CHAPTER ONE - UNFORGOTTEN FIRST LOVE

“Cassy, the food has gotten cold.  It’s late, and Caleb has not shown up for dinner.  Do you want me to pack all these and put them in the fridge? You can reheat it later.”  Old Mrs. West, our housekeeper, suggested. 

I heard the implication in her words but refused to acknowledge it.   Caleb will show up, says the tiny glimmer of hope in my heart.  

“Just let it be, Mrs. West.  Caleb might be stuck in the office and does not have dinner yet.  I will wait for him here.” I told her, trying to sound cheerful despite the situation.

I averted my face -  partly because I did not want the pity I am sure to see from her and also because I did not want to let on how disappointed and hurt I was that my husband ditched the anniversary dinner I painstakingly prepared for him with the help of the older woman.

A lengthy pause followed my pronouncements as I am sure Mrs. West watches me in disbelief because who am I kidding?

Caleb never came home for dinner. 

Since our argument last week, Caleb has changed overnight.  I do not know what could have gone wrong. 

While we did not marry for love, at least on his part, Caleb and I had a good partnership, or so I thought. But now, I am not sure anymore.  

I walked back to the dinner table and surveyed the sumptuous preparation with an eagle eye.  

Absent-mindedly, I ran my hand over the new jade green table runner I picked out as befitting the occasion.  

Caleb’s favorites were all laid out on the table. Scented candles sit at the centerpiece adorned with a bunch of stargazers.  I decided to put it there at the last minute - a symbolic act alluding to our wedding. Stargazers were the flowers we used for my bouquet back then. 

A wistful smile crossed my face. Three years! I uttered to myself. 

“It’s late, Mrs. West.  You may take your leave. Thank you for your help today.” I said dismissively, thinking that she was as tired as I was and needed rest. 

We woke up early to get the best produce from the market, but our efforts were sadly wasted.  

“Are you going to be fine?” 

“Of course!”  I quickly assured her to dispel the doubts in her mind, but Mrs. West was not done with me yet. 

“Have you tried calling him to let him know about the dinner we prepared for your wedding anniversary?” 

I shook my head no. Caleb hates it when I make demands on him. So I refrain from doing so.  

Another lengthy pause before I heard a scuffling of feet.  

“Okay.  I will leave you then.  Eat something and do not stay out too late. It’s not good in your condition.” She told me in motherly concern. 

I nodded.  A sardonic smile curved my face. The older woman was probably the only person who cared about me in this family.

A short while later, I heard the receding sounds of her footsteps and the opening and closing of the door. Mrs. West has left for the night. 

I must have fallen asleep.  The sound of the door closing and opening had me stirring.  Immediately, my eyes riveted to the door as a man in his mid-thirties walked in.

My heart leaped to my chest.  He is here. Caleb is finally home.

My initial excitement was quelled when I saw the grim expression on his face. Even with his brows furrowed, Caleb’s handsome good looks take my breath away. 

He saw me rising hurriedly from the sofa, but he did not say a word. Instead, he loosened his tie and shrugged off his coat. He folded it in half before draping it on his right arm.

I looked at the grandfather clock on the side of the wall and grimaced when I noted the time.  It was already two in the morning. Our anniversary had come and gone. From Caleb’s actions, it would appear that he had no idea about the significance of the day past. 

He clearly forgot or maybe it does not mean anything to him.  My chest constricted at the thought.

“Where have you been?” I asked, shoving the twinge of pain to the farthest corner of my mind while brushing the stray tendrils of my hair to the back of my head. 

Then, I got up to smoothen the wrinkles out of my flowy skirt.  

Ignoring me, Caleb walked straight to the stairs. 

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” 

Boldly, I rose from the sofa and followed him.  He was already on the fourth step when he stopped abruptly.  

For the first time since he came in, Caleb acknowledged my presence. 

He looked me in the eye as if trying to intimidate me.  Then, his arms moved, and I noticed the folder tucked under his arm. He took it and handed it to me. 

“I thought of giving you this tomorrow morning at breakfast, but since you insisted, I might as well hand this now.”  He said, giving me the brown folder. 

My brows knitted as questions raced in my head. 

“What is it?” I hadn’t realized that I had spoken my thoughts.  

When he did not reply, immediate foreboding filled my senses, making me reluctant to accept the proffered folder. 

Caleb refused to pull his hand away, waiting for me to take the folder and relieve his hands.  

“Take it!”  

Sensing his annoyance and not wanting to make him wait, I hesitantly took the folder from his hands, raised the flap, and took out its contents. 

Something akin to pain flashed before my eyes, seeing the title in bold letters: DIVORCE AGREEMENT. 

“What is this?” I asked, my chest starting to tighten.

Caleb smirked.  “Don’t play dumb on me.  You know what it is.” 

I bit my lip. Of course, I know what a divorce agreement is. But what I could not figure out was why.

Feeling the weight of Caleb’s stare, I took the documents out and scanned them before reaching the bottom where I found that it had been signed in Caleb’s bold signature. CALEB KINGSTON.

“Why?”  My voice sounded hoarse. 

Caleb snickered.  “You have to know that this marriage is not working.  We have become strangers, Cassy.” He explained, his voice sounding resolute, leaving no room for argument.  

Suddenly, my best friend’s chat message yesterday morning flashed in my head.  Amanda Hayes is back in the country, and the media reported on Caleb fetching her at the airport.

My expression turned bitter and cold as everything made sense. It is apparent that up to this day, Caleb Kingston has never forgotten about his first love.