But it was all totally worth it.
All of it.
Because it didn’t matter whose baby this was, I loved her with all of my heart and every morsel of my soul.
I rubbed my big belly and felt consumed with love. Every time I felt her move, I was reminded of the joy I was about to welcome into my life.
And I was grateful for those feelings because it kept things in perspective for me. And also because they pushed back the heartache and longing I felt whenever I thought of Caleb and everything that had happened.
After reading the results from Dr. Perry’s office, I had tried calling him, but he never answered. I wanted to let him know once and for all who the father was, now that there was no doubt.
I picked up my phone and looked at the screen. There were two messages from Charlie wanting to talk. After calling Caleb, I’d called him. And just like I knew he would, he took the news with his usual smugness and condescension.
A sudden rush of wind blew in off the bay and danced with the towering pines that lined the property.
Inside, a door slammed.
I sent Caleb a text.
Me: Call me, please.
Thunder rolled in the storm clouds as they moved across the bay. It was time to go inside and shut the house up for the evening. Light some candles. Heat some soup. Get a fire started. There were still a couple of hours of light left, but I was ready to close the curtains and settle in for the night. Maybe have a bath. Maybe put on my pajamas and curl up with one of the books I’d brought with me.
And try Caleb’s phone again.
I didn’t know if his phone was dead or if he was deliberately avoiding my calls.
But I was going to keep ringing until I got ahold of him.
And if that meant calling Cade or Indy, then I would do that, too.
CALEB
Oh, Christ. They were the biggest set of steps in the world.
I looked out the windshield as Caleb pulled up to the lake house. It was a sprawling, two-story home with a large set of stairs leading up to the wraparound porch. As I climbed out of the car, the relentless throb in my lower leg reminded me that this was going to suck.
Outside, thunder crashed through the clouds and wind whipped around the swaying branches of the cypress and pine trees. A light scatter of rain danced across the leaves on the ground and then stopped.
“Let’s get you inside before it starts to fucking rain,” Cade said, coming around to my side of the car and looking up at the stairs leading up to the porch. “I think this might take a while.”
Using crutches, I hobbled over to the steps where Cade threw my arm over his shoulder and helped me take my first step. Pain like an absolute motherfucker tore up my leg and shot into the very core of me. I gripped the railing and gritted my teeth.
“You okay?” my brother asked.
I nodded, my jaw set, sweat trailing down my temples. Another scattering of rain hit us as I took my second step, growling as the pain rolled through me.
“My wife is going to have my balls if she finds out I’m helping you destroy your ankle like this.”
“I’m not destroying my ankle. I’m coming after the girl I’m in love with. You know, a grand gesture of love and all that.”
“Yeah, well, I hope it’s fucking worth it. Indy will have your balls, too. We’re both going to have to face her after this.”
Again, thunder rattled in the sky above us, and I took a moment to catch my breath.
“She’ll appreciate the gesture. Girls love this shit.”
“Since when has Indy been sucked in by grand gestures?”
I winced with more pain. “She married your sorry ass, didn’t she?”
Cade helped me up another two steps and said, “If I don’t get laid because of your grand gesture, then I’m going to knee you in your balls.”
I glanced at him. “Because clearly I’m not in enough pain as it is.”
Cade hoisted me over the last step and up to the front door.
“Fucking thank Christ!” he said. “You’re an insane motherfucker, you know that?”
He handed me my crutches and I straightened.
“Insane and crazy in love with the girl behind this door,” I said.
“Well, you look like shit. Like you’re about to pass out. You sure you don’t want me to take you back to hospital?”
“You’re fucking kidding me, right? I didn’t climb those stairs for nothing.”
I sucked in a deep breath, right into the depths of my lungs in an attempt to force back my pain. I was out of breath and a mess, but I was ready to claim back what was mine.
“Are you ready?” Cade asked.