Page 120 of Love By The Falls

I glare at Michael. “What happened? Did she fall?”

“No, Caleb. The doctor said she’s in active labor. I was just about to call you. You need to get here as soon as you can.”

“I’m on my way.”

I hang up the phone and push Michael out of the way. “Is she okay?” he asks.

“She’s having the baby.”

“But that’s three weeks early.”

“Yes, well, we have Brigitte to thank for that.”

“Here,” he hands me my suitcase.

I race to the elevator and my phone rings just as the doors close. The call goes straight to voicemail, probably from lack of reception in the elevator.

I check the number, hoping it’s Sage, telling me that Charlotte is okay and it was just false labor pains, but it’s not Sage. It’s Arty, Teoscar’s agent.

When the elevator doors open and I have reception again, I call him back.

“Hey Caleb, how’s it going?”

“Fine. Fine. How can I help you?”

There’s a pause. “Well, I’ve some good news. I think Teoscar’s ready to sign with the Lions! He just has a few more questions. Let’s meet at your office in an hour.”

I’ve been waiting for this call for months. I thought I’d drop everything and anything for it, but I walk through the glass doors of the office building on Seaver Way and don’t look back. “I’m sorry, Arty, but I can’t make it today.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“I won’t be in town for a while.”

“Why not? What’s going on, Cal? Are you negotiating with someone else?”

I inhale sharply. I keep my personal life separate from my work one, but keeping this from Arty feels like it’s a dirty little secret, when it’s not.

“I’m going to be a father,” I say. “Charlotte is in the hospital having my baby.”

“Who? What!”

I connect the call to Bluetooth as I start my car. “Did I hear you right? I think we may have been disconnected.”

“No. You heard me.”

“Who the hell is Charlotte?”

“Ask Teoscar. He’s met her.”

“Alright. Well, congratulations, Cal. I can’t promise you anything when you get back. You know how this business works. Teoscar doesn’t want to deal with anyone else but you.”

“I know. I get it. But this isn’t a good time.”

“Congrats, again. And good luck.”

He ends the call, and I expect an onslaught of emotions, like anger, frustration, disappointment. And while I do feel some of those, none of them are regarding Teoscar not signing. I’m angry with Brigitte, frustrated with my brother, and disappointed that I might miss the birth of my child. I press on the gas and wish I got myhelicopter license so I could fly to Cedar Brook Falls in less than an hour.

I call Sage back. “Hello?”

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