Turning towards her, Caleb replied, “No one.” He closed the file in his hand. “I was just talking to myself.”
“That is a habit that you should rid yourself of.”
“I would agree,” Caleb said, placing the file down onto the desk. He glanced at the window and saw Kendrick was gone. “Is there something that you need, Mother?”
His mother smiled, and he knew he was in trouble. “I just heard that you will not be joining us for dinner this evening.”
“That is true,” he replied. “I am dining with Miss Delacourt this evening.”
“For someone that is adamant that he will never wed, you are spending an enormous amount of time with Miss Delacourt.”
“We are just friends, Mother,” Caleb said. “Do not read anything more into this.”
His mother’s smile grew broader. “How can I not?” she asked.
Caleb sighed. “I just fear that you will be left disappointed once Miss Delacourt and I go our separate ways.”
“But I thought you were friends.”
“We are?—"
She spoke over him. “So why wouldn’t you just continue down the path you are both on?” she asked. “It seems to be working well for both of you.”
His mother was good at manipulating his words, but he had no desire to debate this point with her. “I should be going.”
“Yes, you should,” his mother agreed. “You wouldn’t want to be late.”
Caleb walked over to his mother and kissed her cheek. “Good evening, Mother,” he said. “Do not wait up for me.”
“I hardly do anymore,” his mother responded. “Please tell Miss Delacourt that I said hello.”
“I will.”
His mother gave him a thoughtful look. “You don’t get to choose who you fall in love with. It just happens on its own.”
Caleb lifted his brow. “I never said anything about love.”
“I know, but love is confusing. It is not something that we understand or know. We are just meant to follow our hearts.”
“Are you implying that I love Miss Delacourt?”
His mother’s eyes went wide, looking entirely too innocent. “I would never dare to presume you had such strong emotions for Miss Delacourt,” she said. “I was just merely offering some advice.”
“Unsolicited advice,” Caleb muttered.
“That is what any good mother would do,” his mother declared with a wave of her hand. “I just want you to be happy.”
Caleb frowned. He questioned why everyone was so concerned with his happiness. He was doing just fine on his own. “I am happy,” he said.
“Are you?” his mother asked. “Because I can’t help but notice that your smile grows whenever you are around Miss Delacourt.”
“Why can’t you just be happy that Anette is married?”
His mother grew somber. “You are sad. I can see it in your eyes.”
Caleb mustered up a smile to his lips. “I am perfectly happy.” He wondered who he was trying to convince. His mother or himself?
“If you want Miss Delacourt in your life, you must let her know with words and actions, and all those little things will make her want to stay,” his mother advised.
