Good Man In A Storm 8/?
Arizona’s POV
There were two days left for the boys to arrive and I finally had my apartment organized. I had found an apartment to rent and had unpacked and arranged all the stuff I had brought from San Diego. In the evening I brought Callie over to have a look at the apartment…..I was excited to hear what she thought about it.
Callie’s POV
When I walked into Arizona’s new apartment, I got to see yet another dimension of her personality. There were beautiful modern paintings on the wall, the couches were leather and comfortable, the chairs looked soft and inviting and everywhere there were pictures of her family especially of the boys. There was a feeling of homeliness that made you want to browse around. There was a big colorful bedroom for the boys with a bright red bunk bed that looked like a locomotive, and down the hall was Arizona’s bedroom. It was done in light blue color and soft fabrics and had big sunny windows. It was perfect. It was just like her……warm, sunny and loving.
“Arizona, this is gorgeous.” I said in open admiration.
“I love it too.” She admitted. “Did you see the kid’s bed? I had it specially made. I had a choice between the locomotive and a double-decker bus. I chose the locomotive as I have always had a thing for trains….they are so cozy and comfortable.” She excitedly explained.
“I am sure they’ll love it.” I smiled. I was impressed with how she had given the boys the bigger room even though they would spend so little time here. It made me realize I needed to start looking for a place soon…..the baby deserves it’s own nursery and not a corner in an Archfield hotel room.
“When they’re older I hope they’ll spend more time here” Arizona explained as if reading my thoughts.
“I’m sure they will.” I agreed. I mean who wouldn’t with an aunt like her and a home like this to come back to?
I wanted to provide a home like this to my baby.
Two days later the boys arrived and Arizona had gone to the airport to pick them up. She had asked me to come along, but I didn’t want to crowd them. They didn’t have any idea who I was and anyway I had a doctor’s appointment today.
It was the first time I heard the baby’s heartbeat. As I heard the tiny pat-pat-pat of the baby’s heart I cried tears of joy…..this tiny human is definitely worth everything I had to go through.
“Everything looks good to me.” The doctor told me as I sat up. “Any problems Callie?” he asked.
“Nothing I’ve noticed.”I said quietly. “I feel fine.”I did most of the time except when I had a very long, exhausting shift at work.
“How’s your husband adjusting to this now?” he inquired as he washed his hands.
“He’s fine.” I said vaguely hoping he would change the subject.
“Any plans for going away this summer?” he asked pleasantly.
“I am going to Lake Tahoe in a few days.” I answered.
“Sounds like fun. Don’t overdo it in the altitude and take it easy a bit. If you drive there, stop every couple of hours and walk around.” He advised.
I went back to work after the appointment and there were a mountain load of charts waiting for me when I got back. I hadn’t heard from Arizona but I assumed that the boys had arrived safely. I called her once I was in the hotel after my shift had ended. The boys were in bed by then and she sounded happy and exhausted.
“It’s like having a tsunami hit this place.” She sighed dramatically but we both knew she loved it.
“I bet they’re happy to be here.” I smiled.
“I hope so. I sure am super happy to have them. I’m bringing to them to work tomorrow. Aiden is always fascinated by it, he insists he wants to be a doctor when he grows up but DJ gets a little antsy. I thought maybe we could have lunch in the cafeteria. The boys would like to meet you.”
“I would like to meet them too.” I smiled but I was a bit nervous too. The boys were so important to her that I was worried what would happen if they didn’t like me. I mean Arizona and I were not involved or anything but I cared for her and I could sense that she cared for me a great deal too. I knew that between the baby and George filing for divorce, I wasn’t ready for a relationship. But yet I was growing used to Arizona. I found myself needing her at unexpected times, and in some ways, I was afraid to need her as much as I might, if I let myself go completely.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Say hello to them for me.” I said before hanging up.
“I will.” She said with something warm in her voice reserved for me and I knew it. It made me smile to myself.
The next day I entered the cafeteria at noon to meet Arizona and the boys for lunch. I quickly saw two boys sitting next to Arizona. Aiden looked tall for his age and had sandy blond hair with big blue eyes and long legs. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt and high top sneakers. DJ was in a cowboy shirt and a pair of chaps and had the exact look on his face that Arizona wore when she was concentrating on something. DJ and Arizona looked almost like twins, except one of them was much smaller. Just looking at DJ made me want to run up and hug him. He had soft blond curls and blue eyes that were even bigger than his brothers. He noticed me first and stared at me curiously. I smiled and waved at him. He grinned back and tugged at Arizona’s sleeve.
Arizona saw me then and waved me over to their table.
Arizona’s POV
“Callie, this is Aiden and that is Danny Junior sorry DJ. Boys, say hello to Callie.” I introduced them quickly with a wide grin.
Aiden shook Callie’s hand with a serious air while DJ grinned and asked if she was the one coming with them to Lake Tahoe.
I saw her whisper yes while stroking his soft curly hair……the sight melted my heart.
“How long have you known Aunty Zo?” DJ asked Callie while we were eating our pizza.
“DJ stop that. It’s not polite to ask questions.” Aiden scolded his brother.
“That’s okay.” Callie smiled at them. “A couple of months I guess.”
“Do you go out with her a lot?” DJ continued, as Callie grinned and Aiden whacked him on his shoulder.
“Sometimes. We’re good friends.”
DJ noticed the wedding ring on Callie’s finger and stared at it. “Are you married?” he asked.
Damn….that boy is too bright for his age.
“I am.” Callie said. Then she whispered “I was.”
“Are you divorced?” Aiden chimed in obviously curious about the questions his brother had started.
“No I’m not. But I will be.” Callie answered.
That’s when I decided to step in. Their questions innocent as they were were affecting Callie and that wasn’t fair to her. “Hey guys, give Callie a break ok. DJ pay attention to what you’re doing or you’ll spiil your soda. I think we owe Callie an apology. Her private life is none of our business.” I looked at Callie apologetically. I hadn’t meant to subject her to this inquisition.
“I’m sorry.” Aiden looked remorseful. At almost eight, he knew better but had gotten carried away with what his younger brother started.
Callie smiled and then teased the boys “What about you? Have either of you been married?”
They both giggled and then DJ cut in excitedly “No but Aiden had a girlfriend.”
“Did not.” Aiden looked annoyed and gave his brother a shove.
“Did too.” DJ defended. “Her name was Jenny but she dumped him because he wouldn’t carry her books.”
Callie smiled softly before saying “Don’t worry it happens to the best of us. What about you DJ?”
“No way. Girls are ewwwwwww.” He made a disgusted face.
Both Callie and I burst out laughing. I loved watching her with them….she was sweet and warm and open with them. I started to fall for her all over again….she was terrific.
I called her again at night to check if she had a sleeping bag. I discovered I only had three so I wanted to know if we needed to buy another one.
“No I don’t” she said sounding apologetic.
“Don’t worry about it” I assured her and told her to bring one nice dress for when we went out and a warm jacket for the nights at Lake Tahoe.
“That’s it” “Nothing else?” she laughed.
“Nope that’s it. Just bathing suits and jeans.” I stressed.
“You’re going to get tired of me if that’s all I bring.”
“I doubt it”
“What about games? Anything in particular the boys like” she asked. I asked the boys and DJ took the phone from me and requested Callie for a space gun and a train station.
“Don’t mind him” I told Callie after admonishing DJ and taking the phone back.
“See you tomorrow” I said before going to put the boys to bed. We had a long day ahead tomorrow.
Callie’s POV
After finishing my conversation with Arizona I started packing. I actually felt excited. I felt like a kid going to camp for the first time, and for the first time in a long time, I felt really happy. Everything had been so difficult for the past two months, except the time I spent with Arizona, that was always so different.
I couldn’t wait for tomorrow to begin.
There were two days left for the boys to arrive and I finally had my apartment organized. I had found an apartment to rent and had unpacked and arranged all the stuff I had brought from San Diego. In the evening I brought Callie over to have a look at the apartment…..I was excited to hear what she thought about it.
Callie’s POV
When I walked into Arizona’s new apartment, I got to see yet another dimension of her personality. There were beautiful modern paintings on the wall, the couches were leather and comfortable, the chairs looked soft and inviting and everywhere there were pictures of her family especially of the boys. There was a feeling of homeliness that made you want to browse around. There was a big colorful bedroom for the boys with a bright red bunk bed that looked like a locomotive, and down the hall was Arizona’s bedroom. It was done in light blue color and soft fabrics and had big sunny windows. It was perfect. It was just like her……warm, sunny and loving.
“Arizona, this is gorgeous.” I said in open admiration.
“I love it too.” She admitted. “Did you see the kid’s bed? I had it specially made. I had a choice between the locomotive and a double-decker bus. I chose the locomotive as I have always had a thing for trains….they are so cozy and comfortable.” She excitedly explained.
“I am sure they’ll love it.” I smiled. I was impressed with how she had given the boys the bigger room even though they would spend so little time here. It made me realize I needed to start looking for a place soon…..the baby deserves it’s own nursery and not a corner in an Archfield hotel room.
“When they’re older I hope they’ll spend more time here” Arizona explained as if reading my thoughts.
“I’m sure they will.” I agreed. I mean who wouldn’t with an aunt like her and a home like this to come back to?
I wanted to provide a home like this to my baby.
Two days later the boys arrived and Arizona had gone to the airport to pick them up. She had asked me to come along, but I didn’t want to crowd them. They didn’t have any idea who I was and anyway I had a doctor’s appointment today.
It was the first time I heard the baby’s heartbeat. As I heard the tiny pat-pat-pat of the baby’s heart I cried tears of joy…..this tiny human is definitely worth everything I had to go through.
“Everything looks good to me.” The doctor told me as I sat up. “Any problems Callie?” he asked.
“Nothing I’ve noticed.”I said quietly. “I feel fine.”I did most of the time except when I had a very long, exhausting shift at work.
“How’s your husband adjusting to this now?” he inquired as he washed his hands.
“He’s fine.” I said vaguely hoping he would change the subject.
“Any plans for going away this summer?” he asked pleasantly.
“I am going to Lake Tahoe in a few days.” I answered.
“Sounds like fun. Don’t overdo it in the altitude and take it easy a bit. If you drive there, stop every couple of hours and walk around.” He advised.
I went back to work after the appointment and there were a mountain load of charts waiting for me when I got back. I hadn’t heard from Arizona but I assumed that the boys had arrived safely. I called her once I was in the hotel after my shift had ended. The boys were in bed by then and she sounded happy and exhausted.
“It’s like having a tsunami hit this place.” She sighed dramatically but we both knew she loved it.
“I bet they’re happy to be here.” I smiled.
“I hope so. I sure am super happy to have them. I’m bringing to them to work tomorrow. Aiden is always fascinated by it, he insists he wants to be a doctor when he grows up but DJ gets a little antsy. I thought maybe we could have lunch in the cafeteria. The boys would like to meet you.”
“I would like to meet them too.” I smiled but I was a bit nervous too. The boys were so important to her that I was worried what would happen if they didn’t like me. I mean Arizona and I were not involved or anything but I cared for her and I could sense that she cared for me a great deal too. I knew that between the baby and George filing for divorce, I wasn’t ready for a relationship. But yet I was growing used to Arizona. I found myself needing her at unexpected times, and in some ways, I was afraid to need her as much as I might, if I let myself go completely.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Say hello to them for me.” I said before hanging up.
“I will.” She said with something warm in her voice reserved for me and I knew it. It made me smile to myself.
The next day I entered the cafeteria at noon to meet Arizona and the boys for lunch. I quickly saw two boys sitting next to Arizona. Aiden looked tall for his age and had sandy blond hair with big blue eyes and long legs. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt and high top sneakers. DJ was in a cowboy shirt and a pair of chaps and had the exact look on his face that Arizona wore when she was concentrating on something. DJ and Arizona looked almost like twins, except one of them was much smaller. Just looking at DJ made me want to run up and hug him. He had soft blond curls and blue eyes that were even bigger than his brothers. He noticed me first and stared at me curiously. I smiled and waved at him. He grinned back and tugged at Arizona’s sleeve.
Arizona saw me then and waved me over to their table.
Arizona’s POV
“Callie, this is Aiden and that is Danny Junior sorry DJ. Boys, say hello to Callie.” I introduced them quickly with a wide grin.
Aiden shook Callie’s hand with a serious air while DJ grinned and asked if she was the one coming with them to Lake Tahoe.
I saw her whisper yes while stroking his soft curly hair……the sight melted my heart.
“How long have you known Aunty Zo?” DJ asked Callie while we were eating our pizza.
“DJ stop that. It’s not polite to ask questions.” Aiden scolded his brother.
“That’s okay.” Callie smiled at them. “A couple of months I guess.”
“Do you go out with her a lot?” DJ continued, as Callie grinned and Aiden whacked him on his shoulder.
“Sometimes. We’re good friends.”
DJ noticed the wedding ring on Callie’s finger and stared at it. “Are you married?” he asked.
Damn….that boy is too bright for his age.
“I am.” Callie said. Then she whispered “I was.”
“Are you divorced?” Aiden chimed in obviously curious about the questions his brother had started.
“No I’m not. But I will be.” Callie answered.
That’s when I decided to step in. Their questions innocent as they were were affecting Callie and that wasn’t fair to her. “Hey guys, give Callie a break ok. DJ pay attention to what you’re doing or you’ll spiil your soda. I think we owe Callie an apology. Her private life is none of our business.” I looked at Callie apologetically. I hadn’t meant to subject her to this inquisition.
“I’m sorry.” Aiden looked remorseful. At almost eight, he knew better but had gotten carried away with what his younger brother started.
Callie smiled and then teased the boys “What about you? Have either of you been married?”
They both giggled and then DJ cut in excitedly “No but Aiden had a girlfriend.”
“Did not.” Aiden looked annoyed and gave his brother a shove.
“Did too.” DJ defended. “Her name was Jenny but she dumped him because he wouldn’t carry her books.”
Callie smiled softly before saying “Don’t worry it happens to the best of us. What about you DJ?”
“No way. Girls are ewwwwwww.” He made a disgusted face.
Both Callie and I burst out laughing. I loved watching her with them….she was sweet and warm and open with them. I started to fall for her all over again….she was terrific.
I called her again at night to check if she had a sleeping bag. I discovered I only had three so I wanted to know if we needed to buy another one.
“No I don’t” she said sounding apologetic.
“Don’t worry about it” I assured her and told her to bring one nice dress for when we went out and a warm jacket for the nights at Lake Tahoe.
“That’s it” “Nothing else?” she laughed.
“Nope that’s it. Just bathing suits and jeans.” I stressed.
“You’re going to get tired of me if that’s all I bring.”
“I doubt it”
“What about games? Anything in particular the boys like” she asked. I asked the boys and DJ took the phone from me and requested Callie for a space gun and a train station.
“Don’t mind him” I told Callie after admonishing DJ and taking the phone back.
“See you tomorrow” I said before going to put the boys to bed. We had a long day ahead tomorrow.
Callie’s POV
After finishing my conversation with Arizona I started packing. I actually felt excited. I felt like a kid going to camp for the first time, and for the first time in a long time, I felt really happy. Everything had been so difficult for the past two months, except the time I spent with Arizona, that was always so different.
I couldn’t wait for tomorrow to begin.