Small Town Lights

Chapter 1

Callie

"You did it, Callie," my mom cried when she found me outside of the building where my graduation had just been held. I watched as she let the tears fall and not even try to wipe them away.

"Mom, please stop crying," I said to her with a smile. I knew how proud she was of me. I was proud of myself too. It wasn't easy but I managed to get two degrees even with all the extra responsibilities I had that others didn't.

"Momma," I heard my daughter, Maddy, yelled as she ran straight to me and wrapped herself around my leg.

"Chipmunk!" I yelled and bent down to pick her up. "Were you good for Pawpaw and Gigi?" I asked her as Daddy took her from me and gave me a hug. Maddy nodded her head 'yes' and sent me a big toothy smile. I laughed. Her smile was my favorite thing about her. I loved nothing more than seeing her smile.

"We better get going. Everyone will be at the house before us at this rate," Mom said drawing my attention from Maddy.

It was nearly a half-hour drive from Atlanta to my hometown, Brownston, and with Mom telling Daddy to slow down every five minutes, it felt like hours.

When we finally pulled up in front of my parent's house, there were already people there. My Gigi had stayed behind to finish making all her famous pies that everyone in town loved. She was standing at the door greeting Dr. Mayford and his wife, Mabel when I walked up with Maddy in my arms.

"Callie, congratulations," Dr. Mayford greeted me. "And miss Maddy, you look like you have grown three inches since I saw you," he tickled her under the chin making her giggle.

"I did," Maddy smiled. She wiggled signaling for me to put her down and she ran into the house most likely on her way to the backyard where everyone would be.

"Slow down, Maddy," Mom called after her as she walked up behind us. I sent a smile to the Dr. and Mabel before squeezing past everyone to make sure that Maddy didn't get herself into any trouble. At three she had a tendency to do that and more.

When I had made it out to the backyard, I scanned the area and found Maddy dancing with my younger sister, Anna. Maddy loved Anna so much because she was always down to have fun with her. They spent a good amount of time dancing. Anna had done ballet from the age of five and she now taught Maddy twice a week. I was thankful that she did it for me for free. I was thankful for all of my family truly for helping me with everything since I told them I was pregnant with Maddy.

I spent the next several hours talking to everyone that was at the party, which was nearly the whole town. My family has lived in Brownston for seven generations. They were one of the five families that started the town. The Maddox's, Barton's and Barker's were the only ones left still in the area. Maddox and Barton was the local law firm a joint venture between Daddy and Earl Maddox. They had known each other all of their lives their wives too which in turn was how I originally met Colt Maddox. While growing up in a small town made everyone feel like family, the Maddox family was who we were closest to. Family vacations every summer together, Thanksgiving was always at our house, Christmas Eve was at theirs. We did everything together. I missed Earl and Tanya not being here to celebrate but they were in L.A. for Colt's graduation. Daisy was here though, representing for the Maddox family and being my best friend.

As I zoned out and thought about my life and how blessed I was for the people that have been a part of it, I smiled because everyone had been there for me and supported me. The whole town. They say it takes a village and I had the best village there was.

"Can I have everyone's attention, please," Daddy shouted. Everyone turned in his direction and he turned in mine. "Callie. Come here," he waved his hand in a 'come here' motion. I shook my head. I hated being the center of attention. I felt two hands on my back and turned to see Daisy and my older brother, Gavin pushing me in Daddy's direction. I rolled my eyes followed by a sigh. No one was going to let me stay where I was. "There she is," he beamed as I approached him and he threw his arm around my shoulder.