Teaser Tuesday : Independence

          He did have a couple of photos on his mantle. One of Maria and one of their family. Caleb looked so young there. I picked it up and rubbed my thumb over his photo face. No dust. I eyed the mantle and found no dust there either. So, Caleb had a maid.

          "I do," he answered from behind me. "Her name is Rose and she comes once a week."

          I put the picture back gently, straightening it just as I found it before turning to him. He was leaned with his hip on the arm of the green couch, watching me. But I noticed his lip as he chewed and sucked on it; his nervous tick.

          He was nervous that I was here. It gave me pause, but something else took precedence over that.

          I was in Caleb's home. Finally.

          I grinned before tackling him, both of us falling back onto the soft, green pillows of the couch. He laughed in surprise before I covered his mouth with mine. My knees were bent and his legs were still dangling over the couch arm, but he didn't mind as he pulled me up his body further with his hands on my sides.

          I pulled back and held myself up on my elbows. I was already winded, but managed to say, "I love your apartment."