Bluest Eyes in Texas - Book 1 Page 8

  Chapter 8

  Caleb awoke to a loud pounding on his door. He looked over at the clock on his nightstand. It was a little after midnight. He quickly got out of bed and ran to open the door. Standing there was Michael, his face displaying a look of absolute hatred and anger. He pushed past Caleb and walked right in. “Do you like working here?” Michael asked, his eyes burning into Caleb’s.

  Caleb wiped the sleep from his eyes and stood there looking perplexed. “Yes, sir.”

  “Then do you want to tell me what you were doing with my daughter?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I saw you kissing my daughter you little bastard!” Michael screamed fiercely.

  Caleb took a step back. “Sir, its not what you think. I love your daughter very much.”

  “Love? Love?” he screamed. “You think you love her? Oh that’s grand! You’re both too young to know what true love is!”

  Michael looked Caleb up and down. He could see that Caleb’s words seemed to be genuine and that bothered him. Michael sat down and motioned for Caleb to sit in the other chair. He sat with his head in his hands trembling with anger for a few moments then looked up at Caleb. “If you love my daughter, then you’ll want what’s best for her. Am I correct?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Good.” Michael shook his head. “Well I’m telling you that you are not what is best for my daughter.”

  “All due respect, sir, but I think you’re wrong.”

  Michael looked at Caleb and laughed. “You think a servant is good enough for my daughter? I’m not going to let my daughter waste her life away on someone like you. My Makenzie can do much better than you, you lowlife!” He stood up. “You’re out of here! You got fifteen minutes to pack up your shit and get off my property.” Michael exclaimed ferociously.

  “Sir, please. You’re making a mistake,” Caleb started to say, but was interrupted.

  “You think my daughter loves you?” Michael said as he shook his head and laughed. “I’m certain she doesn’t. This was just some sort of summer fling.”

  “No.” Caleb said shaking his head.

  “Fifteen minutes!” Michael yelled. “I’ll be right outside the door.”

  Caleb’s head was spinning with a million different thoughts as he started grabbing his belongings and stuffing them into garbage bags. True to his word, Michael was standing outside Caleb’s door as he left to start loading up his truck. Michael stopped him on his way back in and handed him a check. “Here’s your last check. I hope you don’t plan on using me as a reference.”

  Caleb stared hard at Michael. “Can I at least say goodbye to her?” Caleb pleaded.

  “No. You may not. And I’ll need your cell phone and your keys back.”

  Caleb handed his cell phone and keys to Michael and picked up his remaining bags. “What about her puppy?” Caleb quietly asked.

  “You take that filthy animal with you. There will be no dogs here.”

  Caleb grabbed Angel and walked out the door, glancing toward Makenzie’s balcony as he left.

  Anna heard the screaming and peeked her head out her door. She saw Caleb with bags in his hand and the puppy in his other hand. “Tell Makenzie I love her,” he whispered to Anna as he passed. Michael followed close behind him.

  “What are you looking at?” Michael yelled at Anna. “Get back in your room and don’t you dare give my daughter any messages from him. That is an order!”

  Anna quickly closed her door and tried to go back to sleep. Poor Caleb. Poor Makenzie. She wasn’t kidding about her parents.

  Caleb got into his truck and drove away. He didn’t even know where he was going at first until he approached the small farm. He stopped to look at it, as he struggled to fight the tears welling up in his eyes. He saw Makenzie’s face as she had excitedly told him of her hopes to have a farm like it someday. He got back on the road and continued the familiar route until he arrived at the river. He parked his truck and sighed. He couldn’t get Makenzie off his mind. Caleb turned on the radio, but the sad country song it played hit too close to home for him.

  Caleb reached over and turned the radio off. The song lyrics cut too deep. He thought of Makenzie’s deep blue eyes, and her angel face. He thought of her soft angelic voice and her sweet laugh. He thought of her lively spirit and how she took delight in the simplest of things. He saw her dancing in the wind and the rain in the wildflowers. He saw her playfully flinging food at him earlier that day. He saw the sweet smile that she seemed to have reserved for him. He saw her pretty blonde ringlets bouncing behind her as she rode her horse. He saw her splashing around in her underwear at the river. He saw her lying beside him, gazing up at the moon and the stars. He saw her talking passionately about their future. He saw her in his room, making love to him. He saw her playing with her puppy. He saw her giggling as he tickled her. He saw her tears when she had thought he didn’t want her. Of all the memories that flooded him, her eyes, her deep blue eyes, were what haunted him the most.

  Caleb’s chest heaved in silence a minute. Then he broke down and started crying. He was devastated as her memory continued to torment him. He closed his eyes and saw her beautiful face aglow in the moonlight. He thought about how he had been in love with her the moment he saw her face and looked into her eyes. Just when he thought he’d never find love, he found himself gazing into her eyes. Her spirit had mesmerized him right from the beginning. She had knocked down the walls he had built around his heart for so long. He never opened up to anyone before he met her. With her it had been easy to open up. He had shared his life and his dreams with her. She made him feel alive. “Oh God, I cannot live without her.” He whispered to himself. “I cannot live without my life.”

  Michael’s words played over and over in his head. I’m not going to let my daughter waste her life away on someone like you. You think my daughter loves you? I’m certain she doesn’t. This was just some sort of summer fling. Caleb couldn’t bear the sting of Michael’s cruel words. No, it can’t be true. She loves me. I know what we have is real.

  Caleb felt he needed to walk. He riffled through the bags until he found Angel’s leash. He pinned it to her collar and got out of the truck with her. He walked around the riverbank for a while. He glanced at the small hill and decided to climb it. He stopped at the top and sat down. Still Michael’s words tormented him. You think a servant is good enough for my daughter? As he looked down the hill, he was tortured by the memory of Makenzie giggling as she rolled down it just a few weeks before. Caleb started to cry again. He walked back to his truck with Angel. He found the framed photo he had taken of Makenzie, kissed it and held it to his chest as her memory overtook him in a violent jolt of agony and despair until he finally willed himself to sleep.

  Makenzie awoke to the loud noise of thunder and lightning cracking outside. She felt a horrible feeling of dread and couldn’t understand where it was coming from. She got up out of bed and opened her shades, looking out. It was pouring rain outside, high winds blowing the trees down low, bright flashes of lightning illuminating the dark sky. She had the urge to use the bathroom and remembered the pregnancy test she had stuffed under her mattress. She retrieved it and went into the bathroom to take the test. The box said it took three minutes to get the results, so she walked into her room and turned on the TV. The screen flashed red, displaying a severe thunderstorm warning for her area.

  Makenzie’s eyes nervously darted back and forth between the TV and the clock. After the three minutes, she got up and looked at the test. The test window showed two bright pink lines. Oh my God! Makenzie’s excitement and anxiety grew as she reached for the box again to be sure. One line means not pregnant, two lines means pregnant.

  Makenzie lightly touched her belly, feeling overwhelmed with happiness. Oh I must go tell Caleb right away! He won’t be working with this rain. Forgetting that she was stil
l in her nightgown, Makenzie took off down the stairs, almost colliding with Anna when she turned the corner. “Sorry,” Makenzie called out.

  “Where are you going in such a rush?” Anna called after her.

  “I have to find Caleb.” Makenzie answered.

  “Makenzie, wait….” Anna started to call out, but Makenzie didn’t stop.

  Makenzie half ran into the exercise room. She could hear the rain pounding hard against the windows. She looked around and seeing a towel, grabbed it and held it over her head. She opened the doors and ran out, jogging to Caleb’s room. When she reached it, she pounded on the door. He never opened the door, so she repeated her knocking. “Caleb! Come on it’s horrible out here. Open the door. Caleb!” She felt a hand gently touch her arm and she spun around to see Anna.

  “Makenzie, honey, he’s gone.” Anna said sadly.

  Makenzie eyed Anna stupidly. “What do you mean gone?”

  “He left last night. I’m sorry.” Anna whispered as she rubbed Makenzie’s arm.

  Makenzie stood there a moment shaking her head, repeating the word ‘no’. “He’s probably just in a deep sleep. I’ve got to go get my key to his room. Angel is probably afraid of the storm.”

  Anna tried to stop her, but Makenzie ran back to the house. She ran into her room and dug the extra key Caleb had given her out of her purse. She retrieved it and ran back outside into the rain. Anna ran inside to get Teddy.

  Makenzie ran back to Caleb’s room and unlocked the door. She burst through the door, leaving it open behind her as she ran into the room. She looked around and saw that Caleb was not there, nor was her puppy. She started opening his dresser drawers, finding each one empty. Makenzie’s heart beat fast and her legs felt as if they would give out. Teddy approached the doorway.

  Makenzie turned to leave and Teddy tried to stop her. Makenzie pushed past him. “I’ve got to find Caleb.” She said anxiously, tears streaming down her face. She took off running toward the gates, the rain drenching her, as she screamed for Caleb. Teddy ran after her. Makenzie reached the iron gates and held them, crying and still screaming out for Caleb. She went to the keypad and started unsuccessfully punching the number code into the little machine. She turned when she heard someone approaching behind her. She ran to Teddy and threw herself in his arms. “Oh Teddy I’ve lost him!” she wailed as her legs gave out.

  Teddy put his arm around her shoulder and supported her weight, trying to calm her. “Come on. You’ll catch your death out here.” He whispered as he walked her back to the house. They passed Natasha on their way upstairs to Makenzie’s room.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Natasha asked. She looked at her daughter, whom was soaked all the way through, her hair drenched, eyes bright red, shivering, with fresh tears streaming down her face.

  “Why don’t you ask your husband?” Teddy replied coolly. He continued holding Makenzie up as he walked her to her room. Anna soon entered and asked Teddy to give her a few moments alone with Makenzie. Teddy looked over at Makenzie, a look of sadness on his own face. He nodded to Anna and left.

  Anna walked into the bathroom and started a warm bath for Makenzie. As the water filled, she helped Makenzie out of her wet nightgown and wrapped a blanket around her. She left the room for a second to find Teddy, whom was waiting just outside Makenzie’s door.

  “Teddy I’m worried about her. It’s like she doesn’t even notice me there. She just keeps looking past me, rocking back and forth whispering ‘Caleb’. I started a bath for her. I don’t know what else to do.”

  “You’re doing fine, Anna. Just don’t leave her alone in the tub in her current state. I’m going to go get Mia. You stay with Makenzie. After her bath, come and get me and I’ll take over.” Teddy replied.

  Anna sat on the side of the tub as Makenzie bathed. Makenzie just sat in the tub holding her knees to her chest, humming quietly to herself. She would alternate between the low humming and crying hysterically. Anna was very worried. When Makenzie stopped shivering, Anna held up a large towel for Makenzie, then placed her hand under Makenzie’s armpit to help her up.

  Makenzie stood and stared blankly as Anna wrapped the towel around her. She walked to the window and stared out toward Caleb’s room. Her hysterics were gone, though soft tears still glided down her cheeks. “Oh Anna, why did he leave me?”

  “Sshhh. It’s okay, Makenzie. Calm down. Lets get you dressed.” Anna said softly.

  Makenzie dropped her towel and Anna put a fresh white nightgown over Makenzie’s head, and then held out a pair of dry underwear for Makenzie to step into. Makenzie backed up against the wall, then slid down, sitting on the floor. She began to sob heavily again.

  There was a soft knock at the door and Anna ran to open it. Teddy was standing there with a cup of tea. He walked over to Makenzie and offered it to her. “Here. Drink something warm. It’ll make you feel better.”

  Makenzie briefly looked up at him. The look in her eyes devastated Teddy. He had never in his life seen anyone look this sad. She turned her head away in refusal. “Please just go away.” Makenzie whispered so quietly it was barely audible.

  Teddy put the teacup down on the nightstand across the room and walked over to Makenzie. He put his arms around her. “Okay. I’m right across the hall if you need me.” He looked over at Anna and motioned with his head for her to leave. Anna left the room and Teddy followed.

  “I can’t stand to see her like this. Teddy, we have to tell her what happened, why Caleb is gone, even if it means losing my job. She must think that Caleb left her of his own free will. She must be dying inside.” Anna said.

  “I can’t stand it either, Anna. But if we tell her, then I’m certain Michael will fire you and how shall we see each other?” Teddy replied.

  “I don’t wish to be fired, but what else can we do?”

  “Just leave her be for now. Let her calm down so we can speak rationally to her.”

  After Teddy closed the door, Makenzie slowly got up and stumbled over to her balcony. She opened the double doors and stepped outside. The rain had slowed to a soft drizzle and the wind had died down to a gentle breeze. Makenzie walked to the edge of the balcony and leaned over the railing. She looked out towards Caleb’s room as thoughts of him flooded her mind. She saw his handsome, rugged face, his intense brown eyes, and his soft brown hair. The memory of the glorious nights they spent together in his room and the remembrance of her positive test that morning overtook her as she grasped for her belly and began to weep again.

  Makenzie forced her eyes away from what had been Caleb’s room and they fell upon the pool. More memories flooded her. She turned and walked back inside. She fell face down on her bed and stopped fighting the memories, letting them overtake her as her body convulsed violently with her sobbing. She saw Caleb’s face over and over again, playing through her mind like a movie. She saw him at first glance again as she had opened the door for his interview. She saw him working in the yard. She saw him cleaning the pool. She saw him walking out of the stables, holding the reins to her horse, and helping her onto it. She saw him riding a horse beside her. She saw him holding her and kissing her and making love to her. She remembered the feel of his soft, warm lips against her own. She saw him defending her against Scott and wiping her tears away with his fingertips. She replayed his intense stare over and over again. She heard his voice as they talked about their futures. “How could you leave me Caleb?” Makenzie whispered to herself.

  Makenzie went on to think about how she had loved him right from the start, how she felt connected to him in ways she couldn’t even explain to herself. She had never loved anyone the way she loved Caleb. And she knew she never would again, for she loved Caleb more than she loved life itself. Without him she felt as if she couldn’t breathe. She picked up her cell phone and found the picture she had taken of him. “God, I cannot live without my life.” She whisper
ed to herself as she looked at his picture.

  Caleb had awoken abruptly to the sounds of the angry storm. He looked out his windshield at the dark sky and noted how the dreary weather matched his mood. He had had a fitful nights sleep, with Makenzie’s sweet face continuing to haunt him even as he slept. He had dreamed about her and awoken several times in the night calling out her name. He had hoped that his having to leave her had only been a bad dream, but as he opened his eyes and took in his surroundings, the cruel reality of it all hit him with a force that would have knocked him to his knees had he been standing.

  The realization that he could have lost her for good sunk in and his heart began to thud inside his chest. He wondered if Makenzie had awoken and noticed him gone yet. He wondered what she would think about it. Would she think that he abandoned her? Would she be hurting as much as he was? The thought of Makenzie feeling the same gut-wrenching pain and torment as himself was too much for Caleb. “God, how can I bear it?” he said aloud to himself. Memories of Makenzie continued to haunt him, as he silently vowed to himself to do whatever he had to do to be with her again. I shall see her again. She needs to know that I did not leave her.

  Natasha knocked on her daughter’s bedroom door. Not hearing anything, she turned the knob and walked inside. Makenzie was sitting up in her bed with her knees to her chest, biting on one of her fingers. Makenzie sat there staring straight ahead, not acknowledging her mother. Natasha, carrying a tray of food in her hands, walked toward Makenzie and bent down in front of her. “Honey, you missed lunch, so I thought I would bring some up to you.”

  Makenzie still sat there, unmoving, her eyes never meeting her mother’s.

  “Well, I’ll just leave you alone. Please eat something. I’ll be by later to pick up the tray.” Her mother smiled down at her and walked away.

  Natasha returned to Makenzie’s room an hour later and knocked on the door. Neither getting nor waiting for a response, she turned the knob and walked in. She saw Makenzie lying on her side with her eyes closed. She walked over to the side of the bed and eyed the tray sitting there untouched. Natasha placed her hand on Makenzie’s forehead. Her temperature felt normal, so Natasha grabbed the tray and left the room. As soon as she heard her mother leave, Makenzie opened her eyes and got out of bed. She walked over to her door and locked it.

  Caleb pulled into the gas station, parked, and went inside. He bought a couple bottles of water and a newspaper and left. He took the familiar route toward Makenzie’s house, slowing as he passed. He saw her yellow Mustang in the circular drive and kept going. He pulled into the lot at the park and grabbed one of the water bottles. Finding Angel’s bowl, he poured some water into it and downed the rest of the bottle. Next he opened the newspaper and circled a few employment ads.

  When Makenzie failed to show up at dinner, her mother sent Teddy upstairs with a tray of food for her. Teddy knocked on her door but got no answer. He turned the knob, but found it locked. He knocked again. “Makenzie?”

  No answer. He took the full tray back to the kitchen. Natasha stared at him and then over at Michael. Teddy just shrugged his shoulders and put the tray on the counter. Natasha frowned.

  Natasha confronted her husband in the study later that evening, demanding to know what happened. Michael recounted his midnight scene with Caleb. Natasha just stood there shaking her head in disappointment. Finally she spoke. “Michael, for God’s sake she won’t even eat. This morning she was screaming and crying about in the storm. I wouldn’t doubt it if she doesn’t get ill now. Teddy brought her in soaked to the bone. She hasn’t spoken to anyone. Just been holed up in her room all day. A few times I walked past her door and heard her crying and calling his name. There has to be another way, Michael.”

  “Just give her a few days. She’ll come around.” Michael replied as he turned his attention back to his book. Natasha glared at her husband a moment and then turned and walked away.

  (End of Book 1 – to be continued)