Adored (Seven Brides Seven Brothers Pelican Bay Book 2)

by Belle Calhoune

  He shook his head. He couldn’t believe it. A blast from the past. He felt as if he’d been knocked over by tsunami-force winds. It was all coming at him fast and furiously.

  “Caleb, talk to me,” Addie said in a tender voice. “I know you were blindsided by what Chandra had to say and I’m so very sorry. I had no idea her words would affect you like this. You look shattered.”

  He let out a noise that sounded more animal than human. “Just hearing my birth mother’s name wrecked me. Rayna Johnson. It brings back such a groundswell of emotion. It’s like I’ve been thrust back into the past just by hearing her name. As soon as Chandra said Tampa this dark feeling came over me.” He shuddered. “It’s crazy. How could I have blocked it all out?”

  She began rubbing his shoulders. “Were your parents ever able to tell you anything?”

  “They told me she couldn’t raise me. That she gave me up.” He swallowed past the bile rising up in his throat. “When I pushed for more details they said there were allegations of abuse and they revolved around the fire. I’m not sure how much they knew. They’re not the type to hide information.”

  Addie let out a shocked sound. She raised a hand to her mouth. “Oh, how awful. But that sounds quite different from what Chandra was alluding to, doesn’t it?”

  “Chandra was a child herself. How could she accurately portray what was going on in my home behind closed doors?” Caleb raised up his sleeves so his forearms were showing. The markings on his brown skin had faded a bit with time, but they were still visible. There were more of them on his torso and hip. “See these marks? I was in a fire when I was a kid. That’s when I was taken away and placed in foster care. For all I know she was the one who gave me these burns.”

  Addie let out a shocked sound. She reached out and ran her fingers along his scars. “Oh, Caleb. I’m so sorry. This must have been terribly painful. Burns are some of the most agonizing wounds human beings can suffer.” Tears slid down Addie’s face. Caleb reached out and wiped them away with his finger. Addie was such a tender-hearted woman.

  “Please don’t cry, Addie. These scars represent the fact that I’m resilient. I bounced back from unimaginable horror. I don’t know the circumstances of the fire. I’m not sure I want to know, to be honest. These scars speak volumes. Perhaps they’re here to remind me that I shouldn’t even think about going back to that dark time.”

  Addie was making loud sniffling noises. Caleb placed his arm around her and drew her in close to his chest. “I’m sorry,” she wailed. “I’m trying not to cry. But all I can picture is a pint-sized version of you being trapped in a fire. It breaks my heart.”

  He cradled Addie in his arms. “Shh. It’s all right. My memories of it are mere shadows now. I remember being alone and being frightened of the smoke with no way out.” He shook his head, wondering why memories were so complicated. “I suppose it’s a blessing I don’t remember more of it.”

  “Oh, Caleb. I’m so sorry I brought Chandra back here to talk to you. I never want to bring you pain.”

  He looked down into Addie’s eyes. What he saw in the depths of her eyes shocked him. He wasn’t certain—it was merely a strong hunch—but he swore he saw love burning in her eyes. Love? Was Addie in love with him? The idea of it made him feel nervous. She was such a tender, sweet woman, one who had been a bit sheltered from life. Although he had feelings for her, could he really say it was love? When he compared it to his feelings for Felicity he knew he wasn’t in love with Addie. And he didn’t want to hurt her. She was like a beautiful butterfly who had come out of her cocoon. He didn’t want to wound her. His own life was so complicated at the moment and getting more complex each and every day.

  Tread carefully with her heart. The words buzzed in his ears. He would never forgive himself if he hurt Addie or wounded her delicate heart.

  Addie lifted her face up toward him. She closed her eyes. Caleb reached out and traced the shape of her lips with his finger. She wanted him to kiss her. It’s what he wanted to do, more than anything. He was torn between the desires of his heart and knowing he might be taking things too far. Caleb wasn’t certain his heart was available. He had a lot of emotional baggage he still needed to sort through. Tonight had shown him in no uncertain terms that he still hadn’t dealt with his past. It was hard to build any kind of future when he was still stuck in limbo.

  With a sigh, Caleb lowered his head and placed his lips on Addie’s. Regardless of his reservations, he enjoyed kissing Addie. It made his soul soar. When he was in her presence, Caleb felt joyful. She filled a hole in him that no one else could. Her lips were soft and pliable. She kissed him back with equal measure. For a few moments, Caleb felt free and light. He didn’t harbor a single reservation.

  As the kiss ended Addie snuggled in the crook of his arm. The kiss was a welcome distraction to the information Chandra had divulged. For now, he felt calm. Content. Later on he knew the information from this evening might cause him to toss and turn in his bed. The past was a mystery to him. And it had been for as long as he could remember. But, he couldn’t deny the way Addie made him feel. She lifted him up to a place where he felt he could deal with just about anything.

  Curiosity gnawed at him. Was it time for him to reconnect with the woman who hadn’t loved or wanted him? His life was a happy one. He had a beautiful family and two parents who adored and supported him. He didn’t want to hurt either of them by digging into the past. Did he need to track down his birth mother? Absolutely not. That ship had sailed almost twenty years ago. He needed to keep looking forward and put a lid on the past. It’s what he’d always done. And he would continue to do it.

  Lord, please help me put the past firmly in my rearview mirror. Nothing good can come of my unearthing old hurts. You blessed me with my wonderful Donahue family. I’ll never need anything more than that. They saved me in every way possible. It’s not wise to look backward. Help me focus on the blessings in my life and not dwell on the unanswered questions from the past.

  **

  Addie had a hard time settling down to sleep after the strange meeting between Chandra and Caleb. Had she made a terrible mistake in inviting her friend to talk to Caleb? Not being able to sleep, Addie got up and reached for a mystery novel that had been sitting on her bedside table for weeks. After thumbing through it for a few minutes, Addie realized she couldn’t get into it. She felt as if she had her own mystery to solve. She desperately wanted to help Caleb unravel his past in a healthy manner.

  Wasn’t information power?

  She pulled her covers off, grabbed her laptop and made her way to the kitchen. After flipping on the lights and putting the kettle on to make some tea, she settled down at her kitchen table. She began to google the name Rayna Johnson and Tampa, Florida. After a few minutes of searching around, she hit pay dirt. A woman’s face popped up on her screen, accompanied by a newspaper article. Addie let out a gasp at the headline. “Local woman rebuilds life after tragic losses.” Although she felt a sliver of guilt for doing research behind Caleb’s back, Addie knew she was doing it for his benefit.

  As Addie began to read the article from the Tampa Times, she felt overwhelming compassion for Rayna. Caleb’s biological mother had lived a tumultuous life. Raised in poverty, she had excelled in the world of academia and received a full college scholarship to Brown University, where she met her future husband, Ray. They settled down in Florida where they were happily raising their son until Ray’s tragic death in a car accident. Rayna struggled with grief and depression and lost her job at a university. Forced to move back home to a dicey neighborhood in Tampa, Rayna struggled to raise her child as a single mother working menial jobs to keep a roof over their heads.

  Addie read out loud. “After losing her only child to the foster care system after a fire broke out in their apartment when he was home alone, Rayna sank into drug use and depression.” Addie made a tutting sound. Rayna’s story—which was Caleb’s story as well—was tragic and full of twists and turns. She contin
ued to read, praying for a bright spot in the story.

  “After turning my life over to the Lord, I found redemption,” Addie read Rayna’s statement. Her heart rejoiced at the fact that Rayna had managed to rise up past her sad circumstances. “My only wish is that my son was here to see it. But I gave up custody of him so he could have a better life. And I have no idea where he is, but I pray for him each and every day.”

  Tears slid down Addie’s face. All of her life she’d been privileged. She’d been raised in penthouses and palatial estates. She had attended private schools and luxury camps. She’d never wanted for anything in a material sense. Rayna had been dealt some very bad cards in life. Despite her trying to better herself through education, she’d fallen apart after her husband’s death. And she’d lost the son she still thought about. Caleb!

  He needed to know this information! It could very well change his life. Perhaps if he sat down with Rayna they could work their way through all the years of loss and separation. He had been given the most wonderful family in the world through his adoption by the Donahue clan. She imagined nothing would change if he reunited with his birth mother. It wouldn’t affect the relationships with his parents or siblings one bit.

  How in the world could she broach this subject with Caleb without causing him any further trauma? His reaction tonight had been very emotional. Clearly, he had blocked out things regarding his past. If she proceeded with this, she needed to handle the situation in a very delicate manner. Addie bit her lip. She wondered if reaching out to Jude and Penelope would be a good idea or whether Caleb would view it as a betrayal of his confidence?

  She needed to get some rest and pray about what she should do in order to help Caleb. He was one of the finest men she’d ever known. With each and every day, Addie was finding more reasons to like him. And not just as a business partner. Caleb Donahue was finding his way into the inner regions of her heart. And there wasn’t a single thing she could do at this point to stop it.

  “Love grabs you by the throat and never lets go. It’s the most exhilarating, powerful and scariest feeling I’ve ever known.”

  Heath Donahue

  Chapter Eight

  The morning dawned bright and beautiful. It was Saturday and he wasn’t working today at the bistro. Neither was Addie. He had invited her to go sailing this morning on the waters of Pelican Sound. He had no idea where this relationship with Addie was going, but he knew he loved spending time with her. He knew there wasn’t another woman in his life he would have opened up to about his birth mother the way he had done with Addie. She was becoming a huge part of his life between the Blue Bayou and his off-time from work.

  As he walked down the pier toward the Donahue family sailboat, he spotted a familiar figure walking toward him. Although she looked slighter than usual, he knew it was Bella Vincente.

  “Hey Bella. It’s been a long time,” Caleb said, extending a warm greeting.

  Caleb was a bit shocked at the sight of Heath’s ex-girlfriend. She didn’t look like her usual self. She had lost weight and dark shadows hovered underneath her eyes. With her blonde hair and blue-green eyes, she was a very attractive woman. At the moment she looked like she needed a decent meal and some sleep.

  “Caleb! It’s good to see you,” she murmured as she reached out and hugged him. He gave her an extra tight hug, knowing she needed the support. He had always known how much Bella loved his brother. She had prayed for his safe return from military service, and now that they were both together on American soil, their relationship had blown up.

  “I suppose you know about me and Heath?” she asked, smoothing back her hair with a shaky hand.

  Caleb nodded. “I was pretty shocked to hear the news. I thought the two of you were in it for the long haul. To be honest, I thought I’d be calling you sis soon.”

  Tears pooled in Bella’s eyes. “So did I,” she said in a choked up voice.

  Caleb wanted to kick himself for making Bella sad. “I’m sorry, Bella,” he said in a contrite voice. “There I go again with my big mouth. I’m sorry if I said the wrong thing.”

  “Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing my own family hasn’t already said.” She let out a brittle laugh. “My dad keeps threatening to go and confront Heath.” She shuddered. “I’ll die of embarrassment if he ever follows through with it.”

  He grimaced. Jimmy Vincente was an old school Pelican Bay fisherman. He also owned a bait and tackle supply store by the pier called Fish Tales. He was a tough guy who had raised five daughters all by himself after his wife’s premature death from cancer. Caleb knew he didn’t play around when it came to the health and well-being of his daughters. He would hate to see any type of confrontation between his brother and Jimmy.

  “I hope you’re taking care of yourself.” Caleb squeezed her arm for emphasis. “You look pretty thin.”

  Bella’s eyes widened. “I-I just need to eat more,” she said. “Don’t say anything to Heath about it. The last thing I want is for him to feel sorry for me.”

  Caleb frowned. Why did it seem as if Bella was hiding something? “To tell you the truth, Heath has shut down a bit. We’re all worried about him.”

  She bit her lip. “I don’t mean to sound cruel, but I can’t worry about Heath anymore. He made it pretty apparent he wants nothing to do with me anymore.”

  “Bella, I’m not making excuses for him, but he’s going through a lot.” Caleb didn’t want to betray his brother’s confidence. Although he wanted to elaborate, his hands were tied.

  “I imagine so, but life has taught me that none of us ever have it easy. I’ve got my hands full right now with my own family situation.” She jutted her chin in the direction of the dock. “My Dad is having some financial setbacks. He may lose the tackle shop. I’ve got to focus on other things.”

  Caleb shook his head. He couldn’t imagine this area without Jimmy’s shop. Fish Tales had been around longer than both he and Bella had been alive. “I’m sorry to hear that, Bella. I hope it all works out. And again, I’m so sorry about you and Heath.”

  “Thanks, Caleb. Let’s just say I’ve been talking to the big guy upstairs a lot lately.” Bella’s half smile didn’t make it all the way to her eyes. With a wave of her hand she turned away from him and walked in the other direction. Caleb’s gaze trailed after her. He didn’t know whether or not to mention her appearance to Heath. Although she’d asked him not to, he had to wonder if it would cause Heath to snap out of his mental fog. Surely he didn’t want to sever all ties with the love of his life?

  Just then Addie appeared, striding down the pier wearing a pair of white shorts and a navy blue nautical shirt. She was wearing sunglasses and a pair of blue boat shoes. She looked sporty and ready to go out on the open seas. Addie passed Bella on the way. Caleb could see the frown etched on her face as she approached him.

  “Is she a friend of yours? She seemed quite upset. There were tears streaming down her face.” Caleb could see the worry emanating from her eyes.

  Caleb quirked his mouth. “That’s Bella. Heath’s ex. She’s not doing so well.”

  Addie made a fretful sound. “Poor thing. I wanted to give her a big hug. She looked terribly unhappy.”

  This was pure Addie. Loving. Compassionate. There wasn’t a single thing he didn’t like about her. Was it possible she didn’t have a single flaw?

  “I hope she’ll be all right. Having your heart broken isn’t easy,” Caleb said. Addie narrowed her gaze as she looked at him. He had the feeling she wanted to ask him something, but she held back. “Why don’t we get started on our journey?” Caleb suggested, reaching out and placing Addie’s hand in his own. He led her down the pier to slip 22 where the Donahue sailboat was docked.

  Caleb helped Addie on to the sailboat and pointed out the picnic lunch he had packed for them. “If we sail about a half hour west we can stop and eat over by Pelican Point.”

  “It sounds wonderful to me,” Addie said, sitting back and lifting her face toward the sun. “
It’s the perfect day to be out here on the water.”

  Before setting sail, Caleb paused for a moment to admire Addie’s beauty. She was never flashy or bold like some other women he’d dated in the past. Her style was low-key and humble. She was a classic beauty.

  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. The Bible verse from Peter could have been written with Addie in mind. Although she was physically appealing to him and clearly took the time to look nice, the most beautiful thing about her was her soul. She radiated from within.

  As they sailed around Pelican Sound, Caleb pointed out landmarks in the distance to Addie. Her joy was almost childlike. She was interested in everything he pointed out to her and she was closely observing his movements as if she herself wanted to learn to sail. After an hour or so, Caleb steered them toward land so they could enjoy a nice lunch while overlooking the water.

  Once they anchored the sail boat, they concentrated on finding a perfect little spot. When they located it, Addie and Caleb spread out a blanket and began to unpack the picnic basket. As a chef, Caleb enjoyed adding unusual elements to his picnic lunches.

  “Mmm. The sandwiches look delicious. What exactly is it?”

  “It’s a Croque Monsieur. Have you ever had one?” he asked as he placed them down on two plates.

  “No, I don’t think so. But I can’t wait to dig into it.”

  “It’s delicious. Ham and Gruyere cheese. Dijon mustard. Herbs and spices.” He wiggled his eyebrows, then dug into the basket for more treats. He took out a three bean salad, pickles, a fruit salad with mandarin oranges, blackberries and pears, homemade baked potato chips and a carafe of sparkling lemonade.

  “You sure know how to pack a picnic lunch,” Addie raved. She reached down and placed some chips on her plate, then took a big bite of her sandwich. Addie closed her eyes and said, “Oh this is fantastic.”