Chapter 21
Twenty-One
Caleb
It’s been two weeks.
Two long weeks without seeing Emma or her children. The only one I have seen is Noah, and he’s loyal to his mother—as he should be.
I’ve never been a patient man, and this is tearing me up inside.
But if I want to win the long game, I have to pay attention to Emma’s needs. And right now, she needs to catch her breath.
I held her that night, but the following day I called Sean to spar again.
What she’d told me, broke me.
He understood my anger, and took me out for a beer again afterward to talk.
I’m not sure what I would’ve done without him because this wasn’t anything I felt I could share with Chloe.
Noah’s popped in from time to time. He doesn’t talk about his mother and I don’t ask. I assume she’s told the kids that we’re taking a break, but he’s not treating me like the enemy so I’m sure he knows it’s mutual.
But I’m miserable without her.
Tap, tap, tap.
I look up at the knock on the door.
“Come in.”
My office door opens and Noah walks in. I stand, the frown on his face making my heart thud.
What’s happened?
“Noah? What’s going on.”
“I needed to talk to you.”
I check my watch. “It’s nearly time for me to go home. Want to head out for a beer?”
He shakes his head. “No. I can’t be long. I just popped out to pick up something for dinner.”
Making my way around my desk, I lean against it. “What’s up?”
He fixes his worried gaze on me. “Grandad has been around again and threatening her.”
Anger flares in me. All those years ago when he decided to move his family away, I was sixteen. I couldn’t stick up for Emma back then, but I can now.
“Threatening her with what?”
Noah shrugs. “He’s saying they have proof that Malcolm wanted to leave everything to the church because he was remorseful he didn’t do it when he was supposed to. And he’s talking about Mum being unfit.”
“What?”
“He’s full of it, but they have money for lawyers and I’m worried that they’ll harass her. They think she’s alone.”
My heart thuds. “Look, I love your mother, but she’s made it clear that she needs space from me.”
“That was before Grandad turned up.” Bailey’s voice carries from the door.
I look toward her. The three of them stand in the doorway, Jason at the front.
“I thought you guys were going to stay in the car,” Noah says.
Bailey snorts. “We miss Caleb. As if we’re going to listen to you.”
Noah rolls his eyes and I chuckle. There might be nearly twenty years spanning the siblings, but they’re so close. It’s so good to see.
“Dad.”
I turn back, my throat tightening as I take in my son. His eyes—so much like my own—search mine. All my life I never thought I’d be called that. And with Noah being a grown man, I thought I’d be Caleb forever.
“Please don’t give up on her,” he says.
“I’m not.”
Bailey runs at me, flinging her arms around my waist, and I stroke her hair.
“Hey, I’m not going to give up on your mother. She said she needs some space, and I’m giving her that, but I’m not going anywhere.”
She looks up at me with those blue eyes that don’t miss a thing.
“Can you be our dad too?”
My heart cracks.
“That’ll be up to your mother, but I’d love to be.”
Her arms tighten around my waist and I close my eyes, swallowing hard.
For so many years I’ve run away from commitment, but now it seems it’s all I want. I love Emma, and no matter how long it takes, I’ll wait for her to be ready.
A hand lands on my shoulder, and I meet my son’s gaze once again.
“We all voted, Dad. You’re it.”
I chuckle. “I’m honoured.”
“Our dad was so mean to Mum, but you’re not,” Kiera says.
“He was a piece of shit.”
We all turn to face Jason. His hands are fisted by his sides, and the defiant look in his eyes make my throat tighten. This kid, he’s keeping so much bottled inside.
“He was. But he’s gone now, and you’re here with me. That’s all that matters,” I croak. I hold an arm open to him and before I know it, he’s joining his sister with his arms around my waist. Kiera huffs before following suit, and I meet Noah’s eyes.
I’ve already been planning how to get through this with Emma, but her kids—they bring a whole new dimension to this.
I always envied Chloe. She and Scott made family look easy, and now she’s done it all over again with Hunter. Not long ago, if anyone had asked me if I ever intended to have one of my own, I would’ve said no.
But these guys need me. And I need them just as much.
Now to prove it to Emma.