by Gina Leuci
“Training. Ready to play?”
Training? Police training? Military training? Growing up around these assholes? Whatever it was, I did know him enough to see how, despite looking cool, there was still a hint of tension in his shoulders and his eyes no longer held his casual warmth.
“Can I come out now?” my friend called from down the hall.
“We’re going to continue to play this straight, Jake,” the chief answered. “You’re behind bars until we leave.”
Which wasn’t long, or not long enough for someone who wanted to stretch out the last hours. Before I knew it, Jake was once again put into the back of the cruiser, this time without handcuffs, while I sat in the front as we drove back to the apartment where Caleb shut the engine off.
“We’ll sit here for a few minutes. If Roger is still awake, he’ll see we are here as expected. He’ll know I’d walk you upstairs and when the car starts again, it won’t be unexpected.”
“Do you think he’s still up? Will he see us heading out of town?” I was twisting the ends of my hair as I looked at Caleb in the dark car as rain pelted the windows.
He put a reassuring hand on my thigh. “More than likely he is already asleep. This is an added precaution. Don’t worry.”
I put my hand on his, and he turned his over to clasp mine. We sat in silence as the minutes ticked slowly by. With a final squeeze of my hand, Caleb released it to start the car and put it into drive.
Within minutes we drove past the station and kept moving. Past the clinic. Past the streets on the east side of town until the houses became scarce. Beyond the wipers swiping at the rain, I spotted the corn fields and remembered our first attempt at escape which hadn’t ended well.
This time, though, we had the police chief on our side, and we had another officer waiting for us on the opposite side of the gates.
We were almost at the town border when Caleb’s phone rang. We all knew who it was before he answered, putting it on speaker. “Yes?”
I could hear Roger’s booming voice. “What the hell are you doing, Caleb?”
“My job, of course.” His tone held a hint of reproach, as though he was tired of his boss questioning his every action. “I had a report of a possible dead animal on the road. Going to check it out.”
Roger’s beeping phone was obviously keeping him awake, and he wasn’t happy about it. “Can’t it wait until morning?”
While Caleb’s voice seemed relaxed, his white knuckles on the steering wheel revealed his tension. “Why? No need to wait. I’m not going to put off the duties of my job, just because you don’t trust me. I’m going to do what I’ve always done. If it keeps you up at night, it’s not my problem.”
Another mutter came over the line before the phone disconnected. I pressed my hands under my legs on the seat. If I didn’t, I’d be twisting my fingers into knots on my lap. “Do you think it worked?”
Even in the dark, I saw the shake of his head. “Once he looks closely, he’ll see I am not alone in the car. Within a couple minutes, he’ll have called Tom to see what we are up to. By the time he arrives, though, you’ll be with Brent.”
Jake was antsy in the backseat, twisting and turning to see if we were being followed yet, but we made it to the gates before anything happened.
Caleb used a remote, and the gates slid open and a cruiser from another town was waiting on the other side. Brent got out to meet us.
Jake jumped from the cruiser the moment Caleb opened the door. “I can’t believe this is happening. Thanks, guys.” Jake pumped Caleb’s hand then went to do the same with Brent. “I honestly thought we’d never get home.”
Caleb popped the trunk, and I followed him to the back to get our backpacks. The rain was steady and cool on my face, plastering my hair to my face.
“How are you doing, sweetheart?” he asked and the only thing I could do was shrug.
“It was raining the night we arrived.” Leave it to me to avoid what I really wanted to say. He pulled me into his arms, and I pressed my cheek against his chest as the rain pummeled us. “Thank you.”
He lifted my face, brushed away the raindrops then leaned down for a kiss full of sadness from both of us. “If you need anything at any time, you call me.”
I nodded, but a part of me knew this goodbye was going to be permanent.
He gripped my arms and almost shook me with his intensity. “I’m serious, Grace. I have money in an account outside of town, so anything at any time. “
I didn’t know what to make at this sudden revelation. He lived in a town that didn’t exchange money, how was that even possible? “What? How?”
I caught the wry smile, in the glare from the car taillights. “From Jill’s death. Her life insurance. Her wrongful death settlement. I had it all deposited into my checking account to save for the kids. When I moved back, I didn’t tell anyone about it.”
Whether he realized it or not, he’d provided himself and his kids a way to leave before he’d even come back. For a brief second, I almost asked him to come with me, but I knew it was impossible. “No, that money is for the kids, not me. I’ll be fine.”
I didn’t know if my heart would be fine or not, but somehow I would manage.
He brushed his thumb over my lips and then said the words I craved—and yet wanted to avoid—hearing. “I love you, Grace.”
The lump in my chest finally exploded and the tears started. “Damn you, Caleb. You weren’t supposed to say it.”
“I won’t apologize for my feelings.” He leaned in to place a gentle kiss on my forehead. “You need to go home, and I will do anything to get you there because I love you.”
My lip was now trembling. I loved him, too, but I couldn’t say the words. “I—I—”
He brushed the tears and rain from my face and pushed my wet hair back to stare down at me in the rear lights of the car. “Shhh. You don’t have to say anything. I already know.”
I was sure he did. I held up my left hand. “May I keep the ring?”
He took it and kissed the digit with the gold band. “Always. It belongs to you.”
Brent stepped around the car to interrupt. “Caleb? We have to move. Roger knows it’s me meeting you. He’s calling. It won’t be long before he has someone hitting the button to secure the gate.”
Caleb nodded and grabbed both backpacks and walked me to the other cruiser where Jake was already in the front seat. Brent pulled a device from the glove box and used it to release the bracelets. I heard the alarm go off on Caleb’s phone. As police chief, he was being alerted about our bracelets being removed.
Free. Oh, dear God, could this really be happening?
Brent handed the trackers to the chief. “Good luck. If Roger didn’t call Tom and Greg first, their phone alarms will have them moving fast.” The officer placed a hand on Caleb’s arm. “My captain knows what we are doing. I had to tell him why I needed to leave city limits. If anything goes south, the word goes viral.”
Viral. An outside entity coming into Wellington. What would that mean for Caleb? I rubbed my wrist, bare of the tracking device, while Brent opened the rear door for me.
I opened my mouth to say goodbye, but the words couldn’t form. Caleb understood. He nodded and motioned for me to get into the car. “Go. It’s now or never. You have to leave.” I heard the sirens in the distance. They were coming. There was a rumble, and the gates began their slide closed. Caleb stepped back into town limits just in time for the gate to latch.
Brent closed the car door. I stared at my husband, my protector, my lover, through the rain as long as I could while we drove away. I had to bite my lip to keep it from trembling.
He’d risked everything for me. He and this officer whisking us a way. While Jake and I were free, what would that mean for these two who’d helped us escape? There was a chance they’d lose everything.
And me? I put a hand on my stomach. I’d lost my appetite around the time Justin had broken his arm. It was also the day before Brent said we
were leaving. I could pretend it was all nerves, or I could acknowledge we had been using condoms that had been tampered with. There was a very strong possibility that I was pregnant, and I hadn’t told Caleb.
If he found out I’d left knowing there was even a possibility that I carried his child, he’d hate me, but I hoped, more than anything, I was pregnant, because while I couldn’t stay in Wellington, at least I would have a part of the man I loved with me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The radio offered a forecast of heavy snow throughout the day when I wandered into the kitchen of my parents’ restaurant at nine. Christmas was only days away, and this type of weather was welcome in the ski country of Vermont.
Since the restaurant didn’t open for another couple hours, it was only my parents at this early hour, doing prep work for the day.
“Morning, sweetie,” my dad said as I went straight to the mugs to help myself to a morning cup of tea. Since being home, I no longer drank coffee. Even the smell of my once favorite beverage made me nauseous.
“Hi,” I said around a yawn.
“You slept in late.” My mom walked over and kissed my forehead. “Did you get any rest?”
“Not really.” I put a hand on my slightly protruding belly. “This one thinks two a.m. is play time. I can only hope it’s not going to be normal practice once he or she is born.”
My dad chuckled. “Don’t expect miracles. It took us forever to get you to sleep the night. Your sister, though, was a different story. All she did was sleep.”
I rolled my eyes but gave a warm laugh. “Yeah, I know. She was an angel. Speaking of which.” I nodded toward the back window. “Snow has already started. Want me to pick her up from school at two?”
My mom shrugged. “Let’s see how the day plays out. Holiday weeks are hit or miss with customers. Let’s see how busy we are. This place could be busy. We might need your help here.”
I dunked my herbal tea bag in the hot water, letting it steep. I added sugar and smiled to myself. Caleb would be proud that I was staying away from the caffeine in the black teas, but he’d have rolled his eyes at how I still needed to add the sweetener.
“Jake called for you,” my mother said, and I sighed. I knew what was coming. “His divorce is final. He wanted to know if you want his lawyer to work on papers for you.”
I placed a hand on the locket at my neck. “We’ve had this conversation before. I have no intention of filing for a divorce.”
I gave my mom credit, today she didn’t bang any pans. “I really wish you would talk about what happened at that place. Maybe if you did, I would understand. But, no. You come home, married and pregnant, and all you’ll say is ‘it’s complicated’.”
“But it is, Mom.” I looked to my father for help. He wrapped the dough he’d made in Saran wrap, placed it in the fridge, then washed his hands before moving onto his next task in the kitchen.
He finally saw my stare and came to my rescue. “I need to see who is working today. Would you grab the duty roster from the office for me and then can you check all the salt and peppers on the table for us after you’ve had your tea?”
I blew on the hot liquid. “I can multi-task.” I headed down the hall to the office. It was good to be back home, despite my mother’s exasperation. I’d gone back to college at the end of August determined to finish my senior year in one semester, but I wasn’t able to fit in all my final credits.
I nearly doubled my workload though. My body was physically exhausted, but it kept my brain from thinking too much about Caleb. And Jake had been by my side the whole time.
Jake had been the one I turned to when my hormones went into overdrive and I needed to cry. He cheered me on when I was so tired I didn’t think I could study for exams. And, he had offered more than once to marry me and help raise my baby.
I placed my hands over my stomach again. Caleb’s baby.
Despite all of it, I didn’t love Jake. Not the way he loved me, and it wouldn’t be fair to him. He would be heading back to Burlington at the end of Christmas break to finish his degree, but I was staying home. I still had two more classes to complete, but I could do them online and I would make sure they were done before the baby arrived in April.
Before I grabbed the duty roster from the desk, I spotted my backpack in the corner. I pulled out a worn folder and opened it. My birthday cards from Caleb’s family. I ran my hands over the handmade drawings from the kids before putting things away. It did me no good to live in the past.
Once I delivered the duty roster to my dad, I escaped my mother’s loud sighs by heading out into the restaurant area. A Christmas tree stood by the entrance, and I turned on the lights. All the tables had tablecloths reflecting the holiday season along with ornaments hanging from each light fixture. Before the first patron arrived, we’d turn on the music.
Every season we changed the décor, but Christmas is my favorite. I sipped my tea as I moved from table to table, filling the salt and pepper where necessary. I then went to wrap the utensils in the red napkins. I was only half done when I heard a knock on the front door.
I looked at the clock and gave a huge sigh. “Can’t people read? We don’t open until eleven.” Despite my muttering, my parents had taught me to provide good customer service. I saw a family outside, bundled up in their hats and coats as I unlocked the door. “I’m sorry, but we’re not open yet.”
The smallest of the children rushed at me and grabbed me around the knees. “Grace.”
She was bundled up, and I couldn’t see her face, but I knew that voice. I looked from the small head at my legs and turned my gaze upward, to the man in the bomber jacket, and my heart caught in my throat.
“We were hoping you’d make an exception.”
I heard him, his voice as familiar to me as my own. I saw him, but I didn’t believe my own eyes. “Caleb?”
Elena and Justin both moved in to give me hugs, and I squeezed them to me as I continued to look up at the man I’d thought I’d never see again.
He nodded to the door behind me. “Do you think we can come in?” I melted at his smile. “It’s cold out here, and you’re not dressed to be outside.”
Then reality hit me. My eyes were not deceiving me. “Oh, ah, of course. Come in. Oh, dear God, please come in.” Instead I rushed outside onto the snowy sidewalk and into his arms. “You’re here. You’re really here.”
His arms wrapped around me, and his mouth met mine in a kiss saying more than words. Homecoming. Damn, I’d missed him. I didn’t want the kiss to end. When he pulled away slightly, I pressed further against him.
“Daddy, are you two going to kiss all day, or can we go inside where it’s warm?”
I laughed. Elena always spoke her mind. “Inside. Definitely, going inside. But I can’t promise there won’t be more kissing.”
As Caleb released me, I saw his eyes narrow as my body slid away from his. He knew my body as well as I knew his and being pressed this close I caught the sudden suck of breath in as his glance went down and back up as realization dawned.
But the kids were already going through the door, and I saw my mother coming from the kitchen. The moment of reckoning would have to wait.
My mother, ever the professional, stopped to greet everyone. “Hello, can I help you?”
I still had Caleb’s hand in mine and my mom looked at the two of us and I saw when she figured it out. “Alan,” she yelled. “You might want to come out here.”
Caleb moved forward, hand outstretched. “Mrs. Adams. Mr. Adams. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Caleb Wellington.”
I finished what was left unsaid. “This is my husband.” I motioned to his kids. “And I’d like you to meet Elena, Justin, and Shawna.”
My parents did a quick, silent communication with their eyes, and I knew they had a hundred and one questions they wanted answered. But I waylaid them. “Would you take the kids into the kitchen so Caleb and I can have a few moments together?”
“Of course,�
� my father was quick to respond.
My mother went into mom mode and whisked the children into the other room, taking their coats and asking what they liked for breakfast.
“How did—” I started.
“Why didn’t—” he began.
Caleb moved first. Within a single stride he was standing in front of me, his hand on my belly. “Why didn’t you call me when you found out?” I heard a mix of emotions in his voice, hurt, wonder, maybe betrayal? It was hard to tell. My focus was on his large hand pressed against my belly.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Best if I didn’t tell him I’d suspected the possibility before I left. “How could I tell you? Damn it, Caleb, don’t you think I wanted to? But how? Every call is monitored. I didn’t think you’d be able to leave Wellington, or want to, and if Roger found out there was a Wellington child outside the gates?” I threw my hands up. “You couldn’t leave. I can’t go back. And I didn’t want you worrying.”
“I’ve worried every day, anyway.” The baby reacted to Caleb’s large hand pressing on my belly by giving a little kick, and I saw his fierce look soften. “If you’d called, I would have been here.”
“How?” I still couldn’t believe he was here. “How were you even able to leave Wellington to come here?”
He finally moved his hand from his baby inside me to pull me back against him. “I’ve missed you.” He kissed my temple then moved down to capture my lips, and I felt his longing. He groaned when he finally released me, but only my lips. He pulled me back against him.
I shook my head. “How are you here? How is it possible? How did you escape with your kids?”
He stroked my face, and I leaned into his palm as he spoke. “There’s a lot to tell, but the abbreviated version is that when you left, it set a major coup in motion.”
That caught my interest. “What do you mean?”
He stroked my hair while I breathed in his scent. He still wore his bomber jacket, but it was unzipped, so I pressed my cheek against his flannel shirt, listening to his heartbeat under my ear.
“It was a wake-up call. Brent and I were both vocal about why we helped you. My mom finally realized maybe she shouldn’t have listened completely to my father all those years ago, and she finally contacted her parents. Well, her mom. Her father passed away a long time ago, and she never knew.