Till Death Us Do Part

by V, Krissy

  “Morning Caleb, I’m good thank you” she says shaking his hand “Thank you for helping Kammie and Luca with the house, it was very kind of you.”

  “It was no problem, I didn’t want Tasha to have to do it, that’s why I offered” he turns to me “Are you ready to go?”

  I nod my head, say goodbye to Mum and Dad and then we turn and walk out of the door. He opens the door to the car for me to slip inside, he closes the door and then walks round to his side. Once he gets in he fastens his seatbelt and then we are off. He drives for about 20 minutes and I notice we are driving out into the countryside “Where are we going Caleb?” I ask looking around me.

  “We are going to my house on the beach” he says smiling at me.

  “House on the beach? OK! How many houses do you have?” I laugh but I’m actually nervous, I haven’t really thought about him being the CEO, to me he’s just Caleb, an ordinary guy.

  He laughs back at me “I only have this house and my apartment in the City Centre. I tend to stay in the apartment during the week so that I’m close for work and then come out here at the weekends”

  “OK” I say because I don’t know what else to say. I sit there in silence for a while and then I can see the sea and the beach “Oh Caleb it’s beautiful, I can see why you like to come out here to get away from everything” I say looking out to sea.

  “I know I love it here, this is my sanctuary” he says and I can feel the contentment coming off him. He pulls into a driveway and the house is literally on the beach, it is amazing. He turns the engine off, then he is out of the car and walking around to my side of the car where he opens the door and holds his hand out for me to take to get out of the car. I take his hand and I feel something between us, I look at him and he smiles at me, he felt it too.

  I don’t let go of his hand as he guides me into the house. Inside is as beautiful as the outside, and he takes me straight through to the decking area he has leading onto the beach. We stand side by side leaning against the railing just looking out to sea. “Caleb, how can you leave this house and stay in the City? I think I could stay here for ever and just look out at this all the time” I’m still looking out to sea, it is so tranquil and I feel at peace. The sea looks a real sparkling blue colour, like diamonds glinting in the sun. When I look to my left or my right all I can see is beach, it’s a sandy beach – the best in my opinion – it’s very clean and there are dunes in the background. There is a cliff off to the right and I can just about see small people on the top of the cliff looking down at the sea. It’s so beautiful!

  “I used to live here all the time and travel in and out of the City, but it became too much and I had to get my apartment. That’s why I always enjoy coming back here and staying for a couple of days. It’s my escape Tasha, my bolt hole” he says and turns to me “I don’t bring anyone here, this is my place and my place alone”

  “Really, then why have you brought me here Caleb?” I turn to him, why has he brought me here?

  “You’re not just anyone, you are someone special and I thought you needed a sanctuary Tasha, somewhere you can relax and enjoy the surroundings” he holds his hand out and takes mine, I let him. We stand for another few minutes looking out across the beach and then he turns and says “Come on let me show you the rest of the house and then I’ll make lunch” he pulls me back into the house.

  I laugh because he seems to be so excited to show me his house. He shows me the kitchen, which is huge and the window looks out onto the beach and also the lounge which has a picture window and a huge open fire in the middle of the room, it looks like a fire pit, I bet it’s fabulous when it’s lit.

  When he’s finished showing me downstairs, he leads me up the stairs to the spare room, which is an extremely large double room with an en suite, this room looks out at the back of the house so the view isn’t as good. He shows me the master bathroom, which has a large Jacuzzi bath in it, I bet that is sumptuous to sink into. Then he takes me through to the master bedroom, wow, this room is unbelievable, the master bed is huge and there are walk in wardrobes with sliding doors which are hidden in the wall. Walking through the picture window onto the veranda we are back looking at the beach again. “Caleb this place is fantastic, thank you so much for bringing me here” I turn to face him and I smile at him.

  “I’m so glad you like it Tasha, I don’t like bringing people here because it is my escape from the corporate world and I like to keep it to myself. I was worried about bringing you here because I wanted you to like it, it means so much to me that you do” He is so thoughtful and he wears his heart on his sleeve, that is so alien to me. He turns to face me and he pulls me into a hug, I can feel my heart start to speed up, he puts his finger under my chin and tips my head up so that I am looking up at him. “It means a lot to me that you like it here and that you are happy when you are here. I can see in your eyes that you do like it and that makes me very happy” he rests his chin on the top of my head and just holds me tight.

  I don’t say anything because I don’t need to. After about 5 minutes he pulls away and then takes my hand and pulls me back through the bedroom and down the stairs. When we were walking out of his bedroom, I couldn’t help but think about him sleeping in the bed, all ruffled and his hair all muzzy. I shake my head to get rid of those thoughts from my mind.

  He pulls me into the kitchen and pulls out a seat at the breakfast bar “Sit Tasha, sit and talk to me while I cook” he smiles at me.

  I hop up onto the seat and lean against the breakfast bar and watch him as he works. “You can cook? That surprises me Caleb. How did you learn?”

  Caleb is a super chef, lunch is amazing and he's great company. He tells me about how he was taught to cook by his Mum, he used to sit in the kitchen when she was cooking and then he kept asking questions about what she did so she showed him how to cook. He tells me how he started his company when he was fresh out of university and then how he grew it to the company it is today. He sounds so proud it makes my heart soar. We talk about his family who live in Weston Super Mare, he obviously loves them a lot. I ask him about starting work a week early and he thinks it is a great idea, he knows that I need something to occupy my mind, to help me past these last few weeks.

  Before I know it, it is 4pm, we've been talking for hours "Do you want to go for a walk on the beach before I take you back?" He asks.

  "I’d love that Caleb" I reach out and take the hand he offered to me. I smile at him and we walk down the stairs leading from the decking. We walk in silence looking around, it's beautiful and so peaceful. All of a sudden I get a burst of energy, I look around me "First one to reach the jetty over there doesn't pay for the next coffee we have" I smile at him.

  He smiles back "Ok but you'll need a head start"

  "What?!?" I laugh.

  "3, 2, 1 GO!" He shouts.

  I start running like my life depends on it because I know he will pass me but I need to look like I am making an effort because what I really want is to lose.

  After he finishes counting to 30 he starts running after me, god he can run fast, he's catching up with me. I'm looking at him rather than where I'm going and I trip over some seaweed on the sand, I can feel myself going in slow motion face first. I land with a humph and start laughing so loud. Next thing I know Caleb is beside me and he is rolling me over, I have tears coming down my face because it is so funny, only I could be so clumsy.

  "Tasha are you ok? You're crying, where does it hurt?" he says as his hands start rubbing all over my body to see where it hurts. I stop laughing because all I can concentrate on is his hands, he slows down and looks at me "Did you do that on purpose so I would have to touch you all over, my Angel?" He asks smiling down at me.

  "No honest I fell" I laugh because it seems so silly. Before I know it his hands are wiping my tears, brushing my hair back of my face and then his lips are on mine, slowly at first but when I run my fingers through his hair and pull him close everything becomes more urgent. I feel myself getting
lost in all that is Caleb, his lips are so soft, his tongue is piercing and his groans are such a turn on.

  After what seems like an hour he starts to pull away slowly and then he looks down at me. He looks at my lips and then he looks up into my eyes "Tasha I don't want to apologise for that because it really was beautiful, but I don't want you to run from me or feel guilty for that. There is a connection between us that I have never felt before and I don't think I ever will again. It's like you were sent to me so that I can look after you" he pushes my hair back off my face and then leans down slowly and kisses my lips softly and gently, then he sits up and pulls me to a sitting position. I know he is waiting for me to say something but I really don't know what to say. It was the most amazing kiss I've ever had in my life and I'm confused and frightened. I gave my heart and soul to Felix and look at what he did to me, I don't think I can do it again!

  “Caleb you don’t need to apologise, I feel a connection to you too and that frightens me. I’ve had my heart totally squashed recently as you know and I don’t know if I can give it away again, at least not straight away.” Why does it feel like my heart is breaking, I don’t want to hurt him and I don’t want to lose him as a friend either. “Oh and by the way, it was amazing for me too” I smile at him because it really was.

  “Yeah it was, I would never do anything to hurt you or break your heart Tasha and I hope you know that. I will wait for you to be ready because you’re worth it to me.” He leans forward and kisses me very gently on the lips again. “Now come on lets go back to the house, I think you won the race because you were the closest so coffee is on me next time” he starts laughing.

  “No way that’s not fair, you would have won if I hadn’t been clumsy and fallen over. Anyway it’s my turn for coffee” I punch him in the arm and laugh.

  “Ow” he says laughing and rubbing his arm “now who’s playing dirty and rough”

  “I’m sorry” I say in between laughing “but I think I hurt my hand more than your arm hurts” I rub my hand up and down his arm, wow his muscles are so hard, I realise what I am doing and take my hand away. I look up into his eyes and he reaches out and takes my hand that I punched him with and brings it up to his lips and kisses it very gently.

  “I would say that serves you right, but I don’t want you to hurt, you are so delicate” he takes my hand and we walk back to the house in silence, nothing needs to be said.

  When we get to the house, we go inside and he makes me a coffee “I will be paying for the next one, but this one is to warm you up after our walk on the beach”

  “Thanks Caleb, I’ve had a good day, and its taken my mind off things at home” I lean up and kiss him on the cheek “I don’t deserve you in my life, you are far too good for me” he starts to say something and I reach up and put my finger to his lips to shush him “but I think I would find it very difficult not to have you in my life now, you’ve come into my world and its like you have always been there, I feel like I can talk to you about anything. Thank you Caleb for always being there for me” I smile at him and lean in closer and put my arms around him and hug him to me.

  “Wow Tasha that means so much to me” he says putting his arms around me “I feel like my life only started when I met you, nothing that happened before means anything to me, all I want is for you to be happy and that will make me happy. As I said earlier I have never felt like this about anyone before and it does feel strange but at the same time, it feels like this is what I am meant to do” he rests his chin on the top of my head. “Now come on I’m going to take you home before your Mum and Dad come and find you” he pulls away and I suddenly feel cold.

  I gather my things and we walk out to his car, he opens the door for me and then walks to his side of the car and gets in. He turns on the engine and drives back to Bristol and back to my parent’s house. He is quiet in the car and I know he is thinking about something he wants to talk about.

  “Caleb what is it? I know you want to say something” I say reaching out and placing my hand on top of his on the gear stick. He turns his head to look at me and smiles.

  “You’re so intuitive Tasha, I was thinking about work on Monday and how hard it will be to see you so close and not be able to touch you or just sit and talk to you like today” he looks out the window.

  “Are you sorry that I took the job? Do you want me to refuse the job? If you do then I would do that for you” I say not able to look at him because I can feel the tears forming in my eyes.

  All of a sudden the car pulls off the road, he jumps out of the car and runs around to my side and opens my door, he squats down and takes my hands “Tasha that’s not what I meant at all, but you would do that for me?” he seems surprised.

  “Yes I would Caleb, if you would find it difficult to work with me then yes I wouldn’t start and I would look for another job” he rubs my hands and just sits there looking at them for a few minutes then he pulls them up to his face and he puts them on his cheek and he leans into my hands.

  “Tasha, I’m just sorry that I won’t be able to do this on Monday and hold your hand, or have coffee in the canteen without people talking. I want to make your transition into the company as smooth as possible for you, you’ve been through a lot these last few weeks and I don’t want to make it any harder for you. Do you understand that?” he says as he still nuzzles into my hand.

  “Yes I do and thank you so much for always thinking of me. We will be fine, you’re my friend and I am so grateful to have you in my life Caleb” I turn my hand so that it is cupping his cheek and then I pull him closer to me, I can’t help myself I need to feel his lips on mine again, so I pull him to my lips and I kiss him with as much passion as I can muster. I hear him groan and I pull away “Caleb I feel like I need you in my life to make me happy, to keep me alive and that won’t change because I work for you, so don’t think about it too much, it will work out the way it will work out.” He looks at me in shock and then smiles at me.

  “Ok Tasha, we can do this” he stands and walks back to his side of the car and then drives off.

  When we get back to my house I ask whether he wants to come in but he declines. “Maybe another time, I think your Mum and Dad will be asking enough questions without me coming in too” he smiles at me and then he walks back down the path to his car and rolls down the window and shouts “See you on Monday my new employee” and then he is gone from sight.

  Chapter 48

  WHEN I GO IN THE house, Mum and Dad are not there waiting for me which is surprising, so I go and lie down on my bed and think about today, about Caleb, about Felix and about my new job. I feel like I am betraying Felix by even thinking about Caleb, but I shake that notion off because of how he was to me at the end. My phone rings and its Kammie “Hi bitch” she says “what are you up to?”

  “Hey Kammie, I’m just laying on my bed thinking about things and my new job that I’m starting on Monday”

  “Really you’re going back to work so soon, maybe it’s what you need, I know you don’t like sitting around and want to get on with your life. So, with that in mind do you want to go out tonight, just for some food and a few drinks?” she sounds apprehensive because she thinks I’ll say no it’s too soon.

  “Yeah why not Kammie, I haven’t been out since that night in Jesters, yeah lets do it” I say smiling.

  We make our plans to meet at TGI’s and then see where the night takes us. When we hang up I look into my wardrobe and realise that I need to go and collect some clothes from my house. I jump in my car and drive to my house. It feels strange coming back here, but I walk into the house and straight up to my bedroom. I take out some clothes that I will use for work and then what I need for tonight.

  While I’m sitting on the bed thinking about Felix there is a knock at the front door. Who is it? I go down the stairs carefully and open the door, it’s the Estate Agent, I forgot I had rung them and told them I was going to the house if they wanted to come and take photos.

  I wander around
the house with the photographer as they compliment the house and take photos. Once they have finished I say goodbye and then take a last look around the house, lock the door and drive back to Mum’s.

  When I get there Mum and Dad have come back and they wondered where, I was especially when my car was missing.

  “I went to the house to let the photographer in and to pick up some clothes for work next week and Kammie has asked me to go out tonight for dinner, I said yes if that’s ok?”

  “Of course it is Tasha, you are old enough and lived away from home for such a long time you don’t have to ask us if you can go out” Mum starts laughing.

  I laugh as well because the thought of me asking is actually funny. As Mum makes dinner for her and Dad we talk about Caleb’s house on the beach, I tell her how wonderful it is and how much she would love it. I don’t tell her about the kiss, some things should be kept secret.

  After dinner I go upstairs and get ready to meet Kammie, I’m assuming Luca is coming with us but text her to say I don’t mind if he does.

  “Hey, I assume Luca is coming with us tonight? It’s fine with me if he does honestly, he’s like a best friend to me anyway”

  “Thanks Tasha I thought you would say that but I didn’t want to assume either”

  “No worries, see you at 8.30pm”

  “☺”

  I put on a sapphire blue dress I haven’t worn before because Felix always said it made me look tarty, but I don’t think it does. Its figure hugging and low at the neckline and at the back, it compliments my red hair superbly. I style my hair so that it is swept to one side at the back and then it hangs down on one side. When I go downstairs, Dad whistles at me. I laugh “Wow Tasha, I haven’t seen you looking like that for a few years, I can see now how much Felix smothered you and took your personality away from you, he made the decisions for you without you even realising”