The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 70

Chapter 64: Tom Worries-1

Caleb pov

She was sad about me, about what I’d done to her, about raising Tom alone while I’d been living in ignorance. The guilt sat heavy in my chest.

“Hey Tom, you know your mommy loves you more than anything, right?”

“I know.” Tom placed a blue block carefully. “She tells me every day. And she works really hard to give me good things. That’s why I try to be good and not make her sad.”

This three-year-old was trying to protect his mother’s feelings, trying to be good so he wouldn’t add to her burdens, and I wanted to gather him up and promise him that he’d never have to worry about that again.

“You can just be a kid, buddy,” I said. “You don’t have to try to be good all the time. Kids are supposed to be messy and loud and ask for puppies.”

Tom looked at me seriously. “Really?”

“Really, that’s the best part of being a kid.”

He seemed to think about this, then deliberately knocked over our tower with a gleeful shout. Blocks scattered everywhere and Tom laughed so hard he fell over.

“That was loud,” he said, grinning. “Was that okay?”

“That was perfect.” I started gathering blocks. “Want to build an even bigger one and knock it down again?”

For the next two hours, we built and destroyed towers, making increasingly elaborate structures just so Tom could demolish them with sound effects. His laughter filled the penthouse and I found myself laughing too, really laughing for the first time in years.

Bella appeared periodically, checking on us with an expression I couldn’t quite read. Once I caught her filming us on her phone, a small smile on her face that disappeared when she noticed me looking.

Around noon, Tom started getting quieter, his movements slower.

“Hey buddy, you getting tired?”

“No,” Tom said, but he was rubbing his eyes.

“Maybe we should take a break, watch a movie or something?”

Tom perked up slightly. “Can we watch penguins?”

We settled on the couch with another penguin documentary playing. Tom curled up next to me, his small body warm against my side. I put my arm around him carefully, still not quite sure of the mechanics of this, and he snuggled closer.

“This is nice,” Tom mumbled. “I like having a daddy.”

“I like being your daddy,” I said, my voice rough.

Chapter 64 Jam Wornes-1

+25 Points

Tem was quiet for a while, watching the penguins waddle across the screen. Then, so softly I almost missed it, he said, “Are you going to leave like daddies do in movies?”

The question punched through me. “What do you mean?”

“In movies, sometimes daddies leave and then the kids are sad.” Tom looked up at me with worried grey eyes. “Are you going to leave and make me and Mommy sad?”

I pulled him closer, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “No, buddy, I’m not going to leave. I’m going to be right here as long as you want me.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” And I meant it with everything in me. “I’m your dad, Tom, that means I’m here forever. Even if you get mad at me or we fight or you decide you don’t like me anymore, I’m still going to be here.”

Tom seemed satisfied with this answer. He relaxed against me, his breathing evening out as the documentary played on.

I looked down and realized he’d fallen asleep, his face peaceful, one small hand curled into my sweater.

My son. This was my son, asleep on my chest, trusting me completely.

I didn’t move, barely breathed, terrified of waking him and ending this perfect moment. My arm was

starting to go numb and I had a dozen calls to return but nothing in the world could have made me disturb him.

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