“I didn’t say that. I just thought maybe it would be good for us to make this decision together,” Steve replied.
“It’s not about you and Mom,” Caleb retorted. “I get that you want to have control over this like you want to control everything about my life. But it’s not going to work this time. I’m doing this, Dad. So you guys need to either support me on it or at least stay off my back.”
“How’d it go?” Michelle asked Steve, after she gave Caleb a welcome home hug and he disappeared upstairs.
“Apparently I’m trying to control him like always,” Steve replied, throwing up his hands. “I tried to talk some sense into him, and to ask him to at least wait until after the wedding. But he’s got it in his mind that he’s barreling forward with or without our approval.”
Michelle winced. She could imagine her two men going at it in the car. “I’ll try talking to him,” she said softly, putting her hand on Steve’s shoulder.
“Good luck,” he said with a grimace.
Michelle found Caleb unpacking his carry-on. He was throwing the dirty clothes into the hamper in his closet as if playing basketball against a fierce foe. “Hey, bud,” she said.
“Hey,” he replied without looking her way.
Michelle cringed inwardly. Her heart was breaking for their son. Yes, Caleb was adopted. But he was truly their son. “Everything okay?” she asked, knowing it wasn’t.
“Sure. Fine.”
“I heard about your conversation with your father,” she said.
“I’m sure you did. Seems like everyone’s been talking about me lately,” he added, his voice edged with sarcasm.
Michelle took a deep breath. Don’t let this become a battle of words, she warned herself silently. “I know you’re upset about Amber telling me, Caleb. But she was only looking out for your best interests.” She paused and then added, “We all are. We’re on your side, bud.”
Caleb spun to face her. “Really? Because it’s not feeling like that to me. All Dad cares about is Madison’s wedding and keeping me from upsetting her day. Of course, that makes perfect sense. She is his princess, after all. And I’m just some kid who lives with you guys.”
“Hey, wait a minute,” Michelle warned. “You know that’s not fair. We’ve never shown favoritism with either of you two. We love you both the same, Caleb, whether you can accept that or not.”
“Whatever,” he replied, shrugging his shoulders and turning back to his unpacking.
“You need to look at this from Dad’s side, too,” Michelle interjected.
Caleb tossed her a look over his shoulder. “Why do you think I kept this to myself?” he asked. “I’m not doing this to upset Dad or to ruin Mad’s wedding. I just want to know who my biological father is. Is that such a crime?”
Michelle shook her head. “No. It’s not a crime, honey. And to be honest, I don’t blame you. Neither does your dad. We’ve tried to be open with you from the beginning. That’s why we let you know Amber and spend time with her. We knew she really cared about you, too.” She paused and then added, “None of us, including Amber, know anything about Adam—where he is, what kind of person he’s become, or how he would react to you finding him. That’s what we’re all concerned about.” She paused and then parroted his words. “Is that such a crime?”
Caleb turned back around to face her. His face reminded her of the little boy he once was. So vulnerable and with such a good heart. Michelle rose to her feet and walked over, pulling him into her arms. That little boy had somehow morphed into a young man that was several inches taller than her. But in that moment, heart to heart, she hoped the little boy inside could feel how very much she loved him. The love of a mother for her only son.
“I get it, Mom,” he admitted softly. As he gently pulled back, he added, “but I need to do this. I really do.”
She looked him in the eye and nodded. “Okay.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It was a beautiful day for a bridal shower. The sun came out early after a night of light rainfall. “Sweet!” Michelle proclaimed as she opened the curtains in her bedroom. She’d been praying for sun for this special event.
Slipping into her jeans and a tee shirt, she hurried downstairs to make coffee. Steve was already out for a morning run, and Michelle was supposed to meet her mother to set up the decorations.
The shower was being held at Michelle’s grandmother’s retirement community. Shoreline Manor had a cozy recreation room that overlooked the ocean. It was available for the residents to reserve for events like this. They’d put in a request a couple of months ago, and the afternoon was free. Grandma Joan was delighted, feeling like she was hosting the event.
Michelle smiled as she thought of her elderly grandmother. Joan was such a wonderful example of growing old gracefully. Although she hobbled around now because of her arthritic knees, and her memory was not very sharp, Grams had a friendly smile and a warm welcome whenever Michelle visited.
Today would be a special treat for Joan since her group of prayer gals would be attending the shower. They’d named themselves the Silver Sisters of the Sword and had become a close-knit group of friends who prayed for each other and their families. Michelle knew they’d prayed Madison through her turbulent adolescent years, and they’d all adopted her into their hearts as their granddaughter.
Luke and Maddie’s friends from church were hosting a co-ed shower for them in another week, but today was ladies only. ‘The Old Lady’ shower was how Michelle fondly referred to it.
“You’re not old, Mom!” Madison would reply whenever it was mentioned.
Sipping her coffee, Michelle smiled. She’d miss having Maddie around. Not only was her daughter getting married, but she was also going to a far away land for at least a year. Michelle gazed out the kitchen window and tried to imagine what the year would be like back here in Sandy Cove without Madison.
Her heart was torn. She was excited for her daughter and the new adventure she faced ahead. But a lonely ache deep inside revealed how difficult it would be to let her go. “Where did the years go?” she asked herself quietly.
Stirring a bit more cream into her cup, she glanced at the clock on the wall. 8:30. She’d better get going. She still needed to pick up the flowers and balloons and then meet her mom in an hour. They wanted a couple of hours to set up the banners and decorations, as well as the food which Luke’s mom Kelly was picking up on her way over at 11:30.
When Michelle drove into the lot at the Manor, she spotted her mother’s car parked near the walkway. Pulling into an adjacent stall, she unloaded the first box, which was full of flowers and headed up the path.
Sheila must have stopped to see her mother on the way in because she was not there when Michelle walked in. Setting the box of floral arrangements on the counter, she headed back to the car, retrieved the helium balloons with one hand and the bag of tablecloths, banners, and other miscellaneous decor with the other before retracing her steps.
Still no sign of her mother in the room.
Michelle looked around and began replaying the plan of their set up in her mind. She needed to move a few tables first. Setting to work, she rearranged the furniture to suit her before beginning to set out the tablecloths.
She’d just set up the last table when Sheila walked in with Joan on her heels. “Grandma wanted to come supervise,” she explained with a wink.
“Great!” Michelle replied, giving her grandmother a hug and then turning and giving one to her mother.
Joan began peppering them with questions about the decorations. She pooh-poohed the location of the big banner, suggesting it needed to go directly above where Madison would sit to open her gifts. “That way it will be in all the pictures,” she said firmly.
Michelle glanced over at her mother and smiled. Grandma Joan was sweet, but she was also outspoken and opinionated at times. “Whatever you think,” Michelle replied. After all, it was a rare occasion that Joan ‘hosted’ anything these days. And Michelle knew sh
e’d been looking forward to it for weeks.
“Are all the Silver Sisters coming?” Sheila asked her mom.
“All but Sylvia. She’s down with a nasty cold again,” Joan replied. “We’ve been praying over her all week, hoping she’d be well. But the good Lord must know she needs a rest instead.”
“That reminds me,” Michelle said. “I’ve got to give Madison a wake up call. She and Luke were out late last night with some friends, and I encouraged her to sleep in this morning so she’d be fresh for the shower.”
Madison picked up on the third ring. “Hi, Mom. I’m up. Caleb had some music blasting in his room about fifteen minutes ago. I guess he went out somewhere because it’s quiet now.”
Michelle shook her head. Oh well. At least Maddie’d gotten to sleep in a little. “Sorry about that, honey,” she said.
“No worries. How are things going over there?”
“We’re getting set up. Grams is here helping us,” Michelle said.
“Uh oh. Well, good luck. I’ll see you at noon,” Madison replied, and Michelle could hear the laughter in her words.
As soon as she hung up, the three ladies set to work transforming the room into a bridal shower of pinks and lavenders, the ocean sparkling in the distance through the open windows.
“You aren’t wearing those jeans to the shower, are you?” Sheila asked Michelle as they finished their work.
“No, Mom. I’ve got a dress in the car. I figured I’d change here at Grams.” She headed out to retrieve it, along with her makeup bag and curling iron, meeting her mother and grandmother back at the apartment. By eleven thirty, she was ready to meet up with Kelly and help her arrange the lunch spread along the buffet counter.
Sheila pulled out the beverages they’d stored in the refrigerator earlier that week and loaded the coffee maker as well. Soon everything was ready. Madison arrived right on time, dressed in a skirt and tee shirt. She looked pretty, but so young to Michelle. How could it be that Maddie was about to be a bride?
Thankfully, there was little time to ponder that thought. As Madison began perusing the buffet, three teacher friends from Magnolia Middle School, where Michelle taught English, arrived together. Right behind them were two of the Silver Sisters followed by some neighbor gals who had watched Madison grow up.
The other three of Joan’s prayer group friends arrived a few minutes later, and soon the room was teaming with friendly faces and voices as introductions were exchanged and the gifts were stacked on a corner table next to the desserts.
Michelle watched Madison graciously greeting the guests. She was the only one in the room who was younger than forty, but even in her natural shyness, she was mixing and mingling with the multitude.
Soon Joan rang a little bell she’d brought. “Attention please,” she said.
The chatter died down and all eyes were on Madison’s great grandmother.
“If we could all just gather close, I’d like to say a little prayer for our luncheon and shower,” she began. With all heads bowed, Joan clasped her hands in front of her heart and prayed a blessing over the meal and over Madison’s new life as a wife and missionary. Michelle could hear her grandmother’s voice crack as she prayed, and she couldn’t help wondering if Joan would still be around when Maddie and Luke returned from China.
After a delicious lunch of croissant sandwiches, salad, and fruit, the ladies showered Madison with gifts, many of which Michelle and Steve would store for the couple until they moved back to Sandy Cove. That was the silver lining of them leaving. Both had reassured them they’d eventually be settling there.
Many of the ladies lingered after the shower was over, enjoying the peaceful view and fellowship while Michelle, Sheila, and Joan put up their feet and relaxed for the first time all day. Madison bowed out after about twenty minutes, explaining that she and Luke had another meeting with Ben that evening.
By the time Michelle got home at five, she was ready for a nap. Steve walked in on her settling down on the couch with her feet propped up on the arm. “Tired, babe?” he asked.
“Yeah. It was a great afternoon, but I’m beat.”
He leaned down and placed his hand on her leg as he gently kissed her. “Sweet dreams, princess.”
Michelle smiled. “Thanks.”
When she woke up an hour later, she could smell pizza. “Steve?”
Her husband appeared from the kitchen. “You’re awake. Just in time for dinner. Be right there.”
Carrying out two paper plates with pizza on them, he set them down on the coffee table beside the couch. Then patting her leg, he said, “Sit up, babe. Let’s eat.”
“What about Caleb?” she asked.
“He’s hanging out with Logan. They’re grabbing burgers, I guess.”
“He’ll be bummed he missed pizza.”
“I got extra large. There’ll be plenty left for him when he gets back. You know how he loves to raid the fridge at midnight,” Steve replied with a smirk.
Michelle nodded.
Caleb and Logan sat in the car eating their burgers. “So, your parents are pretty bummed about this whole Adam thing?” Logan asked.
“You could say that,” Caleb replied. “Get this—my dad asked if I could wait until after the wedding. Like I might invite Adam or something, right?” he asked sarcastically.
Logan shook his head. “Are you going to hold off?”
“No way,” he replied. “I’m so close now. It’s not like I can just forget about it for a month.”
“Yeah. Well, let me know if I can help, bro.”
Caleb nodded. “I will.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Caleb pulled the car out of the burger joint and headed toward the outskirts of Sandy Cove.
“Where’re we going?” Logan asked casually.
“To drive by the house where Adam lived when he and Amber were dating.”
Logan just nodded. “Whatever you say. But we’re not stopping, right?”
“Right.”
As Caleb turned onto Fourth, his hands tightened on the steering wheel. He’d been on this street a million times. Especially when he was going to Magnolia Middle School. It was part of his route home on his bike.
The street was lined with trees and parked cars. The houses were old—among the first built in Sandy Cove. Once stately and impressive with manicured front yards, they were now sagging under the weight of age with weathered siding, faded paint, and a hodgepodge of landscaping. Although it was clear that some residents still took pride in their homes, many had let their places deteriorate with time.
Caleb remembered peddling down the sidewalk his first bike ride home from school, enjoying bouncing over the cracked and raised parts where tree roots had lifted and broken the concrete. Wow. He’d never even imagined that he might be peddling past his biological father’s house.
As they approached the intersection of Magnolia Street, Caleb looked both right and left, searching for the two-story gray and white building Amber had described. He spotted it on the other side of the intersection on the far side of the street. Crossing over and then pulling off to the right, he pointed it out to Logan. “That’s the place,” he said.
A weed-infested lawn with a couple of overgrown rose bushes flanked the stairway up to the front porch. Caleb could see that the screen door had a large tear in the bottom half with the netting hanging loose. Looking over the property, he was a bit disappointed there were no cars in the driveway. Not that he would have gone to the door or anything. Not today, at least. He still had to figure out exactly what he was going to say when he did.
“Looks pretty old,” Logan observed.
“Yeah. It could use a paint job,” Caleb replied.
“So what now?”
Caleb thought for a moment. “I guess I’ll just write down the address.” He took out a scrap of paper from the console and copied the faded numbers from the curb.
They were just about to pull away when a woman came out of the front door. She look
ed to be about Amber’s age and was followed by another woman, who was older. Caleb swung the car around onto their side of the street and pulled up, as they were about to get into a car parked at the corner.
“Excuse me,” he said as he leaned over and called out through Logan’s open window.
The younger lady looked his way. “Can I help you?” she asked.
“I’m looking for someone who lives on this street,” he replied. “His name is Adam.”
“Adam Wilson?” she asked. “Are you one of his martial arts students?”
“Yeah,” Caleb lied. He could explain the truth later.
“Adam’s at the gym,” she said. “He should be home by five. Can I give him a message?”
“No, thanks. I’ll just catch him at the gym,” Caleb replied, waving as he pulled away and headed down Fourth toward home.
Ben looked his son in the eye. Luke had grown to be such a fine young man—one any father would be proud to call his own. The two of them were sitting together in Ben’s office at the church for a meeting that was suddenly feeling a bit awkward to Ben.
Since he would be officiating at their wedding, he wanted to cover all the bases he usually did with a couple in premarital counseling. As invested as he felt in every engaged couple at their church, the future of this one was even more important to him.
The young man facing him would likely one day be the father of Ben’s grandchildren. And he would soon be the husband of Ben’s best friend’s daughter. But most importantly of all, this was Ben’s son, his firstborn, and someone who had taught him so much about being a father. He didn’t want to blow it now.
Why did it always seem toughest to discuss important matters with family? Why was it so much easier to guide and counsel his parishioners than it was those closest to him? He supposed it was the depth of love he felt for them—a love that helped Ben grasp the love of God Himself for His children.
Clearing his throat, he stood from his desk and walked around to the other side where Luke sat waiting. “Let’s move over here,” Ben suggested, gesturing to the easy chairs in the corner of the room.
Above All Else (Sandy Cove Series Book 7) Page 10