Chapter 20

"So..."

"Zack. Don't." Maria glared at her husband. "He doesn't need to know. It's not like any of us is going."

Faith, who was completely focused on tasting the amazing food Kade and Lydia prepared, raised her head, wondering about what was going on.

"Best if he knows from us. And if we tell him in person."

"Not on his birthday, Zack."

"Can you two just spit it out? And stop talking like I'm not sitting right in front of you. Also, I'm not of your kids, don't cuddle me."

Everyone was glaring at Zack, and for some reason, Faith felt like Callum and she were the only ones who weren't aware of whatever was going on. She looked at Callum, confused. His jaw tightened as well as his posture. So, this makes me the one who's completely lost... She looked down at her plate and took another bite as the conversation unfolded.

"Ben and Alice sent us invitations to their wedding, which I'm not sure if it was a completely idiotic and disgusting thing to do, or if somehow, it's their distorted way of trying to be nice and make emends, pretending like nothing happened."

"I don't care, Zack." Callum clenched his jaw and felt like cursing at his brother for talking about it in front of Faith. He glanced at her, and she seemed blissfully unaware. Her face had the same cute expression as it always did, and she seemed more interested in finishing her plate than the argument between the brothers. "Let them do whatever the hell they want."

"You sure about that?"

"What the hell do you want me to say? Yes, I'm sure. I don't give a damn about them anymore." He glanced to the side, and Faith was looking up at him, completely lost in the conversation, while still chewing her food. He couldn't help but to smile while looking at her, thinking about how adorable she looked, and that she was probably simply wondering when it would be time for dessert.

"Good." Zack smirked, and Callum frowned.

"I'll go get the desserts," Lydia said while getting up with Kade following her.

Faith glanced up at Lydia and open her eyes wide with excitement. "Please tell me there's either apple pie or cinnamon rolls."

"Both." Lydia smiled.

"Yes! I love you, Lydia."

"You love me or my baking skills?"

"Both."

"What if you had to pick one?"

"Don't do this to me Lydia," Faith whined, and everyone laughed.

Once the desserts were on the table, the mood lighten up again, as if nothing had happened, although Faith couldn't help but wonder... Who are Ben and Alice? She glanced at Callum, and he seemed unbothered. He was smiling and laughing, as if nothing had happened. Who ever they are and whatever happened, is he truly over it? She wondered while munching on her slice of pie.

"We're sorry you had to witness that. And that our first encounter was so... Troubled." Todd said, as he sat in front of Faith. "I promised we raised our boys better than this."

"Oh, no problem at all. It's refreshing that for once I'm not the centre of attention and the reason behind a scandal." Callum chuckled, and his parents looked at each other with a grin. "That came out wrong. I'm not a scandalous person. I meant... What did I mean? I-"

"It's fine Faith, we've all heard of your legendary clumsiness and newspaper headlines. We know what you meant," Claire reassured with a tender smile.

"Callum!" she squealed, glaring at him.

"Don't look at me. It wasn't me."

"Mr Grant. Why?" She cried.

"Forgive me, Faith. What if I bake one of Lydia's recipes for you? Truce?"

"Which one?"

"Do you want the blueberry scones or muffins?"

"Scones."

"Am I forgiven?"

"Not yet. I want to eat them first." She pouted. "Which stories did you share, Mr Grant?"

"It's best if you don't know." Kade mumbled as he got up from his sit and started to clear the table as she glared at him, wondering about all the embarrassing things the Grants knew about her.

"He thinks of you as family, you know?" Todd said as soon as Kade left the room.

"What?"

"He only shared the good stories. Don't worry." Claire winked at her.

"Does Josh write good stories?" Callum asked with a grin.

"He did a piece when our apples won an award. He also did a piece when I won a competition back when I was still horse riding. Or the article I wrote on how to organically improve the flavour of the crops while still managing to control pests. But Josh mostly enjoys embarrassing me. The good stories can't make up for all the bads ones."

"But those were the stories that Kade shared."

"Really?" Faith her heart tightened, and tears flood her throat. Mr Grant really cares...

Despite everyone's efforts to try to help with the dishes, Kade and Lydia refused to, and cleared out the table on their own, making space to bring out the birthday cake and some champagne glassed to celebrate. The cake was huge, in a shade of dark teal blue, just like the shade in Callum's apartment. There were golden accents to it and two big gold threes for candles. It was a vanilla sponge cake with a salted caramel filling, and it was delicious. The twins, in particular thought the cake was amazing, but they were forbidden to take another bite of anything containing sugar, as they were already too energetic to begin with.

"How did you manage to get a cake so fast?"

"Called in some favours from Josh. Everyone owes Josh a few favours, and he owes me a bunch for all the times I put him on guest lists."

Callum chuckled. "So, you two actually get along?"

"No. Not at all. He is my nemesis."

"If you say so, princess." He smirked and Faith's heart fluttered, as per usual. They were alone outside. Faith had been too busy to think about the kiss and Callum had been too overwhelmed with his whole family to think about it too. But now, here they were, all alone.

"Thank you for today, Faith. For being able to bring everyone out here."

"It wasn't easy. A lot of phone calls. And trying to coordinate everything. Your family is really nice. It was great to finally meet everyone."

"They feel the same."

"Who are Alice and Ben?" Faith couldn't keep herself from asked.

"Let's not ruin today. Is that okay?" Faith nodded. "I promise I'll tell you all about them some other time." Let's not ruin this... Please don't let me ruin this... He told himself with his eyes stuck on her.

So, he still cares about Ben and Alice, after all? She wondered, while feeling a squeeze in her heart and a knot in her stomach.

"Who knew you were this old already, Doc?" Faith mocked, trying to lighten the mood after her insensitive question. "Good news is that you don't look like it at all."

"Come on, now... Do you really think I'm that old?"

"Well, I'm twenty-five. So that makes you eight years older than me, which makes you old."

"You'll get there one day too, Rapunzel. Just wait."

"I'll always be younger than you, Doc. Therefore, you'll always be old compared to me." She smirked.

"Do you actually feel like I'm much older than you, Faith?" Callum asked with a concerned frown.

"What? No. I'm just joking with you, old man."

"Fine..." he sighed. "I'm an old man."

Faith pulled a small rectangular box out of her purse and gave it to him. "Happy birthday, Callum." She placed a soft kiss on his face, before she started walking towards her car. The butterflies dancing in her stomach almost made her run.

"What is it?" He yelled as she got further and further from him.

"Something silly. Every knight needs a sword. Thank you for always coming to my rescue," she yelled back.

Callum opened the box and laughed as he looked at a pen shaped like a sword. He waved at Faith while she drove away and lingered outside for a bit until he couldn't see her car anymore.

"So, you're sure you're not dating?"

"Shut up, Zack."

"You sure you're not still hung up on Alice?"

"No, I'm not. How many times do I have to say it?"

"Then what's stopping you? You can't take your eyes off Faith for even a second. I don't even think you used to look at Alice like that. Everyone can see it. It's uncomfortably obvious. It's almost pathetic, really."

"I'm scared." Callum blurted out, surprising even himself.

"Of what? Being cheated on again? Faith doesn't seem like the type."

"No. I'm afraid of hurting her. In fact, I'm not just afraid, I'm terrified." Callum was afraid that his wounds hadn't fully recovered yet, and that because of them we wouldn't be able to love Faith in the way she deserved too. He was terrified of the idea that any harm could come to her. She was someone that he felt the need to protect at all costs. To protect her from anything and anyone. Any physical and emotional harm. He felt the need to make sure nothing would ever happen to her again.

"Well, that means you should definitely go for it."

"What?"

"It's your one in a million chance. We don't feel like that about just anyone. You feel like that about the one."

"When did you become so freaking corny?"

"I'm getting old, dude. And I'm a husband and a father. It's making me soft. What do you want me to say? Maybe it's all the romantic comedies Maria and the girls force me to watch. Besides, I'm not going to let my little brother make a big mistake."

First Kade, and now Zack. Callum knew they were right. He couldn't picture his life without her anymore. Without their bantering, without her clumsiness or her adorable expressions. For how long can I keep fighting it? Why am I even fighting it...