Page 12 of Wrangled Love

From what I’ve learned from passing comments between my brothers, Jensen never settled down, fully immersed in growing his company. I can’t imagine the shock of finding out he missed five years of his son’s life that he’ll never get back, no matter how many resources he throws at it.

It’s ironic—people like my mom actively chose to walk away from parenthood, while others like Jensen would sacrifice everything for a chance to reconnect with their child.

When we get to Caleb’s bedroom at the end of the hall, I pause at the threshold.

“I had a limited amount of time, so I couldn’t remodel everything, but I tried to make it special,” I say as I open the door.

I glance down at Caleb to see his reaction. His eyes widen as he looks around, taking it all in. A twin-sized bed with a navy-blue comforter sits in the corner, with a white nightstand beside it. Across the room, I mounted a bookshelf and filled it with children’s books from Mama Julie’s collection. Three walls are painted a light gray, while the fourth is covered in blue wallpaper printed with T. rexes and Triceratops. A plush area rug shaped like a Stegosaurus footprint, courtesy of a hidden gem at Charlie’s shop, covers the hardwood floor.

Decorating the room was one way I thought would help Caleb feel more comfortable while he’s staying here this summer. I assumed Jensen would bring more of his favorite books, toys, and other things, but I wanted to make a good first impression.

He lets go of my hand, his movements slow and purposeful as he circles the room. When he reaches the dinosaur wallpaper, his hand brushes against it, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His reaction tells me he’s happy with his new space, leaving me with a quiet sense of pride. It was a stroke of luck that dinosaurs are his favorite, making the reveal that much more meaningful.

However, my joy is short-lived when I peek over at Jensen, where he’s lingering in the doorway with a scowl plastered on his face.

His gaze sharpens when his eyes meet mine. “Can I talk to you in the hallway?”

“Sure,” I say.

It’s clear that something I’ve done has upset him, and I’mwilling to hear him out. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let his sour mood ruin Caleb’s positive reaction to what I’ve done.

“We’ll be right back, buddy,” Jensen says to Caleb.

He gives a quick nod before returning his focus to the wallpaper, tracing each dinosaur at eye level.

I follow Jensen down the hall, leaving the bedroom door open a crack.

“Did I offend you somehow?” I keep my voice low. “Because you’re looking at me as if I committed an unforgivable crime, like putting pineapple on pizza.”

Jensen shakes his head in disbelief. “You’re joking, right? Pineapple on pizza is elite.”

I wrinkle my nose, rolling my eyes. “Fantastic. Now, I have to second-guess every choice you make. What a devastating discovery.”

He offers a faint smile before his expression falls, sadness settling over his face. “I was disappointed when I saw Caleb’s room. I’d imagined us decorating it together since the one he stayed at in my apartment was a guest room.” Jensen leans against the wall, shooting me a regretful glance. “I only found out he’s my son less than two weeks ago.”

“Less than two weeks?” I ask, struggling to hide the shock in my voice. I’d assumed it had been longer.

“Yeah. I was hoping to create a memory with him while making his new space special.”

“I’m sorry,” I apologize, hating that I might have overstepped. “I don’t mean to pry, but Heath didn’t share a lot of details…” I trail off, letting the question hang in the air.

“His mom, Amelia, and I had a one-night stand a few years ago, when she was in New York for a conference. She was gone the following morning when I woke up.”

“And she never reached out to you?”

Jensen shakes his head. “I had no idea about Caleb until herlawyer called to say she’d passed away after a long battle with cancer and left me full custody.”

I press my hand to my mouth, blinking back tears. “God, Jensen, that’s awful. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you.”

My chest tightens at the thought of what Caleb must be going through. I know what it’s like to grieve a parent, even if mine left by choice. The difference is I had the Halsteads to rely on. Caleb’s world has been turned upside down, and now he’s been placed in the care of someone he doesn’t know—who happens to be his dad.

It hadn’t crossed my mind that something as simple as decorating a room might be important to Jensen. I acted on instinct, wanting to do something nice, but after hearing more details about the situation, I believe I have overstepped.

I shift my weight from foot to foot, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I didn’t mean to interfere. I just wanted to make sure Caleb felt at home when he got here.”

Jensen sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “It was a thoughtful gesture, and I appreciate you wanting to make things easier for him. I really do.”

“Of course, but I know you’ve already missed out on a lot with him. Next time I want to do something for him, I’ll make sure to run it by you first.”

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