Page 124
CAL
Six hours.
It had only been six hours since she left, and Cal already knew exactly how many times he’d glanced at the clock.
He’d wandered the big house like a man who’d forgotten how to be alone in it. Tried reading. Tried working out. Nothing stuck. Eventually he’d found himself back in her room, staring at the newly repaired doorframe he’d fixed that morning. She deserves better than a patched-up job, he’d told himself. Before he knew it, tools were in his hands.
He reinforced the entire frame. Added a heavier strike plate. Installed a smoother, stronger deadbolt. Then the baseboards looked scuffed, so he replaced those too. And while he was at it, the window trim could use a fresh coat of paint…
He was still rationally justifying the growing renovation when his phone buzzed on the desk.
“Bear… be reasonable,” Isabelle said the moment he answered, her voice bright and no-nonsense. “I’m good, but I’m not that good. There’s no way I can plan this party at the estate with Sage living there.”
Cal leaned back in his chair behind the heavy rustic desk, jaw tight. Late afternoon light poured through the towering windows of his home office, painting the snow-covered mountains and golden valley in breathtaking shades of rose and amber. The massive stone fireplace crackled softly to his left, and the woven spherical pendant light overhead cast a warm golden glow across the room.
The plan made perfect, logical sense. It was only a few days. Sage would help Mary Sue at the diner during the day while Isabelle worked on the surprise Christmas party in secret. It was the only way to keep it hidden.
He still hated every single part of it.
“You know what I mean, Bear?” Isabelle prompted, her tone a mix of amusement and warmth.
“Yeah,” Cal exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. “Okay.” He paused. “Can… can I talk to her?”
He could hear the smile in her voice. “Of course. Hold on.”
Footsteps, then the lively chaos of the diner filtered through — clinking plates, murmured conversations, the sizzle of the grill.
“Hey Sage! It’s your boyfriend!”
Cal closed his eyes, a reluctant smile tugging at his mouth.
“Shut up! You’re not supposed to say that, Isabelle!” Sage’s voice came through, half-laughing, half-mortified.
“Cal?” Her tone softened the second she took the phone.
His heart gave a hard, stupid thump. “Hey, sweetheart… I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. I mean — I know you’re okay with Mama. I just…” He trailed off, wincing.
God, I sound pathetic.
The diner noise faded as her voice dropped, warm and intimate. “Cal? I—”
“Baby girl, come give me a hand with this order!” Mary Sue called cheerfully in the background. “Tell my boy he can live without you for a few days.”
Sage giggled, the sound hitting him straight in the chest. “I gotta run, Cal… umm, I…” She took a shaky little breath. “I miss you.”
It was barely more than a whisper.
Then the line went dead.
Cal stared at his phone for a long moment before setting it down gently on the wide wooden desk. He closed his eyes, letting the crackle of the fireplace and the vast silence of the house press in around him.
The next few days were going to be miserable.
Absolutely miserable.
24
SAGE
