Fresh start

Devon

A/n thank you all for the wonderful reviews and the new follows/favorites. Glad you all are enjoying this ride. I'm enjoying writing this. I have a  notepad full of ideas and chapter outlines just for the next 6ish chapters.  I'm sorry this one sorta short my left hand is killing me.
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Callie and River entered the McDonalds at exactly 4 pm. River was dragging her feet. She barely knew her dad and didn't want to see him today. She wanted to have a princess tea party with her stuffed animals. But her mom had dragged her here. Callie however was feeling good about herself. She was gonna make him regret his choices. She wore her favorite red blouse with the buttons and then a tight black skirt, probably a little over dressed for a McDonald's. But after last night she felt like a million bucks. And she was going to show it.

To her surprise Devon was already there. With a happy meal and her usual order of a double cheeseburger and fries and what appeared to be a large Diet Coke. Callie had hoped that this would go well. He seemed sober. He looked like he was in a better mood than when they had texted previously.

Callie strutted across the mostly empty McDonald's towards him, holding Rivers hand the entire way.  Devon looked up and smiled. Callie waved politely. Not wanting to cause a scene. She didn't want River to have a bad relationship with her father if she didn't have to.

"Hello dev" Callie picked River up with a huff and placed her in a chair and then sat down herself.

" Hey Callie,  good to see you. Been awhile."

"It has."

"Hey sweetie. Are you happy to see daddy?" Devon asked the small girl. Who just shrugged

"Daddy got you a happy meal, chicken nuggets, apple slices and chocolate milk right?" Devon asked in a cheerful voice.

"And a toy? Mommy said there would be a toy." Callie just giggled at her daughter, she did promise a toy.

"Yup it's the new ones. Came out yesterday."

"And for mommy a burger and fries one Diet Coke."

Callie thanked him politely and sat back while father and daughter caught up. She told him about her new toys and her classmates and even her new favorite teacher. Callies smile grew ten times at the mention of miss.Robbins.

This was one of the older mcdonalds that still had a small play set in the corner and Callie knew it was only a matter of time before River asked to go play.  But for now she was glad that it was going smoothly.

"Mommy can i go play?" River asked almost on que.

"Sure Mija but stay where I can see you."

And just like that she was gone.

"I'm sober now."

"How long?"

"3 months." He pulled out his AA chips and laid them on the sticky table.

"I'm happy for you" and Callie was. She wishes he had done it sooner. Before it turned everything upside down. But she was glad he found himself. And got the help he needed.

"Thanks cal. I wish I had gotten my act together sooner. I wish i can make it up to my girls"

"It's in the past Devon lets leave it there."

They sat and talked for a while. Manly about life and Callies new job. He told her about old friends and stuff from their previous life.  Half an hour must have passed when River finally bounced back over and asked if they could go home. She hugged her dad and Callie shook his hand. Not really sure why she did but a hug seemed to be awkward.

Callie loaded River into her red sedan and they headed down the streets that were pretty much cleared of other cars. Seeing as it was a Sunday. Both girls were quite on the way home.

Once home River immediately set off to have her tea party. Callie did some light house work and then got her baby ready for bed. She was gonna have a talk with the little lady about her possibly dating someone. Not that she was going to tell her who, right off but in the future she wanted family picnics and museum trips with Sunday morning pancakes. She just didn't want to surprise her.

"Baby, how would you feel if momma started dating again?" Callie really hoped this wasn't to grown up for her child.

"That's ok with me mommy"

"You don't mind? It. Would mean dates and nights away?"

"Yah that's ok, i think you should date miss.robbins"

Callie was shocked. Did her daughter know something she didn't? How could a tiny girl see they were meant for eachother. Callie curled up and laid in bed for a while picturing all the things she wanted to do with her girls. And just before her eyes closed her phone pinged.

Unknown number
I'm thinking about you calliope.

At first Callie was confused and was concerned on who it could be but then it dawned on her the only person who calls her calliope other then her father was Arizona.

Callie
Me too.

And with that Callie fell fast asleep dreaming up a life with the blue eyed beauty she hoped to one day call her own.