In a surprising turn of events, Ruby Fox Milligan and her husband Caleb decide to leave the village for a fresh start. Ruby returns home to find Caleb packing, but it’s not his own belongings he’s organizing—it’s their son Nikki’s. Nikki had left the village with his boyfriend Sunny after discovering that Ruby had deliberately run over Ethan Anderson shortly before his death. Fed up with his parents’ behavior, Nikki was particularly upset with Caleb, feeling that his father never showed him love and was always disappointed in him.

Caleb’s actions initially seemed to confirm Nikki’s feelings, as Ruby thought he was trying to erase all traces of their son. However, Caleb revealed that he couldn’t bear to see Nikki’s belongings because they reminded him of his failures as a father. Caleb, who was raised in the care system after his mother Faith Dingle gave birth to him in prison, had a difficult childhood. A flashback episode on Boxing Day 2022 showed Caleb’s attempt to join the Dingle family by tracking down Cain, only to be told to leave.

Caleb’s father was Frank Tate, whom he never met, and his arrival in the village was partly to seek revenge on Kim Tate for her role in Frank’s death. Caleb’s life took a positive turn when he met Ruby, who gave up a relationship with her own family to be with him. Despite their strong bond, Ruby was furious with Caleb, blaming him for their son’s departure. However, Caleb’s heartfelt confession that Ruby had been his lifeline and taught him what love was melted her heart.

Ruby and Caleb agreed they needed a reset away from the village, with Barley sounding like an ideal place for a break. Caleb hoped to find Nikki and bring him home after the holiday, but Ruby insisted that their son was a grown man capable of making his own decisions, including when or if he would return to visit. She reassured Caleb that Nikki knew they loved him.