Semua Bab Three Hundred Ways to Prove You Love Me: Bab 1 - Bab 9

Madeline Hart smiled at me from the middle of our wedding reception."I'm sorry, Caleb. I can't keep lying to myself."The truth is, the man I love is Trent. He's the one I want to marry."My parents' faces changed. They were both academics, quiet and proud, and they had gone their whole lives without a public scene. Now their son's wedding was the worst humiliation either of them had ever suffered.Mom spoke first. "Madeline, what is this supposed to mean?"Is this young man one of your groomsmen? I've got nothing against you kids and your games, but there's a limit. This is your wedding to Caleb."My lips had gone white. I caught her hand, close to begging."Madeline, this is our wedding. Don't turn it into another test, please."My parents aren't young. They can't take this."She pulled her hand out of mine."What test? I don't know what you're talking about."Trent and I are in love. Saying it now is better for both of us."She raised an eyebrow and turned to my mother.

After I sent it, I blocked her number.Three days later I showed up at the county courthouse with the divorce papers.Madeline had been there since early morning, pacing outside the doors. When she saw me, relief flashed across her face and was gone, replaced by temper."Caleb, why didn't you answer me? Are you trying to fail on purpose?"By then I didn't care about the tests at all. I didn't want to play anymore. Whatever I'd felt for her had gone rotten in a single afternoon.My silence made her worse."You're not actually angry, are you?"Your mother didn't die. She fainted. Is this really necessary?"Honestly, I think she faked it. She wanted to put her future daughter-in-law in her place, before I could take over as the woman of the house."The word died was the end of my patience."Don't. If anything happens to my mother because of you, I will take you to court over it, and I will mean it."Madeline stared at me. "You just raised your voice at me?"I'm not even living

"Everybody move. If somebody dies out here, which one of you is going to answer for it?"The word died stopped them. A path opened up.I looked at her, grateful and stunned at once. "Jordan? What are you doing here?"Jordan Hayes grew up next door to me. She was a scrapper from the time she could walk, and she went into the Army and made lieutenant colonel younger than anyone had a right to.When I was a kid and boys picked on me for having a pretty face, Jordan was the one who came out swinging at all of them at once.And here she was again, at exactly the right moment."I'm home on leave," she said. "I saw your dad standing out front."Dad hurried over. "I was waiting outside. Nobody came out, so I came in looking for you."With the crowd off her, Mom's breathing started to settle. "I'm all right. It was just too many people."Jordan took her hand. "We're getting you looked at anyway, ma'am. I'd feel better."We turned to go, and Madeline stepped in front of us. She pointed

She slipped out while Trent was asleep and came to my house.There was nothing left of the woman from the wedding. Her eyes were flat and she looked like she hadn't washed in days.She knocked and cried at the same time."Caleb, I know I was wrong. I never should have tested you."Please forgive me. I don't want the divorce."You love me so much. You'll forgive me, won't you?"Jordan got to the door before I did and looked her over."Where do you find the nerve to come here? You didn't do enough damage at the wedding?"Madeline saw Jordan coming out of my house, and her eyes went red."What are you to Caleb? Why are you in his house?"She pointed in Jordan's face."You bitch. And you said you weren't after him."He and I are still married. That makes you a homewrecker. I'll take this to your commanding officer."I came out and put myself in front of Jordan."Jordan has been my friend since we were children. You don't get to say a word about her."You and I are getting di

Mom was laughing at the table. "If I'd known, I'd have made Caleb do more sports as a boy. Then people wouldn't be able to push him around like this."Jordan spoke up fast. "Everybody's good at something different. I think Caleb's fine the way he is."My parents heard that, and both of them suddenly reached for their phones and pretended to take a call."Something at the university? Right. We'll be there.""Sorry about this, Jordan. You two take your time. Make yourself at home."Once they were gone, Jordan moved a couple of dishes over in front of me."Eat something, Caleb."My ears were burning. "Thanks, Jordan. You've been getting me out of trouble since we were kids."She looked at me. "Caleb, do men actually like the Madeline type?"The soft, breakable kind, with a bit of a temper."I shook my head. "I misjudged her, that's all. She wasn't worth it."You're fine exactly as you are. You stand up for people and you've got real steel in you. Anybody you fall for is lucky."