Winning Back His Wife (12 page)

So much had been explained but yet still there was so much
to be answered.

“I know you are probably wondering what all this has to do
with Craig.” KC stated.

Honestly, Neela answered. “Yes. I am”

“Ever since I was a child, I had this uncanny habit of
listening at doors. I know it’s bad but it is the only way I could know
anything in that house. I overheard mama and daddy arguing about two years ago.
Daddy wanted to tell me about Lori but mama kept refusing. She kept saying that
Lori was not my mother. She was.” KC paused, one brow arching so much like
Caleb when he was in deep thought.

“Let’s say I didn’t handle the news well. For a while I went
off the deep end. I started drinking and partying. Sometimes I would disappear
for day on ends. One night I got so drunk I could hardly remember anything. 
When I woke the next morning, I was naked in bed with a complete stranger. He
appeared to be as stoned as I was.” She laughed pathetically at herself.
“Imagine I was so wasted that I couldn’t even remember losing my virginity.”

“Oh KC…!”Neela cried. What this poor child had been through.

“No it’s alright. I am alright now. At first I didn’t say
anything. But when I found out I was pregnant, I didn’t know what to do. I thought
about having an abortion but it just didn’t feel right. Killing an innocent
baby because of the mistakes we have made was not right. So I did the next best
thing. I went to Caleb. It turned out he didn’t know that mama wasn’t really my
mother either. He almost lost it but after I begged and pleaded, he agreed not
to say anything.  After that everything seemed to fall in place. When Caleb
asked me what I wanted to, do I told him. I wanted to give my baby to Lori. To
say he was stunned would be an understatement. He tried to convince me to do
otherwise but my mind had already been made up. What mama and daddy did to her
was wrong. This was my way of making up the past to my real mother.”  KC sat on
the arm of the chair which Lori occupied releasing a deep breath as if finally
laying the weight of the world from her shoulder.

Lori picked up where her daughter left off. “At first I
refused. I was thrilled that KC knew the truth but I couldn’t take her baby,
but then George had another one of his heart attacks. Knowing the truth about
what happened to KC would kill him so I finally gave in. I agreed to keep Craig
when he was born but on one condition. Caleb had to stand as his father. He
already had a harsh beginning so I wouldn’t allow him to be labeled a bastard.
It was a difficult decision for Caleb because he always believed that you would
return. But he also knew that his father’s life was on the line. Knowing that
his daughter had been raped and was pregnant would be too much for George. So
Caleb reluctantly agreed. As to the question why Caleb couldn’t tell you? The
answer is simple, I swore him into secrecy.  To tell you the truth about
Craig’s parentage would have meant dredging up the past, reliving what KC went
through and I wasn’t going to allow that.” Lori finally concluded her speech.

Neela quietly absorbed everything that had been said by both
mother and daughter. Deceit, betrayal, lies had all been weaved into this
story. The question was how was this going to affect her marriage?

“So why tell me this now? Why swear Caleb to secrecy and now
tell me?”

“Because I heard daddy and Caleb talking today. Caleb
believes you are going to leave him again. I can’t let that happen. Too many
people have been hurt by this secret and I won’t letter my brother suffer any
more over it. I’m a big girl now and even though I am still not going to tell
mama and daddy the truth about how Craig was really conceived I am going to
tell them about him.  It’s time I also tell them that I know the truth about
Lori. Daddy seems to be doing a lot better and the doctor says his chances of
having another heart attack are slim so I think he can handle the news that he
has another grandchild.” KC paused, drew breath and continued.

“I think my brother knew that this day was going to come
sooner or later. If anyone ever listened to Caleb carefully when he spoke about
Lori and Craig they would notice that he has never once referred to Craig as
Lori’s son. He always says things like ‘since the birth of her son.’ He never
says ‘since she gave birth.” KC chuckled softly.

It was a while before Lori broke the awkward silence that
engulfed the room after KC completed her part.

“So in essence, what we are hoping is that now you know the
truth, you will consider giving Caleb another chance. I know hearing that from
me of all people may sound unbelievable but it is the truth. Caleb is a
wonderful man that made a mistake. He is trying his best to make it right.
Don’t shut him down. If it makes you feel any better, I will be handing in my
resignation tomorrow. I understand that you could never be comfortable with me
so close to Caleb every day. This is my way of trying to make up for what I did
in the past.”

All this was too good to be true. There must be a catch
somewhere. So Neela waited for it. But it never came. When the pair left
shortly after, Neela was left wondering what kind of soap opera family she had
married into.

***

Neela sat in the big empty house for a quite a while after
Lori and KC left, all that she heard today prancing around in her head. There
was so much more to what she and everyone else was seeing.

Although she was a long way from forgiving Lori or being her
friend, at least now she could begin to understand why the woman was the way
she was. She didn’t agree with it, but she understood.

Poor KC had been through so much but yet she had managed to
pull herself together and was ready to start being a mother to her son. The
truth would soon be out and then there would be no reason for her to leave but
could she really stay?

 It was almost an hour before she finally made a decision.
Rising from the chair, she made her way slowly up the stairs to her room.
Retrieving her suitcases from under her bed, she emptied the contents of her
closet and drawers into them. Securing the latches, she hauled the large bags
down the stairs. Setting them at her feet, she sat on the bottom stair and
waited for Caleb to come home.

***

How long he stood outside the house, he didn’t know.  His
feet refused to take him up the last few steps that would carry him to his
wife.

When he had left his parents’ about an hour ago, he had been
so anxious about coming home to Neela. Adam and Melody were still at his
parents’. That meant he and Neela would be alone. The thought that there could
be a repeat of last night bedroom activities had him maxing the speed limit.
Would she allow him to make love to her again? His body tingled with the
expectation of touching her again.

Now standing outside, knowing that she was only a few steps
away, he was absolutely terrified.  Why would she even allow him to come near
her again? Last night she had she permitted him the pleasures of her body. That
didn’t mean that she was willing to give him another chance. Nothing had been
resolved. He was still keeping a secret from her.

These past few months of having her and the twins around
were the happiest of Caleb’s life. Watching his children play, watching Neela
play with them were memories he wanted to keep but more than that he wanted
many more years of it. When he peered into the future, Neela and the twins were
as much a part of it as he was. That wasn’t going to happen if he didn’t tell
her the truth. If he stood loyal to Lori by keeping this secret he would lose
Neela again and this time it would be forever. That was not going to happen.

If he told Neela, she wouldn’t betray him. She wouldn’t
betray KC. Maybe someday KC would feel comfortable enough to tell Neela
herself.

Mind made up, his brain was finally able to communicate with
his foot. Taking the last couple of stairs he went inside in search of his
wife.

All the excitement he felt seeped right out of him to be
replaced by soul sinking fear when he found his wife sitting on the stair with
her suitcases packed.

“Neela, what is this? What’s going on?”

“Nothing’s going on Caleb. I’m moving out!” She stated, not
a trace of emotion on her beautiful face.

“Moving out? I don’t understand.” She wasn’t making any
sense. They were supposed to talk when he got back.

“What is there not to understand Caleb? I packed up all my
stuff and I am moving out.”

He dropped before her onto his knees staring her straight in
the eyes and pleaded. “Please don’t. Please don’t leave me.”

Pushing him away she stood up and reached for her suitcases,
but he stopped her by grabbing her arms. Pulling her up to his chest he looked
down at her. “Neela, please don’t do this. Don’t do this to us. We belong
together. We can work this out.” Caleb tried to decipher what was going on in
her head but her expressionless face and eyes were revealing nothing.

When she said nothing he released her but when she reached
once again for her suitcases he sang like a canary. “Craig isn’t Lori’s son.
He’s KC’s.”

Neela froze in the middle of picking up her suitcases.
Placing them back on the ground, she turned to him. Hands on her hips she said
“Please go on.”

Running a hand through already ruffled hair, he sighed
before he continued. “It’s a really long story…”

“I’ve got time.” Neela declared with a straight face.

A strained smile pulled at his lips. That was his wife.
Always determined to get her way.

“Where do I start?”Caleb queried, trying to buy some time to
control his racing heart.

“The beginning is usually the best place.” She cracked.

Glaring at her, his heart lifted a little when he saw the
light smile on her face.

Taking her hand, he breathed a little easier when she didn’t
pull away. Guiding her to the sitting room, he sat her down and sat next to
her.

Still holding her hand in his, he began. “I know you are
upset because I didn’t tell you why I wanted everyone to believe Craig is my
son and I don’t blame you. Up until today I honestly believed that I needed to
protect the people involved in Craig’s birth. But after last night I realized
that the person I need to be protecting is you Neela, you and our children.
That should be my first priority. I know not telling you the truth means to
risk losing you. Nothing is worth losing you again, Neela, nothing. Not even
keeping this secret.” Caleb tried to explain. He wasn’t sure if his words were
having any effect on her because she was still looking at him with that blank
expression on her face.

Shifting uncomfortably in his seat he continued. “KC got
herself into some trouble a couple years ago and ended up pregnant. She came to
me for help. It was then she told me some really disturbing things.” He paused,
not sure how to continue.

“What did she tell you Caleb? Did she tell you Helen wasn’t
her mother? Did she tell you Lori was?” Neela whispered her eyes dancing with
what was obviously mischief.

At a total loss for words, Caleb stared at his wife, mouth
opened.

“Then she told you she wanted to give her baby to Lori
right? So you agreed not to tell your parents and keep everybody’s secret. Did
I get it right?” She concluded, straight faced.

“What…How do you know that?”

“I had a couple of visitors today.”

“KC…?” He began.

“Yes KC and your girlfriend Lori.”

“Lori is not my girlfriend Neela.” He snapped, seriously
offended by her implication

Neela’s next words dripped with sarcasm. “Oh yeah. So what
is she to you then? Your drinking buddy?”

“Lori is an ex-girlfriend and friend that I made a mistake
with. If I had known she slept with my father, I would never have touched her.
I promise you there is nothing going on between us. If you are not comfortable
with that, fine I will cut all ties with her.” He answered in desperation. He
needed Neela to understand that she meant more to him than any friendship with
Lori.

Her eyes rounded at his answer. “You will?”

“You don’t get it, do you Neela. I love you. There is no if,
and, or but about it. If you wanted me to give up everything here and go back
to Trinidad and live with you, I will. If you wanted me to disown my entire
family, I would. I love you and I will do just about anything to make you
believe that.” Caleb never believed that he would ever be able to bare his soul
so freely to anyone, much less a woman and not feel threatened.

“Why did you tell me about KC and the baby? Is it because
you believed it was the only way I would stay?” Her eyes swam with insecurity.

Rushing to assure her of the truth, he answered honestly,
“It would seem so wouldn’t it? But the answer is no. I told you Neela because
you are my wife and there should be no secrets between us. I need to trust that
if I tell you something, as my wife you will not betray me as I have betrayed
you. I need to understand that if I am pissed about something, you are the
person I should come to. I need to believe that you could love me enough to
understand that I know how bad I messed up and that I will never, ever hurt you
like that again.” The words flowed as it escaped his heart. These were the
things she needed to know.

“Caleb…” she tried to cut in but he wanted to put all his
cards on the table.

“No shhh. Please let me finish.” Caleb placed a finger
against her soft lips, silencing her “I will never fully understand the pain
you went through because of the way I treated you, so I am not going to presume
that I do. My need for dominance, to be in control, to be the man in my
household, is what drove you away.

I love my parents, but I promised myself I was never going
to have any woman treat me the way my mother treats my father. He loves that
woman more than life itself and because of that she walks all over him. I
wasn’t going to be him Neela. I wasn’t going to let any woman control me.

I should have realized that you were nothing like my mother.
You are gentler, humbler than she will ever be. I can’t change the pass but I
can mould the future. I swear Neela that if you give me one more chance, I will
spend every waking moment finding ways to be a better husband to you. I will
show you every day that you are the centre of my world, the other part of my
soul. Just please don’t leave me again.” This was the part of him he never
allowed any one to see. The man that so many would call weak but he didn’t
care. The only thing that mattered right now was the woman sitting before him,
eyes filled with unshed tears, lips trembling.

She sat still before him not uttering a word and Caleb’s
heart vibrated within his chest. Nothing was cast in concrete. She could still
leave. Sorry and great sex didn’t make things right. What if she believed once
a cheater always a cheater? What if his infidelity could never be forgiven?
Would he be able to let her leave?

When she finally spoke, her words were hardly a whisper but
Caleb heard every last one. “Caleb, you betrayed me in a way that almost
destroyed me. You lied to me, and you kept secrets from me. It took me years to
even begin to recover from what you did.”

“I know…”

“So many things have changed over the years, including me,
but one thing that has remained constant, is my love for you. I know some
people would think that I shouldn’t forgive you or that I should leave you
again. Some may even think I should let you suffer some more, but I believe
that if I love you, I should be able to forgive you enough to give you…to give
us another chance.”

“Oh God Neela, please tell me you’re saying what I think
you’re saying.” He breathed heavily, fearful of touching her, less he wake and
find this was a dream.

“What I am saying Caleb, is that I love you and I forgive
you, but I also need to let you know that you have used up all your strikes. If
you
ever
hurt me like that again, I will be out of here so fast you
won’t even be able to see the dust I leave behind. Got it?” Her firm words cut
through his soul, embedding itself on his heart and in his mind.

“Yes, yes. I promise!” He hastily agreed, hoping, praying
she wouldn’t change her mind.

Jumping up from the chair, she looked up at him before
playfully saying, “Good. Now that’s settled, do you mind taking my suitcases
where I was going to take them before you came in huffing and puffing.”

When Caleb stared at her through confused eyes, she touched
his face ever so gently before she said. “Caleb, I decided before you even
walked through that door, that this is where I want to be. Here with you.”

“But you said you were moving out.” he lamented in
confusion.

“And I still am.” Why was she still doing this to him?

“God Neela, will you please stop torturing me and tell me
what you mean.” he moaned, a little part of him still terrified that she was
only toying with him.

“Caleb, I was simply moving out of my bedroom and moving
into yours.”

“You were what?”

“You heard me. I was moving my stuff to your bedroom.”
Innocent, teasing eyes looked up at him.

Slumping his massive shoulders in relief, he playfully
threatened, “You mean all this time I have been squealing like a baby, you
already decided that you love me and couldn’t live without me? God woman you
are going to pay for that.”

“Oh really? And how exactly do you plan on paying me back?
Oh!” She squeaked.

Scooping her off her feet in one smooth move, Caleb moved
towards the stairs. Nudging the suitcases aside, he took the steps two at a
time. Making a right turn at the top, he moved to his bedroom door, kicking it
open.  Once inside, he shut it with his foot.

Taking her over to the bed they had shared only a few hours
ago, he lowered her unto it. Coming down beside her he encircled her waist with
his large hand, head resting on her breast. Beneath his ear he could hear the
soft drumming of her heart. He sighed at the feel of her hand burrowing through
his hair. This was real. This was heaven.

He had loved and lost and then fought and win.

“Caleb?” Her soft voice called, beckoning him to look at
her.

Brown eyes met his as he raised his head and in those he saw
what he had only dreamt of all these years. Love! His wife loved him.

“I love you Neela. I love you with every fiber of my being.”
He confessed with so much emotion.

“I love you too Caleb!”

For the first time in almost six years, Caleb breathed a
sigh of relief. To hear her says those heartfelt words again was his principal
achievement.

Drawing his hand up, he traced her full lips before he
brought his lips to them. This was it. He had finally won his wife back.

****

Neela accepted his kiss with an open heart. Caleb had proven
to her today just how much he loved her. It didn’t matter what people thought
about her forgiving him so quickly. No one knew what she was feeling inside.
The love of this man was not something she was willing give up so easily. Even
though a part of her  thought it would be best to leave, there was always that
part that knew sometimes giving up isn’t always the answer. They had both already
suffered for almost six years. No more.

What he had almost given up to protect his father and sister,
proved the distance he would go for those he loved. Knowing that he trusted her
to keep his family secrets was a caress against her heart. Her husband loved
her.

For the first time in six years, she breathed a sigh of
relief. To hear her husband say those words and know he meant them was
paramount.

Surrendering fully to his kiss, she smiled as her heart
fluttered in her chest. This was it. Her husband had finally won her back.

###