It is much easier
to become
a father
than to be one.
Kent Nerburn
to become
a father
than to be one.
Kent Nerburn
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Cale was in the middle of hitting a note that was well down right impossible for him when his wife called out to him, “ in the kitchen baby.” Seriously, how could he resist smiling? Hadn’t he just been thinking of calling her then poof she shows up. She was seriously better than Esperanza Spalding. You couldn’t find this in a song or book this was life. Real and up in his face. He loved it! Of course, he’d never tell any of his coworkers he was excited over things like his wife showing up at their house after work. They’d just think he was crazy. And, he was just a little crazy. “ Yes I’m cooking…what’s that tone mean? You know some women love for the men to get in the kitchen.” Cale let the skillet go when he felt her arms wrap around him. Cale took a deep breath and let himself settle into the feel of her arms around his stomach. This was it. This was what home was all about for him. “ That feels good.”
She stepped back and let her hands drop from his waist and he finally let himself settle into the evening. Turning the flame on low he covered the skillet and turned to watch Bree as she moved about the kitchen doing little things, “ ya know. If I didn’t know any better I’d think Charles was trying to keep you at the office too much. Does he not know you got a husband waiting for you at home, who misses you every two hours that pass?” Cale walked over to where Bree was leaning against the counter and bracketed her body with his arms. “ What do you think babe? Should I go in and have a talk with your boss about keeping you late? You know what a jealous man I can be.” Cale said the last words on a smile. He wasn’t the least bit the jealous type and they both knew it. Lowering his head he caught her lips under his own and gave her what he called a proper kiss.
“ Mmm…you always had the sweetest lips,” Cale stepped in crowding Bree a bit more so that she’d have t crank her neck to look at him. This was the part of day Cale loved best about coming her. It was her. He loved the touch of her, taste of her. If anyone told him that his wife doubted the way he loved her or even why he loved her. He would have laughed at them. As far as he was concerned, he showed her every day just how much she meant to him. It wasn’t every day he said it, but he did try to show it. Cale was about to lower his head in for another kiss when the door bell ran. His mouth hovered over Bree’s and he was sure she felt the breath as it fell from his lips. “ Don’t you move I’ll be right back”
Jogging to the door he looked through the peep hole, only to see the back of someone’s head. Unlocking the door he opened it just a bit, keeping his hand on the frame so he could quickly answer the door and get back to spending some time with his wife, “ hey…can I help you?
The man turned around with a puzzled look on his face, “ I’m looking for Caleb Walker.
“ Well you found him buddy”
“ You’re Caleb Walker?”
“ In the flesh. Look…how can I help you? If this is about a job you’ll have to contact my office. I hardly do freelance anymore.”
“ What…no. This isn’t about your job. I’m sorry I just didn’t expect….hmm"
“ Didn’t expect what?"
“ You I guess.”
“ Look guy if you’ve got something to say I suggest you make it quick”
“ Yeah. That would be best. I’m Cheri’s husband. ”
“ Cheri? Caleb was about to tell the man he didn’t know a Cheri. Then he remembered. Hell, how could he forget Cheri. She’d been the woman before Bree. It had been a long long time ago. So why the hell was her husband at his door. “ I don’t understand”
“ I know you don’t. But…I’m here because…well Cheri didn’t tell you but. When you guys split up..she was pregnant. With your child. You have a daughter.”
“ I have a what? Is this a joke? ” Cale looked over his shoulder to see if Bree was in hearing distance. She didn’t need to hear this crude joke. Cale knew how much she wanted children and for someone even to joke about him having a child. He didn’t know how she was going to act.
The man adjusted his collar and moved to the side to reveal the young girl behind him, “ listen…I know it’s a shock and I hate to do this to you but. Cheri is sick and we can’t pay for her bills and take care of the kid at the same time. So…we’re hoping you’ll take the kid until Cheri gets better.
“ You’ve got to be kidding. ” Caleb barely looked at the child, “ you know this is a really sick joke. And, for you to drag a kid into it. Listen, I don’t know who you are but, you need to leave.”
The stranger turned beat red and pushed the little girl towards Caleb, “ this aint no joke. The kid is yours. And, I don’t have the money to care for my wife and her the same time. SO why don’t you be a man and take care of your spawn.”
Caleb didn’t know how it happened, but his fist flew and found itself planted in the man’s face. He wasn’t about to let the man stand there and slander his integrity. By now, he was sure Bree heard the noise. She wouldn’t be able to resist coming out to see what was happening. Caleb looked down at the little girl and that quick second was all the girl’s step father needed. He scrambled down the hallway and the stairs then out of the building. “ HEY! Hey! ” Caleb dashed down the hallway behind him! “ What the hell!” He knew he wouldn’t catch the man and frankly he didn’t really want to. If the man talked about the little kid like that in front of someone else he couldn’t imagine what he told the little girl when no one was around. s**t, he was going to have to call child services or something. He didn’t believe for one minute this was his child. Cheri. The man mentioned Cheri. It was time for him to give the woman a call so he could sort all of this mess out.
s**t. This was just what he needed.
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To catch a husband is an α я τ; to hold him is a job.
