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Chapter 37
Aria
Two weeks after giving birth to my beautiful baby girl, I'm allowed to take her home. Caleb has helped me pack up all her things in the hospital and we're heading home as a family. I can't say I'm not nervous, because I'm terrified of doing something wrong, even though I have much help back at the compound. If it isn't Caleb fussing, it's Clay or Chris. It's like watching Three Men and a Baby. They love Sharlynn already, although it’s only Caleb and me that know her name. We plan on announcing it once we're home, together, as a family.
"Are you ready, babe?" Caleb opens the back door and helps me get down before taking Sharlynn from the baby seat. Instead of just carrying the seat, he carries her. It doesn't matter when I see him with her, it melts my heart. He’s like a big, gentle giant.
"I can't wait to settle into a routine. The last two weeks have been torturing me, away from you, and here."
"We'll never be separated again." Caleb kisses me softly.
I open the door and walk into the house that has become my haven. It's my sanctuary.
"Surprise!" everyone shouts at us the moment we step into the living area.
"Oh my God. Did you know about this?" I hold my beating heart and place a hand on Caleb for support.
"I didn't."
I don't know if Caleb is genuinely shocked or pissed off. I don’t want him to be annoyed. Everyone means well, and I like how they've accepted me and Sharlynn. It's a little bit of positivity in all of this.
"Wow! You scared the bejesus out of me." I laugh now that the shock is wearing off. "I don't know what to say. Guys, I'd like you to officially meet Sharlynn."
I don't understand a word anyone is saying, because all of the voices are muffled together, but Caleb wraps his arm around me, and I cuddle into his side securely. This is exactly where I want to be.
"Stop hogging my niece. Give her to me," says Clay. "You get all the boring daddy jobs; I get to be the fun uncle."
It’s good to see him happier and more settled. It's amazing how much love and happiness a baby brings to a family.
"Guys."
I look over my shoulder to see Chris standing with Al. I’ve been kept out of the loop with anything concerning my case, and that's what I want. I want to focus on my daughter. I didn't expect to see Al today, and I'm not sure what I feel. I grip onto Caleb's shirt and he holds me tighter.
"It's okay. I can deal with this."
I look back at Clay handing Sharlynn to his mom, and I shake my head. "No. Let's get this out of the way. We can't move on until the past is put to rest."
I walk away into Caleb's office first. I look out the window and keep my back to everyone who has followed me in. I don’t know what I’m about to hear, and I’m not sure I want to.
"What do you want, Al?" asks Clay.
"I didn't know today was the homecoming, or I would have waited. I wanted to update you on the case. "
The room falls silent. You could hear a pin drop. My heart is pounding, and I can hear the blood rushing through my ears.
"Claus ‘Spike’ Andrews. He was registered dead thirty-five years ago."
"What?" all three brothers say together.
"He was Jakob's brother. Aria was right. She saw the resemblance. We didn't put the pieces together because we didn't know he was alive."
"Jakob... "
"Didn't know he was alive, Caleb," says Al.
"Bullshit! How can you not know your brother is alive?"
I hate hearing Caleb so worked up, but at this moment, I can’t say or do anything to help matters. Silence is the best option I have.
