Southern Chances (On Hold)

Chapter 1: Bad News

A/N: Short beginning but I'm in the middle of American Sign Language class I'll post the description after class. -Storywriter19

"Callie Parks?" A man's voice said through my phone.

"This is she. Who's calling?" I asked putting a few files away.

"It's Travis Trent..." He paused.

"Hey Mr. Trent. It's good to hear your voice again." I smiled thinking of my mother's neighbor. After my father left, my mother moved us to a small town in Tennessee. After I graduated high school I went to school in Indiana and started work in Toledo, Ohio. I didn't need to work my mother had enough money for the both of us to live happily. I just did it for two reasons. The first was because I didn't want to be bored every day and the second was to get away from Parker Trent. He was my neighbor and for as long as I could remember he wouldn't stop pestering me. I liked his father and sister but I couldn't stand him.

He would put bugs and worms in my lunch box and make sure to splash me with mud. In high school he would make me drop my books. At prom he even hit my date. My date ended up going home and ignoring me for the rest of the school year. I was glad I moved away. Yah I missed my mom but I was away from Parker.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news." Mr. Trent took a shuttering breath. "You're mother passed away last night."

"What?" I asked. Tears stung my eyes.

"She apparently had breast cancer. She never told anyone." Mr. Trent broke a bit. He and my mother had been best friends since we moved there. "I'm so sorry I had to tell you this way. Would you be able to come down this week to plan the funeral and tie some loose ends up?"

I closed my office door and went to the window. I looked out at the Maumee River as I let this all sink in.

"Yah, I'll drive down tonight." I said after a few moments. I watched a seagull glide in place on the wind.

"I'll get things ready for your arrival. You make sure if you get tired, you stop for the night. It's a nine and a half hour drive." He said trying to sound strong.

"Yes, sir." I said wiping a few tears away. My mother was gone. She couldn't be gone. I had just seen her a few weeks ago for Mother's Day. Now that I think about it; she seemed distant then. She had known.

"Now Callie you know better." Mr. Trent scolded lightly.

"Sorry Travis. I'll call you if I stop ok?"

"Alright, I'll have Jamie waiting for you when you come." I smiled when I heard my best friend's name. Jamie Trent was the only reason I tolerated Parker through high school.

"I'll see you there. I have to go pack and get things organized." I said walking to my desk and organizing the papers.

"Alright sweetheart. I'll see you soon. Be safe and be strong." With a quick thank you the line went dead and I was left to get ready for the trip. I swiped at the tears and fixed myself up.

As I walked to my boss' office I thought of all the times my mother told me not to cry. She would always say it would be alright soon. That the bad stuff was only there for a short time. I had asked her why it even came around and she told me that it was so we would appreciate the good times. I tried to keep that mindset.

"Callie, may I help you?" Mr. Richards asked. His family's pictures scattered throughout the large office.

"I need to request an immediate vacation. There was a death in the family." I said. Mr. Richards nodded and I saw the compassion in his eyes.

"How long shall you be gone?" He asked pulling out his date planner.

"A month, I think. I'll need to clear out her house and sell it after the funeral." I said looking at a picture of his five year old son.

"Alright. I think Chris will be able to handle your job." He gave me a smile and I got up to leave. "Oh and Callie?"

I turned back to him.

"I'm sorry for your loss. Your mother was a good woman." I gave him a weak smile and walked out. Now before you ask how he knew it was my mother, my mother was the only family I had other than my dad. And we didn't talk. We stopped talking after middle school.

I walked back to my office to see Chris there. He must have been paged. I smiled at him and grabbed my own date planner.

"Ok, so I finished all the reports for the week. Next week there's a meeting with someone from the company who's fixing the plumbing in the break room. Make sure they fix it this time. Oh and...."

"I got this Callie. I copied all the things I needed. You just go." Chris gave me that goofy smile he always gave me and nudged me towards the door. I sighed and grabbed my purse and phone. I snagged my jacket and shoved my date planner before walking into the elevator.

When I got home I changed into some jeans and a t-shirt. I packed up and loaded my car. I stopped for gas and food and was on my way.