One Step Closer(51)

“Good morning, Jonesy.”

She looked up, her hands full of drinking glasses that she was in the process of putting away. “Oh, morning, honey. Do you want breakfast? What can I make you?”

Caleb shook his head and went to get a coffee cup from the cupboard on the other side of the big kitchen. “Nothing. I’m taking Wren out for breakfast.”

Jonesy stopped for a split second and then continued in her task. “What about the other one?”

“She’s in bed.”

Jonesy’s eyebrows shot up. “Not invited, eh?”

He picked up the coffee pot and filled his cup with the steaming liquid. “No,” he answered simply.

“If you don’t mind my asking; I mean it’s none of my business, but why is that woman even here? It doesn’t seem to me like she has your heart.”

Caleb sighed and sat down at the table in the windowed alcove. “Never could fool you, Jonesy.”

She huffed and bent to retrieve more dishes to put away. “No. It’s about time you stopped fooling yourself, too,” she said matter-of-factly.

“I’m of the same conclusion; but it really depends on Wren.”

Jonesy nodded in agreement and continued her task.

“What do you think, Jonesy?”

The old woman stopped and looked at him, before getting a cup down and pouring herself some coffee. “I think Wren has always loved you. You’re her sun and moon, Caleb. I think it’s always been you and Wren. I’m not sure what happened a few years back to change that, but you can fix it.” She took a sip of the steaming liquid. “If that’s what you want.”

Caleb pressed his lips together, a new determination coming over him. Taking in her words, he hoped she was right. He could always count on Jonesy to be in his corner and to give it to him straight, even though she didn’t know all of the details. Fundamentally, Wren was still the same person, and so was he. One thing he was sure of, Wren knew him like no one else did, and he hoped that would be enough to mend the fences.

“Jonesy,” he began quietly; looking over his shoulder to make sure Wren wasn’t already coming to find him. “Has she said anything about what her life is like? Is she seeing anyone?” His heart tightened slightly as he waited for her answer; the feeling a reminder of his utter devastation when Wren had brought Sam to San Francisco and the consequences of that visit. Maybe she’d married Sam and just didn’t tell him. Surely his father had known the status of their relationship before he made the will. Hope bloomed inside of him. “Sam?”

Jonesy huffed, dismissively, looking at him over the rim of her coffee cup as she was about to take another swallow. Her eyes locked with his. “Now there’s a name I haven’t I haven’t heard for a while. Though I’m an old woman. I can’t remember everything.” She winked mischievously, setting her cup down to resume putting away the dishes. “Talk to her, honey. That’s all you can do. And, send that other one on her way.”

He inhaled deeply, wishing it were as simple as Jonesy made it sound. Macy had been supportive and they’d had some good times, and he didn’t want to be a complete dick. He couldn’t just send her packing. She’d want to get back to San Francisco soon after the funeral, and he fully expected her to leave Tuesday morning.

He turned in his chair as he heard a light flap of rubber soles crossed the marble floor behind him. The sound was soft; not the loud clacking of the high heels that Macy always wore, so he knew it had to be Wren. The house was big and sprawling, and the sound echoed through the main atrium at the foot of the stairs.

“Hey, Jonesy.” Wren’s voice was soft and musical, washing over Caleb and making him tingle as if she touched him. Her cheeks were rosy, her face freshly washed but devoid of makeup other than mascara. Her blue eyes sparkled, the color brought out by the V-neck shirt she wore atop a pair of faded jeans. Caleb glanced down to find her feet in a pair of black Vans with the laces shoved inside so she could just slip them on. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, but several loose curling tendrils were loose, framing her face. She looked unpretentious. “I hurried. “

Caleb stood up and started to pick up his cup to put it in the sink, but Jonesy quickly took it from him, nodding toward the back door that led directly off the kitchen and into the garage. “Get out of here, you two.”

Caleb smiled gently, knowing Jonesy was helping them make a speedy exit before Macy made an appearance.

“Thanks Jonesy. Let Macy know we’ll be back in a bit.”

Caleb grabbed Wren’s hand and started toward the door. The warmth of his hand in hers sent a thrill running through her and Wren had to remind herself of Macy’s words the night before. He was taken and it was time she tamped down any ridiculous fantasies of Caleb. It was time she face the reality that he might only see her as a little sister. Everything in her screamed in defiance at the thought, but maybe he pretended their night together never happened because he was ashamed and couldn’t deal with it any other way. She sighed softly, telling herself that having him in her life, in any way, was better than not. The past two years had been hard, and a few stilted phone conversations were not how she wanted their future to be.

The garage was as pristine as the house. The floors all painted back and glossed with rosin; it seemed more like a showroom than a garage. There wasn’t one speck of grease or dirt on the floor, and the walls were covered in sheetrock and light grey paint. “I forgot how much this place was like a museum,” Caleb muttered, glancing from one expensive car to another. “Shit, there must be a million dollars worth of metal in here.”