The Best Years

20

The mid-morning light streamed in the car window as Holland's head swiveled from left to right as Calum drove towards the Hemmings' household.

"It's okay, Holland. We had the cops ask the van to move and we haven't had any other issues. No one knows her real identity and we gave that magazine the cease and desist for posting photos of her without permission and warned we would prosecute for harassment of a child if it was done again. It's been two weeks, I think we're fine."

"But we don't know that." She countered.

"Well to be fair, we don't really know anything."

"I know that I'm scared something will happen to mess up things with Chloe and it's stressing me the fuck out." She said quietly, her head turned towards him and her eyes chancing a glance back to where Chloe sat in her booster seat, her eyes trained on the tablet they had gotten her the day before and her ears covered by large pink, princess themed, headphones.

Calum pulled to a stop at a red light and looked over to her. "Take a deep breath, Holls. The stress isn't good for you or the baby."

"I can't help it."She said pitifully, her eyes watery as she looked at him from the other side of the car.

The ride to Luke and Sierra's house was only about fifteen minutes and yet the silence that stretched between them seemed as if it would never end. Calum didn't know what to say to ease Holland's worries, and he didn't dare risk saying anything that could possibly make it worse.

He pulled through the gate of the Hemmings' house after punching in the code and parked next to Luke's porsche. Holland gave a soft laugh as she stepped from Calum's car and he shot her a curious look.

"Was just thinking about our first date. I'd already wrecked your damn Range Rover and you showed up in a Porsche. I just remember thinking you must have like an endless lineup of fancy cars at your disposal."

His eyes crinkled as he smiled and reached for her hand, squeezing it as they waited while Chloe, ever little miss independent, unbuckled herself from the booster seat and climbed out of the car.

Her eyes widened as she took in the mansion they stood in front of before she nervously looked to her foster parents.

"It's like a castle." She said, her voice filled with wonder.

Calum chuckled and whispered for just Holland to hear, "If she says that to Luke he's gonna get an even bigger head about this place."

Luke had a habit of spoiling those he loved and he had only recently bought the home they all now stood in front of for his wife and only daughter. Sierra had envisioned something smaller for their family unit but Luke had insisted on a house they could grow into and now they shared an eight bedroom home that Luke was immensely proud of.

The group walked to the door, Calum swinging it open without knocking as Holland glared daggers at his back and shook her head at his rudeness but followed after him. "Hello?" He called and waited for a reply.

"Hello?" He tried again when his first greeting went unanswered and finally the sound of little feet filled the hall as Cai, nearly three now, ran towards him and wrapped her small arms around his knees.

"Hi Cai! Where's your mommy and daddy?"

"Outside! Did you come to play with me Uncle Cal?"

"I sure did! And look! I brought a friend!" He said, lowering his body into a crouch so that he was almost even with her height. "This is Chloe.She's really nice and guess what?"

"What?" Cai asked, giving Chloe an unsure look.

"She loves princesses."

"Really?" Cai said, suddenly much more interested in Chloe who hung back, her hand clutching Holland's nervously.