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“No doubt.” She blew out a long breath.
“Even if you had called the police, David would’ve used your father’s health crisis as his excuse. His parole officer might’ve even bought that excuse, too, since the visit wasn’t threatening. Did I mention that addicts are also cunning?”
“Caleb believes I’m seriously considering … argh.” She rubbed her face with both hands. “It’s all clear to me now. David purposefully put on that little show for Caleb, and I played right into his hands.”
“Yep. You’ve been played. So, what are you going to do about it now? Everybody in this house knows Caleb McGee is crazy about you, and he has been since the two of you started spending time together. He’s a stand-up guy, and I’m guessing he’s having a really rough time right now.”
“Not helping!” she cried. “I feel like an idiot enough already.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Theresa. Moving forward, remember to keep your eyes open when dealing with your ex. I have a rule I follow, and you should too. Never let an addict get between you and what’s good in your life.” John ran his hand over his shaved head. “Er … I’m saying that as your friend, not as your professional bodyguard.”
“I appreciate the friendship part.” She bit her lip, and tears filled her eyes. “I’m afraid the damage has already been done. I’ve called Caleb several times and left messages, but he hasn’t gotten back to me.”
“Yeah, well, you know where the man lives. You also know he probably doesn’t have any plans this morning because he’s supposed to be here.”
“What are you suggesting?” She grabbed a napkin from the holder and wiped her eyes.
“I’m suggesting it’s only a half hour drive from here to Ventura.”
She shot up. “Right. I’m going to go shower and hit the road.”
He grinned. “Good.”
It took her thirty minutes to get ready. Theresa climbed into her SUV and started out for Ventura to make things right with the only man she’d ever truly loved.
* * *
Caleb stared out his kitchen window while considering his options. The Uber driver couldn’t get his phone back to him until this afternoon because of his day job. He could borrow Dottie’s phone to call Theresa, but he knew she’d ignore the call and delete any message he might leave. Theresa didn’t respond to unknown callers. Ever.
The more he thought about what Dottie had said, the more it made sense. David wouldn’t have let up on Theresa until she’d said the words he wanted to hear. Caleb shouldn’t have stormed off the way he did, and he couldn’t leave things as they were. That left only one option. He needed to drive to Santa Barbara and talk to her. Steeling himself for the possibility Dottie was wrong, Caleb grabbed his wallet and his keys and set out for Theresa’s home. He’d fight for her, and he’d give it all he had to convince her they were meant for each other.
By the time he pulled into Theresa’s driveway, he’d gone over what he wanted to say to her a hundred times in head. Her garage door was closed, so he didn’t know if she was home or not. Sitting in her driveway in his car brought back memories of the first time he’d parked his car in this very place.
He’d meant only to convince her not to quit singing. After talking to her, his goal had changed, and he’d wanted to offer her support through a difficult time, nothing more. Instead, she’d awakened his desire to rejoin the living. Even if things didn’t go as he hoped, he had no regrets. After seeing the world in blacks, grays, and whites for so long, he once again saw colors, vibrant, shimmering colors filled with possibilities, and he had Theresa to thank.
Maybe she was somewhere with David, talking things through. Don’t go there. “Only one way to find out,” he muttered. Caleb trudged to her door and hit her doorbell. Sully whined and barked on the other side, and his nerves spiked as the door opened. “John,” he blurted.
“Oh, man … you two. Hmph.” John stepped outside. “Theresa is on her way to your place right now. She left about twenty minutes ago.”
“Damn.” He huffed out a breath. “I don’t have my phone. I left it in an Uber last night, and I won’t get it back until this afternoon.”
“That explains a lot.” John pulled his phone from the holster looped to his belt. “Here,” he said after hitting Theresa’s speed dial number.
“What do you need, John? I’m driving.”
“Theresa, it’s Caleb. I’m at your place.”
“You are?”
“Yeah, lost my phone yesterday.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Listen, once you get to my place, go to my neighbor’s house. Dottie has a key to my back door, and she’ll let you in. Stay there. I’m on my way back.”
“Okay. Caleb, I—”
“We’ll talk once I’m there.” He ended the call and handed back John’s phone. “Thanks.”
“Drive carefully, buddy,” John said as Caleb tore back to his car.
“I will.” Could he take this as a good sign, or had Theresa gone to his house to tell him in person she was going to give that scumbag a second chance? Damn. He needed to know one way or the other, and he’d made himself clear when he’d told her he didn’t want to be her second choice. Dammit, he wanted to be her one and only.
