Last Call (A Place to Call Home Book 3)

by Laura Browning

  "You don't believe her?" his mom asked.

  "I do. In fact, I’ve already acknowledged my responsibility. I just want to make sure no one else can question my rights to Jonah. Even though Leah doesn't, I think the paternity test is valuable insurance."

  "You mean like her parents?" Trust his dad to get right to the heart of it.

  "Yeah."

  "You know we will help any way we can." Again, his father was there with the support he'd always offered to his family.

  Caleb rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I'd appreciate it if you could spread the word. I hate to ask it of you, but Doc Jenny's supposed to let Leah and Jonah out of the hospital tomorrow. I've gotten her to agree to move in with me while we figure things out."

  "Oh, Caleb," his mom said, "be careful. You know how this town can be sometimes."

  He shrugged. "It’s all going to come out sooner or later. I don't know of any way to dress it up. The night we spent together was supposed to be no strings attached."

  His father smiled. "Fate has a way of throwing a wrench into things like that."

  Caleb laughed, but with little amusement. "I'm finding that out."

  He slept like crap, tossing and turning the whole night as he figured out the logistics of adding an instant family to his lifestyle at the same time he was tied up at all hours getting a new business open and off the ground. It was a relief when dawn came and he could finally roll out of bed.

  Not knowing when Doc Jenny might actually release Leah and Jonah, Caleb arrived at the hospital early so she wouldn't have to worry. He stopped outside the door to their room to take a deep breath. From inside he heard Leah, her tone agitated.

  "I want you to leave. Now."

  "You are coming with me. Leave the bastard with him if you want, but you owe me, girl. You're comin' home so you can finish paying me back for upkeep for you and your brat."

  Caleb had heard enough. He pushed through the door, taking in Bill Scott towering over his daughter as if to intimidate her into doing what he wanted.

  Jonah, now stretched out in the same bed with his mom, cowered next to her. It was his wide, fearful gaze, and the short, shallow breaths he was taking that spurred Caleb into action.

  "Get out," he snarled, his voice low and threatening.

  "Don't you threaten me, boy," Leah's dad said.

  "If you think that was a threat, you're mistaken. I'm telling you. Get. Out."

  "That girl is comin' with me."

  Caleb took another step forward. Now nose to nose with Scott, he said, "That girl is an adult. I'm telling you again. Get. Out. My son and his mother are coming with me."

  From the corner of his eye, he saw Scott's hand raise. Caleb grabbed his wrist, twisting until the older man was forced to lower it.

  "It's a bit different when you're raising your hand to someone as big and strong as you, isn't it?" Caleb kept his tone as quiet as he could. Jonah was already frightened enough.

  Scott's eyes widened, giving Caleb a momentary satisfaction. "Leave. Now."

  "This ain't done."

  Scott shoved past him. Caleb let it go, turning his attention to Jonah and Leah.

  "Are you okay?" He kept his voice as gentle as possible. Both of them looked like they were about to pass out. "How did he get in here?"

  Leah shook her head, her hand smoothing Jonah's curls. "Are you all right, Jonah?" she asked, turning her attention to the boy as if she feared looking Caleb in the eye.

  Caleb stepped to the side of the bed and grasped the railing with one hand. "Why didn't you ring for the nurse?"

  "I—I don't know. I froze. I never expected him to show up here."

  "Well, it is a bit surprising given the circumstances. Now, back to my original question. Are you okay?"

  "Yes."

  "I can call Jake if you'd like."

  "No. Let's not talk about it right now, please."

  Caleb took pity on her. He slid his gaze to Jonah whose color was beginning to return. "You're right."

  After hooking his foot around the chair leg and dragging it closer, Caleb sat.

  "You heard anything from Jenny this morning?" He did his best to get the conversation back to their immediate concerns, to give them all a chance to calm down.

  "She was by about an hour ago. She's getting the paperwork started, but she said it would take a bit since there's the two of us to complete discharge instructions on."

  He couldn't imagine being confined to the hospital room for any length of time. "Is there anything you need me to do while we wait?"

  A blush of pink stained her cheeks. "We could use some fresh clothes. And—could you fill Mack in on what happened?"

  Boy could he. Caleb would like to give the guy a knock upside the head for not noticing Leah wearing herself out. But he didn't say that. They would continue to play nice until she was back on her feet and they could sit down and hash things out.

  "No problem. I take it your belongings are at Mountain Plants?"

  "In the storage room behind the floral workroom."

  "I'll take care of it."

  He stood, glanced at Jonah a little awkwardly, then nodded before he left them. The drive to Mountain Plants didn't take long. In fact, after how harrowing and long it had felt the day before, the actuality of it surprised him.

  Landrum was just unlocking the business when Caleb arrived.

  "Hey, dude," Landrum said with a smile. "What's up?"

  Caleb filled him in on what had gone on. The guy must be really dense because he appeared shocked to find out Leah had a less than ideal home life. "Jonah’s and her clothes are here in the storage room. You mind if I go on back there?"

  "No sweat." Landrum unlocked the door and wandered out to the portion of the nursery covered with a cloth shade to keep the more delicate plants out of the full force of the sun. Caleb watched him go and shook his head. The guy had inherited the business from his dad but didn't seem to know what to do with it.

  Leah and Jonah's belongings were neatly stacked in one corner of the room. Caleb frowned at how small the pile was. She'd said there was nothing of any importance still at her parents' house. If so, then the two of them had next to nothing to call their own.

  While Caleb wasn't stinking rich, he had made a good enough living at Pipe Dream that he could certainly spring for her medical bills and some new belongings for Jonah at the very least. He could pull the daddy card for that. As for her? That might be a tougher sell, but he'd find a way to do it.

  After he had everything tucked inside the back of his SUV, Caleb found Landrum watering plants.

  "I'm headed back to the hospital. You gonna be okay for a day or so while Leah rests up?"

  Landrum's forehead puckered. "Uh. I guess. Leah normally handles all the flower orders that come in."

  Caleb narrowed his eyes, and Landrum's Adam's apple bobbed before he continued, "But, it's a slow time of year, so I'm sure we'll be fine."

  "Fantastic. 'Cause, you know, when she comes back, she's still going to need to take it a little easier. You're big and strong, though, so that shouldn't be any problem, right?"

  Landrum's eyes widened. Caleb had to wonder if the guy wasn't smoking some of the plants he grew. "Uh. That's right?"

  Caleb grinned. "Good answer. See ya, man."

  Now he needed to get his family and get them home.

  Family? Caleb shook his head. He didn't think he was ready to go there, but obviously part of his subconscious did.

  All three of them had a long way to go before—if—that was even going to happen.

  Chapter 11

  Leah had glimpsed Doc Jenny's old house from the road many times. The doctor had built it on her family's land shortly after she returned to Mountain Meadow, but then she'd married her high school sweetheart, Evan Richardson, and moved into his spacious old Victorian house in town.

  As Caleb turned the SUV up the drive, Leah found she was holding her breath. She had never lived in a place as fine as this house. The
outside alone, with its aged wood and sharp angles was a complete contrast to the rundown depression era bungalow her parents called home. Caleb stopped the car on the gravel drive in front, but Leah hesitated to get out.

  "Everything okay?" he asked.

  How to answer? She might try honesty. She'd spent so many years lying to her parents, she hadn't realized how easy those untruths now came to her lips.

  "I'm nervous. This is a lovely house, and I don't know if I'm doing the right thing."

  His smile was as gentle as a butterfly kiss. "Look at your son, Leah. You are doing the right thing."

  Jonah had nodded off in his car seat, his little head leaning to one side. Caleb was watching him too, and it suddenly hit her how much her little boy resembled his daddy. It surprised her no one had mentioned it before now. Perhaps they were just being polite.

  Leah giggled at the thought.

  "What has you laughing?" Caleb asked.

  "It struck me how much he looks like you. I thought maybe people had been too polite to remark on it."

  Caleb laughed too. "Not in this town." He sobered up. "You know we should be ready to be the ten-day wonders on the town's Facebook page."

  Leah snorted. "Sonny Sparks would pay us if that happens and knocks him off."

  "Sonny the mail guy? What did he do?"

  "The Jacksons hound puppy took a bite out of Sonny's pants and revealed his boxers. They were blue with pink hearts on them."

  Caleb laughed. "I'll be sure to collect from him because I feel sure we're going to displace him. Come on, Leah. Let's go inside. I'll show you around, then you and Jonah can get comfortable. I'll need to go into Last Call a bit later. We're getting ready to do a pre-opening party for family and friends this weekend."

  She couldn't put it off any longer. After stepping down from the SUV, she started to automatically open the back door to get Jonah, but Caleb was already ahead of her, handing him carefully into her arms.

  "You carry him," he told her. "I'll grab your bags."

  Leah waited and let him lead the way inside. The house had an open floor plan, with multiple levels that fit in with the hillside on which it was built. The rugged stone fireplace and ginormous flat screen TV in the family room caught her attention.

  "Oh my. Jonah will think he's in heaven."

  Caleb glanced over his shoulder at the TV and grinned at her. "I think I'm in heaven. I don't suppose he's old enough to appreciate football yet."

  The hopeful note in his voice helped her relax a bit, and she smiled back at him. "Toy cars are more his speed at the moment, but I'm sure he can learn."

  "The guest bedrooms are upstairs. Follow me and you can decide how you want to set things up. They're joined by a bathroom."

  "He's used to sleeping in the same room with me," Leah admitted as she followed him up the short flight of stairs to a landing where the bedrooms branched off before another flight of stairs she assumed led to the master bedroom.

  "Here we are."

  Caleb opened the door into an airy room with one wall almost entirely made up of windows. The view of the trees, a mixture of pine and deciduous just donning their fall foliage, was breathtaking.

  "Oh, Caleb," Leah said. "This is beautiful."

  He set the bags down. "I'm glad you like it. The other room is a bit smaller with twin beds in it."

  The room they were in had hardwood floors with small throw rugs. "I think this would be fine."

  She laid Jonah down on the bed. He rolled onto his side and wiggled into the pillow before going limp once more in sleep.

  "Poor little guy's exhausted. You must be too. If you want to lie down with him, I'll let you rest for a bit."

  Leah wasn't all that tired, but she didn't want to leave Jonah alone in a strange room, and she needed a few minutes to get her head together.

  "Thanks, Caleb. Some rest would be helpful."

  He nodded and ducked out the door, shutting it quietly behind him. Leah blew out a heavy breath. This felt awkward. They were total strangers who had somehow managed to create a new life between them. How were they ever going to make this work?

  After folding the meager amount of belongings they had and putting them away, Leah stretched out next to Jonah. She didn't figure she would go to sleep, but that was exactly what happened. She awoke when Jonah clutched her arm.

  "Where are we?"

  Leah blinked the sleep from her eyes, trying to focus as she glanced around the room and it all came pouring back. They had left the hospital and come home with Caleb.

  "At Caleb's house."

  Jonah's brow furrowed.

  "The man who helped us get to the hospital when you were having trouble breathing."

  "Ok. I'm hungry." He yawned.

  Leah sat and ran her fingers through her short hair. That had been easy enough. "Well, let's see if Caleb's around to show us what's in the kitchen."

  But Caleb wasn't around. Instead, he'd left a note on the kitchen counter that he was going over to his new sports bar and would be back before evening. Leah glanced around the modern kitchen. Every amenity the home she'd grown up in lacked, this house had in abundance.

  She checked the refrigerator first, finding milk and orange juice placed prominently enough at the front of the shelf that she realized they must be a favorite with Caleb. She pulled out the milk and poured it in the sippy cup she'd brought downstairs with her before handing it off to Jonah.

  "Start with that, kiddo, while I see what other goodies are in Caleb's kitchen."

  Her son frowned. "He be mad?"

  "No, he won't be mad if we eat his food. We're going to stay here for a while, and he told us we could eat his food and watch his TV."

  Jonah's eyes rounded like saucers. "TV? Daniel Tiger?"

  While she might be mentally groaning, Leah smiled. "Yes, Daniel Tiger, but first a snack which you will eat in here, young man. We're not about to mess up this beautiful house."

  She found bananas, peanut butter and bread, quickly making a small sandwich for the two of them to share. While Jonah perched at the table, methodically eating and drinking, Leah poked around the kitchen.

  The pantry was well stocked with non-perishables. The stainless steel refrigerator offered some insight into Caleb. It wasn't crowded or disorganized. Everything was neat and fresh, and the freezer was similarly stocked and organized. So it seemed obvious to her he enjoyed eating at home. Seeing so much food was a novelty. It embarrassed her how pitiful that sounded, but the truth was her father was a bitter, stingy man who had been hell-bent on taking his anger out on her. She had never figured out why unless it was because she hadn't been the son he'd wanted.

  As much experience as Caleb had in bars and restaurants, he probably could cook too. In this day and age, that shouldn't be such a surprise, but her father would never have picked up the first pot in their kitchen with her or her mother there to do for him.

  It took her a few minutes to figure out how to operate the large-screen television. Once she had it going and found suitable children's programming, she settled Jonah on the floor with his toy cars.

  "You stay in here. I'm going to tour the house and see what I might be able to get started for dinner. We can surprise Caleb. How does that sound?"

  Jonah never took his eyes off the television. "Okay."

  Leah had to smile again, and then wondered at how many times she had smiled since she stepped inside this house. Standing at the back door, she looked out the window at the hills rising up behind her. At the top, she knew, was a small gravestone. This farm hadn't always held happy memories for Doc Jenny, but Leah hoped it would hold only happy ones for her.

  This was a chance for her to start again, whether it was just her and Jonah, or if Caleb somehow fit into the picture. She wasn't sure how it was going to work. For all intents and purposes, they were strangers. They had shared one night of mind-blowing sex, but that was it.

  She could just barely make out her reflection in the glass in front of her. Wha
t she saw hardly filled her with the hope she could attract someone like Caleb. And did she even want to try? She had been under her father's thumb her entire life. If she let Caleb in, wouldn't she be putting herself back into the same position?

  So many questions, and she had absolutely no answers. Maybe it would be better to take things one day at a time. At least that meant seeing what she could find in this gorgeous kitchen she could turn into a meal.

  In another half hour, Leah was sliding a chicken pie into the oven. While it cooked, she was going to finish her tour of the house. After a quick check on Jonah to make sure he was still happily settled with his cars in front of the TV, she wandered from room to room. On the same floor as the living room and kitchen, an office and a home gym also claimed space. The second level was the one with the guest rooms where she and Jonah were staying. The top level held the master bedroom.

  Leah stepped tentatively from the top stair onto thick wall-to-wall carpeting. It was the one room in the entire house that didn't have hardwood floors, and it felt almost as if her feet were sinking into pillows as she stepped into the spacious room with its vaulted ceilings.

  Ah, so that's where the wood was. No plaster ceilings here, but open beams and planks with a ceiling fan suspended in the middle. The bed was king-sized and rumpled enough it relieved her fears Caleb might be too much of a neat freak to tolerate having a small child in the house.

  The master bath was another eye popper. Leah had never seen a shower that huge. It looked more like a room itself. Eyes wide, she noted the lack of door or curtain and the multiple shower heads. The earth-toned tile blended beautifully with the rich golden wood and granite counters.

  Leah shook her head as she recalled what she was used to—a cramped old-fashioned tub with a dingy curtain and a cheap plastic shower enclosure.

  "Enjoying your tour?"

  Leah gasped and spun around. Caleb was leaning against the door jamb, one brow arched.

  "I wasn't trying to be nosy."

  "You totally were. Admit it." A lazy grin showed off his dimple.

  She felt the heat in her cheeks. A sigh escaped Caleb’s lips. He straightened away from the door jamb and motioned for her to follow him. "Let me show you the deck off the back. The view is incredible. When the weather's not too cold I like to come out here in the morning with my coffee. I let my ears absorb the birdsong while my body absorbs the caffeine."