Page 54 of Caleb's Salvation
“I was happy, Sarah,” I confessed.
* * *
Bud’s
The next night
Vivienne
I walked into the bar with Sam in his carrier on my back. I’d gotten the call from Shelby that Eli had popped the question and to come to Bud’s to celebrate. The place was crowded with what felt like everyone from both the town and camp. I almost considered leaving Sam in the carrier as it might be easier to maneuver around the bar with him.
I’d had to do this a time or two for a few hours when Bud asked me to work a Saturday when Shelby couldn’t babysit. The guys thought it was hilarious watching me serve drinks with a half-asleep ten-month-old on my back.
Or sometimes when Sammy was awake, he would make funny faces at the guys, thinking he was putting on a show.
I glanced around, looking for the few women who signified my new female posse.
I hadn’t told any of them about Caleb and wasn’t really sure that I should. Caleb’s privacy and all that. Because if Shelby and Kate knew what had happened, it was a good bet Eli and Jackson would, too.
Making my way through the throng, I spotted Shelby’s blonde hair still tucked into a snow cap. I came up behind her as she was showing her left hand to Kate who was already squealing.
I tapped her on the shoulder. “My turn!”
She turned then started squealing as she stomped her feet and held out her hand.
“He did it today,” she said with her Southern drawl, which was still a little husky from the flu we’d both battled. “Just got right down on his knee in the snow. And I was like,Eli what are you doing? You’re going to get your pants all wet…because you know he refuses to wear snow-pants when we go hiking, which is just plain dumb. But whatever, then he takes out this box and saysShelby, I love you. Marry me.And of course I started crying right then and there, and I couldn’t even get the words out. Meanwhile he’s still kneeling in the snow with his jeans getting wet until finally I was able to say yes.”
She took a breath after that and I smiled. “I’m so happy for you!”
“Thank you. Thank you so much. It means everything to have you and the little man here with us.”
I pointed over my shoulder. “I wouldn’t miss it. He didn’t have much of a choice.”
Then I searched for an open seat where I could get Sam off my back and out of his winter gear. In the crowded bar he had to be getting hot. I was struggling to get the backpack off while still supporting his weight when suddenly I felt him being lifted even as he was trying to hold onto my ponytail.
I’d taken to wearing my hair that way lately as I still needed it up and out of my face, but it felt a little less restrictive than my normal braid.
Caleb deftly maneuvered Sam until I was free then he was holding him with a grim expression on his face. “I’ll get him out of his gear. You need to find a place for that contraption.”
Flustered, I watched as he competently removed the hat, gloves and one-piece snowsuit. The boots he needed to leave on, which he did, then hitched Sam on his hip.
Just that, Caleb holding Sam for me, watching out for him while I could see to all of our stuff, was enough for me to be grateful.
And enough for me to see that for all his bluster, Caleb really didn’t mind being around Sam. And Sam, who’d basically been cared for by Caleb this past week, didn’t seem to mind him, either.
The party progressed and mostly we all just watched Eli and Shelby be in love as people bought them drink after drink.
Caleb had gone off to get me my own beer. I sat in the corner bouncing Sam on my lap happy to be among the living again. Then I spotted Ty in the crowd of folks at the same time he saw me.
He made his way through the throng and as soon as he got to me, he lifted Sammy off my lap.
“Hey, big guy! You’re looking better than the last time I saw you. You, too, Vivvy.”
I tried not to wince at his nickname for me, which was easier now that we’d established we were just friends. I suppose that might have been my first clue regarding my feelings toward Ty. If I’d been interested in him, I probably would’ve had no problem with him calling my Vivvy. It would have felt like an endearment.
Sort of like it felt when Caleb called me by my name.
“I feel better,” I announced happily.
