Chapter 11 | Caleb
Caleb
I had already finished installing the cameras on the back and sides of the house.
I hoped that the sound of the drill wasn't keeping Rae up as I moved to the front where I’d left her sleeping on the couch.
She looked so tired, but I needed to get this done if she was not willing to stay at my place just yet. These cameras would have to do for now.
I climbed the ladder and made marks where I wanted the camera to be when I heard a sound behind me and looked down. A delivery driver stood near the bottom of the ladder.
He wore the typical blue vest and a baseball cap with the company name on it, shaggy blonde hair sticking out from under it.
“Hey! Just dropping off a couple packages.” He waved up at me with a big smile on his face, a thin scar running through his bottom lip.
I didn’t even hear him drive up. “Hey.” I waved back as I looked out at the road and then back at the man. “Did you walk here?” I asked when I didn't see a vehicle.
“Yeah, just parked a couple houses down, but this is the last house on the street before I turn around, so I figured I'd walk it.”
“Oh, okay...have a great night.” I gave the delivery driver a nod. He lifted a hand in a quick wave before heading back down the drive.
Through the branches of the trees surrounding Rae’s parents’ place, I caught a glimpse of the front of his vehicle as he climbed in and drove off.
Something about it didn’t sit right with me.
Maybe it was just my nerves wound tight from worrying over Rae’s safety.
I forced myself to shake it off. Just a delivery driver in the same uniform they all wear. He was gone. Not hanging around.
I went back to the camera installation, trying to push the feeling away. He’d had a company logo on his hat, packages in his hands—everything lined up. Still, the unease clung to me. Something about that guy felt...wrong.
A while later, I walked inside to find Rae asleep on the couch still. She looked so peaceful. She had the blanket curled up under her chin, her mouth was open slightly, and I could hear the faintest snore.
I got myself a glass of water and walked to the wall of photos Rae's mom had hung up.
I figured I would wait a bit longer and avoid waking her.
I scanned the photos on the wall and remembered Rae loved taking pictures more than being in them.
My favorites, though, were the ones she was in. Her smile had been so bright.
My gaze landed on a photo of the two of us.
It was taken right before she moved away roughly nine years ago.
I smiled at the memory of growing up with her.
She had been the best person to have come into my life.
Every moment I’d been able to spend with her had been the highlights of high school.
I wish I’d told her how much she meant to me back then because maybe whatever is haunting her now, to keep that bright smile off her face, wouldn't have happened.
Behind me, Rae started to stir. She opened her eyes just enough to see me, gave me a small, sleepy smile, and then closed them again. “Hey, Ranger,” she said sleepily, a tiny smile still on her face.
“Hey, Sunshine.” I crossed the room and sat on the floor next to the couch near where her head was. I noticed that she held her breath as I scooted closer to her, but she didn’t move away, and after a moment, she started breathing normally again.
“How long was I out for?”
I couldn’t help but smile at the sleepy sound in her voice. “About three hours. Do you feel better?”
She nodded. “Thank you for putting the cameras up and letting me rest. I'm so sorry I didn't help, though.”
“Hey, don't apologize. I wanted you to sleep.” I reached up and brushed a hair out of her face. She sat up suddenly, her face turning a shade of pink. She didn’t look at me right away. Did I catch her off guard, or did I startle her this time? “Rae, I’m sor—”
She cut me off. “I need to get my phone to pay you for the cameras, and so you can show me how they work.” She shifted the blanket off her lap and swung her feet off the couch, each movement displaying the nervous energy coursing through her.
“First, you're not paying me for anything.” I laughed when she looked like she was about to try and argue with me.
She lay back down with a look I knew all too well.
She knew if she argued with me that I would win, so she gave up and gave me a goofy, fake, frustrated look.
It was good to see that was something that had not changed.
One of her hands was resting by the pillow, and I took a chance and reached up to hold it gently.
It was a risky move, but I had a feeling someone had hurt her, and I wanted her to feel safe with me.
I hoped with the small things I did that she would soon see that if she hadn’t already.
She didn’t flinch or pull away. Inwardly, I cheered.
“Rae, don't argue with me on this. I wanted to do this for you. Your parents, too. Also, if you're okay with it, I'll monitor it for the next couple of days while I finish my rotation at work. Once I verify that everything works properly, I will add it to your phone.”
Rae nodded and I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, then released it so I could stand up.
“I should probably go, though, so I can get sleep for my shift tomorrow. Are you sure you don't want to stay with me for a bit? I could even sleep here, on your couch, if that would help you feel safe.”
Rae sat up again. “I really appreciate that, but I don't want to be a burden, so I'll stay here. I have the cameras now, so at least we may be able to see who it is if they come back tonight.”
I nodded and sighed, trying to think of what to say so she knew I cared, but at the same time avoiding scaring her away or making her uncomfortable.
“Caleb, are you—are you mad at me? Did I say something wrong?” When I turned to look at her, she stood slumped over as if defeated with tears in her eyes.
“Oh my gosh, no.” I took her shaking hands in mine. “I'm sorry I made you think that. I just wish you wouldn't think of yourself as a burden. I was trying to think of a way to tell you that.”
Rae looked at the ground, and I saw a single tear fall.
“Woah, hey, this—this is not my Sunshine. This is not the girl I lo— knew back in high school. Come here.” I led her across the room to the wall of photos. “See this smile? I've not seen it since you came back to town, and I'm curious, who took it from you? Who hurt you, Rae?”
She stared at the photo for what felt like an eternity. “Just...life” The tears in her eyes were gone when she looked away from the photo and to me instead.
“Okay. When you're ready to tell me, I'm here. No judgment, no pressure. But one thing I know for sure—” I hesitated but nudged her chin up so I knew she was locked in.
I gently brushed my fingers under her chin while looking into her beautiful green eyes.
“I'm determined to get my girl back.” Much to my surprise, she did not move away.
We stayed like that for a moment, my hand gently on her chin, barely touching it, and our eyes locked, like I was trying to read her mind—searching her soul for answers.
My phone buzzed across the room, breaking our focus from each other. I walked over to it and unlocked the screen. I couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Well, at least we know the cameras are working!” I turned the screen towards her and Rae giggled as she saw a chicken on the porch.
“What's it pecking at?”
“Oh, that's right. A delivery person brought two small packages up while I was out front.” I opened the door and walked onto the front porch.
“Hey, chicken, I'm gonna need those packages, please.” Rae stood in the doorway giggling while watching chicken peck me.
“Maybe you don't need cameras after all. All you need is a guard chicken.”
Still giggling, Rae walked onto the porch and picked up the chicken.
She spoke sweetly to it while running her fingers over its soft feathers.
She then walked into the yard and placed it under the tree.
I watched her the entire time, smiling at this sweet moment I had the honor of witnessing.
“Okay, Miss Animal Whisperer.” We both laughed as I carried the packages inside for her.
Our hands brushed against each other as I passed her the boxes, and a blush appeared immediately on her face that she tried to hide by looking down at the shipping labels.
“Oh, great! This is my shampoo and body wash! The store was out of my favorite scents so I had to order them online. I've been using a different scent that I wasn't a big fan of since I got home.” She opened the bottle and took a deep breath while smelling the body wash. “Here, smell this.”
I stepped closer to her, smelled the familiar scent, and then looked at her. “That smells good. Peaches?”
A small glimmer of happiness appeared on her face. Smelling her favorite body wash brought her joy. Maybe it was the sense of normalcy it brought. Seeing her like this, finding the joy in something so simple, made her happy and turned me on.
It smelled how her favorite perfume smelled when we were in high school. She always liked the light fruity scents. The smell of the body wash lingered and my mind wandered to the idea of her being in the shower, getting out and wrapping herself in a towel, her hair wet—.
I immediately hated myself for that thought. She has obviously been uncomfortable a few times tonight, and while I was sure it wasn’t because of me, I couldn’t be so selfish. “Yup. It's called ‘Peaches and Sunshine.’” Her words broke up my thoughts.
I let out a chuckle. I attempted to quickly shove the thought that was just in my head away and stood behind a kitchen chair, hoping she had not noticed the crack in my composure.
“That name is fitting for you.” I smiled at her, and my smile only got bigger when she smiled back.
We both looked at the clock at the same time. “I should probably get some sleep,” I said. “I'm sorry. Offer is still open if you want to come stay with me.”
“Thank you. I think I’ll be okay. Thanks again for everything, Ranger.” She took a step towards me and immediately looked shy. Did she want a hug but didn’t feel comfortable asking for one?
She glanced up at me very briefly, and then down at the floor again before she began to take a step backwards. I couldn’t let that happen, so I extended my arms, offering a hug. She quickly stepped forward and placed her hands on my chest as I wrapped my arms around her.
“If you need anything, you call me. Anything at all. Okay?” I felt her nod and then she wrapped her arms around me. “I will always be there for you if you want me to be.”
She pulled back and whispered her thanks. I smiled at her and stepped out onto the porch. “Please lock up before I step off this porch. I’ll be watching the cameras. Goodnight, Rae.”
She thanked me again and smiled. This one finally reached her eyes. She then shut the door and locked it. Only then did I leave the porch and walk to my car.
I scanned the street to look for anything that stood out, looked back at the window and caught Rae peeking out at me. I smiled and waved, then got in and started the engine.
In the safety the darkness of the car brought, I let out a huge breath, willing the heat she’d caused when she hugged me to simmer down.
As I drove home, the thought of Rae, even just being in her presence, drove me wild.
Gosh, I don’t know what she has been going through, but she does not need this from me.
Another thought quickly rushed through my mind. Something had changed in her. Something had scared her. The thought of anyone hurting her infuriated me, and I just knew I had to help her feel safe again. Somehow.