Page 39 of Caleb

Eugenia’s expression softened again, the teasing glint in her eye fading. “You’ve been given something precious, Caleb. Something worth more than all the land and cattle in the world. Don’t waste it.”

He looked away, her words sinking deep. It was true. He and Taylor had created this little human being—a bright, lively boy—out of love. And yet, he had let his family’s problems come between them, pulling him away when he should have stayed.

She deserved the truth. Taylor deserved to know why he had left without saying good-bye, why he had broken things off so abruptly. She deserved to know the storm he had been caught in back then, the weight he had carried, and the fear that had driven him to run.

It wouldn’t erase the past, but maybe it would give her some of the answers she had been denied for so long. And maybe it could give them both a chance to move forward.

Start over.

And more than anything, she deserved his promise—a real one, not empty words spoken in desperation. A promise to her and Liam that he would be the father their son deserved.

He would be there not just for the milestones but also for the small moments—the scraped knees, the bedtime stories, the endless questions about how the world worked. He would show Liam what it meant to have a father who stayed, cared, and tried every day to do better.

And he would show Taylor that she wasn’t alone anymore. That this time, he wouldn’t run.

“And don’t forget about Taylor,” Eugenia added like she’d been reading his mind. “That girl’s been through hell raising that boy on her own. She loves you, even if she’s too stubborn to admit it outright. And you love her.”

Caleb’s head snapped back to her, his eyes narrowing. “How do you know that?”

She raised a ghostly brow. “Oh, please. You think I don’t see the way you look at her? The way you light up when she walks into a room? You might as well have it tattooed on your forehead, sweetheart.”

The truth of her words were comforting and terrifying. He’d sworn never to marry.

“Marry the girl, Caleb,” Eugenia said firmly. “Make her yours. Create a family.”

He swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling over him. “What if she doesn’t want me?”

Eugenia smiled, her gaze softening. “Then you fight for her. You show her that you’re worth the risk. That you’re not going to run this time.”

Her form began to shimmer, fading slightly as she added, “You’ve got something worth fighting for, Caleb. Don’t let it slip away.”

As she disappeared, the room fell silent again. Caleb sat on the bed, her words echoing in his mind.

He wasn’t his father. He didn’t have to be.

And for the first time, he felt like he could believe it.

CHAPTER18

Taylor sat at the kitchen table, staring into the steam rising from her untouched cup of coffee. The house was quiet except for the refrigerator’s faint hum and birds’ occasional chirp outside the window. Liam was still asleep in his room, worn out from the ordeal at the hospital, and Taylor was grateful for the stillness.

Her hands wrapped around the mug, seeking comfort in its warmth, but her thoughts refused to settle. Everything was out in the open now—Caleb knew. The secret she had carried for years, the truth she had protected, was no longer hers alone.

Who could have predicted that a childhood strawberry allergy—of all things—would be the thing to out her to Caleb? For days, she’d wrestled with the thought of telling him, the words circling in her mind but never reaching her lips. She had planned to do it on her terms, in her own time, with careful consideration.

But life, as always, had other plans.

She let out a shaky breath, her mind replaying the moment in the hospital when Caleb had asked her the question she’d dreaded most. The look on his face when she told him the truth—equal parts shock, hurt, and something she couldn’t quite name—was seared into her memory.

He seemed shocked when the truth hit him—that Liam was his son. How could he not have noticed? The boy’s smile, the sparkle in his eyes, even his laugh—all of it was so unmistakably Caleb.

Some days, being with her son felt like both a blessing and a curse. Liam brought her more joy than she thought possible, but she was reminded of Caleb every time she looked at him. The stubborn tilt of Liam’s chin when he was determined, the way he ran his hands through his curls when he was thinking—it was like Caleb was woven into the very fabric of who Liam was.

And now Caleb saw it too.

Where did they go from here?

That question had circled in Taylor’s mind since yesterday, refusing to let her rest. Caleb’s family ranch wasn’t just a sprawling piece of land—it was a legacy that came with deep pockets and undeniable influence. The Burnetts weren’t just ranchers but a privileged group, connected and powerful. Would Caleb try to take Liam from her?

---