Page 45 of Like the Season
Chapter Thirteen
Saturday and Sunday passed in a blur, between bringing Ella home from the hospital and packing all her things. Caleb felt a kinship with Ella in a way, and not just because they had Boyd in common. She was leaving the life she knew behind, hoping to build something better, maybe even with someone.
Caleb had done just that, leading him to Boyd.
Helen had also done it, hoping to eventually find Boyd and reunite with him. To honor Helen’s spirit if nothing else, Caleb would help Ella.
But it was more than that for him, of course. She was his step-daughter—and he was already thinking of her like that regardless of the fact he was less than ten years older than her and he wasn’t actually married to Boyd yet.
Boyd was his in everything but official status.
They finished packing the truck before noon Sunday, and had vacuumed the apartment and cleaned the kitchen and bathroom and turned her keys in. Considering the circumstances, the apartment’s management were willing to let her out of her lease without a penalty, and would mail the check with her security deposit to Boyd’s in Florida.
After loading Ella’s car on the dolly behind the moving truck, Boyd moved the rig so it was out of the way, and the three of them took one last trip to Helen’s grave. Caleb carried the flowers while Boyd carried Ella, because he refused to let her walk across the uneven ground on her crutches despite her protests that she could manage.
He gently set her on the ground in front of the gravestone, then stood with his arms around Caleb.
“Mom, this is Caleb. He seems like a great guy, and Dad’s crazy about him.” She reached out and stroked Helen’s name. “I’m sorry I’m leaving, but Dad’s right, I can’t do this alone. He said you’d want me to be with them and let them help, and I think he’s right. I hope he is. If he’s not, I’m sorry. But at least my baby will have two grandfathers to love her. Or him.”
Caleb brushed away his own tears as she kissed her fingers and touched the stone one last time.
The sad thing was, while Caleb loved his parents and sisters, he didn’t feel as emotional about them as he did right now watching Ella at her mother’s grave.
He pulled Boyd’s arms a little more tightly around him.
* * * *
On the way back to Ella’s apartment complex, they stopped for lunch. Having stalled as long as they could, Caleb knew he’d once again have to say good-bye to Boyd.
Except now he was being entrusted with taking care of Ella. And he knew if Boyd didn’t trust him, he wouldn’t be doing this.
Next to the truck, Boyd hugged Caleb while Ella looked on from the rental car.
“Love you, Cay,” Boyd whispered in his ear. “Love you so fucking much.”
“Love you, too.” Caleb didn’t want to let go of him. “You drive careful. Don’t you get into an accident or something. Stay safe.”
“I promise. Hopefully I’ll be home by Friday. Thank you so much for doing this.”
Caleb cupped Boyd’s face in his hands. “She’sfamily. She’sourfamily. Of course I’m going to do this.”
“Text me as soon as you get to the car in Tampa, then when you get home.”
“I will.”
While Boyd leaned in to give Ella one last hug and say good-bye, Caleb climbed into the rental and gave Ella a smile.
Then, it was time. “Ready?” he asked her.
She nervously nodded. “Yeah.”
It was easier to drop her at the airport terminal first and then return the rental car. He quickly rejoined her, pushing the borrowed wheelchair through the terminal after checking in and getting her bags checked.
“You’d think I wouldn’t be this nervous,” she said. “I’ve been to Florida so many times already when I was looking for Dad.”
Caleb was glad he stood behind her so she couldn’t see his smile. “You’re going to love living there. I know I do.”
“Have you been back to visit your parents since you left?”
