“Are you sure you’re alright?”
Erin slipped her arms around her mother’s shoulder and guided her back to the front room. The five-foot-four-inch woman glanced up at her as Erin spoke.
“I’ve never been better,” she answered. “I know you and dad are worried about me, but you really don’t need to be.”
“Well I was telling your father it may be a good idea for me to stay over with you a night or two, just to be sure. We could turn it into a girl’s night.” Mrs. Sanders paused. “I don’t ever want to see you go through a state of depression again and if it’s up to me, I can intervene before he has a chance to reach out.”
Erin sighed. It was only fair that she gave her mom the truth. She and her father had been there for her through the roughest patch of her life, so she owed them that.
“Listen mom, Caleb and I have spoken.”
Mrs. Sanders brows furrowed. “Oh no,” she droned.
“But,” Erin continued, “we are on good terms. I’m not holding a grudge against him anymore and things between us are okay.”
Mrs. Sanders watched her daughter.
“I wouldn’t lie to you. I’m fine.”
Mrs. Sanders exhaled. “Well alright, if you insist.” Mrs. Sanders wanted to give it a rest, but it was hard for her. “If you need anything, and I mean anything at all, please call me.”
“I promise you I will.”
Erin kissed her mom on the forehead and opened the front door.
“Tell dad I love him, too.”
Mrs. Sanders sighed. “Well I guess he’ll be happy to have me at the house.” Mrs. Sanders chuckled. “Besides, how would he eat if I’m not,” she said with sarcasm. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, mom.”
Erin lingered by the door as her mom left the porch and slipped back into her Volkswagen Beetle. Mrs. Sanders blew the horn then pulled away from the curb just as warm arms enveloped Erin’s waist.
“I missed you,” Caleb said. “You were gone too long.”
Erin shivered and shut the door making sure to lock it before turning around to face Caleb.
“You are a naughty boy, Mr. Malone,” she said.
A lopsided grin tapered across his face. “I can’t say that I’m sorry. Your mom was about to get an eyeful.” A gasp left Erin and Caleb tickled her sides.
“Stop it!” She giggled, making a mad dash from his hands down the hallway.
“You can run,” he sang, “but you can’t hide.”
Erin squealed as she tried to find safe haven in her house, but there was none. She was caught in a corner and taken on the nearest wall over and over.
13
Over the next few days, Erin and Caleb were attached at the hip; coming and going like they used to do back in high school. After a week, Erin finally stopped hiding from Amy. Her friend's incessant phone calls and knocks at the door were enough to make Erin give in. It had taken Erin so long to respond because she wanted to make sure this thing between her and Caleb had legs before telling anyone what was going on between them, even her best friend. However, once Amy found out, she squealed so loud that Erin would’ve sworn it was Amy’s personal experience.
Tears clouded Amy’s eyes and she fanned them, trying not to mess up her make-up.
“Why are you crying?” Erin asked.
“Because I’m so happy for you both. You were meant to be together. I just know it. And Caleb? Poor guy. I knew he wouldn’t just call off your wedding and retract from everyone who loves him without reason.”
Erin smiled. “I’m glad someone knew, because I honestly had no clue.”
“So, what happens now?” Amy said, looking on hopefully. Amy was a true romantic at heart, and if it was up to her, everyone would have their happily ever after.
“We’ve registered for the Wounded Warrior's couples program.”
“We?”
“Yeah. Since it was my idea, Caleb wants me to go through his journey with him.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
Erin shrugged. “If it can help him move past his demons, I’m all for it. I may have you take over the club for me if it becomes necessary.”
“Wow,” Amy said.
“What?”
“You’re everything a wife is made up of. Understanding, patient, faithful, loving. Damn Erin, will you marry me?”
They both laughed, with Erin bending over holding her belly.
“Shut up. You are so lame!” Erin shouted.
“But it’s the truth, I’m surprised Caleb hasn’t proposed a second time.”
Surprised registered across Erin’s face and the thought of being engaged with Caleb again gave her a mixture of feelings.
“You still love him, right?”
“Of course,” she answered quickly.
“Maybe I should ask him what he’s waiting on,” Amy said thoughtfully.
“Don’t you dare!”
“Why not, what’s the worst that could happen?”
“Let’s back up for a second. You did hear me when I told you if this program doesn’t work he’s going back to Iraq this fall.”
“He’s not going back.”
Erin looked on at her friend incredulously. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’ve already threatened his children.”
Erin gasped. “What are you talking about?”
“His balls, girl. I threatened to cut them off if he hurt you again.”
Erin’s mouth gaped, and a choke escaped her throat. “When?”
“The specifics don’t really matter, do they? I don’t need witnesses in case I have to follow through.”
Erin laughed and turned on her heels. The more her friend talked the more she couldn’t believe it. That day had ended with Erin nestling on the couch to make arrangements for their retreat. As she spoke with the organizer, hope like nothing she’d ever felt before bubbled inside her. If she and Caleb were meant to be, their stars would align, but it didn’t stop Erin from trying to keep her head on straight. Most times she failed, but Erin could admit that she believed in fate come hell or high water. Caleb walked back into her life and reclaimed her heart as if he’d never left. But when the time came for Erin to talk it over with her parents, dread weighed her down. The conversation wouldn’t be an easy one.
So now, nearly two weeks of unofficially dating Caleb again, Erin sat in her car outside her parent’s three-story Tudor style home. Their invitation to dinner came just two days before she and Caleb left for the Wounded Warrior's Retreat. If Erin didn’t get on with telling her parents what was happening, they would find out anyway and she wanted to give them the opportunity to hear it from her first.
Erin pulled down the visor and checked her simple ponytail and light foundation. She’d used a natural lipstick and blush. It accommodated her crème colored blouse, blue jeans, and two-inch heels.
“These are your parents. Why are you so nervous?” she mumbled.
But she knew why. Lorraine and Gerald W. Sanders would not approve. Heaving a sigh, Erin got on with it, grabbing the lemon cake she’d made for them. It was her father’s favorite. So, what if she was buttering him up a bit? It would be all worth it once he got the news. Erin opened her door and left the confines of her car. She shut the door with the sole of her heel then traipsed toward the front door. Before she got a chance to ring the doorbell, the wooden barrier swung open and Mrs. Sanders reached out to take the cake.
“You’re right on time,” Mrs. Sanders sang. “I’ve missed you. It seems like forever that you’ve been over here.”
“Mom it hasn’t been a full month.”
“It’s been about three weeks. That’s a month according to some calendars.”
Erin could only smirk.
“Come in, dear.”
Erin moved into the house and together she and her mother traveled the hallway into the dining area.
“Mom do you need help setting the table?”
“Oh no,
honey. I’m not setting the table anyway. Rachel’s here.”
Rachel Weathers had been the Sander’s housekeeper for twenty-seven years. The woman was like a close relative and was treated as such. Mrs. Sanders tried at times to get the senior woman to take a load off, but Rachel would hear none of it, and she was the only one allowed to overturn Mrs. Sanders ruling.
The doorbell chimed, and Erin glanced at her mother with a frown.
“I thought it would just be me, you and dad for supper?”
“Me too,” Mrs. Sanders said.
Mrs. Sanders sat the cake down in the middle of the table and strolled out of the room. Mr. Sanders walked in, tucking a newspaper underneath his arms. Readjusting his reading glasses, his tall frame leered over Erin as he got a close look at her.
“Hey daddy,” she said throwing her arms around his waist.
“Where’ve you been, pumpkin? You know your mother worries when you don’t come around.”
Erin smirked. “Often would be every day. I do run a business and I kind of, sort of, have a life.”
“Hmmm,” Mr. Sanders said. “Tell me about this life you have.”
Erin smiled brightly and chuckled. “As if you didn’t know I had a life before.”
“I didn’t,” Mr. Sanders teased. “Is this lemon cake?” He asked rubbing his mustache and internally salivating over the sweet treat.
“I made it with one of my favorite people in the world in mind,” Erin said pouring it on thick.
Mr. Sanders wasn’t fooled. He eyed the cake with a peer then glanced back at her. “Hmmm,” he said again.
When Mrs. Sanders reentered the dining room, she was followed by a shadow.
“It appears that we have a second guest,” she said.
Erin and Mr. Sanders glanced toward the entrance and immediately Erin’s smile fell while Mr. Sanders scowled.
“What the hell is he doing in my house?” Mr. Sanders roared.
Suddenly Erin felt sick. If her father killed Caleb in front of her she would surely die. She tried to think quick, but Caleb beat her to it.
“Mr. Sanders,” his deep voice grooved. “Let me be the first to apologize to you and your lovely wife here.” He glanced over at Erin. “Erin and I have talked, and I’ve explained to her why I made some wrong decisions in the past. If you allow me the chance, I’d like to explain it to you folks as well.”
Erin was holding her breath and she was sure a vein in her forehead was apparent by the way it pulsed through her skull. No one spoke for a full minute then Mrs. Sanders turned to her husband who still held a death stare on Caleb.
“Is this something you want?” Mrs. Sanders asked. The question was directed at Erin and all eyes leveled on her.
“Yes,” Erin said without hesitation, and it stunned both her parents and Rachel who’d witnessed her complete break down three years ago.
Caleb on the other hand, held warmth in his gaze, so potent and electrically charged she could feel his energy from where she stood. Mrs. Sanders glanced back at her brooding husband.
“Gerald,” she said, “I think we have to hear him out.”
“We don’t have to do a damn thing.”
“Daddy,” Erin cut in. Mr. Sanders glanced down at her.
“Baby, blink twice if he’s holding something over your head,” Mr. Sanders said.
Erin gawked. “Daddy!”
“I’m serious,” Mr. Sanders continued turning his glare back on Caleb.
“So am I,” Erin added.
Mr. Sanders pulled his attention back to his daughter and stared at her for the longest time. His eyes swept back over the lemon cake. When he returned his peer, he only grunted knowing this was the reason she baked it. Busted!
They all took their seats and Mrs. Sanders made sure to put extra emphasis on her prayer over the food. She asked the Lord to watch over her daughter and release her from anything that may not be good for her everlasting soul. Caleb’s smirk couldn’t be seen as Mrs. Sanders prayed, but it tickled him and made him see the protective spirit the Sanders held over Erin. He couldn’t agree more with them. If it were his daughter, he’d likely break the bastard who hurt her. It was a good thing the Sanders were God-fearing people, or he may have been met with the barrel of a gun instead. Once the prayer was done, the table was silent for a few minutes before Mr. Sanders spoke.
“Okay, get on with it. I think I may be losing my appetite and before that happens completely, I’ll put you out first,” Mr. Sanders grumbled.
“Gerald,” Mrs. Sanders chastised.
“What? I’m just telling it how I feel, and I won’t be hushed in my own house, now get on with it boy,” he said, leveling a glower on Caleb.
Retelling Timothy and Franks death felt like a foreboding for Erin. The hurt Caleb experience every time he spoke of it, she could feel too. It oozed out of him so prominent that she was sure her parents weren’t immune to his sadness. By the time Caleb finished, the table was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Mr. Sanders said. He glanced between Erin and Caleb. “I don’t mean to sound harsh son, but war is a man’s game. If you ask me, they shouldn’t recruit boys to go fight in the first place.” He paused. “But I guess someone’s gotta do it. Either way, I hate that happened to you, and I’m sure your father is happy you came back in one piece.” Mr. Sanders huffed. “So, what happens now?”
If Erin didn’t know any better, she would have thought her father sounded exactly like Amy. Erin glanced over at Caleb and he winked. A blush fell over her face and her eyes traveled to her mother.
“We’re doing the Wounded Warriors Retreat,” Erin announced.
“Together?” the Sanders said in unison.
“Yes,” Erin responded.
“You don’t have to go out of the country, do you?”
“No daddy, it’s in Navasota Texas. Five days and four nights.” Erin grabbed the glass in front of her and took a sip of water.
“That means you’ll be spending the night together?” Mr. Sanders asked.
Erin choked on her water and roughly cleared her throat.
“It does,” Caleb spoke up making Erin choke further.
“Gerald, pat her on the back please.”
Mr. Sanders reached over, and Erin held her hand up to stop him.
“I’m fine,” she lied in a raspy tone.
“I promise to take care of her. She’s in good hands,” Caleb vowed.
“Forgive me if I don’t take you at your word for it, son. I’ll be the judge of that,” Mr. Sanders retorted.
The table became quiet again and slowly but surely, they all dined on the meatloaf, mash potatoes, green beans and cornbread. Erin didn’t know if she was severely hungry or if she just had a large appetite tonight, but she went for seconds. Maybe she was nervous, and the food was helping to soothe her.
“When does this retreat begin?”
“Friday,” Caleb responded again.
“That’s two days away,” Mrs. Sanders said flabbergasted.
“Yeah, it was short notice. We just barely made it on this trip, it was practically filled.”
“Well I hope you get out of it what it is meant for. Even after you ruined my daughter’s life I understand your reasoning, somewhat,” Mrs. Sanders said. She turned to Erin. “If this is really something you want to see through, Gerald and I are in your corner. But you don’t have to, baby. If you change your mind let us know.”
“I promise,” Erin said, satisfied that her parents were almost on board. She glanced across the table at Caleb again, and again he winked her way.
If she was playing a game of darts with her heart, Erin would find out soon enough. But for right now, she wanted to give Caleb a chance. She believed in him wholeheartedly. It could be her ultimate downfall or the best thing that ever happened to her, and she was betting on the latter.
Leaving her parent’s house, Caleb walked Erin to her vehicle. She took a slow approving eye over him in his sig
nature wear; polo shirt, Capri shorts and his feet peeked through a pair of brown sandals.
“Hot date tonight?” Erin teased.
“I was hoping. What do you think, can I take you to a movie?”
“In public?”
Caleb folded his arms across his broad chest. “You sound as if that’s a bad thing.”
“No, it’s not that. It would make people speculate. You know how the town is. Everyone knows we dated before and seeing us together again would make them think we’re dating now.”
Caleb unfolded his arms and stepped closer to Erin, leaving a mini-gap out of respect for her parents. They were still in their driveway, and Caleb was sure they were watching.
“Aren’t we,” he asked.
“Dating?”
Caleb smirked. “You sound as if it’s a crazy idea. I want you, Erin. Don’t you know that by now? I’ve already asked you to take me back, and I’ve been waiting patiently for you to answer that question.”
Erin bit down on her lip and her eyes shuffled from side to side.
“What is it?” Caleb asked, seeing the indecision on her face.
“Caleb, this time around, I want to do things right. I can’t suffer another heartache like before. If you’re leaving for Iraq, I’m sorry I can’t be with you.” Erin dropped her head then stared back up at him. “I know that sounds horrible, but like I told you before, the military was never something I cared for. You decided without me. It's not fair to ask me to go along with it. I did last time because I loved you more than life itself. But this time, I love me. I couldn’t handle it if something happened to you over there. And it doesn’t make it any better that your only reason for returning is because of some duty you feel for Timothy.”
Caleb released a heavy sigh. “I understand,” he said. “Staff Sergeant Hopkins doesn’t want me to return either.”
This news surprised Erin. “What?”
Caleb slid a hand down his face. “The other day when we met, he tried to talk me out of reenlisting.”
“Reenlisting? So that means you’re no longer a soldier?”
Caleb peered at her. “I’ll always be a soldier,” he said.
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