PITIFUL CALEB [II]

Joanna swallowed the last bit of confidence when Evie banged the door shut in her face. Both Michael and Isabel had encouraged to talk to the siblings herself and Isabel had assured her they weren't keeping a grudge against her. She was pretty confident that it would go well but instead, Evie shut the door on her face. She turned to look at both of them and they encouraged her to knock again.

She was about to knock when the door opened again. This time it was Caleb. He didn't even let her say hello before he flung himself at her in a tight hug. She patted his back gently and when she looked up, she noticed that Evie was also by the door. Giving her a wide grin, she looked back at Caleb. She watched as he removed his hands that were tight around her back and wiped his tears.

"Evie, she's real!" She heard him before wrapping his arms around her again. She felt his tears wet her shirt but she didn't mind. She cursed herself inwardly for ever letting go of them. She knew she loved these children as she would never try to adopt any child she didn't. She had met so many children but she was attracted only to these two. She wouldn't let them go again.

She had been in a daze and hadn't realised that Caleb had led her into the house until Evie asked her what she wanted to drink. Her voice was loving yet it was cold and distant. And it pained her. She had vowed to give them the love they deserved but never got. But she had failed at that as well.

"Evie, I'm sorry. I failed at my promise and I know there is nothing I can say that will change that. But I just hope you will forgive me. And give me a second chance. I.. Uhm.. I uhm.." She ran short of words. She had failed them but she didn't want to lose them. She just hoped they wanted her back.

"Mommy, actually we are the ones who should be sorry. We knew.. No, I knew how much you hated being lied to but I still did. I'm sorry. We're sorry." Evie admitted as she struggled to contain the tears that had gathered in her eyes.

Joanna lovingly wiped the tears and enveloped her in a warm hug. A familiar scent filled her nose as she stroked her hair. There was a reason why she was drawn to Evie. She didn't notice it before but now she realised the awry similarity between her and Nichole - her best friend.

A realisation hit her but she pushed it to the back of her mind. She would investigate properly after she had finished settling her score with David.

Since they had all forgiven each other, she told them of her plans to get rid of David before bringing them back. Evie mentioned the locket and the evidence it held and Joanna promised to find it. Before she left, she told them how hard it was for her to visit as she had to deceive David's henchmen into thinking she was going shopping.

She would find time to visit again but before then, Mike would visit constantly. Anything she had to tell or give them would be through him. But she would surely bring them home, no matter what it took. With that assurance, she hugged and kissed them goodbye. Then she left with Mike.

Immediately she got into the car, she made a call. The Private investigator had assured her that he would dig out every last secret of David as she ended the call. David tried to mess with her, she humphed as she put down her phone, she would show him how it was done.

***** ***** *****

"That's Mike, right?" Caleb threw Evie a knowing look as she looked up from her phone at him.

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"It's obvious. You always smile whenever you read his texts. Anyone who doesn't know the connection between the both of you will think that you like him. Hmm." His eyes widened in realisation as he stared at her. "Come to think of it, you just might. Do you like Mike?" Caleb watched Evie suspiciously as her cheeks began to redden. She looked embarrassed as she tried to find words.

"No way, that's impossible. That's absurd. I don't like him. No. I like him but not in that way." Evie blushed as she struggled for words. "He's my friend and nothing else."

"So that means he's not your brother." Caleb added absolutely certain that his sister liked Mike.

"He isn't. Yet. But Caleb snap out of it. You're too young to have such thoughts."

"Just a while ago it was an ordinary guess. But right now, I'm certain of it." Caleb stated. Maybe Evie didn't know it yet, but she certainly liked Mike.

"Caleb?" Evie arched a brow at him but it didn't stop him.

"You know what. It's actually a good thing. Mike's a really great guy. I can't imagine giving off your hand to a better man." Caleb concluded, half teasingly and half seriously.

"Okay, I heard enough. You shouldn't know anything about matters like this but you do. And I'm going to punch Mike the next time I see him for letting you watch romantic movies. In the meantime, I don't want you to keep talking nonsense about me and Mike." Evie said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.

"It's not nonsense, Evie. It's love. And what if I continue?" Caleb taunted as he sat up straight on the bed.

"Then.." Evie reached out and pulled him closer to her on the bed they were both sitting on. She reached for his sides and started tickling. "I'll tickle you."

As Evie's fingers moved across his stomach in precise and swift motion, Caleb could not help but laugh. No matter how much he squirmed, he couldn't get her hands off him. And to make matters worse, she knew the right spots to tickle. He laughed until he had no strength anymore before she finally stopped. His mouth ached and his stomach hurt but he enjoyed it. He hadn't laughed that hard in a while.

***** ***** *****

Evie sighed as she adjusted herself to lay on her back. She waved a hand in front of Tori's face to make sure she was still asleep. She shared the room with Tori as she had insisted when they moved in. And since there was only one big bed in the room, they both slept on it together.

Relieved that she was still sleeping, Evie tried to sort out her emotions. Although she had denied it immediately he said it, she knew that Caleb made some sense in what he was saying. Her attachment to Mike had grown more than she had imagined. She had become dependent on him and it wasn't normal as she only depended on herself before.

She smiled every time she saw his text and always found herself waiting for his texts and visits. Even when he visited, she didn't want him to leave.