43. Caleb
Caleb
AUGUST
Noelle sat on the porch swing, her legs tucked beneath her, as she stared out at the late summer, stormy sky. I stepped outside, two ice cream sundaes in hand. She took hers without a word and started eating.
“You okay, kiddo?” I asked, nudging her with my shoulder.
She swallowed a bite of ice cream before answering, “Yeah.” A small smile tugged at her lips. “Grace will be over soon.” A moment passed, and then Noelle said, “I’m glad you met her.”
My chest tightened at the sound of it. She loved Grace as though it was the most natural thing in the world now. I wrapped an arm around the back of the swing, letting it rock gently. “Me too.”
Noelle was quiet for a moment, staring down at her ice cream. “I was scared she wouldn’t come back.”
I swallowed hard, feeling all the emotions again. “Yeah. I was too.”
She leaned her head against my arm, her voice quieter now. “I didn’t want to tell you this at first, but I was scared she left because of me.”
“Hey.” I turned to face her fully, my parental instincts in full gear. I gave her a fierce look. “Grace leaving had nothing to do with you. Not even a little bit. She had her own things to figure out. Sometimes … sometimes, grown-ups fuck up.”
Noelle rolled her eyes. “Swear jar.” We both knew there was no point in the swear jar.
I smiled. “Yeah. yeah. But you understand my point, right?”
She nodded slowly, and I only could hope with time she would believe me. I waited, giving her time to process, before she spoke again. “I’m finally making friends.”
I sighed in relief. “Yeah?”
“Yep. And the school year hasn’t even begun.” She let out a breath, a little laugh escaping. “I’m glad all the drama is over. People are over talking bad about Grace. I think Ms. Kenzie said something to their parents.”
Pride swelled in my chest. I had an amazing kid. “All that matters is you keep trying. No matter how many times you fall, you always get back up.”
Noelle smiled, a little shy, a little proud. “I love you, Dad.”
I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, letting the swing rock us gently.
After eating her ice cream sundae, she got up to start rollerblading again.
Noelle fell down a few times, still getting the hang of it.
She looked over at me as she was crouched on the sidewalk. I nodded. She got up and tried again.
I heard the sound of gravel crunching as Grace’s car pulled in.
The sun dipped low behind the trees, painting the sky in different streaks of gold.
My girl jumped out of the car and beamed at me.
She once told me high society called her the “Golden Girl.” Grace might have lost that title to the world, but she was still my golden girl.
“First time taking her out by myself.” Grace squealed as I kissed the top of her head.
“I’m proud of you, baby.”
Grace purchased her first car down at the local dealership. This was the first time she took the car, Eloise, out by herself. The name was chosen by my daughter and Grace. They were obsessed with all things Eloise and already started planning Noelle’s next birthday party with that theme.
“I thought about what you said,” Grace started, looking back to the door. Probably making sure little ears weren’t listening.
I studied her, searching for any hesitation, and when I found none, I brushed my fingers along her jaw. “You sure?”
She nodded, leaning into my touch. “I’m sure.”
Something in me eased, knowing I wasn’t wrong in my instincts to ask her. I had been throwing around the idea of moving in together basically since she admitted to lying about sleeping with Grant. I didn’t ask her until last night. We had gained more trust in each other and Noelle trusted us too.
I exhaled, picking up Noelle’s rollerblades.
“I need you to understand something.” I looked Grace straight in the eyes.
“We can’t do this if you’re going to run again.
I don’t think you will, but I just have to say this.
Noelle …” I shook my head. “She already had one mother who walked away. I won’t put her through that again. ”
Guilt flashed in her eyes. “I know,” she whispered. “I won’t. I promise.”
I saw the honesty behind her words. I smirked suddenly, titling my head. “Do you realize it’s exactly one year since you threw that martini on me? And if memory serves, you promised not to leave then, but you did anyway.”
She groaned, shaking her head. “It was an accident. And I was scared.”
“Was it, though?” I teased.
“Yes, I was on edge being in a new town all by myself.”
I pulled her closer, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Well, either way, I’m glad you did. Best thing to happen to us.”
She melted against me, her warmth sinking into me. “Now, we have a little girl to ask.”