by Kitt Lee
"Thank you." Caleb muttered, feeling the warm hands on granny rubbing his cheeks sweetly. "Thank you so..."
"Enough!" Johnny yelled throughout the house.
He came near and gripped Caleb's arm. It was in pain again and his cries increased. He had experienced pain but that was too much. Johnny was a powerful man and his arms was being twisted making him wince in pain.
"Please," Caleb begged.
"I've had enough," Johnny snapped.
"Let him go," Granny yelled.
"I'm sorry," Johnny said softly but his voice was hoarse. "I'm really sorry granny."
"Please," Caleb begged.
Johnny took him to Janice again and made him stare at her.
"Just look at her," Johnny said angrily. "This woman wouldn't have been alive. She would have died and it was all because of you." He said angrily. "I hate you so much for trying to make us orphans. We've lost our father and I won't let you take our mother." He breathed violently. "I'm going to teach you a big lesson that will make you not to do this again."
"What?" Caleb muttered.
"I'll teach you never to mess with my mother again." Johnny said, clenching his teeth. Caleb was really scared of him.
"Since you came here you've seen nothing but love from me." He warned. "But you'll also experience just how much I can hate someone. I'll make you pay for this."
As soon as he said that he shoved his hands in his pockets and got out his huge phone. By the time he brought it closer he was breathing heavily. That was making Caleb really scared and nervous. Tears kept on flowing. It was true he had never seen Johnny that angry before. He was really scared.
He let go of Caleb's arm and Caleb touched it. He was sure it was gonna leave bruises but he didn't care. He needed to prove that he had not done any of that.
"What are you doing?" Preston screamed out.
"What does it look like?" Johnny hissed, busy pressing on his phone. "I'm calling the police inspector."
"No," Preston screamed out in horror.
He ran to his brother and held his hand tightly. He loved Caleb and didn't want him to go anywhere. Besides, Caleb had saved Janice from going to jail too.
"Please," Preston begged. "Don't do that. I'm sure Caleb didn't do it. I trust him completely."
Caleb raised his face and saw the pain on Preston' face. It hurt him a lot and he wanted to wipe that away. Seeing him pleading with his brother was sweet. Maybe he could make Johnny understand and bring his temper down.
"You trust him because you love him and you're married to him," Johnny said angrily. "I only want justice for my mother. She's your mother too. She'd be lying in a mortuary somewhere because of Caleb. Had it not been for William who had gone to the room earlier she'd have died? We wouldn't be having this conversation."
"Please," Preston begged as he felt his heart hurting. "I don't want him to..."
"I'm sorry," Johnny said as he released Preston' hands. "I have no other choice. You love him but he'll go to jail for sure."
Preston looked at Caleb and saw the pain in his eyes. Even if Caleb had poisoned his mother he didn't need to go to any jail. His brother needed to understand that. He loves Caleb and can't allow some policemen to take him. No!
"Please," Preston said as tears run down his cheeks. "I love him."
"I'm sorry."
Johnny continued dialing the number angrily. He was almost putting it on his ear before he heard a voice,
"Stop,"
That voice was from his mother. He cut the call, again and looked at her.
"What?" Johnny said as he got closer to his mother. "Why are you stopping me?"
Victoria tried to move but she couldn't do it. It was clear to everyone that she still didn't have her strength back.
"Don't call the police," She said softly.
"Why mom," Suzanne said as she got closer. "Why can't we call the police because this boy had tried to have you killed? He had you poisoned or are you saying that it wasn't him?"
"No," Janice said. "I started feeling the pain and bleeding after having a little soup. I know he might have poisoned me but look at your brother," Janice said. "He is suffering. I can't bear to see him in this condition. Just let it go. Besides, I did not die. Thanks to William who came in quickly,"
"Mom," Johnny said softly. "I know you are concerned about Preston but the fact still remains that Caleb had poisoned your food. He is the culprit here. What if he tries to kill you again?"
"He won't," Janice smiled faintly. "I just wanna see my son happy that's all."
"I'm still calling the police," Johnny said hoarsely. "He'll..."
Preston held on to his brother and begged. He couldn't bear to see Caleb in that condition. Even if he had poisoned his mother he didn't deserve any of it.
"Please," Preston begged as a tear fell down his cheek. "Please, do this for me. Caleb is..."
"That's what I thought too," Johnny said angrily. "I thought he was a saint and I accepted him the moment he came into this house. I accepted him because you were happy with him. But maybe I should have stood firm with mother. Had you married someone else none of this would have happened."
Caleb was in pain. That side of Johnny was scaring him. Everybody in the house just watched and kept quiet. His husband was begging and Caleb really saw that he really loved him a lot. That was a husband who was difficult to find.
"Please," Preston said softly. "I promise it won't happen again."
Johnny was furious. Preston could feel it from the way his body was shaking. He had seen his brother mad at times but not like that. This time he was mad at his Caleb and it was really painful.
"I'm sorry," Johnny said angrily, diverting his eyes to his brother. "My mother was poisoned. If you don't care about her I do. You two are married but..."
"Johnny," Janice yelled and then winced in pain, touching her chest. "Will you stop it? I'm..." She winced. "I'm the one who was poisoned and I choose to let my son be happy. I don't know the reason why he poisoned me but....I can't see my son suffering. I'm getting better."
"Mom," Johnny said as he sat on the couch, holding his mother. "Are you okay?"
"Just a little pain," Janice said softly, touching her chest. "But I'll be fine."
"See what..."
"If you want me to get better," Janice said confidently. "Then listen to me. Don't call the police. Maybe it's my fault also. I should have known. I shouldn't have accepted the food knowing I didn't have a very good relationship with him."
"Please, mom," Johnny begged.
"No, listen to me," Janice winced. "Drop whatever plan you have. Do it for your brother."
"But mom, he'll be staying in this house with you. What if he tries something and...?"
"You'll be here." Janice smiled. "Now we know and we have to be careful."
Johnny was angry but it was his mother's wish. He had to fulfill it at any cost if it was gonna make her happy.
"Aunt," William said as he knelt down in front of her. "I respect your decision but I think Johnny is..."
"No," Janice said softly. "I'm not changing anything. I have decided to make my son happy. I still don't like him but it will make my son happy."
"Alright," Johnny said as he furiously got up. "I'll fulfill your wish mother,"
Johnny walked slowly and stood in front Caleb. He was burning inside. He just wanted to slap the boy's brains out for trying to kill his mother. He had trusted him so much. Maybe it was also his mistake for trusting so much.
Caleb raised his face just to take a glimpse of his brother in law mad and sweating. He knew he had been set up and he was determined to find out who had done that to him.
"I'll not call the police," Johnny said angrily.
Caleb gasped as he slowly rubbed his tears. "Thank you so much. You..."
Preston raised his hand and stopped Caleb from saying anything.
"That doesn't mean that I forgive you," Johnny said angrily. "I'll never forgive you for doing this. You are only s
taying in this house because of the same woman you had poisoned. If I had my way I would have taken you to the police and make sure you rot there."
"Johnny, I..."
"You might still be staying in this house but listen to me," Johnny warned, pointing his finger angrily. "From now on I'm no longer your brother in law. You'll no longer do or cook anything in this house. I don't want you near my mother because I might just kill you myself."
Caleb's heart melted. Those rules he was being given were harsh considering the fact that he'd been framed and no one listened to him. It was painful to listen to. Johnny was practically telling him to stay away.
"You'll stay away from me. I don't want you near my wife. I don't know about others but do that and there will be no trouble. I hate you so much. I'll take care of mother but if you do as much as try to do anything to anybody in this house you'll regret ever crossing my path."
Caleb felt a heavy burden dropping on him. It was making him feel so much pain. He had grown to love everyone in the house and those rules were really difficult to follow but it was what he needed to do while trying to figure out a way on how to prove his innocence.
Johnny walked away from him and went to his mother. He was suddenly feeling suffocated. He'd been hurt enough and so was his mother. He needed to get her away from that room. He could see that she was already hurt emotionally. She should have just allowed him to deal with Caleb. The boy wouldn't have done a thing again.
"Let's go, mom," Johnny said as he slowly wrapped his arm around his mother's neck to get her up.
She smiled and slowly got up. The both of them slowly walked to the elevator and left. Caleb was there sobbing and crying. He watched as some of the family members stormed out angrily. He knew they were blaming him for everything. They all left except for Preston, granny, George and Caroline.
Caleb couldn't even raise his face to look at his husband. He just couldn't do it. He didn't want to see him in any more pain.
Caleb felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked and there stood George with tears in his eyes. He wondered whether George thought of it too. He wondered whether George was blaming him for everything. He was crying so heavily that he didn't even bother to smile.
"I know it's confusing," George sighed. "You made the soup but I trust you completely."
George left after squeezing his arm. He didn't respond but just cried there. He stared at Caroline and she looked away. He stared at his husband and he had tears in his eyes. Granny was sad too. He'd understand her if she chose not to believe him. He had made the soup after all.
Preston couldn't take the pain anymore. He needed to make Caleb feel better. He didn't deserve what he was getting. He needed to do something.
Preston slowly walked towards Caleb. He took him in his arms and held him tightly. He felt him relax in his arms as his sobs got louder. He had never been as confused as he was. He had so many questions but he had no idea whom to ask. What mattered was that he was holding Caleb close to him and he was safe.
Caleb cried even more when Preston held him. He knew it was probably hard on his husband. He needed his love and trust. With that he could become stronger and his search for the truth would help him too. He was feeling all kinds of pains. Normally they would have stopped with Preston holding him but they just kept on increasing.
"Take good care of him," Caroline said softly before she sadly left with granny.
Now it was just the two of them standing in the living room. The only sound that was heard was the sobs coming from Caleb. He felt lucky Preston was there by side. Being in those arms had never felt as better as it did. It was like he was in a warm fire that kept him alive. It felt like heaven. Too bad it couldn't take away the pain from him.
"Shh..." Preston whispered. "It's okay. I'm here for you. Don't worry about it."
Preston was feeling terrible. He still had doubts. He knew Caleb was somehow innocent but he had doubts. It made him feel really bad. He should trust his lover completely not doubting him. He really loves Caleb.
"I didn't do it," Caleb cried. "I didn't do it I swear."
"Shh..." Preston soothed. "You'll be fine. Don't worry."
How could he be fine? He'd just been accused of poisoning his mother in law. That was really bad and he needed to find out why that had happened. He couldn't just stand and do nothing.
"Let's go to our room." Preston whispered.
He led Caleb to their room and held him in his arms for hours. He kept on feeling the pain each time Caleb sobbed. His shirt was wet with tears and he was heartbroken. So many questions filled his head and he needed answers or he'd go crazy thinking about all those things which were happening.
By the time Caleb stopped crying it was really late. Preston figured he needed something to eat. He couldn't just sit and watch him cry himself to death.
Caleb's head was hurting. His body was cold and his eyes were swollen from crying. What someone had done to him was unfair. He needed answers. He couldn't blame anyone else. Janice had no enemies in the house. Caleb felt William might have had something to do with it but he wasn't sure. The guy loved Janice like anything.
"Caleb!" Preston called as he slowly moved his arms from him. "I need to go somewhere. I'll be back okay. I just need to check on Gabriel."
Preston was happy Gabriel wasn't home to see what was going on. He was at least happy.
Caleb nodded and he laid on the bed as Preston left the room. He wondered whether Preston doubted him or not. He needed to find out what Preston thought about all this.
Caleb grabbed a pillow and rested his poor head on it. In just a few minutes, Preston came back with a plate of food. He sat on the bed and told Caleb to come closer. Caleb did as he was told but he was not ready to eat anything. Something was bothering him and he had to find out the complete truth about what was really in Preston' mind.
Preston took the food and slowly took it to Caleb's mouth. Caleb moved his face and it got Preston worried.
"Please," Preston spoke softly. "You need to eat something. You haven't had a thing since this afternoon. Are you not angry?"
Caleb sighed sadly. He was in pain and he would continue to be unless he got answers to his many questions.
"What are your thoughts about it," Caleb mumbled. A tear fell down his cheek.
"Please," Preston muttered. "I don't know what to think. My mother is well and that's what matters the most to me."
Caleb used his hand and raised his husband's face. He saw pain, anger and something that he couldn't understand clearly. He could also feel that his husband was afraid.
"You do believe, don't you?" Caleb asked, afraid by the answer he might get.
"Please, let's not talk about this." Preston begged, dropping the spoon on the plate. "I just want to forget about what happened. It is too painful to remember. Sure, I can't forget about what happened to my mother but I don't wanna talk about it."
"I need to know," Caleb said softly, rubbing his hands together. "I need to know whether my husband..."
"Please, I don't wanna talk about it," Preston said, slowly standing with the plate in his hands.
"But..."
"Go to sleep," Preston said, moving away from the bed with a big question mark on his head. "We both have had a long day. Just go to sleep." He began walking towards the door slowly. "Don't wait up for me. I will be gone for a while."
Before Caleb could say something, Preston shut the door. Caleb wondered and got hurt. By Preston' reaction it was all so clear that he doubted him. That hurt Caleb so much. Tears were pouring on his face once more. He knew and suspected that Preston doubted him but he was not gonna jump to any conclusions without hearing it from Preston' mouth.
Caleb slipped under the covers, held a pillow and cried himself to sleep. The pain kept on increasing and increasing with every passing second. There was no Preston to comfort him and that's why he cried himself to sleep.
****
Caleb slowly moved his hands on the bed. Realizing that h
is husband was not in the room, he quickly opened his eyes and rose from the bed. By the looks of it, his husband had slept in the room but it was clear that he was not there anymore. He needed to find him. That had never happened before and he got worried.
His husband no matter what was the last to wake up. Even if he woke up first, he never went out of the bed without kissing him with a wonderful good morning kiss. Where was that good morning kiss his husband gave him every morning? He was missing it a lot.
Something had happened last night and he knew that his husband was probably mad at him. He was gonna check if he was still in the room even though his heart was telling him that his husband was not in the room.
