Broken Memory ✓

24. Hi, "Son I Abandoned"! I'm Dad!

So, this is it.

We're finally going to crack the mystery of Caleb's life. Who and where his dad is.

Caleb and I sit in the back of the car, Erin driving us. The leather seats are uncomfortably stiff, but I don't even notice anymore, my focus completely on Caleb. He's fidgeting with his hands nonstop, obviously riddled with an overwhelming amount of anxiety. I don't want to break the silence in the air and draw attention to myself, so I instead take Caleb's hand in mine and rest our hands in my lap. He glances towards me, smiling slightly, and shows his appreciation by rubbing his thumb on my hand gently.

"So, Caleb, there's some things you should know about your dad before you two meet."

"Like what?"

"Well, like he's very professional and I guess 'classy'. In reality he's just filthy rich the last time I ever talked to him. He has two more kids now because the woman she married had two kids in her custody. He might try to play you off as crazy or something... But he knows you're really Caleb and he's just scared."

"Ah, geez..."

"Now, would you rather I go with you or leave and come back later?"

Caleb glances to me. "As long as Ash comes with, I'll be fine. How much time do you think you should give me?"

"Just text when you're ready to go, but I'll come back in two hours. If you need sooner or later, just tell me."

"Okay," Caleb nods. "Anything else I should know?"

"Not that I know of since I haven't seen him in quite a while. But I'm sure you can handle this. I don't say it enough, but you're a really strong person emotionally."

"I-I don't know about that one."

"Caleb, trust me, you are," I assure him. He smiles at me and nods reluctantly, just barely believing what we had just told him.

Soon, Erin pulls into the driveway belonging to an upscale looking multiple story house. It's almost as cliche as it gets in terms of rich housing; a white picket fence, an extravagant garden with a large statue and fountain. Everything is just so... Fancy... And I immediately feel like I don't belong here.

"Well, here we are. Don't be scared by how expensive everything is, you guys got this."

Caleb and I get out and walk to the front of the car together. We wave as Erin drives off and then turn to each other.

"I'm terrified," he chuckles. "Out of my mind."

"We're in this together."

"Oh, uh, speaking of which... Before we go in, can we talk about something?"

"Yeah, of course."

"So uh, I kinda admitted to liking you more than a friend yesterday... And Connor claimed you adored me and stuff... I just wanna know... Do you feel the same?"

"Um, well..." I feel a sense of panic in my body, like it's wondering, 'is this really happening?' "Yeah, I do. I've really really liked you for a while now... You just... Remind me that there are a lot of things worth fighting for."

A massive grin spreads across his face. "You remind me I'm not so bad among so many other things... Could I uh..." he almost trails off, but when he meets my eyes again, continues to talk. "Could I introduce you as my girlfriend today?"

Girlfriend.

Oh, god, that name rolls off the tongue.

If I say yes, then that means he's my boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

I love that name for him.

"I'd love that," I feel that familiar tingly feeling all over my body.

He wraps me into a hug and murmurs, "you're insane for liking me. Absolutely bonkers."

I chuckle. "We're insane together. Now, come on." I pull away from him, taking his hand in mine, and bring him to the front door of his dad's house. He's nervous, but after what just happened, it seems he's gained some amount of confidence. "I'll let you knock on the door. Whenever you're ready."

Caleb lifts up his hand, takes a deep breath, and loudly knocks on the large white door. We hear high pitched barking of a couple of small dogs and footsteps approaching. "Here we go," he whispers.

A teenage girl opens the door and stares us both down. "Can I help you?" she scans the both of us, making me feel small under her piercing gaze.

"I need to speak to the father living here," Caleb says, trying to make himself sound confident and strong.

She nods, apathetic, and turns her head to call out. "Dad! A couple of kids are here for you!"

"Tell them we don't want to buy any food from them!" a deep voice calls back. I feel Caleb tense up at the voice, and I can tell it brought back some memories.

"I don't think they're selling anything!" she calls back to her dad.

"Fine," he yells. We hear footsteps and the teenage girl walks away, leaving the door open for the man to greet us.

A man appears into view with combed back black hair. His face obviously somewhat resembles Caleb's, and it's clear they're related. The man has Caleb's same blue eyes and he wears an expensive button up and shorts. A typical rich dad outfit.

"Hello? Can I help you?" he first looks at me, but quickly moves onto Caleb and examines his face closely. Almost like he may recognize him.

"It's Caleb," he says. "Uh, hi..."

"I don't know a Caleb, sorry."

"No, it's me. Your son. Erin is my mom."

Caleb's dad shakes his head in disbelief, tightly gripping onto the door like it will save him. "But... I left a long time ago... And you probably have a new dad by now, right?"

"No. I've lived with Erin and only Erin for years. But I heard about why you left. I just felt like I should meet you."

"And who's this?" he motions towards me.

"Oh, uh, this is Ash. My girlfriend."

A bit of surprise reaches his face at the last bit, like, 'how did he get a girlfriend?', and that bothers me a tiny bit. It's not like Caleb is unlovable or necessarily a 'monster'.

"Well, come inside. We have a lot of catching up to do."

We find ourselves sitting on a couch in Caleb's dad's office. His dad sits at his office chair facing us and rests his hands on the desk in front of him. "So," he begins, clearing his throat. "What exactly do you want to talk about?"

"My attacks. Do you have any idea how to stop them? I-I don't want to hurt anyone again."

"I don't know too much about it, Caleb. But I do know a lot of it is caused by anger... Pent up negative emotions. And I know you don't like to trouble anyone with your emotions, you've always been that way. That could be why you did what you did."

"Not having a healthy way to deal with emotions?"

"Yeah, plus... We really didn't give you the best childhood... But I never expected you to get in such a state. I didn't know at the time why you did what you did either... I'm sorry Erin and I never gave you a proper childhood."

Caleb nods. "I forgive you."

We continue to talk about all that's happened to Caleb while his dad has been gone and all that's happened to him since he left. It's like turning over a new leaf in a sense, like Caleb is finally getting the closure he so desperately has wanted. Towards the end of the two hour visit, his dad turns to me and smiles.

"Take care of him, Ash. He's a keeper."

I smile back. "Trust me, I know."

YOOOOOO NEXT CHAPTER IS THE EPILOGUE, THEN CONSIDER THIS BOOK D O N E (besides the heavy editing it so desperately needs) I HOPE Y'ALL LIKED IT BECAUSE UHHHHH I KINDA DID I GUESS BUT IT WAS FUN TO WRITE YAY!!