Forlot: Thunder Will Come Down - Book Twenty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Eight

My sons had a good point. We could not head to bed. I was not even a tad tired. Neither were the children nor Kara. We all were excited and joyful to have Caleb back home. I had no need to constantly remind myself that I was not dreaming. That Caleb was still dead. Our three new daughters were born healthy - despite that two are teens. I imagined Caleb's violent spirit.

I will never forget when his spirit ripped our daughters out of Destiny's belly. Should I just keep this part from my husband? I am sure that his heart could not take it. He will be anxious of doing such gory stuff. Saying that his soul was not really him will not matter. His anxiety will rise. Guilt will cause him to struggle breathing. He might not live with the spine-chilling fact that a part of him nearly killed someone, even if the person deserved it.

On the other hand, I am uncomfortable with keeping it a dark secret. I do not wish to keep anything from him, our kids, or our friends. Feels wrong, but...

You know what? I will tell Caleb when the month ends. I then will tell our sons and teenage daughters and our other friends. Caleb needs to get over the shock that he was really dead. But it was not his time. This is why his soul was wrecking havoc. It was searching for his body. It wanted to be reunited with the body.

His spirit was dangerous, but I was not frightened of it. Not one bit. It loved me as much as Caleb does. I knew. It would never have hurt or killed me. Rather, it would have comforted me. Wrap its arms around me and give me endless kisses. But Caleb prefers me hugging him.

I put my arms around him and held him close. I placed my head on his shoulder before moving my hand to his stomach. "I am so happy that you are back here. We all are."

Joan giggled and pointed to the three babies on Caleb's lap. I invited her and their cousin to our movie night. I wanted us to celebrate Caleb. What better movie to see than one about monsters terrorizing a small town? It is the kids' favorite movie.

"The kids missed you more," Joan said.

The baby girls were sitting while bouncing. Their claps and sweet coos filled the room. I could not tell whether they were excited that their dad was home or about the movie.

Our other children were in front of us on the floor. Neil and Cal gazed up at the infants and placed their fingers to their mouths and shushed them.

"Can you please keep it down?" Neil whispered.

"We cannot hear the movie," Cal added.

The babies stopped. They whimpered and sniffed.

Cal raised both hands and shook them right and left. A concerned expression was written on his face. "No, no. There is no reason to cry. Not now. Do not cry. Please."

Alex stretched her hands out to her brothers. "Cuddle."

"You will sob unless that we cuddle with you, eh?" Neil asked.

She nodded and smiled.

Cal picked her up and put her in his lap. "There you go, sis."

The new baby looked up at me and patted her belly.

"Hungry?" I asked.

Her belly growled loudly.

"What was that?" Kara demanded. "Sounded like some earthquake."

I cradled the infant in my arms. "It was just this cutie's belly. She is hungry." I stood. "We will return."

"Want us to pause the movie?"

"Yeah. She does not want to miss the best parts."

Minutes later, I reappeared from the kitchen. The baby was grasping and sucking on her bottle. I instantly saw that Caleb and Tamara were not on the couch.

"Where are Caleb and Tamara?" I asked.

"He said that he was going to the bedroom," Joan said. "Tamara would not let go of him, so he took her."

"Thanks." I handed her my daughter and left.

I almost reached the bedroom when I heard Caleb.

"No one must know that I helped the Lubriem fake her death."