know in not so many words that my family and my past were not something I discussed readily. I just told him that my dad was long gone, and mom and I were estranged. I was surprised in the beginning that someone like him, with all his money, had been so accepting of my explanation and never pushed for more.
He never once questioned my motives, never asked for a prenup, never tried digging too deep into my family history, none of the things I was deathly afraid of. He’d shown me that I could be a whole person without need of a family or any kind of background to lean on. I’d always feared that I would live out the rest of my life alone because no one would want to be with someone, or could ever trust another with so many secrets.
I remember the way he’d hugged me close once he noticed the sadness in me when the topic of my parents came up, and can still hear the words he’d whispered in my ear like it was yesterday. “It’s okay, love, I’ll share mine with you.” And he had. I don’t know what he’d said to his mom and dad, but not once had they ever treated me like anything other than their daughter.
It was in the bosom of his family that I got my first real taste of what a normal family life was supposed to be like. The first time I saw Calen disagree with his mom and she just accepted and told him that he was right, I thought for sure it was a trap.
I hadn’t said anything, but I had been on pins and needles the whole of that day waiting for the other shoe to drop. I remember feeling fiercely protective and promising myself that if she tried doing anything to punish him, I wouldn’t let her. I’d ask to take his punishment instead.
When she’d just gone on to something else and had even laughed with her son, I remember the confusion I felt and how out of my depth. I learned to take my cues from Calen, and though I never came completely out of my shell, the time that I spent with them had taught me a whole new way of life. I have no doubt that I would’ve become much better had things worked out.
Both my in-laws had been amazing, but Rebecca had always gone above and beyond as if somehow sensing my need for maternal love. Something I had never had, never knew existed, until her. And I thanked her by running away with her grandson.
I rubbed my hand across my tummy, which was getting more and more upset the longer I stood there in the living room while Calen and his mom had disappeared down the hallway with the baby. I can only imagine what they’re saying as I felt the heat of shame fill my cheeks, and I wished for the clock to turn back.
I wish I’d never gone to that mall. Or that I’d seen Donovan before he saw me so that I could’ve made my escape. I wished for a million things because I had nothing with which to fight Calen if he did indeed decide to take my son away from me.
I felt cold dread fill my heart and spread throughout my body at the thought of his anger and how justified it was. If I were in his place, I’d probably feel the same. Even though I know the truth of why I left, and the fact that had it only been me in danger, I would’ve stayed, but had to leave when the threat was made against him, I know that keeping his son from him was criminal.
Still, I can’t lose my baby. He can’t be the consolation prize. I fixed my clothes, making sure everything was neat when I heard their voices heading back my way. I wasn’t sure what kind of reception I was going to get from Rebecca, but I was prepared for the worst and braced myself. I just have to remember that it was well deserved no matter what awful things she had to throw at my head.
She came into the room and made a beeline over to my side with her arms outstretched. At first, I didn’t know how to react. Was this a trap? It wouldn’t be the first time I’d fallen for a setup like this. At least with mom, I’d learned to read