Broken Piece

Next Piece

Callie had never seen the butcher shop so busy. It was midday when she entered the shop to visit Aiken, but he was swarmed by customers at the counter. He caught sight of her right away, as if he had felt her come in, and gave her a big smile and a small wave.

She returned the gesture with a smile and wave of her own. She made her way over to a table and took a seat as she waited. It was twenty minutes later when the last customer left through the doors. Aiken disappeared into the back after a quick look, more than likely so he could wash his hands. He returned a minute later.

"Callie, you made it."

Callie smiled at the man as he sat beside her. "Yeah, of course, I'm not the exactly the busiest person. I don't have to make dinner until later." She looked around at the now empty store. "I obviously came about twenty minutes too early."

He shook his head. "Nah, we always get an odd rush once a week. Its unexplainable. We go from about seven customers a day most days, but triple that one hour a random day of the week."

"A true mystery," Callie smiled. She frowned a second later. "Sorry abut not coming around last week, my husband was home and he seemed to want my attention for every little thing." She sighed as she thought of Davison. He was still watching her.

Aiken looked away at the mention of her husband, a little sardonic smile on his face. "I would want all of your attention if you were my wife too." He leaned back in his chair. "I can't blame the guy."

Callie smiled awkwardly. "You don't know my husband." She mumbled.

Aiken's face went a little uncertain. "Are you alright...with him, I mean?"

Callie breathed in. She had spoken with Aiken about her marriage without really going into detail about much. He mostly knew that there were some issues and she wasn't really happy. He never pushed for details most of the time, but he did listen, and she appreciated that. Especially when she had sobbed on the phone for thirty minutes and he had stayed on the other line the whole time.

"He's being nice..."

Aiken raised an eyebrow. "Is he normally not nice?" he questioned.

Callie didn't answer at first, but his imploring gaze had her speaking. "No, he's not nice."

He seemed surprised by her answer or maybe just her honesty. She usually squirted and danced around answering him when he had questioned about her husband or her marriage. "I'm going to ask you this, Callie, and please don't take it the wrong way." He said after a minute. "Does he put his hands on you?" Callie just sat there, and her silence seemed to be answer enough. Aiken sat up straighter in his chair and tried to get her to meet his eyes. "Callie..."

"He hasn't hit me!" She blurted.

Aiken squinted. "That doesn't sound like he hasn't put his hands you, Callie!" He was clearly worked up about this. His whole body shook as his leg moved underneath the table. Callie would not meet his eyes. "I...I don't get it, Cals, I really don't. I mean, you admitted you didn't get married for love. You're the one that told me it was more of a business agreement, then why put up with it? I don't understand you rich people and getting married because it'll make you richer or look better, but... is whatever you're getting really worth it?"

Callie was oddly stricken by his question, in a way with all of her thinking and self-reflection, she shouldn't have been. Maybe the question just had to be voiced a loud? But was it worth it?

Of course not. She wasn't even getting anything out of it. She had agreed with it because of her father's threat and maybe a small part of her even wanted to do this for her father. Show him she wasn't as useless as he thought.

But it wasn't worth it. She was married to a man who tormented her, hated her, and abused her. She felt nothing for him, except a sick sort of attraction she hated herself for. She would admit that. He kissed her like she had never been kissed before and he was clearly a very handsome man.

It wasn't worth it.

She didn't know what would happen if she left Davison, but she could pretty much guess what would happen if she stayed. These were things she had to think about.

"He hates me," she found herself continuing to talk, "he truly hates me."

"I don't see how anyone in their right mind could hate you, Callie." Aiken said, making her smile slightly.

"Well, he blames me for something I didn't do... He was my mother's son, you know?"

Aiken's body went completely still. "Wait...what?"

The look on his face made her laugh freely. "No blood relation, Ken. My mom, Suzanne, was my dad's wife. She never even formally adopted me. He was a child she had from a previous marriage."

Aiken let out a breath. "Oh..." He shot her a smile understand there wasn't any sort of incest going on.

"Suzanne raised me though, I don't remember a time before her."

"Still, isn't it weird to marry someone if you were raised as siblings?" He asked.

"We weren't," she clarified. "I met Davison one time before the day I found out we were getting married. He lived with his dad and never came to visit his mom." She let out a shaky breath. "He thinks I'm the reason our mom died. He thinks I'm the reason she ran blindly out of a charity event and was struck by a car, but that's not how it happened. I...I..." Tears sprang to her eyes as she thought of that night.

Aiken's expression was somber. "And you've tried explaining this too him? Not that even if it was that it would be good enough reason to make you suffer in this way!"

"He won't even listen," she shrugged with carelessness she didn't feel. "I even think that at this point he doesn't even care if it was my fault or not. He just hates me." She thought about the blow up that happened when she tried to explain things to Davison.

"You need to leave." Aiken's words didn't sound like a suggestion. "If you don't have any other places to go, my place is small but its open."

Callie had to force a smile only a little. "Thank you, Aiken." She looked at the time of her phone. It was time to return and although she dreaded it, she did her best thinking while cooking. "I better go, Aiken." He looked like he was about to argue. "I'm going to think about, okay?" She forced a smile and stood.

He stood with her. He looked unhappy but reached out to her for a hug. Callie didn't hesitate to accept it, this not being the first time she and Aiken had hugged. She didn't think about it too much considering Aiken seemed to be a hugger, she had even seen him hug long time customers after a warm conversation a time or two.

It was nice and warm, she liked hugging Aiken. "Call or text me when you get home and settled, whichever one is better for you." He whispered as he squeezed her tighter. Another reason she liked Aiken's hugs was because she doesn't think she's had a real, honest one since her mom died.

The sound of the door bell chiming caught both of their attentions. Callie looked over to see an unfamiliar older man and quickly pulled away from Aiken, embarrassed. Aiken laughed at her, making her roll her eyes at him.

"See you, Aiken." She waved before heading towards the door.

"How may I help you today, Mr. Cane?" Aiken said just as she passed the man.

The name had made her pause only a second before she shook her head and continued out of the shop.

This conversation gave her things to think about.

(BP)

Anna scared her when she popped up when she returned home. Underground parking garages had always creeped her out and was always a little flighty when walking thru one alone.

"Damn it, Anna!" She cursed out of shock.

"I didn't know you could curse, Cals." Anna admitted. "I thought for sure you heard me coming." She motioned down to the long, thin heeled heels she was wearing. "You didn't hear me face plant a little while ago?" She joked.

"No, I did not," Callie was not amused, her skin still buzzed with fright. She eyed the red head. "Are you hear to help me cook dinner?" She questioned, considering she always helped 'eat' it.

"You joke too much, Callie!" She waved her hand in the air. "I came to see if you wanted to go with, to visit Peter and your husband at work."

With all of the thinking she had to do, the last things she wanted to do was see Davison before she had too. She was curious though. "Why are you going to visit them at work?"

"You know...no reason..." Anna lied horribly.

Callie rolled her eyes. "Then no," she started walking towards the elevators. Anna quickly caught up.

"You're more assertive lately, Cals." Anna smiled. "And frankly its hella attractive." Callie started to smile at this but decided not to. "But I'll be honest with you, " she continued, "we need to show people you're his wife."

Callie stopped and looked at the older woman in bewilderment. "What?"

Anna pressed her pink painted lips together. "You've never been to the office, right?" Callie shrugged. "Well, I'm just saying there are dozens of thirsty bitches who work for them and are under the mistaken notion that they both are single!" Anna seemed really passionate about this. Callie wondered what Anna did all day besides come up with schemes. "What we're going to do is, buy you a nice little dress from my favorite boutique on our way. Sacrifice the frumpy mom jeans and show you off as Davison's bad ass wife. Show them they don't stand a chance so stop even trying!"

Callie had noticed that recently, Anna trying to... She didn't even know how to describe it. Fix her marriage?

"No, everyone knows Davison is married. If they don't respect that now, they're not going to respect that just because I show my face." She started walking again. "Besides, Davison can do whatever he wants."

"Callie, seriously!" Anna's voice made her stop and turn around. She frowned at the red head. "I'm trying to help here!"

"I know," Callie said with a nod. "But its unnecessary. What's going on between Davison and I cannot be fixed."

"Please..." Anna suddenly cried.

Callie frowned. "Why is this so important to you?"

Anna sighed. "Because I think you're good for him." She said. "I think you're the last connection to his mother he has, and I think that's important to him. He needs and has always needed his mother and since she's gone, you're the only one that could give him that."

Callie actually scoffed. "I am not going to be his mother." He would have to deal with his mommy issues on his own.

"That's not what I meant." Anna laughed. "That would be sick as hell." She sobered up a second later. "I ju-"

"I'll go with you, but only so you can see for yourself. There is no helping 'this'. Watch Davison carefully, you'll see." Callie finally said, sick of the conversation. She realized the reason she had stuck around for so long was because she thought it wouldn't always be the way it was. But she knew Davison now, and she knew there was no changing him.

(BP)

"We brought chicken," Callie said as soon as she saw Peter. It sort of lucked out that way, as soon as she walked through the front doors she spotted Peter talking to the security guard in the lobby.

He looked surprised to see her, because it was just her, because Anna was still parking the car. He said a few more words to the guard before he made his way over, a smile spreading across his face. "Mrs. Cane, what do I owe the pleasure? You look beautiful as well. Davison didn't say anything about a visit."

"That's because he doesn't know," she handed him the store bought box of chicken when he reached for it, "this is Anna's idea."

"Of course, where is poison Ivy?" He snorted. They both looked up when they heard Anna's loud heels clicking against the tiles.

"This is great, now we don't have to harass the guard to let us up." She said as greeting.

"What do we owe the visit?" Peter asked, moving the chicken box from one hand to the other. "I heard it was your idea so I assume it wasn't the kindness in your heart wanting to bring your best friends chicken."

"And why couldn't that be true? You know what? Never mind," she nudged Callie, "we came to see the company you guys have been working so hard on. Is that so wrong?"

Peter checked his watch. "You better be glad I don't have time for your shenanigans, Na. Let's go see if Davison is free." He said a bit gleefully as he began leading them towards the card gate. He ran his badge over sensor before heading towards the glass elevators.

Callie looked at her reflection in the glass doors. Anna had gotten her into a small green dress that stopped just above her knees. She liked it and despite her trepidation about seeing Davison, she wouldn't allow him to say otherwise.

They stopped at the floor just before the top and followed Peter off. There were only a few people on the floor who literally stopped and stared at them. Peter didn't seem to notice, Anna strutted harder, and Callie nearly outpaced Peter not even knowing where she was going.

They found Davison in a large office with glass walls and open curtains. They could see him sitting at his desk, sleeves rolled up, glasses shielding his eyes, actually doing work. Callie wasn't sure what she expected to find him doing, maybe his assistant? That had happened a couple of times when her mom had gone to visit her dad.

Peter knocked on the open door. "Guess who's here," he sang.

Davison looked up, annoyed, but the expression turned into confusion a second later upon seeing her. "Callie..."

That was indeed her name, she couldn't understand why he was saying it.

"They brought chicken," Peter looked at his watch again, "I'll leave them here. I have that meeting to get too."

He moved forward and sat the greasy box of chicken on a stack of papers sitting neatly on Davison's desk, much to his clear annoyance. The darker haired man didn't stick around to be yelled at and with a wave he was gone.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, not really looking at either of them.

"We brought chicken." Anna said like he had asked a stupid question. "Where is your breakroom? You have plates there right? I think we passed one on our way here..." She winked at Callie before leaving.

"Seems like she's up to something," Davison said to no one in particular seemingly. He looked at her after avoiding it for nearly a full minute. "You look nice... Anna dressed you I take it." Callie was disturbed. Did he just compliment her? He laughed at the distrustful expression on her face. "It's a compliment not a weapon, Cals."

"I've learned so called compliments can be just as sharp." She said with a breath. "I didn't want to come here. So, don't be angry at me."

"Why would I be angry?" He took his glasses off and blinked at her.

She was struck and oddly disgusted with how handsome he was. Or maybe it was his words that disgusted her. "Seriously?"

He worked his jaw and his gaze flickered away from her. His eyes narrowed in thought briefly before he turned back to her. "Look, Callie I need to ask you something and you need to be ho-"

Anna entering the room with paper plates cut him off. He didn't seem like he wanted to have the conversation in her presence either, and that had Callie curious.

Their eyes met as Anna started to talk about one thing or another.

(BP)

Callie returned home alone, her mind still on her conversation with Aiken and whatever Davison had to say.

She had gone to take a shower and was getting ready for bed when she heard the front door slam shut. Her hand stilled where she was brushing her hair as she looked up at her own reflection in confusion. She didn't hear anything for a while after the initial slam, so she shrugged and went back to brushing her hair.

She had just pulled off the sweatshirt she was going to wear to bed, feeling too hot in the fabric when Davison entered her room. He threw something on her bed hard, making it bounce off and hit the floor.

She stared down at her cell phone in confusion.

"So, you're into poor butcher's now?"

"What?"

"So, you're going to act dumb?" He yelled. He stalked towards her. "Let's see how dumb you are after a little time in your favorite place! How dare you embarrasses me like this?"

She started to back away, but knew she had no place to go. "What in the hell are you talking about!" She shouted, trying to get his hands off her when he grabbed her.

"My f*****g dad seen you! My f*****g dad of all people!" He began dragging her to 'there'.