AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Caleb comes through the door with a box in his hand and a smile on his face. Mom and Mayor Gentry follow behind him.
When he makes it to me on the sofa, he stops.
“I have a present for you,” he says proudly as he holds the box out for me to take.
“A present? It’s not even my birthday,” I tell him.
“I know. It’s a just because I love you present,” he says.
My eyes begin to blur before I even get the top off of the little box.
Impatient, he helps me lift the delicate chain and holds the necklace up in front of me.
“Oh, that’s beautiful,” Ansley says.
He grins at her. “It’s a topaz. I found it, and Granna and I took it to a jeweler. He cut it and polished it and made it into a pretty necklace.”
“I love it, Caleb,” I say through my tears.
“Do you want me to help you put it on?” he asks.
I nod and turn while holding my hair out of the way. It takes him a few tries to get the clasp in place, but when he does, it falls against my chest, and I place my hand over the stone.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He throws his arms around my neck and squeezes. “You’re welcome. Next time, I’m going to try to find a ruby or emerald for you.”
Jena leans into him. “Hey, your auntie Jena could use an emerald too,” she tells him.
“I’ll try to get two,” he tells her.
“Hey, what about us?” Erin says, waving a finger between herself and Ansley.
Caleb throws his hands out to the sides. “Okay. I’ll try to get four. You guys are killing me.”
Mayor Gentry starts laughing. “Get used to it, kid,” he warns.
“Do you have your bag?” I ask Caleb.
“It’s in the car. I’ll go get it.”
He runs off, and Mayor Gentry follows him.
“The place looks amazing,” Mom says as she walks in and pops her head in every door. “Are you excited for your first night?” she asks.
“I am,” I admit.
Caleb comes in, carrying his suitcase, and lugs it straight into his new room.
Mayor Gentry appears at the door again.
Mom walks over and kisses my cheek. “We’ll get out of your hair. We’re going to listen to the bluegrass band down at Blue Mountain Distillery. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Be careful and don’t get too crazy,” I tell her as I kiss her back.
“No one’s getting crazy. We’re too old for that,” she states.
“Oh, Mom. You’re only old when it’s convenient for you. Go have fun.”
She takes Ralph’s arm, and he leads them out.
“I can’t believe Leona has a beau, and I’m still single,” Ansley mumbles.
“Graham has a couple of single brothers. Maybe Taeli can fix you up,” Erin suggests.
“No way. I know Weston too well, and Morris is too young for me.”
“What about Corbin?” Jena asks.
“Who would want to deal with Susanna?”
She makes a valid point.
“All I’m saying is, marrying into the Tuttle family would be the answer to all of our middle school dreams,” Erin says.
“I outgrew those fantasies a long time ago. I want something real,” Ansley tells her.
“Then, we’ll find it for you now that we got Taeli here squared away,” Erin says.
“I am?”
“Yep. You might not be ready to acknowledge it yet, but you are.”
“Well he is taking me out for our second official date tomorrow,” I tell them.
“See, you’re a taken woman. Taken by a Tuttle,” she says, and we all crack up laughing.
But I think she may be right.
