Calliope

River's End, Colorado.

Main street was lit up with Christmas decorations from one end to the other. Never mind that it was technically only one day after Thanksgiving. This had always been a Christmas town, always would be she guessed.

The shops were closed because it was so late, but they were still lit up and the scent of freshly made hot cocoa drifted on the breeze. Without looking, she knew it came from Mr. Brown's coffee cart parked right in front of Town Hall. He'd been a fixture there all through her school years and probably would be for at least another forty years. He had the kind of face that could have been thirty or sixty. It was hard to know how old the man was. It didn't matter, though. He made the best coffee and chocolate this side of the Rockies.

It had been five years since she'd seen the small town where everyone she'd grown up with still lived. No one knew she was coming. It had been a spur of the moment decision much to her manager's despair.

Not only had she cancelled every appearance for the entire month of December, she refused to be swayed when the owner of her record company called to try and sweet talk her into Radio City Music Hall. Aaron Hampshire understood, though. He knew what coming back here meant to her. The demons she left behind. He was the only person who knew everything there was to know about Calliope Jean Harless AKA CJ.

She parked her rented SUV in the back of The Cider House, a local bar that doubled as a diner during the day. The owner, Max Brennan, was an old friend of hers.

It was getting late and while the bar would still be full, she hoped she could slide in without too much notice. The Black Friday shopping should have worn almost everyone out. Never stopped the drunks from coming in, but it might cut down on the regular traffic.

The interior had changed since she'd been here. The floors were covered in a wood the color of warm honey. The walls had that rustic log cabin feel to them and a massive stone hearth took up half of one wall. A small stage sat adjacent to it. It wasn't large but had enough room for a person to sit or stand while they strummed their music. It was quaint. Max had done well for himself.

Just like she predicted, the bar was full, but no one paid her any attention as she walked through the place and made her way to the L-shaped bar that ran the length of one wall. It had three wells and the back bar highlighted all the top shelf liquor the place carried.

"Well look what Santa's reindeer dragged in."

Her head snapped up and then a grin broke out when she saw Max standing at the end of the bar, both his hands on his hips and smirking like the devil himself. He hadn't really changed all that much, except for a few new tattoos. He sported a short golden beard as well that only enhanced his deep green eyes. Max was a big man, but he was all muscle. Not an ounce of fat on him. Gorgeous man candy. If she didn't love him like a brother, she might be tempted to flirt.

She rushed over and he braced for it. When she hit him full speed, he never so much as budged. Not even a small oomph escaped him. When he hugged her she was the one who oomphed. The man gave the tightest hugs of anyone she knew.

"Hey Max."

"You didn't tell me you were coming, Callie."

"Didn't know I was coming." She pulled back enough so she could see his face. "Think I can crash in your back room?"

He arched a brow. "You want to sleep on a couch when you could stay in any fancy hotel around?"

"Yup."

He laughed. "It's all yours, baby girl."

"Thanks." A weight lifted off her shoulders. She'd been half afraid he'd say no, but she should have known better. Max had taken care of her then and he would now. It's why she counted him as one of the few people she called friend.

"How long you in town for?" He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her to a table in the back far enough away from the other customers they wouldn't be overheard.

"A while."

The expression on his face turned wary. He knew why she was here without having to ask. Callie wasn't sure how he felt about it. Not that she cared. She loved Max, but this was her decision. One that took her over a year to make. One she still wasn't sure about. Maybe coming here had been a mistake, but until she faced her past, she couldn't move on with her future.

He signaled the waitress and ordered two beers. Janey looked a little too long at her, but she doubted the girl recognized her. She didn't look like CJ anymore. Instead of the blonde hair streaked with whatever neon color tickled her fancy, her hair was back to its natural deep brown color and she'd cut the heavy mane of hair. Where it had once almost reached her hips, it now flared out around her shoulders.

"This is my sister, Callie," Max said when the girl didn't move away.

"Didn't know you had a sister." Bubble gum popped and Callie winced. Max shook his head and told her to get a move on.

"You let them get away with chewing gum in the bar?"

"I'd rather them chew gum then drink," he countered, but grimaced. "They normally know better than to let the customer know they have it in."

"She was awfully curious. You don't bring anyone around?"

"No. I try to keep that part of my life separate from here."

Max was gay. It was something she'd figured out quickly when she first met him. Now, the people in this town are far more tolerant of who you loved than most. They were more into love thy neighbor than condemn them. It was the only good thing she could say about it. So she knew Max had no worries on that front, and she was curious as to why he'd be hesitant to bring his boyfriend around.

And he did have a boyfriend. Callie had the pictures to prove it. Maybe Justin was a little leery of coming around? She didn't know that much about Justin which meant he might not be out in the open about his relationship status. From Max's closed off expression, she assumed it was going to take a bit for her to get the answers out of him. Not that she wouldn't. It would just take longer than normal.

"Why doesn't it look like Santa's workshop threw up in here?" She leaned back in the booth and propped her feet up on Max's seat. He glared at her foot and she gently kicked him in response.

"I haven't had time to put up the decorations. Two of my waitresses quit and another one is out sick with the flu."

"Hard to keep good help."

He sighed. He hated small talk about as much as she did.

"He might not let you see her."

A breath hissed out from between her teeth. He had to go right for the jugular, didn't he?

"I know."

"Then why are you here, Callie?"

"Because I have to try." She sat up and pulled both her feet under her Indian style.

Janey brought them a beer and they thanked her. Max waited until the waitress moved on to her next table before he spoke again.

"It was the CMT special, wasn't it?"

She nodded and took a deep pull from the bottle. That special had felt like a kick in the teeth.

"Thought so." He sipped at his beer, his eyes hooded. "I texted you right after, but you never replied."

"I'm sorry, I should have texted you back, but I wasn't thinking straight. Once I figured out what I was going to do, it took a lot of work to arrange this. I was cancelling shows and trying to get a flight out here...it was a lot of work. Thought I'd surprise you."

"Bet your record company loved that."

She snorted. "They weren't happy, but Aaron didn't pitch a fit. He understands why I had to come."

"Aaron?"

"Owns my record label. I called him before I even called Ritch."

"How is Ritchie Rich?" Max's eyes twinkled. He loved getting under Ritch's skin. That nickname fit too. Ritch loved money and he was exceptional at making it.

"Mad as a wet hen." She laughed thinking about the whine in his when he realized what she was asking. She'd been booked tight for the entire month of December, but this was more important than anything, including her career.

"I bet. You hungry? Kitchen's closed, but I can whip you up something."

"No. Tired more than anything."

"Where were you?"

"New York."

"That's a flight." He took another sip and pulled out his phone. He lit it up and then slid it over to me.

The little girl who smiled back at me took my breath away. Her onyx hair glinted in the sunlight, making her light blue eyes even bluer. Perfectly pink lips pouted. She did not look happy.

"She was trying to climb up ladder to get to the star old Jim had just attached to the power pole. Her uncle fetched her and told her she couldn't do that."

Sounded like something she would have done as a kid.

"How is Braedon?"

Braedon Hanes had been her best friend once upon a time. She missed him more than anyone else.

"Ornery as a snake and still manages to get all the girls."

"It's his dimples."

Max laughed. "That it might be."

"Send this to me?" Callie handed his phone back to him, knowing he would. Max had been sending her pictures over the years of her daughter. No one knew. If Owen ever found out, he'd flip his lid. At least this way, if Owen said no, she'd still be able to watch her grow up through pictures.

"Of course." He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. "Do you want me to go with you?"

Part of her wanted to shout yes, but that wasn't a good idea. "Maybe I can have him meet me here for lunch or something?" At least Max would be close by in case she needed a shoulder to slober cry on.

He nodded. "You straight?"

"Yeah, Max, I'm all good. I promise. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

He had a right to ask since he was the one who put me back together with tape and pancakes. I spent six months hiding in that backroom of his. Max was the only other person besides Aaron who knew what everything.

"Go on back and get some sleep. The bar won't close for a few more hours, but I'm guessing you can sleep anywhere."

"You'd be right." Tour buses were not condusive to quiet, even late at night. There was always someone awake playing video games, strumming on guitars, or just chit chatting.

"You get hungry, just let me know and I'll make you something."

"I'm all good." Standing, Calliope hugged him. "Thanks for everything, Max."

"Good to have you home, little bit."

He kissed her cheek and then went back to tending bar. Picking up her beer, Calliope made her way to the office and then to the couch that took up most of the room connected to the office. A small bathroom complete with shower was adjacent to that.

Her home sweet home for the next month.