The Summer Catch (Oyster Cove Series Book 5)

by Jennifer Foor

  I’m outside on the deck sipping on a beer when I see her approaching. She’s wearing a pair of shorts that come up and rest at the top of her thigh, and a top that shows off her belly. It’s loose fitting, and as she walks I can tell it’s probably open in the back. Her large sunglasses hide her eyes, even though she’s pulled all of her hair back out of her face.

  I walk down a couple steps to meet her halfway. “Come here and let me hug it away.”

  Kadence expectantly falls against my chest. She’s sobbing and I don’t know why, yet I can’t bring myself to push her away. It’s a side of her I’m not familiar with, though for some reason it doesn’t turn me off like it would with someone else. I’d been under the impression that she was tough as nails, though now I’m questioning it.

  I keep holding her until it gets uncomfortable to stand on the steps. “Want to come inside?”

  She nods, takes off her glasses and starts to wipe her face. Black makeup has run down her cheeks and I do my best to try to clean it off before the people inside see her. “My brother has friends over, but we can go in my room, if that’s okay with you.”

  “I really don’t want to be around people right now, Caleb.”

  “Don’t worry I’ve got a door. I didn’t used to, but that shit got old fast. I got tired of seeing Coop’s ass. He’s my brother if you don’t remember.”

  “I remember,” she says while following me.

  All eyes are on us as we walk inside, and to keep her from being embarrassed, I rush us straight to my room and close the door. Coop yells something sarcastic, thought at this point I’m ignoring everything except the distraught woman in front of me.

  We both sit down on the edge of my mattress. She stares at her hands and sniffles. “I’m sorry you have to see me like this. I’m sure you don’t want me ruining your night.”

  “I didn’t have plans, Kadence. You’re fine.”

  “I shouldn’t have messaged you, but I didn’t know where else to go. My parents are so hurt by me. They’ll never forgive me for what I’ve done.”

  “It can’t be that bad. Parents forgive. They give us shit, but they come around. Besides, I’m pretty sure you’re not capable of doing something that bad.”

  Her tear-filled eyes stare back at me. “How old are you, Caleb?”

  “Why does that matter? I’m old enough.”

  “Seriously, how old are you?”

  “Twenty-three.”

  “I’ll be twenty-five.”

  “So? I like older women.”

  “You don’t understand why I’m asking.”

  “No. Not yet. I’m sure you’re planning on telling me. You said you wanted to talk. To be honest I’ve been thinking about it all day. I’m kind of hoping you’ve decided to drop out of college and move to a small coastal island in Virginia. I guarantee I could make…”

  She puts her hand over my mouth to stop me from speaking. “I’m not moving to Virginia, Caleb. Something happened the night we were together. I’ve thought a lot about this and …”

  I stop her. “Whoa. I don’t have diseases, so if you’re here to accuse me of giving you something…”

  She almost laughs. “Oh my god, it’s not that at all.”

  I pull her into an embrace, thankful she’s not some psycho trying to accuse me of something that ain’t true. “You had me going there.”

  Kadence backs her face away so she can look straight at me. Then she pries out of my hold. “Caleb, I’m pregnant.”

  I burst into a laughing fit. “That’s fucking funny.”

  Her face remains serious. It’s not changing. She’s just sitting there waiting for me absorb it.

  All of the air leaves my body.

  “Pregnant?” I shrug it off. “Well, we can still screw around. It’s not like you’re showing.”

  I’ve obviously said the wrong thing. When our eyes meet again, I know what she’s about to say.

  “You think I’d show up for a booty call, but tell you I was pregnant first?” She’s shaking her head and tossing her hands around in the air. “It’s yours, Caleb.”

  “Mine? Woman, we were together once.”

  “I haven’t been with anyone else in a very long time. I know you don’t’ have any reason to believe me, but it’s the truth. I found out a few weeks ago.”

  I’m not trying to be a dick. “You’re sure?”

  “Yes. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. Trust me. I considered never coming back here again. I’m not coming to you because I want something. I don’t need your help. I’m coming to you because I want to do the right thing and be honest about it.”

  I stand up and start pacing. The words keep repeating in my head. Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant. It won’t stop.

  “I wish you didn’t tell me.”

  Now she’s standing. “Well, I couldn’t live with myself knowing I never told you, especially after the baby is born and will someday want to know their father.”

  “Wait, when the baby is born? You mean you’re having it?” My legs give out and I slump back down on the bed to catch myself. “I thought you’d have an abortion being that you have that life plan.”

  Kadence looks away. Her tears are still falling, and I know I’m saying all the wrong things. The truth is, I can’t wrap my head around this, not without taking some time to let it sink in.

  Before I can find the words my bedroom door bursts open. Coop has some topless chick on his back with what appears to be her shirt in his teeth. I look from my brother then to Kadence, and notice he’s doing the same to me. “Get the fuck out of here, dude!”

  Kadence grabs her purse and heads for the door. I throw my body in between. “Whoa, hold up. Please. I don’t want you to go.”

  “Why should I stay? It’s not like you even believe me, Caleb. My parents hate me, and it’s not like we were ever friends to begin with. All I wanted to do was tell you the truth. I’m not asking for a handout or sympathy. I’m trying to be fair. You have a right to know.”

  “I’m not ready to be a father. Look at me. I live in an apartment with my brother. We have parties almost every night. I’m not even responsible enough to watch the family dog.”

  Kadence touches my hand briefly. Her lips tremble when she starts to speak. “I get it. I’m sorry I burdened you with my problems. Don’t worry, you’ll never have to see or hear from me again.”

  Just like that, she walks out of my room, and I don’t follow.

  Chapter 18

  Kadence

  I'm made a fool out of myself. Coming here was a huge mistake, one I wish I'd never made. I don't know why I expected some partying beach guy to drop what he was doing in order to support me with keeping a child neither one of us know the first thing about raising.

  I'm an only child. He still acts like one. Why I thought this would end well is beyond me.

  What's worse is having to walk through the house and seeing half naked chicks giggling without a care in the world. That could have been my life.

  I just can't believe this is happening to me. I worked so hard. It feels like my life is falling apart, but I have no one else to blame but myself.

  I'm halfway down the street when I hear my name being called. I turn to find Caleb standing on the other side of the intersection from me. He's barefoot and waving his hands around like an air traffic controller.

  Wiping away my newest tears, I watch him run through traffic like a crazy person.

  Not knowing what's about to happen, a rush of emotions hits me. I don't want this guy to feel obligated. We had a one-night-stand. There is no right or wrong in this circumstance.

  Now we're face to face and I haven't the faintest what I'm supposed to say.

  Thunder rumbles followed by a flash of lightning. I hate storms. When I was a little girl lightning hit the tree next to my room. A limb came through window and scared the living crap out of me.

  Caleb doesn't seem to be bothered. "You can't just show up and tell me something like that and then
leave."

  "I couldn't stay. Not while all that was going on. I probably shouldn't have come to see you. Let's just face the facts. We're strangers. We live in two different states. I'm pregnant. You're the father. It's not your problem though. Just forget it."

  I'm trying to walk away, but he takes me by the arm and stops me. A light drizzle starts to fall around us. "I don't know what you want me to say. I'm a selfish jackass who only ever cares about himself. Maybe I should put that in my bio so women know ahead of time." He shakes it off. "Sorry. Don't listen to me. I act a fool when I'm nervous."

  “I was stupid for thinking you’d want to know.”

  “Don’t say that.” He reaches his hand out to take mine. “Look, I know I can be a dickhead. I say the wrong things. I’m irresponsible. I’m probably the last person you’d want to have a kid with. That being said, I’m glad you told me. I don’t know what to think or say about it yet. This has never happened before. I’m so damn careful. One fucking mistake and this happens. It’s like a bad dream. Not that I’m saying a kid is a bad dream. I’ve got nieces and nephews. They’re cute and like them. I’m a good uncle, but being a dad, that’s different. I don’t even know if I can do it.”

  Manufacturing a smile at this point is a waste of energy I no longer have. Instead my face contorts. “I get it.”

  I’m starting to pull away again. People are looking at us, and the rain is coming down harder. I need to get as far away from him as I can. It’s not that I’m angry. On the contrary, I appreciate his honesty. He’s not being mean or lashing out calling me names. He’s simply admitting he’s not ready. I’m not either, but I guess because I’m the one carrying the child I’m going to have to be. “You have my number now. Even if it’s a year from now, or longer, you know how to find me.”

  “I’ve slept with a lot of women, Kadence. You need to hear this. Please stop walking away. Hear me out.”

  I turn, felling a bit disgusted with his statement. “Why would I want to know that?”

  “Because. It’s important you hear this. It might not make sense to you, but it does to me. I’ve messed around with a lot of women, but none of them, not one stayed with me. I never thought about them again, not until I met you. I swear not a day has gone by where I didn’t think of you and wonder what you were doing. I’m not telling you this to make you feel like there’s something between us. I just think you need to know that.”

  “It doesn’t help,” I admit. “I’m freaking out.”

  Caleb looks up at the sky and smirks. “It’s like God is telling me not to fuck this up.”

  I roll my eyes. “I highly doubt that.”

  He looks down at my midriff. “A baby.”

  Shrugging is all I can do. “Yeah.”

  “I need to drink,” he admits.

  “I wish I could.”

  There’s an instant apology across his face. “Sorry, that was insensitive. Told you I’m not good at this.”

  “It’s okay. If I could drink, I would be, trust me.”

  “What happens now? How long are you staying on the island?”

  “Two weeks, if my parents decide to stay now. You should have seen their faces. I’ve never felt like such a disappointment. This was supposed to be a special family vacation, and I ruined it.”

  He finally sticks his hands in his pockets and shakes off shivers from the rain. “Want to get out of here?”

  “I’m not having sex with you.”

  This makes him laugh. “Wow, I really wasn’t thinking that.”

  “Sorry. This is weird, right? We don’t know anything about each other.”

  “Let me take you somewhere. It’s out of the weather, and quiet.”

  “Another boat?”

  “No. Not a boat. Just come with me.”

  I don’t know why I trust him. Maybe I shouldn’t. I’m surprised he doesn’t hate me. Right now I’m so desperate for any sort of compassion it’s difficult to comprehend anything. “You sure you’re not taking me somewhere to kill me and hide the evidence?” Wouldn’t that be a great movie. One Night Stand Killer.

  “You don’t get out much do you?”

  “All right. It’s not like I have anywhere else to go, or even friends to comfort me.”

  This causes him to reach up and touch my chin. I’m practically fall into it, needing support so much I’m willing to take it from this person I should’ve never contacted in the first place.

  Chapter 19

  Caleb

  My stomach is in knots, and for the first time in a while I’m glad I haven’t been drinking today. A part of me wants to run. It’s in my nature to act like fool and run from my mistakes. Another part of me sees this as a reason to finally grow up and change my ways. I’m not saying I want to be with Kadence, but we obviously have to be friends if we want to make this work. I know in my heart I won’t be able to live with myself knowing I have a kid out there and have nothing to do with them. It won’t work for me, and certainly not my family. We’re a tight knit group, and another kid will only add to that.

  Right now I think Kadence is more upset than I am. It took a lot of guts to tell her parents about being pregnant after one night with me. She does her best to explain as much as she can while we walk to Oyster Cove. She said she needed to go somewhere quiet. I know for a fact that no one is home there, so we’ll be able to talk and try to calm down to figure out what happens next.

  Being an uncle already, I’m not shy around babies, or even nervous. I even have experience changing a diaper or two. Even though it’s disgusting, I would do it again if it was my own kid.

  Kadence doesn’t know me enough yet to trust me though. The fact remains, I hardly know anything about her either. Now we’re stuck in this situation. As much as I wish this wasn’t happening, I won’t ask her to change her mind. Truth be told, I don’t think I could live with the guilt of knowing if she ended the pregnancy now. I might say and do things that make me an asshole, but she says that’s my kid, and for some reason I want to believe her. The more I think about it, the easier it is to make sense. I’m sure anyone else she’s ever been with had the means to take of the situation, way more that I would. Pegging the paternity on me doesn’t benefit her. We lived too far apart, and she barely knows anything about past or future.

  I know for a fact that she’s got money, or at least her parents do. They could easily care for her without my families’ help. I appreciate her telling me, and for that I’m going to do whatever necessary to make sure we have a cordial relationship.

  When we arrive at Dad’s house, Kadence stares at the front of the home and turns to me. “Where are we?”

  “This is the house I grew up in. Don’t worry. No one is home. They won’t be until late tonight. Pony week gets crazy at the diner.”

  “Are you sure it’s okay?”

  A guffaw comes out as I answer. “Yeah. It’s fine. We all still here from time to time.”

  Not even realizing I’m doing it, I take her hand and lead her inside. I’m sure compared to her home this is small. She scans the space and smiles. “Wow. I like it.”

  “It’s nothing fancy, but it’s home. Come in, have a seat. I’ll get you something to drink and then we can talk.”

  Kadence sits down on the couch just as a lazy dog comes out of one of the bedrooms. The lab goes right over and smells her clothes then walks right back in the room like he doesn’t care. He’s getting old. His watch-dog days are a thing of the past. “Sorry about him. Old man.”

  “I love dogs. I was never allowed to have them growing up. My parents didn’t have normal hours, so it wouldn’t be fair to the animal.”

  I answer her from the kitchen, while pouring two teas and hoping it’s something she drinks. It’s so weird not knowing anything yet. Dad is going to flip his lid. At some point they’re all going to find out what’s going on, and I don’t even want to think how and when it will happen. “My sister-in-law is a vet. Their house is full of fur. I house sit when they vacatio
n. Talk about a zoo.”

  “I loved going to my friend’s houses when I was a kid so I could play with their pets. “My friend Steph had a Saint Bernard who slept in bed with her. His name was Sampson. I loved that dog.”

  I come out of the kitchen with two glasses of tea and present one to her. “Tea okay?”

  “Sure. I love it.”

  After taking a couple sips I sit down and wait for this to be less weird, even though I expect it’s going to get worse.

  “Thanks for bringing me here, and being so understanding. I figured you’d cuss me out and call me a liar.”

  “Goes to show that you don’t know me at all.”

  “That’s true. It’s what makes this so hard.” She rubs her face and leans back on the sofa like her neck aches. “I’ve always been safe and smart about things. It’s like everything I ever stood for is broken, and I’m so messed up over it. I had a plan. I knew exactly where I was going to be and how I was to get there. If you could have seen my parents when I told them. I know I broke their hearts. I devastated them. They just stared at me and then walked away. They couldn’t even look at me.” She starts to cry again. I take her drink and sit it on the coffee table in front of us before turning to face her more. My hand reaches over and touches her knee, but I don’t dare move it around. “It’s going to be okay. They’re in shock. It’s expected.”

  “I failed them, Caleb. I looked at both of them and told them I slept with a stranger and got knocked up. I basically confessed to ruining my future.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “I’m studying to be a lawyer. I’m so close to being done. I was accepted to a three year law program in the city. I start this fall, or I’m supposed to. My parents have their own firm, and for as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to be a part of it. I sacrificed social events, friends, and even my own happiness to be the best I could be. I’ve never disappointed them, not one time.”