Chapter 53
CHAPTER 53
APRIL
I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so loudly or as long as I do playing Monopoly with the Frazer siblings. Gabriel’s competitive nature has no limits and is just as intense as his poker games against the boys, even with Leah reining him in. They play as a team. Kat’s brothers tease her relentlessly, as she is the family hotelier. Harper plays with the devil on her shoulder, seemingly making purchases, with the sole purpose of winding up her brothers and sister. Caleb, the family joker, sits and enjoys the show. Since we’ve been partnered together, that leaves me as our strategist and, like Gabriel, I have a competitive streak. Elijah pairs up with his daughter and encourages her to stand up to her aunts and uncles, although I think it’s a play. Making the others feel guilty against the youngest member so he can sweep in and win the game with her. Watching Francesca, she just appears to enjoy having her family all together.
It’s gone midnight before we call it a night.
I fall into bed next to Caleb. It seems to have been a given that we’re together. No-one questioned it, and no-one asked. I suppose his continued shows of affection, kissing my neck, pulling me against him are a bit of a giveaway. The greatest surprise of all is no-one seems to worry or care about the difference in our social standing. I’m not sure what I expected, but total acceptance wasn’t it. Maybe Caleb always brings someone home and his family are used to it.
“Before you say anything, you’re the first woman I have played family Monopoly with,” he says, rolling onto his side to face me.
I roll and face him, placing my arm under my head, mirroring Caleb’s position. I’ve already made it clear there will be no sex while we are under his mother’s roof. Something he willingly agreed to.
I found out why, when he took me on a tour of the outbuildings to show me his car collection. He coaxed me into the back seat of one of his amazing motor cars, and we went on an entirely different ride to the one I was expecting. Thank God for flexibility.
Caleb’s excuse—we weren’t under his mother’s roof.
“See, tonight wasn’t too bad,” he says, his thumb grazing my cheek.
I grin. “I had fun. Your family is amazing. Thank you for talking me into coming.”
He gives me a satisfied grin. “You only have to survive tomorrow, which I know you will rock. Your kids are awesome, and Scarlett will be here to help.”
“I know, and I’m so grateful for her. Tyler and Jonas are coming on in leaps and bounds. Scarlett wants me to encourage them to apply for the new scholarship.”
“I think you should,” he says, but then again, he’s unaware of my fears. “You look unsure,” he says, a furrow appearing between his eyes. I forget how good he is at reading me.
“I’m being silly,” I say, knowing my own insecurities drive me.
“Nothing is silly, if it’s how you feel. Talk to me.” He pushes himself up onto his elbow, his head resting on his hand. His eyes locked on me. I shirk at the intensity of his gaze.
I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling. Not sure I want to see the pity, the sympathy.
“You know I went to the conservatoire?”
I sense him agree, refusing to meet his gaze.
“We had thirty hours of lessons a week. I was on a scholarship. It paid for my fees, however the rest, I needed to fund myself.”
I turn to look at him, see if he gets the picture. “I had to finance my accommodation and my food. I took out a student loan, but it wasn’t enough, so I got a job.”
I have Cal’s full attention.
“Initially, it was fine. I studied, I worked. Group work meant taking evenings off work. My boss understood in the beginning, but after a while he told me he wasn’t a charity. In the end, I couldn’t do it all. I wasn’t sleeping, I wasn’t eating properly. I knew I’d never survive another two years. I was running up more and more debt, with no guarantees in the end. Our teachers told us how competitive the industry is, that may be one of us might get lucky. With those odds, I left.”
“What did you do?” he asks.
I pause. This is the ideal time to tell him, and I can almost hear Samuel shouting at me. But it’s not fair, not while we’re here, I made a promise to Francesca.
If I tell Caleb and he wants me gone…
I swallow the words that are on my tongue.
“I left and got a job, used the money I saved up to open the dance school. I gained some of the qualifications I needed while I was still living with Di, so I was already halfway there.”
Caleb pulls me into his arms, my head resting on his chest, as he kisses my forehead .
“We’ll speak to Mum and Scarlett. Make sure those on a scholarship have enough to live on. They won’t have their dreams ripped away from them because it’s been ill thought out.” His arms tighten around me. “I want you to talk to my mother, to the Foundation Board.”
I bite my lip, overcome with emotion. This man turns me into a wreck. His understanding and compassion. He’s not the heartless love-em and leave-em type I thought he was.
My head rubs against his chest, acknowledging what he’s saying. I wipe under my eyes.
“I’d like that,” I whisper, hoping my voice doesn’t give me away. It does, as Caleb’s arm tightens around me, pulling me closer into him.
“We’ll discuss it after the party tomorrow,” he whispers, pressing his lips against my hair. “Sleep now.”
I let my eyes drift shut, enjoying the warmth and comfort only Caleb can provide. I’ve never been into cuddles, never had the chance. Although I tell a lie, I recall a faint memory of a time when someone cuddled me. Cuddled and kissed, swung me around, tickled me. But those are distant memories and I’m not sure if they’re the made-up fantasies of a foster kid lacking attention, or whether they were real. I want to believe they’re real, that someone cared. I drift off, holding that thought close to my heart.