Chapter 23 #2
“Hush,” Mom scolds, but there’s no heat in it. “This is an important decision. The nursery sets the tone for everything.” Her face softens with genuine joy. “My first grandchild deserves the best.”
“Second grandchild, Mom,” Ethan corrects gently as he walks in with Dad and Sophie.
Mom’s smile falters for just a moment. “You’re right,” she whispers, and I catch the shadow that passes over her face before she quickly brightens again. “Second grandchild.”
The room goes quiet. We all know Elisha won't let Mom see Damien. It’s been months since Nick’s son was born, and his wife still keeps him away from the family. Mom never complains, but I can see how much it hurts her.
“I think this mahogany one is beautiful,” Natalie says, pointing to an ornate crib with intricate carvings. “What do you think, Helen?”
Mom beams, patting Natalie’s hand approvingly.
“It’s absolutely perfect, darling. Classic and elegant.
” I bite back a smile. Natalie has completely embraced Mom’s traditional taste since day one, and Mom adores her for it.
It’s like they share one brain when it comes to decorating.
I’ve never seen Mom happier than when Natalie asks for her opinion on anything house-related.
“Where’s Jake?” I ask, scanning the room. “Hiding from crib shopping?”
“In the kitchen, last I saw,” Natalie answers with a knowing look. “Helen said she made sandwiches. I heard his stomach rumbling.”
My own rumbles in response to the mention of food, and on my way to the kitchen, I stop to plug in my phone on the hallway charger. When I step into the kitchen, I find Jake with one sandwich in his mouth and one in his hand.
“Sup,” he speaks around the sandwich with a grin. I snatch the one in his hand and bite into it.
“So why are we here?” I swallow and ask.
“Megan’s apartment got broken into, and she doesn’t want to move out,” Jake says.
“Oh.” I pretend to look surprised but my brother tilts his head.
“You know something.”
“No, I don’t,” I say quickly.
“You’re lying.” Jake sets down the sandwich he had just picked up. “What do you know?”
“That’s what I was asking him.” Ethan’s voice sounds from the kitchen door, and I know I’m trapped.
“Look it was a while ago, two or three weeks,” I finally sigh in defeat. “She called me from Derrick’s apartment.”
Ethan goes still. “Derrick’s apartment?” His voice is dangerously low, and I bite my tongue.
“Before you get mad, he brought her home because we were all at the station and she didn’t want to worry us or Mom and Dad. She got home, and her apartment door was unlocked, so she called Derrick by accident, according to her.”
“And Derrick didn’t tell me?” Ethan sounds pissed. “She stayed over at his apartment, and he didn’t let me know? I’ll be having a word with him.”
He takes out his phone, and I stop him. “Look, if he didn’t tell you, that means she asked him not to.
If she finds out he rats to you whenever she goes to him with a problem, you know she’ll stop going to him.
I didn’t like the idea either, but she trusts him.
We should leave that avenue open for her.
She doesn’t tell us everything, so if she feels she can tell him, he can still look out for her.
She won’t do that if she thinks she can’t trust him to keep her secrets. ”
I’m talking out of my ass right now but Ethan seems to understand, albeit reluctantly. “Fine. But she can’t stay there in that apartment. She should move to a safer building.”
“We want her to move home.”
I look over to see Mom approaching us, looking worried.
“I’ll talk to her,” Ethan begins but Dad appears right behind her.
“We tried. She’s not listening.”
“I’ve tried to get Megan to move in with us or even move into one of your buildings,” Mom says, her voice strained with concern. “But she thinks we’re trying to control her.”
“The neighborhood she’s in is safe,” Ethan says thoughtfully. “But I’ll talk to her about moving into a more secure building. If this is about the break-in, I can convince her to upgrade her security or do it for her—”
Mom shakes her head, her silver hair catching the light. “There’s something else wrong as well.” She wrings her hands, a gesture she only makes when she’s truly upset. “One of Megan’s credit cards had some massive expenses. Normally we don’t ask, but your father did, and she got angry.”
I frown, shifting my weight from one foot to another. “Angry at Dad?”
“No, that’s what’s strange,” Mom says. “She wasn’t angry at us for asking.
It seemed like she didn’t know about the charges.
She was confused at first, and then we showed her.
She got angry afterwards, and said she’d deal with it.
This was a few days ago, and she hasn’t been in touch with us since.
I know she’s okay since your Dad saw her social media, and she was active on it, but… ”
“You’re worried about her,” Jake observes.
Mom nods, her eyes meeting mine. “I’m worried it might have something to do with her boyfriend.”
My head snaps up. “Her boyfriend? Why would you think that?”
Mom sighs. “She was upset about the situation with her boyfriend. She mentioned she gave him a card that he wasn’t returning, and she was angry about it.”
My stomach twists into knots. Tom. That sleazy bastard. Jake and I exchange a grim look.
“I’ll talk to her,” I say quickly, hoping I sound casual. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious.” The last thing we need is to worry Mom and Dad even more.
“Do you boys know something?” Dad steps forward, his brows furrowing. I'm saved from responding by a buzzing sound from the hallway—my phone. Thank god.
“That’s probably my phone,” I say, already sliding toward the door. “I need to check it.” I dart into the hallway before anyone can stop me, grateful for the momentary escape. My phone’s screen glows from where I left it charging, and I snatch it up.
A text from Eve.
My heart stutters when I read the preview:
‘Just ran into your sister Megan outside a bar. Her ex and some crazy woman were attacking her. Her car’s damaged but she’s safe with me and Iris. Going to my place now. She’s okay.’
Shock is followed by a roaring fury. I’m going to kill that bastard. I’m going to rip his head off, that sleazy, cheating piece of shit. We went easy on him before. When I see him next, I’m going to—
“Who is it?” Ethan asks.
“Megan’s ex attacked her. Eve ran into them. Megan’s with Eve at her place.” I’m moving to the front door. “Come on.” Ethan’s already a step behind me.
“What’s going on?” Jake’s voice follows us from the hallway. “Where are you two going?”
“Going to pick up Megan from Eve’s place,” I say tightly. “Tom attacked her outside a bar.”
Jake’s expression pales. “Is she okay?”
“Eve says she is.”
“We’re coming with you!” Mom’s shaken voice has me cursing inside. I forgot she could hear us.
“Mom.” I stop to calm her down. “She’s okay. Eve’s got her. We’ll bring Megan home in—”
“Caleb Horace Wilder!” I wince when she uses my full name. “Do not tell me not to go see my daughter. Get in the car. We’re coming with you. Get your coat, Harold.”
“Yes, dear.” My father looks tense but doesn’t argue.
Three minutes later, we’re heading out. I slide into the back of Ethan’s car with Mom, Natalie taking shotgun, while Dad goes with Jake in his Porsche. I try calling Eve as Ethan pulls out of the driveway, but she doesn’t pick up. Damn it. I try Megan’s number, too—straight to voicemail.
My stomach twists with anxiety. “Why isn’t Eve picking up?”
“Who is Eve?” Mom asks from beside me, her voice calm despite her worry.
I glance at her briefly before staring back at my phone, trying Eve’s number again. “Eve is someone I work with. She’s…” I trail off, not knowing exactly how to describe what Eve is to me.
“She’s Caleb’s girlfriend,” Natalie pipes up from the front seat.
I nearly choke on air. “Natalie!”
Mom whips her head around to stare at me. “Girlfriend? You have a girlfriend, and you never mentioned her?” I glare at Natalie, who gives me an innocent smile. Traitor.
“We’re not exactly—I mean, we haven’t really labeled—” I stammer, sounding like an idiot. I try Eve’s number again. Still nothing.
“You’ve never brought a girlfriend home before,” Mom points out with a raised eyebrow. “This must be serious.”
“I’m not bringing her home,” I say, exasperated. “We’re barging into her home. There’s a difference.”
“What is she like? What does she do?” Mom asks, clearly intrigued.
Before I can answer, Ethan speaks up from the driver’s seat. “She’s one of my employees in Thalvyn’s Marketing Department.”
“They knew each other in college,” Natalie adds with a grin.
“Thanks, guys,” I say loudly, shooting them both a look. “I can talk about my own girlfriend.”
Mom’s eyebrows shoot up. “And you never introduced me to her?”
“We weren’t exactly friends back then,” I mutter, trying Megan’s number this time. Nothing.
Mom sighs, looking out the window. “I wish I didn’t have to meet her under these circumstances.”
“You’re not meeting her,” I say quickly. “We’re just picking up Megan and leaving.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Mom scoffs. “Of course I'm going to meet the woman who helped my daughter. I need to thank her properly.”
I groan internally. This is not how I planned to introduce Eve to my family. Not that I had a plan. I’m still trying to ease her into the idea of a relationship, and now I’m bringing my entire family to her doorstep.
“She saved Megan from that horrible man,” Mom continues. “I’m already grateful to her.”
I try Eve’s number one more time. “Come on, pick up,” I mutter. Still nothing.
“Maybe her phone is on silent,” Natalie suggests.
“Or dead,” Ethan adds.
“I just wish I knew what happened,” I say, tapping my fingers anxiously against my knee. “The text just said Tom and some crazy woman were attacking her, and her car’s damaged.”
Mom gasps. “Her car? Ethan just bought her that car!”
“I know, Mom,” I say, as Ethan’s grip tightens on the steering wheel.