Chapter 4

SASHA

Uncle Alberto’s face lit up as he saw us enter the room. His eyes sparkled with affection, despite the tired lines etched around them. I felt a swell of emotion in my chest. The doctor explained that he couldn’t move half of his face. His mobility and speech would be a bit unnatural as a result, but as it was a mild stroke, with therapy, he could still go back to normal in time.

“I’m happy to see you, Uncle Alberto. Stay strong.” I held his hand.

Despite his efforts to hide it with a smile, the struggle was evident in the way his features contorted unevenly. I couldn’t imagine the frustration and pain he must be feeling.

Turning to Carl, I could see the concern in his eyes. He kissed his father’s cheek.

“How are you feeling?” I asked him.

His gaze met my eyes and smiled. Although he was stammering, he explained. “My dear, Sasha. I’m getting...there. I’m happy Carl’s home with you.”

My heart ached at the struggle in his speech, the effort it took for him to form each word. “I’m sorry to hear about what happened,” I said, my voice filled with genuine empathy. “Carl’s here, and I want to see you.”

“How are you coping, Dad?” Carl asked, dragging a seat next to the bed.

Uncle Alberto sighed, his expression weary. “It’s been... difficult,” he admitted, his words punctuated by pauses as he struggled to find his voice. “The stroke... it took me by surprise. I never thought... I never thought I would end up like this.”

Carl squeezed his arm gently. “You’re a fighter, Dad,” he said softly. “You’ve always come out on top. I know you’ll overcome this, too.”

A flicker of determination sparked in his eyes as he nodded, a small smile gracing his lips as he looked at his son. “I will. Gotta show my boy how strong Pop I am,” he said, his voice steadier now, yet his eyes welled up with tears. “Your words mean more to me than you know, Son.”

“I love you, Dad,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

Uncle Alberto smiled. “I love you too, Son,” he replied, his voice choked with emotion. “More than words can express.”

Feeling a lump form in my throat, I squeezed Uncle’s hand. His gaze shifted to me, a grateful smile spreading across his lips. “Thank you, Sasha, for staying with my boy. He may look like a caveman, but he can be a baby still.”

Carl let out a low growl. “Dad,” he protested, shooting his father a squinted glare.

I laughed, feeling lighthearted at their exchange. Aunt Beth arrived, her face beaming with excitement as she bustled into the room. “Oh, my darlings!” she exclaimed, her arms outstretched for a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here!”

Her infectious enthusiasm spread like wildfire, filling the room with warmth and joy. She had this boundless energy that could lift one’s spirits and brighten the atmosphere.

Uncle Alberto’s eyes lit up at the sight of his wife, a fond smile playing on his lips. “Beth, my love. What took...you so... long?” he asked her.

Aunt Beth rushed to his side, kissing his forehead. “I bought fruits,” she said. “The doctor said that a healthy lifestyle can help you recover faster. No more drinking from now on, old man.”

I chuckled at the glare she gave him.

“Hey now, I’m not that old,” he protested.

Aunt Beth laughed. I liked her. She was nice. Carl had told me before how he hated her because, two years after his mother’s death, his father remarried. Carl had hated her before, but as she proved to him that she loved his father, he had eventually warmed up.

When I glanced in Carl’s direction, I found him staring at me. A sudden wave of self-consciousness washed over me, causing me to fidget nervously under his gaze. Was there something on my face? Did I look strange?

I quickly averted my eyes, pretending to focus on something else in the room. Why was he staring at me like that? Did I do something wrong?

“Dad, I’ll be checking everything in your office,” Carl said.

“Thank you, Son. I trust you to oversee things while I focus on my recovery.”

“Rest assured, Dad,” he responded. “I’ve already checked some papers last night...”

As they carried on with their discussions, my mind drifted to Carl’s studies. I couldn’t help but wonder what would become of his studies with these responsibilities. Would he need to temporarily set aside his studies to focus on managing the farm and the family business?

It would be a shame if he had to abandon his studies. I knew education was important to him, and I knew he was determined to succeed in both aspects of his life.

We made our way back home. The journey was quiet, and I was lost in my own thoughts.

Carl remained silent beside me, his hands steady on the wheel. I stole glances at him from time to time, noticing the furrow of his brow and the tightness around his eyes.

“Carl, are you okay?” I asked, offering a smile.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied curtly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

I frowned, sensing something not okay. “You don’t seem fine,” I persisted, my tone gentle. “You’ve been quiet ever since we left the hospital. Is something bothering you?”

He let out a heavy sigh. “I won’t go back to school.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean exactly what I said,” he replied tersely.

My heart sank at his words. I couldn’t believe him. “But why?” I demanded. “You’ve worked so hard to get where you are. You can’t just throw it all away. Two more years, Carl.”

His jaw clenched. “With everything that’s going on with Dad and the farm, I need to be here. I can’t afford to prioritize my education right now.”

My own frustration was mounting. “That’s ridiculous, Carl,” I shot back. “You can’t sacrifice your future because of this. There has to be another way.”

“This is my decision, Sasha.”

I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, leaning back against the seat with a heavy sigh. Staring out the window, my mind raced with thoughts and emotions. If he followed through with his decision, it would mean I wouldn’t see him. It would mean our paths separating, our futures taking different courses. That thought filled me with a sense of loss and longing that I couldn’t quite understand.

If this was truly what he wanted, then I had no choice but to respect his decision, no matter how much it hurt.

As soon as we arrived home, I made a beeline for the bathroom, filling the bathtub with warm water. After showering, I sank into the tub, closed my eyes, and let out a long, slow breath, allowing the warmth of the water to seep into my bones and melt away the tension in my body.

For a while, I simply lay there, finding solace in the quiet stillness of the moment.

As I soaked in the tub, a sudden thought came to mind. Yeah, why not?

With a few swift taps, I dialed his number.

“Cal,”

“Babe?” his voice was warm and familiar. But the endearment didn’t miss my senses.

“You know it’s me, right? You’re not just Babe-calling somebody?” I glared at the shower wall in front of me.

He chuckled on the phone. “Yeah, yeah, of course, Sasha. Just a reflex, you know?”

I blushed at the familiarity that seemed to come so easily to him. I had told them many times before not to call me names but my given name, but they were just so persistent. Deep down, I liked it though. I just couldn’t admit it because it sounded very intimate.

“Listen, Caleb, I need your help with something,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the unease swirling in my stomach. He might be able to help Carl, to talk some sense into him.

“Tell me about it,” his tone serious.

As I was explaining the situation to Caleb, recounting the conversation Carl and I had earlier, the bathroom door suddenly swung open, startling me out of my train of thought. I froze, my eyes widening in shock as Carl stood there, a dark expression on his face.

“Care to include me,” he said, his black eyes darkening with anger. “Who are you talking to?”

Caught off guard, I felt heat rush to my cheeks. “Carl! Uh, nobody!” I stammered, my voice coming out much higher than intended. “I mean, just... Caleb. I’m talking to Caleb.” I sank deeper into the water, hoping the water would conceal everything that needed to be concealed.

“Caleb?” he repeated. “In the bathroom? I was knocking, but you did not answer, but I thought I heard my name.”

I winced, realizing how ridiculous it must have sounded. “Uh, yeah, I mean... I called him, and... well, I guess I forgot where I was,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing even darker with embarrassment, wishing I could disappear into the floor. He just caught me complaining about his decision to Caleb.

He moved further into the room. “Put Caleb on speaker.”

“What? Are you serious? I’m taking a bath. Can’t you see?”

“It’s not like I haven’t seen a woman’s body, Pumpkin.”

Is he telling me seeing me in the tub doesn’t affect him? Like he’s seen nakedness many times and is all too familiar with a woman’s body?

I could feel my cheeks flush at his wiseass remark. “That’s beside the point! This is... this is a private moment, Carl!”

He just chuckled. “Relax, Pumpkin,” he said with a smirk. “It’s not like Caleb can see anything. Besides, he’s very far away.”

I opened my mouth to argue further, but before I could say anything, Carl had already put Caleb on speaker.

“Carl, you’re enjoying it, don’t you?” Caleb asked. I couldn’t make out of his tone.

I sank deeper into the bath, feeling utterly ridiculous and slightly frustrated. “Hmph!” I huffed, my female ego smarting from the blow. How could Carl be so nonchalant about seeing me in the tub, completely naked and exposed?

But as I glanced over at him, his expression was unchanged. “I think I made up my decision. Yeah...Yeah. I’m considering...”

It became painfully clear that my nakedness held no effect on him whatsoever. The realization only served to fuel my irritation further. I was too irritated to listen to their conversation.

I felt a pang of wounded pride at the thought that my attempts at modesty had gone completely unnoticed. It was absurd, really, and yet somehow, it stung all the same. How Carl could be so oblivious to the effect of seeing a woman? A naked woman?!

Oh...right. I was no longer attractive to him.

Yeah...that must be it.

Why am I disappointed?

“Caleb wants to see you.” Carl’s voice only registered when he held up my phone, displaying Caleb’s face on the screen with my own reflected below. I blinked in surprise, watching Caleb’s face on the screen. My heart skipped, his eyes seeming to pierce through the screen and into my very soul.

“Come on, Carl! Why would you do that?” I blurted out, tearing my gaze away from the phone, and glared at Carl. But deep down, a part of me couldn’t deny the thrill that coursed through me at the thought of seeing Caleb, even if it was just through a screen.

Ignoring the butterflies in my stomach, I reached out and snatched the phone from Carl’s hand, my fingers trembling. Then, I heard him take a sharp breath. I turned to look at him, only to find his eyes fixed on my breasts. Heat flooded my cheeks as I realized the intensity of his gaze, the raw desire flickering in his eyes sending shivers down my spine.

I swallowed hard, feeling a rush of warmth spreading through me at the realization of the effect I was having on him. It was exhilarating, electrifying, and undeniably heart-stopping. I smiled inwardly. So...I affected him after all.

The realization sent a thrill coursing through me, kindling my confidence.

With a wicked thought dancing in my mind, I rose from the tub, the water cascading in streams down my naked body. As I stood before him, exposed and unapologetically bold, I couldn’t resist the urge to test the limits of his restraint.

No effect, huh?

Nonchalantly, I sauntered past him, allowing him an unabashed view of my dripping wet form.

“Goodbye, Caleb. I think Carl needs a moment.” I told him, giving him a view of my breasts and Carl behind me before cutting the call.

I reached for a towel. “Carl, what’s for dinner?”