This is what Denver should look like (3/4)
“Smile Calliope.” Callie gritted her teeth at Addison while she tried desperately to put a smile on her face. To say that this was one of the most awkward moments in her life would be an understatement. All four of Derek’s sisters and his mother Carolyn had somehow bombarded the three women and ushered them into the kitchen for some girl talk. Mark, being the asshole that he was, simply smiled before placing a kiss on her cheek and sending her into the dungeon muttering something about her being fine before swatting her behind.
“Avoid Kathleen, she’s the shrink.” Addison sat in between Callie and Meredith and wanted nothing more than to crawl in a hole and die as she watched the sisters size up the woman deciding what woman to torment first. They seemed to zero in on Addi and she squared her shoulders, prepared for the battle.
“God, this must be awful for you. She’s young and blonde Addison”
“Shut up Kathleen, it’s not like Addi didn’t bring a great substitute.”
“They were supposed to be forever.”
“Mark kind of ruined that, don’t you think?”
“Oh please as if she was the first one to cheat on her husband with Mark Sloan.” Nancy pointedly looked at two of her sisters who bowed their heads.
“What kind of shoes are you wearing dear?” That was directed towards Meredith who sat like a deer caught in headlights.
“Mom gave Derek her ring. She didn’t do that for Addison.”
“She never liked Addison.”
“But she likes the slutty intern who couldn’t even be bothered to meet the family before getting married. Mom, really?”
“Donna, behave yourself.”
“What? Like you weren’t thinking it?” The pregnant sister known as Donna shrugged. Callie cast her eyes towards Addison and saw her gripping her hands tightly.
“So tell us about yourself Meredith.”
“I heard she drinks a lot. She slept with Derek the first night after meeting him in a bar.”
“Classy.”
“She also slept with Derek when he and Addi were trying to repair their marriage.”
“Oh right, that was the panties on the board incident right?”
“Do you have parents? Did they not teach you manners or morals?”
“VALERIE!!” Carolyn yelled from her place by the stove causing the youngest of the sister’s to roll her eyes.
“Oh please mother, we have the right to ask questions. After all, she is our new sister-in-law.” She said the words like it burned her tongue. “Am I the only one that finds it odd that we don’t know anything about her?”
“What about you?” Kathleen turned her attention to Callie who groaned inwardly.
“Are those your real lips?”
“You’re a little…thick for Mark, don’t cha think?”
“Are you like Hispanic or something? How did you meet Mark?”
“She certainly is an odd choice for Mark.”
“You do know that he probably isn’t going to remain faithful right?”
“You and Addison are friends but you slept with Mark? That’s odd.”
“Mark has mommy and daddy issues, are you sure you can deal with that?”
“Seriously, what do the two of you have in common?” Donna asked with distain.
“God, jealous much Donna?” Nancy quipped behind her glass of wine.
“Oh come on, like you weren’t thinking it. Mark’s type has always been tall, skinny and…and not her.”
“I think she’s pretty.” Donna rolled her eyes at Nancy.
“God, I hate happy second marriage Nancy. You so fucking chipper.”
“Doesn’t Mark have the right to be happy like the rest of us?”
“With her?” Callie couldn’t take it anymore. She saw the tears in both Meredith and Addison’s eyes and she couldn’t stop her rage. She quickly stood up and her chair tipped backwards taking the four sisters by surprise. She turned and headed towards the living room as she heard Donna.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Callie mumbled to herself as she walked through the living room into the study where all the men had gathered for a night cap. Her face was red as she ignored everyone to go to the bar and pour herself a generous amount of scotch and downing it.
“Cal?”
“Shut up.”
“Shut up?” Mark asked more amused than anything. Callie looked over at Derek who held an unreadable expression on his face. She pointed her finger at the man dubbed McDreamy.
“I don’t really like you, you know because of the perfect hair thing, but we get along enough for me to tell you that my respect for you is the only thing that has prevented me from kicking everyone of your sister’s asses.” Mark and Derek shared a knowing glance.
“How bad is it?’ Callie scoffed as she poured more liquor.
“Where do I start? They are blaming Addi for you marrying Meredith while insulting Meredith for not being good enough for you and ending with me being too fat or Latin to be with Mark. They mine as well have handed Meredith a knife, Addison a noose and me a gun. Oh wait; instead they probably would have given me an apron and a bottle of Pine-Sol.” The redness on Mark and Derek’s face was obvious and they both stalked out of the room.
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Callie could hear the yelling downstairs but she wasn’t even bothered to give a damn. She was too focused on packing her bags and getting the hell out of there before anyone noticed. She jumped slightly as she heard the breaking of glass followed by a string of curse words that she didn’t even know that Derek ever used. She heard the distinct yell of Addison who apparently had decided to snap out of her initial shock and decided that she could give everyone a piece of her mind now that her last name was no longer Shepard.
Callie was placing her shoes in the bag when the door opened and Carolyn Shepard stepped foot in the room, shutting the room behind her. Callie sighed and reminded herself that her parents taught her to respect her elders. The older woman sat down on the bed and gave her a soft smile.
“My daughters are bitches and I am truly sorry for their behavior.” Callie sighed before placing her hands on the suitcase in front of her. “I just spoke with Meredith and now I’m coming to speak to you. This is what they do. They were testing you. They did the same thing with Addison when she first came to the house. They behave their worst to see if that person can really handle being a part of this family.”
“Mrs. Shepard…”
“Carolyn.”
“Carolyn, Meredith is a good person. She has her problems, but who doesn’t? Neither she nor Addison deserved what happened downstairs. As far as myself, I have no ties to anyone in this family, so I can leave here without any feelings of guilt.”
“We are Mark’s family, in every way that counts. I am more protective of that man than I am with my own children. I have seen the way that he was raised and there isn’t a night that goes by that I don’t pray that he would find a woman that can love him despite his faults and I believe that person is you.” Callie sat down gingerly on the bed.
“Mark’s parents had him because it completed their picture of what an American family should be. He was more or less a prop. Something that they placed in the home and left. It took a full year after he started hanging around Derek for me to really find out what was going on. I had a lot of love to give and I tried to give it to Mark but there was only so much I could do. I prayed that one day Mark would get the family he so desperately deserves and I believe he has that now with you.” The tears stung the back of Callie’s eyes.
“I have to be honest with you. I’m not really his girlfriend. The women you met when you came to visit, Lexie Grey, that is Mark’s family now. I’m just his friend.” Carolyn laughed slightly.
“The girl with the juice box? No, she’s not. If she was, he would have brought her instead of you. I know Mark well enough to know that he doesn’t do anything half-assed. There is a particular reason for him bringing you, other than you just being his friend.” Carolyn stood up and grabbed Callie’s suitcase, placing it on the floor. “I see the way he looked at you during dinner. That is the look of a man in love. Only you can do something about it.” Carolyn left the room and Callie sat with tears streaming down her face. She didn’t even hear Meredith sneak into the room and place her head on Callie’s shoulder.
“She got to you, didn’t she?” Callie laughed slightly.
“Oh yeah.”