Page 6

C aleb’s small hand grips mine as we climb the stairs to the second floor. He keeps stealing glances, clearly still unsure of the situation. I don’t fault him for being cautious—he’s in an unfamiliar place with someone he’s only just met. That’s enough to make anyone uneasy.

The pain in his brown eyes breaks my heart—it’s raw, unspoken, and far too much for a kid his age. If I can ease even a fraction of it, or find a way to give him a moment of peace, I will.

“We’re almost to your room,” I say, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

His only response is to clutch his stuffie to his chest and trace its worn belly with the pad of his finger.

“You’ve done some work on the place,” Jensen remarks from behind us.

I glance back to see him motioning toward the wall I painted cream last year and the light fixture I added shortly after.

“Yeah, I’ve been updating things when I can, but between managing the cabins and keeping up with repairs, it’s a slow process.”

Every time I fix one thing, two more break, and it feels like an endless cycle I can’t escape.

“Tell me these creaky stairs made the renovation list,” Jensen says, testing each step like it might give out at any moment.

Okay, sure. The stairs creak a little, and the handrail wobbles if you lean on it wrong, but it’s nothing dangerous. I’d never invite someone into a place that wasn’t safe. Still, I make a mental note to grab some screws tomorrow. Jensen can live with it for one more night.

“They are,” I assure him. “It’s no New York City penthouse, but it’s got plenty of character.”

“What makes you think that because I live in the city, I can’t appreciate rustic charm?” he says with a tired smile.

“You’ve been away so long, I figured you’d gotten used to fancy city life.” I flash him a playful smirk as we reach the landing. “Might want to consider blending in while you’re here unless you’re hoping to be the talk of the town.”

“They’ll talk no matter what. That’s Bluebell for you. Lots of nosy-ass charm packed into a tiny zip code,” he says with a dry chuckle.

I widen my eyes, nodding toward Caleb.

“Right. Sorry,” Jensen whispers under his breath.

My conscience is quick to step in, reminding me they’ve only been recently acquainted despite their striking resemblance to each other. Caleb isn’t the only one struggling to adapt to the situation.

From what I’ve learned from passing comments between my brothers, Jensen never settled down, fully immersed in growing his company. I can’t imagine the shock of finding out he missed five years of his son’s life that he’ll never get back, no matter how many resources he throws at it .

It’s ironic—people like my mom actively chose to walk away from parenthood, while others like Jensen would sacrifice everything for a chance to reconnect with their child.

When we get to Caleb’s bedroom at the end of the hall, I pause at the threshold.

“I had a limited amount of time, so I couldn’t remodel everything, but I tried to make it special,” I say as I open the door.

I glance down at Caleb to see his reaction.

His eyes widen as he looks around, taking it all in.

A twin-sized bed with a navy-blue comforter sits in the corner, with a white nightstand beside it.

Across the room, I mounted a bookshelf and filled it with children’s books from Mama Julie’s collection.

Three walls are painted a light gray, while the fourth is covered in blue wallpaper printed with T.

rexes and Triceratops. A plush area rug shaped like a Stegosaurus footprint, courtesy of a hidden gem at Charlie’s shop, covers the hardwood floor.

Decorating the room was one way I thought would help Caleb feel more comfortable while he’s staying here this summer. I assumed Jensen would bring more of his favorite books, toys, and other things, but I wanted to make a good first impression.

He lets go of my hand, his movements slow and purposeful as he circles the room.

When he reaches the dinosaur wallpaper, his hand brushes against it, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

His reaction tells me he’s happy with his new space, leaving me with a quiet sense of pride.

It was a stroke of luck that dinosaurs are his favorite, making the reveal that much more meaningful.

However, my joy is short-lived when I peek over at Jensen, where he’s lingering in the doorway with a scowl plastered on his face.

His gaze sharpens when his eyes meet mine. “Can I talk to you in the hallway?”

“Sure,” I say.

It’s clear that something I’ve done has upset him, and I’m willing to hear him out. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let his sour mood ruin Caleb’s positive reaction to what I’ve done.

“We’ll be right back, buddy,” Jensen says to Caleb.

He gives a quick nod before returning his focus to the wallpaper, tracing each dinosaur at eye level.

I follow Jensen down the hall, leaving the bedroom door open a crack.

“Did I offend you somehow?” I keep my voice low. “Because you’re looking at me as if I committed an unforgivable crime, like putting pineapple on pizza.”

Jensen shakes his head in disbelief. “You’re joking, right? Pineapple on pizza is elite.”

I wrinkle my nose, rolling my eyes. “Fantastic. Now, I have to second-guess every choice you make. What a devastating discovery.”

He offers a faint smile before his expression falls, sadness settling over his face.

“I was disappointed when I saw Caleb’s room.

I’d imagined us decorating it together since the one he stayed at in my apartment was a guest room.

” Jensen leans against the wall, shooting me a regretful glance.

“I only found out he’s my son less than two weeks ago. ”

“Less than two weeks?” I ask, struggling to hide the shock in my voice. I’d assumed it had been longer.

“Yeah. I was hoping to create a memory with him while making his new space special.”

“I’m sorry,” I apologize, hating that I might have overstepped. “I don’t mean to pry, but Heath didn’t share a lot of details…” I trail off, letting the question hang in the air.

“His mom, Amelia, and I had a one-night stand a few years ago, when she was in New York for a conference. She was gone the following morning when I woke up.”

“And she never reached out to you?”

Jensen shakes his head. “I had no idea about Caleb until her lawyer called to say she’d passed away after a long battle with cancer and left me full custody.”

I press my hand to my mouth, blinking back tears. “God, Jensen, that’s awful. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you.”

My chest tightens at the thought of what Caleb must be going through.

I know what it’s like to grieve a parent, even if mine left by choice.

The difference is I had the Halsteads to rely on.

Caleb’s world has been turned upside down, and now he’s been placed in the care of someone he doesn’t know—who happens to be his dad.

It hadn’t crossed my mind that something as simple as decorating a room might be important to Jensen. I acted on instinct, wanting to do something nice, but after hearing more details about the situation, I believe I have overstepped.

I shift my weight from foot to foot, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I didn’t mean to interfere. I just wanted to make sure Caleb felt at home when he got here.”

Jensen sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “It was a thoughtful gesture, and I appreciate you wanting to make things easier for him. I really do.”

“Of course, but I know you’ve already missed out on a lot with him. Next time I want to do something for him, I’ll make sure to run it by you first.”

I can admit when I’ve crossed a line, and I’d rather we talk things out now than spend the next three months walking on eggshells because we couldn’t agree to move forward.

“Thank you for understanding. This is all so new to me,” he says as he blows out a deep breath. “I was surprised to see how quickly Caleb warmed up to you when I’ve had to practically drag out the smallest response from him.”

Jensen’s admission tugs at my heartstrings.

This can’t be easy for him either. He built a successful tech firm in New York and had a life there.

Now, he’s had to leave it all behind and move back to a place he barely tolerates while navigating fatherhood for the first time.

I suspect his frustration has less to do with me and more to do with how powerless he feels, caught at the mercy of forces beyond his control.

“You’re doing your best, Jensen. It will take some time, but Caleb will adjust. Keep showing up like you have been, and he’ll get there.”

He pushes off the wall, stepping toward me. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. Now if only I believed it,” he whispers.

I rest my hand on his shoulder, giving him a soft smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep believing for both of us until you do.”

“Sorry again for being such an ass—” He pauses as noise drifts from Caleb’s bedroom.

We’re both quick to move down the hall, and I quietly push the door open a few inches to investigate. Caleb sits on the floor by the bookshelf, flipping through a picture book, his dino nestled in his lap. Jensen moves in behind me, close enough to feel his breath against the nape of my neck.

He leans in and whispers, “He looks happy.”

Caleb really does, and I only hope Jensen realizes it’s not all because of the decorated room.

His happiness comes from Jensen’s unwavering devotion since finding out he was a dad.

You can see it in the way he looks at his son and his commitment to giving him the best life possible.

When all is said and done, no dinosaur wallpaper will make Caleb brave and strong again.

It’ll be Jensen’s strength and courage that will carry them through to better times, even when he questions if he’s up to the task.

I meet his eyes over my shoulder. “You’re not alone in this. Not anymore.”