Page 52 of Always Meant for You
“Home.”
No. That’s not right.
“Cal’s home is that way,” I argue, pointing in the direction of the Horner place. “His home is on his family’s land.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Cal flinch, but then he keeps walking and disappears into the cottage.
“Not anymore,” my father replies.
I want to throw this casserole at the nearest wall.
I pace the driveway, my heels striking the uneven ground, then peg my father with my gaze. “Are you telling me Callan Horner lives in Jamie’s cottage?”
For a split second, pain glints in my father’s eyes.
“I’m telling you, Cal runs the farm now. And he lives in the cottage.”
“Jamie’s cottage,” I correct, my heart hammering in my chest.
How the hell could he allow somebody in Jamie’s space?
My father stands there.
“How long has Cal lived there?” I demand.
He looks down at the casserole. “We should eat before it gets cold.”
Unbelievable.
I hand him the dish. “Why don’t you start without me. I need to chat with Cal.”
I exhale a sharp breath, but before I go, I notice his hands tremble.
The arthritis.
Shame rises up inside me and chokes out my anger and confusion.
“Dad, if you need help carrying the dish, I can stay.”
“I’m fine, and you know where the kitchen is,” he says, jaw tight.
I watch him go, and my heart breaks. His gait is stiff and uneven. Each step grinds to a halt before the next begins.
He disappears inside without looking back.
The screen door bangs shut behind him.
It’s my signal.
I set off, pounding down the path toward the cottage, fury burning under my skin. The old farmhouse stands behind me, its blue paint faded to gray. The wraparound porch sags at the edges, but the place is well-kept. I round the slight bend.
Why didn’t Cal mention this to me?
Tears sting my eyes, but I will not cry. I keep moving and barge inside Jamie’s cottage without knocking.
And I can’t breathe. I can’t take another step.
Jamie converted the mudroom into his office years ago. Cal hasn’t changed it. Laptop on the desk. The old file cabinet. That clunky black-and-white printer that never jammed unless you were in a hurry.
