Chapter Four
Caleb threw out the invitation casually, but for Addie it was anything but casual. It was an unexpected curveball. Dinner? With the Donahue family?
“Who? Me?” Addie asked. She almost wanted to look around her to see if someone else was standing behind her.
Caleb chuckled. It made his handsome features even more pronounced. “Of course, you. I don’t see anyone else standing here.”
“I-I wouldn’t want to impose.” Addie didn’t want to intrude on his family dinner, but she was curious about the large, bustling Donahue family. She loved hearing Caleb talk about his fabulous family members. From what she had gleaned, they were all fairly close in age and some of them like Caleb had been adopted, whereas others were the biological children of Penelope and Jude Donahue. It was all so interesting to Addie, who was now an only child after her twin’s passing.
She felt a twinge of sadness run through her. She missed Tabitha each and every day. And still, after all these years, it didn’t seem fair that she’d lost her life to leukemia at such a tender age. How many times had she asked God to give her the wisdom to understand such a monumental loss? To this day, she still couldn’t fathom how the world had kept turning after Tabitha went to heaven.
“Are you kidding me? It’s not an imposition. The Donahue doors are always open to friends. Ever since I was a kid my folks have drummed that into our heads. And with a family as large as ours, one more only adds to the party.”
“Your family sounds lovely,” Addie said. “I’d be happy to come for dinner.”
“Just a heads up. I think I may have mentioned that my folks adopted several kids.” He smiled broadly. “So, if you see different shades and wonder why we don’t all share a resemblance, that’s why. We’re a big, bustling smorgasbord. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Oh, I remember you telling me you were adopted. I’ve always dreamed of adopting a child one day myself.” She knew her voice sounded wistful. Addie was wearing her heart on her sleeve with regards to the desires of her heart. Sometimes her yearning to be a mother threatened to overwhelm her. She just needed to be patient and let life take its course.
“That’s something we have in common then,” Caleb said. “I’m committed to adopting a few kids of my own once I settle down. Being adopted changed my life. It saved me. I’d like to pay that forward.”
Paying it forward. Addie liked the sound of it. It was so important to nurture future generations. And she had so much love to give to a child. She would adore and cherish any child God saw fit to put in her life. Although she loved both of her parents, there were so many things she would do differently with her own brood. Every day of their lives she would make sure they knew that they were loved and protected. As a child, Addie hadn’t felt safe or protected. The acrimony in her parents’ marriage had gutted her. It had made her withdraw into her own shell. The only one who’d been able to penetrate those walls had been Tabitha.
“Let me go grab my things and then we can drive over. The front of the place is all locked up. You can follow me in your own car if you like, although I’d be happy to drive you over. We’d have to come back here to get your car though.”
“I’ll follow behind you,” she said. “It’s easier all around.”
Once Caleb rounded up his stuff and turned on the security system, then locked up the back door, they headed outside to the parking lot. Addie revved up the engine on her yellow Volkswagen Beetle as Caleb started his engine and pulled in front of her to lead the way. They drove past the scenic road in Pelican Bay. Addie loved this road. Seeing the waves crashing against the shore made her smile. Sea gulls soared in the sky, dipping down towards the ocean to make their catch of the day. As they drove past a curve in the road, Addie saw a beautiful, large home overlooking the beach. As Caleb’s car slowed down and he put on his right signal, Addie let out a deep breath and put her own signal on. They were here. The Donahue parents owned this spectacular home she’d always admired. It seemed like the perfect home in which to raise a rowdy family.
They both pulled into a pebbled driveway already filled with a variety of vehicles.
“You really do have a large family,” Addie joked as she stepped out of her car. Caleb had already emerged from his car, which was parked beside her own.
“Yep. The Donahue clan is an even dozen now that Parker got married to Cadence. They have a two-year-old son, Logan.” He grinned at her. “It’s a long story, but Parker didn’t know he was a father until a few months ago. He’s deliriously happy and they make a wonderful family. A true happy ending.”
“I’ll bet your parents were thrilled to have a grandchild.”
“They were. The timing couldn’t have been better actually since it came on the heels of their separation announcement.” He quirked his mouth. “It gave us a reason to come together as a family to celebrate Parker’s son. There’s no greater gift than life. And having a little one around has made us all feel better about life in general.”
Addie nodded her head in silent agreement. How she wished her own family was more extensive. Other than her parents and a few distant uncles, aunts and cousins, Addie was all alone in the world. At times, it was a very isolating feeling. Who would love her after her parents were gone? It gnawed at her sometimes in the hours between darkness and dawn.
Once Caleb led her into his parents’ home, Addie felt as if she’d died and gone to heaven. Although the home was large, it was down to earth and inviting. Heavenly scents wafted in the air. Her stomach grumbled in appreciation. When was the last time she’d actually had a home-cooked meal? Way too long to even remember. Addie wasn’t much of a cook herself. Her mother had never cooked for the family. Catered meals from restaurants had always been par for the course. She didn’t have a single memory of either of her parents preparing a meal. Sadly, she herself possessed no skills in that area.
“Caleb!” A rich voice called out as an older man walked down the hallway toward where they were standing in the foyer. As he came closer, Addie noted his good looks and charming smile. He quickly held out his hand to her. He had the most beautiful blue eyes she’d ever seen. “Hey there. I’m Jude Donahue, Caleb’s father. Nice to meet you.”
“Hi, I’m Addie Fontaine.” She returned his smile and enthusiastically shook his hand.
“Addie is my partner at the Blue Bayou,” Caleb explained. “I told her the Donahue home is always open for dinner guests.”
Jude nodded. It was evident that Jude had already been apprised of the situation regarding her partnership with Caleb. “It’s a pleasure to have you here, Addie. And since you work with Caleb, you’re not a guest. You’re a friend.”
She shouldn’t be surprised by Mr. Donahue’s warmth, but she wasn’t used to folks being so welcoming and kind right off the bat. “Thank you. Something smells downright delicious,” she said. “I don’t mind admitting my mouth is watering.”
“Come on in the kitchen and you can get a preview of dinner. Penelope is in there stirring some pots,” Jude said, waving them toward the hallway.
Caleb ushered her in front of him. She didn’t know why she felt nervous. Perhaps because a mother was the heart of the home. She wanted Penelope Donahue to like her. It was silly, since it wasn’t as if she was here to meet the parents or gain their approval for a romantic relationship with their son. But, she couldn’t deny the butterflies soaring in her stomach.
Walking into the Donahue kitchen filled her with a wide array of sensations. The room was light and airy with whites and greys and a big bay window allowing the sun to stream in. The white stove looked vintage. It had to be the biggest stove Addie had ever seen.
As Penelope turned away from the stove to greet them, Caleb quickly swallowed the distance between him and his mother. He threw his arms around her and embraced her for all she was worth. Mrs. Donahue let out a surprised sound then began patting her son on the back.
Addie could feel the love between them flowing like a river. What would it feel like she imagined to feel so loved and accepted? She darted a quick glance at Jude. He was looking at his son and Penelope as if they’d hung the moon. Addie knew she was in the presence of massive love. It warmed her insides.
Penelope said, “Caleb. I’m so glad you could make it. I know you had an event at the bistro today.”
Caleb let go of his mother. “It went really well. And as a bonus, everything wrapped up nicely so we could come to dinner.” He turned toward Addie. “Mom, this is my partner, Addie Fontaine.”
Penelope wiped her hands on her apron and reached out to take Addie’s hands in her own. Addie felt warmth flow through her at Penelope’s touch. Penelope Donahue was a radiant beauty. Her striking features reminded Addie of a movie star from yesteryear. There was something about her features that were timeless.
“Addie, it’s wonderful to meet you. I’m so glad you came along with Caleb. Welcome to the crazy Donahue home.” The sound of her tinkling laughter filled the kitchen.
Addie laughed along with her. “It’s so nice of you to have me here.” She peeked over at the stove. “Something smells so good.”
“I’m making meatballs,” Penelope explained. “I grew up in a big Italian family where my grandmother made meatballs at least twice a week. She passed the recipe down to me and I can’t stop myself from making them at least once a week.”
Caleb rubbed his stomach. “They’re my favorite. No one makes meatballs like my mom.”
“Why don’t you guys go join the others in the living room?” Jude suggested. He nudged Addie in the side. “Don’t try to remember everyone’s name all at once. The little guy is Logan. He’s pretty much the star of the family these days.”
“I imagine so,” Addie said with a giggle.
So far, Addie was seriously in love with Caleb’s family. His mother was beautiful and graceful. Her husband, Jude, was funny and charming. He reminded her a little bit of Caleb—they seemed to share the same personality, although she sensed his closeness to his mother. Caleb seemed very protective of her. It was yet another example of Caleb’s character.
“Let me introduce you to some of the others,” Caleb said, leading her toward the hallway. Addie’s nervousness had dissipated, erased by the graciousness of Caleb’s parents.
The vibe at the Donahue house was joyful and upbeat. She couldn’t count the number of times another member of the family came crashing through the front door. It was really difficult to keep all the names straight. His older brother, Parker, was a good looking, strapping guy with a head of dark hair and a killer smile. He had recently been married to his beautiful wife, Cadence, who was holding a sweet toddler in her arms who looked just like his father. She figured this was the infamous Logan.
Daniel. Nash. Shayla. Jason.
The Donahue siblings were welcoming and boisterous. She lost count but she was pretty sure there were two missing, although she had no clue what their names were. Shayla was clearly the Donahue princess. She was very sweet, but Addie had the impression she enjoyed being the apple of her brothers’ eyes. She imagined it would be difficult to be the man who wanted Shayla to be his bride. That man, whoever he was, would need to get past seven Donahue brothers and Jude. She felt a sudden urge to watch it all unfold, which was ridiculous. She wasn’t even close to being a member of their inner circle.
Two more brothers joined them just as they were sitting down at the dining room table. Micah and Heath. Micah looked strangely familiar to Addie. It suddenly clicked. If she wasn’t mistaken she’d seen him in a few magazine ads and on her favorite soap opera. Caleb’s other brother Heath seemed incredibly distant. He didn’t really seem to register her appearance at their family dinner. And he barely mumbled a hello to Addie. The lines surrounding Caleb’s mouth were grim as he studied his brother. He looked upset. Addie didn’t want Caleb to be angry at Heath on her account. In her humble opinion, Heath didn’t look well. He didn’t seem happy and there were dark shadows underneath his blue eyes. Although he was attractive, like all the other members of the Donahue family, he looked haggard, as if he hadn’t slept for days.
After joining hands and praying over the food, they dug in to the elaborate meal Penelope and Jude had so lovingly prepared. Addie was a bit mystified as she observed Caleb’s parents. They treated each other with dignity and respect. The love between them was palpable.
Yet Caleb had told her their marriage was in trouble. They were separated!
Addie’s own parents had been full of bitterness and recrimination during their divorce and in the aftermath. Seeing Caleb’s parents acting so warmly toward one another filled her with a feeling of confusion. How was it possible that they could be so loving toward each other when their marriage was falling apart?
**
After dinner, Caleb found himself down on the carpet in the living room playing with Logan. His nephew loved building blocks. Addie was getting along with Logan like a house on fire. Caleb sat and watched as Addie helped Logan make a tower, which he promptly knocked down. The sound of Logan’s tinkling laughter filled the room almost to overflowing. Parker and Cadence grinned at the playfulness between Addie and their son. Caleb couldn’t help but admire what his brother had found in Cadence. Despite all the odds stacked against them, Cadence and Parker had found their way back to each other. They had worked through all their past issues and forged a beautiful second act. God had blessed them with Logan and a future filled with endless possibilities.
It must be nice to know you had found the other half of your soul.
He let out a sigh. Caleb didn’t know why the idea of finding someone tugged at him in moments such as this. Hadn’t Felicity taught him to be wary? To guard his heart?
As the evening wound down, Caleb realized he and Addie were the last to leave his parents’ house. It felt so comfortable to have Addie in the presence of his family. Strangely, it had felt effortless. And it was pretty obvious everyone loved her.
After saying their goodbyes, Caleb and Addie headed outside. He walked her over to her car. This evening had been perfect.
“Thank you for inviting me over,” Addie said. She was looking up at him. Her eyes were luminous. “You have an amazing family. They were so welcoming, Caleb. I felt like I was an honorary Donahue.”
“From this moment on, you are. My family loves you. You had them eating out of the palm of your hand,” he said with a chuckle.
She grinned. “I love them back.”
For a moment, Caleb forgot Addie was his business partner. He forgot about the Blue Bayou and all of his vows about not mixing business with pleasure. All he could focus on at the moment was Addie. Sweet, gentle Addie. Every day that she was in his presence he felt more and more drawn to her. Addie was becoming someone very important to him. Tonight had only served to reinforce those feelings.
He stepped toward her so that only a small bit of space stood between them. Addie must have sensed something hovering in the air between them. She looked up at him and her lips slightly parted. Caleb placed Addie’s face between his hands. Without hesitating, he dipped his head down and placed his lips on hers. Her light floral fragrance rose to his nostrils. She smelled like roses. With the moon glowing in the heavens, the moment was full of charm and romance. Addie’s lips were soft. He felt her hands resting on his shoulders as she kissed him back. A soft breeze washed over them as the tangy smell of the ocean hung in the air.
When they finally pulled apart, he swept his palm across her cheek. Her eyes were full of questions. He smoothed out the frown on her forehead.
“What’s this little crinkle for?”
“I hope this doesn’t get in the way of anything,” Addie said, biting her lip. “I really like partnering with you at the Blue Bayou. It would be crushing if things went south because we kissed.”
He reached out and swept her hair off her face. Caleb needed to see the expression in her eyes. “We kissed, Addie. That’s not a bad thing. The world won’t crumble because of it.”
She wrinkled her nose. “But it could complicate things.”
“I promise that won’t happen. I won’t let it. Trust me.”
Addie began to fidget. She began twirling one of her curls around her finger. “I’m not used to romance, Caleb. I can count my boyfriends on one finger. And to be frank, he wasn’t much to speak of in the romance department. Our whole relationship was a disaster. We only kissed a few times.” She bowed her head. “I don’t think he liked kissing me.” Her voice had gone soft.
Caleb sucked in a deep breath. Addie was an extremely kissable woman. He hated that some jerk had made her feel otherwise. “Well then, he must have been all kinds of crazy, because you’re a woman who should be kissed frequently, Addie Fontaine.”
She began to laugh, then covered her mouth with her hand. It was such an Addie gesture, he realized. Her movements were full of shyness. He loved seeing her blush.
“Goodnight, Caleb. We have to get up bright and early, so we should get some rest.”
“Night, Addie,” Caleb said as he began to walk over toward his car. Halfway there, he turned around and called out to her. “By the way, I really like kissing you.”
Caleb grinned and then turned away before Addie could even respond. He then got into his car and revved the engine. He waited until Addie got into her own car and drove away until he departed. He would follow behind her for a bit just to make sure she made it past the coastal road safely. Although according to Addie she had traveled the coastal road many times at night, he just wanted to be sure she was safe. There had been many accidents on the winding road.
This evening had been fun. He frowned. But what about tomorrow?
He and Addie would be working together at the Blue Bayou. He’d made her a promise tonight that things wouldn’t get awkward between the two of them. Should he really have said that? Kissing Addie had felt completely right and natural. But now he was beginning to wonder about the wisdom of kissing his partner. Did he have feelings for her he wasn’t aware of? The desire to kiss her had come out of the blue.
Caleb scratched his jaw. If anyone had told him earlier tonight he would have kissed Addie this evening he would have called them crazy. She was his partner. They were friends. Nothing more.
He prayed it hadn’t been a big mistake.