Chapter 28 Nyah #2
I felt it too—the weight of the moment, the unspoken possibility humming between us. My heart raced. I lifted our joined hands to my midriff, unconsciously leaning closer, my lips parting as if pulled by gravity rather than intention.
“Mama!” Lucas called. “I don’t want to go to sleep alone!”
“I’m coming,” I replied quickly, the spell breaking abruptly. The warmth faded, leaving behind a dull ache that had nothing to do with my heart condition. “I’m going to bed too,” I said to Caleb. “He sleeps better if I’m there.”
He slowly let go of my hand. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Still tingling, I slipped back into the bedroom, changed into my pyjamas, and curled beside Lucas. I found myself eager for the sun to rise—not for the day ahead, but for the chance to see Caleb again.
At around four in the morning, I woke up gasping for air. Sweat soaked my skin. I forced myself to breathe slowly, deeply. I reached for Lucas. Feeling his small body beside me calmed me instantly.
The dream had been too real.
Jeremy had found me.
He had taken Lucas hostage.
He was going to hurt him.
I turned on the bedside lamp, checked the cameras in my apartment through my phone, then got up to recheck the windows and door.
Everything was locked.
In the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face and stared at my reflection. It’s time for another lesson with Tyrone.
After breakfast, Lucas and I joined the family as they volunteered at the church, feeding the homeless and less fortunate.
Eleanor eyed me with open contempt as I scooped mashed potatoes onto plates. She moved down the line and stopped beside me. “So, you did like the gifts after all?” she said with a smirk.
“Yes,” I replied. “They were all lovely, thank you.”
My legs trembled. Why did she make me feel like this? As though I had done something wrong—when I hadn’t.
“With the speech you made,” she said with a snort, “I thought you’d return them.” She dumped cake onto a plate, handed it off, and walked away.
I clenched my jaw, watching her retreat.
No one else had seen it.
Should I tell Caleb? Should I just leave?
The rest of the family had been kind. Warm. Welcoming. But Eleanor mattered to him. He loved his mother. He spoke of her often, of everything she had done for him.
With a heavy knot in my stomach, I continued scooping mashed potatoes.
A Christmas lunch with all the trimmings was waiting for us when we returned home. I listened while everyone else chatted animatedly, laughing and reminiscing about past Christmases and childhood memories.
“So, Nyah,” Eleanor asked suddenly. “What was Christmas like for you when you were younger?”
A memory slammed into me without warning—being locked in the basement. Cold. Dark. Punished because Jeremy had seen me talking to a boy in the grocery store on Christmas Eve.
My scalp prickled. I shifted in my chair and forced a smile. “Nothing compared to this,” I said graciously.
I caught Eleanor narrowing her eyes at me.
Needing an excuse to breathe, I carried my empty plate into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” Caleb asked, eyebrows drawn together.
I was about to answer when Eleanor walked in behind me.
“Nyah,” she said brightly. “Dear, you hardly ate. Let me serve you some more.”
I blinked, stunned by the sudden shift. “I’m… I’m actually full,” I said, startled by my own hesitation. Whoa—what a change! “Thank you, though.”
Her timing and her chameleon-like switch made me decide not to say anything to Caleb just yet. I only had to endure his mother for another day. There was no point in creating tension during a temporary stay. Besides, the party in the evening would make it easier to avoid her altogether.
The evening gathering was informal as Caleb’s extended family arrived. When twilight descended, a few close friends joined as well—Rupert and Susan Sears, along with their daughters, Caroline and Serena.
Caroline Sears walked straight up to Caleb and kissed him on the cheek. “Hi, sweetheart. It’s good to see you after such a long time.”
Something inside me twisted. I didn’t know exactly what it was, but I didn’t like it.
Caroline was stunning with golden hair and blue eyes that sparkled like diamonds. She looked like she’d stepped straight out of a magazine—exactly his type.
Was this the same Caroline I’d heard about at Greg’s barbecue?
Almost immediately, Eleanor appeared. “Caroline, darling! How are you?” Then she turned to Caleb. “I’m sure you two have so much to catch up on.”
Her gaze shifted—and locked onto me. She walked toward me with measured purpose, each step unhurried, calculated.
Before I could react, her fingers curled around my arm. “Come, Nyah.”
She steered me a few steps away, just far enough that their voices softened behind us. I didn’t need to turn to know she had left Caleb and Caroline alone.
Then, as if the moment had been carefully measured, she pivoted back toward them—pulling me along.
“Nyah,” she said sweetly, though her grip firmed, “I’d like to introduce you to someone.”
My focus snapped forward.
“Nyah, this is Caroline—a good friend of Caleb’s.” The pride in her voice was unmistakable. “Caroline,” Eleanor continued coolly, “this is Nyah. She works in our hotel.”
I knew exactly what she meant by good friend. I also knew exactly what she was trying to do—and I refused to give her the satisfaction.
“So you’re the one responsible for the turnaround of the hotel?” Caroline asked warmly, shaking my hand. “Randall’s told us about you. I’m impressed with what you’ve done. I was there not long ago.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely. “I really appreciate it.”
“Caleb’s parents came over the other night,” Caroline added, plucking a glass of champagne from a passing tray and taking a sip.
“Between all the business talk, Caleb managed to become a topic of discussion too.” She winked at him.
“Sounds like you’ve been doing quite well for yourself at headquarters. ”
“I’m learning the ropes and enjoying it,” Caleb replied with a small smile. “Would you excuse us for a moment?”
Caroline shook my hand warmly. “It was lovely meeting you. I’d love to chat some more later… when you’re free.”
I nodded, returning her smile.
I liked Caroline. I made a mental note to find her again later.
Caleb guided me down the hallway, his hand warm at the small of my back. We turned the corner and passed through two massive wooden doors.
The library.
Books rose from floor to ceiling along every wall, their spines dark and worn, as if they had absorbed decades of secrets. A fire burned low in the hearth, casting amber light across two deep couches and the polished wood beneath our feet. The room felt isolated from the rest of the house.
Caleb exhaled softly. “Ugh,” he said, rolling his eyes. “That was… awkward.”
“What was?” I asked, though I already knew.
“I had no idea she’d be here,” he said, turning to face me fully now. His voice lowered, gentler. “I swear. I’m sorry.”
Well, that solved the mystery of whether or not she was that Caroline.
Something in his expression softened the knot in my chest. “It doesn’t matter who’s here,” I said. “I’m just glad Lucas and I are.”
I drifted toward the fireplace, drawn to the warmth.
The flames danced, reflecting in the mirror above the mantle.
I ran my fingers along the smooth mahogany curves of the mantle clock.
“I love this room,” I murmured. “It feels… safe.” Then, teasingly, “I bet this place was a chick magnet when you were younger.”
He came to stand beside me, close enough that I could feel his heat without touching him. We didn’t face each other—our eyes met instead in the mirror, held there.
“I don’t think I’ve ever brought anyone here,” he said quietly. “Ever.”
I turned slowly, my heart thudding louder with each inch until I was facing him. “Except me,” I whispered.
The fire warmed my skin, but it was nothing compared to the way he was looking at me. I reached up without thinking and smoothed the lapels of his jacket, my fingertips lingering.
His gaze dropped to my lips, then lifted again, as if he were giving himself a moment—just a moment—to decide.
My breath hitched.
The world narrowed to the space between us, to the soft crackle of the fire, to the way his hand hovered near my waist without touching.
I leaned closer before I could stop myself, my pulse roaring in my ears. His fingers brushed mine—barely there—but the contact sent a spark through me.
Then the door flung open.
“Sorry,” Eleanor’s voice sliced through the moment. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
I stepped back instinctively, the warmth between us cooling too fast, like a flame snuffed out.
She walked toward Caleb and linked her arm through his with practiced familiarity. Her gaze flicked over me with thinly veiled disapproval. “Darling, I wanted to introduce you to Mrs. Asher…”
She pulled him away before either of us could speak.
I stood there alone, staring into the fire, my fingers still tingling where he’d almost touched me.
The next morning, I reached across the bed and found a note with a lily attached.
Lucas is with me. When you’re ready, come downstairs. — Caleb
I tucked it carefully into my purse. I kept all his notes in a small box back at my apartment.
After showering, I joined everyone for breakfast. When it was time to leave, I thanked each family member personally. Eleanor gave me a cold handshake and a smile that clearly meant thank God you’re leaving.
Taylor was dropping us back home, so Caleb walked Lucas and me to the car, carrying the single bag I’d arrived with.
“I’m sorry again… about the library.”
I smiled at him. “Don’t worry about it. I had a great time. You have a beautiful family. You’re very lucky.”
He sighed. “I didn’t know until recently.”
At the car, he paused. “I won’t be joining you just yet.”
I frowned.
“I’ll stay a bit longer. I’ll see you both back here on New Year’s Eve.”
“Of course,” I said quickly. “You should be with your family.” I looked down as Lucas hugged him. “Thank you for everything.”
As Taylor drove us away, my chest felt heavy. I looked back and saw Caleb waving to Lucas, who waved back enthusiastically.
I didn’t look away until he disappeared from view.