Gifted a Second Chance at Life

Chapter 10

Warmth surrounded Callie as she began to wake up. She did not want to wake up. The house was silent except for the television softly playing in the background. Maya was still sleeping, meaning Callie could rest longer even if she did not sleep more.

Callie sighed as she changed her position. When she did, she felt movement beside her. Callie’s eyes shot open as she bolted up and jumped to the opposite end of the couch. Mark was yawning and rubbing his eyes as he straightened where he sat. That was when Callie’s sleepy brain understood she was warm because she was lying on Mark, who had spent the night.

“What are you still doing here?” Callie asked.

Mark gave her a crooked grin and said, “You don’t remember? You accepted the job offer I made you, and then we sat down to watch a movie for a little while. You were out cold in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, you were leaning on me, so if I had tried to leave, I would have woken you. I didn’t want to do that, so I stayed on the sofa so you could sleep.”

“Oh, Mark. I am so sorry,” Callie said, shaking her head. “You should have woke me up. Your back must be killing you from sleeping like that all night.”

“Actually, my back feels pretty good,” Mark said as he straightened and sat up. He sneered as he moved his legs and repeatedly worked one of his knees. “But my knee has felt better. That’s what I get for wiping out on the slopes so many times.”

“Do you need something? I think I have an ice pack in the freezer,” Callie offered.

“Thanks, Callie, but I’m fine. My knee is always a little stiff in the morning or when I sit at my desk for too long. It will be good after I move around a little,” Mark said with a smile. “Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t I take you and Maya out to breakfast?”

Callie grinned, “I have a better idea. Why don’t you come over to Mom and Dad’s and have breakfast with us? It will give us a chance to discuss what I need to add to my wardrobe. You can also talk to Mom and Maya about what should be added to the kids’ menu for the lodge.”

“Hmmm… I don’t know. What if I don’t like your mother’s cooking?” Mark asked as he tried not to laugh. He had eaten at their house nearly as often as he had eaten at the ski lodge.

Callie laughed, “Then I would say that you need to move to Hollywood and become an actor because you fooled all of us over the years. I have watched you have seconds and even thirds more times than I can count.”

“That is because your mom is even better in the kitchen than Claire. Rosemary might not make the fancy-schmancy stuff, but what she makes is wholesome and delicious,” Mark grinned. “That’s why I asked if she wanted to help with the lodge menu. Your mom is enjoying her retirement to a point, but it also bothers her to be idle, especially when the weather is bad.” Mark looked around the empty room as if someone might hear him before he leaned toward Callie and said, “Between you and me, your Mom’s new hobby is baking and making fried donuts. If we don’t find something else for her to do, and soon, I will be so big I won’t be able to fit through the door. I have already had to buy new pants…twice.”

Callie snorted before she burst out laughing. Mark had always had a sweet tooth. She was not surprised that Mark had gained weight from imbibing in her mother’s confections.

“Mommy?” Maya asked as she came padding out of the bedroom, rubbing her eyes. She crawled onto Callie’s lap and kissed her cheek as Callie brushed the girl’s unruly hair away from her face.

Mark smiled when he saw Maya’s purple pajamas were covered with pink kittens. That solidified that he would work on Callie when it came to Maya having a kitten of her own. He had joked about one for Valentine’s Day, but now that seemed like a good goal.

“Mommy, why is Mark here this early?” Maya asked as she turned to look at the man.

“Mark is still here because last night we were talking about my new job at the lodge, and I fell asleep leaning on him. Mark is so nice that he did not want to wake me up, so he sat there all night to let me sleep,” Callie said as she smiled at Mark. “Wasn’t that nice of him?”

“Mm-hm,” Maya nodded. “I’m hungry. Can we eat with Grandma and Grandpa?”

“We sure can, and I am trying to talk Mark into joining us. That way, we can all talk about my new job and what you think the restaurant at the lodge should add. Sound good?” Callie chirped.

Maya nodded, “Yeah. Can we go now?”

“Let me text your grandma to make sure they are awake and ready for us to come over. OK?” Callie asked as she picked up her phone. She sighed when she saw she had not plugged it in to charge, and the battery was nearly dead. “If my phone holds out to do it.”

“If not, you can use mine,” Mark said as he pulled his phone from his pocket and saw the battery had died. “Or not. Mine is completely dead.”

“That’s OK. I’ve got it,” Callie said as she sent the text to her mom. The reply was almost instantaneous. “She has a fresh pot of coffee ready for us, and we can charge our phones in the kitchen while we help her make breakfast.”

“This is why I have your mother down as my emergency contact. She has always taken care of everyone and always will,” Mark said as he stood. His knee popped and cracked as he did, making him wince.

Callie frowned at him as he retrieved the coat from the hooks beside the door and said, “You might want to get that knee looked at.”

“Sadly, I have,” Mark said as he took the coats to the sofa. “I have hurt it so many times that my doctor said the only thing left to do is replace it. I don’t want to do that at my age, so I am trying to tough it out as long as possible.”

“If it hurts that much, maybe you should think about it,” Callie said as she put Maya’s coat on her and pulled up her socks before putting on her own.

“OK. I will think about it,” Mark said, scooping Maya into his arms and tickling her. “But first we eat. I can’t think when I’m hungry.”

“Fine,” Callie giggled as Maya laughed and hugged Mark. “We can eat before we do any serious thinking.”