𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇 | Evansson¹

Chapter 18

Here's chapter 18:))

]|I{•------» CHAPTER EIGHTEEN «------•}I|[

Scarlett stared at the pancakes sizzling on the griddle, flipping them with shaky but careful hands. It had been months since she’d last made breakfast for Callie, and it felt even longer since they had actually sat down together as a family. Behind her, Callie was setting the table, the quiet clinks of silverware against the plates only making the silence between them louder.

Chris was already at the table, buried in the news on his tablet. When Scarlett set the plate of pancakes down, he glanced up and gave her a quick, awkward smile before going back to scrolling.

"Callie, do you want syrup or just butter?" Scarlett asked, trying way too hard to sound casual. Her hand hovered over the syrup bottle as she waited for an answer.

Callie shrugged, not looking up. "Syrup’s fine."

Scarlett poured the syrup and slid the plate across to Callie before sitting down across from her. She kept glancing at her daughter, hoping for some kind of reaction, but Callie just focused on cutting her pancakes into tiny pieces, acting like Scarlett wasn’t even there.

Chris cleared his throat, trying to break the tension. "So, Scarlett," he said, his tone overly casual, "how’s work? Still busy? The movie’s coming out soon, right?"

Scarlett nodded quickly, glad for something to say. "Yeah, it’s been busy. But I’m trying to cut back, you know, be home more before things get crazy with promotions and stuff." She looked at Callie, waiting for her to say something, but Callie just shrugged again.

"Work’s work, I guess," Callie mumbled.

Chris leaned back in his chair, glancing between the two of them like he was trying to figure out how to fix the mood. "You know, Callie," he said, "your mom used to make these pancakes all the time when you were little. They were your favorite."

Callie paused for half a second, her fork hovering mid-air. Scarlett held her breath, hoping Callie might say something. Instead, she just nodded and took another bite.

Scarlett felt the hope deflate in her chest. She tried to push past it, but the distance between her and Callie felt heavier than ever. She glanced at Chris, who gave her a small, sympathetic smile before looking back at his tablet.

The rest of breakfast passed in silence, the only sounds coming from the scraping of forks on plates. Scarlett kept sneaking glances at Callie, desperate for even the smallest sign that things were improving.

Finally, Callie spoke, her voice soft and uncertain. "The pancakes are... good."

Scarlett blinked, caught off guard. "Thanks, Callie," she said, trying not to sound too eager. "I can make them more often if you want."

Callie shrugged again, but this time, there was the tiniest smile on her face. "Okay."

It wasn’t much, but to Scarlett, it felt huge. She clung to that small “okay,” holding on to the flicker of hope it brought. Things weren’t magically fixed, but maybe they were starting to move in the right direction.

Chris smiled into his coffee, sensing the change. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress.

Later that night, Scarlett stood in the hallway outside Callie’s room, hesitating. The house was quiet except for the low hum of the air conditioner. For a moment, Scarlett thought about just walking away, giving Callie the space she clearly wanted. But then she remembered the little smile from breakfast, and it gave her the push she needed.

She knocked softly. "Callie? Can I come in?"

There was a pause before a muffled, "Yeah."

Scarlett stepped inside, the soft glow of a nightlight casting shadows around the room. Callie was already in bed, tucked under her blankets, her eyes half-open but still awake.

Scarlett hesitated, unsure what to do. "I just wanted to say goodnight," she said quietly.

Callie nodded, pulling the blankets closer. "Goodnight."

Scarlett hovered near the bed, unsure if she should sit or leave. "Do you need anything? Like, water or another blanket?"

Callie shook her head. "I’m good."

The silence was awkward, but it wasn’t as heavy as before. Scarlett looked around the room, taking in the familiar posters on the walls and the stuffed animals lined up neatly on a shelf. Everything looked so normal, but it felt so different.

"I’m really trying, Callie," Scarlett said finally, her voice quiet. "I know it hasn’t been easy for you, or for me, or for any of us."

Callie didn’t say anything, but she didn’t pull away either. Scarlett took that as a good sign.

"I just want you to know I’m here now," Scarlett continued, her throat tightening. "And I’m not going anywhere. We’ll figure it out together, okay?"

Callie’s eyes flicked to Scarlett’s for a second before she looked back at the ceiling. "Okay," she said softly.

Scarlett smiled, reaching out to brush a strand of hair off Callie’s face. To her surprise, Callie didn’t move away.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," Scarlett whispered, leaning down to press a quick kiss to her forehead.

"Night," Callie murmured.

Scarlett turned off the light and left the room, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough.

They kept this up for the next few weeks. Scarlett decided to go back to New York because Callie couldn't miss out on her classes. Chris agreed to go with them, but he slept in his Manhattan apartment at night.

Every morning, Scarlett made pancakes or other simple meals for breakfast, just really trying her best to make it up for Callie. Though, the awkwardness was still there, but things slowly got better. Callie started talking about school and some things to Scarlett, even the littlest things she noticed were immediately said to her mother.

With being the father he's always wanted, Chris was always there. He said he would do it anything for his little girl, and for his other favorite girl. They both wanted their daughter to trust them, to rely on them and to see them as people who would protect her at all cost.

It was all their effort, doing those things and sacrificing a lot led them to where they are now. And as days turned into weeks, the once quiet house then now filled with laughter.

And that was enough to keep them going.

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So, chap 18 up:)

Thank u all for reading!<3 I love u all 3000!!:D