When The Rain Falls

CHAPTER 9

He had stared at the paperwork the entire time time they were gone. Arya was simple in the packet of legalese he had read through. Lucky for him, his law degree made him understand his decree, and understand better than most what exactly was requested on in her most recent divorce endeavor.

And it was nothing.

No money except a small stipend of £15,000.00 to put towards her legal fees.

No contact with the children was required, unless she specifically requested, and it was accommodating to his schedule.

No sale of the home, and she would sign over all legalities and any rights to it.

Nothing further needed.

Nothing further wanted.

Nothing at all.

He had looked it over, trying to figure out what he wanted. He still had a small fortune from his law days, so the fifteen thousand was easily handled. However, he wasn't sure he wanted to end it. After his children had suddenly come home from Italy, and their fight happened, he wondered if he should attempt to convince her for another chance to make things right. Children needed their mother. A husband needed his wife.

But then Amelia moved in. And the children were cared for as if by a best friend, and his head felt completely out of space.

Then Ainsley called him. Then Ainsley spoke to him. Then Ainsley showed him one of the most beautiful sights a man could ever have seen.

And he signed, printed, and initialed every damn line as soon as he saw her in that damn dress.

Now, to fix the mess he made.

He mailed the check and paperwork to his solicitor, went home, and waited. They needed to talk. They needed to spend all night, every waking second, hashing out their anger, rage, mistrust, and how exactly to move on. Even if it meant letting bygones be bygones and forging a new, but brittle, friendship. He could build on that.

He waited in his sitting room for her and the kids. When her keys hit the door, he stood up, brushing his pants off and smoothing his shirt. He took a few steps towards the door, then stopped. Feeling ridiculous, he instead waited for them to run in, his daughters immediately heading into his arms. Amelia gave him a curt nod and headed to her room, climbing the stairs all too quickly. He waited for her to come back, busying himself with the girls shopping.

When Amelia showed up again, she immediately ran to the kitchen and began to busy herself with making dinner for them. While Fiona modeled a bright pink and purple dress complete with unicorn horn headband, Ainsley pulled out her own assortment of clothing, holding it to herself.

Callen laughed. "Yours looks lovely Ainsley. However, you couldn't get Fiona to wear something a bit more elegant?"

"You don't like it?" Fiona asked, her small bottom lip trembling. Callen picked her up and laughed.

"No, my darling, I don't like it. I love it. It's perfect." He kissed her cheek and handed her to Ainsley. "Put your things in your rooms girls."

They scrambled off and left him, and he walked towards the kitchen. Amelia was humming to herself, chopping vegetables and sautéing beef in a pan. Callen gazed at her, listening to her low-tone song, before she stuck a large pot on the range and turned it on. "I'm starting the stew, let it simmer for an hour. I'll set a timer." She said without turning to look at him.

Callen, startled, blinked. "You knew I was here?"

"Yes." She began chopping potatoes, and dumping them in the water.

"Oh." He cleared his throat, then it dawned on him. "Wait, aren't you eating with us?"

Amelia poured some weird spice she had him get for her into the pot, and stirred it again. "No, not tonight."

"You're not going to eat in the bathroom or something are you?" Callen asked.

She stopped stirring the pot, and placed a lid on it. Turning around, she gave him a blank stare. "I'm going out with Kenny tonight. You gave me the weekend off. Remember?"

He felt his blood run cold. "What? I was hoping we could talk tonight."

"About?"

"Anything really." Callen shrugged, and leaned against the wall. "Think we should discuss what's going on between us, for starters."

She gave him a slow blink, then turned and dumped the meat she cooked into the pot as well. "Okay. What's going on between us, Callen?"

"Well for one, I believe that you're seeing me in a light you shouldn't." When she raised an eyebrow in confusion, he struggled with an explanation. "I believe you're seeing our dynamic as something different than it should be."

"Really?" She folded her arms and looked at him. "Okay. I'll stop."

"Wait, what?"

"I said I'd stop." Amelia shrugged.

Callen stared at her. "Why do I get the sense this isn't as easy as you're making it, Amelia?"

"Because it's not," Amelia said simply. "Because I saw you as one of my closest friends. You see me as an employee. So I'm seeing you as my boss now."

"Amelia," he started. "That's the thing, I-"

"It's fine Callen," Amelia replied. "It's fine. We're fine. I have to get ready. Set a timer for an hour please."

She walked past him, and he stood there, flabbergasted. No chance to explain. No moment for him to be able to remotely speak. She brushed him off and walked away, answering the questions he didn't ask.

She came into his life like a tornado turned into a whirlwind, turned into a hurricane, and she didn't care to fathom what it did to him.

And she said it was fine.

And it made him angry.

Things were definitely not fine.

"Hey!" He snapped at her. She was halfway up the stairs when she stopped and turned around, startled. "If you need to get ready now, then by God go do so. But you're not going anywhere until you hear what I have to say, Amelia."

"Excuse me?" Amelia replied, glaring at him. Slowly she stepped down. "Why are you speaking to me like-"

"I'll speak to you any goddamn f*****g way I please, Amelia." Callen barked at her. "You're standing there, gap-mouthed like an eejit, acting as if nothing is wrong. Everything is wrong, Amelia. Everything!"

Her fingers gripped the banister, and she shook with rage. "The hell is your problem, Callen?"

"You! You are my f*****g problem!" Callen shouted. "I didn't say you could go out and about tonight. I said you could have the night off. That doesn't equate to hopping on my friend's lap!"

Amelia was stunned at his accusation. She took a deep breath to calm herself before responding. "I haven't 'hopped on his lap' Callen. What the Hell is wrong with you?"

"Nothing is wrong with me!" He shouted. "You're seriously going to go out with a perfect f*****g stranger. A stranger, Amelia. You've barely known the man a week and now you're dating?"

"Callen, you're being a jerk." Amelia snapped back at him. "I'm going out on a date, not marrying him! What the hell is going on with you?"

Callen turned away from her. He felt a headache brewing, burning inside his head. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he snarled. "The problem is you're going to an engagement party of my soon-to-be ex-wife, with our mutual friend, and leaving me and the kids f****d, Amelia." He turned back to her, eyes blazing. "What if I needed you to take care of the girls that night? You didn't bother asking me."

"Because they were going with you anyway!" She shouted at him. "Do you want me to cancel with Kenny and watch the kids? I can do that, Callen. You don't need to be such an asshole!"

"Asshole? Me?" He scoffed, rolling his eyes. "f**k off, Amelia, you don't know a goddamn thing."

"f**k off? Are you serious right now?" Amelia groaned and rolled her eyes. "I don't know what the hell your problem is, Callen-"

"You. You are my problem."

"And how? What did I do?" She folded her arms over her ribs. "Please, f*****g enlighten me."

"You're the one pulling away from me Amelia." He waved his hands and ran them through his hair. "Calling me Boss, ignoring me when I try to speak with you. You don't talk to me about anything-"

"We talk about the kids!" Amelia shouted, interrupting his rant. "What do we need to talk about?"

"We were becoming friends, Amelia! What happened?!"

She took a breath before speaking, barely above a whimper. "You kissed me. And it meant something."

"Why the living blazes would you believe that meant something?"

"Because it was different!" Amelia shouted in a whisper. "Different than at the apartment! And before you say anything, at the apartment you didn't want to do anything but have s*x. But it was different in your room, Callen. You were different. You looked at me, you saw me, you knew it was me in your arms. I wasn't just a replacement-"

"Oh, I see. You have yet to get it in your head," he approached her, and came face to face with her, his lips snarling. "That when I kissed you, it was a f*****g mistake. It was the stupidest thing I could have done. I was vulnerable. I was hurt. I was looking for someone to take the pain away. Your gran could have walked through that door and the same s**t would have happened. Amelia, you're young. Your ideals of what a man wants are preposterous. You need to understand that just as if I had rutted you from corner to corner of that blasted apartment, it would have meant nothing. You were an available balm to a wound that healed on its own. It was nothing, Amelia. Nothing."

He spat the last word so hard at her she inched. "So," she whispered. "What you're saying, is that when you kissed me, it meant absolutely nothing to you."

"What I'm saying," he growled. "Is you mean absolutely nothing to me. I cannot stress that enough to you. You are my children's caretaker. You are my employee. And that is what you will remain until further notice. "

Her body and posture went rigid like stone. It was her face that nearly broke him. Those plump lips separated, and words hung on her tongue that remained unsaid. Honey-colored eyes moistened, and her cheeks paled. It hurt him like Hell to see her like that, but he couldn't pull back the words he said.

It's for the best, he wanted to tell her.

It's for the best.

You don't want me the way I am.

You don't want me.

I'm not good enough for you.

Yet.

Why was he even thinking that?

"I see." She said stiffly, those damn lips finally forming words. "I'm going to get ready now."

Callen turned away, staring into the living room. He couldn't take this anymore. Couldn't see her face every morning, couldn't see her with Kenny. Couldn't watch her leave. He couldn't. "I will take a leave for the next couple weeks 'til the girl's gran comes home. You... you're not needed anymore. I'll pay you in advance another four weeks."

"Callen-"

"Just be out in a week. At the most."

"Okay." Her voice became a whisper. "Did you want to take the dress back?"

He shook his head. "I don't care."

A slight pause before she spoke again. "About the dress? Or me?"

He didn't respond, which told her more than any words. When he turned around, she had already silently climbed the stairs, and closed her door.

It's for the best, he thought to himself. It's for the best.

-----

She didn't leave home for another hour. He was busy in the kitchen when she did, and turned to only catch a glimpse of what she was wearing, but it still made his blood boil. A black leather skirt that hugged her hips and flared on her thighs. A red blouse that was low cut and looked like a second skin. Calf length boots and bare legs. Make-up done. Hair done. No glasses. His disdain for her outfit showed, and when she looked at him, he saw the pain in her eyes until she hardened her look, kissed the girls, and left with not a word to him.

After the girls were fed and put to bed, he sat down in his sitting room, staring at a movie that had come on. Feeling frustrated, he stood up and walked to the office and opened a bench. Pulling out an empty decanter, he uncorked it and headed towards a hutch that was stocked fully with different sorts of scotches, whiskies, and cognacs. Pulling down a small bottle of scotch that was higher in potency than he remembered, he grabbed a glass and a bucket, before walking to the kitchen and jamming both full of ice.

Sitting back down in his chair, he stared down the hall as he sipped.

All he had to do was tell her.

The dress she wore in the camera looked so beautiful only because it was on her.

That her coy smile that happened when she didn't know he was watching was only because it was her smiling.

That her laugh when swinging the damn skirt around was beautiful only because it came from her.

That the thought of her with Kenny, his most lecherous friend, boiled his blood passed the caring point.

That the way she touched his heart and his children's lives, pushed the pen in his hand to sign a check, and send in the divorce decree.

Fuck, he thought to himself as he poured himself another drink. f**k.

He was in trouble. He felt as if he was going overboard and never hitting the water. It was a feeling he had since the day he laid eyes on her, and shoved it down, hard.

And there was no saving him from falling this time.

----

Kenny was dressed in comfortable clothes, outside of his officer's uniform he looked just like a young man out enjoying himself. When Amelia arrived from Callens at the front door, he leered at her, his face suggestive,and she laughed it off. He made small talk with her, placing his hand on her knee when she sat in his passenger seat. When she carefully moved her leg to remove his hand, he pouted jokingly.

"Aw, not the touchy feely type, ay?" He asked, pulling into the restaurant. It was an unusual place, hipster tones with a slight modern atmosphere. It was nothing like she would have chosen, but if things went right they could both pick a place enjoyable for both of them at a later date.

Amelia smiled at him, wine-colored lips curving. "You're silly. I'm just nervous is all."

"Nothing to be nervous about. Come on now, let's go ahead and get on." Kenny stepped out of the car, and Amelia followed. He led the way up a small ramp into the restaurant, where a young woman in dreadlocks glanced their way. With barely any acknowledgement, she grabbed two menus and c****d a finger to have them follow her. Kenny grabbed Amelia's hand and led her with him, to a small two-seater booth.

Amelia sat down and took a menu from the hostess as Kenny did as well. She pulled out a pencil and a pad of paper, and stared at them both expectantly.

"Can we have separate checks?" Amelia asked the girl. With a quiet nod, she continued to write on her pad as they ordered. After ordering drinks, the girl left the table and Kenny looked at Amelia with a white-toothed grin.

"So, you know Callen through Jules, ah?" He asked.

"Ah, yep. He asked me to help with the kids until his mom gets back," Amelia said.

"She will get back soon, I believe?" Kenny's brows furrowed. "In a week?"

"In two, actually. But since Callen has the next few weeks off, I'm not required anymore." Amelia smiled. "No lie, it sucks, because I love the kids."

Kenny frowned. "Strange, to be honest. I thought he was going to keep you?"

She blinked. "What? Why?"

Kenny shrugged as the server brought them their drinks. They both ordered quickly, before Kenny resumed his conversation. "He was talking about possibly making you permanent at his home. At least when we drove around, that's what he said. The kids loved you, and you were bringing Fiona out of her hard shell there."

"That was a tough one." Amelia sighed. "She doesn't seem to trust women."

"Ay, well, look at her staples. Her fuddy duddy gran and absentee mum. She doesn't like younger ladies, like you." He took a large gulp of his drink.

Amelia nodded. "That's true. How did you meet Callen and Arya, by the way? I know you've been friends for a minute."

Kenny looked away, a blush creeping to his face. "I, ah, was with Arya for a hot second. She neglected to mention to me that she was also with Callen at the same time. Thankfully, we settled it like gentlemen. The man has a real mean right hook, because you needed that information."

She choked on her drink. "You dated Arya? While she was with Callen?"

"Early stages. Please don't judge us." Kenny held up his hands, and shook his head. "Callen was in school constantly, and working full time. She played it off as loneliness. Arya is from money, and she was expecting more time in with her boyfriend during their formative years. She's not used ta workin' for a living, with Mum and Da pressuring her to be pretty versus useful."

Amelia looked down at her drink, and swirled her straw through the dark liquid. "That's sad, really. For her, I mean. He never really spoke about it. If it was all she knew, that makes sense as to why she left. Ainsley seems okay. Fiona is barely opening up now."

"Ay, which is why I said I was surprised Callen didn't ask you to stay. That's all he was talking about for a while."

"We're not exactly seeing eye to eye right now. Besides, he can't afford to keep me on forever, you know."

To her surprise, Kenny laughed. "You're kidding, right?"

"Well, he's only been a cop for a few years," Amelia replied. "Not a lot of time in you know."

"Amelia," Kenny said, his voice low. "How much does the man pay you? If you don't mind me asking,"

She shrugged. "I don't care. Free room and board plus six hundred a week."

Kenny shook his head. "Yea, you don't know. The man used to be a lawyer. Acquisitions."

Amelia nodded. "I knew. that He told me."

"Ay but he didn't tell you the whole truth." Kenny took a sip from his drink. "He still gets some residuals from his closed cases. He also does consulting sometimes and his percentage of any case he consults on would pay your wages for a year."

She cringed, remembering the cost of the dress. Her guilt multiplied, especially after discovering the money wasn't an issue. Now she wondered if he felt she did know, and was taking advantage when she didn't, when all she wanted was....

....was what?

Kenny kept speaking, and Amelia listened intently. "Callen is well loved because he's quick, fast, easy to work with, and takes a small percentage of the deal instead of astronomical fees to be paid up front. He does one or two a month, but hasn't now that he's training me. But he did four the month before you showed up, when his mum was down. And you see Callen isn't spendy."

Amelia nodded. "So if that's the case, why hasn't the divorce happened yet?"

"It hasn't happened because Callen can't let Arya go." The server brought over their food and Kenny began eating, taking a bite before continuing. "Arya is far from his first love. Far from his true love. But she is the woman he married, and had children with. I'll spare the details of his family life. He doesn't want his kids to grow up like him."

"He told me his home life wasn't great." Amelia said, a wisp of sadness in her voice.

"I know some, but not all. I've known Callen and Arya for ten years. They're both older than me by a good half decade, but we've gotten close, regardless of what happened between Arya and I." Kenny swallowed another bite. "His father is trash, Amelia. A bad man. Took off when Callen was a kid. Didn't show up again until he saw our friend driving something large, expensive, and imported. Didn't go over well, not at all."

Amelia had to bite her tongue to avoid questioning that remark. Kenny seemed talkative, but instead she swayed the topic elsewhere. If Callen had wanted her to know what had happened between him and his father, he could tell her himself. If he spoke to her again after tonight.

They ate dinner with idle chatter, until they were finished. Kenny offered to pay, but Amelia declined, instead obtaining her own check. Her mind was running wild with this new information and she felt somewhat overwhelmed.

Callen wasn't the man she thought he was. He was much much more. A man of pieces littered all over and who was just as broken as she was.

-----

"So, how about you Amelia?" Kenny's hand was on her knee again, except this time he had pushed her skirt away and was caressing her bare skin. And it made it crawl.

His advances had become more and more distracting and not in a good way. He was kind. He was nice. He was good looking. He was also extremely drunk. She was slowly seeing the charismatic persona turn into a skeevy one, and she didn't like it.

"Hmm, what about me?" She asked, gently nudging his hand off her leg.

"You, your story. You're from New York, I can tell." He gave her a grin, and she swore she saw sharpened fangs. "Why would you leave that glory to come here?"

"Eh, change of scenery. Change of pace." She cleared her throat. "That seems to be everyone's favorite question."

"Makes sense. Figured it was a thing like that." His hand was on her thigh now. But thankfully her skirt wasn't made to hike up this time.

When they made it to the theater, Amelia quickly jumped out of the car. She made headway buying the tickets when Kenny gently pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind. His fingers slipped under her shirt and played with the top of her breast, stroking the skin softly.

The sudden intimate contact made her freeze, and she only reacted when his hand dipped lower under the fabric and cupped her breast in full. Amelia pulled away suddenly and turned to him, eyes blazing. "Kenny, what the Hell?!"

Kenny sputtered, holding his hands up. "Amelia, I'm sorry, I thought I read you correctly?"

"Read me? How?" She snapped. Advancing towards him, she gave him a hard shove. "What did I do to warrant that?"

"I'm sorry Amelia, please." He reached for her hand and pulled her towards him. "Look, let's just go to the movie.

"Keep your f*****g hands to yourself Kenny." She snapped at him. He held his hands up and nodded, and she turned to go into the theater.

"I didn't mean harm Amelia." He told her. "I just thought we had something going, is all."

"It's fine." It wasn't. "Let's just get to our seats. Okay?"

Kenny nodded and let her lead the way. Inwardly she groaned. With the way the day started, she should have known that this wasn't going to end well.

And she was right. Within the hour she had stomped out of the theater, her clothing torn, her hair pulled, and her demeanor soured. Kenny followed her, and attempted to grab her shoulder but instead only got a handful of her red blouse. When her fist connected to his jaw, the swearing commenced, and she blissfully ignored it, walking off until a bystander grabbed Kenny and threw him away from her. The man was bigger than him, and stronger, and he stood between them.

A woman came up to her and grasped her hands, and brushed her hair out of her face. "Lovey, are you alright?" She asked her. "Do you need a lift home?"

Amelia shook her head. "No. I can get a cab. I just don't want him near me."

The woman nodded, and pulled out her phone, calling a local taxi company. After she hung up, she looked at Amelia and smiled. "My husband is taking care of the louse that was with you. I've got a cabbie coming now. I'll wait with you."

When the cab came, the woman ran to the driver first. A brief explanation to the driver, Amelia saw him glance her way and give a nod. She ran back to Amelia and took her hand, leading her to the car.

"He's a friend of ours. Jimmy," She said. "Your ride is free. Get home lovey."

Amelia started to cry. The woman hugged her tightly and opened the door, gently ushering her inside. "Take care of yourself lovey. Just go home."

As Amelia entered the cab, the door closed softly behind her, she remembered that she didn't have a home anymore.

Just a room, in a house, she was no longer welcome in.

That hurt worse than the entire evening itself.