One Step Closer(74)

She stared at herself critically in the mirror as she removed the black lace lingerie. When she was completely naked, she couldn’t help but compare herself to Macy whose curves were much more voluptuous and womanly. She ran her hands down her slender body. Her waist and breasts were small, and her pelvic bones were visible due to the concave curve of her stomach. She was muscular and had soft curves, but nothing like Macy, and Macy was the type Caleb liked, she thought dejectedly. In high school, the prettiest and sexiest girls were always around him. Some of her old insecurities crept in and she worked to push them away.

Her gaze moved upward over her perky breasts, collar bones and neck toward her face as steam started to fog over the mirror. That face. It had been the bane of her existence growing up. She slid her fingers over her cheek and jaw.

She swallowed at the pain building in her throat. Her face and the thick, long blonde curls were beautiful. Caleb said so. Despite the many times her mother had told her she was ugly, stupid or untalented, Caleb belied it and with his help she came to believe it. Her eyes were clear and blue; glistening with unshed tears, and mirrored the deep sorrow she felt. Wren tried to ignore the pain rising up in her throat.

Her mother was a model and so naturally, her daughter shared her beauty. She’d hated the way she looked because her mother hated it. There wasn’t a day she could remember after the age of eleven that Veronica didn’t berate her with words so harsh no child should hear from anyone, let alone her mother.

The emotional pain had been unbearable. Wren could pinpoint her mother’s pivot to horrible to a day when one of Veronica’s string of many boyfriends told Wren she was beautiful and that she’d grow up to be even prettier than her mother.

Something had snapped inside Veronica and in that moment, Wren’s life changed for the worse. Her ballet classes were suddenly discontinued, she wasn’t allowed to see friends, and her mother stopped being her mother. Everything she ate or said was ridiculed, the way she walked or wore her hair; criticized. Veronica did everything she could to make Wren feel ugly, worthless and miserable.

Her mind flashed to the many times when the emotional pain became more than she could handle, she’d resorted to cutting herself with razor blades or kitchen knives. Physical pain was easier to bear.

Until she learned to layer her face in pale foundation and darken her eyes with too much dark eye shadow, and added the awful black wig until she was basically unrecognizable. Her mother hadn’t commented on the change but a miracle happened; the abuse reduced and Veronica basically forgot she was alive. It was lonely, but it was a better existence. It didn’t matter that the kids at school were cruel about the way she looked; the trade off at home was worth it.

Wren sucked in a deep breath at the memories. She hid who she really was from everyone, including herself, until the night Caleb needed her to take care of him. His reaction had been powerful and he’d insisted she lose the disguise. She’d been scared, but she trusted him, and though Veronica’s hateful behavior resumed, Caleb always stood between them, but he’d helped her much more than that.

She turned her wrist over and gazed down at the tattoo and tears filled her eyes. Caleb, Caleb, Caleb… his name resonated in her head. He’d stood between her and anything that could hurt her. She closed her eyes tightly, willing herself not to cry. She’d hoped they would reconcile to the point they could be in contact again, but now with Macy in his life, it might not be possible. Her heart was breaking and against her will, one fat tear squeezed from each eye. She shook her head, angry at her weakness, using both hands to wipe them away.

“Stop it,” she commanded herself. Caleb might be a knight in shining armor but he wasn’t hers anymore, and it was time she face it. Wren quickly pulled her hair up into a loose bun on top of her head, and stepped into the hot bath. The water was steaming and she had to sink in slowly. The tub was deep and comfortably sloped, and outfitted with twelve Jacuzzi jets that she decided to turn them on when the tub was full. She leaned back, closed her eyes and willed herself to relax.

The water was silky soft and felt amazing. Music was playing in her bedroom but was muffled by the closed door. Wren could hear the soft notes and she started to hum softly with the muted song. It was late and the bath would relax her so she could sleep.

The door to the bathroom burst open and the volume of the song suddenly increased. Wren’s eyes flew open and she gasped as she quickly sat up. “What the hell?”

Macy was leaning casually against the marble vanity glaring down at Wren’s naked body.

“Humph!” she snorted. “Looking at you, I can’t imagine why I’m even worried. Don’t even think about wheedling your way in between Caleb and me. He’s mine now, so don’t be getting any ideas.” She wagged a finger at Wren.

Wren instinctively covered her nakedness with her hands. “Why do you think you can just waltz in here whenever you want?” she said indignantly. “Get out! And take your threats with you. How dare you invade my private room?”

Macy was dressed in an expensive silk negligée in fuchsia silk. Wren’s eyes widened at its gaudiness. The towel she wanted was sitting on the upholstered bench on wall beneath the window.

Seeing the direction of Wren’s gaze, Macy raced to pick it up. She held it in her hands as her gaze narrowed on Wren. “Where Caleb is concerned, I dare any damn thing I want! Why are you mooning over him like a twelve-year old schoolgirl? It’s gross anyway! He’s your brother,” she said in avid disgust.