Chapter 14
Fourteen
Caleb
It took everything in me to keep calm at Emma’s place.
I knew she had children, but when that boy—no, man appeared in the doorway, there was no way he was anyone else’s but mine.
Getting angry would have been the easiest thing in the world. But if the past few weeks have taught me anything, Emma’s been to hell and back.
By the time I drove away from her house, the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach was crawling up my throat.
With every intention of driving home, I make my way through the streets before pulling up outside Chloe’s house.
“Hey.” She smiles as she opens the door. “This is unexpected. The girls are having their nap.”
My heart’s pounding, and her smile turns into a frown.
“I need to talk to someone,” I croak.
Her brow furrows. “Caleb? You’re scaring me. Come in.”
My sister ushers me into the kitchen where I sit at the table while she makes coffee.
“Do you remember how we were talking about Emma Chase a while back?”
“Uh-huh.” She grabs the biscuit tin and brings it to the table before looping back to pick up the coffee cups.
“I’ve been doing some work around her house these past few weeks.”
Her eyebrows rise. “You kept that bit quiet.”
“I wasn’t sure how things would go, but …”
Chloe puts the coffee down and sits beside me.
“I have a son.”
She blinks rapidly in disbelief. “What?”
“I met him today. I’ve been in that house for weeks and she never said anything. I mean, she told me about her past and her abusive marriage. But she never told me she’d had my baby.”
Chloe’s eyes turn so sad, it makes me want to comfort her.
“She was pregnant when she left? That’s …” I can see her doing the calculation in her head. “Oh my God, Caleb. Why didn’t she tell you?”
I cradle my head in my hands. “When they left here, they moved to an isolated, religious community in the middle of nowhere. They married her off to a much older man.”
The colour drains from Chloe’s face. “I … I don’t know what to say.”
“Twenty-seven years. All that time and I had no idea. I missed everything. If he hadn’t walked in today …”
I look back up and she places a hand on mine. “Are you okay?”
“Shit no. I’m raging inside, but how could I let it out at her?
She’s been through so much. I wanted to punch the damn wall, but I had to hold it all in.
I’m so angry with her, but she’s been abused, Chlo.
I don’t think physically because she’s at pains to say that, but in every other way.
He decided when to have more kids and he spaced it out to keep her trapped. ”
Chloe blinks back tears. “I can’t even imagine it. It really makes me appreciate what I had.”
I turn my hand up and give hers a squeeze. Chloe became pregnant at eighteen, but she was with the man she loved who she made a family with. Scott was by Chloe’s side. And they had the support of our parents who did everything they could for the two of them.
Emma had no one.
“So, what do we do? How can we help?”
I let out a long, slow breath. “I’m not sure, yet. I thought we were building trust, but today just blindsided me.”
“Did she say why she hadn’t told you?”
“She didn’t know how to tell me—said she was working up to it. But you should see him. He’s the mirror image of me at that age.”
Chloe sniffs, then snorts and coughs while she laughs. “There are two of you in the world? Lord help us.”
“I came to you because I thought you’d be supportive.” I give her a small smile and shake my head.
She gives me a gentle smile. “I think it’s wonderful. I’m so sad we didn’t know about him until now, but if she’s had that rough a life, I can’t be mad at her.”
“That’s kind of how I feel. The last thing she needs while recovering from being married to this monster is me coming down hard on her.” I chew the inside of my cheek. “I’m not sure Noah would forgive me if I did. They’re obviously close.”
“Of course they are. You don’t survive something like that and not have it bring you together. Is there anything I can do?”
That’s so Chloe. She’s always had a soft heart, and I adore her for it.
“Be her friend? She’s so alone. She doesn’t say anything, but I see it.” I shift my gaze to the ceiling. “She has Noah and three other children who I haven’t met yet. But something tells me she could do with a friend.”
When I look back at my sister, her expression softens. “Easy. Why don’t we have a barbecue next Saturday and you bring them all over? Her children can meet mine, and whatever happens between you two, I’ll make sure that she’s not alone.”
“You would do that?”
“Of course.” She stands and gives me a quick hug. “You’re my big brother. If she’s important to you, then she’s important to me.”
“Thanks, Chloe.”
“You know you’re going to have to tell Mum and Dad.”
I chuckle. “Mum’s going to flip.”
“Not just about you having a son. She’ll love that Emma’s got other children, too.”
Mum and Dad adore Chloe’s children. I can’t imagine how they’ll feel when they find out they’ve got another grandchild.
“I think you need to go the gym and box this anger out. I’m not sure it’ll resolve it all, but it can’t hurt.”
She gives my hand a squeeze.
I meet her gaze. How is my sister younger than me and so wise? I sometimes forget how much she’s been through because she’s still sweetness, light, and all good advice.
“That’s not a bad idea. I’ll give Sean a call and see if he wants to hang out.”
Chloe smiles. “How is Sean?”
Sean’s been a good mate to me for years. We were teammates in a local rugby team for a few years, and if I wasn’t his wingman, he was mine.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen him. His law firm’s grown a lot—he always seems to have a lot of work on.”
“Then it’s a good idea. If he’s not available, call Hunter. I’m sure he’ll be keen on a few rounds.”
I nod. “I will. Thanks, Chloe.”
“Whoever thought all those years ago when you were getting sick of your younger sister hanging around that you’d be voluntarily spending time with her?” She laughs.
“I’m so glad I have you.”
“I’m glad to have you,” she says. “The move here would’ve been so much harder if I didn’t have you taking care of everything here. And I know I can always count on you.”
A child’s cry pierces the air, and Chloe shakes her head. “I guess that’s my time alone gone.”
“Sorry to interrupt.”
She laughs. “You never have to apologise, Caleb. I love seeing you. Thank you for trusting me with your news.”
One of the girls—I’m not sure which one wails again, and Chloe disappears upstairs to go and get her. Or them. I’m not sure how she does it with two children so close together, but she always seems so calm and together.
I’ll never have that in my life—knowing what it’s like to have babies of my own.
I missed all that with Noah.
Hannah comes running into the room, followed by Chloe holding Eve.
“Tayleb,” she screeches.
Hannah holds her arms up and I pull the little girl onto my lap. She wraps her arms around my neck and plants a big, sloppy kiss on my cheek.
“How’s my girl?” I ask.
Surrounded by family—this is what I need.
Emma has her children, but it breaks my heart to think about what they’ve all been through. Something tells me I still don’t have the full story about the control her late husband wielded over his family.
When I find out, I think the rage inside will build even more.
Chloe’s right. I need a constructive way to get it out without taking it out on Emma.
But I can be there for her—for all of them.
In whatever capacity that turns out to be.
After I leave Chloe’s, I call Sean from the car.
“Hey, stranger,” he says.
“Hey, have you got time to spar for a bit this evening? I’ve got a lot going on and I need to get some of it out.”
He chuckles. “You read my mind. Today has been hell on a stick. About seven?”
“Sounds good.”
“I’ll book it. I’ll text you to confirm.”
I’m not feeling sociable when I reach home. If I tell my parents in my current mood, the moment will be tainted with my anger.
I don’t want them to learn about Noah that way.
Instead, I went through the McDonald’s drive through on the way home and picked up something to eat before I retreat to my cabin.
Chloe’s right. I do need to get this out of my system. I’m not even sure I can identify all the emotions swirling around in me.
But the anger needs to go.
My phone buzzes with Sean’s confirmation.
I’ve heard enough about Emma’s past life to know I’d only make things worse if I take it out on her.
What a mess.
One of Sean’s clients has a gym nearby with a boxing ring that Sean and I use periodically. It’s usually quiet this time of night—he has classes during the day, and I take the short drive down there, meeting Sean outside.
“We haven’t done this in a while.” He grins.
I’m not sure he’ll be grinning by the time I’m finished.
“Yeah. I just need to take some time out.”
He frowns. “Everything okay?”
“Tell you later.”
Once we’re gloved up and in the ring, he laughs. “Ready for this?”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
I jab at him before coming in hard. He’s taken punches to the jaw before, and even though I didn’t really mean to slip this through, when my fist connects with his face, his eyes flare with anger.
“Hey. Settle down.”
We jab for a bit longer before I let him get a hit through. It’s nothing compared to how hard I hit him—he’s sending me a message, but instead of it calming me a little, it has the opposite affect.
I go in hard, and he repels me as best he can, pounding the anger out of me.
Sean drops his guard and grabs hold of me. We’re not much different in size, and I could keep fighting, but I’m done. I’m so done.
“Dude. What the hell is going on?”
I strip off my gloves and throw them to the ground. “I don’t even know where to start.”
His wary gaze fixes on me. “Why don’t we go for a beer and talk about it?”
“Fine. As long as it’s only a beer.”
He nods slowly.
“Come on. Let’s go.”
Guiding me back toward the changing rooms, he keeps me steady while I feel so lost.
How can my heart be breaking for Emma when I’m so angry?
My pain’s all twisted up inside, sad and confused and still needing an escape.
I could pound Sean into the ground, and it wouldn’t make a difference.
After showering and changing, we drive the short distance to a nearby pub. Sean’s worried gaze follows me from the car into the building where we order beers and find a quiet table.
“What’s going on? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you like this,” he says.
My jaw sets. “So, today I found out I have a kid.”
He gives me the side-eye as he sips his beer. I wait patiently as he puts his beer down and smacks his lips together. “What?”
“An old girlfriend. You remember me telling you about Emma?”
His brow furrows. “Emma? As in high school Emma?”
“The very same.”
“So that kid …”
“Is twenty-six years old.”
He leans back. “Damn. No wonder you’re so angry.”
“I missed everything. There’s no way I can ever get that time back.”
“Why didn’t she tell you?”
I draw in a deep breath. “She was railroaded into an abusive marriage with a much older man and stuck in it all this time.”
His mouth falls open. “How does that happen in this day and age?”
I shrug. “It’s messy. God, I was so angry today, Sean, but it’s next to impossible to be angry at her. The shit she’s been through.” I shake my head in disbelief.
“Wow. That poor woman. It’s good she has you.” He studies me closely. “She does have you, right? You’re not pulling away because of this?”
My eyebrows rise. “Since when have you ever encouraged me to stick around with one woman.”
“Well, never.” He grins. “But this is the woman. And you share a son. That’s a big reason to stay in one place.”
He sees it—everyone does. At one stage, I reached a point in my life where I thought that mooning over a teenage romance was stupid. But all these years later, she’s still the best thing that ever happened to me.
What we had back then was real.
If we’d had more time—been given the chance to have our baby together, then maybe my life would have been very different.
Would we have still been together? Who knows.
But life is giving me a second chance to be with Emma, and I’m not about to pass that up.
Even if deep down, I’m mad at her.