Chapter 10
Ten
Caleb
Something’s wrong—really wrong.
I know she’s widowed now, and it wasn’t long ago. But there’s more on her mind than what needs doing around the house.
It’s not a long list, but if I space things out a bit by ordering things in, I can stretch things out.
Emma Chase is now a mystery I need to solve.
We’ll be mid-conversation and she’d zone out at times. Maybe it’s nothing—maybe she’s mourning her husband more than she’s making out, but there’s something going on.
And I want to be there for her.
This is not just a simple story of a woman who’s been widowed after years of marriage.
When I get home, Mum’s standing over the stove.
The kitchen smells of cheese, and I smile as she’s making lasagna and that’s a dish she does do well.
“Hi, love. Did you want to stay for dinner? There’ll be plenty.”
I nod. “Sounds good. I wanted to catch up with you and Dad.”
Her brows knit. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I just wanted to talk.”
It’s been so long since something like this has happened that my mother gives me the side-eye.
“How about we have dinner first, and then we talk?”
“Sounds good.” I peck her on the cheek and make my way into the living room.
The TV’s volume’s up—Dad’s too proud to acknowledge his hearing isn’t as good as it used to be, and he’s engrossed in the news.
“Dad.” I sit on the couch opposite him to get his attention.
“Caleb.” He smiles. “You here for dinner?”
I nod. “Yep.”
His attention flicks back to the television and I know I’ve lost him for the moment. He’s the one I worry about the most—the one who’s had the health issues over the years.
While he’s okay for now, I like being close.
“Business busy?” he asks.
He likes to know what I’m up to. After years in the building trade, he’s still curious about how things are going.
“Steady. I just picked up a new job today that’ll keep me tied up for a while.”
“That’s good.”
I sit back and watch the news with Dad until dinner’s ready and we all sit at the dining table.
Mum’s lasagna is good, and I get down two helpings before we’re all finished.
Once I’ve cleared the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, I join my parents in the living room.
“There was something you wanted to talk about?” Mum asks.
I take a seat on the couch and lean forward. “I need to talk to you about Emma. Emma Chase.”
Mum’s eyes widen. “Wasn’t she the girl you …”
I nod. “That Emma Chase.”
“You were so brokenhearted when she left. It all seemed so callous.” She screws up her nose. “And then you never heard from her. You really worried us for a while.”
“It wasn’t her fault. They moved to some remote church community and couldn’t make contact. And then they married her off to a church member.”
Mum gasps. “You were both so young.”
“I think there’s more, but it’s going to take time for her to open up to me.”
Dad’s brows rise. “You’re in touch with her?”
“Her husband died, and she’s moved back here with her kids. I don’t really know much more about the situation. She needs some work done around the house she’s just bought, so that’s where I come in.”
Mum sighs. “Just be careful, Caleb. I know you have the best of intentions, but …”
“I just want answers. But I can tell I’m going to have to take it slowly. There’s something not quite right about the whole thing. She keeps retreating, even while we’re just talking.”
“It sounds like she’s been through a lot,” Dad says.
“That’s what I’m thinking. And she probably needs a friend. I thought I might suggest she meet up with Chloe. They didn’t know each other well, but it might be a good idea.”
Mum leans back in her chair. “That’s a nice thought.”
“I’m not going to push.”
The way she zoned out keeps creeping into my thoughts. When we knew each other, she was vibrant and bubbly, not withdrawn and scared the way she is now.
I’m determined to get to the bottom of it all.