The Song Remains the Same

Chapter 14

Callie was nervous all through dinner, her knee bouncing under the table. The kids didn't seem to feel it though, chattering about their weekend at Owen's, talking over each other and bragging about who'd had the biggest cannonball splashes in the neighborhood pool. The routine was playtime in the living room after dinner, leaving the kitchen so Callie could clean up their dishes. A gentle knock on the window of the backdoor made her jump, Arizona waving with three fingers through the glass.

“Hey, I'm not too late, am I? Or too early?” She could see her girlfriend's nerves in the way her hands trembled and Arizona shifted the box of donuts she'd brought to one hand to take her hand. “Hey, come on. It's going to be okay,” she promised earnestly. “Remember, they already love me.” She lifted the box into view. “But I also brought a bribe. So we've got nothing to worry about, okay?” Callie's laugh was choked and Arizona stepped forward to kiss her softly. “Everything's going to be fine.”

Callie nodded, licking her lips. “Not if you're getting my kids all hyper with donuts right before bedtime.”

Arizona’s response was cut off by a call of, “Mom!” from the living room, Gavin loud and pleading.

“Excuse you?” Callie called back, her eyes rolling. Arizona smirked but took a quick step back in case one of the kids suddenly appeared.

“Please, Mom,” he called again, remarkably not sullen. Of all her children he could be counted on to be the most reasonable. Allegra got pouty, snippy. Angus was the softhearted one, the first to whimper and whine or cry. How would they handle what she was going to tell them tonight?

“I'm coming,” Callie told him, glancing down when Arizona’s fingers slipped through hers to hold her hand. “Thank you,” she whispered, glad that she didn't have to do this on her own.

Smiling sweetly, Arizona nodded. “You ready?”

“No, but let's do it,” said Callie, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Leave the donuts for now.” Arizona dropped the box promptly on the dinner table, letting herself be pulled along by the hand. “Hey, guys, look who I found,” Callie announced them as they moved to the other room, all three kids going still as the adults entered.

“Hey,” Arizona said, giving them a small wave with her free hand. Callie didn't drop her other hand, Arizona quietly relieved by the gesture.

Gavin was the first to move, beating Allegra to Arizona by only half a step. “What are you doing here?!” he asked excitedly, beaming up at her. “Want to see my plane?”

“Maybe in a minute,” Callie intercepted the request. “First I need you guys to sit down and listen, okay?”

Gavin huffed as he dropped cross-legged right where he stood. Allegra looked more wary, stepping backwards until her knees touched the chair Owen had preferred. Angus just blinked from where he was still kneeling over his coloring book and crayons. All three looked almost resigned.

“Hey, it's not bad, you guys,” Callie told them, dismayed that her children were still always waiting for the next bad thing to happen. “It's good. Arizona’s going to be around more.” She glanced sideways at her girlfriend, losing her nerve, silently pleading for help.

There was only a moment of quiet, Arizona stroking her thumb across Callie's knuckles soothingly when she could feel the woman beside her start to tremble. “I care about your mom. A lot.” Arizona took a deep breath. “Would it be okay with you if I spent more time here?”

“Yeah!” Gavin was eager immediately. “Can my friends come over too?”

Callie managed a smile. “Arizona is my friend, but it's more than that. We're not just friends, bud.” His little face screwed up when he frowned in confusion, trying to work it out. He looked like Owen with that expression on.