Book 2 Chapter 11

Daphne’s Point of View

After speaking with Dr. Hollis, I started to formulate a plan to surprise Caleb. It has been a long time since I joined Caleb for dinner, and even longer since I have cooked for him. Caleb once remarked that he loved my cooking. I ran down to the kitchen to start looking to see what supplies we had available while I was thinking about my plan.

Taking a quick inventory of what I had available I decided to make Caleb chicken enchiladas with red sauce, Spanish rice, and cornbread cake. I carefully begin to season the chicken and make the dough for the tortillas. Cooking was the one chore that I never minded doing. I love the scents of the various spices, and there is an enjoyment in watching people enjoy the food that I make. Once the chicken is done I add a few more seasonings before letting it cool so that I can shred it.

I start to get nervous as dinner time approaches. I have not seen Caleb yet, and I wonder if he is in his office. As I am putting the cornbread cake in the oven, I hear Caleb’s Jeep pull in the driveway. Curious because I did not know that he even left today I glance out the front windows. I see Caleb climb out of the car, and he talks with Theo before grabbing what appears to be a basket and a blanket from Theo. When Caleb starts walking away from the house my heart sinks, Caleb is going to see someone else.

A muffled sob escapes my lips as I watch Scarlett jog to Theo from the direction of the children’s center and she launches herself into Theo’s arms. He twirls her around effortlessly as she laughs in enjoyment. The rational part of my brain recalls Scarlett telling me that they were going to go out tonight and see a movie. None of that matters to me right now. Right now, my heart is filled with a new kind of grief that engulfs my entire being.

I knew that I was the one that was pulling away from Caleb, but I never thought that he would pursue someone else. We are destined mates, but even Scarlett had told me that her former mate took lovers. In the distance I can hear the timer on the oven, and I try to make my feet move towards the kitchen. I have already pushed my mate away the last thing I need to do is burn his house down.

Once I pull the cornbread cake out of the oven, I could no longer contain the grief and sadness that was cursing through my body. As it hit me in waves, I sank to the floor resting my back against the cabinets. I no longer tried to be quiet, instead I allowed my sobs to rack through me. Why did I have to act so stupidly and push him away? I was sobbing so loud and lost in my thoughts that I never heard someone come into the kitchen.