Page 42 of Hitched

“Just what I was looking for.” I say only half facetiously. Suddenly, what Laney’s da thinks of me is of much importance. I see her being my wife some day, hopefully. I’ve seen the transformation in her since meeting Gretchen and Peg, and I'm hoping that it all has an impact on her. And a lasting effect. I look over at Peg, asleep on her bed, as if none of the horror that happened tonight effected her, but then I remember that she’s so young. Three and a half years old is too young to even be able to process what’s happened tonight. “We need to get her out of here, Laney. Get her into a good school, keep her close. I’m not sure how it’s all going to work out, but all I know is that this little bairn deserves the very best.”

“And that’s why Gretchen left her to you. Because she knew that’s the treatment that you would give her.”

“We have a lot of work to do. I want to adopt her. I want her to be mine legally, so that I don’t have any bullshit later on.”

“That’s a great idea, Caleb.” She nods.

I love her more and more with each second that passes. And then, as if I think I couldn’t love her more, she says something else that blows my mind.

“I’d like to adopt her, too, Caleb.”

Chapter 13

Laney

“And Peg is okay with your mama?” Caleb asks for the fourth time. We’re on our way to go talk to his da, and mama took Peg to bake cookies while we’re gone. It’s been a battle with lawyers and immigration and such, to try and get Peg settled here in the states, but it’s worth it. She misses her mama, but me and Caleb have been so busy keeping her occupied, she only mentions her mama in passing. Things like, ‘that’s not how mama makes it’, or stuff by comparison. I made an appointment for her to see a child psychologist, to help her through this, so that it doesn’t creep up on her in her teens, you know, the fact that she never properly processed her mama’s death.

We decided against a funeral, as per her will, and just opted to have her cremated and buried next to her favorite uncle, which we paid for. So far, Peg seems unscathed, but again, she’s only young and probably doesn’t understand all that is going on. “She’s fine, Caleb. Mama adores her. They have been getting along so well. I don’t think that Gretchen had any family, so this is something that Peg is loving.”

“As long as you’re sure.”

“I’m positive.”

“And you’re sure you want to be part of this?” He asks, referring to where we’re going and what the plan is.

“I’m absolutely certain, Caleb. I think this is the best way.”

With a nod, we turn into the office, and immediately head upstairs, where office staff greet us both with widened eyes. Nobody has seen us together before, and I’m guessing with all the talk of me and Caleb being forced to marry, despite the challenges and altercations that the public is aware of, this comes as quite a shock. “Is my da in his office?” Caleb asks, immediately wiping the paled look off the front desk staff’s face.

“Yes, sir.” She says, and then she feverishly looks through an empty file, as if inventing something to do.

We head to Dougall Harris’s office, hand in hand, and once we enter, he lifts his head. “Caleb.” A short pause. “Laney.” Another pause, as he closes up a file on his desk. “This is a surprise.”

“It is.” Caleb says with a soft grunt, as he takes a seat in the chair in front of his da’s desk, and I follow suit.

“To what do I owe this visit?” Dougall asks, dividing his glance between the two of us. Then he rises and sticks his hand out for me to shake. “Forgive me, lass. My manners. We’ve never been formally introduced.”

I shake his proffered hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Harris.”

“Please. Call me Dougall.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Dougall smiles warmly and looks at Caleb. Caleb raises a hand. “Before we start, da, I just want to say that Laney and I are not engaged. That is not the reason why we’re here.”

He taps the tips of his fingers together in front of him. “Very well. What brings you here then.”

Caleb draws in a deep breath, and despite my reservations, I take his hand in mine. “Da, I need to tell you something, that you will not take lightly.”

He nods. “What is it, Caleb.” His mouth is still upturned into a warm smile.

He mentions the conference that they attended in Scotland a few years ago, and while the rest were busy doing other things, Caleb was outside and that’s where he met Gretchen and infant Peg. “She’d been raped and had the attacker’s bairn, da. She needed help, so I put her up in a cottage close to me, and I’ve been helping her ever since. Gretchen had a drug problem, and she got herself clean and such.” He looks at his da to gauge his reaction, but he seems to be sitting patiently, listening to his son. I start to wonder if maybe Dougall isn’t as hard-handed as he’s been made out to be.

When I hear Caleb’s voice crack, I squeeze his hand, feeling my chin quiver. “Gretchen died, da. She left the bairn to me. She's a sweet lass, not yet four years old. I love her to death, da. Laney, too. She’s with Laney’s mama right now, and that’s why we’re here. I needed to tell you. I need to apologize for keeping such a thing from you, da, but I knew that you wouldn’t take well to it. I’m sorry for lying to you. From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry.” Tears are flowing down his cheeks. My hand is in his, and my thumb is stroking his hand. Tears are rolling down my cheeks, too. We’re both softly sobbing.

Dougall nods once and smiles and says something that takes me by surprise. “I’m proud of you, son.”

Caleb swallows, wiping the tears from his face. “Are you just saying that because Laney’s here, da?”

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