Chapter Fifty-Five

“What do you mean you haven’t had a chance to look at the Hodge file?”

“Dad, I told you—I just got back from Chicago and I’ve got an assignment due tomorrow, and I have labs to prepare for.” Callie flopped down onto the couch stretching the phone cord as far as it could go. The flight home was hell, and the opportunity to read her text books turned into baby-hell all the way back to New Jersey.

“I didn’t think you were with that Jon anymore, so why on earth did you agree to support him. Sherwood told me you took over from him, Callie you’re a brilliant lawyer but Sherwood is the top in his field.”

Typical, he only compliments me when it’s something he approves of. “Yes Dad, he may be but his interests were in the wrong place. He wanted to make this a media sensation given that Jon’s band has just launched into stardom. Sherwood Manning only saw dollar signs and diamonds, not the core issue here.”

Pierce Richards chuckled, “oh Callie. Why do you think he’s the best at what he does? He chases the big cases, without an emotional investment in them.”

She rolled her lip under her teeth, her head already pounded and her ears still rang from the high decibel screaming baby. “I’ve got it now. That’s all that matters and my investment in Jon is none of your business.” Her eyes widened and she closed her mouth again, shit where did that come from?

“I beg your pardon young lady?”

She rubbed her temples, “look I’m tired Dad. I’ll get onto this stuff in the morning and have it to you by midday. I promise.”

The line crackled and fell silent for a moment. “Fine.”

Her lips curved into a smile as she hung up. No lecture? Well, shit. She’d managed to stand her ground just once without folding and feeling like crap. She actually felt pretty good about it. She popped the kettle on and slipped into slippers and arranged her books on her desk to do a couple of hours of study before she fell into her bed.

She’d just poured her tea when the phone shrilled again, Damn that was too good to be true. “Hello?” She knew her father well enough to know he’d stew over the way she spoke to him.

“Hey Baby.”

The knot in her belly curled and the grin escaped her lips, “hey you. You made it home ok?”

She slid down the wall, bringing her knees to her chest. “Yes, god—let me tell you that was a flight I do not want to re-live. Ugh.”

His laugh vibrated in her ear, “god Callie. When I am really rich I am no longer flying coach. I’m having my own plane.”

Her fingers curled around the phone cord, “oh yea? Is this along with the big rich splurging we’re doing when you start to rake in these millions?”

“Babe, I’m going to treat you like a fucking queen.”

Her gaze drifted over the large pile of books on her desk, “I look forward to it. You sound awfully chipper for no sleep? Where are you guys now?”

“Somewhere in the mid-west. You’re not the only one to notice, my asshole band-mates haven’t stopped giving me shit since you left.”

“Oh yea? In a good mood are we? What ever could have caused that?” She smiled and closed her eyes, she felt at peace. The world was still spinning outside her, and outside Jon’s world. But for now, the sound of his voice and the promise that they’d work through this—brought her peace.

Maybe he’d been the one to make her see what she wanted out of life, the one that pushed her with tough love to make the move. But now she was doing it by herself, god did it feel wonderful. Scary as hell, but empowering all the same.

“I apparently am an ass when you’re not around.”

“Noooo--you an ass?” She teased, oh my how things had changed since the air was cleared between them. A part of her still worried that he’d hurt her again, she wanted to believe he wouldn’t. She chose to believe him, but the comfortableness between them right now was something she’d missed for so long. Something she didn’t know she had ached for, until it was back.

“Hey now—just because you’re this hotshot medical student now, you can keep the smart assed comments to yourself. And besides, you sound like you’re in a pretty good mood for someone that had a screaming kid on a plane all the way home.”

“Ha! Well, Dad just called before. I actually thought that you were going to be him calling back.”

“Oh yea and what did my favourite ex-father in law have to say for himself?”

Callie paused, yes they were divorced again but she wondered what this meant if they actually managed to have a successful relationship beyond all this? Would they get married again? Maybe they could actually do this like normal people did, perish the thought. “He just wanted to know if I had done some work for him that I had promised, and I hadn’t because of well—you know. I’ve been tied up the last couple of days.”

“Was he angry?”

She laughed, “yeah—a little. And went on and on why I was helping you out so I told him, it was none of his business what my investment is in you, and that was that. He didn’t say a thing, I think he was in shock.”

“I bet he was, he’ll now be thinking I’m a bad influence on you. You know that right?”

She smiled, and it was quite the opposite. “Yeah, he can think what he likes.”

“I wish you were still here.”

“I do too, but I’m glad for the time to clear my head. I need to sort out my life Jon, and make sure I’m ready to take on your whirlwind one.”

“Whirlwind huh? I guess that’s what you could call it.”

It never occurred to her until now, maybe that was the appeal she had to him. His constant, in his crazy topsy-turvy world she was something normal for him. “I don’t know how you keep your head screwed on, or stay sober for that matter.”

“Well, sometimes you just want the high to carry on long after the show. It becomes addictive, really quick. Like the attention did.”

She nodded, “I can understand that to a degree like we talked about.” She pursed her lips before she continued, “Jon, I’m willing to work through this and work out us—but I want you to know, that I won’t stand for any cheating again. Ok?”

“And you don’t deserve anything less Callie, believe me. I meant what I said, what I showed you…we’re up against odds from hell I’m sure. But I want to make this work, more than I want my music to be successful.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “You don’t have to choose Jon. I’d never make you.”

“And that’s why I love you.”

She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, “stop making me cry dammit.” Her heart felt lighter than it had in months.

She could hear the smile in his voice, “I just want to you to know, I’m serious this time. That’s all.”

“I do, I just need a little bit of time to put this right in my head. But I do too Jon, I really do.”

“Good, because I kind of like the idea of a built in Doctor.”

Callie snorted, “That’s all I am huh?”

“Oh sorry and sex slave.” His voice went low and raspy in her ear, and a flash of him above her pricked the hairs up on her arms.

“That’s not nice Jersey.”

“You’re imagining it now, aren’t you? Me all over you, destroying every little inch of you.”

“You know that’s not fair.” She leaned back, relaxed against the wall as they laughed and talked. Like they used to. After thirty minutes his voice was beginning to crack.

“You should be going and drinking some tea and resting your pipes Jon.”

“Yea—another concert tomorrow. Just not a lot of time to rest.”

“Well make sure you do—how sore does it get?”

“It’s not that bad, just a bit raw sometimes.”

“Jon--“

“Ok it’s been sore. I’ve got pain killers from Doc.”

Callie sat up straighter, “Jon—that’s not going to help anything, you need to get it seen to. When you’re back in Jersey for the court case I’ll take you myself. Try honey in the tea—and lay off the alcohol. It will numb it but not actually help it.” She’d seen the schedule he’d showed her in Chicago, Doc had them doing show after show for months.

“Ok, ok---see live in doctor.”

“I’m serious Jon, you need to take care of it.”

“I know, I know… I will and I’ll see someone with you.”

“Good, you only have one throat Jon so don’t try and be superman about it.”

“Yes m’am…god I’ve missed having you around.”

“What to boss each other around?”

“Works for me.”

She sighed, the books were calling her and so was her bed. Maybe if she went to bed now, and then got up an hour earlier when she was fresh she could re-focus.

“Ok Jon, won’t this call be costing you a fortune?”

“Doc’s paying—it’s the least he can do when you’re saving his ass.”

“Touché—but it’s your money Jon he’s probably using.”

“He says that when we get our monies through from the tour so far—we’re going to have heaps.”

Callie stood and stretched, “when that happens I want to know what you get and I want to know what he gets—and once this court stuff is over, we’re reviewing your contracts and putting you in the driver’s seat.”

“I did tell you I loved you right?”

“Yeah you did---now go and get some sleep. I know I need to.”

“Ok baby, and Callie…”

“Yea?”

“Thank-you, for just being you.”

“You’re welcome now go and rest that throat, and that is a Doctors order.”

She crawled into her own bed a little later and smiled into the pillow as she hunkered down. Maybe things were going to be alright between them, she just had to get through the week and then get the court case out of the way.

Just maybe.