Page 4 of Caleb

“I know.” Taylor busied herself with scooping dough into muffin tins, avoiding her mother’s probing gaze.

Grace hesitated, then asked the question she had been dreading. “Do you think you’ll see Caleb while you’re there?”

The name landed like a stone in Taylor’s heart. Her hands stilled for a moment before she forced herself to keep working. “I don’t know,” she said evenly, though the possibility had lingered in the back of her mind since the moment she booked her flight.

They were both in marketing, but that didn’t mean he would attend the same convention as her. They hadn’t seen each other since he’d left college unexpectedly. As far as she knew, he may have never graduated.

“You haven’t seen him since...” Grace trailed off, a faint crease forming between her brows, “since before Liam was born.”

Taylor nodded, her jaw tightening. “And I’d like to keep it that way. There’s no reason for him to know.”

Grace sighed. “You’re probably right. But Caleb—he has a right to know about Liam.”

“That’s not your decision to make,” Taylor snapped before catching herself. She exhaled and softened her tone. “Sorry, Mom. I just... I made my choice a long time ago. Caleb made his. We’re fine without him.”

Maybe Caleb had a right to know he had a son—maybe—but Taylor couldn’t shake the belief that he’d forfeited that right the moment he broke things off with her. He hadn’t even given her the chance to tell him she was pregnant.

When he’d finally returned her calls, it wasn’t to check on her or explain his sudden disappearance. No, it was to deliver the final blow: he wasn’t coming back to college, and they were done. His voice had been cold and distant as though the months they’d spent together had meant nothing.

That phone call had left her shattered, standing in her tiny dorm room with her heart in pieces and a life-changing secret she suddenly had to face on her own.

Someday, Liam would ask about his father, and then she would tell him the truth, but until that day arrived, her secret was safe. From the moment her parents had learned of her pregnancy, they had encouraged her to tell Caleb, but his phone call had been cold, brief, and he’d given her no explanation.

No, he didn’t deserve to know about the life they had created and see their son.

Her mother studied her for a long moment, then squeezed Taylor’s hand. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. But you don’t have to be strong all the time, sweetheart. It’s okay to let people in.”

Taylor pulled her hand away gently, shaking her head. “I’m not reopening that door. Not for Caleb. Not for anyone.”

Grace didn’t press further, but her eyes held a quiet sadness that made Taylor sigh. She turned back to the muffins, sliding the tray into the oven with a little more force than necessary.

By noon, Taylor had packed most of her suitcase, checked her email, and wrangled Liam into his favorite overalls and sneakers. She was double-checking her presentation slides on her laptop when Liam ran into the room, clutching his favorite stuffed bear.

“Mommy, can we go outside?”

The child was all boy and loved spending time outdoors especially if he could find dirt or mud nearby.

Taylor glanced at her to-do list, then at Liam’s eager face. Guilt tugged at her again. “Okay, but just for a little while.”

His face lit up, and he grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the backyard.

The late autumn air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of fallen leaves. Liam immediately headed for the small sandbox in the corner of the yard, plopping down with a determination that made Taylor smile.

She sat on the edge of the deck, watching him dig tunnels and build castles, his imagination running wild. Moments like these reminded her of why she worked so hard and poured every ounce of energy into creating a life that would give Liam the stability and love he deserved.

But as much as she tried to stay present, her mind wandered to the convention. To the possibility of running into Caleb. It was a freakish fantasy she didn’t particularly want to experience.

Would he even recognize her after all these years? She wasn’t the same girl he’d left behind, and she had no intention of letting him see the vulnerability she’d once worn like a second skin. If their paths crossed, she’d keep it professional. Cordial. Detached.

“Mommy, look!” Liam’s voice broke through her thoughts.

Taylor glanced up to see him holding a handful of sand, grinning from ear to ear.

“You’re a mess,” she said with a laugh, knowing there was a bath in his future.

“Am I gonna go with you on the plane?” he asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Taylor’s heart ached. “No, sweetheart. You’re going to stay with Grandma. But I’ll be back before you know it.”

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