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“I thought you knew that?” I asked, frowning.
“I guess I was hoping to be wrong,” Dad said with a sigh. “Last time I spoke to Caleb, he mentioned that you were pulling away from him. I hoped that meant you’d finally seen the error of your ways.”
“Dad,” I began. “Just listen, okay?”
He stared at me as if he wanted to argue but he didn’t. He pressed his lips tightly together and nodded for me to continue.
“I love him,” I said. Dad flinched. I pressed on. “I know you don’t like him and honestly, I understand why. When Cathy and Caleb came into our lives, Caleb wasn’t in the best place. He was a rough kid who had a lot of problems. Trust me, I know that better than anyone. But I loved him then, and I love him now. The only difference is he isn’t that person anymore.”
I paused, expecting my dad to interrupt. He didn’t. He stared at me and waited for me to continue.
“He’s grown up to be an amazing man,” I said. “He’s a hero now. I mean, what he did for that family. Dad, it was incredible. He saved their lives. He’s not the same kid we all used to know. And I know deep down you know that too.”
Dad nodded, but his face stayed set.
“I wish there was a way I could show you that he’s changed,” I said with a sigh. “You watched him go through military school. You were there when he joined the army. Hell, you’ve seen him more in the last ten years than I have. How can you doubt, even for a second, that he’s changed?”
“I don’t doubt that,” Dad said, his voice low. “He has changed. On the outside. But deep down, he’s still the same punk kid he always was.”
“He’s not,” I said firmly. “No matter what you want to believe, he’s not.”
“So, is that what your stepmother wanted us to talk about?” Dad demanded. “You and Caleb?”
“I think she wanted us to work things out,” I said. “She wants us to be okay again.”
“Not while you’re seeing him,” Dad said with disgust.
“Are you serious?”
I stared at him in shock. His face contorted with rage. He was so angry for no reason. He was too stubborn to believe Caleb could ever change, even when the evidence was right in front of him.
“I can’t allow you to throw your life away for that boy,” Dad said. “It’s a mistake, and I won’t sit back and watch you do it.”
“It’s not a mistake,” I said, my own anger flaring up. “God, Dad, do you even hear yourself? This guy is your wife’s son! How can you talk about him like this?”
“Because you are my daughter,” he snapped. “And Caleb constantly pushes you to do things that are inappropriate.”
“What’s inappropriate?” I asked.
“Dating your stepbrother, for one thing,” Dad said. “Dating your patient for another.”
My eyes narrowed. I couldn’t believe what I heard.
“First of all,” I said, “Caleb and I are not brother and sister. My God, we met as teenagers! Ask your wife. She’ll tell you the same damn thing.”
“Maybe so,” Dad said quickly. “But he is still your patient.”
“For another week,” I said. “After that, what excuse will you come up with?”
“These aren’t excuses,” Dad said. “These are valid reasons why you shouldn’t be with him. You haven’t been here to see the endless parade of whores he spends his time with, I have. How can you just overlook that?”
“Because I can,” I said bluntly. “Caleb hasn’t held anything back from me. I know what he’s done the past ten years. But I’ll have you know that since I’ve been back, I’ve been the only one on his mind. The only one he’s spending time with. The only one he loves. Dad, I love Caleb more than I’ve ever loved anyone. He and I are going to be together whether you like it or not.”
My father’s eyes flashed, and for a split second, I thought he might throw something. His fists clenched on top of the table as he glared at me. His lips were pressed so tightly together that I could barely see them. His face was flushed red, and his knuckles were white.
I wanted to say something, anything, that would calm him down. He was overreacting, just like always, but this was different. Caleb wasn’t the only thing we needed to talk about. I had something else to tell him, something much more important.
He didn’t g
