Page 23 of Secret Baby for Mr. Grump

There was no use arguing. I could tell by the stubborn set on my brother’s chin that I wasn’t going anywhere without him, so I simply sighed in resignation and started after Marcus, who was already down the stairs and about to turn left.

The rest of the tour was one of the most awkward things I could imagine. Between Adam glaring at Marcus, Marcus studiously ignoring him, and me trying to play peacemaker between the two testosterone-filled beings, I was just about ready for it to be over. Still, I showed Marcus all the important places, and we even trudged around the compound to show him the dude ranch we often utilized for activities when it wasn’t too cold.

We also discussed a little bit about how the holiday resort worked, including how profitable it was…or, well, how it used to be. Secretly, I was hoping he could use that information to convince his boss to continue the resort rather than tear it down and turn it into a strip mall or something, but Marcus’ words at the end of the tour yanked down that illusion.

“Most of it is pretty bad,” he said. “The walls are unsalvageable. It would be better if we broke down the building.”

“No!” Marcus’ words left me in despair, and his shrewd eyes swung to me. “I mean…I thought you said you were just renovating.”

“I thought so, too, until I saw just how much of a wreck this place is.”

“It isn’t that bad,” Adam piped up defensively. “The foundation’s pretty solid. It just needs some work.”

“It would take way more money to renovate it, and even with that, there’s no guarantee it will be safe even then. Better to rip it all up and try again.”

I shared a panicked look with Adam, but he was still glaring at Marcus.

“You’re just doing this as revenge, aren’t you ?” he said, and I turned to frown at my brother. What on earth was he talking about?

“Believe what you want,” Marcus said, then turned around easily. “I think we’re done here. I’ll come in tomorrow and meet the staff, give them a low-down of what we can start getting done.”

And with that, he walked off.

After Marcus left, Adam lectured me about him all the way to the office, where Athena took over, lecturing me all the way home.

“What were you even thinking going with him? Did you forget how dangerous he was? Do you know what he could have done to you?”

I didn’t bother to correct her assumptions, knowing it would be a waste of breath. Convincing any of my siblings against their preconceived notions was like moving the earth. The only thing I could do was sit there and tune her out. And remember the feeling of his lips against mine, the way his body felt.

I still wanted him, and even now, my body was weeping for him.

But I probably couldn’t have him again.

Because while Athena may be wrong that he was dangerous for me, I couldn’t be certain yet whether or not he was dangerous for Caleb. And until I figured that out, I wasn’t dipping my finger in it.

Which meant no more kissing Marcus for now.

The thought depressed me more than I thought it would.

I tried to keep busy to prevent myself from thinking about it as I picked Caleb up.

The next day was his psychologist appointment, and I took note to mention Caleb’s recent behavior to her.

When we got to her office, Caleb ignored her greeting, sitting in his favorite chair and squeezing his fish figurine as he stared at the wall.

Dr. Rowanna glanced at me instead. “How is he doing?’

I sighed. “Well, he was doing better and then worse. I’m not sure what it is I’m doing wrong, but it has to be something because one moment, he’s on the verge of speaking to me again, and the next minute, he goes radio silent.”

“I doubt it’s anything you’re doing,” the psychologist said comfortingly. “Some kids are more difficult than others.”

“Yes, but doctor, you should have seen his reaction the other night when I went out late. He kept crying and wouldn’t let up until I came back.”

She frowned. “Tell me about that.”

I recited the entire incident to her, telling her everything Athena had told me about what Caleb did.

Caleb didn’t show any physical reaction to the words. It was as though he couldn’t hear me at all.

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