My heart ached for Caleb. I wanted to help, but I didn't know how. I wanted to run down there and assure Nate that everything would be fine. That he was a great dad. But I didn’t. I sat on the floor feeling like an intruder.
My phone beeped atop the kitchen counter, and it pulled me out of my trance. When I approached it, there was a message from Nate.
Nicole: I need your help.
Me: What's up?
Nicole: Can you tutor Caleb? He's struggling with fractions.
Me: Of course. You can bring him by the diner after lunch. He can sit in my booth and I’ll give him a few problems to work on.
Nicole: Thanks.
Me: Anytime.
Nicole: Did you hear it all?
I sighed.
Me: The whole thing. I'm sorry.
Nate: It's not your fault.
Me: Is it usually this bad?
Nicole: Over the last few years it’s gotten worse.
Me: Do you want to talk about it?
Nicole: There isn’t much to say. She doesn’t have any patience with him. I don’t think she was ready to be a mom.
My heart ached at the last comment. I wondered if she was tougher on Caleb because she knew he wasn’t Nate’s biological son. My fingers slid across the keypad as I typed out another message.
Me: Bring a Ziploc bag filled with Lego bricks tomorrow.
Nicole: Why?
Me: Trust me.
The following day, a cheerful Caleb pulled back the heavy glass door to the diner. His smile widened when he spotted me.
“Hi, Aunt Brie.” He greeted me with a warm hug.
“Hey, buddy.” I tousled his shaggy hair.
“Dad said you're going to tutor me. He said you were his tutor in college.”
I rested my hands on my knees so we were eye level. “Can you keep a secret?” I whispered, and Caleb nodded. “Your dad only passed his biology final thanks to me.”
Caleb gasped and looked back at his father. “Really, Dad?”
“It's true.” Nate chuckled. “If it wasn't for your Aunt Brie, I don't know what I would've done.”
I walked Caleb over to an empty booth. “You have the Legos?” I asked Nate. He lifted a gallon-sized Ziploc bag for me. “Perfect.” I shook the bag. “How are things at home?”
Nate chuckled. “Is that a rhetorical question?”
“That bad?”
He sighed and his hand massaged the back of his neck. “It’s been bad before, but I think this is the worst she’s been.”
“What do you think caused it?”
“I don’t know. She went into the hospital to deliver Caleb and came out a completely different person. I know they say having a child changes you but she’s done a complete one eighty.”
“I’m sorry.” I shrugged, offering him some comfort.
“It’s okay; he has me. And she’s not a bad mom. She just goes through these phases. But I have to head out for work. Thanks for this. I'll see you later.” I turned to walk away when Nate called for me.
“Brie?”
“Yeah?” I looked back at him.
“Thank you.” His lips were hidden between his teeth.
I smiled. “Anytime.”
Caleb sat in the back corner booth. He had his workbook out and was ready for me. I dumped half the Lego bricks on the table and showed him the trick about fractions and Legos.
“Wow,” Caleb said when I showed him how easy it was to put his Legos together like the problem on the page.
“Now, using the Lego bricks, try to do the problems on your worksheet. I'm going to check on some customers, but I'll be back.”
Caleb nodded and started on the first problem. My heart swelled when he took the bricks and replicated the problem. He wasn’t stupid. He was a bright young boy, and for the first time I wished he was mine. I never wanted children, especially not with Julian, but helping Caleb made me want one of my own.
Or maybe I could be the cool stepmom.
I brushed the thought out of my mind quickly.
I was the cool aunt.
Chapter 32
Brielle
Stolen moments turned into borrowed time. Glances weren't enough. Text messages didn't seem to satisfy our need of each other.
We both wanted more.
It was early August, and Nate and I were in a full-blown emotional affair—the worst kind. I never gave him an answer about leaving Julian, but he took what I was willing to offer. We spoke on the phone every day, and he told me about his day. We had lunch together when we could fit it into our schedules, and when Delaney had to work late at her store and Caleb was with his grandmother, Nate and I ran away to the movie theater and made out like teenagers. I came home with my lips bruised and an unbearable ache between my legs. Like a schoolgirl, I was sneaking around with my boyfriend.
I was in love.
But when we were around our significant others, we acted as if nothing ever happened. He was the man I loved and my best friend all in one.