Krew came running up. “Did you see that shot? Did you?”
Caleb and Emily both smiled and nodded.
“You were stinging top shelf.” Caleb ruffled the little boy’s curls.
“Peanut butter,” Krew said with a grin.
Caleb chuckled. Emily hoped Krew didn’t hear how uneasy that laugh was.
“Peanut butter?” she managed to ask, wanting to be involved.
“Top corner of the goal, Mama. Almost impossible to defend top shelf where Mama keeps the peanut butter.”
She smiled at her son but then risked a glance at Caleb. He looked as miserable as she felt, and it made her hurt. He’d been so happy, and though he was also kind and thoughtful, he was an almost carefree soul. Until Jeff had shown up tonight. Emily hated to be the reason why Caleb’s smile was gone.
“We need to go,” she said.
Caleb looked sharply at her but didn’t say anything.
“See ya tomorrow,” Krew chirped to Caleb. “Thanks.”
“See you.” Caleb bumped fists with Krew. When he turned to Emily, the look in his eyes said he knew she wouldn’t be back. “See you tomorrow?” he asked.
Emily couldn’t bring herself to tell him the truth, but she had to stop coming. He was too tempting, too intriguing, too wonderful, but he also wanted her to rock the boat with Jeff. She was a brave soul, but she didn’t know that she was ready for that.
“Thanks,” was all she could get out before she pivoted and hurried after her son. Looking back, she saw Caleb watching her. His shoulders were rounded forward, and his face was filled with sadness. She bit back a sob as she turned her walk into a run, beating Krew to the entrance to the path.
“Hey!” Krew called. “Wait up!”
Emily obeyed, but it was all she could do to pretend that nothing was wrong. She’d hold off on collapsing until she got Krew into bed. It was silly, as she and Caleb weren’t even dating, but she’d been falling head over heels for him. She knew she’d lost him, and it hurt.
* * *
Caleb was decidedly not himself as he watched Emily walk away. He was angry and irrational, and all he wanted was to chase after her and pull her into his arms. Why did her jerk ex have to show up tonight? Why had she ever agreed to not date for a year?
Because of Krew. Caleb had quickly fallen in love with the little man, and he’d do anything in his power to protect him as well. There had to be some way to get Emily and Krew out from under Jeff Gehring’s power, but if she refused to take him back to court, Caleb didn’t know what to do. He’d broken the law plenty with illegal fireworks and bombs, but he wouldn’t risk Krew either.
Caleb watched her until she disappeared through the trail that led to the neighborhood where he’d looked at several houses. He couldn’t take standing here like an indecisive loser for one more second. She wasn’t coming back. Pushing off from the grass, he sprinted after her. He slowed his steps when he reached the trail so she wouldn’t hear his pounding footsteps. The trail was short, and he stopped at the edge, underneath a shadow of pine trees and evergreen bushes.
Three doors down, he saw Krew bouncing up the steps to a classically beautiful home. It fit Emily so well with a wide front porch, large windows with black shutters, and beige clapboard siding. It might have fit better in the South than in Colorado, but it was perfect for her. Caleb watched her wearily climb the steps. Krew opened the door and held it for her; then they stepped inside, and Caleb couldn’t see them anymore.
Caleb put a clenched fist to his chest. He’d spent his life being a prankster: joking, laughing, and blowing things up. In the past, the only things he’d been serious about were his family, his faith, and lacrosse. He realized now that he was also serious about Emily. He’d only spent the past month around her, but his heart belonged to her and to that cute little man, Krew. He couldn’t let them go. Yet he also couldn’t risk Krew being hurt by that loser Jeff Gehring.
Glancing around the quiet neighborhood, he started to form a plan. If nothing else, Caleb was willing to go to great lengths to pull off his schemes. This one was far from the “sturdy tricks” he and Seth used to play on everybody as children and teenagers; nowadays, Caleb mostly played those tricks on Seth from a distance. Just yesterday he’d paid one of Seth’s crew members to hold up different signs during his race, telling Seth not how many laps were left but things like, “Caleb says hi!” “Caleb wants his $10!” “Can’t you jump higher?” and then, on the final lap, “It’s a girl!” Apparently, even though Seth knew it was most likely a joke, he’d flown over the remaining track, beating the competition and then running for his wife, Breeze. She’d been confused and had to explain that she wasn’t expecting. Of course, Seth and Breeze had both laughed when they realized they’d been pranked by Caleb yet again.
Caleb sobered as he studied Emily’s house. No, this wasn’t a prank or a sturdy trick. This was on a grander scale. Even if he couldn’t be with Emily and Krew, he could watch over them.
He’d told Emily he’d be patient for her. His mom would be so proud and relieved if she knew how patient he was being. The rest of his family would be stunned.