Chapter Eighteen

“Callan” Rosie squealed spotting Callan as Dave opened the door to the apartment “You're here.” running across the room she flung herself on the sofa next to her and hugged her tightly.

“Hello Rosie” Callan whispered.

“Rosie I think your squeezing the life out of Callan do you want to let her go honey.”

“Sorry Callan” Rosie loosened her grip and smiled apologetically.

“No problems, you hug almost as hard as your Dad you know.”

“Hi Calli” Claudine called from the doorway “How’s things?”

“OK. How's Mollie?””

“Her temperatures down a bit, look I'll have to run she's in the car. Dave I'll ring you about the photos and Callan we need to meet up and sort things out about the shoot ok.”

“Bye Claudine”

“Bye sweetie. See you Dave.”

“What photos Daddy?” Rosie asked as he shut the door.

“Nosey” he chuckled “You know I had some photos taken for Lindeberg, well Calli had some taken with me?”

“Did you Calli?” she asked wide eyed.

“Yes Claudine nagged me until I gave in.”

“Does that mean you're a model now Calli?” she asked excitedly “Can I see them Daddy?”

“Not now sweetie they're not ready yet and right now we have to get you to your grandmas.”

“Oh do I have to go?”

“Fraid so Daddy's got a meeting to go to.”

“I don't want to go there though,” she glanced at Calli and then at Dave “Calli could look after me.”

"Rosie, Callan can't she's going home tomorrow, she has stuff to do."

"You're going home, does that mean I'm not going to see you again?" she looked at Callan her bottom lip beginning to tremble.

"No sweetie I'm just going home for a few days to see my Dad that's all."

"But that means I won't see you for ages then I go away with Mummy at the end of next week" she turned and looked up at Dave her big eyes filling with tears "Please Daddy can Calli look after me? I'll be really good I promise."

Dave smiled at her "Honey that's up to Callan not me, she may have lots of things to do."

“Please Callan" she turned back to her.

Callan smiled and nodded her head, "Well if it's okay with your Dad."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah I've got loads of time, I haven't much to pack anyway, just a change of clothes in case I get delayed and a few things."

"Yay" smiled Rosie at both of them before running to her room "Thank you Daddy, you're the best do you know that, I'll just go and get my reading book."

Dave chuckled watching her as she went "That young lady could wrap anyone round her little finger."

"Mmm I guess that she gets from her Dad" Callan smiled.

"Are you sure about this?" Dave asked Callan as he was about to leave.

"Yes it'll be fine" she smiled "You go else you'll be late."

"Ok thanks" he glanced over towards Rosie checking she was still engrossed in the book she was reading then kissed Callan quickly on the cheek "I shouldn't be too long."

"Just go I'll see you when you get back."

Dave grinned "Rosie be good for Callan right."

"Yeah yeah Daddy, see you later."

"Right what do you want to do Rosie?" Callan asked her a few minutes later.

"Can we do some baking do you think?"

"Of course we can honey, what do you want to make?"

"When I was at Mollies last week I made some jam buns with her Mom, do you think we could make some for Daddy?"

"We can if you want" Callan smiled.

"Ok... but ...”

Callan watched as her face fell “What is it honey?"

"I can't remember all of the recipe though."

"That’s ok sweetie I'm sure we can work it out between us."

"Do you think so?"

"Of course we can, come on let’s go and wash our hands then you can show me where everything is."

"So what do you think?" Callan asked 40 minutes later as they took the buns out of the oven and placed them on racks to cool "Do they look right?"

"Yes, Calli can I try one?"

"Not for a few minutes sweetheart the jam will be too hot at the moment" she took a bun from the rack, placed it onto a plate and cut it in half "There it will cool quicker now. So what do you want to do next?"

"Do you think we could make Dad something for dinner?”

"If you want to we can, what do you want to make?"

"I wanted to make him his favourite pizza but I don't know if there are any bases.”

"That's ok we can make pizza anyway it won't take long to make some, why don't you go and find the stuff we need for topping and I'll start on the dough if you can get me some Olive oil."

"Callan did you used to cook with your Mom?" Rosie asked watching as Callan added oil to the ingredients in the mixing bowl and started to mix them together.

"No sweetie, my Mum died when I was little."

"Oh like Jimmy's Daddy did?”

""Yes sweetheart."

"I'm sorry Callan, do you still get sad?""

"Sometimes but I was too little to know her even though my Dad told me all about her, but I was lucky" she smiled at Rosie, carefully choosing her words "You know how your Mom met your Daddy and he became a Dad to Jimmy? Well my Dad met someone too and she took care of me."

"Did she teach you too cook?"

"Yes she did, what about you Rosie do you like to cook?"

"Yes but Mummy always seems to be so busy and Daddy" she gave a small giggle "Dad's hopeless, he always forgets some ingredient or he forgets they're in the oven until the smoke alarm goes off. Calli do you think that bun is cool enough to try yet?"

"I should think so” she smiled, “But just check the jam isn't still hot ok."

"Ok" Callan watched as Rosie took a bite and beamed at her "Calli it's perfect it tastes just the same."

"See I told you we'd sort it out didn't I?" quickly she took the dough from the bowl and shaped it into 2 flat circles and put them onto baking trays "Right then young lady the bases are ready, do you want to make some sauce."

"Rosie they look brilliant" Callan exclaimed 15 minutes later as she watched Rosie sprinkle the last bits of cheese over the pizza's "Your Dad is going to love those, do you want to make some garlic bread to go with them?"

"Can we? Daddy loves garlic bread."

“Yes if you can find me some bread rolls we can use them.”

David let himself into the apartment and stood in the kitchen doorway watching as Callan and Rosie giggled together as they made the bread to go with the Pizza. He couldn't help smiling as he saw the way they both seemed to be at ease with each other as they worked together.

"Does that look alright Calli?"

"Looks perfect sweetheart, your Dad is going to be so proud of you when he tastes it." She smiled at the little girl who was looking up at her. "We'll put them in the oven now then you can lay the table, whilst I clear up.”"

"OK Calli I'll get the cutlery and the plates."

Dave carried on watching as Rosie laid the table all the time casting glances at Callan as she hummed to herself. He'd never seen Rosie so outgoing with someone she'd only met a couple of times before, but she seemed taken with Callan.

“Done it Calli what do you think?”

Callan spun round “That looks really nice sweetheart,” she answered making Rosie's face light up with pride. And you're frightened that you'd be a terrible Mother he thought to himself. Look at you with Rosie.

“I was wondering whether to put some flowers on the table too, do you think I should? I could put some of those lilies on it”

Making a mental note to change the weekly order for flowers to something other than lilies Dave watched Callan’s face cloud with sadness for a moment before she smiled brightly at his daughter “That would finish it off perfectly sweetheart.”

“I'll just go and get......Daddy” Rosie squealed spotting him the doorway, “Come and look I've been baking with Calli, we made pizza.”

“You did? Wow.”

“Well Rosie did most of it” Callan smiled “I was just her assistant wasn't I Rosie?”

"Well I know something it smells good.”

“I made your favorite toppings, Calli are they ready yet?”

“Another couple of minutes and they will be, why don't you and your Dad sit down and I'll bring them over in a minute.”

“So did you have fun baby?” Dave asked Rosie as they sat down at the table.

“Yes, oh Dad” she began in a low voice “I wish Callan was your girlfriend then I could get to spend time with her all the while.”

“Rosie, it doesn't work like that, yes I really like Callan but only as a friend and she feels the same with me.”

“But why if you like each other?”

Dave chuckled and shook his head “Look would you want your friend Tai at school to be your boyfriend?”

“Yuk no way.”

“Well that's like me and Callan, we like being friends but we don't love each other to be boyfriend and girlfriend so we're just like you and Tai.”

“But I'll still be able to spend some time with her won't I?”

“Well yes if you want to.”

Rosie nodded eagerly “Perhaps she could look after me instead of Grandma sometimes when you and Mummy are both busy?”

Part 2

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