It All Matters to You

“What’s this about Ashleigh?” Caleb asked. He reached out and took her hand in his. “Did something happen today?”

“I just heard some things,” she said.

“What things?” Caleb asked.

He tried to keep calm, but she felt the change in him. The anger under his words, the hint of fear.

“Why are you scared of what I might have heard?” Ashleigh asked.

Caleb sat up a little more, and she felt him pulling away from her.

“I’m concerned because you seem upset,” he replied.

She looked away, unsure how to even start the conversation.

Caleb squeezed her hand. She looked up at him, and Caleb smiled.

“Come here,” he said.

He let go of her hand and rolled his chair back away from the table. He put his arms out to her as she got up and moved to him. Ashleigh sat in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck as he held her waist.

She laid her head on his shoulder and took a deep breath.

“I heard you lost your mate,” she sighed.