“Why’re we hiding in here?”
She was in a good mood and I loved to see it. She thrived under pressure and her new job certainly had plenty to spare. Just asthe kids talked all about their new life, Caitlyn shared what she could about hers. She was so fulfilled and it showed.
“Need to talk to you about something without our bat-eared children listening in.”
“Everything okay?” She sat up straight.
“Yes, absolutely,” I assured her quickly, not wanting her to worry. “Better than, actually. I met someone.”
“Oh really? Do tell.”
She was intrigued now. I had to take a second and gather my thoughts. “I didn’t expect it. Fought it, actually. And we haven’t told the munchkins yet. We thought it was better to wait until things were a little more settled, and obviously, I needed to talk to you. Because even though you don’t have a say in my love life anymore, it will affect Harper, Marlie, and Tristan and youdohave a say in that. So I wanted to—”
“Law,” she cut me off. “You aren’t a rambler, just spit it out.”
“Oak and I, we’ve found a connection.”
A beat of silence. Then she shook her head. “Well, I called that.”
The tension broken, I laughed, relief flooding through me. She had, apparently, given what she’d said to Oak before she left. It still sort of boggled my mind that she’d had that kind of foresight, but it really shouldn’t have. She was probably the person who knew me best, other than Charlie, and we’d always had a very open line of communication. Back when we first started dating, we used to ogle people together. She knew what kind of person I was attracted to.
“But you’ve ‘found a connection?’ Really, Law?”
“What was I supposed to say? I like him and I wanna do bad things with him?” I shot her a glare that did absolutely nothing to combat the mirth on her face. I shook my head. “I do like him, Cait. And obstacles aside, I just want to…get to know him. Bethere for him. Cuddle the shit out of him and talk about my day and….”
“All the things you used to do with me.”
Oof. That was a punch in the gut. I studied Cait’s expression, and she looked a little sad, but mostly understanding. I ran through all the things I could say to make her feel better, before I realized that wasn’t my job anymore. Not about this.
In the end I just went with, “I’m not replacing you. Or using him as a replacement. There’s something between us that could grow into something real and lasting, if we work at it. And Oak and I both want that.”
“I know. I can tell, just by your expression and your tone of voice. And I’m happy for you. I really am. You deserve someone who can love you back.”
“You loved me, Cait. I know that. Just maybe not…hey, wait a minute. No one said anything about love.”
She snorted a laugh in a way that reminded me so much of Marlie. “Not yet anyway. But I know you, Law Caldwell. I know your heart. Clearly you and I weren’t meant for forever, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find it with someone else.”
“Cait, I—”
“I meant what I said to Harper, in the car at the end of our trip east. There’s no one I trust more than you. You won’t let anything hurt our children. Including a new relationship.” She sighed and held up a finger, muted herself, and spoke to someone I couldn’t see. A moment later, she was back. “I have to go. Don’t worry about my feelings. Those are for me to deal with. And I know you’ll tell the kids when the time is right. I’ll back you when you do.”
“Thank you.” Deep down, I knew all that, but it was good to hear.
“They’re ready for me, so I really do need to go. But we need to talk about spring break soon. By then, I’ll be able to takesome time off, at least a couple of days. So we need to figure out if it’s better for me to go there, you all to come here, or some combination of both.” She stood, bringing the phone with her. “So start thinking, all right?”
“You bet. Sounds great. I know the kids want to see you.”
“I want to see them too.” She blew out a breath, and for a second, her doctor’s mask slipped and I saw the vulnerability there. But it was back in place a blink later. “Kiss them goodnight for me.”
“Always.”
“Talk to you later.”
She didn’t give me a chance to reply before she ended the call. I ended it on my side too, then leaned against the washer. I knew the conversation would go all right, but still, I was glad it had. Not that a different response from Cait would have changed my course—I wasn’t giving up Oak if I could help it—but it would have changed the way I dealt with her. I was pleased things had gone so well.
I exited the laundry room and set the tablet on the counter. After shooting a text to Oak to let him know that not only was the conversation over but that everything was good, I headed upstairs to check on my kids and mitigate the incoming argument about what movie we would watch tonight.
I smiled as I took the stairs two at a time. I’d known my life needed a bit of an overhaul, but every day, I was more and more certain that this was exactly where I was supposed to be.
