Chapter 161: We Found Mom!.

CALEB. The drive home felt like it took forever. Each turn, each red light seemed to stretch out endlessly, my mind too tangled to focus on the road. Uncle Kelly's revelation was a weight around my chest, squeezing tighter with every mile. Cynthia was his daughter. His. Fucking. Daughter. Did she know I was his nephew? Was that why she was so close, yet so far? Why hadn't I seen it before? Of course, it wasn't written in white. Another thing bothered me. Why was he so….open with it? The way he spoke made me think he was tired of keeping it a secret, maybe because I knew her. But that was unlikely. Uncle Kelly was as stubborn as a fly chasing honey. He wouldn't give up something like that unless it was worth. Very, very worth it. I'd barely processed the shock when I saw Brielle and Kyle waiting outside the house. I pulled into the driveway, and my already pattering heart sank. They were standing by the porch, their anxious glances flickering between the road and the house. I parked and got out, trying to shake off the haze of my earlier conversation. I wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed and forget the world, but their presence was a reminder that there was more to deal with. 'Caleb, finally!" Brielle called, hurrying over. Her face was flushed with concern. 'We've been waiting for you." Kyle followed close behind, his expression more guarded. 'We need to talk. It's important." I forced a tired smile, trying to mask the chaos in my mind. 'What's up?" Today definitely couldn't be any more confusing. Before Brielle could respond, Kyle cut in with an urgency that caught me off guard. 'We found Mom." My heart stopped. Bile rose in my throat. The world spinned two…three…maybe ten times. I just stood there, dazed, confused. Mom? 'What?" I could barely get the word out. 'You found her? How?" Last time Kyle told me about this, I knew she was alive. I could feel it in my blood. She was out there, and she was fine. But she was here now. And that was entirely new information. Brielle's face was a mix of relief and apprehension. 'Yes, she's in town. We were going to wait until you got back to tell you." The shock was overwhelming. I felt a rush of anger and confusion. 'And you didn't think to tell me sooner? Why the secrecy? I could've tailed her goddamnit!" Brielle's eyes flashed with irritation. That was unusual. 'Caleb, you were driving. We couldn't risk you getting into an accident over this. We all know how erratic you can be when driving." Kyle stepped in, his tone steady but tinged with frustration. 'We didn't want to distract you while you were on the road. It was better to wait until you were home." My anger flared, but I tried to control it. 'So, how did you find her? What's the situation?" Kyle took a deep breath. 'We went out for groceries this morning. Then, I caught her scent—distinct and unmistakable. It was her, no doubt about it. Mom still smells the same." My heart stilled. I took in a deep breath, and urged for him to go on. Brielle nodded. 'She was with a man. He was dressed in a suit and had an earpiece. He looked… important." The pieces began to fall into place. I could feel a sense of urgency. 'What was she doing?" Kyle's gaze was intense. 'I followed her discreetly. She left the store with this man, but I stayed hidden. I could've easily followed, but I needed to tell you first." The tension in the air was thick. 'So, where is she now?" Kyle looked around. 'I don't know exactly. I lost track of them after they left the store. But I'm sure she's still in town, probably staying somewhere close." My mind raced. 'We need to find her. We can't let this opportunity slip away." Brielle stepped forward, her expression resolute. 'We should start by searching the area where you last saw her. Maybe we can pick up her trail." I nodded, trying to focus through the whirlwind of emotions. 'Alright. Let's get going. We need to be careful and thorough." If mom was in town, things would get a lot more clear. At least, I'd get answers I'd been missing for the last 20 years. Finding our mother was a dream we'd held onto for so long, but now that it was happening, it felt surreal. The earlier shock from Uncle Kelly's revelation was still fresh, and it made the reality of this new discovery even more unsettling. The drive was quiet, the usual chatter replaced by a tense silence. Brielle and Kyle exchanged occasional glances, their faces set in determined expressions. I could feel their anxiety, their hope, and their fear. It was a shared burden, and I was glad to have them with me. When we arrived at the area where Kyle had last seen her, the search began in earnest. We split up, each of us scanning the streets and shops for any sign of her. The minutes felt like hours, and with each passing moment, the pressure grew. Finally, Kyle called out to us from a corner. 'I think I found something." We hurried over to where he was standing, a small, nondescript café on the corner. 'I saw them leave from here," Kyle explained. 'But they were heading in that direction. She had just been here. The scent is fresh" He pointed down the street. I glanced at Brielle. 'We'll follow that way. Keep your eyes open for any clues." As we set off, the reality of the situation began to sink in. Each step felt like a step closer to the truth, but also deeper into a web of secrets and lies. The revelations from Uncle Kelly and now this new lead on our mother had me on edge. With every turn and every corner, I felt a mix of anticipation and dread. The journey to find our mother was just beginning, and I knew that the answers we sought were just beyond reach, waiting to be uncovered.