Page 25

Sunny turned and saw Liv and Cherry with a soft expression on their faces. Callie blushed when she caught them staring at her.

Cherry smiled gently. “I’m so glad my son met you,” she murmured, and Callie grew redder.

“Thank you.”

“Liv, Callie keeps her plates and stuff there, go lay the table, it’s in the next room,” Sunny ordered as he put the salad together.

“Been here often?” Cherry questioned, sipping the diet cola that Sunny had poured her.

“Just once. A couple of days ago, Callie cooked dinner for me. I’ve been taking Callie out on dates,” Sunny answered.

“Oh?” Cherry perked up, and Liv paused in laying the table.

“You’ve been dating a while?” Liv asked.

“A few weeks. Callie has trust issues, and honestly, I did her wrong at the beginning, but we got over it,” Sunny said.

Cherry reached up and slapped him around the back of the head.

“What was that for?” Sunny demanded.

“For being an idiot,” Cherry retorted, and Liv began laughing.

Callie was unsure of herself, and Cherry winked. “Sweet girl, he is a good man, but he can be bull-headed. A slap every now and then reminds Sunny he is human and mortal.”

“He’s okay,” Callie agreed.

Sunny felt insulted. “Okay?”

“Yup. How about fine?” Callie teased, and Sunny lunged and tickled her. She squealed with laughter as Cherry and Liv looked on in approval.

Callie

“That was amazing. You added something to it?” Cherry asked.

“Most people use a crisp, dry white wine. I use a lighter wine, a fruitier one. I discovered a wine that worked really well and haven’t digressed from it since,” I answered.

“You need to share the brand because that was wonderful,” Cherry replied, smiling. She winced a little and shifted.

“Mom, you okay?” Sunny asked immediately.

I liked that. Sunny was obviously very close to his mom and Liv.

Before he ate anything, he made sure the three of us had our plates full.

Sunny got our drinks, brought the breadbasket and salad, and generally ensured we were happy before he ate himself.

That level of consideration I was unused to, although Liv and Cherry took it in stride.

“I’m fine,” Cherry replied, but she clearly wasn’t.

“Let’s move into the living room,” I suggested.

Cherry looked relieved. “That would be nice.”

“I made cheesecake, we can eat in there,” I said, and Cherry glanced at the stove.

“There’s so much left over,” she murmured, stricken.

“Ah, no. That’s for the others when they come home. They were out doing some checks on an investigation and should be back in an hour or so,” I replied.

“You’re on an investigation?” Cherry asked, looking excited.

“Yes, but a private one, not for the programme,” I answered as Chance helped Cherry up.

“I didn’t realise you did that,” Liv responded as she began gathering the dirty plates. “I’ll do that,” I said, and Liv shook her head.

“Go talk to Nana. You cooked so we clear. Come on,” Liv cocked an eyebrow at Sunny.

“Hey, I made the salad,” Sunny protested.

Liv screwed her face. “That ain’t cooking, Dad. Move your ass!”

I chuckled as I led Cherry into the living room. She sat down gingerly, and I placed cushions around her for comfort.

“Would you like coffee or another drink?” I asked.

“Sit down, Callie, Sunny will do all that.”

“I don’t mind,” I replied.

“Relax. That was a wonderful meal, thank you. It made a nice change not to cook,” Cherry said as she relaxed back with another wince.

“Do you need some medication?”

“No, sweet girl, I’ve got a couple of hours before I can take more. Tell me about you and Sunny,” Cherry urged, and I paused.

“We’re dating,” I finally responded, somewhat lamely.

“Which means you’re pretty special. He hasn’t dated anyone since Julie died,” Cherry informed me.

That gave me pause for thought. “Really?”

“Yes. Sunny didn’t love Julie, but he did care for her.

When he joined the army, he was away, so it never gave him time to develop a real relationship.

It was something that saddened me. Sunny has a lot of love to offer someone, and he aimed it all at Liv and me, prioritising our needs.

I can’t say how happy I am that Sunny’s finally found somebody he can take a risk on.

” I considered Cherry’s statement. Her words touched me but also scared me.

Sunny and I had been progressing in our dating, and he claimed he wanted me, but I wasn’t used to being wanted.

Hell, even my relationship with my siblings was strained.

Rain was just easy going, but my sisters were anything but.

“What is it?” Cherry asked softly, sensing my worry and stress.

“Did Sunny tell you anything about my life?”

“No. He said it was your story and nobody else’s,” Cherry answered with curiosity. “I am aware that you and your siblings were separated.”

“Thalia stayed with my grandmother as she was ill, but Clio, Rain, me, and Polly were given up. Good families brought Rain, Polly, and Thalia up. Clio and I weren’t so lucky, although Clio did end up finding the man she calls Dad.

I was shunted from foster family to foster family.

People hear stories of abuse happening in foster places, I was a victim of that.

Not every home, but there was a lot of neglect, and I did suffer abuse. ”

“Callie…” Cherry looked horrified.

“Please, let me finish. I survived but became used to being unwanted. That’s a feeling that haunts me. Cherry, I was truly not wanted, nobody cared if I lived or died, if I needed hugs and comfort. Desolation is a terrible emotion. Then my sisters found me, and we went on to find Rain.

“Sunny and I were friends before we became anything else. Our friendship is important to me. We had a blip, something happened, and I cut him out of my life for a bit. But when Sunny makes his mind up, he can be rather determined. Our beginning was messy, but I’m hoping the future won’t be.

” I took a deep breath and hoped Cherry wasn’t judging me.

Cherry stared at me for several long, drawn-out moments.

“Foster care was rough. I was also unwanted. And I understand… even all these years later, I hold physical, mental, and emotional scars. It’s how Primal was able to abuse me and leave me pregnant with Sunny.

It was how I recognised real love when Bullet offered me it.

Sunny is much like Bullet, he feels deep and loves hard. ”

“Sunny has spoken a little about Bullet.”

“He loved that man as much as I did. Sunny did not know Primal as a father at all. Primal showed no interest in Sunny and didn’t even care when Bullet and I got together.

The only thing Primal said when Bullet stated his claim was not to go to him for child support.

Not that he’d paid it, anyway.” “I’m sorry to hear that. ”

“Don’t be. Bullet loved me, I’ve never had another relationship after him. Nobody could love me as much as him. Do not let fear take away your chance at happiness, Callie. Sunny, despite his ornery ways, is a good man. My son will worship you if you allow him,” Cherry said.

“I already care for Sunny a great deal.” And I did. Sunny was wriggling his way into my locked-up heart. It wasn’t just the gifts; it was the way he spoke to me and how he treated me. Little things like spending time with me and simple picnics meant more than a fancy meal at a restaurant.

A knock at the door startled me, and I excused myself, glad to have a few moments to compose my thoughts. I heard Sunny coming from the kitchen as I opened the door and stared at the stranger on it.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“I need to speak to Sunny and Cherry,” he announced as Sunny approached.

“You!” Sunny hissed in pure hate, and I spun in fear. Whoever this was, Sunny hated them, which meant they were a danger.

“I gotta talk to you,” the guy demanded, looking pleadingly at Sunny.

“The fuck you do,” Sunny spat as Cherry called out.

“Stay there, Mom. It’s just a piece of trash that needs taking out,” Sunny replied.

“I have information… son.”