so much as looking at him, she waved him off over
her shoulder.
“It’s hot out here, Caleb, why don’t you get us something to
drink!”
“Mother,” Caleb’s tone went deep, warning his mother in that
one single word.
Half-turning to him she attempted to assure him. “It’s okay
Caleb, I just want to talk to Neela. I won’t upset her, I promise.”
There was something in the way she said it that made Caleb’s
heartbeat settle. That was the voice she always used when she was trying to
comfort him as a child. Somehow, he just knew everything was going to be okay.
Centering his attention on Neela, he offered, “If you need
anything, I’m just inside, okay?”
At her curt nod, he turned and vanished inside again.
****
Inhaling deeply, Neela braced herself as the fire breathing
dragon took the seat Caleb had not too long ago vacated.
She knew when that mouth opened, nothing good was going to
come out of it but this wasn’t the old Neela. This Neela actually had a back
bone.
Ready to do battle, Neela squared her shoulders but was
thrown completely out of her comfort zone when Helen Wilder said, “I’m sorry,
Neela.”
Not sure if she heard correctly, she asked, “Sorry, what did
you just say?”
“I’m sorry.” Nowhere prepared for the apology, she sat there
staring at the older woman.
“I am not going to do the whole violin and song thing. The
fact is I was downright nasty to you and even though I was happy when you left,
my son wasn’t.” That was certainly getting to the point but she wasn’t
finished.
“The fact is you’re back in Caleb’s life and I see a glimpse
of the man he used to be. He loves those kids.” Helen nodded at the pool where the
kids were playing but her eyes never left Neela. “If nothing else, I am
grateful to you for that. I don’t know if you and I could ever be friends but I
am willing to try if you are.” Speechless, that’s what she was. What do you say
to a statement like that? The woman was sitting there; back as straight as a
pin, not a strand astray in her shoulder length blonde hair. It was if she had
just delivered the weather.
Finally able to form words again, Neela reiterated just to
be sure.
“So let me see if I get this right. You don’t hate me, but
you don’t like me, yet you are willing to call a truce because of Caleb and the
kids?”
“Yes, that’s about it.”
Pondering long and hard on the conversation at hand, Neela
answered.
“I will agree but on the following conditions.”
Helen drew a deep breath as if contemplating arguing but
instead checked herself and asked, “What conditions?”
“ If ... And that is a big if, I decide to stay married
to Caleb, our marriage is private. I will not allow you to meddle.”
Neela knew that was going to be tough for Helen. She had
always played a constant role in the children’s life.
“Okay, fine. What else?”
“Adam and Melody. I know they are your grandchildren, and I
will be happy to listen to any suggestions you will have in their upbringing
but I will not tolerate you undermining me in my decisions. I say no and I mean
no. That is non-negotiable.” Standing up to this woman who had intimated her
for so long was like inhaling a breath of fresh air. It felt great!
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now that’s settled, I hope you don’t mind if I go say
hi to my grandbabies.”
Getting to her feet, she turned and yelled in the most un-lady
like manner, “Caleb, come get your wife and take her out of this sun.”
The woman never seized to amaze. Even in her fifties she
looked like she was now beginning life. Not a hair out of place, the cream
sleeveless knee-length dress clung to all the curves in her body. Neela shook
her head in awe as Helen Wilder sauntered towards Adam and Melody.
Caleb appeared from inside as though he had been standing
behind the door, just waiting for something to go wrong.
A smile creased her lips when she saw the worried look on
his face.
her shoulder.
“It’s hot out here, Caleb, why don’t you get us something to
drink!”
“Mother,” Caleb’s tone went deep, warning his mother in that
one single word.
Half-turning to him she attempted to assure him. “It’s okay
Caleb, I just want to talk to Neela. I won’t upset her, I promise.”
There was something in the way she said it that made Caleb’s
heartbeat settle. That was the voice she always used when she was trying to
comfort him as a child. Somehow, he just knew everything was going to be okay.
Centering his attention on Neela, he offered, “If you need
anything, I’m just inside, okay?”
At her curt nod, he turned and vanished inside again.
****
Inhaling deeply, Neela braced herself as the fire breathing
dragon took the seat Caleb had not too long ago vacated.
She knew when that mouth opened, nothing good was going to
come out of it but this wasn’t the old Neela. This Neela actually had a back
bone.
Ready to do battle, Neela squared her shoulders but was
thrown completely out of her comfort zone when Helen Wilder said, “I’m sorry,
Neela.”
Not sure if she heard correctly, she asked, “Sorry, what did
you just say?”
“I’m sorry.” Nowhere prepared for the apology, she sat there
staring at the older woman.
“I am not going to do the whole violin and song thing. The
fact is I was downright nasty to you and even though I was happy when you left,
my son wasn’t.” That was certainly getting to the point but she wasn’t
finished.
“The fact is you’re back in Caleb’s life and I see a glimpse
of the man he used to be. He loves those kids.” Helen nodded at the pool where the
kids were playing but her eyes never left Neela. “If nothing else, I am
grateful to you for that. I don’t know if you and I could ever be friends but I
am willing to try if you are.” Speechless, that’s what she was. What do you say
to a statement like that? The woman was sitting there; back as straight as a
pin, not a strand astray in her shoulder length blonde hair. It was if she had
just delivered the weather.
Finally able to form words again, Neela reiterated just to
be sure.
“So let me see if I get this right. You don’t hate me, but
you don’t like me, yet you are willing to call a truce because of Caleb and the
kids?”
“Yes, that’s about it.”
Pondering long and hard on the conversation at hand, Neela
answered.
“I will agree but on the following conditions.”
Helen drew a deep breath as if contemplating arguing but
instead checked herself and asked, “What conditions?”
“ If ... And that is a big if, I decide to stay married
to Caleb, our marriage is private. I will not allow you to meddle.”
Neela knew that was going to be tough for Helen. She had
always played a constant role in the children’s life.
“Okay, fine. What else?”
“Adam and Melody. I know they are your grandchildren, and I
will be happy to listen to any suggestions you will have in their upbringing
but I will not tolerate you undermining me in my decisions. I say no and I mean
no. That is non-negotiable.” Standing up to this woman who had intimated her
for so long was like inhaling a breath of fresh air. It felt great!
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now that’s settled, I hope you don’t mind if I go say
hi to my grandbabies.”
Getting to her feet, she turned and yelled in the most un-lady
like manner, “Caleb, come get your wife and take her out of this sun.”
The woman never seized to amaze. Even in her fifties she
looked like she was now beginning life. Not a hair out of place, the cream
sleeveless knee-length dress clung to all the curves in her body. Neela shook
her head in awe as Helen Wilder sauntered towards Adam and Melody.
Caleb appeared from inside as though he had been standing
behind the door, just waiting for something to go wrong.
A smile creased her lips when she saw the worried look on
his face.
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