn’t want that this time around, but I realize today you can’t control another adult.  Paul is being a jerk because you initiated the divorce.”

“Yeah, that’s what Mom says too.  And the fact that I really didn’t need him in the marriage for financial stability ate at him as well.  I think that was the reason for his irresponsible behavior.”  She rose and grabbed her plate.  “I’m going to heat up my food.  You ready for round two?”

Tristan looked down at his almost full plate.  He’d been so busy staring at Lizzy, he hadn’t ate much, but his food had also gotten cold.  “I need to reheat too.”

She shook her head.  “I got it.  You sit.” 

Before he could react, she’d picked up his plate and headed for the kitchen. Tristan shook his head.  Now what?  Where would they go from here?  Could they go from here?

“Here you go.”  She placed the dish in front of him.  “You need to eat faster.”  She smiled at him, as she sat down with her plate.  “I’m on my second helping and you haven’t even finished one.  Lightweight.”  She dug into her meal. 

He decided a little prodding was in order.  “I was preoccupied.   I was thinking where would we go from now.”

“Who said I wanted to start?”  She continued eating as if she hadn’t just crushed his world.  “Maybe after that little episode and psychotic ex-husband, I’m just done.  I want normal too.”

“I think we’re worth another try.”  He reached across the table.  “Why don’t we start over?  You know like our first date.”

“So this is our first date?”

“Yes.”  He waited a beat for her to object to his reasoning, but she only smiled and continued eating.  Surely, that had to be a good sign.  An Irish man could only hope. 

***

Paul Hall sat at his desk, plotting his next step.  He wanted his wife back, but he’d went about things the wrong way.  All his intel had reported that Tristan had broken it off with her days ago, or at least that was the last time his ride hadn’t been parked at the her house.  Now his contact at CPS just told him his claim had gotten thrown out.  Nothing was going his way, but that would change soon.  It had to.

***

After they finished breakfast, Tristan and Lizzy cleaned the dining room table and then loaded the dishwasher.  Hand in hand, they walked to the living room and took a seat on the couch. He wanted to talk. 

Since she was the injured party, she waited for him to begin.  When he hadn’t, she cleared her throat.  “You were saying you wanted to talk.”

“Yes, I did, I mean do,” Tristan stumbled.  “I wanted to explain why I did what I did.”

“We’ve already done that.  I get it.  You were scared. Drama makes you nervous,” she said quietly.  “I hadn’t realized what a hold Paul had on me until lately.”

“I realize that, now.  But this isn’t about Paul, is about us and how we can move forward.”

“You mean you want to jump back into the lion’s den?”

He chuckled.  “Yes.  I happen to think you’re worth it.”

“What about all the Paul mess?”  She wanted him back no question, but she didn’t want him back under false pretenses.  After all, he was her boss too.

“We’ll take it one disaster at a time.  First of all, he’s off limits at work.  He can’t just roam the halls anymore.  I’ll inform security tomorrow.”  He took her hand in his and looked deeply into her eyes.  “I know there has to be a certain amount of contact between the two of you.”

“With him picking up the kids at Mom’s, I’m sure the contact will be even less.  I just wish I knew why he was trying to cause so much trouble in my life now.”