Raedene

I stood in the kitchen looking out the window and watched Caleb and Braden flying a kite and my heart skipped a beat, what if this was exactly what Braden needed? He’s been so caught up in this past life of his that he had missed out on being a real kid. Even though Damien tried to fill a dad’s shoes in most parts of Braden’s life, it was nothing like this. Braden was practically beside himself every time he got to spend time with Caleb.

Just as I turned to get back to making lunch, I spotted a suspicious character at the front gate pointing a camera at Caleb and Braden.

“Samson!” I called before storming out of the kitchen armed with a spatula.

If those reporters were back at it, I was going to give them a piece of my mind. They had no right to spy on us or take photos without our consent and I didn’t give a hoot as to whether or not it was part and parcel of Caleb’s claim to celebrity status. That was my son out there and I was not going to allow them to hurt him in any way.

“Samson!” I called again as I marched down the driveway towards the gate. Samson quickly fell into step beside me trying to keep up at his old age, but he too must have seen the person at the gate.

“Those vultures have no common decency; they always hover around here trying to find the next best gossip scoop for the tabloids,” he said as we hurried to the gate.

The stranger saw us approaching and he hurried to take a few more shots before he scurried away. By the time we reached the gate, all we saw was a car speeding off.

“What’s going on?” Caleb asked as he came to stand beside us, with Braden sitting on his hip.

“I saw a man taking photos of you,” I said through gritted teeth, I knew better not to start throwing accusations around in front of Braden, “I wanted to find out what he wanted.”

“I’ll handle it, they come around every now and again before a big game to get an inside scoop, so I’m sure it was harmless.”

“Harmless. Right,” I said and stalked off towards the house.

How could he be so indifferent about this? Just the other day a reporter came asking about his son, and now this? I simply refused to expose Braden to these vultures, and if Caleb could not consider our privacy then I would have no option but to take Braden back home.

“Rae, wait!” Caleb called after me but I refused to stop.

“Rae! Hold up, can we just talk?” he said again and this time I spun around.

“Talking is just not good enough Caleb, I can’t have these journalists poking around in my life, much less Braden’s. Things are complicated as it is,” I said folding my arms.

“I know, but unfortunately it comes with the territory, and it’s not something that will just go away. They have a scoop and they will do what they can to find out what’s going on, I can’t change what or who I am,” he said and leaned against the pillar on the wrap around veranda.

He was right, as much as I hated it; I was the one that walked into his life, not the other way around. Just because he was Braden’s father didn’t give me the right to make any demands. The fact remained, he was a sports star, and I was the unpopular nobody who had his child, his child. Talk about being the insignificant other, it was nothing short of pathetic, not to mention disastrous.

“I know, I just don’t like it, and if it wasn’t for that Joanne woman, they wouldn’t have had a story in the first place. She feels jilted that you stood her. You should have just gone out with her. I really don’t know why you bothered with me in the first place”

Caleb pushed away from the pillar and stood with his hands on his hips, “There’s no proof that it was Joanne who told them anything.”

“See? You even try to defend her, when the truth is staring you right in the face, unbelievable!” I spat out and then spun around and stormed into the house.

Before I knew it, Caleb had me by the arm, “I merely meant that we can’t go around accusing people by mere assumption, I’ll have a talk to her and find out what’s going on okay?”

I tugged my arm free, “Well I’m telling you she is behind all of this, and if you think for one moment I’m going to be target practice for a scorned ex, you’re wrong. Braden and I will be leaving first thing in the morning.”

“No you won’t,” he said blankly, “Our son needs a father, and if you’re too blind to see that, then you’re pretty selfish. You’ve spent every moment of that child’s life cooping him up and protecting him in this bubble of imperfection that he never had a chance to experience what it is to be a four-year-old boy!”

Blinded by rage I slapped him so hard my hand stung right into my wrist. How dare he blame me for Braden’s lack of childhood experiences?

“You’re a real jackass,” I said furiously before I hurried up the stairs to my room. I couldn’t allow him to see my tears.