For some reason, the warmth of Evie’s personality came back, the personality rich with love and peace.
Caleb let it go. Even if he didn’t feel like he was in the wrong, he said, “I’m sorry. I’m just upset. Thank you for doing this. This really means a lot to me.”
She crossed her arms rudely. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for her. You don’t deserve good things.”
He snickered and looked down at the papers. The comment didn’t anger him at all. He smiled. “Apparently, I do. Because I’ve got Evie now.” He raised his brows lightheartedly. “Thank you. I do appreciate it.”
The children said loving goodbyes to their mother, and Caleb walked her to her car.
He even opened the door for Ashley, who was taken aback by the gesture. “What the hell are you doing?”
He smiled. “Being a gentleman. I’ve always been this way. You’ve been too blind to care.”
She sat in the car and ignored him. But before he closed the door, he said to her leaning over, “Oh, and one more thing. In all honesty, Ashley? I hope you’re happy in the end. And for what it’s worth…”
She stared at him.
He swallowed hard.Tell her the truth. “You really did a wonderful thing for me. Thank you so much.” He looked down for a moment as they both softened in their demeanors. “Thank you for caring, for coming by, and letting me take them to the game tomorrow. You don’t know what that means to me. Thank you.” He flashed her an honest, heartfelt smile, then closed the door.
He closed the door on his past.
Almost.
He watched that little sedan car drive off down his long gravel drive off of Highway 42. A place where the horses could roam freely on his forty-acre lot. A place where the sun rose on the eastern front porch and settled in the western back porch. A place where it was serene at all times of the day. A place where black-eyed Susans grew on the shoulder line during the appropriate seasons.
He looked at the papers in his hand. She had signed her side, and all he needed to do was sign his. Standing alone at the front of the house, Caleb let a tear roll down his cheek but quickly wiped it away and went back inside. He had work to do.
Dinner sizzled on the stove while his beloved children watchedHomeAlonefor the third time that season, even though it was almost time for the Superbowl. He made a palette for them on the floor with loads of blankets and pillows, snacks and one cuddly and lovable bloodhound. Olivia settled against Charlie, and Zack was on his belly with his chin rested on his hands. Caleb was sitting at his island counter on his laptop and signed the documents, took a picture of them with his phone, and sent them to his lawyer.
He called out really quickly, “Don’t forget, we gotta get some good sleep tonight, guys. We’re going to the game tomorrow!”
He texted Evie, but Zack suddenly appeared out of nowhere with an innocent smile across his sweet face. His hair was messy, and Caleb smashed it down in a grin. “You look like Albert Einstein.”
“Like whooooo?” Zack asked in a kiddish tone.
Caleb laughed and pulled Zack in to give him a hug, but Olivia immediately came running over and wanted one too. He grabbed her arm easily with one hand and yanked her on his lap, hugging them both. He kissed their heads. “I got a question for you guys.”
Olivia squeaked, “We can have ice cream now?”
“No, no, no,” Caleb laughed. It stirred a giggle in them all.
Zack asked eagerly, “You wanna know if we wanna go to Disneyland or Universal?”
Caleb looked at him with a playful threatening look. “You know it’ll always be Universal.”
He calmed them down and served dinner, trying to get them to be serious. After grace was said, Caleb placed a napkin on his lap. “Okay, kids, Dad’s gotta ask you something serious. What would you say if I brought a lady with us to the game tomorrow?”
Olivia slowly asked with a fry held to her lip, “Like a girlfriend?”
Caleb folded his fingers on the table. “Yes, like a girlfriend.”
Zack asked, “Dad, you’ve been seeing a girl who’s not Mom?”
This wasn’t going to be an easy conversation. He spoke calmly to his son, “Yes, but I wanna see if you guys like her.”
Olivia, being a sweet and innocent age of five now, asked, “Is she pretty?”
Caleb smiled. “Yes, she’s pretty, but that’s not the point. I’m asking if you’d both be okay with it. Olivia, she’s really good at art. Maybe she can draw with you sometime?”
