Songbird (38 page)

T
he next morning, Callie’s discharged from the hospital, with strict orders to take it easy and to cut back on her hours at the newspaper. I’m due in court, so Mom offers to help Callie get settled in at home. On the way to the courthouse, I call my secretary and tell her to make sure my calendar is clear for the weekend, because Callie and I are turning off our phones and spending the next two days hibernating at home.

But first, I have to tell her about Nina.

It’s a conversation I’m not looking forward to, for very obvious reasons. But, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the truth always comes out eventually. Regardless of the fact that nothing happened with Nina, I know it’s important to be upfront about my whereabouts last night.

When I get home later that afternoon, I find Callie on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket and watching television.

“Hi, baby. I’m happy to see you’re following doctor’s orders.”

She flips through the channels. “Did you know daytime TV sucks these days? There’s like . . . four soap operas on the air. It’s just talk shows and reality stars. Where did all the soaps go? I used to love
Guiding Light
.”

With a grin, I loosen my tie and join her on the couch. “Bored are we?”

“You have no idea. If Dr. Clifton puts me on bedrest I will seriously die.”

“We have eight hundred channels, Callie.”

“And they all suck. But yes, I am following orders and taking it easy.”

“I’m very happy to hear that. Are you hungry?”

Callie turns off the television. “Yes, but first . . . could we just talk about all the things we need to talk about so that we can get it out of the way and enjoy the weekend?”

I smile. My Songbird has zero patience.

“I know we need to talk, but I don’t want you getting upset.”

“I’ll stay calm. Promise.”

“What about your blood pressure?”

She nods toward the digital monitor on the end table. “Your mom insisted on stopping at the pharmacy on the way home. I’ve been checking it every few hours.”

“And it’s good?”

“Yep.”

“Okay, let’s talk.”

Callie smiles and snuggles close to my side. I nuzzle her hair and breathe her in, thankful she’s in my arms and safe.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come home.”

“Where were you?”

“At a bar, drinking myself into a stupor. That’s what I do when my entire world comes crashing down around me. It’s only happened a few times in my life.”

“But twice because of me,” she says softly. “You went on a bender the night you found out I was pregnant, too.”

“But that’s not your fault. Like Owen said, if I get drunk every time we have an issue—”

“You’ll be an alcoholic.”

I nod.

“You were so mad at me, Devin.”

“I was scared for you. Why, Callie? Why would you want to work for that man?”

She sighs. “I didn’t. Not really. I have this deep need to bring something to our relationship and to provide equally for our little family. Dominic dangled this huge carrot in front of my face. I just thought I should consider it.”

“But working for him isn’t the answer. You have to know that.”

“I do, and truthfully, I don’t think I would have accepted it. But when you start giving me orders, I get defensive. Telling me I can’t isn’t the answer, either. We have to be able to talk about stuff like this.”

“I understand. But you also have to understand that if I think you could potentially get hurt, I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“You can’t protect me from everything, Devin.”

I kiss the tip of her nose. “Watch me.”

Callie smiles.

Taking a deep breath, I pull her close. “As long as we’re being honest, I need to tell you what happened at the bar.”

“Okay . . .”

“I ran into an old . . . I don’t know what you’d call her. Girlfriend’s not the word. A former hook-up, I guess.”

“A woman.”

“Yes. Nothing happened. She and her driver took me home. When she asked to stay, I declined, and then I passed out until Owen called me the next morning.”

“Was it Nina Drummond?”

The question surprises me. I didn’t even realize she knew Nina.

“It was. How do you—”

“The Internet is an amazing place. You just type
Devin McAllister’s girlfriends
and all these gorgeous women pop up.” Callie stares down at her knotted fingers. “Nina’s a lawyer. And beautiful.”

“She’s not important.”

“Why did you turn her down?”

“Because she’s not you.” I trail my fingertip from her temple to her chin. “All I want is you, Songbird. For the rest of my life.”

Callie sighs softly. “Speaking of that, I have a confession, too.”

“Okay.”

“I heard you say that you wanted to marry me.”

“I wondered.” With a grin, I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it gently. “What do you think about that?”

“I think you should know I’m not opposed to living in sin.”

I chuckle. “I bet your father would have other ideas.”

“Oh, please. I seem to recall some hundred dollar bet between the two of you. Plus I’m pregnant. He
knows
, Devin. Besides, he owes me. Seeing Dad with my math teacher has given me years of ammunition.”

“Very true. So, you’d say no if I proposed?”

She considered this. “Do you know two out of three marriages end in divorce?”

“I’m well aware. Why do you think I’m such a successful attorney?”

She rests her hand on her stomach. “I just don’t want to end up like my parents.”

“We won’t, Callie. We’ll end up like mine.”

I lean close, kissing her softly. What I really should do is drop to my knees and beg her to marry me, right this minute. But I don’t want to propose without a ring, and I don’t want her thinking the only reason I’m proposing is because we had a fight. The timing’s just not right, but someday, it will be.

Someday soon, the timing will be perfect.

I slide my hands along her waist and pull her into my lap. “Callie Franklin, you are the love of my life, and I am going to propose to you. You need to be prepared so you’ll be ready with the correct response.”

She smiles and wraps her arms around my neck. “And the correct response would be?”

“Yes. A thousand times yes.”

Later that night, when we’re in bed and I can hear her soft snores in the darkness, I hold her close and whisper a silent prayer, thankful that I didn’t screw up the very best thing that’s ever happened to me.

I’ve never been a religious man, but tonight, I am.

“A
udrey?”

I shake my head. Devin marks the name off the list. We’re nestled on the couch—me with the baby name book in my hand and Devin with a legal pad filled with potential baby names.

He tries again. “Katherine? Elizabeth?”

“Hmm. I’m sensing a pattern here. Do you have a thing for old Hollywood movie actresses?”

He mutters something before crossing both names off the list.

I feel a twinge of guilt. “Okay, I don’t
hate
Elizabeth.”

“Really?” Devin looks down at the paper. “Elizabeth McAllister. That’s a lot of name for a little kid. What about Beth?”

“Beth McAllister.” I let it roll off my tongue. “I think I like it.”

He grins and writes it down on the legal pad. “Middle name?”

I actually have an answer for this one. I’ve been toying with the idea for a while.

“I was thinking . . . Shyann.”

His pen freezes on the page. “Really?”

“Elizabeth Shyann McAllister. What do you think?”

Devin tosses the pad aside and lunges for me. My laughter is swallowed by his kiss.

“I think I love it,” he says, his voice filled with emotion. “And I love you. Thank you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Our daughter has a name,” he whispers against my lips. “You know what this means?”

“We can get stuff monogrammed now?”

Devin grins.

“Not exactly. It means we need to give you a name, too.”

I play along. “But I have a name.”

“A new name.”

“Hmm. I guess it does.” I sigh heavily, as if this is just devastating news.

“Marry me, Songbird.”

I press my forehead to his.

“Is this your official proposal?”

His face falls. “No.
I mean, I
want
to. But I don’t have the ring. I mean, I
have
it. It’s just getting engraved.”

Ooh!
“Engraved with what?”

Devin smiles and glides his nose against mine. “It’s a surprise. But I won’t propose without a ring. You’re gonna love it. At least, I hope you love it. I think you’ll love—”

I silence him with a kiss. Devin McAllister’s so sentimental. Who knew?

“I’ll love it.”

The cemetery is peaceful and serene, just as you’d expect a cemetery to be. It’s actually kind of beautiful, with pink and yellow wildflowers growing between the marble stones. Devin’s planned the entire day, and while this stop along the way had been a definite surprise, I can see by the expression on his face that this moment is important to him. Therefore, it’s important to me.