Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
C aleb stood on Taylor’s porch, holding a small, carefully wrapped package in each hand. The late morning sun cast a warm glow over the yard, but the burden of his guilt made it hard to appreciate the day’s beauty.
After last night, Caleb couldn’t shake the question gnawing at him since he’d woken: how would Taylor accept him today?
Would she still be angry at him?
Her anger had been justified—he knew that. Learning the truth about Liam hadn’t been easy for either of them, and their argument at the hospital had only poured salt into old wounds. But Taylor was fierce, guarded, and fervently protective of their son. Caleb had seen her love for Liam written in every action, every word.
And now, he was stepping into their lives, into a role he should have taken on years ago. Was it too late?
He didn’t blame her if she was still upset. Hell, if the roles were reversed, he’d be furious too. But Caleb wasn’t the same man who’d left her all those years ago, and he was determined to show her that.
Today was his chance to start fresh, to show Taylor he could be the father Liam deserved—and perhaps the partner she needed.
He glanced down at the gifts he’d brought—a stuffed dinosaur in one box and a bright red toy truck in the other. They seemed so small, so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but they were the best he could think of to bring a smile to Liam’s face.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. A moment later, it opened, and Taylor stood there, her expression a mixture of surprise and wariness.
“Caleb,” she said, stepping back slightly. “What are you doing here?”
“I want to see Liam,” he said, holding the packages. “And... maybe start making up for yesterday.”
How did they move past this? How did they find their way back to where they’d been just yesterday—before everything shifted, before the truth unraveled everything?
And now, he had a son.
A son he hadn’t known about, but one he already felt an undeniable connection to. A son he wanted to know, to understand, to be there for in a way his father never had been.
But where did they even begin? How did they pick up the pieces and figure out how to move forward from here?
Taylor’s gaze softened just a fraction, and she nodded, opening the door wider. “He’s in the living room. Come on in.”
Caleb stepped inside, his boots scuffing lightly against the hardwood floor. The house smelled faintly of lavender and something sweet—cookies, maybe. It was cozy, warm, and felt nothing like the cold, cavernous ranch house he’d grown up in.
Liam sat cross-legged on the rug, surrounded by a pile of building blocks. His face lit up when he saw Caleb.
“Caleb!” Liam scrambled to his feet, his curls bouncing as he ran over.
As he gazed at the little boy, an overwhelming rush of love filled him. A bittersweet ache settled in as he shook his head. How had he missed it? How had he not realized this bright, lively child was his flesh and blood?
“Hey, buddy,” Caleb said, crouching to meet him. “I brought you something.”
Liam’s eyes went wide as Caleb handed him the first package. He tore into it with the enthusiasm only a child could muster, gasping when the stuffed dinosaur appeared.
“Wow!” Liam exclaimed, hugging the dinosaur tightly. “A T-Rex! He’s my favorite!”
Caleb grinned at the boy’s excitement. “I thought you might like him. And I’ve got one more thing.”
He handed Liam the second package, and the boy’s eyes grew wider as he unwrapped the shiny red truck.
“Whoa!” Liam said, rolling the truck along the floor immediately. “This is so cool! Mommy, look.”
“What do you say, Liam,” Taylor said, gazing at the boy.
“Thank you, Caleb.”
Caleb chuckled, glancing up at Taylor, who stood nearby with her arms crossed. She wasn’t smiling, but her expression was softer than he’d expected.
Liam suddenly looked up, his brow furrowing. “Why were you arguing with Mommy yesterday?”
Caleb froze, the question hitting him like a punch. Caleb watched the boy fiercely defending his mother, standing his ground with a determination far beyond his years. It struck a chord deep within him, echoing memories he’d long tried to bury.
Hadn’t he done the same for his own mother? How often had he stepped in to shield her from his father’s cutting words or icy indifference? Seeing Liam now was like looking into a mirror he hadn’t realized existed.
His throat tightened, and his gaze darted to Taylor, who stepped in quickly.
“Liam,” Taylor said gently, kneeling beside him. “Sometimes grown-ups don’t always agree on things, but it’s okay. Caleb and I talked, and we worked it out. We’re friends again.”
“Really?” Liam looked between them, his small face serious.
“Really,” Taylor said, smiling as she ruffled his curls.
“Good, because I like you, Caleb,” he said.
Caleb swallowed hard, guilt twisting inside him. He hadn’t even realized Liam might’ve overheard their argument, let alone been affected by it. Already, he was making mistakes, letting his temper and his emotions get the better of him.
Just like his father.
His hands tightened into fists at his sides as the fear clawed at him again. What if he wasn’t cut out for this? What if he hurt Liam the way his father had hurt him?
“Caleb?” Taylor’s voice broke through his spiraling thoughts.
He looked up, startled, to find her watching him with concern. She tilted her head toward the kitchen. “Can we talk for a minute?”
He nodded, standing stiffly as she led the way. He glanced back at Liam, who was already engrossed in rolling the truck back and forth with his new dinosaur riding on top.
In the kitchen, Taylor leaned against the counter, crossing her arms as she studied him. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” he said, though his voice didn’t carry the conviction he hoped it would. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just... I didn’t think about how yesterday might’ve affected him. I didn’t mean to?—”
“I know,” she said softly, cutting him off. “Kids pick up on more than we think, but he’s fine. He’s happy you’re here.”
Caleb let out a slow breath, her reassurance helping but not erasing the knot restricting his breathing.
There was so much Caleb didn’t know about being a good parent, but he was willing to learn. He had to.
Had his father ever tried to learn what it meant to be a parent? To understand what he should or shouldn’t do? Caleb doubted it. The man had been too consumed by his selfishness, too caught up in his anger and control to care about the damage he left behind.
No, his father hadn’t cared. And that was the difference. Caleb cared deeply about Liam and being the kind of father his son deserved. The kind of father who showed up, who loved unconditionally, and who put his child’s needs above his own.
Taylor watched him for a moment before speaking again. “Why don’t we figure this out together? We’re both new to this, Caleb. There’s no handbook for co-parenting.”
He nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I want to do this right, Taylor. I want to be there for him, but... I’m scared I’m going to screw it up.”
Her expression softened, and she stepped closer, her voice quiet. “You’re already doing better than you think. You’re here. You’re trying. That’s what matters.”
Her words steadied him, and he met her gaze. “Thanks,” he said. “For letting me be part of his life.”
Taylor hesitated, then nodded. “You deserve to be. You’re his father.”
He let her words settle briefly before clearing his throat and shifting gears. “I was wondering... would you have dinner with me? Just the two of us? We need to talk about Liam—about everything—without him overhearing.”
Taylor blinked, her expression flickering with surprise. “Dinner?”
“Yeah,” Caleb said, his voice firm but tinged with uncertainty. “Nothing fancy. Just a chance to figure out where we go from here. I’d like for him to know I’m his father,” Caleb said, his voice steady but laced with vulnerability.
Taylor stared at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable as she absorbed his words. Finally, she let out a deep breath, her gaze softening. “You’re right. We need to figure out how to handle that.”
“Plus,” Caleb added, his voice firmer now, “I want to pay child support.”
Yes, Caleb was determined to make it clear to Taylor and himself that he intended to be the kind of father Liam could depend on.
He wasn’t just going to write checks for child support and call it a day. No, he wanted to be there for Liam, to help raise him, to be the dad who showed up for every scraped knee, every school event, and every bedtime story.
He refused to be the kind of father who dropped in every other weekend, treating parenting like an obligation. Caleb wanted to be a full-time dad who was fully present in Liam’s life. He’d already missed so much, and he wouldn’t miss another moment if he could help it.
Taylor blinked, clearly caught off guard. Her arms uncrossed, and she studied him for a moment before nodding slowly. “Okay,” she said quietly. “We can talk about that too.”
She hesitated, glancing toward the doorway to ensure Liam was still out of earshot. Then she looked back at him, her gaze steady. “Dinner sounds... reasonable.”
Caleb exhaled, relief washing over him. “Great. I’ll pick you up tomorrow?”
Taylor nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Tomorrow.”
Leaning in, he brushed a quick kiss against her lips. It wasn’t the kind of kiss that stole breath or made the world tilt, but it carried something deeper—a quiet promise, a hint of the care he still held for her, even after all this time. As he left the kitchen to join Liam again, a tiny spark of hope began to grow inside him. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
And for now, that was enough.