by Ewing, A. B.
She didn’t know when she fell asleep but she woke to the sound of Caleb calling her name.
“Neela. Neela, babe?”
And he was there above her. His handsome face so close to her, his warm, minty breath on her face. How could she possible resist him?
Oh, damn it all to hell. She was only human. Burying her hand in his hair she drew his mouth to hers.
There they were - the fireworks that always went off when they were together. Caleb groaned deep within his throat when her tongue flickered out to caress his lips.
“Neela, God, baby. What are you trying to do to me?” Caleb breathed into her open mouth. Neela took the opportunity to penetrate his warmth ,drawing his taste in.
Flattening his body against hers, he used his hands to touch everywhere he could.
His large palm cupped her waist, squeezing a little before it dove under her camisole. She whimpered when his hand travelled up her bare skin and grazed the underneath of one firm breast.
Hungry to feel his skin, she tugged at his T-shirt, yanking it above his head, his muscles constricting and relaxing as he arched his back to help her.
This was not love-making. It was two people that were starved for sexual release. It was pure animalistic mating.
Caleb drew up her camisole to expose one voluptuous breast. Lowering his head he took the pebbled peak in his mouth.
Neela arched off the bed, her fingers digging into the flesh of his back.
“Caleb, please. I need you now.”
“I know, baby. I need you too.”
****
Lifting himself, Caleb was reaching for the button on his jeans when his phone began to ring.
Who the hell was calling him this hour of the night? Ignoring the phone, he continued to undress. This is what he had been dreaming of for the last five years. To have Neela like this, in bed, fully aroused and needing him as much as he needed her.
Only in his boxers now, he lowered himself back onto his wife, his jeans flung carelessly on the floor next to the bed.
He was about to kiss Neela when the dreadful mobile began ringing again. “Just one second, baby.” he whispered against Neela’s neck.
Swearing under his breath, he sat up and grabbed for his jeans. Whoever was on the other end better have had a damn good reason for bothering him. But when he retrieved the phone, he froze when he saw the name that flashed across the screen. Lori. He cut the call.
Turning to look at Neela lying there, so beautiful, eyes full of happiness waiting for him, he knew he had to tell her. He could not postpone this any longer.
“What is it, Caleb?” Neela’s hand fluttered across his back causing his heart to stutter.
“Neela, there’s something I have to tell you.” Oh God, this was going to destroy her. How could he spare her this pain?
Propping herself up on her elbows she looked at him, her eyes so trusting.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Neela, Lori has a son. He’s just six months old. His name is Craig.”
She stiffened. He could see her trying to prepare herself for what she knew was coming next.
“Neela… Craig is my son.” Caleb delivered the final blow. And there in her eyes he could see her heart shatter into a million pieces.
****
Chapter 14
‘Breathe Neela, breathe. Just keep your eyes shut and when you open them, he’ll be gone.’
“Neela? Caleb called from outside the darkness.
‘One, two, three, four... Deep breaths. You can stay in control. Leave, Caleb. Just get up and leave.’
“Neela?” he persisted calling for her, a measure of desperation in his voice. What was he desperate for? Did he want her to understand his behavior all those years ago? She tried but now he wanted her to understand why he had continued to sleep with that…that woman. Was she supposed to understand that there was a child out there that was a product of him with that...that woman?
‘God Neela, breathe. You can do it! Just please God let him leave.’
But Caleb was obviously asking for it because he had the audacity to attempt to touch her cheeks and say, “Neela, I love you...”
Her reflexes were much faster than her brain because her hand shot out to smack him hard across his lying unfaithful face.
Momentarily stunned, his guard down, she attacked. Fists pummeling his unguarded body she let it all out.
“You bastard! You unfaithful lying bastard. Don’t you ever say that to me! Don’t ever say you love me.”
Caleb tried to arrest her flaying arms but his strength was no match for her anger. Fingers clawed, she raked it down his arm, leaving bright red streaks in its wake.
“Neela baby, please calm down.”
“Calm down? Calm down? Okay, I’ll calm down.” She did but just for a few seconds to sink her teeth into the firm flesh of his finger.
“Dammit Neela, what the hell…” He released her flaying arms to survey the damage done to his hand.
Big mistake! She grabbed a patch of his hair and yanked. Hard! She actually felt a measure of satisfaction when his eyes watered.
His long fingers pried at the hand that was locked on to his hair. When he was finally able to get her to release, he jumped off the bed standing at a safe distance.
“Now listen, Neela…”
“Oh no. You don’t get to tell me what to do. Not now, not ever. That is a privilege you no longer hold. For once you are going to shut up and listen to what I have to say.” She glared at him, her eyes revealing five years of pent up rage.
Obviously not used to this side of Neela, he clamped his lips together in shock.
“It wasn’t bad enough that you cheated on me with that bitch, but you had to continue even after I left. You spew all that bullshit about missing me and loving me and then you tell me you have a son with that whore. Well you know what? Why don’t you go to her? Obviously it was her calling. What were you going to do? Screw your crippled wife and then run off to her?”
“Neela, no, it’s not like that…”
“Shut your lying mouth. I don’t really give a damn about what it is like. You screwed her and got her pregnant. I know you aren’t stupid, so I know you would not claim that child unless you were one hundred percent sure it is yours. So why don’t you do us all a favor and get the hell out of here?” Exhausted from her outburst she fell back against the pillow, her breathing labored, her body trembling.
“Neela, please don’t be like this. Please, please can’t we just talk about this?” His voiced travelled across the room because he had not moved from the spot.
Eyes closed she calmly stated. “Caleb if you don’t leave right now, I swear to God I am going to wake the whole house. And just in case you get the idea that when I calm down we will talk, forget it, because this is it. I have had enough. As soon as I am well enough, I want a divorce. If you want a family you can have it with your whore and your bastard.”
‘Now leave before I begin to cry,’ she added silently. She heard him shuffling around the room, probably picking up his discarded clothes. For a couple of seconds there was quiet and she knew he must be looking at her. Ear cocked, she heard him open the door and then the soft click as he closed it again. It couldn’t have been a second sooner because no sooner had he left, the tears began to flow.
****
Outside the bedroom, Caleb pressed his back up against the door, head thrown back, eyes closed.
He would have done anything, anything to spare her that pain. Seeing her like that was unbearable. Neela had always been quiet, humble, reserved. To think that his actions had brought out what he just witnessed, was a blow to his system.
Why couldn’t Lori just disappear? Then things could be different. Things could be better between him and Neela.
His head snapped when he heard the sound from the bedroom. Spinning around he rested his ear against the door. The first sob caused his heart to twist. She was crying. That’s all he ever seemed to do - ma
ke her cry. Spreading his palm against the door, he rested his forehead against it too and listened to every heart-wrenching sob. God, how he wished he could he could take it all away.
“Daddy?” Caleb spun around at the sound of the tiny voice.
Wiping at the tears on his face with the back of his hand he looked at his children standing in the corridor. Hand in hand brother and sister stood, so identical but yet so different.
Kneeling before them, he queried, “What are you two doing up?”
“We heard Mummy shouting. Is she okay? Is she hurting?” Melody looked at him through innocent eyes.
“No, no. Daddy just did something to make her angry but everything will be okay,” Caleb tried to reassure the little girl.
“Does this mean that we will have to go and live with Aunty Kay and Uncle Kevin again?” Adam piped up.
“No, no. This is your home now. We are a family and nothing is going to break us up. I promise.” Gathering his children up in a fierce hug he fought against the tears that were threatening once again to come. Managing to subdue them he stood up.
“Come, now, let’s get you back to bed.” He ushered them back into their respective rooms all the while praying he could keep his family together.
****
Anger fueled Neela’s determination to walk. She pushed herself day after day, harder and harder. And when she made that first step on her own she felt as if the weight of the world was lifted off her shoulder.
In less than a month after Caleb’s announcement, she had graduated to crutches. Happy as she was about her progress, she was still haunted by images of Caleb and Lori or Caleb holding a baby - Lori’s baby. He had resumed work at the office and every time he left the house Neela wondered if he went to Lori. Were they still lovers?
Her children were her only link to sanity. She avoided Caleb at all cost. There was nothing he could say to her that would change the way she felt. She would never deny that she loved him, probably always would, but forgive she couldn’t.
One thing she was sure of was that she was done running. If he wanted to be with Lori and that child he could go. It would hurt like hell but she would get over it someday.
She was staying put, right there in that magnificent house and like it or not he was not getting a divorce. She was going to be the only Mrs. Wilder in his life. Lori would just have to settle for the role of mistress.
****
Everyday Caleb felt her draw further and further away from him. There was no mention of a divorce again nor had she made any plans to leave but it felt as if she was all the way in Trinidad.
Neela was a beautiful, desirable woman and she was beginning to get her strength in her legs back. Seeing her wobbling around in those crutches was such a wonderful thing but now Caleb was even more worried than before. What was to stop her now from finding someone to make her happy - someone to give her the things he didn’t?
Every time she smiled at Garvin, Caleb wanted to break the young man’s neck. Even a fool could see the he was smitten. Caleb had even attempted to fire him but Neela made it quite clear that Garvin was her nurse and he was staying.
It was pretty clear to Caleb that he was losing his wife and he knew this time it would be for good. He couldn’t let that happen.
Lori answered on the first knock.
“Hi, Caleb.” Lori beamed at him. She was a beautiful woman and maybe if his heart didn’t belong to Neela and there wasn’t so much sordid history, he could have someday had a serious relationship with her. Craig had matured her in so many ways. She was no longer the spoilt socialite she was before his birth. Her life was dedicated to her son.
“Come in.” She moved aside to allow him in. Accepting her invitation, he went straight to the play pen in the living room. The baby slept soundly, his little chubby face so much like Caleb’s when he was a kid. How did he get himself into this mess? He couldn’t do this anymore.
Turning to Lori he asked, “How are you, Lori?”
“I’m fine, Caleb, and so is Craig. It’s good to see you. How are Neela and the kids?”
“How do you think, Lori? I had to tell my wife that I had a six month old son with the same woman I committed adultery with.” When she looked away obviously hurt at his words, he felt as if he could kick himself. Lori didn’t deserve any of this either.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, it’s okay. You are just saying what you feel. I just wish there was some way to fix all this,” Lori whispered.
“There is, Lori. Just let me tell her the truth.”
Lori’s head snapped up at his suggestion.
“No, no, Caleb. You promised me. No one can ever know the truth,” she cried wringing her hands together nervously.
God, why did he ever make that promise? Everything he held dear was hanging in the balance and all he had to do was tell Neela the truth. He knew without Lori’s permission he would never be able to do that. Why the hell did life have to be so complicated?
****
Chapter 15
Caleb was so exhausted. He was exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally.
Seeing Neela walking again was the highlight of his life. When she played with the kids it made him realize just how much he had missed over the last five years. He should have been there when she was swollen with the twins and when she gave birth to them. He missed their first steps, their first words, their first day at school, everything.
These were the things he would never be able to get back. But he would never blame Neela. He had not given her one reason to believe that he would have been a good father.
Day in and day out for the past three weeks, he had to stand by and watch his wife, the woman he loved, the mother of his children be wined and dined by another man. The worst part was that he couldn’t do anything about it.
What right did he have? He couldn’t give Neela what he wanted to, what she deserved - at least not as long as he was bound by his promise to Lori. So what right did he have to stop her from being happy? Garvin obviously did that. She was always smiling and making doe eyes at him. Caleb so wanted to smash his face in. He knew it wouldn’t solve anything but it would sure make him feel better.
The one good thing that came out of this whole situation with Neela and Garvin, was that he knew how Neela must have felt seeing him with Lori - how she must feel now.
If his wife went through a quarter of what he was going through seeing her with Garvin, then he deserved to rot in hell.
Funny how it took losing someone you love to realize how much they meant to you.
It was almost two in the morning and by all rights he was supposed to be asleep as the kids were but sleep would not claim him.
Instead he was here, wandering around the house like a father waiting for his teenager to return from a date.
The teenager in this case would be Neela. She was out with Garvin tonight and Caleb had no shortage of scenarios as to what was going on between them. The worst was the one with Neela and that jerk somewhere in some bed doing all the things he wanted to do with her.
That was a nightmare!
The sound of an approaching vehicle drew him to the window. With the darkness engulfing the lower part of the house, he was ensured that no one from outside could see inside.
Whisky glass in hand, he nudged aside the curtain to observe what was going on.
****
The lower house was in darkness but Neela knew he was there peeping through the curtain. He probably thought she couldn’t see him but it was really hard to miss a man with Caleb’s size.
Why was he waiting up for her? He was treating her like a rebellious teenager. Fine, if he wanted a show she would give him one.
Garvin packed the black pick up in the driveway and came around the passenger side to open the door for Neela. Accepting the hand he extended, she climbed down from the high vehicle.
Neela knew she looked good in her black pencil jeans, purple off shoulder top an
d matching baby doll shoes. The jeans hugged her hips and butt and the way it narrowed down to her ankle accented her figure beautifully. The top exposed the soft skin of her cinnamon-colored shoulder but covered enough to keep a man guessing. ‘Eat your heart out, Caleb Wilder.’
Garvin escorted her to the front porch, her tiny hand in his bigger one. She was quite sure Caleb could see them, where they stood.
Garvin was such a handsome man. Although younger than Caleb at twenty-eight, he was definitely very mature. Six foot one, short curly hair, grey eyes, with skin a little darker than Neela’s, he was sure good to look at.
Facing each other, Garvin looked down at her. “I had a great time tonight Neela.”
“Yeah, I did too.” Why did she suddenly feel so awkward? Was it because she knew that he was going to kiss her? Neela wasn’t sure if she was ready for that.
“Look, Garvin, this isn’t going to work. You are a great guy but I can’t do this.” She felt really foolish for taking this so far.
“I know, Neela. You think I don’t know you’re still in love with him?” Why was Garvin sounding so understanding? He should be upset. “I knew you weren’t feeling me. You are too wonderful a woman to be unfaithful but I have enjoyed messing with him the past couple of weeks. I’m quite sure if looks could kill, I’d be dead by now,” her companion was saying.
“But all this time….”
“Hey, there’s no need to explain.” Garvin stopped her with a finger on her lips. “Look, I’d be lying if I said I’m not attracted to you but sometimes a guy has to know when to give up.” God, why couldn’t she be in love with Garvin? He was such a wonderful man. ‘No, not you, Neela, instead you had to fall in love with a man who just keeps stomping on your heart.’
Garvin cupped her face with both hands, studying her closely before saying, “I wish I had met you before he did. I would have loved you so good.” He paused for a little while as if looking for the right words to say but then he continued.
