23. Caleb
CHAPTER 23
Caleb
W e go through our regular morning routine. The difference this morning is Bailey meets me at the station after she drops off Charlie. I sit with her as we get the police report filed about last night’s incident with Derek.
When we finish, I walk her out to her car, giving her a quick kiss before she drives to work. Back inside the station, I gather my stuff to begin my patrol shift. While I’m out on patrol, I stop by the courthouse and pick up some information packets for Bailey about getting a hearing to have the decision of Derek’s visitation rights overturned. On my way home after shift, I stop at the store, grabbing some more Christmas decorations so we can spend the entire evening decorating the house. I don’t own a lot of decorations because I never felt the need to decorate with it always being just me. Mom always decorates her place, so I help her.
While I’m at the store, I text the family group chat to let them know I’m bringing the girls.
Caleb: I’m bringing two people with me to Christmas dinner.
Max: Two?
Caleb: Yeah.
Max: Who?
Mom: Any dietary restrictions?
Caleb: No allergies that I know of. They aren’t super picky.
Mom: Okay. Can’t wait to meet them.
Max: Again, who? You just bringing some friends with you?
Caleb: Nope.
Max: Now I’ve got to know. You have two girlfriends and you’re bringing them both to dinner? ??
Caleb: WTF? No. It’s my girlfriend and her daughter. You really think I’d do that?
Max: Just giving you shit.
Mom: You’re seeing someone? And she has a daughter? Why don’t you bring them for dinner this weekend? I’d love to meet them.
Caleb: I’ll ask.
Max: Count Sarah and me in too.
As I’m finishing my bagging, a man walking by bumps my shoulder. Lifting my head, I see it’s Derek. He’s standing there glaring at me.
“They’re mine,” he growls.
I ignore him. I don’t want to start a scene in the middle of the store, especially while wearing my uniform.
“You just going to be a pussy an d not say anything?”
He steps right into my personal space. I take a step back, but he follows.
“You’re not man enough for her. She’s mine, always has been, always will be.”
I’m done. I snap. “She’s not yours. She’s not a possession to be owned. She’s a person, and she chooses who she wants to be with and seeing as she divorced your ass, that obviously isn’t you. You need to leave her and I both alone before you wind up back in jail.” I turn and leave the store before he can say anything.
When I get home, Charlie is playing with some toys in the living room and Bailey is dancing to Taylor Swift while cleaning the kitchen. Her black leggings hug her curves and show off her perfect ass. Her T-shirt rises slightly, showing just a sliver of skin as she reaches across the kitchen counter with a rag and shakes her ass to the music. I lean against the doorjamb and watch her with a smile on my face.
This view makes me realize I want to come home to this every day for the rest of my life. I don’t know how it happened, but I’ve completely fallen in love with these two girls. That thought also scares the crap out of me because I’m not sure how long I’m going to be able to keep them.
Bailey turns and when she sees me, she yelps as she jumps before laughing. My smile grows as I walk up, wrap my arms around her back, and pull her into me before leaning down and kissing her. She melts into me when our lips touch. Her arms wrap around my neck. I kiss her slowly, taking my time. Charlie’s in the living room, so I have some time with just Bailey. I lick across the seam of her lips, coaxing her to open for me, and she does. Our tongues meet, and I grab her ass before breaking the kiss.
She smiles up at me. “Welcome home.”
With her head tipped back like this, her beautiful blonde hair cascades down her back. I run my fingers through her long str ands, enjoying the feeling of it between my fingers.
“How was your day?” I ask.
“It was a day. Nothing special. You?”
I sigh, knowing I need to tell her about my run-in with Derek, but not wanting to ruin the mood or upset her. I hold her tight to me. “I ran into Derek at the store on my way home.”
Her hands fist the back of my uniform shirt.
“He still seems to think he has a chance with you. He tried to warn me away from you and Charlie.”
Her face is etched with worry.
I tuck her hair behind her ear and kiss the tip of her nose, forehead, cheeks, and lips. “But I’m not going to do that. I’m not going anywhere. You need to be watchful when you’re out. If I had it my way, you wouldn’t leave the house without me. I know I can’t do that, so I want you to be vigilant. Program speed dials, make sure you always have your phone on you, and try to stay in super public places. If you can, I’d like for you to be with other people as much as possible.”
“I’ll be careful, but what about you? I’m worried that he’ll take it too far.”
“I’ll be okay. I’m trained to be vigilant and protect myself.”
She looks deep into my eyes, concern filling hers, but mine outmeasures hers tenfold. I’ve been in worse situations and been able to handle myself, but this is completely new for both her and Charlie.
“I grabbed some Christmas decorations on my way home. I thought we could decorate together.”
Seemingly thankful for the subject change, she smiles, and her face lights up. I let go of her and move to the bags I brought in and pull out some Christmas ornaments and other nicknacks. As she pulls out each item, her excitement increases. I love seeing this side of her.
We take everything into the living room, and I say hi to Charlie, giving her a hug and forehead kiss and listening as she tells me about her day at school. The two of us decorate the tree, and Bailey puts the other decorations in their place.
When we finish, I take a step back. My house now feels like a home. I’ve noticed that ever since the girls moved in. I walk in the door and everything feels warmer, happier. I used to love the solitude of my place; it was where I could escape the noise of the world. I never would have let someone move into my space. Then I met Bailey, and she pulled me in with her strength and resilience, her determination and independence, her capacity for love and understanding, her beauty and intelligence. Charlie pulled me in the same way. She has all the best traits of her mother, and they both have me wrapped around their little fingers. I would and will do anything for them.
When we finish decorating, Bailey and I make our way into the kitchen and get started on dinner. Tonight, I’m making a quick pasta and Bolognese and Bailey is making a salad.
“My mom invited us for dinner this weekend,” I say, stirring the sauce.
Silence fills the room. I no longer hear the subtle sound of the knife hitting the cutting board. Turning, she looks at me with a strange look on her face.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah.” She clears her throat and continues to cut the tomato in her hand. “So, your mom invited you to dinner this weekend.”
“No,” I correct. “She invited us. You, me, and Charlie.”
“What do you mean?” she asks.
I’m not sure how I’m being confusing.
“My mother invited the three of us to dinner at her place on Saturday,” I say the sentence slowly.
“I’m understanding what you’re saying. I’m just confused as to how this happened,” she says with an adorable little huff.
“I texted my family group chat and said I’d be bringing two people to Christmas dinner. My brother, being my brother, decided to try to give me shit about it. I cleared it up by saying I’d be bringing my girlfriend and her daughter. Mom wants to meet you, so she invited us to dinner on Saturday. I said I’d ask you.”
“Girlfriend.” The word is full of awe. It’s light and breathy, and I smile at the sound.
“Yeah, girlfriend.”
“Really?” There’s confusion on her face now.
I take a deep breath. “I’m going to try my best not to be an ass here, Bails, but yeah, girlfriend. What the fuck?”
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, setting her knife on the cutting board. I watch her, worried I’ve fucked this all up.
She lifts her head and makes eye contact with me, a light sheen over her eyes. “It’s just a lot. After the divorce, I never thought I’d get serious with anyone. One, I never thought someone would want to be with me. I have a crazy ex-husband and a daughter who demands a lot of my time and energy. And two, I never thought I’d be able to trust another man after everything I went through. It’s still just a lot to wrap my head around.”
I hold her eyes for a few seconds before turning the burner to the lowest setting and rounding the kitchen island. I place my hands on each side of her face. “I want you. I want Charlie. I want all your baggage. You’re not just a quick fuck. I’m in this. I would like you to come meet my family on Saturday if you’re up to it.”
Tears slowly fall down her cheeks, and I wipe them away with my thumb. I rest my forehead against hers. “Please don’t cry, baby. I hate seeing you cry.”
A rush of air passes over my cheek as she takes a deep breath and releases it.
“You just make me happy. These are happy tears.”
I kiss each cheek before pulling back. “You okay?”
She nods, and I return to the stove and finish dinner. When everything is done, the three of us sit at the table to eat.
“Mommy, can I go to Aunty Liv’s on Saturday?”
“I’m sorry, Baby Girl, but we’re going to Caleb’s mom’s on Saturday.”
I smile, happy she’s taking this step with me.
“Really?” Charlie asks.
“Yeah, she’s super excited to meet you,” I say. “But I do have a hockey game in the afternoon. I’m sure you can see Aunty Liv there.”
Bailey reaches out and places her hand on my forearm. “I actually have a doctor’s appointment Saturday afternoon, so I won’t be able to make your game.”
“Okay, well, I can take Charlie with me for the afternoon and see if Liv will hang with her while I’m changing. If you finish early enough, you can meet us there. If not, we’ll meet back here and head to Mom’s.”
Bailey stares at me. She opens her mouth, closes it, and then does it again. “You’ll take Charlie?”
“Of course.” I look at Charlie. “You okay hanging out with me while your mom goes to the doctor, Little Bear?”
She nods as she continues to eat her pasta.
“See, sounds like a plan.”
“Thank you,” Bailey says, affection filling her voice.
“You don’t have to thank me for spending time with Charlie,” I say, meaning every word. I enjoy spending time with Charlie. It’s not a chore, it’s a privilege.
She stares at me with a soft smile , and it’s one I want to see on her for the rest of my life.