One Step Closer(36)

She stopped and stifled a gasp when Caleb visibility stiffened, and abruptly stood up. Running an impatient hand through his thick dark hair, he shrugged the woman off. Wren’s heart leapt at the site, and she longed for him to turn so she could see his handsome face. She was drawn to him, hungry for the sight of him, yet her feet were frozen; unable to move as she watched him from across the room.

“Please, don’t! I feel claustrophobic when you do that, Macy! I don’t want to be touched! Having your arms around me right now makes me feel like I’m in a f*cking cage!” He took a few steps forward and then turned, wanting to shout that he didn’t know her well enough to dump his entire life of bottled up emotions on the floor, but within the course of one split second his eyes landed on the slight form of the woman in the doorway. His heart and mind recognized her right away and he stopped dead.

His stomach dropped as his brain connected the image of the long blonde hair, beautiful face, and sad expression; Wren’s eyes were wide as she stared at him.

“Wren.” The word fell from his lips softly, and as if against his will. Caleb started moving toward her.

Macy’s head snapped around instantly to search for the source of Caleb’s attention.

The moment Caleb said her name, tears started to flow and Wren’s feet were flying as she ran to meet him halfway. Caleb caught her up in a tight embrace, and her arms wound around his shoulders as he pulled her close against him.

There was no stopping his reaction, and no thought that Macy was watching; she may as well have disappeared.

Caleb held Wren in a crushing embrace. His strong arms held her tightly to his chest and her arms locked around him. He smelled amazing; just like she remembered, and he felt like home.

“Oh, my God, Wren.” Caleb’s voice caught as he felt her start to shake against him, his body absorbing her racking sobs.

Wren buried her face in his neck as he lifted her off the ground further into his embrace, unable to keep the torrent of emotions at bay. “Oh, Cale. I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry, Cale.”

Wren wasn’t sure if she was expressing sympathy because of Edison’s death, or pouring out all of the apologies needed to make everything okay between them.

Caleb’s arms tightened again, his heart soaring at the sound of her voice; saying his name as only she said it. He wanted to get closer as if contact between them would be the balm he needed. Wren was the one person who knew him better than anyone ever could, a source of comfort like no one else, and he didn’t want to let her go.

His heart swelled and fell at the same time, his pain intensifying and easing simultaneously, and his tears began to fall like rain, the dam of his pain finally bursting. He cried hard, and Wren’s heart shattered like glass.

“Cale,” she said brokenly.

He was overwhelmed with emotions as he held her, unable to quell his violent reaction. “Oh, Wren. I’m so glad you’re here.” Caleb’s voice was tight, his throat felt swollen and his heart thumped heavily inside his chest. God she was tiny and it felt so good to touch her. “I didn’t know how much I needed you here.” Seeing her after so long, and the reality of his father’s death; the finality of it, and the too late declaration of fatherly love; finally hit him. His emotions over the letter he’d just read, and finally seeing Wren after so long collided, and the result was cataclysmic.

“My dad…” He cried into her shoulder, sinking to his knees on the fine Persian rug and bringing her with him. They literally melted together, both seeking and taking comfort from the other. “I never thought I’d feel this way.”

Wren’s voice broke on a sob as the two of them clung together in the center of the big, masculine room; both of them overcome with grief. “I know. I’m suh-sorry. Suh-sorry I fell asleep. I should have been with you.”

Caleb’s big hand moved from her back to cup the back of her head, his fingers tangling in her long blonde hair. “Hush. You’re here now.”

She was, and he was so grateful. He hadn’t realized how much he needed her near to somehow make sense of any of this. As his tears ebbed, Caleb turned his face to kiss her temple as he inhaled deeply to gain some control over his rampant emotions, his chest tight with love for Wren and the loss of his father. Nothing could be done about their relationship now, and though he’d been hurt and hated Edison for years, the chance to know his father was lost forever. But his chance with Wren was now. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks.

She pulled back just enough to look into his deep blue eyes, now glassed over with tears, his eyelashes wet and spiky, longing to comfort him. He was still beautiful, but his hair was shorter. She lifted her hand to touch the side of his face. “Oh, Cale.” Tears still fell onto her cheeks, and he wiped at them with his thumb. “He loved you. I know he did.”

Caleb’s eyes closed, his expression twisting as he fought to regain control. Why couldn’t his father have said that before it was too late? For years he’d hardened his heart and convinced himself it didn’t matter; but it mattered more than anyone knew. Even Wren.

All Caleb could do was pull Wren close again and bury his face into her shoulder. He was still shaking and all she could do was hold him close, cry with him, stroke his hair, and whisper words designed to comfort him. He was helpless to his feelings and helpless to his reaction.

Caleb succumbed for only a short time, but then reason took hold of his mind, strength took over and he got it together.