35. Halle
CHAPTER 35
HALLE
A cross the kitchen, Caleb’s eyes go wide. He darts over to me and mutters a panicked “don’t listen to a word she says. Take it with a grain of salt,” then shuffles off to greet her.
I blink at Salem, my heart in my throat. “Is she really that bad?”
With a snort, she arranges a serving dish on the bottom rack of the dishwasher. “Oh yeah.”
My breath gusts out of me. Dammit.
Straightening, she gives me a sympathetic smile. “I could lie to you, but it’s better if you’re prepared. Mrs. Thorne is a hard pill to swallow. If it makes you feel better, there’s no way she could hate you more than me.”
That comment only makes my stomach twist. If she doesn’t like Salem, one of the nicest humans on this planet, I’m doomed.
As if every being here has been alerted to an alien presence, the house goes silent. Even the kids and loud-mouthed Thelma don’t make a sound.
She’s sitting at the table with the whole gaggle of children, playing what looks suspiciously like poker, glowering at the couple entering the house.
I swear the room drops several degrees when Caleb ushers them into the fray. “My parents decided to stop by.” Despite his best efforts to keep a neutral expression, he grimaces. “Mom brought tiramisu.”
“Apology dessert,” Salem huffs beside me. “Bet it’s as bitter as she is.”
I cover my mouth to hold back surprised laughter.
“Mom, Dad, I’d like to introduce you to Halle and her brothers.”
Oh no, oh no, oh no. They’re coming my way.
Caleb steps away from his parents and sets the dessert on the island. Then he sidles up beside me, his shoulders pulled back and his head high. “This is Halle, my girlfriend.”
I plaster a smile on my face and extend my hand to his mother. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
She takes it, delicately grasping my fingers rather than my whole hand. “I’m Katrina,” she says in a bored tone, her focus drifting around the room rather than fixed on me .
“Thomas.” Caleb’s dad’s handshake and tone are at least polite.
“Salem,” Katrina says in a snide tone.
“Always a pleasure,” my new friend croons.
Thayer appears at her side, arm around her waist, stepping slightly in front of her like he might have to physically defend her from the frigid woman who just arrived.
“Likewise,” she drawls, moving away.
“And over there by Thelma and Cynthia,” Caleb says, pointing at the table, “are Casen and Quinn. Halle’s brothers.”
Katrina assesses them with an unimpressed look, her only response a “hmm.”
At her side her husband shoves his hands in his pockets, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. From the way he rounds his shoulders, it looks like he’s the kind of man who lets his wife dictate things and prefers not to rock the boat, lest it disturb whatever kind of peace he’s carved out for himself.
“Are you hungry?” Caleb asks them. “There are plenty of leftovers. I can warm up a couple of plates.”
Katrina’s lips pinch, her expression sour. “We already ate. Just thought we’d drop by for dessert.”
“I’m glad you’re here.” His expression looks kind enough, but based on his reaction when Thayer informed him of their arrival, I get the impression this statement is very much a lie.
“We’re having dessert in a bit.” This comes from Thayer, his voice deep and rumbly. “Feel free to find a seat and make yourselves at home. ”
Katrina gives him a hard look, then makes her way out of the room.
With a heavy sigh, Caleb’s dad turns to Thayer. “Got any whiskey around here? I need a drink.”
I think we all might.
Outside on the porch, watching the kids play kickball in the street, I pull my coat tighter around me, trying to stave off the chill. While I’m shivering, the kids act like it’s the middle of summer, not a single one bothering with a coat or even a sweatshirt.
Casen sits on the front steps beside me, lips downturned as he surveys the game.
I bump his good knee with mine. “You’ll be back and better than ever before you know it.”
“I know,” he groans, his expression still flat.
He’s much better with the crutches now, and he’s figured out how to navigate most tasks, but I can imagine it’s still hard for him to sit on the sidelines so often.
I rest my cheek on his shoulder. “I love you, kid.”
He gently drops his head to mine a moment later. “Love you too, sis.”
We’re still sitting like that, watching Quinn chase after Soleil, letting her stay ahead of him, when a shadow falls over us.
I know who it is before I even look.
“Could we have a chat?” Katrina asks, peering down at me with an expression of pure judgment .
“Yes, of course.” I feign a smile and stand, dusting off the back of my jeans.
I follow her down the stairs and onto the sidewalk to the end of Caleb’s driveway.
Caleb catches my gaze from where he’s refereeing the kickball game. He’s tense, poised to run over, like he wants to play referee with us too, but I shake my head. Katrina might intimidate, but I’m used to people like her. At the end of the day, they’re just big bullies.
She turns to me, arms crossed in a defensive stance. I mirror the move, a shiver running down my spine that has nothing to do with the temperature.
I barely know this woman, but I don’t like her. It was clear the moment she stepped into the kitchen today that she’s cold. Calculated.
I can see it in her eyes—how much she dislikes me as well.
She nods her head to where Seda, Quinn, Soleil, and Georgia’s boys play.
“She’s not his, you know.”
Frowning, all I can muster is a confused “huh?”
The comment is so sudden and unexpected that it catches me off guard.
“Seda. He calls her his daughter, but she’s not his. Has he told you that?”
Though it’s a question, she doesn’t wait for me to respond before continuing to spew the venom I have a feeling she saved for this moment. As if this is her true reason for showing up today. To intimidate me, to try to scare me off. If that’s the case, I pity her. I can’t imagine being so miserable.
“Salem was his high school girlfriend. I always knew she was trouble. Ended up knocked up by the older guy living next door, yet somehow manipulated my son into marrying her. And Caleb? He was more than happy to swoop in and make it all better for her.” Every word that comes out of her mouth is dripping with disdain.
Face stony, she looks me up and down like I’m the dirt beneath her shoes. “That’s what he does. He takes in the strays and tries to save them.”
She’s chosen these words carefully, with the intention of wounding me. I know that, yet it doesn’t erase the sting they cause.
“He deserves better,” she goes on. “Someone right. Someone proper. A woman from a good family. A woman deserving of the Thorne name.”
She studies me once more, lip curled in disgust, silently relaying that, in her eyes, I’m not that person. After a heartbeat, she strides toward Caleb to say goodbye. From there, she heads straight to the Mercedes her husband has already started. Neither of them even acknowledges Seda.
That alone guts me more than any other part of today’s interaction.
When I turn back to check on Caleb, he’s watching me, a hand raised to shield his eyes from the sun and worry deepening the lines on either side of his mouth.
Her words shouldn’t cut me, but they do. And she’s right in a lot of respects. I’m not proper, nor do I come from a good family. In the past, her words might’ve been enough to have me breaking things off, but I’m stronger now, and I won’t let a woman who’s so obviously miserable in her own existence dictate how I feel about myself and those around me.
I walk over to Caleb, who engulfs me in a hug when I get close.
“What’d she want?”
Chin resting on his chest, I give him a small smile. “Nothing important.”
His eyes flit across my face like he’s trying to read me. “You sure?”
My chest pinches at the concern there. “Yep.”
“Halle?” he prompts, clearly unable to let it go.
With a sigh, I say, “It wasn’t nice, but it doesn’t bear repeating. I know how you feel about me and I’m not going to let your mother get in my head.”
He sags. “You shouldn’t be trying to keep peace between me and her.”
I bristle, straightening. “She’s still your mother.”
With a kiss to the top of my head, he heaves out a breath. “You’re too good for me.”
He’s wrong. It’s the other way around. But I keep that to myself.
Though I didn’t grow up in the best of places or under the best circumstances, I know Caleb is my person.
I meet his eye, ensuring he can see the truth behind my next words. “I love you.”
For an instant, he stiffens, his eyes going wide, but as the words sink in, he groans and presses a kiss to my mouth, his hand warm on my cheek despite the chilly air. “’Bout damn time you got on the same page as me. I love you too, baby.”