Chapter 15
Fifteen
Caleb
It’s no shock when Noah shows up at the office the next day.
He looked as surprised as I did when he walked into that room. And today he turns heads as he walks into reception and asks for me.
My office door is open, and I leap up at the sound of his voice before making my way to my door.
Freya flicks a gaze between us and her eyebrows rise. There’s no missing the resemblance.
“Noah. Come in.”
He digs his hands in the pockets of his jeans and flashes a smile at Freya as he makes his way past her and through into my office.
I close the door behind us—no one needs to hear our conversation. I don’t have a large team, but they gossip like any other workplace.
“Take a seat.” I indicate toward the couch I have against the wall. “Coffee? I’ve got a machine.”
“Yeah, that’d be great. Thanks.”
His gaze sweeps the room. I’m not much of an office type—it’s pretty bare. I don’t have customers back here, and the only reason the office exists is that I need a home base for my staff and somewhere for calls to be taken.
“How’s it going? How’s your mum?”
“She’s good. A bit messed up over how we met, but everything else is keeping her busy.”
I nod. “I’m sure.”
“She was worried you’d be angry.”
I use the machine to fill the cups with coffee and place them on the table in front of the couch. “Oh. Do you take milk? I can grab some from the smoko room.”
He shakes his head. “No. I usually take it black with one sugar.”
I smirk. “Like me.”
He chokes out a laugh. “Yeah.”
Dropping into a seat opposite the couch, I fix my gaze on him.
“I’m not going to lie. I was angry. But it wouldn’t be fair to take it out on your mother.
Not with everything she’s been through.” I pause.
“While I’ve been doing the work around her house, she’s opened up a bit. I know that you all had a rough time.”
“He was a bastard.” Noah spits the words.
I nod. “I gathered that. How can I be angry with her when she had no control of the situation? I’m just so grateful that she’s here and that you’re all okay.”
Noah pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’m not sure okay is the word. I think we’re a house still in survival mode. But it gets a little better every day. The others make a bit more noise and don’t worry so much about getting yelled at for it.”
My throat tightens. “I want to hear everything. And I want you to ask me anything you want. I’m an open book where you’re concerned.”
He presses his palms together. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Noah.”
“Why didn’t you come after my mother? If you loved her that much.”
I swallow hard. I’ve been over that time in my head so many times, but I can’t see how I could’ve done anything differently. That’s except for the way I reacted when she told me she was leaving.
But there’s no undoing that now.
“We were kids. I was so heartbroken when she left, and her parents made it really clear that I wasn’t going to be a part of her life anymore. They wouldn’t tell me where they were going. It wasn’t as easy to look someone up back then as it is now.”
“You had the internet, right?” he asks with an easy smile, and I just know he’s poking the bear.
“Only just. It wasn’t like it is now with Google and social media.
” I sigh. “Look, Noah. I’m sorry I wasn’t in your life, and I’m sorry I didn’t know about you.
If I had, maybe things would have been different.
But that’s not what happened, and all I can do is promise you that I’ll take care of your mother this time around—nothing bad is going to happen to her. ”
He nods. “So, you still love her?”
“I don’t think I ever stopped.” I blow out a long breath. “I thought about her a lot over the years—wondered what happened to her and what she was doing. And then I did use the internet, but she didn’t seem to be on social media, or if she was, I never found her.”
He meets my gaze. There’s no mistaking him for anyone else but my son. The cut of his jaw, the colour of his eyes—it’s all me.
“I knew I wasn’t his. He never said as much, but it was obvious. I wasn’t treated the same as the others. I’d wanted to ask Mum so many times, but when he was alive, she seemed so fragile. He was such a bastard to her, and I never understood why she didn’t leave.”
“Do you understand now?”
His eyes flare with interest. “A little. He controlled everything, so she saved what she could. When I was old enough to get a job and leave home, she encouraged me to spread my wings, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t leave her there.”
I raise my fist, and he bumps it. “That’s because you’re a good man and you knew something was wrong.”
He smiles. “I wish you’d been my dad. I mean … back then. You would have taken care of Mum and me.”
A lump, the size of a golf ball, forms in my throat. “I would have. And I will now, if you let me.”
“Promise?”
I stand and move to the couch where I sit beside my son. My son. “I promise. I know we need to get to know each other, but I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
He reaches for me, and in an instant, he’s in my arms. Tears mist my eyes, and I clutch at his shoulders, pulling him in tight.
“Can I call you Dad?” he asks.
“Do you want to?” I let him go, and he studies me closely.
He shrugs. “Malcolm never felt like my dad. I don’t even know you, but you do. I’ve seen the way you look at my mother, and that’s what I want. A proper family.”
“Want a job?”
His eyebrows rise. “Really?”
“If you don’t mind hard work, I can always find a spot for you.”
His lips twist. “I’m an accountant.”
I shrug. “I’ll see what I can do. I want us to have a relationship.”
“I’d like that.” He swallows hard. “I know you’re just my father, but the others …”
Grasping his shoulder, I keep my gaze on him until his eyes meet mine. “Your mother is a package deal. I know that. But I’m not running from this. It’s all or nothing, and I’m done with nothing.”
“You can’t rush her.”
I nod. “I know that. But I want you to know that I’m serious. I’ll go and see your mother tomorrow. We’ve all been invited to my sister’s place on Saturday.”
“All?”
“You, your mother, your brother and sisters. Chloe wants to meet all of you.”
“I have an aunt.” He’s breathless now, excited. For so long they’ve had no one and now they have a warm and welcoming family. We’ll make this right for all of them.
“You do, and cousins.” I smile. “And grandparents.”
His eyes widen. “That’s a bit overwhelming.”
“You’re a Baxter, Noah. And if I have anything to do with it, one day your mum and your siblings will be too.”
He grins. “Can I change my name?”
I hold up my palm. “I think you need to talk to your mother about that one. In fact, I think we should all discuss it. Just give her some time. She had one hell of a fright yesterday when you walked in the door.”
His expression drops. “I felt guilty about that.”
“It had to happen sooner or later. At least now it’s out of the way and she doesn’t have to worry about it.” I shake my head. “I do still have to tell your grandparents about you.”
“When can I meet them?”
I chuckle. “I’ll go and see them tonight.”
“Are you sure they’ll be okay with me?”
Grasping his bicep, I smile. “They’ll love you. We all have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Thanks.” He hesitates. “Do you want to hang out sometime?”
“I’d love to. Let me grab your mobile number and we’ll arrange something.”
The smile on his face reminds me so much of me.
Things have been so tough for Emma, but I’m glad she had that reminder of me every day for the past twenty-seven years.
I hope it helped get her through.
It’s evening when I call on my parents.
Sure enough, they’re in the living room watching television.
“Caleb.” Mum beams. “Do you want some dinner? There are leftovers in the fridge I can heat up.”
I shake my head. “No, thank you. I’ve eaten. There’s something I need to tell you both.”
Mum frowns. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine. This isn’t bad news.”
She raises a hand to her chest. “I’m glad to hear it.”
I make my way across the room to the couch.
Their expectant looks put a lump in my throat.
I hold up my palms as if I’m surrendering. “There’s no easy way to lead into this, so I’m just going to say it. Emma had a baby. Twenty-six years ago.”
Mum glances at Dad. “Your baby?”
I nod. “Yeah. His name is Noah.”
All the colour has gone from her cheeks as she stares at me. “When … When did you find out?”
“Yesterday.”
“Yesterday.” She lets out a choked sob. “Why didn’t she tell you?”
I close my eyes a moment. “She had her reasons—very good ones. But I saw him again today and I told him I was going to tell you. He wants to meet you.”
Tears well in her eyes. “We want to meet him.”
“I know.” I smile at her before shifting my gaze to Dad. His mouth is hanging open and when our eyes meet, he slams it shut.
“What’s he like?” he croaks.
“He’s amazing. Looks just like me.” I pause. “Chloe wants to have a barbecue next weekend and bring the kids together. I’m not sure Emma will agree just yet, but I thought maybe you could meet Noah then?”
“Son, we’d love to,” Dad says.
“I’ll call Chloe and see if there’s anything she needs us to bring.” Mum smiles through her tears. “How old are Emma’s other children? I can’t wait to meet all of them.”
I get up and cross the room to give her a hug.
“How about I make some coffee and tell you what I know. I haven’t met them yet, but Emma’s told me about them.”
She gives my hand a squeeze. “That sounds good.”
Going to the kitchen gives me a chance to catch my breath.
That went better than expected.
I thought there’d be a million other questions, but I guess there’s plenty of time for those.
Tomorrow, I’ll call Emma and let her know I’ve told my parents and about the barbecue.
I hope she accepts the invitation.