Disengaged (Terms of Engagement Book 3)

by Melissa R. L. Simonin

  The detective approached, halting their conversation.

  “We’ve about got what we need here,” he told them. “You’re free to go.”

  “Thank you,” Erik said, and he and Amber stood.

  “If we have any further questions, we’ll give you a call,” the detective assured them, and that was that.

  Erik glanced at his watch, as they headed down the stairs to the parking lot.

  “What time are your parents likely to get back from lunch?”

  “I don’t know, an hour, maybe,” Amber replied.

  “Perfect.”

  “How’s that?” she wondered.

  “Nothing, no reason. We might as well be waiting for them when they get back. They’ll want to hear all about how you single-handedly took out Meredith. Something tells me they’re not big fans of hers.”

  “You think?” Amber laughed, then looked satisfied. “Teach her to get between a Fields woman, and her guy.”

  “She’ll never do that again,” Erik agreed. “When did you start carrying a gun, anyway? Did you have that last week, when we were in the bar?”

  “Not on me, I didn’t,” Amber answered. “That changed, as soon as I got home that night.”

  “I had no idea,” he said in amazement. “Who taught you to shoot?”

  “My cousin. His specialty is missing persons. He says he’d just as soon teach all of his female cousins to defend themselves, so he doesn’t have to go looking for us some day.”

  “Huh. I’ve got to say, the guy’s starting to grow on me,” Erik admitted. He was impressed, both with her cousin’s focus of expertise, and his concern for his extended family.

  A few minutes later, Erik parked in front of Amber’s parents’ house. She unlocked the door with her key, and they went inside.

  “Want something to drink?” Amber asked, as she removed her coat, then took Erik’s.

  “Not right now, thanks,” he replied, and led her to the sitting room couch.

  Erik sat, and so did she. He looked like he had something he wanted to say. She looked back at him, expectantly.

  “Amber… I care about you. A lot. I hope you feel the same way about me.”

  Amber raised an eyebrow.

  “Are you serious? You have to ask?” she retorted, and Erik smiled.

  “I know you care about me, but I don’t just care about you, Amber. I love you.”

  “I kind of thought you might,” she smiled, and he laughed a little.

  “It’s that obvious, is it? Well, I do. I love you. So… how do you feel about me?”

  “I love you, of course!” she said, rolling her eyes as if it should’ve been perfectly obvious, all along.

  “Good, I’m glad,” he smiled, as they hugged. “I don’t just want to go out. I want to go somewhere. I know there’ll never be anyone for me but you, and… I want you to know that, too.”

  “Really?” she asked, and now her eyes were starry. “Do you mean that? You’re serious?”

  “Yes. I mean every word of that,” he replied sincerely.

  “Good, because that’s how I feel about you,” she replied, her smile lighting the room. “I always have.”

  “I’m so glad,” he smiled back, and they hugged again. “I’m so glad, Amber.”

  As he hugged her, soaking in the relief that his feelings weren’t unrequited, the photos on the piano caught his eye. The photos of Caleb and Samantha, which no one ever bothered to hide away. Either they thought he wasn’t bright enough to figure out whose son Caleb really was, they didn’t care, or they were so used to seeing the pictures, they forgot all about them.

  That did beg the question, why was Amber continuing to maintain the charade that Caleb was her son, rather than their nephew? Was she afraid to tell him? Because she thought he’d be upset, and accuse her of lying to him? He was pretty sure she knew him better than that…

  Whatever the case, Caleb’s mom and dad would be home soon, and clear all that up. And this opportunity, was too good to pass by.

  “I love you, Amber. I love you, and Caleb both. I want you both.”

  He felt her hesitation, and hid the teasing gleam in his eyes, before she pulled away just enough to look into them.

  Amber bit her lip.

  “Am I enough for you, or will you feel cheated, if I’m all you get?”

  “What do you mean?” Erik’s eyebrows knit.

  “Well… Caleb’s mother isn’t likely to give him up. I can ask, but when she gets back, I’m pretty sure she’ll insist that I return him,” she winced.

  “Amber, but… I thought Caleb was yours,” he said. He looked completely stunned.

  “Well, he is, and he’s yours, too. But I couldn’t tell you he was our nephew, I was sure you’d think you had to tell Rob,” she defended herself.

  “You… don’t have a baby,” he stated, as if trying to grasp that.

  “No! I never even had a boyfriend, until you.”

  Worry shadowed Erik’s eyes now. If she ever accused him of not knowing how to act, after this… well, she wouldn’t, that was all.

  “Amber, I’m a lot older than you,” he said. He sounded like he was warning her.

  “So?” she retorted. “What, I was old enough for you when you thought I had a baby at sixteen? What kind of weird prerequisite list do you have, anyway?”

  Erik laughed a little at that. He couldn’t help it.

  “No, that isn’t a prerequisite.”

  “Did you mean it, when you said you love me?” she demanded. He hesitated briefly.

  “Yes. I do, I love you,” he answered.

  “I love you too. I’ve loved you since I was thirteen,” she said, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  It was all he could do to stay in character, rather than kiss her.

  “But you’re so much younger than I am,” he appeared to worry. Amber scowled.

  “And getting younger. I may have a tantrum, if you keep this up. Look, if it makes you feel better, every year I’ll be a little older. I’ll never catch up with you, but I’m starting to think I’m way past you in the maturity department already, because this doesn’t bother me, at all.”

  “But—Amber, are you ready for a serious relationship? Because that’s what I want,” he said, his eyes filled with concern.

  Amber raised an eyebrow.

  “Would you feel better if I take a year, and date other guys first?”

  Jealousy rushed through Erik like a white-hot flame, and he tightened his arms around her.

  “No, I hate that idea,” he replied firmly, and her eyes filled with triumph.

  “So do I,” she assured him. “Erik, I’m getting older every day. If you insist on waiting to marry me until I’m nineteen, I can live with that.”

  “Why, when is your birthday?” he wondered.

  “Next month,” she replied.

  “You have it all planned out,” he smiled.

  “Since I was thirteen, and I’ve waited long enough for you. So make up your mind. Am I enough?”

  “Yes, you’re enough,” he smiled. “Probably a little more than I can handle.”

  “God never gives us more than we can handle,” she replied.

  “The Bible doesn’t actually say that. It says we won’t be tempted beyond what we can handle. And I hope you’re not tempted to hurt me, when I tell you I knew Caleb was our nephew all along. After I saw the photo on the piano, anyway.”

  Amber stared back at him for several very long seconds. Then, she began to laugh. And laugh, and laugh.

  “You knew?” she exclaimed, and he nodded, as he smiled.

  “Yes. I figured it out the next morning.”

  “Oh my goodness, what do you mean, telling me you don’t know how to act?” she exclaimed, both admiring, and indignant.

  “I never said that. You did. I just didn’t correct you.”

  “I’m amazed,” she laughed again, then she smiled. “There’s only one thing I’m tempted to do, and it’s not to hu
rt you.”

  “Then what is it?” he asked.

  “Just this,” she said softly. She started to kiss him, then stopped abruptly. “Are you done being silly about my age, and yours?”

  “I’m done,” he assured her.

  “Good,” she smiled, and finally, she kissed him.

  ROB looked the apartment building over, as Erik turned in at the lot, and found a space. Samantha squeezed Rob’s hand tightly, and he glanced down at his wife. Her focus was locked on the building. She stared up at it eagerly, her muscles tense with anticipation.

  “We’re almost there,” Amber announced, from the front passenger seat.

  “He’s a great kid,” Erik added, glancing in the rearview mirror at his brother, as he put his vehicle in park, and turned off the ignition. “I know you’re nervous, but… don’t be.”

  “Hurry,” Samantha said under her breath, maybe to herself, as she threw off her seatbelt, and leaped out of the vehicle.

  Before Rob could make a move, she was around the SUV, and had his door open. He managed to get his seatbelt off, before she grabbed him by the arm, and led the way to the door at a rapid clip. He had to hurry to keep up.

  “Am I going too fast?” she asked, sudden concern shadowing her eyes.

  “No. I’m fine,” Rob assured her. He gave the keyed entry an approving look, as they approached. “I like this. I feel better knowing this is where you and Caleb will be, while I’m at work.”

  “I feel wonderful knowing I’ll be here with him too, instead of leaving him with Mom or Amber, while I’m at work,” she admitted.

  In spite of their race to the door, by the time Samantha had it unlocked, Erik and Amber were right behind them. They entered the lobby, and rode the elevator to Amber’s and Samantha’s floor.

  “It’s this way,” Samantha said eagerly, the minute the door swished open. She rushed Rob back out again, and down the hall.

  Erik and Amber followed along at a more leisurely pace.

  Samantha stopped in front of one of the doors, and sorted through her keys. Before she could find the one she wanted, the door opened.

  Justin smiled and held it wide, and didn’t hinder the family’s unification with introductions that could easily wait.

  Laney looked up and smiled from her seat on the couch, next to the golden-haired, blue-eyed toddler who sat playing with the stuffed puppy on his lap. He poked one of the colorful buttons, and laughed, as a new song filled the air.

  Rob watched him, his heart swelling with love for his son—his son, he marveled—until he thought it would burst.

  “Caleb, your mommy and daddy are here,” Laney said gently, with a glance at Rob and Samantha. Caleb turned to follow her gaze, and his eyes widened. He practically hurled himself off the couch in his haste to reach her, but Samantha moved even swifter than he did, and caught her baby in her arms.

  “Mama!” Caleb cried, over and over, as Samantha hugged him to her heart.

  “Caleb, sweetheart, I missed you so much,” Samantha sobbed, smiling through her tears, as she kissed his cheeks. “I’ll never leave you like that, ever again.”

  Caleb jabbered and told her all about something, as Justin and Laney quietly returned to their own apartment. Erik and Amber went down the hall to hers, where a few pieces of furniture and an assortment of boxes, were already moved over.

  Rob sat on the couch beside Samantha and Caleb, watching their exchange. She wiped her eyes, and Caleb’s tear-dampened curls, and reached for Rob’s hand.

  “Caleb, I want you to meet someone,” she smiled, and Caleb looked at Rob curiously.

  “Hi,” Rob said softly.

  “Da-da,” Caleb replied, and looked to his mom, as he pointed at Rob. His parents’ eyes widened in amazement. They had no idea the hours of coaching Laney and Amber spent, teaching him that face, went with that name.

  “Your mom said you were smart,” Rob managed to say, fighting against the tears that were determined to come.

  “He is, he’s so smart,” Samantha marveled. “You’re right, Caleb, this is your daddy.”

  “Da-da,” Caleb agreed, and held out his puppy for Rob’s inspection.

  “I like your dog,” Rob said. Caleb punched one of the buttons, and a song began to play. Rob smiled, and Caleb smiled back. The sight filled his heart with warmth, and fresh tears threatened to escape. Rob brushed them swiftly away. “Your Uncle Erik tells me you like cars.”

  Yes, Caleb did like cars. He nodded, and had a good deal to say about that.

  “Well… good, then maybe you’ll like this one,” Rob said. He reached in his jacket pocket, and pulled out a toy car, then offered it to him. Caleb smiled, and took it. He said something, maybe ‘thank you’, Rob wasn’t entirely sure. Rob reached in his other pocket, and removed a toy truck. “I’ve got one too, maybe you can show me how to play.”

  Caleb apparently approved, because he climbed off his mom’s lap, then took Rob’s hand and tugged, until his dad joined him on the floor.

  Caleb pushed his car in random circles, and Rob followed along with his truck. It was impossible to anticipate or keep up, and the two vehicles crashed. Caleb erupted in infectious giggles, as if it was the funniest thing he’d ever seen, and Rob couldn’t help laughing along. More crashes ensued, each more hilarious than the last.

  “You don’t just look like your uncle, you back like him,” Rob commented, as Caleb’s car reversed suddenly, and smacked into his truck, resulting in more laughter. Rob glanced up at Samantha. “Do you suppose our nephew—whenever we get one—will look just like us?”

  “Maybe so,” Samantha smiled. “I know Amber’s serious, is Erik?”

  “Are you kidding? Either they’re engaged, or—I have no idea why else your sister would wear a ring like that.”

  “What? Are you kidding?” she asked in surprise.

  “No. I’m not. You were probably too anxious to get back to this little guy, to notice,” Rob said, tickling Caleb’s side. Caleb giggled, and further rewarded him by sideswiping his truck.

  “Wow, that’s—fast,” she said in amazement.

  “And again, are you kidding?” Rob raised an eyebrow. “Your sister saved my brother’s life twice, in as many days. He’s probably afraid to go anywhere without her.”

  “I suppose so,” Samantha admitted.

  Caleb stopped suddenly, and yawned.

  “Careful, you’re going to split your jaw wide open,” Rob said.

  Caleb finished his yawn, and toddled over to the low bookcase. He took out a book, and carried it back to Rob. Then he climbed on his dad’s lap, and rested his cheek against his chest, as Rob held him.

  “You want me to read to you?” Rob asked, his voice thick with emotion, as he gently kissed the top of his son’s curly blond head. Caleb nodded, so Rob managed to rise to his feet with both him and the book, and joined Samantha on the couch again.

  “Wait, before we do anything else… could we get a picture?” Samantha suddenly thought to ask, as she reached for her phone.

  “We’d love that, wouldn’t we, Caleb?” Rob replied. Caleb yawned again, then smiled.

  Rob held Caleb with one arm, then put the other around Samantha, and they sat close. She held her cellphone out in front of the three of them.

  “Smile,” she instructed, and they did. With a tap of the screen, the picture was taken. She looked at it with satisfaction, and showed Rob and Caleb. “What do you think?”

  Rob’s eyes grew misty again, as he looked at the image. He kissed his wife and son, as he hugged them close.

  “This is perfect.”

  Chapter 30

  Autumn-themed garlands festooned the windows of the Fields’ dining room, and the sideboard piled high with traditional Thanksgiving Day fare. The warm air was filled with the scent of pumpkin pie and roasted turkey, and the festive sound of talk and laughter. A colorful fall arrangement, candlelight flickering, adorned the center of the long dining room table where the Davison families, both immed
iate and extended, gathered to celebrate.

  Twenty-eight-month-old Caleb watched seriously as his dad cut a slice of turkey into bite-size chunks.

  “How’s that?” Rob asked, sliding the plate back in front of him. Caleb nodded and smiled.

  “Thank you,” the little boy said, then turned his attention to systematically emptying his plate.

  “You’re not letting a few green beans get between you and your dessert, are you,” his Great-Grampa Davison chuckled. Caleb smiled and shook his head emphatically, in response. His dark-haired, dark-eyed three-month-old baby sister, Abigail, blew bubbles as she lightly pounded her mother’s arm with her little fist.

  “Here, sweetheart, I’ll take her, so you can eat,” Great-Gramma Davison offered eagerly.

  “Alright, thank you,” Samantha smiled.

  “Don’t you mean ‘you’re welcome’? She’s been looking for an excuse to hold her again, ever since she gave her back,” Great-Grampa Davison teased, and his wife slapped his arm lightly, as she passed by on her way to collect her great-granddaughter.

  Samantha’s mom smiled at the exchange, and was thankful Rob and Samantha were content to live in Ocotillo. She couldn’t imagine only seeing her grandchildren once a month. Neither could the elder Davisons, thus their decision to relocate to Ocotillo, as well.

  “And how are the newlyweds?” Amber’s dad, Jay, asked Amber and Erik.

  “Great,” Erik smiled.

  “It’s been six months. Are we still newlyweds?” Amber wondered.

  Grampa Davison gave them a critical look, then got back to his plate.

  “You are,” he said with confidence. “You sit close to one another, you glance at each other often, and unless Erik’s become left-handed all of a sudden, you’re holding hands under the table.”

  Everyone chuckled at that.

  “You’re exactly right, Grampa,” Erik smiled, and he and Amber held up their clasped hands, as evidence.

  “I don’t believe you’re the only newlyweds at the table today,” Gramma Davison noticed, with a satisfied nod in Rob and Samantha’s direction.

  “That’s right, Gramma,” Rob smiled.