Monday, April 23, 2012

Tuesday Tales: With This Heart Part Ten

I have to say a quick thank you for those of you following my tale. Make sure you stop back here to read the rest of contributors.  This week's prompt was the word "CAR".  With that being said, lets resume where our story left off....


Missed the previous parts? Click HERE






"With This Heart: Part Ten"


Shock rolled through Paisley.  She hadn’t expected his revelation.  Nibbling on her lower lip, she wondered if she should pry any further – but decided she had to know – to understand why a woman, particularly a woman married to Kaleb’s brother, would do such a thing to her.  Lifting her head off his chest, she looked up into his saddened eyes. “What happened?”
He sighed. “When Uncle Ray found them in bed together, he was pissed. He disowned his own son before walking out of the house.  He never said a word to the bitch, just left.” Kaleb began to rub small circles on her back. “From what I found out from Momma – later that night Donald caught up with his dad at one of the local taverns.  There were words between them and Ray left.  He went home only to realize that Aunt Pam had cleaned out her things, all of the money in their bank account, and had split taking Uncle Ray’s car.  Later we found out she’d moved two counties over with one of her lovers, but my uncle wanted nothing more to do with her. He filed for divorce a short time later.”
Anger for Ray surged through Paisley, but she controlled it. It was females like Pam who gave all women a bad name.  “So what happened with Donald? Did he and his dad mend fences?”
His arms tightened around her. “I wish I could say that happened but...it didn’t. Evidently after Ray left, he stayed at the bar, got loaded before going home. Uncle Ray found him the next morning – he’d gone over to his son’s apartment wanting to talk. After he’d had time to cool down, he thought maybe he’d jumped the gun by disowning Donald – especially in light of Aunt Pam’s disappearance.” 
Dread built in her stomach as he continued. “I’ll never forget the look on his face when we walked into Donald’s living room.  He’d hung himself from the ceiling fan – leaving a short suicide note about how he’d disgraced himself and how he hoped one day his father would find it in his heart to forgive him.”  Kaleb rested his chin on her head. “Later the autopsy showed if he hadn’t hung himself, he’d have probably been dead anyway. The coroner found he had a blood alcohol level of .268 in his system – and with Donald’s juvenile diabetes – his body would’ve shut down on him.”
          Rubbing her hand over his chest, she wondered if there was anything she really could say. After listening to his tale of woe, she couldn’t blame his family for not wanting her in Kaleb’s life, but she wasn’t some two timing skank who had no morals.
“That’s terrible, Kaleb. I guess I can understand why your family doesn’t want me in your life…but we’re going to have a child together, and I can’t see you giving up your rights to him or her, so where does that leave us?”
A low growl rumbled under her palm. “Look at me, Paisley.”
She slowly raised her head, meeting his dark gaze. 
“You need to listen to me, and listen good. I’m never going to give up our baby or you.” His hand cupped the swell of her belly. “And nothing – my family even your family - included will change that. You need to worry about keeping our child safe. Let me deal with my pushy relatives.”
She sighed. “It would’ve been nice if you’d at least warned me about them. She pushed off his chest. “If I had known your family had such a lousy view of white women, I’d have at least been prepared when she showed up. It hurt to hear her say those things.”
Kaleb nodded. “I know it did. I’m sorry, baby, I should’ve warned you. But I didn’t want my family’s issues to become an issue for us. I love you too much to allow that to happen.”
Her heart leapt at his words, but she forced herself to be realistic.  “I…I don’t want to come between you and your family.”
He tucked her hair behind her ear. “You won’t. Just give them some time to know you the same way I do.” He tipped her face up to his, softly kissing her.  She sighed at the familiar taste of him.  Maybe he was right and everything would be okay.


TO BE CONTINUED...

3 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed this weeks tale, getting a background on Kaleb's family.

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  2. It will be interesting what happens with his family, if the eventually accept her

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  3. You gave me goosebumps with this story. Wow, the emotion you packed into Caleb's revelation was awesome. Am loving this story and will definitely buy the book. WTG,lady.

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