“Life happens.” His reply is simple, and when he drums his fingers on the arms of the chair and looks out at the yard, I know that part of our conversation is over. “I see Thayer got your yard mowed.”
“He really didn’t have to do that.” I tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
After doing things on my own for so long, having people I don’t even know offer to help is strange.
“I’m sure he didn’t mind.”
Coming home to a well-manicured lawn after my first day at the coffee shop had been surprisingly nice. The yard still needs a lot of work to look anything like Caleb’s or Thayer’s but this is still a huge upgrade.
Despite the dirt patches and ignore the broken fence.
Gaze averted, I play with the ends of my hair. “In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t do well with help.”
He laughs, a deep, throaty sound. “I figured that out within five minutes of meeting you.”
“I’m used to fending for myself.”
Caleb’s face softens, his shoulders lowering. “I’m sorry.”
Normally those words make anger simmer in my veins. Pity gets my hackles up. But when I study him, that’s notwhat I see. No, his expression is full of genuine concern instead.
He assesses me in return, those blue eyes seeing more than I want them to. It makes sense, I guess, knowing what he does. He probably sees right through me. He probably clocked our situation the night we met.
His eyes hold mine, the blue a gentle, swaying current. “You won’t have to keep fending yourself. Not here. We all look after each other.”
I flinch. “I’m not from here. None of you really know me.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He stands and stretches, his white t-shirt riding up, showing off just a sliver of skin above his waistband. “You’re one of us now.”
Without another word, he turns and saunters back over to his house. At his back door, he lifts his hand in a wave, then he ducks inside.
After the door has shut, I say, “I’m not so sure about that.”
CHAPTER 6
CALEB
“I’ve missed you, Daddy,” Seda says softly, perusing the menu even though she’ll order French toast like she does every time we’re here.
“I’ve missed you too.”
Some might think it’s strange that I coparent a child who isn’t technically mine. To them, I would say that blood means little when it comes to love.
Salem and I broke up before I went to college, but when she came back to me, pregnant with Thayer’s baby, I knew I’d be there for her and that child any way I could be. At the time, I didn’t think we’dever be more than just friends. Eventually, though, we grew closer again. It probably helped that we had some distance from Hawthorne Mills. When it was just us, it didn’t take long to get back to the way we’d been. Our connection had always been easy like that. Deep down, I knew she still cared for Thayer, but I loved her enough to look past it. After all,Ihad her, and he didn’t.
Even still, I wasn’t surprised when she asked for a divorce.
Sad? Sure.
Surprised? No.
But I wouldn’t take that time back—our short marriage, raising Seda, none of it.
The day Seda was born was the happiest of my life. The memories are bittersweet, but recalling them always settles my soul.
“Caleb?” Salem stands in the doorway of the bedroom, holding her stomach, a pained expression contorting her face. “I think this is it.”
I can’t help but give her a skeptical look. We’ve had two false alarms already.
