One Step Closer(65)

“Is it about your father’s will?”

“Among other things.”

“So, why can’t I come? It’s no secret what’s in your father’s will. You’re his only child.”

“Jonathan asked I come alone.” Caleb looked at his watch, impatiently. It was close to 4:30 PM and the service started at 6. “I don’t have time to argue. I just wanted to let you know what I’m doing.”

He began leaving the room, but Macy followed him through the house.

“I’ll wait in the car or outside the room, but I’m not staying here in this mausoleum without you.”

Caleb regarded her with calm indifference as she caught up to him. He was more than annoyed that she speculated on the content of his father’s will, but he’d be damned if he’d show it. If she wanted to wait in the car, that was fine with him.

“Fine. I’ll let Jonesy know you’re coming with me.” He walked into the kitchen calling the old woman’s name, but she was nowhere to be found. “Jonesy?”

There was a small white board that she kept on the side of the large stainless steel refrigerator. She’d kept there for him since he was a small child, and he used to write down a list of food or other things he needed her to buy on her shopping trips. He quickly scrawled out a note.



Jonesy,

I have a meeting with Jonathan and I have Macy with me. See you and Wren there.

~Caleb



“Come on.” Caleb walked to the doorway that led from the kitchen into the garage, then stood back and waved her through in front of him. He had the key fob in his hand and unlocked the door as they approached the same grey luxury car they’d taken earlier in the day. After he held open her door and she was securely inside, Caleb walked around and slid into the driver’s side.

Macy watched his every move with guarded eyes as she set her small bag on the light grey leather seat next to her.

“What's the story with you and Wren anyway?”

Caleb started the engine and was soon navigating his way out of the garage.

“Our story?” The corners of his well-defined lips lifted in a wry half smile. “Her bitch mother moved in on my dad not long after my mother died. I already had a deep hatred for my dad. I mean; I f*cking wished I could kill him. I wished he’d died instead of my mom. She was the best person I think I’ve ever known. There was a bevy of the best doctors, but no one could save her, and at the end, my dad disappeared.” The memory was still painful; Caleb’s expression was stoic as he kept his focus on the road ahead.

As they pulled out of the gated community and Caleb merged into traffic, Macy continued. “That doesn’t tell me anything about Wren.”

“My mom was the face of Lux, and after she died, Veronica was hired to replace here.”

“Right. She was that blonde model, right?”

“Yes. She became the new spokesperson, face, whatever. One day, my dad showed up with her and her kid, told me he’d remarried and the two of them were moving into our house. I wanted nothing to do with either of them.”

“Wow. I’m sorry, Caleb. That must have been hard on you. How old were you?”

There was genuine sympathy in her voice that made it easier for Caleb to continue. Jonathan’s office was about twenty-five minutes from the house and he decided that maybe she’d be more understanding about Wren if he told her a few of the facts. “Sixteen. I remember being so pissed I wanted to break something. Veronica was a plastic bitch, and I could see it from day one. Wren was barely visible, but I thought she was strange.”

His eyes narrowed with the memory and his hands deftly maneuvered the car onto Interstate 25. “She looked different then. Her clothes were black, she used to wear this short black wig and a lot of dark eye shadow.” He was introspective, like he was speaking to himself. “She acted like a scared mouse that barely spoke and didn’t eat. She was skin and bones, and really screwed up. Even at school, she kept to herself and kids made fun of her. It was brutal.”

Caleb cleared his throat and glanced at Macy who was listening with rapt attention. He decided to leave out the part about Wren cutting.

“Why would she disguise herself? I know that the Goth thing is big with some kids, but even at home?”

“Her mom was a mean, cold bitch, who couldn’t stand it if anyone was prettier than her. Wren was much more beautiful. As she grew up, Veronica got meaner. I remember the first time I saw her as she really was. I thought I was dreaming. I’d just been in a particularly bad fight and I was in pretty bad shape… I didn’t think she was real. All that golden hair, and her eyes without all that shit on them were… amazing. I’ll never forget that moment.”

Macy bristled in her seat. Clearly, there was much more to Caleb’s relationship with Wren than she thought. She folded her hands in her lap and glanced out the window, letting him continue.

“When she told me the truth, I wanted to kill that bitch. I already hated Veronica, but after that, it was worse. I decided that Wren would never suffer under her hands or anyone else’s again, and I wouldn’t let her disguise herself anymore.” He laughed bitterly. “I used my fight winnings to buy her clothes and enroll her into dance lessons. Dancing was the only thing she wanted, and with all this money,” he waved around at the rich interior of the very expensive car, “ Veronica wouldn’t allow her to take classes.”