Calling Calliope by Maggie Mitchell

Author:Maggie Mitchell [Mitchell, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Published: 2014-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * * *

Callie rubbed her temples. The headache wasn’t helped by the legion of information flying around inside her head. What if everything Gus had said was true? In her heart she knew he spoke the truth as he knew it, but was it also her truth? She heard the laughter of young Jack as he played with Mardi in the lounge room, and it reminded her of her current priorities. She didn’t have time to deal with Gus right now. They had more important issues to contend with. Like Sarah’s violent husband.

She placed her bag on the counter and straightened up, wiping her damp hands against her jeans before she joined the others. She smiled at Jack, who was playing a simple card game with her friend. Nothing like watching children having fun to help her to forget her own troubles for a few minutes.

Jack’s delighted squeal rang through the room. “Snap!”

“You beat me again,” said Mardi, her eyes twinkling. “You’re just too good at this.”

He giggled as he swept up his winning pack of cards. “If you play again you might get better,” he said. “You might even beat me!”

Callie stifled the laugh that bubbled up in her chest before she spoke solemnly to the Jack. “That’s right. Mardi needs a lot of practice to beat a champion like you.”

His chest puffed out and his face beamed. “You wanna play, Callie?”

She shook her head quickly and held her hands up. “Oh no. Mardi needs to play again. I’ll just watch.”

Mardi shot her a ‘thanks for nothing’ face and picked up her pile. “I’ll have you know there are other games where I’m considered a champion.”

“I’m sure there are, but since you’re doing such a great job here, why stop now?”

“Sure. Your lame attempt at flattery might work better if you get us some refreshments. I’ll have a cup of tea.” She smiled at Jack. “What would you like, little man?”

“Juice!”

“No problem. I’ll be right back. I’ll get one for Sarah too. Is she okay?”

“She’s doing some laundry. She’s trying to keep busy.”

“I’ll find her and ask her. She might need some company.”

Jack and Mardi were wrapped up in the game again when she left the room and searched for Jack’s mother. She found her in the back garden hanging out wet clothes on the rickety wire clothes line they’d been meaning to replace once more funding came through. Maybe she could use these powers she was supposed to have to fix it? She’d ask Gus when she next saw him.

Sarah turned as she approached. Her body tensed and she lowered her head. “I’m sorry if I’ve done the wrong thing. I was trying to be helpful.”

Callie wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and hugged her tightly. “You’ve done nothing wrong. That evil man has made you lose all your self-confidence. You have to remember that you are a wonderful person and a fantastic mother. Don’t let him take that away from you.”

“In my head I know this, but it’s hard when I’ve had years of being in trouble for everything I do.

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