Page 43 of Saved By Two

After hacking up my airways and what feels like a lung, I can finally catch my breath enough to take a few sips of water, the cool liquid heaven on my raw throat.

“Maggie, they’re just protective, and besides, they’re together.”

She raises an eyebrow and lets out a ‘hmmm’ sound as she stirs her tea and then joins me.

“Have you any plans over the Easter bank holiday weekend?” I ask in the hopes of steering this conversation elsewhere.

“I’m visiting with my sister in Wales. My youngest niece had a son; I’ve only met him on Zoom. I can’t wait to give him a big snuggle from his Great Aunt Mag.”

Her smile is contagious, and I can’t help but to return it.

“Me and Jeff might not have been blessed with children, but we’ve been fortunate with our nieces and nephews.”

The thought of her and her husband being unable to have children is heartbreaking.

I clear my throat. “Did you ever consider adopting or fostering?” As soon as the question leaves my lips, I instantly want to take it back. “Sorry, that was rude of me even to ask that.”

She reaches for my hand and squeezes. “Oh, no love, not at all. On the contrary, it’s interesting you should ask. We fostered. It’s how we met Caleb.”

I have no words.

“But no, we never adopted, not because we didn’t want to but because we felt we could help more by fostering. We only stopped when Jeff got sick. But even to this day, I still keep in touch with every child who stepped over our threshold.”

My eyes well with emotion, tears streaking down my cheeks before I can get a handle on them. I can only imagine the positive effect Maggie had on so many, the way she nurtures so naturally.

“I didn’t know that about Caleb,” I say, wiping my face. She passes me a tissue, and her eyes soften.

“No, not a lot of people do. He’s built those walls high. But that’s not my story to tell.”

I nod in understanding; I wouldn’t want someone else talking about my past, either.

“So dear, what do you have planned for today?”

Pulling the recipe book closer, I flip through and stop on the page, turning it towards her.

“Oh, that looks delicious, and what will you make for dessert?”

Biting my lip, I shake my head. “I have no idea, to be honest.”

“Well, sticky toffee pudding is one of their favourites.”

Now that I can do.

“Have a quick look in the fridge and pantry. If you’re missing anything, we can pop the shop before I leave.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I haven’t left the house since I’ve been here, and the thought sends my mind reeling with turmoil.

ChapterTwenty-Three

CALEB

My meetings ran later than I would have liked, and I know Noah’s day was fully booked. The thought of Jessica home alone eats me up inside. The need to protect her runs riot as I sit in local traffic. Bloody typical. It wouldn’t usually leave me feeling so disgruntled, but I haven’t even managed a phone call to check in with her.

I know she’s a grown woman, but after everything, it’s impossible to ignore how much she affects me—affects us.

She might have arrived in her moment of need, and I wish it were under less dire circumstances, but the fact of the matter is, she belongs with us. We’ve been tiptoeing around our attraction for weeks while she’s also been healing physically and mentally. How will she react? Is she ready to cross the line? Because there is no going back once we do.

Parking up, I grab my laptop and jog up the steps to the house. My car automatically locks behind me as I pull out my door key.

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