Chapter Eight #3
“Right after you both moved to Ternbay, he and I started seeing each other. That was back when me and my family only came up here for the season. We met at the grocery store and hit it off. Marcus and I spent nearly two whole summers together, whenever time allowed. I didn’t realize he had a wife and baby waiting for him at home until it was just about time for me to head back at the end of the season the second summer our last year.
I had gotten attached and was hoping for us to continue seeing each other, despite the added few hours of distance.
That’s when he came clean and told me he wasn’t on board with that.
That he had a family and was not out with his sexuality. ”
Caleb puffs out a breath and wrings his hands.
“I took it hard. I lashed out at him for making me a homewrecker. I cussed him out for being too scared to come out. I was absolutely pissed that he led me on the way he did, only to cast me aside like I meant nothing—as if all I was to him was a fun summer fling. Not once during our time together did he give me the impression that our time had an expiration date.”
My gaze falls to my lap, and I pick at some of the chipped black paint on my nails. I lick my lips before finding my response. “He probably didn’t tell you about me and Brody for our protection, not his own.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve never discouraged him from seeking intimacy outside of our relationship, but I’ve always maintained that I never wanted Brody and me involved in whatever he had going on the side.
Caleb, I—Marcus isn’t Brody’s biological father.
He stepped in to be B’s dad and a partner to me, though, when I found out I was pregnant.
I was drugged and taken advantage of while at a bar when I was in college... ”
I watch as Caleb’s features soften in concern as soon as reality dawns on him.
“I’m sorry I kept that from you—”
Caleb raises his hands, cutting me off. “Don’t be sorry for that, Lauren. Please don’t. My gosh, I have no words for how brave you are for having just told me that. You have no reason to apologize.”
“Well, after I had a chance to cool down and kick the shit out of something”—I tilt my head in the direction of the hanging bag—“I realized that I was no better, when I was keeping something from you too. As for Marcus not coming out? Listen, you’d just have to know his parents.
He and I practically grew up in each other’s houses.
Both of his parents are incredibly old school and strict, but his father is especially scary to undermine.
I’d be terrified of coming out to either of them too. ”
“That’s terrible,” Caleb signs. “I guess I just always lived in this fantasy bubble where everyone had family as accepting as mine…”
“Unfortunately for Marcus, that’s not the case.
That’s why when we moved, we chose to start fresh in a completely new state—somewhere just far enough to be out of their line of sight during our day-to-day lives, but still close enough for Brody to see his grandparents from time-to-time.
We chose Maine because I’d camped here with my family once when I was younger, and Marcus’ dad was stationed in Brunswick for a bit back when Marcus was little little.
He and I both loved the idea of living on the coast.”
“Funny how we were all drawn to the same place here in Ternbay,” Caleb notes.
I snort. “It is, I guess, if you believe in fate and all that shit.”
He smirks. “I actually do.”
“Oh, seriously? Shoot, my bad,” I say, wincing.
I see his throat bob, as if he’s chuckling and I just can’t hear it. Pity too, because I’ve wondered a lot about what Caleb’s voice once sounded like. I imagine him having a deep timbre. Something husky and gravely—a sharp contrast to Marcus’ lighter pitch.
He signs, “Don’t worry about it. My mom’s a yoga instructor and reads Tarot on the side.
She’s big on auras and chakras—energies and fate.
If you’re into incense, she’s got one for every mood.
My sister, Nat, is big into it now too. Me?
I burn incense only to cover up the smell when Cam forgets to change out Pepper’s litter box… but I do believe in fate.”
I giggle, and Caleb reaches out hesitantly before he tucks a stray lock of my hair behind my ear. “There it is.”
“There what is?” I ask, my eyes darting around the room.
“That beautiful smile of yours.”
“Oh,” I croak, my cheeks suddenly feeling quite warm.
“I was hoping to get one out of you at the picnic I had planned for tonight, down at this private little section of beach that I know of…”
“Oh, I, uhm, I guess I kind of ruined that, now didn’t I?”
He shakes his head. “I still have the picnic basket in my car, and the beach never closes for business. If we hurry, we might still be able to catch the fireworks.”
“I’m a sweaty, stinky mess,” I admit.
“From where I’m sitting, you look like a strong, attractive woman. I may not be close enough yet, but I can’t smell you from here either.”
I roll my eyes. “I usually have a change of clothes in my car, and there are showers here. Are you okay with giving me a minute to freshen up?”
“Hey, I’m just happy you’re still agreeing to go out with me tonight after all this. Take whatever time you need.”
And there are those green flags, back all over again.
New this time are the butterflies in my belly, because there’s someone else out there who knows my trauma, and he didn’t back away, knowing that getting me out of my shell might just take a lot of work.
Shit, could his woo-woo fate stuff actually be real?