For the first time in months, I'm back in Nashville. We have two days before we leave on tour again. I love all the time spent with Daniel on the road, but I can't wait for some R&R.
When my ride pulls into the driveway, I notice a truck that I don't recognize. The house seems eerily quiet as I find my key and unlock the door.
"Denny....Patty....your favorite child is home!" I yell. As I set my stuff down, I hear heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. It's Caleb, their younger son. He looks like he's been crying.
"You must be Kerrigan." He says, his voice cracking.
"I am. And you're Caleb, right? What's going on?"
He doesn't say anything else before walking up to me and giving me a hug. "Dad had a heart attack. He's in the hospital right now. I just came to shower and collect some things for Mom."
"What?!" Is all I can manage to say.
************************************
The ride home from the hospital with Caleb was comfortably quiet. We had spent most of the day with Denny, but decided to come back to the house so he could rest. There wasn't anything that we could do for him and Patty wasn't leaving his side so he wouldn't be alone.
"How are you doing?" I ask Caleb once we're inside the house. "I can make you something to eat or we can go somewhere if you'd like."
Caleb shakes his head. "I'm fine, thanks. This is kind of a shitty way to first meet someone, huh?"
I laugh a little at his question. Although today was my first time meeting him in person, I felt like I already knew him. Denny and Patty talked about their two sons a lot. Charlie is married with a baby on the way, living in Wisconsin. While Caleb is what his dad calls 'a rolling stone'. Always traveling and ready for an adventure.
Caleb has definitely changed in looks from the school and family pictures in the house. He's gained about twenty pounds of muscle and keeps a couple days worth of stubble on his face. Not to mention he has eyelashes for days that magnify his grey blue eyes.
I suddenly feel aware that I've been staring while taking in Caleb's grown up appearance, but he doesn't seem to notice. "Well, how 'bout we just watch a movie or something? Maybe it'll keep our minds off of what's going on?" I ask.
"Yeah, sure." He says with a smile.
Caleb sits on one end of the couch and I sit on the opposite side. Once the movie is about halfway through, I feel like I need to stretch out. I scoot myself down a little and rest my head on the arm of the couch.
"You can lie down if you want. My folks taught me how to share and I won't bite." Caleb says noticing my position change.
"Thanks, but this is fine." I say.
I feel Caleb's large hands grab my legs and pull me to him so my legs lie across his lap. He then takes the throw blanket off the back of the couch and drapes it across us. "Now, rest and watch the movie."
I'm a little taken back by the intimate gesture, but I manage a little smile of thanks.
I'm in a relationship with Daniel and even though I've known Caleb longer, we haven't even been in each other's presence for 24 hours yet. But for some reason lying on the couch like this, with him, feels perfect.
YOU ARE READING
The Write Stuff
General FictionFresh from a failed relationship, Kerrigan Rhys, will start a new life in Nashville as a song writer after she wins a writing competition. She quickly learns just how small her world has been when she meets all the players of the industry. Will she...
