Page 22 of Blessings in Disguise

“Of course I do. I’d never leave you like this. But others can help, too.”

He took her hand. Linked their fingers. “I need to do something?”

“Exercise?”

“Maybe after. Right now I want…you.”

It took her a minute to realize what he meant. “Of course, let’s go upstairs.” Then she frowned. “Or is someone else here?”

“Nobody’s here or coming tonight.”

She grabbed his hand. Tugged on it. “Let’s go then.”

He held her back. “You sure you want to? I don’t want…what’s it called a…”

“Mercy fuck.”

“Yeah, I don’t want that.”

She actually laughed. “I’ve thought about sex with you since the last time. Let’s go be free and wild.”

An actual smile on his face. She could work with that.

After a vigorous half-hour of sex, Caleb lay on the pillow with her. She cuddled into him. He kissed her head.

“Want to run now?”

“It’s dark out already. Let’s stay here a while. You’re enough to drag me through this.”

Gemma found she was thrilled by the notion.

* * *

Later that week, Caleb was feeling somewhat better about the bad news he’d gotten about the bombing. And he’d checked in twice with Harlan andheseemed okay, too. But Caleb was restless, so he’d gone to the Y to work out. He retrieved some weights, sat on a bench and did some arm curls. After ten, his biceps were saturated.

The guy next to him said, “I think you started out with too many weights, pastor.”

He looked over. Joe Romano was working out on the bench next to him. “Hey, Joe. I didn’t see you there.” He knew Romano because Joe was a close friend of Jackson’s. Caleb had even driven Jackson to a fire scene when Joe was in trouble.

“Yeah. I’m new to this. I decided I need a physical outlet. And I’d like to get into better shape.” It wasn’t for Gemma. Or at least not only for her. He wanted to feel better.

“Exercises release endorphins. They make you happier.”

Caleb cocked his head. “Why are you at the Y? Don’t you work out at the fire house?”

“Actually, I got a promotion and I’m not assigned to one house. I could have gone to the fire academy but the Y is closer to where I live.” Joe stood. “I’m pretty much done.” They chatted for a few minutes then Joe said, “Good luck, Caleb.”

He watched Joe as he left. The man was happy now. He knew from Maisy what happened to him last month. He had a stalker who blamed him for not being able to save her twins’ lives in a fire where he’d lost his own brother. Caleb shook his head. The world was full of danger and evil and he no longer had God to help out.

Which makes you sad.

“Yeah, it makes me sad.” Silly to answer your unconscious mind. But there was a huge hole in his heart at the loss of the deity.

It’s not too late, son.

But it was. For that. But not for living in the present.

He got up from the bench and went to a universal machine and did the exercises the trainer here had shown him.

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