Love Me Enough To Hurt Me

Chapter 20: Since She's Been Gone

*Authors note: This is going to be a really short chapter. Hope you still enjoy. 

Caiden

Caiden pulled up to Caitlyn's house. He felt bad because he never knew why she stopped by the office the other night. He was going to call her and chat, but he needed time with his friends. Who ended up giving him the same advice she and Nana G did: give Nailani space. He didn't know how much longer he would be able to give his wife space. He wanted to talk but she wouldn't even pick up his calls. After parking outside Caitlyn's house, he goes to knock on the door, and it didn't take long for it to open. Caitlyn looked rushed, and her tense shoulders relaxed when she saw it was just Caiden.

"Oh, it's you," she sighs, "what did you want?" Caitlyn asks. "who, what's with the tude... Expecting someone one," Caiden asks. "Yes, our mother, whom I know you're avoiding, so what do you want?" Caiden didn't address the hiding part. It was true he had been avoiding his mom at all costs, especially after the voicemail he heard. He didn't want to argue with his mother, though the voicemail angered him and made this situation with his wife even more complicated. "Well, you stopped by the office the other day," Caiden says. "Oh right, well, I didn't want anything. I was just checking in on you," Caitlyn says earnestly.

"Hmm, oh, okay. Well, that's all I wanted, "Caiden says, wondering what was going on with his sister and if he should be concerned.

A silence fell over the room, broken by a knock on the door. "Well, it's too late. I guess you will have to face our dear mother," Caitlyn said as she walked to the door to open it for her mother.

Caiden sighs and tries to mentally prepare himself for whatever foolishness his mother might throw his way. He still doesn't plan on staying long; he'd just greet her and then excuse himself to go home. Yep, that's the plan, he thinks to himself.

Their mother walks in surprised but happy to see her son, "Caiden, it's so good to see you," she says, pulling him into a hug.

"Hi, Mom, I was just leaving," he replies

"But Caiden, Honey, where are you going? I just got here; won't you stay awhile."

"Um, I can't, "Caiden says

"And why not," his mom says, crossing her arms.

"Because I have things to do and a business to run," Caiden says

"AND that wife of yours, what's her excuse for not being around?" she asks snidely.

"Does it matter, Mom? You don't want her around anyway, so why are you even asking about her?" he asks in frustration.

"I'm asking a question, Cai, why are you being difficult," Darlene says.

"Mom, if you are going to use this time to come for Nailani, maybe it's best you leave," Caitlyn says, crossing her arms.

"Here you go again, Caitlyn," she says, rolling her eyes.

"Yes, Mom, here I go again. Or would you like to tell Caiden what you said about his wife after they lost the baby?" Caitlyn says.

This caught Caiden's attention as he stared at his sister before glaring at his mother. It couldn't be worse than the damn voice mail, could it? He thought to himself before addressing his mother.

"And what did you say about my wife?" Caiden says through gritted teeth.

Their mother lets out a sigh, "Listen, Cai, anything I may have said, it's not like it was a lie that the girl is broken, and now we know she's hardly a woman. She can't even bring a child to term. She used this family to get out of the gutter she's from," Darlene says.