Ocean Eyes - Maddie Poppe and Caleb Hutchinson Series (Book 3)

Chapter 20

Maddie's POV

After the girls are finished eating, we head home. Caleb comes home a little while later. I turn on a movie and the girls sit together on the couch, Caleb and I sitting on both ends.

"Caleb?" I say, after thinking for almost the whole movie, not giving any attention to the it.

"Yeah?" He says.

"I need to talk to you," I say softly.

"Okay," he says, confused.

I stand up and he follows me into the kitchen.

I sigh, looking at the floor, "Caleb."

"What's going on?" He asks.

I stare at him for a moment, "When I took them to eat earlier, I heard them talking. Caroline more."

"What'd she say?"

"She was talking about how you love me and you don't love Bella."

"Maddie, she's only five."

"I know, Caleb. It's not me," I shake my head, "I just feel so bad for her. She's so confused."

"I'll talk to her," he says, after a moment.

We got back into the living room and the credits are rolling.

"Mommy! You missed the best part," Allison giggles.

"I'm sorry, baby," I rub her head.

"Caroline? Can daddy talk to you?" Caleb asks Caroline.

"What about?" She asks, softly.

"Come on, you wanna go to your room?" He asks.

She nods, and they go upstairs.

Caleb's POV

Caroline sits on her bed and I go over and sit beside her.

"What's going on?" She asks.

"I wanna talk to you about something," I tell her.

"Okay," she says.

I look at her for a moment, "You know I love Maddie."

"Mhm," she plays with her little fingers.

"But you know that doesn't mean that I don't care about mommy."

She looks up for a moment, "I don't understand why you love Allison's mommy but you don't love mine."

I hear the home phone ringing, but I continue talking to Caroline, knowing Maddie will get the phone.

She looks back down at her fingers when I speak to her, "I will always love and care about mommy. But I love Maddie in a different way."

She gives me a confused look, "Huh?"

"You'll understand when you're older," I tell her, "your mommy and I decided it would be best if it was like this. And Maddie makes me happy."

"Didn't mommy make you happy?"

"We're all happy the way things are now. Aren't you happy?"

"Yes," she smiles, "I am very happy."

"Good," I smile, "just remember that it's better this way. We are-"

I'm cut off when the door swings open. I look over at Maddie who has a horrified look on her face.

"Maddie?"

"Caleb, I'm so sorry to interrupt," she says, shakily.

"Baby, what's going on?" I ask, going over to her.

"Are you okay, Maddie?" Caroline asks.

Maddie takes my arm and pulls me out in the hallway.

"It's Bella," she whispers, so Caroline can't hear.

"What about Bella? Is she okay?" I ask, concerned.

She shakes her head as a tear goes down her cheek, "No. She's not."

"Maddie, what's going on?"

"She's dead."