CHAPTER 289: DON’T BET ON IT

Callan pushed the front door open and stepped inside the house. Almost immediately his chest loosened as though some invisible weight fell away. He inhaled deeply, knowing he was home.

He loved this house, but more than that he loved the people who lived here. And since their conversation the previous night he felt sorry that he had wasted so many years doubting their love for him.

He walked through the hallway until he reached the living room, and then he stopped at the doorway.

There they were, curled together on the big couch. His mother’s head rested on his father’s chest, her hair spilling over his shirt, and his father had one arm around her shoulders. The television glowed in front of them, playing some evening drama, but neither of them seemed to be paying much attention. Hunter’s eyes were half on the screen, half on Delilah, like he’d rather watch her than focus on the television.

He watched as his father whispered something into her ears and nibbled on it, and she giggled, pushing him away.

Callan stood still, his heart tugging in his chest. For a long moment, he just admired them, their ease, the way they seemed to fit so perfectly. He had grown up watching them love each other like this, but somehow, it still amazed him. And he hoped that some day he’d be able to have what they had.

His mother must have sensed him, because she tilted her head up, her eyes meeting his in the doorway. A soft smile spread across her lips.

Hunter followed her gaze and grinned at him.

"Get a room you two, will you?" Callan asked, and his father chuckled.

"I was just telling her that," his father said, and his mother slapped his arm playfully as she laughed.

Callan walked forward slowly, shaking his head with a crooked smile. "You two look really good together," he said honestly.

Hunter chuckled, tightening his arm around Delilah. "Of course we do. She fits me perfectly." Then, with boyish pride, he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Delilah rolled her eyes at the display, but her lips curved in a proud smile.

Looking at him, they were both pleased to see that he looked better.

"Come join us, darling. Tell us about your day," his mother said, her voice sweet and inviting.

Callan sat down on the other couch, close to them, folding one leg under him. "So," his mother asked warmly, "how did you spend your day?"

He leaned back, relaxing into the soft cushions. "I had breakfast with Jamal at our favorite bakery. You remember the one? Even though the owners changed, the bread and pastries are still the best."

Delilah’s brows lifted in interest. "Oh, that place. I wondered if it was still good. And after breakfast?"

"We went to the mall," Callan continued, smiling. "Jamal’s girlfriend was shopping, and we went to join them. His little boy is really cute and smart."

Delilah’s eyes slid sideways toward Hunter, a small exchange of surprise passing silently between them. "And how did that go? I mean the interaction with her?" she asked, voice careful but curious.

"Dawn was cool," Callan admitted. "I actually enjoyed my time with her. We talked, and we agreed to support each other’s decisions. We also decided we’d go see him together when he arrives."

His father tilted his head, thoughtful. "It’s good you’ve finally decided to meet him," he said. "But... do you think it’s wise, your first meeting with him being alongside the girl? I think you should meet him alone first. Hear him out and sort things out, and then you can go with her after that. You both require privacy to talk, and her presence there won’t help."

Callan reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "I wanted to show you both the video he recorded."

Delilah lifted a hand gently. "We’ve already seen it, sweetheart."

He paused, then lowered the phone slowly. "You already saw it? And you still think I should hear him out?"

"Of course," Delilah said with a nod.

"What did you think when you saw the video?" Callan asked, confused.

Hunter leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. "What we think isn’t as important as what you think. Tell us your thoughts."

Callan’s jaw tightened. "I think he’s selfish. He used Genevieve for years, and then he just threw her out like nothing, just to make himself look innocent."

Delilah spoke softly, a note of reason in her voice. "Executed wrongly, yes. But think, Callan. Did he really throw her out? He admitted he used her. And the public, though shocked, actually feel sorry for Genevieve. They see her as a girl who had to live as someone else, simply because she was adopted. People sympathize with the fact that she could have been killed in Dawn’s place if the supposed killers Ryan mentioned had come for her."

Callan frowned. "Even so, what he did was wrong. Genevieve wasn’t even aware that he was going to do that."

"What difference would it have made had she been aware? Did he lie against her?" His mother asked.

"She didn’t even know he wasn’t her biological father. Imagine finding out that way," Callan explained.

His mother sighed, "Like I said, it was poorly executed on his part, yes. But if you paid attention, you’d see that he did paint himself to be selfish in his video. The only thing he didn’t do was tell the truth about his crimes," his mother pointed out. "Besides, why do you think he released that video?" Delilah pressed.

"Because he wanted to make everyone think he’s innocent," Callan replied easily.

But his father shook his head. "I don’t think he did it for everyone. I think he did it for you."

Callan looked at him with a frown. "For me?"

Hunter nodded. "That video wasn’t for the world, it was meant for his son. He knew you must have heard about every horrible thing he’d done, and he wanted to appear better in your eyes. He probably wanted to look good to you."

Callan scoffed. "If he wanted that, then he shouldn’t have made such an embarrassing video."

"And have you think the worst of him? Once again," Hunter said evenly, "he did what he thought was best. But he probably doesn’t know better, Callan. He’s lived selfishly for years. Maybe it’s up to you to show him his errors. To make him see what’s right. Even if no one is willing to give him a fair chance, you have to be."

Callan shook his head slowly. "Fine. I’ll hear him out. But if he doesn’t listen to me and confess his crimes, then I will not have anything to do with him."

His parents nodded. "That’s fair enough."

A silence followed, but it was not uncomfortable. Then Callan spoke again, softer this time. "I chatted with Emily earlier."

Delilah’s eyes warmed, and she exchanged a look with her husband though she said nothing.

"That’s good. How’s my peach doing?" Hunter asked fondly, since Emily was his goddaughter.

"Shes fine. She said she’s safe."

For a heartbeat, Callan wondered if this was the moment to confess his feelings about Emily and ask if he could be with her.

His chest tightened with the thought of it. He wanted to share it, but he was worried that it might make them see him in a different light and be wary of him around Emily.

Remembering how he had made the wrong assumption about them for years, he decided to just go ahead and say it, but before he could, his father spoke again.

"Your mother and I were talking. We think it’s time you returned to Ludus fully. We want you here with us."

Delilah nodded in agreement. "Yes. But not immediately. After things are resolved here, you can go back to organize you stuff and tie up loose ends. And then after Emily’s residency program ends, you both can come back together."

Callan’s lips curved into a smile. "I was going to tell you I wanted to come back to Ludus. I’m looking forward to coming back home. I’ve missed living here with you this way."

Delilah smiled as she reached over, brushing her fingers through his hair like she used to when he was a boy. "Me too. I can’t wait to have you back here. I hope you won’t be quick to want to get your own place. If possible, I’d love you to stay here forever and just get married and have our grandkids right under this roof."

"We are talking about Grandkids already?" Hunter said with a chuckle, "Please do not make me feel so old."

Callan and Delilah laughed, "I think you need to be reminded that you’re getting old so you’d stop pulling some stunts," Delilah said, and they all laughed.

"Well, judging by the way Cal is going with the ladies, he won’t be settling down any time soon," Hunter said, and Delilah laughed.

"Don’t bet on it."

Callan smiled. He wanted so badly to tell them about Emily. But then he remembered that they wanted him to stay in Husla until Emily’s training ended. If he told them now, and they didn’t approve, things would become awkward.

The timing was wrong. Maybe he could wait until after they were both fully back to Ludus.

So he swallowed it back down.

Delilah, watched him carefully and tilted her head. "Do you have a lady in your life? Are you seeing someone?"

Callan smiled instead, his eyes soft. "The only lady I have and I’m seeing right now is you. I love you. I love you both, let’s not leave Dad out and make him jealous."

Hunter chuckled, though his expression gentled, and Delilah’s eyes shone with affection. "I love you more, darling. Now, go freshen up and get ready for dinner. Damon and Jessica are on their way. And so are Sabrina and Alex."

Callan’s eyebrows lifted. "Dinner is going to be fun," he said with a small laugh, rising to his feet.

He turned to leave but paused, he turned to them again, "Thank you for being such great parents to me, and for helping me face everything. You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’m in a better place mentally now."

With that, Callan turned and walked out, without waiting for a response.

They smiled as they watched him go, and Delilah rested her head on her husband’s shoulder again and sighed softly. "I hope now that he says he’s in a better place mentally, the next six months will pay off."

Hunter chuckled. "If it doesn’t, he’s a lost cause."

Delilah giggled and hit his chest playfully, "Don’t say that about our boy."

"Our boy better not waste his chance."