Page 68 of Captivated (Salvation #3)

His daddy switched on the engine and pulled away from the house on West Fir Street where they’d just started a new renovation.

It was going to be a lot of hard work, and it would take time, but Jake didn’t mind that.

He loved working with his daddy. It was nearly two years since he’d graduated from LaFollette High School and begun working full-time.

Before that, he’d worked every summer vacation since he was twelve years old.

Of course, throwing himself into tasks that kept him occupied might have had something to do with trying not to miss Caleb. Like that worked.

As they turned right onto South Tennessee Avenue, his dad cleared his throat. “So, wanna tell me what’s wrong?”

Jake kept his face straight. “Nothin’s wrong.” When his daddy reacted with a snort, Jake sighed internally. There were times when he forgot how much his daddy saw.

“You don’t fool me none. You’ve been wound tighter than a clock all week. An’ I don’t think work is the cause, so why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?”

The truth sounded childish, so Jake kept silent.

His daddy sighed. “I miss him too, alright?”

There was no way Jake could remain silent after that.

“I guess I’m still not used to the idea that he’s left home.

” Not that he hadn’t had enough time to grow accustomed to it.

Caleb’s visits had become increasingly rare from the time he started college.

The ache in Jake’s heart had lessened a little with each year, but initially it had been painful for the eleven-year-old boy who’d lost his best friend.

“Can’t think what he finds so fascinatin’ in Atlanta that it keeps him from visitin’ his folks. An’ it’s not like I don’t call him an’ tell him to git his ass back home once in a while.”

“You do?” Jake gave his daddy a startled glance.

Daddy huffed. “Don’t matter. He pays me no mind.

But it’s not me I’m thinkin’ ’bout, it’s your mama.

It’s not enough to come home once in a blue moon.

” He sighed heavily. “I guess I’m not used to the idea either.

When I was Caleb’s age, I lived about an hour from your grandparents.

Your mama an’ me, we were in church with ’em every Sunday mornin’, an’ we’d stay until late afternoon.

Times change, huh?” Daddy gave a weary smile.

“I’m still proud of him, for goin’ to college an’ gettin’ a good job in Atlanta. ”

“Why don’t you an’ Mama go see him instead?” It was something that had bothered Jake for the longest time. He had no clue about where his brother lived, what Atlanta was like.

There had been no invitations, and that had hurt.

Another snort. “Lord knows, your mama leaves enough hints, but he never says a word.” He paused. “Sometimes I git the idea that he doesn’t want his friends to meet his folks.”

It came as a shock for Jake to realize that his daddy was hurting too. He wanted to say something, anything , to let his dad know that he got it, he really did, but the words stuck in his throat.

They turned onto Shoreline Circle, and soon reached the turnoff for the house.

Jake loved how you couldn’t see their home from the road.

Trees surrounded it, casting their shadows over the roof and walls.

He pointed along the driveway. “We got visitors.” A police car was pulling up in front of the house.

Oh Lord.

His daddy pierced him with a look. “Okay, what have you gone an’ done now?”

Jake groaned. “I haven’t done anything! An’ that was two years ago, alright? An’ it was one joint .” Not that his daddy was going to let him forget it. His mama certainly wouldn’t. Which was why the less they knew about how he spent his weekends, the better.

He’d learned to be more careful about who he hung out with. One call from a friend’s daddy to his had been enough to make him wary.

Daddy switched off the engine and they got out of the truck, just as two police officers approached the front door. He cleared his throat. “Can I help you?”

The officers turned, and Jake was struck by their expressions.

This is not gonna be good.

“Good evenin’. Do you know Caleb Greenwood?”

And just like that, an icy hand closed around Jake’s heart.

Daddy froze. “He’s my son. I’m Hank Greenwood.”

The officer gestured toward the house. “Can we step inside, sir?”

It was as if the world abruptly changed speed, and everything shifted into slow motion. His daddy walking over to the door, the officers following, removing their caps… Even the wind through the trees was reduced to a distorted whispering as he followed them into the house.

Mama stood by the fireplace, her eyes wide, all the color drained from her face, her hand to her chest. “What’s happened?”

“Ma’am, how ’bout you sit down?” The older officer pointed to the armchair.

“How ’bout you tell me why you’re here?” she flung back at him.

“Maggie, do as the officer says, alright?” Daddy moved to her side, put his arm around her waist, and guided her toward the chair.

He glanced at the officers. “This is my wife, Maggie, an’ our other son, Jacob.

” When Mama was eventually seated, he straightened.

“All right. Now s’ppose you tell us what’s goin’ on. ”

Jake sank onto the couch, perched on the edge of the seat cushion, his heart still constricted.

The officers remained standing, their caps in their hands. The older one took the lead. “I’m officer Abernathy, an’ this is officer Cox. There’s been an accident, an’ we’re sorry to inform you that Caleb didn’t make it.”

The fear that had been building ever since he’d seen the police car flooded through Jake in a wild surge, and he was grateful to be sitting down. “What kind of accident?” he choked out.

Cox, who had to be in his mid-twenties, gave him a compassionate glance. “His car was involved in a traffic accident on the I-20 near Greensboro, Georgia. The paramedics weren’t able to help him.”

Daddy made a strangled noise, then composed himself, his face pale. “You’re positive it was Caleb?”

Abernathy nodded. “He was the passenger. The driver identified him at the scene, an’ Caleb had his ID on him. I’m sorry, sir. Is there someone we can contact to be here with ya?”

Mama stared at Daddy with anguished eyes. “Rev. Hubbert? Would you call him?”

Daddy nodded, before turning to face Abernathy. “So… what happens now?”

“You’ll get a call from the medical examiner soon, I reckon. Then when you’ve decided on a funeral home, they’ll contact McCommon’s in Greensboro. That’s the funeral home that has Caleb.” Abernathy’s voice softened. “Arrangements will be made to bring him home.”

Mama finally broke with a wail, and Jake held onto every ounce of strength he possessed not to join her.

The two officers held themselves still, and Daddy knelt on the rug in front of Mama, grasping her hands so tightly that the skin across his knuckles was white.

“I gotcha, Maggie.” His voice quavered, and his shoulders shook.

“Would you like us to wait until the preacher arrives?” Cox asked, his tone kind.

Daddy shook his head. He wiped his eyes. “Thank you, but there’s nothing more you can do here. Jacob, would you see the officers out?”

Jake didn’t know if he could even stand.

“Sure, Daddy.” He pushed himself up off the couch, his legs trembling, and walked over to the door, the officers close behind him. He stepped outside with them and pulled the door to.

“Y’all stick together now,” Cox said gently. “Your mama will need you, but you’ll need them too. We’re sorry to have delivered such terrible news.”

“Thank you again.” Though it seemed plain wrong to thank the people who’d just brought Jake’s whole world to a standstill. He stood by the door as the officers got into their car, pulled past the house, turned in the clearing, then drove slowly past the truck.

Jake waited until they were out of sight, then dropped onto his knees, hardly feeling the pain when they connected with the hard ground. He bent over, holding his head in his hands, and cried for his brother, hot tears spilling over his cheeks and spattering on the solid earth.

It didn’t matter what the officer had said.

Caleb was never coming home.