Page 35 of Caleb

He needed to know. Who was Liam’s father?

CHAPTER16

The afternoon was picture-perfect, the sun casting a warm glow over Taylor’s backyard as Liam laughed and ran circles around Caleb. She leaned against the porch railing, a cold glass of iced tea in her hand, watching them with a soft smile.

If things kept moving forward, she knew she couldn’t avoid it forever. She would have to tell Caleb the truth about Liam. The thought of that conversation made her stomach twist in knots, a heavy dread settling over her. But it was inevitable—one way or another, the truth would have to come out.

Right now, though, things between them were good. Really good. For the first time in years, Taylor felt like she could breathe like she didn’t have to carry the weight of everything alone. Caleb had been patient, kind, and fully present in a way she hadn’t dared to hope for.

Caleb seemed different—calmer, more grounded as if the years apart had forced him to grow in ways she hadn’t expected.

But they hadn’t touched on the heavy topics yet, mainly his reason for leaving the first time. He was hesitant to talk about it, but before they could ever be serious, she would need to know. Right now, they were just testing the waters, wondering whether the old spark still flickered between them and whether there was a chance they could make things work.

One bad sign, though—one glimpse of the man who had hurt her so deeply—and she’d be gone. She wouldn’t hesitate to walk away this time.

And yet, so far, it almost felt too good to be true. The way he laughed and seemed so patient and attentive like he wasn’t just hearing her words but truly listening—it tugged at something deep inside her, something she wasn’t quite ready to name.

But if he learned the truth? She didn’t doubt for a second that he’d be angry—furious, even. And she couldn’t blame him. She’d kept Liam from him, made choices without him, and no amount of justifying it in her head made it easier to face what she’d done.

If she had to go back and face the same reality, she’d make the same decision. At the time, she and Caleb were done. He’d made that clear with his silence and his parting words. She wasn’t about to tie a man to her with a child, especially not one who didn’t love her.

It had been painful, agonizing even, but it was the right choice. For her, for Liam, and, she had told herself, for Caleb too.

Now, though, with Caleb back in her life, the truth about Liam loomed like a storm cloud on the horizon. She’d wait as long as she could before she told him. Not out of malice, but because she needed to be sure—sure he wouldn’t run, sure he’d want to be part of their son’s life for the right reasons.

Because if she was going to open that door, she needed to know Caleb was ready to walk through it.

For now, she clung to the fragile peace between them, savoring it while she still could. Because once that conversation happened, everything would change. And there was no guarantee it would be for the better.

The past two weeks had felt like a dream—a delicate balance of tentative steps and growing trust. Caleb had slipped seamlessly into their lives, showing up with little gifts for Liam and lending Taylor an easy companionship she hadn’t realized she missed.

“All right, buddy,” Caleb said, crouching to Liam’s level. “You’ve earned a treat. How about one of these?”

Taylor glanced over, her smile faltering as she saw Caleb holding a bright red strawberry. Liam’s eyes widened as he took a big bite, his tiny teeth sinking into the juicy fruit as he chewed happily.

Caleb said, straightening up. “He loves it.”

But just as the words left his mouth, Liam coughed—a small, dry sound that made Taylor freeze.

“Mommy, my throat feels funny,” Liam said, his voice faint and raspy.

Taylor’s heart plummeted, her iced tea forgotten as the glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the ground. She rushed forward, scooping Liam into her arms.

“Caleb, something’s wrong,” she said, her voice trembling.

Caleb’s expression shifted from confusion to alarm as he stepped closer, his eyes scanning Liam’s flushed cheeks and the small red rash beginning to spread down his neck.

“Damn it,” Caleb muttered, grabbing his truck keys from his pocket. “We need to get him to the ER now.”

The drive was a blur of panic and fear. Taylor sat in the backseat, holding Liam close as Caleb sped toward the hospital.

“Breathe, sweetheart,” Taylor whispered, her voice shaking as she stroked Liam’s hair. “You’re okay. Mommy’s got you.”

Liam whimpered softly, his breathing labored, and Taylor’s chest tightened with each shallow breath he took. If only she could breathe for him.

Caleb’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his jaw tight as he navigated through traffic. “How could you not know he was allergic?” he asked, his voice strained but controlled.

Taylor’s head shot up, her eyes narrowing despite the tears pricking at the corners. “I didn’t know, Caleb. He’s never had strawberries before.”

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