EDEN
I step forward and rest my hand on Joseph’s shoulder, “Hey Joseph, why don’t you go with Grandma so I can talk to your father, please?”
“Daddy, are you staying for dinner? Please?”
Caleb gives me a quick glance, “If your mom says it is okay, I would love to.”
I glare at Caleb, trying to keep my anger from being too obvious the last thing I want right now is for Joseph to see us fighting, especially on Christmas.
“Mommy? Pretty please.” His little voice kills me. He hasn’t seen or spoken with Caleb since we lived in California. Here he is, showing up out of nowhere and Caleb knows he’s putting me in a really shitty position.
I squeeze his shoulder again and turn him around to face my mom, “You need to let mom and dad talk, okay?”
“Joey, sweetheart, why don’t you come in here. You haven’t finished eating yet.” My mom’s voice might be sweet, but I can tell her eyes are full of concern. I give her a look to tell her everything will be okay, but I’m lying, I have no idea if things are going to be alright.
“Joseph, his name is Joseph,” Caleb snaps.
My mom gives me another look, but I just nod my head. Joseph doesn’t realize the tension is then the room, thankfully. He skips off with my mom and Carl close behind. I was hoping that Fletcher would get the hint, but he’s solidly standing next to me and I can tell he has zero intention of moving.
“Excuse me, but I’d like to speak with my wife in private.”
“EX-wife. Extra emphasis on the ex part.”
I turn to face Fletcher and slide my hand into his. “Why don’t you go let everybody know things are okay?”
He refuses to take his eyes off Caleb to even look in my direction, “No way in hell am I leaving you here with him.”
“It’s okay. Really. We have some things we need to talk about.”
He squeezes my hand and leans in to kiss my cheek. I should be mad at him for doing that, but part of me was kind of turned on by the fact that he was acting so protective and possessive of me. I turn to watch him go into the kitchen and when he’s gone I turn back to Caleb, not hiding my anger one bit. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing here? How the fuck did you even find me?”
“Wow, you’re gone for less than six months and you already forgot how to act like a lady, classy.”
“You have no right to be here right now and you know it.”
He points into the kitchen, “That’s my son in there. Are you going to blame me for wanting to see him on Christmas day? I mean after you ripped him away from me.”
“Oh, you are so full of shit, Caleb. You were more than happy to sign away your rights if it meant that you didn’t have to pay after our divorce so please do not come around here with this, “I care” bullshit. You missed plenty of important days in his life without a care.”
“Yeah, well maybe I was wrong,” his face softens a bit, “Maybe I had my priorities messed up.”
“What are you trying to say?” I ask with an eye roll.
“Dammit Eden, I miss you, baby.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You heard me.” He takes a step towards me and puts his arm out, but I take a step back and move my arm away from him.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Okay,” he shakes his head, “I’m really messing up here. Can we start over?”
“You can start wherever you want, but I’m not sure that the ending is going to be any different.”
“Eden, honey, I love you. I realize now that I was so messed up that I didn’t see what was so perfect and so beautiful right in front of me. These past months that you’ve been gone have been horrible and I missed you so much.”
He takes another step forward, but this time I don’t move away from him. His words shook me to my core, freezing me in my spot. “It isn’t just you that I miss either. Joseph has been on my mind a lot lately and I know that I made it seem like I was fine with you taking him and leaving, but I realize now that it was the last thing I should have let you do. I miss us as a couple and us as a family.”
“We were together for six years, it shouldn’t take me leaving you for you to finally realize that you can’t live without me.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I still want to know why you’re here.”
“I told you. I wanted to see Joseph. I wanted to spend Christmas with him. I know you don’t owe me anything…”
“You’re right, I don’t.”
“I’m just begging you. Please let me spend some time with him. Please, Eden.”
“You can stay for dinner and dessert, but ONLY because you said that in front of him and I don’t want to ruin his Christmas. But then you need to leave. You’re not part of this family.”
“That’s all I’m asking. Then maybe I can see him again another day? I have some gifts for him.”
“Of course you do,” I roll my eyes again.
“What’s that’s supposed to mean?” He raises his voice once again.
“I’m just not shocked that you brought him gifts too. How long do you plan on being around? I’m not going to bring him around if you’re just going to up and leave unannounced. You can’t play with his emotions like that.”
“I’m staying at the resort, so you can stop by whenever. I don’t have a timeline, but I’ll stay for as long as it takes. Just come by one day, Eden.”
“I’m not going to the resort.”
“Why not? It's practically your birthright.”
I wave my hand at him, “I don’t have time for this right now. Are you joining us or not?”
“Of course. Lead the way.”
I turn around and he puts his hand on my lower back. I stop and remove his arm from me and glare up at home. “We are NOT together, you do not have permission to touch me.”
“Oh yeah, you with that Fletcher dude? What kind of name is Fletcher anyway?”
“Not that it is any of your business, but yes Fletcher and I are dating and we are very happy. That is all you need to know.”
When we go into the dining room everybody is trying to not make a big deal, but the tension could be cut with a knife. Joseph has the biggest smile on his face and it almost kills me that he is so excited about his dad being here because I know his intentions are bad.
“Hey everybody. Um, this is Joseph’s dad, Caleb. He’s in town for a bit and, um, I guess he’s going to join us for dinner. For Joseph.”
I add the final piece in the hopes that everybody will behave and understand that I’m only doing this for Joseph. Mom was sitting on the other side of Joseph, she moved down by Lydia and Rich so that Caleb could sit next to Joseph. Once we all get settled back in, Caleb fills his plate with a little bit of food and Joseph begins to talk his ear off about everything that’s been going on.
I put my hand over on Fletcher’s leg and he turns and faces me. I can so clearly read the anger and hurt in his face. I give him a small smile and lean into his ear. “I’m sorry, but he put me in a bad spot. I said just dinner then he’s leaving.”
He just shrugs his shoulders and goes back to eating. I blink back the tears that are forming in my eyes. I don’t want Fletcher to be mad, but I don’t want to ruin Joseph’s Christmas. I feel like Caleb just put me in the worst possible position and I just hope that Fletcher can understand, even if he’s mad.
YOU ARE READING
When We Go Back Again (Mason Brothers Book #1)
RomanceEden Carter moved out of Glenwood Springs when she was just a teenager as the result of a nasty divorce and custody hearing between her parents. She thought Colorado was behind her, growing up, going off the college, and getting married. It wasn't u...
