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As Caleb joined the table and began heaping food on to his plate, conversation flew freely. Sometimes when they got together there were so many people talking at the same time it was hard to focus. But, being part of the Donahue family meant you were used to it. It was par for the course when they had these get togethers.
Everyone was enjoying the food and heaping compliments upon Jason. Caleb watched as Cadence cut up a hotdog for Logan into tiny pieces. She had such a loving way with his nephew. He felt a pang of envy. He couldn’t wait to be father. Even though it seemed so far off in the future, he prayed about it all the time. He wanted to give his future children all the things his adoptive family had given him.
Suddenly, a memory flashed into his head. He was little. No more than five years old. It was Christmas Eve and he was at the beach. He’d dashed in the water. There was a woman with him holding his hand tightly and reminding him that she didn’t know how to swim. “But I know how to swim. I’ll save you, Mama.” Goosebumps popped up on his arm. Every time the flash of memories flared up, he stuffed it down. But this time he saw a beautiful brown skinned woman clutching his hand and screaming as the water rose to her knees. And he was screaming with laughter.
“You okay?” Parker’s voice rang in his ear. He was leaning toward him with a look of worry etched on his face.
“I’m fine,” he said, shaking off the flood of memories threatening to choke him. He didn’t know what was going on with him, but lately the memories were coming fast and furiously, threatening to choke him. For so long he had managed to outrun them. Now they were catching up to him.
“Something strange happened earlier,” Nash announced.
Focus on Nash, he told himself. Don’t get dragged down by the memories.
“I had to go over to the house to pick something up, and while I was there Mom received a floral delivery.” Nash wagged his eyebrows. “Two dozen red roses from Ballard’s Floral Shop.”
“Who was it from?” Cadence asked. She had posed the question they were all dying to ask.
Nash shrugged. “Mom began acting all coy and bashful. It came with a note. She turned every shade of red when I began asking her about it.”
“It must’ve been from dad,” Parker said in a gruff voice. “Nothing else makes sense.”
“You never know,” Shayla said. “She might have a secret admirer.”
“I don’t like that,” Micah said. His features were creased with anger. “She’s a married woman. That’s not cool.”
“Take it easy,” Rafferty cautioned. “Sounds like you’re getting way ahead of yourself.”
“Maybe it’s someone who knows that they’re separated and they want to lift her spirits,” Daniel said, sounding pragmatic as always.
Jason scoffed. “Red roses don’t say uplifting. They say romance. Red hot romance.”
Shayla playfully threw a few marshmallows at Jason. He retaliated by flicking her with water. This was their regular behavior. They drove each other crazy but were also as thick as thieves. Caleb couldn’t help but wonder how Micah would react if he knew Shayla’s feelings for Rafferty.
“Our mother is not having a red hot romance,” Caleb said in a fierce tone. “Come one, now. That’s disrespectful.”
Jason scowled at him. “I was talking about red roses, not Mom. Take it easy, Caleb.”
“We’re just trying to figure it out,” Micah said.
It was way too early to speculate on these matters, Caleb thought. His parents had just announced this separation.
“Let’s change the subject,” Parker said in a firm voice. “It’s too soon to talk about this stuff.”
As the oldest, Parker had an authority none of the Donahue siblings could ignore. Everyone tended to listen to him and follow his directives.
Caleb let out the deep breath he’d been holding. He didn’t want to think about his parents’ separation or the possibility that one day down the road they might be dating other people. It would be a harsh reality to face.
“So, Heath. How’s Bella?” Micah asked. “Nobody’s seen her for a few weeks.”
Caleb let out a groan. Heath’s mood was already all over the place. Pushing the Bella button wasn’t going to go over well, Caleb predicted. For a moment, all Heath did was glare at Micah. Then, like a keg of dynamite, he exploded.
He pounded his fist on the glass table. “I don’t want to talk about Bella!” he shouted. “Don’t you get it? We’re not together anymore.” He took a swig of his soda, then slammed his cup down on the table and jumped up, storming off in the direction of the beach.
“Wait up, Heath,” Micah said, standing up to go after him.
“Hey. Let me go talk to him,” Caleb offered. Taking his beer with him, Caleb followed after his brother down the beach. He had to walk briskly to catch up with him. Ever since they’d been kids, Heath had been fast. It had led him to four years of track and a scholarship to Boston College.
“Heath! Wait up!” he called out.
