The Moment She Knew (12 page)

They were sitting at a café having lunch, it was nearing 2pm. Callie was excited to see where they were going. She begged for clues but he wasn’t giving any. He liked watching her try to guess. Connor checked his watch, the one in his pocket and then the one on his wrist. He signaled with a head nod it was time to go.

After a short w
alk with shorter conversation, Connor stopped in front of an old tall brick building. The stairs that lead underground were narrow. Callie shot Connor a suspicious look.

“Do you trust me?”
Connor asked.

She nodded and followed him down the concrete steps and down a small hallway.
Connor opened one of the two apple red French doors in front of them. When Callie walked through the doors her eyes darted everywhere. Books covered the walls from floor to ceiling. The shelves were so high there were wooden rolling ladders all around. The furniture reminded Callie of her apartment, mismatched and bright. The rectangle windows near the ceiling provided the light for the store. Being in there didn’t make a person feel like they were underground. Any part of the wall that was exposed was covered by poster size pictures of famous books. 

Tables stood in the center of the enormous room, with books upon books. The tables were labeled by genre and Callie headed straight for the “Page to Screen” section.

“This is amazing,” Callie whispered.

“Why are you whispering?”
Connor asked.

“I have no idea. I feel like this is the type of place where you whisper.”

“Well, your voice does project so,” Connor began to laugh. Callie shot him a look with narrowed eyes. “My voice does project and keep it up and I will project my feelings for you at this moment.”

“And what are those feelings?”
Connor tilted his head.

Callie’s facial expressions relaxed. “I don’t know.” She didn’t want to but she started tearing up. Wh
en did she become such a girl?

“It’s hard to put into words.
” Callie started walking around the store.

“I know you want
your own library in your house someday, so I thought we should add on to what you own and start it up. Have you heard for Dr. Graver?”

Callie’s eyes shot up from the book she was flipping through. “Have I? Who hasn’t? She taught a few classes at Yale, where she received her BA then went on to get her MA at the University of Oxford and finished with her PhD at Princeton. The woman writes like n
o one else. The woman is a legend in the literature world.”

“Oh well good, because she is here today giving a small lecture.”

“Are you fucking serious?!” Callie’s voice projected a bit more underground than it did above ground.

“Yes, My parents knew her from Yale, she is a family friend and I thought since this is your cup of tea you would want to hear her lecture.
That, and I saw some of her books on your book shelf.”

“Next to Justin Timberlake and Michelangelo from The Ninja Turtles,
I may have a small woman crush on her!”

“Justin Timberlake is rather a handsome young gentleman.” A soft voice appeared.

Callie turned around to see Dr. Lucille Graver standing there. She was an extremely short woman. She was dressed in black; from the bob style hair cut to her close toe heels. The Black contrasted with her pasty white skin. For a small woman she looked intimidating.

“Hello Lucy. It’s nice to see you again.”
Connor gave Dr. Graver a peck on the cheek.

“
Connor, how are you doing my dear boy? I talked to Amelia recently she tells me you have a birthday party coming up. I was excited to receive an invitation, but I will be out of the country giving a lecture in England, but when I return we must meet for lunch.”

“Of course,”
Connor replied.

“So this is Miss Caitlyn Winters? It is lovely to meet you. Any friend of
Connor’s, is a friend of mine.”

Callie had a smile on that wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
“Uh yes. Hi. Its nice to meet you, so nice. I have your books. Not just have them, I read them.” Callie put her hair behind her ears as she stumbled on her words. 

“I hear you teach literature at a community college. Why don’t we grab some tea before the lecture and have a chat?” Callie and Dr. Graver went off while
Connor took out his phone. He had made a small list of things he wanted to do for Callie. In Callie’s apartment, sat a small list, places she wanted to go and things she wanted to do. He was going to help her out with them because she deserved it. Connor smiled as he marked the first item off his list.

Callie was smiling even wider when she found her seat next to
Connor. “So how did it go?” Connor whispered. “Amazing. Just amazing. She gave me some pointers and ideas and her email address to keep in touch. I got Dr. Lucille Graver’s email address! I feel like a guy who got the hot girl in the bars phone number and it’s not a fake.”

Connor
laughed, “That is the weirdest comparison I think I have ever heard.”

Callie looked down at her lap and started fidgeting with her hands. “I’m sorry Callie. I mean it was a good comparison just, a bit weird because I haven’t heard it before.”

“No I don’t care about that. This is thoughtful. Guys aren’t supposed to be this thoughtful. I’m being serious. It’s not a nice idea, but a thoughtful idea and that means so much. Even if we didn’t get to talk and just came here for the lecture. The gesture itself made this an amazing date.”

“Well I guess I am off to a good start in this dating thing.”

“Connor, I think you are doing remarkably.”

The lecture ended and the audience asked a few questions. Dr. Graver said her goodbyes and reminded Callie to keep in touch.

As they walked along the street Connor reached for Callie’s hand. She saw people hold hands in stores or when walking down the street. She thought it looked weird. She always made fun of those people and swore not to be one. She didn’t understand the gesture. The way she felt when Connor held her hand, almost felt like he was sending electricity through her body. She looked over at him and smiled. He held her gaze, bringing the backside of her hand to his lips and kissing it gently. She now understood why people held hands.

“Seriously
that was awesome. I had a tea with Dr. Graver, I got a few new books to start my library and I have the best guy in the world who made it happen. I really can’t thank you enough.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. As she went to pull away he grabbed her face with both hands and really kissed her. “Callie, it was, without a doubt, my pleasure,” he smiled. Hand in hand they headed back to the apartment to pack, in a few hours they would be back in New Haven.

Chapter 16

The rest of the month was going to be busy, not just with school but with life in general. With her mother’s birthday coming up and then Connor’s, she still didn’t know what to get either person. She had plans to do the seasonal festivities, apple and pumpkin picking, baking, hay and horror rides and visiting the local vineyard.

“What are you planning on doing on your actual birthday?”
She wondered if he would be back in New York.

“Nothing
.” He didn’t do anything on his birthday and she now knew why.

“
Listen I know you hate your birthday and all but maybe you should do something, nothing big. The vineyard is nice this time of year. We can have lunch with some friends up there. Or we can go apple picking; I can make you a pie. Or we can stay in and I can make you dinner.” He looked reluctant. “Come on. It might be fun.” He still looked reluctant.

“Do I have to bribe you?”
She didn’t want him alone on his birthday.

“A bribe does sound good
.” He was sitting on the couch flipping through a book.

“
Fine, what will it take?” Now she was talking, she saw him smile.

“What. Do. I.
Want,” he thought about it as he put the book down but he already knew what he wanted. It was written all over his face.

“Seriously?
That’s what it will take for you to say yes?” She shook her head putting away the dishes.

“Oh definitely
, I am a guy.” Connor had slept at Callie’s almost every night. It was ironic because Callie was the one always asking if he wanted to sleep over. She felt relaxed with him around and to be honest, she loved the sex.

“
Ok, if that’s what it will take.” She was still shaking her head.

“
Now I can’t wait for my birthday. I plan on occupying you all night so rest up. Also I can make us a birthday sex mixed playlist, if you want.” Ever since their first night together, when Connor played music for Callie, it had become a staple thing in the bedroom.  

He checked his watches and then headed back to
Ryan’s apartment. Callie had been meaning to ask him about the watches now that he was opening up more to her. She thought maybe she should ask Ryan to see if he knew.

“Oh that thing,
he carries it in his pocket but it doesn’t even work. I believe his mother gave it to his father on their wedding day or something like that.” She heard Ryan crunching on something.

“
Wait, but it doesn’t work?” Callie asked.

“No he just looks at it
.”

Callie
knew what she was doing for his birthday. “Ryan I need you to get me that watch.”

Chapter 17

It was the 17
th
and they arrived at the vineyard, it was one of Callie favorite spots. The view, the weather, the food, it couldn’t have been any more perfect. They had packed fruit, various cheeses, meats, olives and breads. She met up with a few friends and introduced Connor to everyone. Connor knew some of the people from the college.

They sat at a table near the rest of the group. Callie
looked out the window admiring the beautiful breezy fall day. This time of year was beautiful in New England. Her favorite holiday was approaching soon. It was a bitter sweet day. The sadden expression took over Callie’s face. “Hey,” Connor said as he reached for her hand. “What’s wrong?”

“Halloween is coming up, I love the holiday
but it is also James’s birthday.” Connor knew a little about James. Callie had briefly spoken about him on their walks. “I know you must miss him.” Connor rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.

“Very much. He was my best friend. I mean sometimes he was a shitty friend but still. You know, I said that to him, a few days before he died. We were on the phone and I was mad over something stupid. I felt like I was being placed on the back burner and I told him he was a shitty friend. I never got the chance after that to tell him that I loved him regardless. He was my shitty friend and there was no one else quite like him.”

Connor
opened his mouth, wanting to ask questions but quickly shut it not wanting to upset her. “It’s ok, you can ask me.” She knew Connor was going to have questions.

“Were you in love with
him?” Callie laughed at his question. “No. I loved him purely and innocently. A life together wasn’t an option. We didn’t belong together in that way.” Callie continued looking out the window.

“Do you
mind me asking what happened?”

“He just didn’t wake up one morning. It was unexpected. I took from the situation that life is not guaranteed. I changed as
a person, not a lot but enough.” Tears in her eyes began to surface.

“Well I think you tur
ned out to be an amazing person.”

“
Yea, you’re not too bad yourself.” Callie gave his hand a light squeeze.

She
excused herself from the table. Connor was going to give her a moment and then go and check on her. Just as he was getting up Callie returned with a 2 layer square red velvet cake cover with cream cheese frosting. As Callie walked in the room with the candles lite, Connor watched how her face lit up. Not just from the glow of the candles but from the light in her eyes and the smile on her face. She nodded at Ryan and he joined her, along with others and they all engaged in singing happy birthday. People sitting at surrounding tables joined it as well. Connor kept his eyes on Callie as he blew the candles out and made his wish.

After cleaning up
Connor asked if she wanted to go for a walk before they left. They walked around the vineyard and Callie stopped to look in her bag.

“You lose something?” He asked.

“No, I have something for you.” Callie pulled a small wrapped box out of her bag.

“I told you not to get me anything
,” Connor looked surprised.

“I actually didn’t know what to get you and I wanted it to be special so technically I didn’t get you anything. I more fixed something
.” She had the widest smile on her face.

Connor
opened the box and inhaled a sharp breath, “You had it?” Connor looked in the box and there sat the watch he had carried around in his pocket for years.

“Yea it was only missing for a couple days. I figured you would have noticed but
Ryan said he came up with a good excuse so you wouldn’t think anything of it.”