Page 35 of Saving You

“Okay, so it sounds like we have a full day. Why don’t you call your mechanic while Charlie and I review her homework?”

I nod, and he calls Charlie into the kitchen and asks her to bring in her homework. While they do that, I grab my phone and call the mechanic and schedule an appointment for next Saturday morning. I smile as I watch how good Caleb is with Charlie as they go over the letters she has been working on at school.

When I’m done making my list, we all bundle up and head outside. Caleb insists on driving, so he buckles Charlie in his truck before helping me up into the passenger seat.

We head to the mall first, not wanting groceries to sit in the car for too long. He pulls into a parking space near the front of the mall, and we all hop out. Charlie begins to walk towards the mall, and I sternly call her name. She stops and turns to me.

“Yeah, Mommy?”

“What have I said about parking lots and cars?”

“To always hold an adult’s hand,” she mumbles.

“Are you doing that?”

She shakes her head before walking up to grab Caleb’s hand. She’s obviously annoyed at me, probably for correcting her in front of Caleb, but as long as she holds one of our hands, I’m happy. Caleb gives me a warm smile and reaches his free hand out for me. I hesitantly place mine in his, and he gives it a reassuring squeeze. Together, we walk into the mall and head into the closest store that I think may have something Charlie can take to school.

We wander around looking at different things, but nothing catches either Charlie’s or my attention. On our way out, I stop at a glass showcase and take in a beautiful gold locket on display. I’ve always loved the idea of wearing a locket with pictures of those you love most in the world in it, but I’ve never been able to afford one I’ve liked. I hold back a groan as I see the price of the one inside the case. $250.00. Yeah, that’s a no. Not this close to Christmas. I can’t afford to splurge on myself like that. I walk away from the case, and we make our way through the mall. Charlie and Caleb spot the Build-a-Bear and both beeline for the store.

I know this bear is going to cost me a lot.

When I make it into the store, they are browsing the different animals. Caleb shows her the ones fromStar Warsand is shocked when she says she hasn’t seen it. He decides to make one for himself too and chooses a brown bear, and Charlie chooses a cow. I stand back as they go through the whole process of having them stuffed, whispering a wish to the animals’ hearts, and then dressing them. Charlie helps Caleb pick the clothes for his bear, and they name them. Caleb keeps his name a secret, and Charlie names hers Princess.

When they finish, I join them at the register, pulling my card out to pay for Charlie’s, but Caleb pushes my hand away and tells the cashier to put them together. I try and protest, but Caleb just looks at me and says, “Bails, you’re not going to change my mind, so arguing over this is pointless. Let me buy her the cow.”

I see in his eyes that he’s serious.

“Fine,” I huff. I let him pay, but I’m not happy with it at all.

When the new Build-a-Bears are in their little houses, we find a store to quickly grab Charlie her Secret Santa gift before we make our way back to the truck and head to the grocery store.

When we get to the store, Caleb grabs a cart and follows behind me. I have a very specific way I do my shopping. I start with produce, grabbing everything and putting it in the top part of the cart. I then move to the meat department at the back, then to the dairy, and then up and down every aisle.

When I’ve grabbed everything, the cart is overflowing and I have to say I’m glad Caleb is here because this would take me multiple trips inside when we get home. He and Charlie decide to be in charge of bagging, and I watch as he teaches her that the heavy stuff needs to go in first.

They load the cart, and I pay for the groceries before we head back to the truck. When we get home, Charlie grabs the two little houses and runs inside after I unlock the door. I grab a handful of bags and make my way inside with Caleb following. Everything gets placed on the kitchen counter, and I turn to go back to the truck, but Caleb stops me.

“Bails, I’ve got it. Why don’t you just start putting everything away, and I’ll bring it all in?”

I nod and get to work, putting everything in its proper place. When I finish, I go into the living room and find Caleb and Charlie cleaning up and putting her toys away. Caleb somehow has a thing of Lysol wipes and is wiping down my coffee table, side tables, and even the window sill.

I think I may start crying. I’ve never had this kind of help around the house without begging for it, and even then I almost always had to do everything myself. I return to the kitchen, lean against the fridge and take deep breaths, trying to centre myself again. When I open my eyes, I meet Caleb’s assessing gaze.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

He steps forward, and his hand comes up to my face. “Bailey, you keep thanking me for things I’m choosing to do. I want to help you. I don’t want my presence in your life to make it more difficult. I want to make it easier.”

His words are my undoing. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down for a kiss. I kiss him hungrily, trying to show him just what he does to me. I lick the seam of his mouth, and he moans into mine, granting me access. I’ve never taken control of a kiss like I am with him, and it’s invigorating. He kisses me back, meeting my tongue stroke for stroke. I could fall into him and this kiss for the rest of my life.

A crashing sound from the other room has us pulling apart and running into the living room. Nothing looks broken, but I head straight for Charlie.

“Are you okay, Baby Girl?”

She nods. “Yeah, I just put the jeep in the box,” she says.

I turn and see her Barbie Jeep stacked on top of all her other toys and figure she just threw it in and that was the crashing sound.

“Mommy, I’m hungry.”

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