The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 55

Chapter 49: Tom Missing Caleb

Caleb pov

“You can show him next time,” Bella said, moving closer. “Come on, baby Let’s go.”

“But Mommy”

“Now, Tom.” Her tone left no room for argument

Tom’s face fell, but he started gathering his markers. “Will you come back, Caleb? Will there be a next time?”

“If your mommy says it’s okay, then yes,” I said, looking at Bella. “I’ll always come back if I’m allowed to.”

“Please, Mommy?” Tom looked up at her with those big grey eyes. “Please can Caleb come back? He’s really nice and he doesn’t think my drawings are silly.”

Something in Bella’s expression cracked. “We’ll see, baby.”

“That means yes,” Tom whispered to me confidingly. “When Mommy says ‘we’ll see, it usually means yes if I’m really good.”

I smiled despite the ache in my chest. “Then you better be really good.”

Tom threw his arms around my leg in an impulsive hug, and I froze, not daring to move or touch him back without permission. I looked at Bella, silently asking what to do.

She stared at us for a long moment, her eyes swimming with emotion, then gave the smallest nod.

I carefully put my hand on Tom’s back, returning the hug as gently as I could. He was so small, so warm, so trusting. This was my son hugging me, and it felt like every good thing I’d ever wanted in my life distilled into one perfect moment.

“Okay, Tom, that’s enough,” Bella said, her voice strained. “Let’s go.”

Tom pulled back and waved at me enthusiastically. “Bye, Caleb! See you next time!”

“Bye, Tom,” I managed past the lump in my throat.

Bella took his hand and started to lead him away, but Tom suddenly pulled free and ran back to me.

“Wait! I forgot to tell you something!” He cupped his hands around his mouth like he was sharing a secret, but his whisper was loud enough for everyone to hear. “You have sad eyes like Mommy sometimes. Maybe you should be friends so you can be happy together!”

Before I could respond, Tom ran back to Bella, grabbed her hand, and started pulling her toward the door.

“Bye, Mr. Grey Eyes!” he called over his shoulder, and my heart stopped.

Bella heard it too. She stopped in the doorway and looked back at me, her face pale and her eyes wide. For a moment, we just stared at each other, both of us realizing that the truth was closer to the surface than we’d thought.

Chapter 49 Tom Mursing Caleb

+25 Points

Then she was gone, pulling Tom with her, leaving me standing alone in the family lounge with my hands shaking and my heart racing.

Maya walked over and handed me my jacket, her expression thoughtful. “He’s a smart kid.”

“Too smart,” I said, my voice rough.

“Kids always are,” Maya said. “They see things adults try to hide. It’s only a matter of time before he asks the right question in the right way.”

“Is Bella ready for that?” I asked, looking toward the door where they’d disappeared.

“No,” Maya said honestly. “But she’s going to have to be. Because Tom deserves the truth, and the longer you both wait, the harder it’s going to be.”

I nodded, unable to speak past the emotion choking me.

“For what it’s worth,” Maya added, “you’re doing better than I expected. Tom likes you. That’s not nothing.”

“It’s everything,” I said quietly.

After Maya left, I stood in the empty lounge for a long time, staring at the table where Tom and I had sat together. His drawings were still spread across the surface, colorful and chaotic and perfect.

I picked up the one of Mr. Waddles and Chompy, carefully folding it and putting it in my pocket. Tom probably wouldn’t miss it among all the others, and I needed something to remind me of today, of the way he’d hugged me and called me Mr. Grey Eyes and suggested his mother and I should be friends so we could be happy together.

Out of the mouths of babes.I pulled out my phone and texted Bella: Thank you for today. Tom is an incredible kid. You’ve done an amazing job raising him.

Her response came fifteen minutes later: He asked me why you look sad. I told him some people just have sad faces. He said that’s silly, everyone can choose to be happy. Apparently, I should try it sometime.

I smiled despite everything. He’s not wrong.

He’s three. He doesn’t understand how the world works.

す

Maybe we’re the ones who don’t understand, I typed back. Maybe he’s got it figured out and we’re the ones making it complicated.

She didn’t respond to that, but three dots appeared and disappeared several times, like she was typing and deleting, typing and deleting.

Finally: Thursday. Same time. Don’t be late.

I won’t be, I promised. Bella? Tom said I should give you flowers. Any preferences?

The dots appeared and disappeared for a full minute before her response came through: Don’t.

Just one word, but I could hear the warning in it. Don’t try to court me. Don’t think gifts will fix this. Don’t mistake my tolerance for forgiveness. But she hadn’t said I couldn’t try.

Thursday, I’d bring flowers anyway. Not roses or anything romantic, but something simple and honest.

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