Page 55 of It's Always Been You

“You did this deliberately.” Her eyes narrowed. Surprisingly, she wasn’t too pissed off by his tactics, but he had to stop his underhanded manipulations.

The doorbell rang. Caitlin froze.

Travis cursed, looked at the door then back at her.

Caitlin unfroze and started to run for the stairs.

“Caitlin,” Travis roared after her. She heard voluble profanities erupt behind her, and she stopped at the bottom of the staircase. What was she doing? What did she think she could do? Hide in her room forever?

Travis was already upon her by the time she could even decide what to do. He grabbed her hand and dragged her back to the living room.

“Stay here. Don’t fucking move,” he ordered.

The doorbell rang again.

The good newswas no one fainted.

Travis was having second thoughts about this impulsive plan he had hatched early this morning when his mom called inquiring if they could come over. It bothered him because he was not an impulsive man. He was calculating and precise. It seemed when it came to Caitlin, all bets were off and he never knew how he’d react. He’d become an opportunist. Any way for him to bind her to him he would do it. She needed to have a sense of family. And he didn’t want to delay that any longer.

He opened the door to his parents, but he stood by the frame with an arm outstretched on the jamb, preventing entry. Lillian Blake eyed her son with a frown. “Forgot your manners, Travis?”

“Mom.” He leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. Then he turned to his dad and lifted his chin in greeting. “Dad. Ah . . . there’s something I neglected to inform you both,” Travis started, but his mom, clearly losing patience, ducked under his arm to enter the house. His eyes slid shut at the inevitable.

“Really, Travis, there’s no need for . . . oh, sweet Lord!” his mom shrieked behind him. Daniel Blake, hearing his wife’s distress, scowled at his son and forced himself past the door.

Caitlin would most likely demand a divorce after this. So much for wanting to rip this whole thing off like a Band-Aid.

“Uh . . . hi,” Caitlin said timidly to his parents.

“Sarah?” his mom choked. Walking a couple of steps forward, her movements faltered. His dad immediately rushed to his wife’s side to offer support.

“What’s the meaning of this, son?” His dad’s voice was gruff.

Travis walked to Caitlin and hugged her close. “Mom, this is Caitlin. Caitlin is Sarah.” Shit, this was harder to explain than he thought. “It’s complicated,” he added lamely.

Way to go, Travis. Real slick.

His mom took another step forward, her eyes glazed withtears, lips trembling. “Sarah? Oh, my God. Travis. Is this real?’

He better explain things pretty fast. “Mom, Dad. Maybe you should sit down.” He nodded to the couch. His parents sat, obviously in a daze.

“Sarah was a victim of revenge against DEVGRU, my SEAL unit,” Travis said. He felt Caitlin stiffen beside him. He’d already rehearsed the whole story; he hoped she would play along. “I’m not at liberty to discuss the who and the what. But a year after Sarah was taken, I began to piece together some evidence that led me to believe she was alive.”

“That’s why you never gave up on her,” Lillian’s voice trembled with emotion. “Oh, Travis. Is this why you started BSI?”

Travis nodded. “There’s more to this, Mom.” He glanced briefly at Caitlin, who had her head bowed. He gripped her hand tightly. “Sarah does not exist anymore.”

“Is someone still after you, Sarah?” his dad asked.

“Her name is Caitlin now,” Travis said. “She has amnesia.”

“What?” his parents exclaimed, their eyes narrowing at his wife.

Caitlin shot him ayou’re in so much troublelook. He didn’t care as long as they ended up in bed. His cock twitched.Fuck! Blake, now is not the time to have a hard-on,especially in front of your mom. Any lustful thoughts were quickly squelched.

“Caitlin only remembers the past three years. She doesn’t remember the both of you.” His throat constricted. “Or me.”

His mom rose and walked over to them. “Oh, Travis.” His mom hugged him. Shit. Nothing like a mother who could sense her son’s pain. She turned to Caitlin. “Your death nearly destroyed him, Sarah . . . I’m sorry . . . it’ll take me some time to get used to your new name.” His mother embraced Caitlin tightly. “Whatever happened, I don’t need to know. I’veaccepted that part of my son’s life. Dear child, it’s good to have you back.”

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