One Step Closer(40)

After half a minute, Caleb released her and turned back to Wren. She wasn’t finished with breakfast, but he needed to put space between himself and Veronica. He held out his hand to Wren, who took it readily. “You’re with me. Let’s go.”

You’re with me. Those words resonated like no others.

From that moment, Caleb made Wren his responsibility in every way, and he still felt as strongly about it now as he had then. He blinked to regain focus on the two women as they talked, the memory causing pain, pleasure, and pride.

“Are all ballerina’s as tiny as you are, Wren? I’ve been to a ballet or two and I don’t remember the girls being so small. From a distance you must look like a child.”

Macy seemed like a nice woman and their conversation up to that point, had been good. Wren had regret at the possibility that the earlier scene had hurt her, but these last words felt like a thinly veiled jab. Even though Wren could understand how Macy might resent her presence, it still hurt. But, what was worse; her presence was an obstacle to being alone with Caleb and she desperately wanted to talk to him. She was worried about him, and she longed for some time to reconnect. As long as Macy was here, she couldn’t get close to Caleb.

“Do you mean that I’m short?” Wren began hesitantly. “I’m a little shorter than average, I guess… but then, I’m always en pointe, so that adds a few inches.”

“Oh. That makes sense. It must destroy your feet, though. I always imagine really nasty feet under those beautiful shoes. ”

“Macy.” Caleb was annoyed with Macy’s obvious slam of Wren, and pissed she felt the need to say something like that. “Really?”

Macy had the grace to flush but looked incredulous. “What? I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“It’s okay,” Wren reassured Caleb, then turned her attention back to Macy. “I have had my share of blisters, and bloody tears in the skin, broken toenails, that’s for sure.”

“You had that stress fracture, too. Right?” Caleb interjected almost absently, and Wren’s eyes narrowed on him. She couldn’t ever remember telling Caleb about that: it had happened not long after the debacle with Sam, when she was refusing Caleb’s every attempt to contact her. She’d been pushing herself harder in practice in attempt to forget her misery at another thing standing between them. It didn’t matter that her relationship with Sam had been destroyed over it. She decided she needed to ask Caleb how he knew about it when they were alone.

“Don’t things like that make you want to stop dancing?” Macy asked, demanding Wren’s attention again. “I mean; surely there’s something else you could do?”

Wren smiled and shook her head, choosing to ignore that particular comment. Apparently Macy never had a dream or something she loved as much as Wren loved to dance.

Her lips lifted in a wry smile and she shook her head slightly, causing her curls to move gently around her face. Caleb noticed and then looked down, hoping neither of the women noticed his rapt fascination with Wren.

“Not so far. That reminds me of something.” She looked at Caleb who now was staring into his wine glass. “Cale?”

He didn’t answer and looked deep in thought. The conversation must be boring him silly.

“Caleb, did you hear me?” Wren’s voice registered for the second time and this time he looked up at her.

“Hmm? What?” He lifted his glass and took a swallow of the rich Cabernet.

“I asked; when is the service?”

“Oh. Monday.”

Despite the driver saying he was at her beck and call, she’d rather drive herself. “Is that white Toyota outside yours? Can I borrow it tomorrow? I’ll need to get a dress and shoes. I was in Bali and I have nothing appropriate to wear to a funeral.”

“Bali!” Macy said. “I’ve always wanted to go there. How marvelous. Maybe someday we can go, Caleb. I’m sure Wren would be happy to give us tips on where to stay or what to see there.”

A small huff escaped Caleb, and his mouth flattened in disgust. He was silently cataloguing every time Macy tried to stake her unjustified ownership on him, and every time she came off callous in light of the reason they were in Denver. His eyes landed back on Wren to gauge her response.

“It was pretty, but I was only there two days when Jonathan called with the news of Edison, so I barely have anything to offer.” Her eyes darted across to lock with Caleb’s. “In any case, all I have with me are shorts, swimsuits and a couple of sundresses, so I definitely need to go shopping.”

“It’s Macy’s rental,” Caleb returned. He’d hired the driver to be on call for Wren, but Caleb capitalized on the opportunity. “But, I’ll be glad to take you. We can use one of Dad’s cars.”

Wren offered a wide smile for Caleb. It would be nice to spend some time with him like they used to. She’d rather they take Caleb’s old motorcycle like they often had when they were younger, but with Macy along, that wouldn’t be possible.

“I’d love to explore the shops with you!” Macy said enthusiastically, quickly deciding there was no way Caleb was going off alone with Wren while she was anywhere in the vicinity. No. Way. She could see the intense way Caleb studied Wren and the she was anything but stupid. She needed to find out the true nature of their so-called relationship, so she planned to ask him the first chance she got. “Is there any area of Denver notorious for the best shops?”