Page 103 of In You
Three Months Later
FeelingingoodspiritsI smile as I turn the corner of the archway, headed down the hallway with Ringo at my heels.
I'm carrying a vase of flowers, a request from Tamryn, and I'm a bit anxious at how she's going to take it. She's been in a good mood lately, and though we're only three months out from her having Tris, things have been going so well that everything in me wants to lay her down in our bed and make another baby.
The door to the nursery is cracked and I can hear she's in there, humming to Tris. Our beautiful, perfect child. All ten fingers and toes, beautiful honey-brown eyes, little crop of wavy hair, and perfect baby skin. She's adorable.
I couldn't have asked for a better family.
She sleeps a lot, and she loves her daddy's voice. Dare I say it, I think she's actually a daddy's girl, though I'll never tell Tamryn that. That's for sure a trigger. Tris calms the moment she snuggles up to my chest. She sleeps so good when she's with me, and she loves back rubs. So does her mom. And I'm forever grateful to Tamryn for blessing me with a precious gift; the ability to see myself in a role that had been denied kid Caleb.
My father was some very big shoes to try and fill, but damn it, I give it my all every day of our lives.
I stop for a second to straighten the oil painting of the sea, which is a bit askew on the wall in the hallway, and move to turn away. But something catches my eye, and I bring my gaze back to it, my lips parting and eyes narrowing as I see a very small painting of a woman standing on the edge of the cliff in a violet dress with her wavy hair blowing in the wind. Tink is tucked under her arm.
I'm a little hurt as I see I'm not there. And neither is Tris, or Ringo.
I touch my fingers to it, wondering when Tamryn added her image to this.
Readjusting the flowers in my arm, I continue down the hallway, listening to the lullaby she's humming.
"Baby, I'm home," I call, pushing through the door and walking into my worst nightmare.
My body tenses up and the vase of flowers slips through my grip to hit the floor, shattering as I stare numbly at Tamryn who is on her knees in the middle of the floor, rocking baby Tris in her arm. Eyes unfocused and swimming in tears as she hums quietly to herself…
Holding my gun to her head.
I suck in a sharp breath and raise a cautious hand as I slowly step over the glass, ignoring the crunch under my foot as I get closer. I see the awareness of my presence enter her body; her eyes leave Tris to meet mine, causing me to tense all over. The room is thick with sadness and oppressive helplessness that I don't know how to help. Her eyes are shiny, wide with anxiety and fear.
What's happened?
"Tamryn," I say in a soft, level voice. She doesn't look at me, but the gun to her temple trembles. I lower to my haunches, forcing myself to stay calm. "Tamryn…give me the gun, honey."
If this were any other situation I'd take the risk at the gun going off to disarm her, but this ismy love.My love who's holding the other piece of my heart within her arms. I can't chance it. Won't dare. My sanity feels like it's hanging on by a thread as she shakes her head, the tears falling faster now, her face contorting as she sucks in a deep breath and meets my eyes.
"It's Camilla," she whispers, her head tilting as her crying becomes even more fervent as she just stares at me, sucking me into the desolate reality she's battling. "Caleb, it'sme.Camilla."
"Okay, baby," I say, taking a deep, calming breath. "I know its you. You're alright now. I'm here. Give me the gun."
"I can't…" she whispers, heartache in her eyes. "They want me to hurt her, Caleb.And I won't do it…"
My heart skips a beat, and it takes everything in me to not show my panic.
Oh God.I swallow thickly, trying to get a handle on my emotions.
"Who?" I ask quietly, sliding my hands up her thighs until I get to where Tris is bundled up in her arm. I trace my hands over the blanket, trying to soothe her as she's whimpering. But I don't dare try and take her from Tamryn.
I have no clue what she'd do.
"The voices," she says, her voice breaking. "They want Tamryn to kill her…but I won't let her." Her finger twitches on the trigger, and my heart begins to pump harder as blood curdling anxiety becomes my entire world, making me feel nauseated and slightly disoriented. It won't take much pressure to pull the trigger, then she'll be gone. "I need to do this. To protect her, Caleb."
"Honey, let's get into the bath, huh?" I say softly, trying to pull Tris away, but Tamryn tightens her arm around her, and her finger twitches on the trigger again. The blood pounds through my veins, and roars in my ears as I see our life together flash before my eyes.
"Goodbye, Caleb," she whispers, her eyes sliding from mine to Tris. "Goodbye, my love. You're daddy's little girl, okay? And you're mommy's beam of joy."
My breath hitches. No.No, no, no.
"No, honey," I bite out in a panic, sniffing as I feel a tear slip down my face. "No.I won't say goodbye. This is not goodbye. Our story has barely even started."
