Gifted a Second Chance at Life

Chapter 9

The hours flew by as they decorated, ate, and told stories. Maya was happy to direct everyone, so the decorations were just right. After all the day’s excitement, she had fallen asleep on the sofa, snuggled under a blanket with the family cat cuddled beside her. Jimmy was adding the finishing touches to the Christmas tree when Callie looked at the clock and saw it was creeping toward midnight.

“Oh, goodness!” Callie exclaimed. “I didn’t know it was that late. I need to bundle Maya and walk to the cottage. I need to get her tucked in and get to bed myself. I need to get an early start in the morning to make up for only doing half a day of job hunting today.”

Rosemary sighed, “Callie, why don’t you take a few days to relax and focus on yourself and Maya? We love having you and Maya here, so there is no rush for you to move out on your own as far as we are concerned.”

“You’re mom’s right, Pumpkin,” John said. “We love having you here. Why don’t you and Maya stay here in the house tonight instead of trudging out to the cottage? If you don’t want to sleep in your old room upstairs, we can move Maya over to the loveseat. You can bed down on the sofa and watch the fireplace until you fall asleep. You used to love doing that.”

“I know, and I still do, but I want to get Maya used to the cottage. Waking up in a different place could confuse her and make things more difficult down the road,” Callie explained.

“It’s up to you, sweetheart. We just want you to know that you are welcome to sleep here in the house if you want,” Rosemary said.

“Thank you for that, but I think we should go to the cottage tonight,” Callie sighed. “Let me get some of the leftovers packed and taken to the cottage, then I will come back over and get Maya.”

Mark quietly offered, “Why don’t you get the food you want, pack up your stuff, and I will carry Maya for you. That way, you can open the doors. I’ve never done it before, but I would guess that trying to open doors while carrying a sleeping child might be difficult.”

“It is, but you don’t have to do that,” Callie insisted.

“I know I don’t have to. I want to do it,” Mark smiled. “Come on, Callie Cat. We quite literally grew up together. You and Jimmy are my two oldest friends. Let me help you. Besides, Princess Maya needs all the sleep she can get. She had a busy day, and tomorrow might be busy too, depending on if your mom is up to help me make some adjustments to the lodge kids' menu.”

“I plan on doing nothing but lounge around the house, watch the twinkle lights on the Christmas trees, and drink hot chocolate,” Rosemary giggled. “I can help if you want.”

“And I will be sitting right here while she does it. I have a stack of books to read and a couple of new crossword puzzle books, all of which are calling my name. I might even share with Rose if she wants to join me in the excitement,” John grinned as he took Rosemary’s hand.

“That sounds like the perfect thing for us to do tomorrow,” Rosemary replied, leaning her head on John’s shoulder. “However, I would love to help with the kids’ menu, so feel free to stop by if you want to do that. John can help by taste testing with Maya.”

“Is this what I have to look forward to when I’m old and gray?” Jimmy asked, teasing his parents. “Considering crossword puzzles and reading books as an exciting day? That and revamping a kids’ menu?”

“It sounds like a good day to me, especially if it’s rainy or snowy outside,” Callie said, defending her parents.

“That is because you have been old since the day you were born,” Jimmy snickered. “Anytime we went skiing, you would stay in the lodge by the fireplace and read a book while you looked out the windows and watched the mountain.”

“I’m on Callie’s side with that one,” Mark said. “I still hit the slopes, but as I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate the overstuffed chairs by the fireplace. They give you the perfect light to read by and great views so you can let your mind wander. It helps you work out problems you are stuck on if you have any.”

“See! I’m not the only one who loves those chairs,” Callie grinned at her brother. She turned to Mark and said, “Mark, if the offer still stands, I will take your help getting Maya to the cottage and tucked in.”

“Of course it does,” Mark beamed. “Rosemary, do you mind if I wrap Maya in the blankets she’s using? Callie can bring it back in the morning.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Rosemary warmly smiled. “All I ask is you don’t take the cat with you. I doubt she would mind, but John won’t sleep if she isn’t curled up beside his pillow, purring him to sleep.”

Mark gave Callie a wicked grin and said, “Maybe Maya needs a kitten for Christmas. What do you think, Callie?”

“I wouldn’t say no, but I’m not sure it is a great idea until we are a little more settled,” Callie said as she looked at her sleeping daughter and her father’s orange tabby curled up beside her.

“Understood,” Mark nodded. “The kitten needs to be wearing a big pink and purple bow on Valentine’s Day.”

Callie gave an exasperated sigh as she rolled her eyes and said, “I’m going to the kitchen to dish up a pan of leftovers. When I’m done, I will help you with Maya.”

“Don’t worry about it. I can help Mark,” Rosemary said. “I can see how tired you are. Go pack your food and grab your purse and your coats. Maya should be ready by then.”

Callie didn’t argue. She nodded to her mother and hurried to the kitchen. Callie quickly filled a medium takeout box with an assortment of foods. She filled a second small one with a variety of cookies and sweets that had been included with the food from the lodge before putting them in a shopping bag. She looked up to see Mark silently walking into the kitchen with Rosemary right behind him.

Rosemary whispered to her, “Need any help?”

“Thanks, but I’m good. Everything is ready to go. I just need to get our coats off the hooks by the door on the way out,” Callie whispered back. “Are you ready, Mark?”

Mark nodded as he adjusted the blanket to protect the little girl more from the elements. He put his hand on the back of Maya’s head and whispered, “Ready.”

Callie could not help but smile, watching how tender Mark was with Maya. That joy was quickly replaced by sadness and anger. That is what she should have had from her father, but Mitch had wanted little to do with her. To Mitch, their daughter had been an interruption in his life, and he did not like that.

“Callie? Are you OK?” Mark asked as he watched her expression suddenly change.

“Yeah. I’m fine,” Callie lied, hoping Mark and her mother believed her. “Just getting a bit of a headache.”

“Then let’s get Maya in bed, and you tucked in on the sofa with a good movie to fall asleep to,” Mark softly said with a grin as he picked up the bag of food Callie had put together.

Callie nodded and waved to her mother before she took her purse from the counter and their coats from the hooks beside the door. She opened the door for Mark to exit, hurrying to catch up with him so she could open the cottage door. She led him inside, where Mark sat the food on a table beside the door. She hurried to the bedroom and got the bed ready. He held Maya until Callie had the bed turned down and was prepared to tuck the little girl in. Mark lay Maya on the bed and left the room as Callie carefully changed the little girl into her pajamas and tucked her in for the night.

Mark picked up the bag of food from the table and took it to the kitchen. When he opened the refrigerator, his heart sank. It was nearly empty. He knew that Callie and Maya had just arrived and they had been eating with John and Rosemary, but it still bothered him that she did not even have the basics in her refrigerator. As Mark put the food away, he said nothing but made a mental note to take her grocery shopping if needed. Callie was so focused on finding a job that she might have ignored other important things.

“Thank you for your help today,” Callie said behind him as he closed the refrigerator door. “And before you say anything, I know I have no food in the house. I will go to the store tomorrow. Not that it will matter. My parents are insisting that we eat every meal with them. I think it is to make sure I eat.”

“That’s because when you get stressed out, you don’t eat,” Mark said. He smiled at her and said, “Do you remember when you came home the first Christmas you were in Boise? You always talk about putting on the freshman fifteen, but you had lost at least twenty pounds. You looked like you were sick. You had all of us worried. That was one of the reasons I kept taking you and Mitch to the lodge to eat. I was hoping you would gain some of it back.”

Callie looked down at herself, “Oh, I gained it back and a bunch more, especially after I had Maya. I had that pointed out daily, usually several times a day.”

“Mitch did that?” Mark asked in a dangerously quiet tone.

“Forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything,” Callie said as she dropped her head. “He was right. I did gain several extra pounds that I didn’t need. Mitch pointing it out encouraged me to lose them and a few more.”

Mark took a deep breath to compose himself before he spoke. “Callie, I want you to listen to me. You do not need to lose any weight. You never did. Jimmy showed me pictures of you when you were heavier, and I thought you were stunning. You were fiery and voluptuous. Mitch was an i***t to say anything other than that to you.”

“Really?” Callie asked with a sniff.

“Really,” Mark grinned. “And so you know, I will be taking you grocery shopping tomorrow, so you might as well work that into your schedule. I also plan on you eating at the lodge as often as I can talk you into it. There will be no losing weight because you are not eating due to stress. If you want to lose it, that is up to you, but it will not be because you are stressed out and cannot eat.”

“That’s great, but finding a job is still at the top of my list,” Callie sighed.

“You have one if you will take it,” Mark said. “I need a hostess to work this holiday season. I will even give you a room at the lodge, so you have a place to clean up and rest if the weather turns and you can’t get down the mountain. You can start on Monday. How does that sound?”

“It sounds great, but what happens when the holidays are over?” Callie asked.

“My regular hostess announced this afternoon that she is expecting her first child. She wants to stay home with the baby for at least the first year and possibly two. She emailed me her letter of resignation, which will be effective on the first of January. I know you want to start teaching at the first of the new school year, but you would be a hostess for years to come if you want to do that.”

“Yes! I know I said I didn’t want you to give me a job, but that is perfect. Thank you!” Callie exclaimed as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“Good, because I’m not giving you the job,” Mark chuckled as he returned her hug and released her. “I am hiring you because I know you will be great at it and need the help. Maggie has been with me for three years. She can train you until she leaves.”

“Let’s sit down. I have so many questions I need answered to be ready for Monday. Do I wear a uniform, or do I wear dressy clothes?” Callie asked as she grabbed Mark’s hand and tugged him over to the sofa.

“You do not have a uniform. You will need to wear dressier things, but something like a nice sweater with slacks or a skirt and low heels is fine unless there is a holiday party or private celebration of some kind. Then you should match the formality of the celebration,” Mark explained.

“Oh,” Callie said, a little deflated. “I was almost hoping there was a uniform. I don’t have anything that fits that description. I will have to go shopping before I can go to work.”

“I will help with that. I will give you a clothing allowance to start out with. I will also go with you to guide you on what you might need. How does that sound?” Mark asked.

“Good. I think. I can’t help but feel guilty about it,” Callie admitted as she picked up the remote and turned on the television.

“Don’t feel guilty. If it will make you feel better, I will take a little out of your paycheck each month,” Mark chuckled, teasing her as he put his arm around Callie’s shoulders.

To Mark’s surprise, Callie laughed as she leaned into him. She found a movie, and within minutes of turning it on, she was sound asleep, leaning heavily on Mark. He smiled as he looked down at Callie. He reached up and pulled the blanket on the back of the sofa down to cover Callie. He settled in and tried to get comfortable. The only way for him to leave was to wake Callie, and that was the last thing he was going to do. That meant he would be sleeping on Callie’s sofa with her.