One Step Closer(64)

Soon, a salesman was bringing out five different styles in her size. Caleb planted himself in one of the chairs in the middle of the department, the dress bag draped across his lap. As Wren sat next to him, she couldn’t help notice the way many of the women and teenage girls perusing the shoes sending glance after glance in his direction. He seemed oblivious to their interest as he checked his phone.

The two years they spent at the same high school was laden with girls trying to get with him. If she hadn’t known better, it could have been it’s own varsity sport. Once she stopped cutting herself and dressing in disguise, and they were seen coming and going together, she was inundated with questions and pleas for introductions.

Caleb kept to himself. He was never involved in sports or after school activities; his fight club had been his sport; the one that kept his body honed. He never went to the school dances, and neither had she.

“Are you still fighting, Caleb?” Wren asked as they waited.

“Not as much. I did find one club in San Francisco and I fight occasionally, though not with the same frequency as in high school.”

He wasn’t fiddling with his phone anymore and she reached out to put her hand over his. “Caleb. This probably isn’t the place, but I don’t think I ever thanked you.”

He looked at her, his eyes inquisitive. “For what? “

She shook her head softly. “Everything. Without the fighting, I wouldn’t be a dancer now. Without you… I might have killed myself. You saved me from my mother, helped me have a life, and made me realize I was worth something.”

He placed his free hand over hers, so one of her hands was between both of his. “Wren… you’re worth everything.” Emotions swelled and he swallowed at the tightness starting in his throat. His eyes started to sting. “Look at your life. You bring pleasure and beauty to the world. When you dance, it’s like magic.”

“I felt guilty every time you came home with a bruised face.”

“You know my life was shit before you showed up. If not for you, I would have thought my mother died for nothing.” He cleared his throat, knowing he was exposing much more than he intended to do in the shoe department at Nordstrom’s. “Anyway, I would’ve been fighting regardless. I was already doing it, remember?”

“I know. But, you started doing it more often. Ballet lessons are expensive.”

He laughed, his cobalt eyes locking with hers. “Don’t I know it! I wouldn’t change it, though. Look at you now. You’re like a butterfly, finally out of your cocoon.” Caleb stopped. His words made him second-guess his decision. Half the estate might just be the shackle she didn’t want. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Okay,” the salesman said, as he put a stack of boxes on the carpet in front of Wren. “I didn’t have this one in a six, but I have a six and a half.”

He began opening boxes and pulled individual shoes out of each one. Caleb watched in silence as she tried on each style, offering his opinion with a nod or shake of his head when she looked at him. He felt sorry that the close moment they had just shared had ended.

***

AFTER THE SHOPPING trip, Caleb had showered and changed into a navy blue suit, a crisp white dress shirt, and silver and navy patterned tie. He’d already told Wren that he had a meeting with Jonathan before the visitation, and spoken to Jonesy about all the women going together with the driver to meet him there. Macy on the other hand was another story. She’d been silent and stoic on the ride home after they’d found her at the Michael Kors store buying a new spring bag. Clearly she was upset, and in all honesty, he couldn’t really blame her.

He reluctantly made the trek from his room to hers to let her know what his plan was. Despite how he was feeling about the coming end of their relationship, he wasn’t a big enough prick to blow her off completely.

Macy opened the door after a brief knock. She was dressed in a dark grey pencil skirt and pale pink blouse; and her hair was slicked back in the usual chignon she wore for work. The suit flattered her curvy figure and could be considered sexy, but not overtly so. She looked beautiful, and her makeup was perfect. Her level of sophistication was so different from Wren’s, who was naturally beautiful and uncomplicated.

“Hey,” he said quietly, waiting to be asked inside.

She turned away, leaving the door open to retrieve the jacket to her suit from the hanger in the closet. “Hi.”

He walked in, closing the door behind him. “I have a meeting with my father’s lawyer before the wake. Jonesy said she’d have something for you and Wren to eat in the kitchen and then the driver will bring you all over.” His suit jacket was open and he shoved both of his hands into his pants pockets. “You look nice.”

She let out a small sound of disgust, ignoring Caleb’s compliment. “I’d prefer to come with you, now, Caleb. I’ve had enough of little Wren for one day.”

Caleb stopped, and huffed with a short shake of his head. His eyes were incredulous as he looked at her. It was getting to the point that he couldn’t stand having her around. “What is your problem, Macy? If you don’t like what’s happening, you don’t have to come along. Wren has a right to be there.”

Her face fell. “I’m sorry. Can’t I just come with you?”

“It’s a confidential meeting. I’ll meet you at the funeral home in a couple of hours. If you don’t want to have dinner in the kitchen, then you have the rental car... grab something on the way.” Macy’s back visibly stiffened and she took a slight pause slightly before donning the jacket and closing the one button in front.