Page 29 of Caleb

Taylor turned sharply, her heart racing as Liam appeared at the top of the staircase, clutching his favorite stuffed bear. He blinked sleepily at the sight of Caleb.

“Who’s that?”

Taylor glanced at Caleb before heading to the stairs, scooping Liam into her arms. “Just someone Mommy used to know,” she said lightly, kissing his forehead. “What are you doing out of bed?”

“I’m thirsty,” Liam said, his voice soft.

“Let’s get you some water,” Taylor said, carrying him toward the kitchen. She paused, her back to Caleb, and took a deep breath before turning around. “Wait here.”

She had to get him out of there before he pieced it together—before Caleb realized Liam was his son.

Taylor’s heart raced as she glanced between them, her nerves fraying with every passing moment. The way Liam looked up at Caleb, his expression mirroring that same easy charm Caleb had always carried, was almost too much to bear.

If Caleb lingered any longer, if he noticed the familiar tilt of Liam’s head or the way his smile crinkled just like his own, it would all come crashing down. She wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

Caleb nodded, his gaze following her and Liam as they disappeared into the kitchen.

Taylor returned a few minutes later, Liam clutching a glass of water and his bear. His eyes darted to Caleb again, his curiosity evident.

“What’s your name?” Liam asked, his voice shy.

“Caleb,” he said, crouching slightly to meet the boy’s eye level. “What’s yours?”

“Liam,” he said proudly.

“Nice to meet you, Liam,” Caleb said with a small smile.

Taylor watched the interaction, fear gripping her as her heart did somersaults at the sight. Could he really not see it? Could he not recognize his own features reflected so clearly on Liam’s face—the curls and the dimpled grin? Did it not occur to him that the child he had just met was his son? What the hell was wrong with him?

The weight of it hit her all over again like it always did. How could he not know?

“Okay, kiddo,” Taylor said quickly, her voice brighter than she felt. “Why don’t you go show Grandma your bear? I think she’s waiting for you.”

“Okay!” Liam bounded off, leaving Taylor and Caleb alone again.

Caleb straightened, his gaze lingering on the spot where Liam had been.

“Cute kid,” he said. “How old is he?”

Taylor’s stomach twisted, but she kept her expression neutral. “Liam is two and a half years old.”

It was a lie, a carefully constructed one, meant to keep him from figuring it out. If he didn’t ask too many questions, if he didn’t do the math, he’d never realize that Liam was his son.

His eyebrows lifted slightly, but he said nothing.

“He’s big for his age. Where’s his dad?” he asked casually, the question so offhand it felt like a punch to the gut.

Taylor’s hands tightened into fists at her sides, but she kept her voice even. “Not in the picture.”

Caleb nodded slowly as if processing her answer. “His loss, then.”

Taylor exhaled sharply, the old wound reopening as she forced herself to meet his gaze. “Why are you really here, Caleb?” she asked, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.

He hesitated, his jaw tightening. “I don’t know. I just... I couldn’t stop thinking about you. About everything I didn’t say.”

Taylor let out a sharp, humorless laugh, crossing her arms tightly. “Everything you didn’t say? Our relationship must not have meant much to you if you could leave without a word,” Taylor said, her voice sharp and unwavering. “It wasn’t until I called you over and over that you finally bothered to call me back. And even then, you didn’t explain—you just said we were done like it was that simple. Like I didn’t even deserve a reason.”

His jaw tightened, his voice dropping. “Taylor, I?—”

---