One Step Closer(25)

Wren closed her eyes; her right hand closing over her left wrist where a white ink tattoo now resided over those scars. She remembered the pain she’d gone through and the solace that Caleb had become to her; he protected her and she’d grown to trust him implicitly. Caleb had adamantly insisted she be herself and stop hiding behind her disguise once he’d confronted Veronica and warned her to stop her cruel ways or face his wrath. Wren still worried about the faint red lines on her wrist would be seen by counselors or teachers, and had been ashamed of the scars; ashamed of the weakness they represented, though Caleb insisted they should be worn like medals of battles fought. He’d been tough as nails, though he had this innate vulnerability that she’d seen on rare occasions when he’d let his guard down.

She sucked in her breath as the memory washed over her, her heart swelling with benevolence that only Caleb could inspire. She recalled that night like it was yesterday; the two of them snuck out of the house after their parents had gone to bed and he’d taken her to a late night tattoo parlor on the back of his motorcycle. It had been the first time she’d been that close to him, the first time her body had been plastered up against his back, and then, he’d held her hand the whole time. She’d only been fifteen, but already, she’d been in complete awe of him.

Her fingers lovingly traced the lines of a white stallion on the inside of her wrist. Caleb thought she chose white ink because it would hide the scars but still be subtle. He thought Wren chose that horse at random. Neither was true.

To Wren, Caleb had always been impervious and strong, but now, worry over how his father’s death was affecting him, consumed her. Caleb and Edison’s relationship had never been easy, but this was as final as it ever would be; no more time for second chances. A regretful shudder ran through her slight form.

Her own relationship with Edison had grown closer in the years after Caleb left for college, and she was thankful. With Caleb gone, he was the only thing keeping her awful mother at bay. It was strange that he’d become more of a father to her than she’d ever known and sadly more, than he’d ever been to his own son. The thought filled her with sorrow. Caleb was so good and giving; he deserved much better than he’d gotten from his dad. He deserved everything.

A plethora of emotions flooded over her whenever she thought of the dark-haired boy who had at first intimidated her, but later became the one person she could rely on the most. Caleb did everything he could for Wren, and she worshiped him like a hero; because that’s what he was to her. It was more than a crush; she was closer to Caleb, even when they were fighting like cats and dogs, than she was to anyone else in her life. As time wore on, she was losing hope that anyone would ever touch her heart the way he had.

Caleb had been her tough, gentle savior; and Wren wondered if it would be possible for her to help him, now. She wanted to, and maybe even needed to. More than anything, she regretted the distance that had grown between them over the years. She longed to offer comfort and melt away the abyss that the past had created.

Wren and two of her best friends had flown to Bali during a break in their performance schedule and she’d been lounging on the beach with a book she’d been trying to find time to read for the past three months, when the bellman’s shadow fell over her. He gave her a message informing her to phone Edison Luxon’s lawyer, Jonathan Westwood.

Trepidation had filled her and she quickly rose, at the same time pulling her cell phone from the beach bag that was resting beside the lounge chair she’d just vacated. She gathered her things and began walking briskly into the hotel; Ainsley and Michelle had both called after her.

“Wren! Where are you going?”

“What is it?”

“I have to make a call! Something’s wrong!” She’d shouted back at them.

It had to be bad. She talked to her stepfather more regularly than she did her own mother, and so the lawyer’s name and title on the message filled her with dread. Her hands shook violently when she dialed the number, already guessing the reason for his call. Her worst fears were confirmed moments later when she got to her room and Jonathan confirmed that Edison had died.

“What happened?” she’d asked, her face crumpling, and the thickness of tears cracking her voice. “When?”

“Last night. Mrs. Jones found him in his bed. Looks like a heart attack. I’m so sorry, Wren. I know the two of you were close.”

Wren wiped away a tear with a quick hand, holding the phone to her ear with her shoulder, already pulling out her suitcase and rushing to the dresser in her hotel room to begin throwing her things haphazardly inside.

“When is the funeral? Is Caleb coming in?” she asked, still crying softly, her snuffles permeating through the phone. Given the state of their relationship and knowing how Caleb felt about him, it wasn’t a given. Someone should be there, though. How sad to die and have no one but business associates to mourn you?

“The funeral arrangements will be made tomorrow. Mrs. Jones is handling most of it, I think. Caleb came in earlier today, but too late to do that. He’s at the Denver house.” It was 1:00 in the afternoon in Bali, which made it 9 PM Denver time.

“Oh God.” Her voice was anguished. “Is he okay?” Her throat felt tight and swollen as tears tumbled down her cheeks. Thoughts of Caleb engulfed her. She felt a sudden urgency to get to him. He said he hated his father, but Edison had been the only parent he had for the past sixteen years; they were each other’s only blood relative. Edison had an older sister, but she had died years earlier, and they weren’t close. They were so estranged, from what she’d learned from Caleb, that his aunt hadn’t even put in an appearance for Celine’s funeral. Wren worried the implications would be devastating when it finally resonated with Caleb that he was the last in the Luxon line.