Winning Back His Wife (11 page)

“It’s because of this situation with Lori and your son,
isn’t it?” his father stated, more than asked.

Caleb moved from the window to sit on the large leather sofa
that lined one of the walls.

Draining the glass, he looked up at his father.

“The hardest thing I ever had to do was tell her about him. 
Asking her to accept that may be too much.”

For a long time silence overpowered the room. Then George
Wilder spoke. “This is my fault!”

“Paps, how could this be your fault? I am the one that
screwed up.” Confusion masked Caleb’s voice.

“It’s my fault because I am the one that sent those pictures
to Neela,” his father delivered smoothly, not one sign of fear evident in his
tone.

“You did it? You sent those pictures?” Caleb shot to his feet
glaring at his father.

“Yes I did!” he stated matter-of-factly. “And I know what
your next question is going to be. Why? Why would I try to destroy your
marriage?” the older man looked straight at his son, regret swimming in his
eyes.

Raising his hand, he motioned once again outside.

“That woman. She was the reason. I love that woman more than
life itself and I would do anything to see her happy. Your marriage was really
hard for her to deal with. I just wanted to make things better for her. I
thought that could happen if Neela was out of your life. That couldn’t be
further from the truth. When she found out what I did she almost bit my head
off.” A sad smile crossed his face at the memory. “Turns out as much as she
hated your wife, she was more concerned at how you would cope if she left. We all
know how that ended.”

“Your heart attack! That’s what triggered it?” To think that
his father’s heart attack happened because his parents were fighting over him
was a humbling but frightening thought. Two people who obviously loved him,
going about the wrong way to secure his happiness.

Coming to sit by his son George asked, “So, my son, does
this mean that I have lost your respect?”

The anger, the feeling of betrayal that Caleb expected never
came. What good would it do now? The damage had already been done.

“Paps, you could never lose my respect. Maybe if you had
told me back then I may have wanted to punch you but now being angry doesn’t
change anything.” Funny how one could see things differently as one got older.
Age really did bring reason.

“Besides if I hadn’t messed up, there would not have been
any pictures to show.”

Both men leaned back, staring at the ceiling fan as it
slowly rotated, an unspoken measure of understanding shared between them.

“What are you going to do now, son?”

“I don’t know, Paps, I don’t know”

Neither man was aware of the voices that had subsided
outside. Neither man was aware of the woman that stood outside the door.
Neither man was aware that she closed the door with a soft click or when she
left. Neither man was aware that she was going to meet Neela.

****

How she wished she could stay like this forever - wrapped in
his sheet, buried in his bed, his scent surrounding her, caressing her naked
skin.

Last night had been immaculate. Caleb was as attentive a
lover as he had been in the past. Even though their first time, the previous
night had been hurried, Caleb had made sure that she reached that place before
he joined her.

The second and third time were different, but in a good way.
Caleb took her to heights she had never experienced in their short marriage.
And even though he had been focused on her body, he made sure her mind was
satisfied.

 How many times had he whispered he loved her? How many
times during that short time had he begged her not to leave him again? How many
times during that short time did she taste his salty tears on her lips?

Amidst it all, she could not answer him. She could return
his vows of love and commitment. She was too afraid. Loving him was not the
problem. Her heart had never belonged to anyone but him.

The problem was Lori Parks and her son. It was bad enough
knowing that she worked for Caleb. Being aware that he was in close proximity
to her every day, was enough to drive her up a wall.

Now he was willing to keep secrets for her, willing to
accept her son as his. How could he possibly expect her to live with that?

 Calling that baby a bastard was harsh. It was uncalled for.
He was an innocent in all this but it was hard to remember that when Caleb was
willing to put him in front of his own family. Why?

Aggravated by the thoughts that were swirling around in her
head, she stuffed one of the silk-covered pillows over her head and screamed.
It didn’t help.

When she removed the pillow the thoughts were still dancing
around up there.

Looking at the note he left on the pillow she smiled.

You look so beautiful asleep; waking you would be a sin.

Taking Adam and Melody to my parents. Will talk when I
get back.

          I love you!

Caleb
.

Disappointment was the first thing she felt when she opened
her eyes and realized he wasn’t next to her. Relief quickly flooded her because
she honestly didn’t know what she would say to him. Right now she was so
baffled she could scream. So she did. Again!

This time she actually felt a little of the built up tension
slip away. What she needed was advice - that, and a huge tub of chocolate ice
cream.

Throwing the sheet aside, she hesitantly climbed out of the
huge bed.

Not bothering to put on her clothes, she wrapped herself in
Caleb’s robe and headed for her room.

A visit to Kaylee’s was long overdue.

****

“So let me see if I get this right. First he tells you he
loves you and he wants you back. Then he tells you he has a son with that
woman. Next he tells you he hasn’t had sex in five years but now he’s telling
you that the child isn’t his but he wants the world to think he is.” Kaylee was
summarizing everything Neela had explained to her in the last couple of
minutes. She was curled up on the sofa in her small bungalow, while her new
baby suckled greedily at her breast.

Confirming the information, Neela sighed before answering.
“Yup! That about sums it up.”

Kaylee grunted while rolling her eyes before she concluded,
“Okay, I give up. That man is officially bipolar. There is no other explanation,”
she pressed putting her hand to her head in mock confusion. Leave it up to
Kaylee to make her laugh in the worst of times. Her corny sense of humor had
kept Neela on her toes so many times in the past.

“Kaylee…” Neela chuckled as she jokingly warned her friend.

“What? It’s the truth. I mean come on, Neels, what other
reason could he have for risking his family’s happiness?” Although the last
question was asked in good spirits, there was something more serious hidden in
Kaylee’s tone. The marriage counselor was emerging from behind the friend.

 “I don’t know. I have been killing myself trying to figure
out this mess. I know he’s protecting someone but I don’t know who.” Neela
groaned from the bar stool at the kitchen island where she sat, nursing a glass
of juice.

“Do you think maybe it’s his father?” her friend suggested.

“Eww, Kaylee, that’s gross. That would make Lori Parks slut
of the year. Father and son? Disgusting!” Kaylee snickered as she observed
Neela’s contorted face, which reflected her uttered words.

“I know, but I mean, Neels, she did sleep with Caleb even
though she knew he was married…” There was the marriage counselor again,
hinting at stuff, leaving Neela to try and figure it out.

“Somehow I don’t think so. Maybe Stuart’s the father. Caleb
would do anything to protect his sisters. I mean think about it. Daphne just
had a baby. Do you know what it would do to her if Stuart did have an affair
with Lori and got her pregnant?” Neela threw out into suggestion land. Right
now anything sounded good.

“I don’t know, Neels. I don’t know that husband of yours
much, but I think if his sister’s husband did that to her, Caleb is more likely
to kill him than protect him.”

Neela admired her friend as she switched little Isabelle from
one breast to the other. The darling little girl was fast asleep, her tiny
fingers curled into a ball resting against her mother’s breast. Oh, how she
missed the twin being babies. Maybe she and Caleb would have another.

Oh God! She was going mad. There was no ‘she and Caleb’
until they could sort out this Lori mess. If they ever sorted it out.

“God, this is so frustrating. Why won’t he just tell me?
That would make it so much easier.” She grunted, sliding up from the stool to
pace in front of Kaylee.

“Neela, do you love that man?” That question was sure to pop
up once Kaylee was in counselor mode.

Taking the seat opposite her friend she soberly said, “Yeah,
I do. I never once kidded myself about that. He hurt me really bad and I was
mad as hell but I never really stopped loving him.”

Uncurling her legs from under her, Kaylee put the baby on
the seat next to her then got comfortable.

Reaching for Neela’s hand she began, “Okay, so now you need
to ask yourself, how much? Do you love him enough to forgive him for what he
did? I think the fact that he knows he can lose you and those kids over this
secret but is still keeping his mouth shut says a lot, Neels. The question is
do you love him enough to understand and accept that?”

Emotions played across Neela’s face as Kaylee’s words
penetrated her defenses.

“I’m your best friend and I know I’m supposed to say things
like ‘kick his sorry ass to the curb’ or ‘he doesn’t deserve you’ but I’m not
going to tell you that. I was there at that hospital, Neels. I saw what that
man went through while he waited for you. I think he suffered more than any of
us. He may be a bastard because of what he did in the past but he loves you. He
loves you and those kids.” What was that saying? ‘Sticks and stones would break
my bones but words would never hurt me.’ That was a lie. Kaylee’s words were
having an undesired effect on her. That put her on edge.

“Are you telling me I should forgive him?” Neela snapped,
yanking her hand away from Kaylee’s.

Shaking her head in remorse, Kaylee explained, “No. What I’m
telling you, is that you need to make a decision. Either you do forgive him and
accept that he will tell you this all-important secret if and when he is ready
or you cut your losses and move on. Living there in that house but not committing
yourself, prolonging his suffering is wrong, Neels. Don’t give him false hope.”
Words from the wise. Kaylee was no novice; she knew exactly what she was
saying. After watching her parents’ marriage fall apart, she had made it her
life’s goal to help marriages in trouble and she was doing a pretty good job at
it.

“Damn it, Kaylee. Why couldn’t you just be dumb?” A sad
smile appeared on Neela’s face.

“And let you have all the fun? Nah! Besides it takes a smart
person to keep that husband of mine in check. If it helps you, I can tell you
this. If Kevin ever cheats on me, I would castrate him. But I would forgive him
the first time. Not because I’m weak or naïve or anything like that. It’s
because I know he is imperfect as I am and I love him. Something I have learnt
from counseling all those married couples is that we all like to think that it
could never happen to us - that we would never do something like that. But then
by some slip we do and we are left wondering how it happened. So I am going to
say this one last thing. If it were you that had cheated for whatever reason,
wouldn’t you want Caleb to forgive you?”

****

Kaylee’s words danced through her head like a recorder with
someone’s finger stuck to the replay button.

It all sounded so simple when Kaylee said it. Either forgive
him or move on. The first option sounded plausible but to Neela the second
seemed impossible.

How could she possibly walk away from her life again? The
man that held her in his arms last night was the old Caleb - the man she fell
in love with.

In the early days of their marriage, Caleb had a temper he
couldn’t or didn’t want to control. Once he had bruised her skin from holding
her too tight while he was angry. His apologies had extended to days on end and
although they had many arguments after that, he always kept his hands to
himself.

The old possessive Caleb would have probably broken Garvin’s
jaw last night but he didn’t. His anger had been evident but not once had he
laid a hand on her or Garvin. And after it all he had been the gentlest lover.

Maybe it was time she stopped running. Caleb loved her, she
loved him. They had a beautiful family that they could both be proud of. Why
the hell should she give that up?

Lori Parks had won in the past when she had so blatantly tried
to wreck her marriage and succeeded. Not this time. Caleb was her husband, the
father of her kids and she was not going to give up so easy.

Maybe it was time she paid Ms. Parks a little visit and let
her know exactly how she felt. Turning the little white Ford mini into the
driveway, Neela was at first confused by the red Porsche parked in the yard.
She didn’t know anybody that owned a Porsche. But when both the passenger door
and the driver’s door opened, Neela stomped on her brakes in astonishment.

 Lori Parks had better have one damn good reason for coming
to her house and KC would have a hell of a time explaining what she was doing
here with that woman.

****

Neela pulled the small vehicle to a stop outside her house.
Her knuckles that gripped the steering were turning white from the sheer anger
which was bubbling inside her.

Staring straight ahead she inhaled more deep breaths than
she really needed.

That woman had some nerve showing up at her house like this.
What made her think she was welcome here? Just because Caleb was stupid enough
to fall for whatever sad story she had dished out to him, didn’t mean that
Neela was going to roll over and play dead. Lori was on her turf now and she
would show her just how crazy she could be. If that woman knew what was good
for her, she better not even breath the same air Neela was breathing.

Sucking in one last lungful of air, she opened the door.
Extending long shapely legs, she exited the car, slamming the door shut.

Strutting past Lori, she threw her a deadly look from behind
her sunglasses before approaching KC.

Yanking the sunglasses of her eyes she confronted her
sister-in-law.

“Can you please tell me why you brought that woman to my
house?” Neela pointed to where Lori was standing but never took her eyes off
KC.

Hate emanated from her like a literal hand, slapping Lori
across her face. If Neela had been looking, she would have seen the woman
flinch.

“Neela, I know you’re angry but…” KC attempted to explain
but Neela didn’t want to hear it.

“Angry? Oh no, angry doesn’t even begin to describe how I
feel. That woman deliberately set out to destroy my marriage and fool that I
was I made her chase me away last time.”

Turning on Lori, Neela barked at her. “If you know what’s
good for you, stay away from my husband. You got him to claim your child as
his, well that’s all you’re going to get, because this time Ms. Lori Parks, I
am here to stay.”

“Look Neela…” Did that woman actually just say her name?

Gritting her teeth, she cut her off her with a palm in the
air. Glaring at KC, Neela said “KC, will you please get this woman out of my
yard before I snap.”

KC moved towards Neela, clutching the hand she held in the
air. Bringing it down to her side, she commanded her attention.

Calmly, the younger woman said to a fuming Neela. “Please,
just please give her a chance, give us a chance to explain about Craig.”

Hearing KC utter the child’s name with such compassion in
her voice, sent a blood chilling shudder through her body. Why would KC feel so
deeply for that child?

Completely ignoring Lori, Neela focused on the emotions
moving across the younger girls face.

There was sadness and pain evident in the blue pools that
were so much like Caleb’s.

What was she missing here?

“I know you hate Lori but please just give us a chance to
explain. I promise you will understand after we do.” KC pleaded, her eyes
misting over with unshed tears.

Neela’s heart went out to the girl, her own eyes stinging.
Breaking contact with her, she slowly pivoted to look at Lori. The woman was
looking at KC, a tortured expression on her face. But it was the silent tears
that poured freely from the woman’s troubled eyes that disturbed Neela.

Something was utterly wrong and as much as Neela hated to
admit, the only way she may be able to get a straight answer might be by
listening to what they had to say.

It was such a challenge to witness KC this way. This was not
the carefree teenager she left years ago.

The person that stood before her was a young woman with so
much pain etched into her face.

“Okay Kace! I’ll listen.” She offered the comforting words
to the young woman. Rounding on Lori one more time she forewarned.  “But get
this straight. I am doing this for KC. Not because I want you around me or my
family. If you think this little episode is going to win you any points in my
eyes, think again.”

Lori, a hand pressing against her chest only nodded in
response.

“Good!” Neela went to her car, took the keys out of the
ignition and headed for the large double oak door that graced the front of the
large cotemporary styled house.

Opening the door, she stepped aside, motioning for the two
women to enter. Lori followed KC inside, the woman fumbling a little as she
crossed the threshold. Neela couldn’t help but smile while silently wishing she
had fallen flat on her face. Shaking her head to dispense of the evil thought
she entered through the door swinging it shut behind her.

***

Lori Parks was a beautiful woman. Underneath the neatly
applied make-up was a woman well deserving of attention from the male specimen.

Was it her beauty that had made Caleb gravitate towards her
continuously? Would that beauty make him go to her again now that they shared a
secret?

Giving herself a mental slap, she turned away from the woman
that was sitting on the edge of the single seater, eyes down cast.

KC stood behind her, hand grasping the back of the chair,
tension imprinted on her face.

“Alright so I said I’d listen. You need to start talking.”
She addressed neither woman directly. The platform was open for whoever wanted
to start.

KC broke the silence. “Craig isn’t Caleb’s son” Tell me
something I don’t already know.

“I already know that. Caleb told me.” Neela calmly
announced.

Lori’s head shot up, confusion contorting her face. “He did?
What else did he tell you?”

Neela wanted to snap at her and the temptation to fling the
heavy ornament from the centre table at her was strong.

Battling the violent urges she answered evenly. “Don’t worry
Ms. Parks. He kept your dirty little secret. He didn’t tell me anything else.”

“Are you going to leave my brother again?” The direct
question aimed at Neela came from KC.

That was a question she didn’t know how to answer. A couple
of minutes ago, she was all pumped to give Caleb another chance but now sitting
in here, not sure what was going to be said, she was feeling rather perplexed

Holding her head high she answered truthfully, “I don’t know
what I am going to do. But I am considering staying.”

Neela was stunned at the look of relief that flittered
across Lori’s face. That couldn’t be real, she must have imagined it. Why would
Lori of all people want her to stay?

“Is there a point to your question KC?”

“Please don’t leave him.” KC pleaded.

“Kace…”

“No no please listen. You have to listen. If the only reason
you won’t stay is because of Craig, you don’t have to worry.”

“It’s not that simple KC.  It’s not just about the baby.
It’s the fact that Caleb doesn’t trust me enough to tell me. He would rather
keep a secret to protect her than to save his marriage.” Why was she explaining
this to a teenager?

KC came around the chair from which she was standing to
stand before Neela.

“He’s not protecting her Neela! He’s protecting me!”

 KC’s words briefly stunned Neela but she recovered quickly
enough to ask in disbelief.“Oh come on KC, why would Caleb be protecting you?”

“Because Craig isn’t Lori’s son. He’s mine!” Neela was
grateful that she was standing close to a chair. When her feet gave way she
sunk to the seat.

“Your son? I don’t understand? How could he be your son?
Caleb would have told me you had a child.” Neela was desperately trying to make
sense of what she was hearing.

Sinking to sit at Neela’s side KC shook her head. “No he
wouldn’t.”

“But why? Why would you keep that a secret? I can’t believe
your parents would allow that.”

“They didn’t, because they don’t know.” The revelation flew
past KC’s lips.

“Your parents don’t know you have a child?” a confused Neela
queried.

“Well my father doesn’t know but my mother does.”

“Helen knows you have a child?”

KC smiled sadly before she said “No, Helen doesn’t know. My
mother does!”

More words that didn’t make any sense

What the hell was going on? The girl was talking in riddles.
Neela was more confused now than when the conversation started.

 KC rose and reclaimed her former place behind Lori before
announcing, “Helen is not my mother Neela. Lori is!”

Neela opened her mouth but when nothing came out, she shut
it. She stood up but when she couldn’t decide where to go, she sat down again.

KC’s words were dancing around in her head but she just
didn’t know what to do with it.

Shaking her head, she put a hand to it trying to put the
conversation in order in her brain.

That baby wasn’t Lori’s own. It was KC’s. Helen wasn’t KC’s
mother. Lori was! Oh God!  The entire thing was just too much. Nothing was what
it seemed.

  Neela knew what she wanted to ask, but the words refuse to
pass her dry lips.

Lori finally addressed her from the where she sat. This time
her voice was much stronger, more firm.

“I didn’t come here expecting you to forgive me. What I did
to you was wrong, but I can’t say I am sorry.” Neela felt that desire to slap
her across that beautiful face rise again but tampered it down as the woman
continued.

“I was angry as hell at you. For years, I waited, hoping
Caleb would ask me to marry him. When he came back from Trinidad with a bride…
with you I wanted to kill him, too kill you.” The woman paused, a distant look
in her eyes. She seemed almost as if she was in the past. “I convinced myself
that Caleb wasn’t in love with you. That it was just a phase. All I had to do
was get him to see me as wife material, so I played on his friendship. I bided
my time and when the opportunity came I struck.” She chuckled lightly as if she
thought what she was saying was funny.

“When I first learnt you were gone, I was on cloud nine. And
before you jump to conclusions let me assure you, I did not send those
pictures. That was all your father-in-law’s handy work.” She emphasized.

“George sent me those pictures?” Oh God this was getting
weirder by the minute.

“Yes. Daddy sent them. I heard him admit it to Caleb”

“But why would he do a thing like that?” Neela begged for an
explanation.

“Because he wanted to make mama happy. In case you haven’t
noticed Neela, mama has an iron grip on Daddy. She just has to say jump and he
asks, how high?” KC answered.

“I don’t believe it.”

“When you hear the rest of what I have to say, you’ll
believe it.” Lori was saying. Neela suddenly wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear
the rest. Lori continued “I was happy when you left. But any thoughts I had of
being the next Wilder bride went south pretty quickly. Caleb made it crystal
clear that night was a mistake never to be repeated. That doesn’t mean I
stopped trying but that stubborn man continuously put me in my place. It was
only when he threatened to end our friendship, did I realize how serious he
was. At the end of it all it finally sank in that he would never love me. Not
the way he loved you.”

So Caleb didn’t lie to her. He never slept with Lori after
that night. Neela’s heart soared at that revelation.

Applying her best poker face she questioned, “Okay so you
have cleared your conscience. Good for you. Can one of you now please explain,
this mother, baby thing?”

“I think I should explain that” Lori suggested.

“Of course you would, wouldn’t you?” Neela added
sarcastically but she couldn’t wait to hear what the woman had to say next.

“Twenty-one years ago, when I was sixteen I had an affair
with George. I know what you’re thinking and you have every right”

Do you know that I am thinking you are a home wrecking slut?
Neela said to herself.

“I was young and obsessed. When I found out I was pregnant I
was terrified, I didn’t know what to do. George wanted me to have an abortion
but I couldn’t. Scared as I was I just couldn’t. He was worried about what this
baby was going to do to his family. Caleb was only thirteen, Daphne a few years
younger. When I refused to have an abortion he had no other choice but to tell
his wife. That woman played me like a fine tuned instrument. She somehow convinced
me that the baby would be better off with them.”  These memories were evidently
painful for her because sadness once again shadowed her face.

Neela could not imagine ever having to give up Adam or
Melody. For the first time since this entire thing started Neela felt pity for
this woman.

KC squeezed the older woman’s shoulder offering her
encouragement.

For a moment, silence echoed across the large room as
unspoken feelings played out.

Drawing a deep breath Lori continued, “Helen convinced my
dad to let me take a year’s vacation with them and since my father and George
were friends it was a no brainer. Gone for a year, no one knew the truth. When
KC was born, I gave her to Helen and George. When we returned every one simply
thought that KC was Helen’s daughter. I was never allowed to see her again. As
I got older the need to be a part of her life festered inside me but Helen
refused to let me see her. George wasn’t about to cross his wife again so he
agreed with her. I think that’s when I became obsessed with Caleb. I thought he
would be my chance at having another Wilder child.  Turned out there was to be
no other child for me. The doctors said that I would never be able to have any
children again.”

From where she sat, Neela observed as the woman struggled
with her own inner turmoil.  Lori brought her hand up to squeeze one of KC’s
hand that was resting on her shoulder, a long shudder vibrating through her
body. The events of the past had obviously affected her more than any one was
aware off.  To lose her child would have been trying. To know where that child
was and never be able to tell her you were her mother would be torture. But the
idea that she would never be able to have another child was gut wrenching.

How was it possible to feel compassion for someone you
hated?  What should she say?