Stranded with My Stepbrother

Chapter 30

Caleb tugged me to him and wrapped me in a hug, burying his face in my hair. “Thank you, Jacey. Just keep your ears peeled. I’ll be there tonight.”

“Hey, you two, you’re not thinking of running off again, are you?” an anxious call came over the top of the hill.

Caleb and I sprang apart, looking up to see Jeanie at the top of the hill.

“Mom?” Caleb asked. “How long have you been standing there?”

“That was the sweetest hug,” Jeanie said, dabbing her eyes. “I’m glad I got to see it. Why does it matter how long I was here?”

“N-No reason,” I replied quickly. “Just... well... Caleb was just venting a little about Dad’s behavior, and I was hoping you weren’t offended.”

“Oh. No, I wasn’t around for that part. But I do understand. I wish Caleb and Hank didn’t butt heads so often,” Jeanie sighed.

Caleb scowled at us. “I’m right here. You don’t have to talk around me.”

Jeanie’s laughter was like a tinkling of bells. She really was a sweet woman, and I was glad she didn’t walk in on us doing something Caleb said she thought was “gross.” “I’m just here to let you know that dinner is ready.”

“Thanks!” Caleb and I said together, a bit sheepishly.

Jeanie started back down the hill.

As soon as she was out of sight, Caleb pulled me against him for a long kiss. “To tide me over,” he explained after he let me go.

We walked back to camp, Caleb’s hand at my back even though I didn’t need the help picking my way over the path. It was a nice, safe, comforting feeling just the same.

My father was still stewing, I could tell. He slapped fresh, fried fish down onto paper plates with angry muttering, causing grease and some fish flakes to fly everywhere.

Jeanie hung on his arm, trying to calm him down.

Caleb tensed the moment he saw my father, but all I had to do was give him one look and he made a concerted effort to relax.

“Sorry for storming off on you like that, Hank,” Caleb said, offering the olive branch.

I held my breath and looked at my father.

“What, just now or when you nearly got my daughter killed?” my father spat.

“Dad!” I admonished him before Caleb could say anything. “Caleb followed ME. I went first, remember?”

“Don’t remind me,” my father muttered. “I know I raised you better than that.”

“Hank, please,” Jeanie said, leaning her cheek on my father’s shoulder.

My father deflated. “There’s tartar sauce and lemon slices in the cooler.” He picked up his own plate and salad bowl and went to the table.

“That’s code for ‘let’s make peace,’” I whispered to Caleb.

“I think you’re going to have to keep translating for me because I heard ‘I’m a toddler and I’m going to have a temper tantrum,’” Caleb mumbled back.

“He’s probably thinking the same thing about you right now, you know,” I pointed out.

That made Caleb laugh. He went into the tent with me, and we both got our fish and our salads and went to the picnic table to sit across from my father and Jeanie.

Since we weren’t flinching every time we accidentally brushed each other, it was a nice meal, and even my father had cheered up by the end of it.

Caleb and I took care of the silverware while my dad took the paper dishes and used them as kindling for our evening fire.

It was all so normal, it was hard to believe what had transpired in the last few days.

But the haunted look in Caleb’s eyes when he stared off into the distance from time to time made my stomach knot and told me that yes, indeed, everything, good and bad, had really happened.

-Caleb-

My mom cuddled with Hank while we roasted marshmallows. I envied them that. They laughed together and fed each other sticky s’mores.

Jocelyn and I sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the short, narrow bench on our side of the fire, but I couldn’t put my arm around her, and I sure as hell couldn’t go licking marshmallow off her fingers like Hank was doing to my mother.