Chapter 48 Growing Suspicions

Luke took care of the kids at breakfast, ensuring they ate well. Charlotte watched, feeling incredibly fortunate to have someone like Luke in her life. He made everything so much easier, especially when it came to the kids. In her eyes, Luke was truly the best. After breakfast and tidying up, they all headed to the beach. On their way, Sofia hopped into Caelan's car. Caelan was really happy, thinking maybe Sofia she was starting to like him more. In the car, Charlotte mentioned to Luke, "Sofia and Caelan seem a bit different today, don't you think?" Luke, driving, thought about it. He hadn't paid much attention to them earlier. "They seem okay to me. What makes you ask?" Charlotte reflected on their behavior earlier that day. Sofia had appeared almost guilty, frequently avoiding eye contact, while Caelan was being exceptionally considerate, providing her with tissues and water. Observing these small but significant changes, Charlotte couldn't help but wonder if there was more to their relationship than met the eye. She looked out the window, thinking about her friend. "I saw Sofia smile at him before getting in the car. I think they like each other." "We can just ask them," suggested Luke. "It's not a big deal. I can talk to Caelan about it." Charlotte agreed, though she was concerned about Sofia. Sofia usually was so upbeat and open, but now she seemed withdrawn. Something didn't seem right. At the beach, Charlotte spotted Caelan carrying Sofia's bags, not his own, which was unusual. This piqued her interest further, making her decide to inquire about it later. She had noticed a change in Caelan throughout the day; he was more attentive to Sofia than usual, a noticeable shift from his behavior back at home. While Luke took care of the children, Charlotte had the chance to observe Sofia and Caelan. After settling the kids' belongings in the bedroom, she returned to watch them play on the sand, feeling a sense of joy and contentment. She thought all the tough times were worth it because her children were growing up happy. Luke handed her a glass of cold orange juice. "Still thinking about Sofia and Caelan?" "Yes, they're acting weird, right?" Luke nodded. "It does seem unusual." Charlotte remarked, "Caelan's not usually so attentive, especially with women. It's strange seeing him with Sofia's bags." Luke nodded, noticing the change in Caelan's behavior too. They relaxed on the porch, enjoying the view while keeping an eye on the children. Suddenly, they noticed Caelan and Sofia on the beach. Sofia stumbled and appeared hurt. Caelan quickly came to her aid and carried her over to where Charlotte and Luke were sitting. "What happened?" Charlotte asked, concerned. "Sofia hurt her ankle. Do you have any ice?" Caelan responded. "I'll get it," Luke said and went to fetch some ice. Caelan gently put Sofia on the couch. "Stay here, I'll get the ice." "Okay." Sofia winced a little but tried to hide her discomfort. Caelan hurried off to get the ice, leaving Charlotte with Sofia. Charlotte couldn't help but worry about her friend. When Luke returned with the ice, Charlotte was subtly observing Sofia and Caelan. She noticed Sofia looked unusually happy, almost as if she were in love. Leaning toward Luke, she whispered, "Do you think they're together?" Luke wasn't so sure. " Wouldn't they have told us if they were?" Charlotte really hoped Sofia was seeing someone nice, preferably someone they knew well, instead of a stranger. After lunch, Sofia had to retire to her room due to her painful ankle, leaving Charlotte and Luke a chance to talk to Caelan alone. They sat with Caelan on the porch. He looked nervous, and his hands were sweaty. "What's going on with you guys?" Charlotte asked. Caelan looked at them. "What do you mean?" Luke prodded further, "What happened last night with you and Sofia?" "Just a night out. We had a few drinks, found somewhere to crash, and came back. Nothing special," Caelan tried to downplay it. But Luke wasn't fully convinced. "Is that all?" "Yeah. Why are you guys making it into a big deal?" Charlotte pointed out, "You're acting differently. You've been really caring toward Sofia today, which isn't like you. What changed after last night?" Caelan looked away, feeling awkward. He had just wanted to be kinder to Sofia, but he hadn't expected Luke and Charlotte to notice his change in behavior so keenly. Luke's expression was amiable but firm. "Just tell us what's up. You're not going anywhere until you do." Caelan realized he couldn't hide it anymore. He glanced around to ensure Sofia wasn't nearby and then admitted, "Alright, something did happen last night." As he recounted the events of the evening, his expression grew increasingly anxious. He finished his story with his chin resting on his hands, a clear sign of his uncertainty about how to proceed.