Page 78 of Shadows Relived
But when Sophie spotted them through the glass window, she shot up like a rocket. “Miss Harrington!” she cried, barreling toward them with her too-big backpack bouncing wildly against her back.
Lucas and Willie weren’t far behind, and before he could brace for it, all three kids had him surrounded. Sophie launched her arms around Meaghan’s waist, nearly knocking her off-balance, while Lucas and Willie both stood at Callen’s side, eyes wide, hesitant, but filled with something that rocked him harder than any explosion ever had: trust.
“Hey, guys,” he said gruffly, bending down slightly as he tousled their hair. “You all doing okay?”
Willie nodded. “Meemaw said we were heroes.”
Callen chuckled, bobbing his head. “She’s right. You are definitely heroes. You were all extremely brave. I’ve never been prouder of anyone in my life.”
Lucas stared up at him, pushing his glasses higher on his nose. “You got shot. Are you doing better? Did you keep the bullet?”
Callen smirked. “No, I didn’t keep the bullet. And yeah, I got shot, and you helped Miss Harrington take care of me, and that’s something in my book. I owe you.”
Meaghan shot him a look, but the kids giggled as the tension loosened.
“Mr. Callen,” Sophie said, her voice low, hesitant. “I was terrified, but then I heard your voice in the woods and I knew we were gonna be all right.”
His throat tightened, but he managed a soft, “Me too, squirt.”
Behind them, Principal Kinsey approached, buttoned-up and clearly trying to hide a watery smile. “Miss Harrington. Mr. McHollister.” He extended a hand to Callen. “It’s a pleasure to meet the man who took such great care of my students and their teacher.”
Callen shook it, firm and steady.
“I want to thank you for what you did for them. I know the world’s a complicated place, but your part in this?” He made a slow bob of his head. “Amazing. You saved lives.” He glanced around at the others. “Lives that are very important to me.”
Callen glanced down at the kids clinging to Meaghan’s side and felt something he hadn’t expected—peace. “Thanks,” he breathed. “They’re important to me as well.”
The principal gave a curt nod, slapping Callen on the back. “Well, we appreciate all you did. And please don’t be a stranger around here.”
“I won’t,” Callen assured him.
The principal hugged Meaghan and then told her he looked forward to having her back in her classroom on Monday. The kids cheered as they wrapped their arms around her once more, and Callen could only stand there and smile, hoping no one noticed him wipe away a tear that threatened to fall.
As they stepped out into the afternoon warmth, he shoved his hands into his pockets. “So, what do you want to do now?”
She grinned as she glanced around at him. “It’s Wednesday. We do karaoke onWednesdays.”
He sighed. “First kids, and now bad singing. This just isn’t my day. You do remember I saved your life, don’t you?”
She looped an arm around his as they headed to the SUV. “As I see it, I saved yours.”
He nodded. “That you did. That you did.”
The Rusty Pelican wasn’t much from the outside, just a faded brick building tucked into a corner off the historic square. However, inside, it pulsed with light and laughter. Locals crowded into booths, the bar was lined three deep, and a man Meaghan had introduced as Andy was already tuning the karaoke mic like he was about to headline Madison Square Garden.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Meaghan whispered as she leaned into Callen.
“Luckily, I called in reinforcements,” he murmured back, but the sight of her—laughing, safe, in jeans and a slouchy sweater with a little curl back in her hair—made it all worth it.
“Oh, did you now?” She cocked a brow at him as he smirked.
He nodded to the door that just opened as Elvis and the others sauntered into the place, Hawk and Grim already heading for the bar, tossing him a wave as they joined the other patrons in line.
“Never go into battle alone,” he told her.
She laughed. “It’s karaoke.”
“Exactly.”
