Chapter 12 - Caleb Said He Was Trying to Save His Sons
Jenna agreed to one controlled meeting with Caleb before the criminal case resolved.
Her lawyer attended.
So did Caleb's.
She wanted no apology.
One question.
“Why did you want the twins and not Sophie?”
Caleb looked exhausted.
“I never said I didn't want Sophie.”
“You drafted a plan sending her to Claire.”
“She isn't mine legally.”
“She called you Dad for four years.”
His face tightened.
“I thought Claire was better for her.”
“Why?”
“Because you and I were going to be fighting.”
“And Eli and Owen somehow wouldn't notice?”
“They're babies.”
Jenna stared.
There it was.
Children mattered according to how inconvenient their memories were.
Sophie could speak.
Sophie had watched him.
The twins could not.
Then Jenna asked:
“Why Natalie?”
He shook his head.
“That isn't connected.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No.”
“You wanted to leave me.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted the boys.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted everyone to believe you left because I was dangerous.”
Caleb covered his face.
“I wanted to not lose everything.”
“What is everything?”
“My sons.”
“Not your marriage?”
He did not answer.
“Not Sophie?”
No answer.
“Your reputation?”
His jaw tightened.
Jenna leaned forward.
“You wanted to be the good man at the end of a bad marriage.”
“I didn't want my family thinking I abandoned newborns.”
“So you built a version where I failed them first.”
Caleb's eyes filled.
“I never meant for you to be unconscious that long.”
That was the closest thing to an admission she needed emotionally.
Not legally.
Emotionally.
“How long?”
He looked toward his attorney.
“Caleb.”
“I thought Claire would find you.”
“After how long?”
“Hours.”
“Not three days?”
“No.”
Jenna's voice went cold.
“Sophie says you told her not to wake me for three mornings.”
Caleb looked away.
The contradiction sat between them.
Then:
“I panicked.”
“When?”
“When I found the bag.”
“What did you do with the phone battery?”
His attorney interrupted.
Caleb did not answer.
Jenna stood.
Before leaving, she said:
“You keep saying you were trying to save your sons.”
He looked up.
“You left all three children in a house with an unconscious woman.”
His face collapsed.
“That isn't saving them.”
Then she walked out.
The meeting did not provide every answer.
May you like
It did something more useful.
It removed Caleb's ability to explain himself inside Jenna's head.
