The Teacher's Billionaire

me telling my family about us. We argued about it that night actually. She knew my parents had someone else in mind for me. To them my relationships were more about business than anything else.” Warren explained as if he’d just started putting things together. “Then she broke things off. I never thought about her odd behavior again. I was too angry with her. I wonder if she knew then that she was pregnant.”
    Though he continued to talk aloud, Callie wasn’t certain he was speaking to her. Still, she felt the need to say something. “I don’t know exactly when she found out. Helen just told me my mom was really scared when she did. She waited as long as she could to tell her parents even.”
    He shook his head sadly. “She shouldn’t have had to go through it alone.”
    Callie felt compelled to comfort this man who although a stranger was still her father. To hug him. Instead she said, “Her parents and brother were very supportive, so she wasn’t alone.”
    Warren smiled as if he knew she was trying to comfort him. “I’m glad. They always seemed like nice people. I noticed they sold the store a few years ago.”
    Callie nodded surprised that her father would’ve noticed something so insignificant. “They actually stopped running it a while ago. My Uncle was doing everything. He and his wife decided to retire and move to Arizona.”
    “Nice choice. It is beautiful out there.” Warren put the album on a table near his chair. “How is Dan? Your mom and uncle always seemed very close.”
    “Okay. I think. He took mom’s death really hard.” This man before her just kept surprising her. After more than thirty years he still remembered her uncle’s name. Talk about a good memory.
    Warren leaned back. “Does he know I am your father?”
    “No. She never told anyone until she asked Helen to mail your letter.” A familiar sense of anger and betrayal washed over her. Tears threatened.
    Deal with this later. You don’t want to cry here. Save the tears for afterward when you’re alone.
    “This is probably difficult for you, Callie. Why don’t we switch topics for now? Tell me a little about your childhood.”
    The next two hours literally flew by. She’d expected their time together to be strained and awkward, for it to drag, but it didn’t. True, it was a little strange, especially at first, but overall she had a pleasant morning. Warren Sherbrooke seemed to be a genuinely nice man. Not at all what she expected of a rich and powerful politician.
    “It is a little after noon. Why don’t we join everyone for lunch?” Warren suggested. “I asked our cook to prepare something special this afternoon, at least for everyone else. I’m still eating dry toast and clear broth. Doctor’s orders. We can talk more after that.”
    Callie wasn’t sure she felt up to having lunch with everyone. She would much rather retreat to her motel. She didn’t argue though. How could she? It was lunchtime, and she was a guest in her father’s home.
    We’re actually going to eat in here, Callie wondered following her father into the smaller informal dining room. The room appeared so ornate she half expected to see servants waiting to pull out her chair. Instead she found her father’s wife, Elizabeth, her half sister Sara, and Dylan seated around a beautifully set table.
    Here we go. Round two.
    “Callie, this is my wife Elizabeth.” Warren walked up behind his wife and placed his hand on her shoulders.
    She didn’t need to be told who the fashionably dressed woman with perfect hair and makeup was. Callie had seen plenty of photos of the woman who was still quite beautiful even though she was, well into her fifties.
    You can do this.
Callie forced herself to smile.
She’s not going to bite.
    “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Sherbrooke.” Callie extended her hand and waited unsure of what to expect. While her father had mentioned his wife several times during their conversation he hadn’t even hinted at her feelings regarding this bizarre situation. And after her brief encounter with her half sister two days earlier, Callie didn’t know what to expect from her father’s wife.
    “Please call me Elizabeth. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you my dear,” Elizabeth replied taking Callie’s outstretched hand. “Warren has been looking forward to meeting you since he received the letter from your mother.”
    Despite Elizabeth’s pleasant tone, Callie remained unsure of her true feelings. Her smile