Autumn Leaves by Barbara Winkes Read Free Book Online Page A

best. Thank you.”
    Rebecca leaned forward to kiss her cheek then turned to head for her car. Callie could only stand and stare. She reached up to touch her cheek, thinking that for this, she might just be able to forgive for the change in plans.
    “Okay, so come on in,” she told Maggie. “You brought homework, right?”
    “All done,” the girl beamed.
    “Oh, wow. That’s...awesome. Great. Would you like some chocolate?”
    “Yes!” In a split second, Maggie remembered. “Thank you!”
    “You’re welcome. Let’s see how much I can spoil you in two hours,” Callie murmured to herself. To the girl, she said, “I hear you’re all going to Disneyland soon. I bet you’re really excited about that.”
    Maggie nodded.
    “Then I’m pretty sure you’re going to like this movie.” Callie didn’t think it was a good idea to ask Maggie if she’d liked the book without Rebecca around. She’d save that for later. Educating hypothetical children was fine, but she didn’t want to get in the line of fire with a parent, especially if said parent was Rebecca Lowman. Callie carried the box of chocolates and Maggie’s apple juice into the living room, reaching for the only Disney movie she owned. She’d known it would come in handy at some point.
    They watched in silence, until Maggie asked, “Why are they mean to Esmeralda?”
    “I guess it’s because she’s different.”
    Maggie considered that for a while. “You’re different,” she said.
    “How so?” Damn small-town talk, and damn smart children picking it up. Callie didn’t want to believe Rebecca would participate in those silly games, but... No but. Children pick up that kind of talk anywhere.
    “You’re all by yourself,” Maggie said with a shrug. “Aren’t you scared sometimes?”
    “Not so much. Did anybody say something about that? Your mom or dad?”
    The girl shook her head. “No. It’s just that I have Dina, even though she is mean sometimes, and Mom and Dad. I wouldn’t like to be alone. Don’t you want to get married?”
    This was a golden opportunity to educate Maggie on marriage equality and state law, but Callie didn’t care to. With Asha’s impending visit, an uncertain future, and a past too close behind she had enough on her plate.
    “I’d like to, some day. I just haven’t found the right person yet.”
    Apparently, that made sense to Maggie. “Okay,” she said, turning back to the movie.
    Callie breathed a sigh of relief.
    “Callie?”
    “Yes, sweetie?”
    “If you get scared, you can always come to us.”
    “That’s nice. Thank you very much.” Callie felt her vision blur all of a sudden. They watched the rest of the movie in silence, Maggie, because she was now engrossed in the story and Callie, because she didn’t trust her voice.
    * * * *
    It was 7:50 a.m. when the doorbell jolted her out of a pleasant dream. Callie was determined to yell at the visitor, whoever it might be. Granted, if it was Rebecca meaning to reschedule some time together, Callie might have cut her some slack. She much preferred her dreamland to reality at the moment though. She’d stared at the screen for a long time last night, writing excruciating paragraph by paragraph. For the first time she’d moved to Autumn Leaves, she was utterly and completely blocked.
    Callie thought she could handle her familiar issues, but little Maggie Lowman’s interrogation had rattled her more than she’d thought. Everybody had warned her when she decided against selling Aunt Valerie’s house. Asha, for one, and it was also the first thing in years that her brother and mother had agreed on. They’d predicted she’d regret this move after a week. Callie was admittedly uncertain regarding a lot of things these days, but she also knew she wouldn’t make a decision until this book was finished. The doorbell rang for a second time.
    “Coming,” she grumbled, fumbling for her robe. In order to help with the lack of inspiration, she had tried coffee,