I shake my head. “I love her dearly, but there’s only so much over-boiled and dry food a man can take.”
“Is that why you go out so much?” Chloe pokes her tongue out. She knows I cook for myself most nights—just not in the same house as our parents.
“I’m not that bad.”
She laughs. “No, I know you don’t go out as much anymore.”
“I can’t be bothered. Must be getting old.” I take a sip of coffee.
“So … How do you feel about seeing Emma tomorrow?” Chloe asks.
I shrug. “I’m not sure. Seeing her today was crazy. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it actually being her.”
“Everything happens for a reason.” She meets Hunter’s gaze.
“It’s just been so long.”
“Maybe you can get some actual closure.”
Her sympathetic gaze hits mine, and I nod. “Maybe that’s why it’s bugging me so much. I never got to apologise for reacting the way I did over the news of her leaving.”
“At the very least, you’ll get a chance to talk.”
I pull up into Mum and Dad’s back yard and sit in my truck for a moment.
Dinner was crazy.
Chloe’s girls are adorable, but a lot of work. Her nineteen-year-old boys adore their younger sisters, and that whole house feels so full of energy.
So much so, that I’m relieved for the quiet of home.
Stepping out of my truck, I head toward my place before I pause.
I should check in with Mum and Dad.
Frequently, I go for days without seeing them, but today is different.
I tap on the back door as I go—Mum always tells me I don’t need to, but I like to let them know I’m here.
Dad’s probably in bed—it’s not late, but he’s an early to bed man. Always has been.
My mother sits in front of the television in the living room.
“Caleb.” Mum gives me a tired smile.
Chloe’s always made fun of me for never leaving home. Several years ago, I built a second dwelling on the back on Mum and Dad’s property. I don’t live in the main house, but I’ve never moved away.
While Chloe was living overseas, Dad had an accident, and while he recovered, he couldn’t work as a builder anymore. She thought he made the decision to move into an office job by himself, but the reality was, he couldn’t do the physical work anymore. That combined with him being off work for several months meant our parents struggled.
I chose to stay living at home to help support them and then just never left.
We live very separate lives most of the time, and now they’re retired and the bad years are behind them, they’ll be just fine if I leave.
But I still like to keep an eye on them.
“Hey.” I bend and peck her on the cheek.
“Did you have a good night?”
