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It's Not Over
Topic Started: Jun 30 2008, 08:03 PM (795 Views)
Randee
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Chapter One:

Shannon Cates sat on the edge of the bed debating how she was going to tell him. She has tried for so many years but one thing always came between her picking up the phone and calling him. “He has a right to know.”
Her thirteen year old daughter Megan told her. Yes, Shannon knew he had a right know but how would he handle it, would he think that she wanted him to marry her or move there?
No. She did not want either of those things; she just wanted him to know that he is a father.

Cerra would be five soon and she was starting ask question about where her daddy was. “I’m going to do this; I am going to tell him.” She said to herself. She picked up the phone and made the reservations. For something this big it had to be done in person.
“Megan, c’mon, we are going to miss our flight!” she yelled as she was running out the door. She was nervous as all hell but this was something that had been put off for way too long.





Caleb Vincent sat at the bar of a local restaurant waiting for his date; well as far as everyone thought that is. He never did get over Shannon Cates leaving like she did. He understood that she had a child and a job she had to get back to, he just wanted to tell her how he felt before she left. “Caleb!” the blonde women exclaimed.
“How are you? It has been such a long time since I heard from you.” “Yes, yes it has”. Caleb said as he rose from his seat and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. Lori James knew that Caleb never got over the “one” that got away. She also knew that she was just a distraction for him, but she didn’t care or so she acted. She had the hottest eligible guy on the island with her tonight and any other night he called her. “So what can I do for you tonight, Caleb?” Lori asked as they sat down at their table.

“Well, I would like to open another shop on the island and you are the best realtor I know, Lori.”
Caleb said with a slight sly smile on his face.
“What kind of shop do you have in mind this time or are you looking to do another boat shop?” Lori asked as she took a sip of her water. “Neither.” He said. Lori looked at him with astonishment. “Well, what are we talking about then?” He told her what he wanted to do and she was all for it, because there was not anything like it on the island.



“Welcome to Ocracoke, North Carolina girls.” Shannon told her two daughters. “Mommy, look there is the beach, can we go swimming?” Cerra asked her mom in a tiny excited voice. “We’ll see rug rat. Let mom get us settled in first and then maybe she will let me take you to the beach.” Megan told her little sister. “Meg’s right sweetie, let’s get settled in at the hotel and get something to eat and then we will go down there. But, I don’t want you getting to close to the water without me or Megan. Do you understand?”

Cerra pouted out her lower lip and crossed her little arms in a mock tantrum. God, if she did not look like her father. Shannon thought to herself. Caleb did that when he did not get his way too. All she hoped was that he would understand why she kept the secret for so long. As they walked from the car to the hotel, Shannon heard a familiar voice in the distance. She knew right away that Kameron would recognize her. Shannon tried her hardest to make sure that Kameron did not see Cerra before she was able to tell Caleb.
“Meg, if I tell you to take your sister inside, do it and do it quickly no questions asked okay.” Megan shook her head in answer and continued walking toward the hotel. As they entered the hotel, Kameron saw the back of Shannon and had a sense that she knew her.


“Caleb, what if I told you I think Shay is back?” Kameron asked her older brother. “I would tell you to shut the fuck up and stop playing games with me. Shannon Cates would never come back here, she has no reason to. She made that clear six years ago when she left without saying good-bye.”
Kameron looked at her brother and could tell that he was still hurting no matter how hard he tried to cover it up. “I’m telling you I swear I heard her voice and saw her going into the hotel back in the village. Now I can not be certain because she did have two girls with her.” “Well, see there you go, Kam. Shannon only has one girl and she has to be at least twelve or thirteen by now.”

Caleb shot back at his sister. “Did you ever think that maybe she had another kid between then and now smartass?” Caleb sat down at the kitchen table and had to think about that one. She could have another kid and be married by now but why would she come back here. Did she not care that he was here and want to flaunt something like that in his face? Did nothing that happened between them mean anything to her? He had to see for himself. What did Kameron know anyway, she was just a kid herself?



Shannon sat in the window ledge of the hotel looking out at the ocean as she remembered her last time here in Ocracoke. “You are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen here before.” He said as he walked up to her at the bar. “Excuse me. I know you are not talking to me.” She replied back. “Well, actually I was talking to the lady sitting next to you but if you would like to take that compliment that is fine with me.” She looked next to her on both sides and realized that there was only a man sitting on one side of her and the other side was empty. She smiled and turned back to him.

She had to admit he was handsome with his blue eyes and dark hair. “Really well, I guess I will take that compliment after all considering there aren’t any other women here next to me.” He extended his hand and introduced himself to her. “My name is Caleb Vincent. It is a pleasure to meet you…” She smiled again and told him her name. “Shannon. Shannon Cates.” They sat here for a while talking about her business she was trying to start and he told her about the island and all the wonderful places she could go to for beautiful scenery. He even offered to teach her how to scuba dive, if she wanted to learn. “Mommy.” Cerra said shaking Shannon out of her thoughts. “Yes, sweetie. I ‘m sorry mommy was just remembering the last time she was here and how much fun she had.” Shannon told her little girl. “Can we go down to the beach now, Mommy?” Shannon smiled and gathered up Cerra in her arms. “Sure we can go there now. Go get Megan while I get our bag together.” “Yippee! Yippee!” Cerra exclaimed.
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Randee
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Chapter Two:


Caleb was walking along the beach when he saw her. There she was with two girls, just as Kam told him.
He could not believe that she came back here. What was she doing here, why was she here? He was going to find out.
“Mommy, mommy look there is a bird in the water.” Cerra shouted as she ran toward the water.
“Cerra Kameron Cates, what did I tell you about getting to closer to the water?” Shannon shouted at her daughter.

Cerra stopped dead in her tracks when a strange man walked up beside her.
“You know you should listen to your mommy, she knows what she is telling you. The water can be very dangerous.”
Cerra ran screaming from the man to her mother.
Shannon looked up into a pair of blue eyes that she had not seen for six years, unless you counted the times she looked at Cerra.
“Caleb.” She whispered out. “Shannon. How nice it is to see you. It has been way to long.” He said to her.
Shannon just stared at him. All her fears came rushing back uncontrollably.


Did he know that Cerra was his? The way he looked at her said he knew.
“Wow, congratulations! I see you have another little girl, unless you are going to tell me time stopped and this is Megan?” He said jokingly.
“No, this is not Megan; she is over there looking for shells. She does that anytime we are at a beach. She says they are her reminders of our trips. Um, this is Cerra.” “So I heard you say. I was nearby when you told her to stay away from the water. Cerra Kameron you called her.”

Caleb said without breaking eye contact with Shannon. She looked down at her daughter and decided this was it, she had to tell him now or never. “Um, Caleb there is something I need to tell you.” Shannon was cut off by a young bodacious blonde coming up to Caleb and hugging him.
“There you are lover boy. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Lori said loud enough for Shannon to hear and then kissed Caleb on the lips.

“Shannon, this is Lori, Lori this is my old friend Shannon.” Caleb said awkwardly.
“It’s very nice to meet Lori. Caleb, I will talk to you later, I see that you are busy now.”
Shannon said trying not to show the disappointment she was feeling. When Shannon walked away, Caleb looked at Lori with fierce blue eyes.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” “I…” Lori started. “Forget it; I really don’t want to hear what you have to say unless it is about that property.” Caleb said cutting her off before she could make any excuses.

Showing her discern, Lori said,
”Yeah, about that, the owner said he could show you the property tomorrow afternoon. Will around one o’clock work for you, Mr. Vincent?” “One o’clock is fine. I will see you then.” Caleb said as he walked away.
Lori stood there and decided that this Shannon would not just walk in and lay claim to Caleb’s heart, which belonged to her. Little did Lori know Shannon had Caleb’s heart six years ago?

Caleb continued to walk along the beach thinking about Shannon. He did not pay much attention to the little girl all he cared about was that Shannon was back. What did she have to tell him? That she was married. Well he did not see a ring on her finger, so that could not have been it. Was she dying? Moreover, did she want to tell him? Is that why she came back here? He needed to see that it was that she had to tell him and soon. He had so many questions for her that maybe she would answer one of them with what she had to tell him.





Shannon spent the rest of the night playing games with her girls. She was going to take them to see several of the local attractions that Ocracoke had to offer. She thought that since Cerra loved horses so much that she would take her to see the Banker Ponies. Megan loved history so they were going to go to the Btitish Cemetery. She had to fill her day with things that would keep her mind off Caleb. He would not want the inconvenience of a child, she could see that when Lori came upon them. Therefore, she would just have a nice holiday with her girls before they had to go back to school.

After a long day of sightseeing with Megan and Cerra, Lori was ready for a nice long bath. When they reached their hotel, Caleb was there waiting for them.
“Hi, Shay.” He said startling her and the girls.
“Hello Caleb. Meg you remember Caleb don’t you?” Megan smiled as she did remember Caleb. She held out her hand to his for a nice firm shake.
“Hello Mr. Vincent. It is a pleasure to see you again.”
“Oh please Megan you can call me Caleb if you’d like, there is no need for formalities. And who is this lovely young lady?”

Caleb asked extending his hand to Cerra. Cerra hid behind her mother’s leg. She was not normally a shy child if anything Shannon was often afraid Cerra was to friendly with people. “I’m sorry Caleb, this is Cerra I believe you two have not been formally introduced and she is normally not like this.” “She really is very out going like her father.” Megan cut in.
“Megan Elizabeth.” Shannon warned. “Well she is and you know if mom.”
“Will you take your sister to our room and start her a bath while I talk to Caleb. thanks Hun.” After Megan and Cerra got on the elevator Shannon decided now was as good as time as any to tell Caleb the truth about Cerra.

“Shannon, will you have dinner with me tonight?” Caleb asked before she had a chance to say anything.
“You know Cal, that sounds like a nice idea but I think I will have to pass tonight. I am awful tired and I still need to get Cerra ready for bed. How about some other night this week?”
“That sounds fine, is tomorrow night good for you then, say around seven o’clock?” he asked.
“That sounds lovely, and I will also tell you what I have wanted to tell you for a long time now.” She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek and headed to her room.
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Randee
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Chapter Three:

Lori James sat behind the overly large tree blocking them from seeing her.

She watched and heard everything that just happened between Shannon and Caleb.

Lori decided that she would stop at nothing to keep Shannon away from Caleb.

Her first step was to find everything she could good or bad, preferably bad on one Ms. Shannon Cates.

Then she would bring it to Caleb and show him that she was the one fro him and not Shannon.

As she waited for Caleb to leave, she called the one person who could find anything and everything out about people…. her daddy.

The next day, Shannon and the girls were sitting in one of the local restaurants having breakfast when Kameron walked in and saw them.


“Shannon, Shannon Cates. Is that you or are my eyes deceiving me?” Kameron asked with excitement.

Shannon stood up from her chair, drew Kameron into a hug, and said,

“Yes, it is me.” After pulling Kameron back and taking a good look at her, she had to smile.

“Wow, you sure have grown to look like your mama.” Kameron smiled and held back tears.

Shannon did not know that she and Caleb’s mom pasted away from breast cancer two years ago.

“Thanks, Shay. I have some bad news though, mama passed away two years ago.”

Shannon was devastated she loved Cerra more than anything; which was one of the reasons she named her little girl after her.

“Oh my, I am so sorry, I was not here for you and Caleb. When I saw him yesterday he did not say anything to me.”

Shannon told Kameron. “Wait a minute you saw Cal yesterday?” Kameron asked.

“Yeah, we saw him when I took the girls to the beach.

He asked me to dinner last night but I told him I could not but that I would tonight.

Kam, I have some news but I want to tell Caleb first.

You haven’t been introduced to my girls yet.”

She took Kameron back to the table and introduced her to both of her girls.

Megan slightly remembered Kameron and Cerra fell in love with her right away.

“Please Kam, join us for breakfast and we can catch up on everything that has been going on with us.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind? I have so much to tell you too.” Kameron accepted.


Later that day, Kameron, Shannon and the girls were walking along the beach when Cerra saw a boat.

“Mommy, look at that boat. Can we go on one while we are here? Please!” Cerra begged.

Shannon had to tell Cerra no because she did not know anyone that had a boat and the ones you could rent were too expensive.

Kameron had an idea but was not to sure Shannon would go along with it.

“Shannon, I could take the girls out on a boat, now mind you it is not one of those but it is a boat.

My boyfriend has a speed boat and I will make sure they followed every rule that there is.”

Shannon thought about it and was about to answer when Meg said, “I will make sure Cerra listens and I will keep a close eye on her, mom.

You really do need to get some work done while we are here.”

“Okay, but Meg I am going to hold you to your word, that same goes for you Kameron.

If anything happens to either one of my girls, it will be your head I will be hunting.” Shannon said in a serious tone.
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Chapter Four:


As Shannon walked along the shoreline taking pictures, she remembered why she loved this place so much. This was her home. It did not matter why she left, she was back now and that was that mattered.

She wanted to make this her home again, for her and her girls.
Yes, it was time to stop living in the past. She has changed and times have changed, yes, people would remember why she really left but that did not matter anymore to her.

When she made it back to the hotel, she saw that the girls were still out with Kam. She looked at the clock and saw that she had enough time to take a short nap before she had to get ready for her "date" with Caleb. As she drifted off to a time, she would like to have forgotten.

September 2002



She sat on the edge of the tub looking at the stick. "No, this can't be right. I can't be pregnant again!" She inhaled a deep breath and held it for several seconds as she thought about what she was going to do.
It was just one night, one night when they were too upset, or better yet too drunk to think clearly.

Yes, he had always been there for her since they were ten years old but her heart still belonged to Jeremy, his to Caitlyn.
It could be a false positive. she thought out loud. She stood up took in deep breath and went to call the clinic to set up an appointment to make sure before she said anything to Caleb.

After leaving the clinic, she walked, she needed to think. She ended up at the park and as she sat absently down on the bench.
She thought to herself. The baby could be Jeremy's.

Jeremy was the love of Shannon's life, he was Meg's dad. They had been together since they were sixteen years old and then one day unexpectedly he tells her that he wanted to become the next MMA Champion. He was leaving for somewhere in Kentucky to train and then god knew where after that. He wanted her and Meg to come with him but she told him she wanted Meg to have roots and he understood that, he wanted the same for his little girl.

The doctor said I was a good 5 weeks along. No, J had been gone three months now. The baby was no way J's, the baby was definitely Caleb's. As she rose from the bench, she decided she would go talk to him tonight and tell him the great/bad news and they would make a decision together. As she pulled into his drive she saw that he was home, at least it looked as if he were home. She slowly got out of the car and made her way up his steps. When she was about to knock, she saw Caitlyn. "They got back together," she whispered to herself as she walked away without being seen. The next day she was on a plane headed for Saint Louis. She wanted to get as far way from North Carolina as she could be.

The sound of her alarm clocked jolted her out of her dream. She did not feel any better now than she did before she lay down. She showered, dressed, and made her way to the lobby to wait for Caleb. When she stepped off the elevator, she was greeted by a squeal.

"Mommy, I saw dolphins and a shark. Auntie Kameron and Meg to me to acarium after the boat ride."


"Aqu-air-ium." Meg sounded it for her little sister.
"Oh that is wonderful monkey butt." She said as she gave her little girl a great big hug. She stood and looked at Kameron.
"Auntie Kameron?"

"Yeah, I thought it would be cute if she called my 'Auntie Kameron.' "
Kameron said with a half smile.
"Oh c'mon mama, it's not like it is the end of the world if she calls her ‘Auntie’ now is it?" Meg asked.
"No, I guess not." Shannon replied.
Caleb walked up behind Shannon and placed a finger over his mouth, indicating to the others to not say a word that he was there.

"I guess there is no harm in Cerra calling you 'Auntie', you are practically family aren't you."
Kameron smiled as Caleb answered for her.
"Yeah we are all like family, aren't we?"
Shannon literally jumped out of her skin. She had no idea Caleb was standing behind her or for how long he had been there.
"So, are ready to go?" he asked after giving his sister a hug.
"Yeah, I will be ready in just a minute." she said as she held up one finger.


"Kameron, you by any chance didn't feed the girls did you?"
"Yes, I did. I hope that is okay?"
"It is fine; I just wanted to make sure I did not have to order room service for them before I left. Thank you." Shannon said with a smile.
"Not a problem at all. It was the highlight, since I had such a fun day with them." Kameron said as she nudges Meg's shoulder.
"Okay, great, now Meg, you know how to get in touch with me if you need me and I would like you to try to get your sister in the tub before she falls asleep. I love you girls and I will try not to be too late."
Shannon hugged and kissed both the girls and headed out of the hotel with Caleb.
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Chapter Five:

Caleb and Shannon sat at the bar of the restaurant as they waited for their table.
"A lot has changed around here since I left." Shannon noted more to herself than to Caleb.

"Yeah, a lot has changed." he replied absently as he thought about how he was going to asked her why she left without saying good bye all those years ago.
"Shannon-----" he began
"Caleb------" she started.

"You go first," they both said at the same time.
Caleb took a deep breath and decided he would go first.
"Shannon, I have to ask before this night goes any further." His voice took a turn on the serious side and that startled Shannon.

"Okay, shoot." she tried to not let him know that she had noticed the tension in his shoulders and voice.
"Why did you leave the way you did? Without a single good-bye to anyone. Where did you go? Why did you decide to come back now?"



Shannon was taken aback by the bluntness of his questions. She felt like she was in an interrogation chair and was being accused of the lasted terrorist threat to America.
She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"Where do you want me to start Caleb? There are a lot of reasons why I am back and I was planning on telling one of them tonight as a matter of fact.

“Why I left Ocracoke is a long story, why I did not tell anyone is even longer. Where I went is Saint Louis, where I have been is all over the country, parts of Europe and Asia." she told him matter of factly.


Caleb just stared at her, he was not sure if it was old feelings he still had for Shannon or if she was just that damn beautiful and new ones were forming for her.
"So." he began.
“Let’s start with why you are back then and maybe that might answer why you left."
"Woo, I think I will start with why I left Ocracoke in the first place.

"I needed a change of scenery really; this place was too small for both me and Caitlyn. The night before I left, I came by your place. I needed to talk to you. Well when I got there, I saw Caitlyn in your living room in your football jersey and decided that I wouldn't bother you." Shannon's eyes began to gloss over and she tried with all of her energy to make sure she did not cry.

"Oh damn darlin' don't go and start cryin' on me."
Shannon lifted her chin, straightened her back.
"I was not about to cry, Caleb. I am just trying to find the nerve to tell you what I wanted to tell you that night and what I have been trying to gain the courage to tell you for the past six years." She said in a rather loud voice.

"Shhh, keep you voice down, you know this is a small town and there is already going to be talk about us being out tonight." he said in a hushed tone.

Shannon took in another deep breath and asked Caleb if they could just skip dinner and go somewhere a little more private so she could tell him what needed to be said. He motioned for the bartender to come over so he could pay the tab and on the way out told the hostess that they no longer needed the table.

They walked back to Caleb's Dodge Charger and as he opened the door for Shannon, she looked him dead in the eyes and whispered loud enough for him to hear her.
"Your Cerra's father."

Caleb just stood there; he did not know what to say or how to react. He finally was able to speak.
"Okay." was all he said.
Shannon got into the car as he walked around and got into the drivers seat.
He put the key in the ignition but did not start the car. He turned to her and asked
"Is that why you came by the night you saw Caitlyn at my house?"

Shannon did not look at him but nodded her head in response.
The ride back to the hotel was utter silence. Once they were at the hotel, Caleb being the Southern gentleman he was raised to be got out and opened Shannon's door for her. As she got out of the car, she tried to make eye contact with him but he turned his head. He walked her to the lobby and left.
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Chapter Six:

It had been several days since Shannon saw Caleb again. It amazed her that Kameron had not said anything to her about being Cerra's aunt. Had Caleb not told Kameron yet? she wondered. It was not like Caleb not tell his sister something this important. There was a knock at the door that brought Shannon out of her thoughts. When she opened the door, she was shocked when she saw Lori James standing there.

"Hi, Shannon right?" the bodacious blonde-haired person asked.
Shannon looked at her with confusion. Why Lori James would be knocking at her door confused her.
"Yeah, I'm Shannon. We met on the beach with Caleb remember."
"May, I come in? I need to talk to you about Caleb." she said with shiny overly white teeth.
Shannon gestured Lori in and offered her something to drink.
"No, thanks, I will make this short and sweet. You have been gone quite a long time I hear, so you may not know this.
"Caleb and I, well, we are together if you know what I mean." Lori told Shannon with a smug attitude.
"And your point being? I did not come back here to claim someone that is not mine.

Caleb has a right to be with whomever he chooses."
"Well, I just wanted to let you know to back off, Caleb is off limits!
Do you understand?" Lori said as she walked herself back to the door.
Shannon snorted. "Sure sweetie, I will do my damnedest to keep away from someone I have known a hell of a lot longer than you have had those boobs."
Lori just balked. She had never had anyone talk to her in that tone before.
Lori stepped away from the door and got in Shannon's face.

"Look here sweetie; you have no idea who you are messing with.
If I see you near Caleb again, you will be very sorry."
Shannon looked at her a just laughed.
"You got hun. Now you can leave.
Shall I show you the door or do you think you can manage to find two brain cells that work and find it yourself."

Lori was fuming when she reached the elevator. Shannon Cates had it coming and Lori knew just what she was going to do.


Shannon locked the door behind Lori and had to let out the loudest laugh she could muster. "Wow, that is some bimbo; apparently she doesn't know Caleb as well as she thinks."
Shannon was worried about Caleb but she did not want to seem intrusive if she went to his place to check on him.
He needed time to absorb what she had told him. When he was ready, he would talk to her. That much she knew about Caleb.


"So what did you find out for me?" she said as she walked into the office.
"Not much but this is what I do have for you. My guy is still digging up what he can for you." the man told her.
Lori smiled as she read what she had in front of her. "So that is the reason for the return after so many years."
“Thanks, daddy, I have to go; I will see you tonight for dinner."
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Chapter Seven:



Caleb sat in his kitchen nursing a bottle beer.” its five o'clock somewhere." he mused to himself as he took another long drink from the bottle. He had no idea what he was going to do. What did Shannon want? Did she want him to embrace fatherhood as if it was a second skin? No, she would expect me to embrace it that easily. Caleb was brought back from imagination when heard a pound on the door and then the yelling started.

"Caleb Anthony Vincent open this door now. I know you are in there,
I can see you. That's it I am using my key!" Kameron yelled through the door at her brother.
Caleb rose from his chair and answered the door before his could cause anymore of a ruckus.
"Jeezus Kam do have to fucking yell like that, I think the frickin' village heard you."
Kameron just stared at her brother. Is he drinking? She wondered.
"Caleb, it is 10 o'clock in the morning. Please tell me you are not already drinking?"
"As the song goes, 'It's five o'clock somewhere', darlin."

Kameron was astonished; she had to admit that all her life she had never once seen her brother drink before dusk. Even when they went boating, he was always the last one to start drinking.
"Is everything all right, Caleb?"
"Just peachy effin' keen." He said as he took another beer out of his fridge.
"Then why in god's name are you drinking at 10 o'clock in the morning, on a week day no less?"
Caleb snorted as he looked at his kid sister. "Haven't you heard the news yet? Imadaddy."

He slurred the words together, Kameron was unsure if she heard him correctly.
"You're a what?"
"You heard me, I'm a daddy." he said as he polished off the other half of his beer.
Kameron stood there shaking her head.
"W--Wow!. I guess congratulations are in order for you and Lori.
"I did not know that you two were that serious."

Caleb let out a hearty laugh as he looked at his sister.
"No, Lori and I. Never gonna happen."
Kameron was confused now. Was her brother that drunk that he was hallucinating being a father?
"You're drunk Caleb."
"Why yes I am sweet lady."
"C'mon, let's get you into the shower and some coffee in you and then we can talk." Kameron said as she ushered her brother toward the bathroom.

Kameron went back into the kitchen after getting her brother to agree to take a long shower. She found his coffee in a cabinet over the stove and made a fresh, strong pot. She had no idea what she was in store or when her brother sobered up. She figured he was in a drunken stupor and was regretting not being married and having kids.


Several minutes later, Caleb emerged from the shower. He was now dressed in a pair of cut offs and a white polo style shirt. He saw Kameron sitting at his kitchen table with two cups of coffee.
He pulled out the chair and sat across from her.
"So, you feelin' any better there big brother?"
"Yeah."
"I have to admit, I don't ever think I have seen you like this before. Not even after mom died." Kameron said looking directly at her brother.

Caleb had to admit that she was right; he had never been like this.
"I'm sorry, sis."
"It's okay, now you want to tell me who the hell or better yet, what the hell put you in a drunken stupor like this?"
Caleb told her and she was in just as much shock as he was when he found out. “That doesn't sound like Shay; I know she must have a really good reason for keeping this from you fro so long.
"Have you talked to her since she told you?"

Caleb lowered and shook his head in response.
Kameron made a tsking sound with her mouth and said,
"No, of course you haven't. You have been to self absorbed in your little pity party."
Caleb had to admit that his sister was right, he had been to absorbed in his own little pity party to even ask Shannon why she did what she did.
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Chapter Eight:

Caleb had wanted to talk to Shannon as soon as possible but he could not get up
the nerve to do it.
Instead, he threw himself into his work as well as thinking about what she had told him.
He was Cerra’s father. He did not have the life that a child should be involved with; he lived by his own set of rules.
He had too many secrets that even his sister did not know about, how could he bring Shannon and her girls into his life.
His job was too risky for something like that.
Yes, he did have his bar that he had Kameron run for him but his real job, the one that Kam knew about was too dangerous.
He needed to sit down with Shannon and discuss what she wanted to do and to explain his life to her.
She had been gone for so long that she had no idea what his life was like now. Nor, did he know hers.
It was time for him to man up and do what he knew was right.

Kameron and I were sitting on the beach watching Megan and Cerra play in the surf while we talked.

“So, Cal told me the good news. Well, I think it is good news. I am not sure how he is feeling right now.” Kam said to me.

“Yeah, I know I should have said something way sooner. I am a coward. I am so
sorry for keeping something this huge from you two for so long.”
I could not even look at her. Not because I was keeping both eyes on my girls, but because I felt so ashamed for keeping Cerra a secret for so long.

“Hey, it is okay. At least we know now. Will you be staying here or do you plan on going back to St. Louis?”

“I'm not sure yet. Really, Kam it depends on what Caleb wants. I would love to move back here, so Cerra can be close to her father.”

“How does Meg feel about moving here?”

“She says she is fine with it. She really doesn't care much for St. Louis. She says the weather is, how did she put it... 'Fuggin ridiculous. If she wanted snow and rain all the time she would have asked me to move to Washington.'”

“Oh. What about her friends there? Won't she miss them?”

“Kam, with today's technology, it would be like she was there with them. She can email, text and call them anytime she wants. She knows that.”

“Yeah, that is true, and with web cams she can see them anytime she wants too.”

We both laughed and gathered the girls up for a picnic lunch on the beach.
We were half way through our lunch when Caleb arrived. He seemed awkward around me and the girls now but who could blame him after what I had told him.
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feathers
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Great story so far. Anxiously awaiting an update!
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Randee
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Thanks I am still working on this story. Be sure to join the new ForeverMore board. I will be closing this one down soon.

Here is the link to the new board....

http://forevermore.ipbfree.com/index.php?act=idx
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