by Ewing, A. B.
There were times when she looked at him and saw the man she fell in love with. It was times like these she wanted to forget the past, forget the hurt and start over.
But then Lori would always pop up in the back of her mind. Caleb’s infidelity was the hardest of all things to forgive. Maybe if she hadn’t seen those pictures it might have been easier.
In the six weeks since her re-entrance into his life there had been no mention of Lori or the affair and Neela was no sucker for punishment. If Caleb wasn’t talking, she wasn’t asking.
Helen Wilder had not made an appearance thus far either and Neela was just fine with that.
So many times in her brief marriage Neela had taken the verbal abuse from that woman when Caleb was not around. How many times had she heard that she wasn’t good enough for Caleb? That Caleb would soon tired of her? That Caleb would never remain faithful? Well, it had all been true. Caleb had proven that.
She wasn’t good enough for him five years ago; why would she be good enough now?
Adam’s screams of delight as his father hoisted him high in the air snapped her out of her thoughts.
One thing was clear now though. She should never have kept Adam and Melody from Caleb. She should have known that he would love his children, that he would be a great father. Seeing him now with Adam and Melody made her heart ache for all the time together she had deprived the three of.
Neela’s eyes travelled across the large backyard, taking in every inch. This was a big change from the condo living she had shared with Caleb in the beginning of their marriage. She had so wanted a home much like this - somewhere for the kids they would have someday to play, a backyard for a dog.
Caleb’s answer was, “Not now, Neela, maybe in a couple of years.” The condo was closer to work so it was easier for commute. So what had she done? She played the part of the submissive wife and accepted Caleb’s decision.
Yet here they were, five years later in the house she wanted, with the man she loved and the kids they made. All that was missing was the dog. Then why was she so unhappy?
Caleb had been nothing but a loving husband and father since her arrival at the house two weeks ago. He had been at every one of her gruesome, painful, therapy sessions. He had taken good care of the children and he had given her his undivided attention.
He worked from home and Neela knew that it must be a challenge not going to the office every day now that Wilder Inc. had gone international but yet he stayed.
This is the man she wanted five years ago. God, why couldn’t he have been like this back then? Why now? Why when she had been hurt so bad by his lack of support and infidelity? Why now when she was still hurting so bad?
“Mummy, Mummy, look at me! I’m an airplane. Higher, Daddy, higher!” Melody pleaded for Neela’s attention as Caleb raised his daughter over his head, to bring her sailing down into the water.
“I’m looking, baby,” Neela responded from the lounge chair where she had been placed an hour ago by the male nurse Caleb had hired.
God, she would do anything for this to be real. Just for them to be a big happy family.
Eyes back on Caleb again, she silently wished the past away, longing for this moment to be the rest of her life.
Somehow he must have known she was studying him, because his eyes came up to meet hers. Neither of them looked away.
“You play a little while, okay? I’m going to keep your Mummy company.” Caleb threw at his children. Neela watched as her husband waded through the waist high water, his large muscles flexing with every moment.
Sexual electricity shot through her body, her breast tingling at the sight he made. He didn’t exit the pool the traditional way, instead he opted to use his palms and hoist himself out. Water trickled down his chest and large forearm; his wet hair slicked back, his trunks sticking to him like a second skin.
Why did she feel he knew exactly what he was doing to her? Licking her dry lips she made a conscious effort to try to contain the tottering of her heart as it threatened to explode through her chest.
****
It was such a challenge being around her day in, day out and not being able to touch her. She just lay there on the lounge chair in that one piece bath suit without a clue as to what a vision she made. Those long, thick, cinnamon colored legs, stretched out before her motionless. How many times had she wrapped those legs around his back, or thrown them over his shoulder as he rode her to heights of passion? How many times had he buried his face in her mane of beautiful silky hair as she took him so deep inside her? Even tied up in a simple ponytail as it was now, it still did the weirdest of things to him. Neela would always be the woman he wanted - the woman that consumed him day and night. Even if she never walked again she would be his life.
He saw the way she was looking at him in the pool. It was the same way she had been looking at him for the past couple days - with lust! She may still hate him, may never forgive him but she wanted him. He would take it.
Lowering himself on the chair next to her, he silently studied her. She was no longer looking at him; instead she had her eyes trained on the twins in the pool or at least she was pretending to be looking at the kids.
Caleb could feel the heat emanating from her body. His eyes dropped lower and through the fabric of her suit he could see her nipples pebble. God, she was so turned on right now and so was he.
Caleb felt the tightening in his groin and in an effort to hide his obvious arousal; he draped a towel across his thigh.
Grabbing the opportunity he turned back to his wife. She still wasn’t looking at him.
“Neela?”
“Hmmm?”
“Will you look at me?” he pleaded in such a gentle voice.
“The kids…” she began to use the obvious excuse.
“The kids are fine, Neela. Please look at me.”
Hesitantly she gave in but when she did Caleb’s breath stilled in his chest. The last time he was this close to her was the day of the accident and even then she was covered in blood. But here, now, with nothing but air between them, Caleb was not prepared for her natural beauty of his wife.
This is what had drawn him to her the first time. The way she didn’t have to do anything to be beautiful. She just was!
On its own accord, his hand came up to cup her jaw. When she didn’t flinch or turn away, he briefly closed his eyes, thanking God for small mercies.
Opening them back, he commanded her attention by staring directly into her eyes.
“I love you, Neela….”
“Caleb...” she protested making to turn away.
“No please, please hear me out. You don’t have to say anything. Just listen. Okay?” After a moment or two she licked her lips before she nodded.
“I know saying I’m sorry doesn’t mean much, but I am sorry Neela. I’m so sorry for hurting you the way I did. I know you may never be able to forgive me and I’m not asking you to.” Caleb paused searching for any kind of reaction from her. When none was forthcoming, he continued.
“What I am begging you for, is one more chance - a chance to be the husband I should have been five years ago. I want to take care of you, Neela, you and our kids. All I need is one more chance. Do you think you can give me that?”
Pulling her face free, she shook her head. “I don’t know, Caleb. It’s been so long, so much has happened. What you did with Lori, you don’t have any idea how much that hurt - how much it still hurts. Seeing those pictures with you and her like that. You betrayed me Caleb. You took my heart which I gave to you freely and trampled it in the worst way. I don’t know if I could ever trust you again,” Neela argued, staring back at him, her beautiful brown eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Lori’s name triggered all kinds of warning bells in Caleb’s head but he pushed it aside. The issue of Lori and Craig would be something he would deal with later. Now was not the time.
“I know! Not a day has gone by that I have not thought about and regretted what I did to you. I
know it was wrong and hurtful but I can’t change the past baby. I can promise you that if you give me a chance, I will spend the rest of my life trying to gain your forgiveness, your trust and your love back. I promise!” He continued to plead his case.
She didn’t turn away, just continued to look at him with that hurt look in her eyes. He was the one guilty of putting that look there.
She deserved to be so much happier than this. Caleb did the most natural thing that came to him. He took her chin in his hands and drew her lips to his.
The world exploded on impact. She tasted so good just as she did all those years ago when he kissed her for the first time. There was no hurry. There was nothing sexual about this kiss. It simply said “I love you!”
Pulling away, he rested his forehead against hers and breathed, “One more chance, Neela, please.”
Before he could hear her answer, the chime of the doorbell echoed across the house.
Swearing under his breath, he hesitated a little before he got up to get the door.
All the way through the house he prayed that whoever was at the door would hurry and leave so he could get back to his family, back to his wife. Caleb was sure she was going to say yes. His heart lifted at the thought. She was going to give them another chance.
That same heart fell right back down into his stomach when he opened the door and saw the woman standing on the other side.
“Caleb darling, I got so tired of waiting for your call, I just thought I’d stop by,” she purred as she walked past him and entered the house.
****
Chapter 13
It was amazing what love could do to a person. Just a one touch and one heartfelt, tender kiss and she was ready to say yes. She was ready to put the past five years of hurt and betrayal behind her and move forward with her life.
What the hell was wrong with her? Was she a complete and utter moron? ‘For God’s sake, Neela, have you forgotten just what that man has done you? Love him or not, you cannot go back to the way things were.’
Giving herself a mental shake, she tried to concentrate on the noise that was coming from inside the house. Whoever was at the door, Caleb was not pleased to see them.
Above the screams and laughter from the children in pool, Neela could hear Caleb’s raised voice. Second to his, she could hear a familiar female voice just as loud. They were obviously arguing on the move, because the voices became louder as they drew nearer.
Neela groaned out aloud when she identified the owner of the voice. God, she was not ready to face that woman yet. Coming to think of it she didn’t think she would ever be ready.
“How dare you ask me what am I doing here? I every right to visit! You said give her some time and then you would call. I’ve given you two weeks and still you haven’t called. Two weeks, Caleb,” the woman concluded as she came to stand before Neela, legs spread, hand on her hips.
Squinting, Neela brought a hand up to block out the sun that was obstructing her view of the immaculately dressed woman that stood above her.
“Hello, Neela, it’s been a while.”
Neela threw a look at her husband who was hovering behind like a hen with her chicks. The damn man looked as if the sky was falling in. Drawing her gaze back to her visitor, she responded in the calmest voice she could.
“Hello, Helen. What brings you by?”
****
Caleb stayed glued to the spot, staring at the two women in front of him. Two of the most important women in his life and he wasn’t sure at all how this whole situation was going to play out.
In the past, he had never been there to defend Neela against his mother’s viper tongue but it would be different now. If there came a point where he had to make a choice between the two, there was no question who would have to walk. Neela was the other half of him and he was going to do everything possible to protect her. He just prayed his mother did not mention Lori or Craig. He needed to do that in his own time.
In an effort to get his mother’s attention, he called, “Mother?”
Without so much as looking at him, she waved him off over her shoulder.
“It’s hot out here, Caleb, why don’t you get us something to drink!”
“Mother,” Caleb’s tone went deep, warning his mother in that one single word.
Half-turning to him she attempted to assure him. “It’s okay Caleb, I just want to talk to Neela. I won’t upset her, I promise.”
There was something in the way she said it that made Caleb’s heartbeat settle. That was the voice she always used when she was trying to comfort him as a child. Somehow, he just knew everything was going to be okay.
Centering his attention on Neela, he offered, “If you need anything, I’m just inside, okay?”
At her curt nod, he turned and vanished inside again.
****
Inhaling deeply, Neela braced herself as the fire breathing dragon took the seat Caleb had not too long ago vacated.
She knew when that mouth opened, nothing good was going to come out of it but this wasn’t the old Neela. This Neela actually had a back bone.
Ready to do battle, Neela squared her shoulders but was thrown completely out of her comfort zone when Helen Wilder said, “I’m sorry, Neela.”
Not sure if she heard correctly, she asked, “Sorry, what did you just say?”
“I’m sorry.” Nowhere prepared for the apology, she sat there staring at the older woman.
“I am not going to do the whole violin and song thing. The fact is I was downright nasty to you and even though I was happy when you left, my son wasn’t.” That was certainly getting to the point but she wasn’t finished.
“The fact is you’re back in Caleb’s life and I see a glimpse of the man he used to be. He loves those kids.” Helen nodded at the pool where the kids were playing but her eyes never left Neela. “If nothing else, I am grateful to you for that. I don’t know if you and I could ever be friends but I am willing to try if you are.” Speechless, that’s what she was. What do you say to a statement like that? The woman was sitting there; back as straight as a pin, not a strand astray in her shoulder length blonde hair. It was if she had just delivered the weather.
Finally able to form words again, Neela reiterated just to be sure.
“So let me see if I get this right. You don’t hate me, but you don’t like me, yet you are willing to call a truce because of Caleb and the kids?”
“Yes, that’s about it.”
Pondering long and hard on the conversation at hand, Neela answered.
“I will agree but on the following conditions.”
Helen drew a deep breath as if contemplating arguing but instead checked herself and asked, “What conditions?”
“If... And that is a big if, I decide to stay married to Caleb, our marriage is private. I will not allow you to meddle.”
Neela knew that was going to be tough for Helen. She had always played a constant role in the children’s life.
“Okay, fine. What else?”
“Adam and Melody. I know they are your grandchildren, and I will be happy to listen to any suggestions you will have in their upbringing but I will not tolerate you undermining me in my decisions. I say no and I mean no. That is non-negotiable.” Standing up to this woman who had intimated her for so long was like inhaling a breath of fresh air. It felt great!
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now that’s settled, I hope you don’t mind if I go say hi to my grandbabies.”
Getting to her feet, she turned and yelled in the most un-lady like manner, “Caleb, come get your wife and take her out of this sun.”
The woman never seized to amaze. Even in her fifties she looked like she was now beginning life. Not a hair out of place, the cream sleeveless knee-length dress clung to all the curves in her body. Neela shook her head in awe as Helen Wilder sauntered towards Adam and Melody.
Caleb appeared from inside as though he had been standing behind the door, just wa
iting for something to go wrong.
A smile creased her lips when she saw the worried look on his face. The fact that he was concerned about her welfare, tugged at her heart strings.
Bending at her side he looked for signs of distress on her face.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just a little bit tired with this sun. I think I better go lie down”
“Okay, let me get Garvin…” Caleb was about to stand when she caught him by the arm.
“No!” Returning to his stooping position, he waited for what was going to come next.
“Will you take me?” She was actually giving him the opportunity to touch her, to hold her close to him, to feel her soft skin against his skin. Would he take her? Hell yes!
Without waiting for her to ask again, he swept her off the chair in one fluent motion and headed inside. Caleb felt as if they had crossed a major hurdle today. Things were certainly look up.
****
Somehow the events that had unfolded at the pool four days ago had brought Caleb and Neela closer. There was a measure of comfort between them that wasn’t there before. He touched her more but never in a sexual way.
Although Garvin still did all the therapy, Caleb tended to the more personal stuff.
Like tonight, he had brought her up to bed and disappeared to tuck the kids in but she knew he would be back soon with all the therapeutic oils. Garvin was sent home early and Caleb was going to do the massaging of her feet. Although she still couldn’t feel a thing she knew this was going to be torture.
A soft knock sounded on the bedroom door. Caleb came in, shutting it behind him.
“Are they asleep?” Neela enquired of the kids.
“Yeah, they were out like a light as soon as their heads hit the pillows.”
She was sitting against the pillows; her legs stretched out before her much like she did by the pool. Only this time there was no bathing suit and no ponytail. Instead she wore a navy blue camisole and matching boxers. Her hair was in a single braid, coming over her shoulder, to rest on her chest. Did Caleb think she looked sexy? Where the hell did that come from?
As Caleb took his place at the foot of the bed, Neela closed her eyes and lay back. What wouldn’t she do to feel those big hands that were gently massaging her legs? Oh well, they did say good things came to those who waited.
