Independence

by Shelly Crane

  But then he finally started to, and I heard his answer before he said them. "Caleb, you know I've always admired your initiative. Starting your own company like that all by yourself was brilliant." Heavy pause. "But I always assumed it would be a temporary thing. I always assumed and wanted you to come work with me at the firm. To find out that you don't want that is pretty surprising, son. This is the first I've heard of it."

  "I know," Caleb answered. "To be honest, if Maggie hadn't come along I would probably have went to work with you at the firm." He rushed on. "Not that it's her idea or her fault that I'm not, it's just that she gave me the courage to do what I want to do. I'm not all by myself in my decision making anymore and she has faith in me that I can do it."

  "So do I." Peter cleared his throat. "I have faith that you can do it. That was never in question. It's just that…working at the firm is tradition, and an honor to carry on the legacy our family built. I just…thought you'd want to be a part of that."

  "It's not that I don't want to work with you, Dad. It's just that I want to do this more."

  Peter thought. Rachel and I stayed quiet. This was something the boys had to work out. Eventually he spoke quietly. "You're a man, Caleb, and I can't tell you what to do. I'd be lying if I said I was thrilled about it, but I'll stand behind you like I always do. You've never let me down before. If this is what you want, then I think it's what you should do."

  Caleb sighed, a weight lifted and a burden released. "Thanks, Dad."

  "No matter what I said, you were still going to move ahead with your plan," Peter mused and opened his arm for Rachel to come into. She scooted over and they looked at each other for a few seconds before he looked back at Caleb. "Am I right?"

  Caleb smiled wryly. "Yes, sir."

  Peter nodded and smiled. "I figured. You've always been a little bit rebellious. That star on your shoulder." He gave him a pointed 'fatherly' look. "Joining the swim team instead of going out for football. Leaving during Kyle's graduation party when everyone was waiting for you." He sighed and laughed soundlessly. "I guess…it all worked out for you."

  "Yes, sir," Caleb whispered and pulled me to kiss my temple. "It did."

  And I love that star tattoo.

  He grinned down at me. "I know."

  Something hit me then as I stared up at the grin I never wanted to be away from. We only had two days left until the wedding.

  Two. Days.

  And I hadn't even written my vows out for him yet. I hadn't even had time to think about them let alone put pen to paper. He kept smiling as he let me have my mini freak-out.

  I turned to Rachel. "Thanks for the recipe. I actually cooked something edible for once."

  She giggled a little. "You're so welcome. You can come over later on and I'll teach you a few things if you'd like. My mother was an excellent cook. And Jen tries, but she's always pretty preoccupied with work and Maria."

  "That sounds great."

  Peter smiled at me and asked, "Have you thought any about what you're going to do for school and such?"

  Caleb leaned back further, laying his ankle over his knee as he settled back into the couch with me pressed to his ribs. "I told you this, Dad. She's coming to school with me this semester."

  "And that's what you want to do?" Peter asked me. "You want to go to U of T?"

  "I do. I didn't think that I was going to be able to go to college, so for you to work that out for me…thank you. I'm very grateful."

  "Not a problem. It was my pleasure to do it. But since Caleb was reluctant to tell me that he didn't want to work with me, I was just checking to make sure that this is what you wanted."

  "It is. Thank you," I said sincerely. "I can't wait."

  Jen and Bish came around the hall corner. "Can't wait for what?"

  "College," Peter answered for me. "Our Maggie is starting the end of next month."

  I smiled. Our Maggie. Bish grinned at me, too, and shook his head. "It ain't all it's cracked up to be, kid."

  "Don't rain on my parade!" I playfully scolded as she sat on the couch and he leaned on the back with his arms. "What are you guys up to?"

  They looked at each other and then back to me. "Well…" she started.

  Bish continued, "We went apartment hunting."

  I felt Caleb stiffen next to me. And then the math started again. What in the world was wrong with him lately? I gave him a questioning look.

  Everything's fine, gorgeous. Just stay out of my head.

  He smirked on top of his command. Gosh, it was so cute. I turned back to Bish to try to figure out why Caleb would care that they were apartment hunting as Bish continued. "So, we think we found a place. Just a matter of…nailing down the details."

  And coming up with freaking two thousand dollars in deposits.

  Jen's head moved up to look at him as Peter and Rachel talked about their first house together. Sweetie, it's fine. We'll-

  No, it's not fine. If nothing else, since I can't buy you the house I'm supposed to, I'm going to come up with the deposit on my own.

  She sighed. If that's what you want.

  It's what I need. Jenna, I've got to be able to take care of you if for nothing else, my own piece of mind. My chest…aches knowing that I can't give you what I'm supposed to.

  She gulped. I'm sorry. I never wanted you to feel-

  He touched her cheek gently and shook his head. It's not something you should apologize for. I wouldn't change anything that happened. I just…let me take care of this, OK? Then my chest will give me a break.

  She tried to smile. OK.

  OK. He kissed her once, softly. He leaned back up just as Peter was finishing and no one but Caleb and I were the wiser.

  "So," Peter clapped his hands. "Who's hungry? Let's all go to Mugly's. My treat."

  "Yes," Caleb hissed under his breath. "Let's."

  We all got up and piled into Caleb's truck. I sat in a Jacobson man-sandwich of him and Peter. Caleb snorted at my thought and shook his head at me. With Caleb's hand stuck between my thighs and Mutemath on the radio for his mom, we rode the short distance to town and parked in the lot.

  He helped me down from the massive cab and I looked around. You could see the benches and the lake from there. I felt my lips lift in a smile as I remembered our first date. My first motorcycle ride. My first time eating at Mugly's. My first time with jealousy. The first time Caleb showed me a vision. I sighed. It felt forever ago. I felt Caleb's arms go around me from behind. He rested his chin on my shoulder. "The first time I fell in love with you," he added to my list.

  I turned slightly, letting my cheek rub his. "Really?"

  "Really. When you took off down the boardwalk and dared me to chase you? I was a goner."

  I chuckled under my breath. "Well, I was on the track team."

  "Which was why I couldn't catch you. But you came back to me, like a moth to a flame."

  "Because you tricked me!" I said playfully.

  "Admit it. You just couldn't stand to be away from me," he said huskily and nipped my chin. "Admit it."

  "I will not."

  "Hey!" Bish called from the restaurant door. "You two coming?"

  "Coming!" I called. "You just got lucky. I was about to challenge you to a rematch."

  He laughed. "Please! I may not be as fast as you, but my reflexes are like lightning."

  I reached for the door handle and he jerked forward so quickly, I didn't even see him move, and took it from me. "Let me," he said and smirked as I laughed at him.

  I let him lead me to the table where our family was sitting. We laughed and ate and let Bish try all the Bar-b-que dishes. And try he did. The guy could win an eating contest easily. And then I heard a sound I'd never thought I’d hear ever again. And for good reason; it was like nails on a chalkboard.

  Ashley.

  "Caleb," she purred. "Hi."

  Caleb and I weren't facing her so we all turned to look at her. She soaked up the sudden attention, poking her chest out just a smidge and
tilting her head. I swallowed to keep from saying anything. "Ashley," he said and everyone could tell he wasn't happy to see her, but her. She smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. I saw Peter's eyes bug at that. He glanced to me and then back to Caleb. He must've thought I was going to take her head off. And when I looked back at her and saw her lean in a bit, I realized I was about to. I went to stand, but felt Jen's hand on my arm.

  Just wait.

  I looked at Caleb, waiting. Last time he'd sent her packing, but only after she insulted me. Would he really just let her touch him like that in front of his-

  He pushed her hand off and stood, glaring at her across the table. "Go home, Ashley."

  She scoffed. "I'm here with my family."

  "Then go back to them." When she just stood there as if she were waiting for the punch-line, he went on. "You can see Maggie right here. You know we're together. I've told you more than once that there is no chance for you and me. Absolutely none. Maggie and I are getting married this weekend."

  "You're marrying her?" she screeched. She thought and then smiled. "Oh, my gosh. Look, Caleb. When you knock a girl up these days, you don't have to marry her anymore."

  I heard Rachel and Peter's gasps. I could take it no more. My body was about to explode with the need to hurt this girl. I took a deep breath when the lights flickered a little. I saw her look at me with disdain before looking back to Caleb. He shook his head and waited a beat. He was trying to calm himself. She was a girl after all. "Ashley, Maggie's not pregnant. I'm just in love with her."

  She wrinkled her nose like something stunk.

  Caleb forged on. "I love her with all that's in me. So stop this childish behavior and move on already."

  "Fine!" she pouted. "Marry preschool, I don't care. I'm so over you. You can just forget all about me because we are so through!"

  "We're not through." He waited a dramatic beat as she stared. "We never started."

  She marched off with a flip of her Barbie blonde hair. He turned and immediately started to apologize. I put my thumb over his lips. "Don't," I whispered. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened them I saw her pouting across the restaurant with her family. The significant in me said, Go ahead. Just rip one handful of her hair out. You'll feel better, but I took another breath to calm myself. "Just don't. It's fine."

  He was all mine after all.

  He touched my neck, letting his knuckles rub over the Visionary mark. I moaned a little as his calm finally hit me. His lips held the smallest of smirks at my reaction to him. "Don't be so smug, Jacobson."

  "What?" He leaned forward a bit. "I told you how hot it is when you're jealous. And then those noises you make when I touch you…" he whispered the last part into my cheek. "God, help me."

  I let a little half annoyed half amused sigh escape. "Oh, boy. So this is what I have a lifetime to look forward to?"

  "You bet your pretty tush. And so much more."

  I finally let my grin take over. "Good."

  He kissed me quickly and then sat back, popping a corn nugget in his mouth. I sat back, too, and could feel eyes on me. I peeked over at Rachel. She was giving me the weirdest look. She pointed to her ear, meaning for me to listen.

  I can't believe you didn't cold-cock that girl.

  I jerked at her insult. She continued.

  There was this woman who used to work in Peter's first office and she was so in lust with him. I saw Peter smile and shake his head, but she kept going, leaning forward to look at me from across his chest. It seemed like every time I went to bring him lunch or drop by for…a visit, she was there. Touching his arm, leaning on his desk, calling his office when I was in there with some emergency. Ugh. Anyway, the very first time I got her alone in the elevator I cornered that hussy and told her she better keep her paws off. That I was watching her and that hunk of a man was taken. I covered my mouth to keep from bursting out laughing. So I admire your restraint. Significants usually don't have much when it comes to our mates. I would have given Bimbo a black eye at the very least. And then she winked. Winked!

  I nodded and smiled. "Thanks."

  She reached across the table over Peter and grabbed my hand. "Anytime, honey."

  It was such a mother-thing to say. I smiled again and returned to my food. I felt strangely like crying as I took a bite of garlic bread. The taste was something not of this world. It danced on my tongue. I looked at the waitresses in their cute boots and skirts and wondered how they kept their figures working there. I would have problems with the garlic bread.

  After we drove back to Peter's we parted, going our separate ways. Bish pulled me aside and asked about the wedding. Jen had told him I wanted to share the day and he wondered why. I just said it made sense for us all to be together. All three of the members of my family had imprinted. That was miraculous in itself. What better way to feel good about all three of us being split up than to be present for each other and watch as we devoted ourselves completely to the one we loved. It made complete sense in my mind.

  "I know, I'm not saying I don't want to, it's just…with you rushing the wedding it's not giving me much time to come up with everything that I need to."

  "For your apartment," I guessed and understood.

  "Yeah," he sighed.

  "I'm sorry. Look, Bish, I know this is hard for you, but honestly this family is just happy to have you in it. The way they know you're going to make Jen happy is worth it. And don't ask me how I know." I smirked. "I can read minds, remember?"

  "I know," he said, not taking my bait. "I just always feel like I'm a step behind somehow. And with school…I mean I took art classes. What the heck am I going to do in Tennessee with Art classes?"

  "I think I can help you there," Peter interrupted with hands raised. "I'm sorry. Didn't mean to pry, I just overheard you as I was walking inside. Listen, Bish, we have lots of uses for an Art major at the firm. An architecture firm," he said meaningfully. "We pride ourselves in bold designs and things others haven't come up with yet. I think you'd make a great addition if you're interested. And Jen already works there, of course. So it wouldn't be hard on you the first couple years to be apart."

  Bish looked at Peter's shoes. "No offense, sir, but you're only offering me this job because I'm about to be your son-in-law."

  "You're daggum right I am," Peter said and laughed. It reminded me of Caleb and I couldn't help but smile. "But I'm also offering you this job because you're my daughter's significant. Not only will it make it easier on you and her, but we like to keep this a family affair. Almost all of my family works in the business in some form or fashion. So I'm not being biased by offering you the job, technically I'd be biased by not offering you one."

  His lips held the Jacobson smirk as he realized he'd just put Bish in a corner. He waited and I listened to Bish work it out in his mind and finally relented. "You'll never know how grateful I am to you, sir."

  "Son," Peter said, putting a hand on his shoulder. His lips twitched with what I thought was a smile, but I realized it wasn't. Peter was fighting tears. "My daughter has been through more than any woman ever should. Our women are precious to us, the center of our universes. For me to think that after all that she wasn't even going to bond with anyone, that she wasn't going to know what it felt like to literally feel someone's heart in your chest…it tortured me as a father. But then you…come along," he growled. I bit my lip as I watched him fight his emotion. "And you make her happier than she's ever been save the day Maria was born, and you really have to wonder why I'd want you around?" He laughed a little. "In my eyes, you are my son now, and I want nothing more than to be your family. My daughter finally has someone to look at her the way I look at Ray and you'll never know how grateful I am to you…sir," he spouted Bish's words back at him and chuckled with emotion. Then he pulled him into a manly hug.

  Bish patted his back and mumbled his own emotional thank you before letting go. I heard Jen's thoughts before Bish did. She was waiting at the door and wondering wh
at was going on. Bish looked over at her and smiled. Then he nodded to Peter, hugged me hard, and then made his way to her. He picked her up off the ground in a bear hug and carried her inside that way, giggling.

  "Thanks," I said to Peter, because Bish had been through a lot, too, and the poor guy needed a few breaks.

  "My pleasure and I meant every word." He pulled me to him and kissed my forehead. "Now I think your chariot awaits."

  I looked confused at him until he nodded to the garage. And Caleb was sitting on the bike, my helmet under his arm. I squealed. Actually squealed and ran to him. I heard Peter laughing behind me, but I didn't care.

  Caleb got off just as I reached him and slipped the helmet on my head for me. "I take it you missed Lolita."

  I laughed. "Shut up and drive, Jacobson."

  "Yes, ma'am," I heard his laughed words through the mic before we climbed on and eased us down the driveway. As soon as he reached the end of his road I waited, knowing what was next.

  "Hang on, gorgeous."

  I giggled and gripped him tight as he sped away laughing. We leaned forward on the bike a little as he zoomed and gripped the road tightly with each turn. It didn't matter that my heartbeat sped, it didn't matter how fast we were going.

  I was with Caleb. And there was no safer place on the planet.

  Chapter 12

  Caleb

  I ran across the beach…it was so hot and humid though it was night time…she ran faster than me, daggum Track team…I tried to catch her…Bish and Jen were huddled, oblivious…Maggie reached then just in time…to stop the bullet…blood was everywhere…my Maggie…I tried to save her, but couldn't…she was drifting…drifting…she looked in my eyes and silently told me it was all right…it wasn't…

  I felt her hand on my cheek and jolted awake in bed. I was sweating and Maggie attempted to help me calm my breaths by pressing her lips to my neck. She didn't kiss me, just pressed them there.