Found by Love (25 page)

"Yes it makes sense because you're the only mother he's ever going to have now but me? I've been replaced by your future FIANCÉ and there's no room for an Uncle Mattie in your world." He stood up fast and started walking out of the room but I hurried up and grabbed his hand to stop him.

"Mattie! That's not true Grayson LOVES you and you're the only one that can help him keep his parents memory alive. You're irreplaceable so please don't ever say that again. Please!"

I grabbed him and wrapped my arms around him and hugged him because I know when I'm feeling the way he's feeling all I want is to be held. It took him awhile but he finally hugged me back and whispered in my ear.

"Oh Claudia... What I wouldn't give to be able to run off into the sunset with you and Grayson by my side. I really like Caleb and he's a great guy but I kind of hate him too and it's because I'm so jealous of him." He pulled away and gave me a sad grin. "Are you two really engaged?" I nodded my head at him and smiled and he ran his fingers through his hair. "Oh man. What an idiot you must think I am for telling you how I feel. Now I'm embarrassed."

"Don't be embarrassed and I don't think you're an idiot either. There's a woman out there for you Mattie and trust me on this... Even if Caleb didn't exist it wouldn't be me, haha.. You have no idea what a psycho I can be." He arched his eyebrow at me in disbelief. "Oh! You never let me tell you how I could fix your melancholy problem. Would you like to hear it?" I finally got a chuckle out of him.

"Oh yeah? Okay. Let's hear it. Should I sit down for this? Or will it be better if I stay standing up?"

"Oh standing is fine. Okay... Here goes. You're working until Wednesday right?" He nodded at me and waited for me to continue. "Okay. I was wondering if you'd let us take Grayson home tomorrow so that he can meet everyone and spend time with his cousins and then YOU fly out for Thanksgiving and spend the weekend with all US at Cash and Olivia's and then we can all come back that Sunday night." I looked at him nervously waiting for his answer and he stood there staring at me and I could see his mind working my plan out.

"Okay." I jumped and leaped into his arms and kissed him on the cheek but he pushed me away. "But... I still haven't decided on giving you full custody yet. This whole Roger and Meredith issue has really made my head spin and I'm kicking myself on not taking Grayson in when I should have. I'm not ready to let go yet and I'm not positive that I will. You do understand that don't you?"

"I do and I don't but I don't want to have that discussion right now. You really don't care if we take him home to meet our family?" He shrugged his shoulders and I could tell that he did care but he wasn't going to fight me on it.

"I do and I don't but I'm not going to stop you and I'll let you know if I decide to join you all for the holiday. I'll have to think about that because it's a little bit out of my comfort zone."

"Comfort zone huh? You don't like having Thanksgiving with a lot of strangers? Hmmm... Haha.. I wouldn't want to either but I can promise you this... Caleb and Cash's parents are awesome and make everyone feel welcome and Olivia's parents are just as great. I give you 30 minutes and you'll feel like a member of the family. It would be great if you could come and I know Grayson will love it and he'll probably not worry about you being here all by yourself."

"Oh I won't be here by myself Claud. Maria will be here because she always cooks the dinner. Of course... Since it'll just be me I guess she could go wherever she goes on the weekends because there's really no sense in her cooking a big dinner just for me."

“Well… You could tell Maria not to worry so that she can make other plans and you come anyway. I promise it’ll be worth it and like I said. We would love to have you there and I may or may not have Grayson call you every day to invite you. You wouldn’t want to disappoint him would you?”

“Wow! You would probably have him do that too.  You really drive a hard bargain you know that…. Oh alright. I’ll go to Oregon for Thanksgiving.” I grinned and clapped my hands and tried not to be boastful about his decision but I couldn’t help it. He chuckled at me and waved his hand at me to leave.  “Okay and thanks for the lunch but I better get back to work since my mind is back where it needs to be. Good talk Claud! Good talk!" He headed back to his desk and grinned at me as he was sitting down. I took that as my cue to leave and nodded my head and left him to his work and shut the door.

Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm taking my son home for Thanksgiving to meet the family! I was nervous and afraid at first but everything worked out. Now I just need to get Grayson to realize that he should be with Caleb and I. Oh my boy! You're finally almost mine again!

****************

"So you guys are really going to be here for Thanksgiving? Grayson, too? Oh my God Claud! I know it's only been a week but I have missed you soooooo much and I can't wait to meet my nephew."

Olivia was squealing like a little girl on the other end of the phone. She was the first person I called after my conversation with Mattie. Well... I did shoot Caleb a text to let him hear the good news but I didn't CALL him because I figured he was sitting in a movie theatre.

"O, I've missed you, too. I don't think I could have gotten through this week without you and Amelia." I'm sure I've driven them crazy this week but it finally feels great to finally be able to talk about everything that I've been holding in for the last ten years.

"Well I can think of many times that you were there for me so it felt good to finally be able to return the favor." She got really quiet on the other end but I could sense that she was wanting to say something more so I waited. "So... I know how Grayson is doing so tell me... How's that hot and sexy brother in law of mine doing? Has he been treating you well? Ya know... WELL? Haha!" I start laughing but am quite shocked at her question because Olivia just doesn't ask about someone else's sex life.

"Olivia?! I can't believe you just asked me that question! Haha.. That's really NONE of your business." I heard her grunt on the other end which had me cracking up. "But since you asked.... Nerd Boy has DEFINITELY been treating me well! Oh my GOD he's been treating me VERY WELL!" I moaned out the last part which set her off in a fit of giggles.

"Well.. If he's anything like his brother then I'm so happy for you Claud. I was so afraid after I had the babies that my body would be destroyed and Cash would never look at me the same but I feel more in love with him now than I did when we first fell in love. I'm so happy for you sister. You deserve to be happy and I'm so glad that you finally are. Caleb too! He's talked to Cash a lot this week discussing renovations and such and he is ecstatic at how happy Caleb sounds on the phone."

"Um... Did I miss something? What kind of renovations have they been talking about?" I know my house isn't very big but it's big enough for the three of us. Since Caleb will be sharing my room now we can put Grayson in his room that way I won't lose my office that's in the third bedroom.

"Oh you mean Caleb hasn't... Well. Hmmm... Maybe it was supposed to be a surprise. Um.. I'm not going to say anything else, haha. Sorry Claud... I'm not going to be the one to mess a good surprise up. So.. Change of subject. How is Grayson dealing with his parents? Well... I mean. Has he mentioned anything again about seeing his parents when he was unconscious?" I know it would be a waste of breath to try to talk her into telling me so I shelved that for a conversation to have with Mr. Caleb.

"He hasn't said anything and I haven't asked. I'm honestly afraid to ask O. He's been really receptive to Caleb and I and I haven't brought it up. Do you think I should bring it up?"

"Well... Has he been having any dreams anymore? Nightmares I mean?"

"I sneaked a little baby monitor in his room and he has woken up a couple of times but by the time I went into his room he had fallen back to sleep. Before you ask me why I snuck the monitor in I didn't want him thinking I thought he was a baby, haha. I know he would probably be offended by it but it gives me some peace of mind knowing that he's alright."

"Oh don't worry about it because I would have done the same thing. Do you think you'll be able to get him to leave and come here for Thanksgiving? You do realize that this is his FIRST holiday without them. Big holiday that is." I hadn't thought of that! My biggest worry was Mattie allowing us to take him home for a week. I never suspected that he may not even want to go with us. Oh lord!! What if he doesn't want to go??

"I never thought of that O! If he refuses then we will have to stay here and I would hate for you all to have to come here. That's just too much on you especially because of the babies."

"Claud. Calm down okay? If that does happen it's not a big deal and I would look at it as a vacation. I feel like I haven't been anywhere since the babies were born anyway. Oh who am I kidding? I HAVEN'T been anywhere since they were born, haha! Don't worry about any of us alright?"

"Ugh.... Alright. I guess I need to talk to Gray and find out where his mind is." I hear the laughter of my boys coming through the front door letting me know that they're back. "Olivia, I need to go. It sounds like Caleb and Grayson are back. I'll talk to you later and let you know for sure if we're coming."

"Okay Claud and oh hey! Don't mention to Caleb what I let out of the bag okay? The surprise? Don't hound him about it and let him surprise you."

"Ugh! Why do you know me so well?! That's exactly what I was going to do!"

"Haha.. I know! That's why I told you not to say anything. Let it go and just wait until he wants to tell you okay? You'll like it! I promise."

"Oh I better! And I guess I won't say anything. Goodbye. Love you and hopefully I'll get to see you tomorrow."

"Goodbye and let me know. Love you too." I hung up realizing that I never even mentioned Caleb and I being engaged. Hmmm.. She has her secret and I have mine. That makes it fair right? 

I walk into the living room and I overhear Grayson asking Caleb if he's going to tell me and he had no idea that I was within ear shot. Caleb was about to answer him when he saw me and clammed up and wouldn't say a word.

"Tell me what you two? Oh lord! What kind of trouble did you two get into while you were gone?" Grayson started laughing his head off and pointed at Caleb.

"I didn't do it! He did and I don't think you're going to like it. You're gonna kill him I think." I look at Caleb and he's grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

"Cru... I promise you're going to love it and it's not as bad as you think. I'll show you later baby." Oh no! I'm sick of this later crap! What in the world did he do?

"Nope! Whatever it is you're going to show me now Nerd Boy! NOW!"

Grayson fell hard onto the couch and started laughing so hard he about fell off of it.

"Haha Nerd Boy! Cruella! You guys are so weird." I cock my head at Grayson and then Caleb and realize that Caleb is raising his shirt and he has a bandage over his chest. I immediately rush over to him.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Well of course he's okay because if he weren't I doubt that Grayson would be laughing the way he is.

"Yes baby. I'm fine. More than fine actually. As a matter of fact I've never felt better. I really think you'll like it." He started tugging at the bandage and winced a little as he pulled the tape off and then what I saw before my eyes left me quite breathless and then warmed my heart.

"Oh my God Caleb! What did you do? You realize that that's forever right?" He grinned and nodded his head and looked at me with pure love and adoration in his eyes.

"That's the whole point babe! I told you you're stuck with me and that I'm not going anywhere and that if I had to I'd tattoo your name all over my body to prove it." I reached out to touch his chest to feel the words on my fingers and grinned at him. "Well? Do you like it?"

He had gotten a tattoo over his heart of a red heart and in the center of it was a lock and the words said
CRUELLA holds the key to my heart
. It was the most beautiful but corniest thing I've ever seen in my life but also the greatest thing that anyone has ever done for me. For me!!!!

"I love it Nerd Boy!!! I love it!!!"

I jumped into his arms and he winced a little when I had my chest against his because it was still sore from the tattoo but he pulled me into his arms and put his hands behind my neck and kissed me hard as I kissed him back."

While we were kissing I heard Grayson giggle and groan at our public display of affection but I didn't care. He might as well get used to it because I was never going to take advantage of a kiss from my Nerd Boy! MY Nerd Boy!

***********************

I told my guys to go entertain themselves while I started on dinner and Caleb got all excited and asked what I was cooking. I grinned at him and told him he’d love it and not to worry. I know he was hoping that I was cooking my chicken parmesan because that’s his favorite. I love making him happy so of course that’s exactly what’s on the menu along with my loaded mashed potatoes and broiled asparagus.

I reach up into the counter to grab some plates to set the table with and I jumped at the sight of Grayson. He’s such a silent walker which is odd for a 10 year old and he is always scaring me and the little turkey is starting to do it purposely.