2025-06-16 17:56:23Caleb jogged up the three flights of stairs to the apartment he paid for but rarely slept in, a small smile playing on his lips. The scent of cheap air freshener and old takeout clung to the hallway, but it was a scent he associated with Cathy, and for him, that made it home.
He pushed the door open. “Cath? I’m back.”
Cathy was perched on the edge of the sofa, her phone glowing against her face. She looked up, her perfectly glossed lips tightening for a fraction of a second before melting into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. “Hey, you.”
“Long day,” Caleb said, dropping his delivery bag by the door. He moved towards her, wanting to sink into the couch and feel the day’s exhaustion seep away next to her. “Smells like you ordered Chinese chicken. You save any for me?”
“Oh, sorry, babe. It’s all gone.” She tucked a strand of her sleek, dark hair behind her ear, her gaze flickering back to her phone.
“No worries.” He sat beside her, the springs groaning in protest. “So, you’re all set for Jessica’s party tonight?”
Her fingers stilled on the screen. “Yeah, almost. Just figuring out what to wear.” She finally put the phone down, turning to face him. “It’s just going to be us girls, you know. A proper catch-up.”
“I know, I know. ‘Friends alone’ party,” he said, mimicking her earlier tone with a soft grin. “I just wish I could see you all dressed up.” He walked over to the small, wobbly table where he kept his savings tin. He pried the lid off and tipped the contents into his hand—a roll of bills he had been painstakingly saving for weeks, skipping lunches and taking every extra delivery he could get. He walked back to her and pressed the money into her hand. All of it. Five hundred dollars.
Cathy’s eyes widened as she looked at the cash. “Baby, why are you giving me this? Will you have anything left on you?” She looked at him, her brow furrowed in a convincing display of concern. “What about dinner?” she asked.
“Don’t worry. You first,” he said softly, his thumb brushing the back of her hand. “Use this to get yourself something good to wear and get Jessica a nice gift.”
He leaned in to kiss her goodbye, but she turned her head slightly, offering her cheek. He took it without complaint and headed for the door, grabbing his helmet. “I’ve got a late chicken delivery. I’ll see you in a few days.”
The moment the door clicked shut and the sound of his delivery bike faded down the street, Cathy’s face soured. She glanced down at the money in her hand, her lip curling in disgust.
“Mtcheew” she hissed to the empty room, her voice dripping with scorn. “What will five hundred dollars do? it won't even get me a dress not to talk of gift, useless Asshole.” She tossed the money into her designer handbag
and wheeled her suitcase out the door
---
That night, the exclusive Veredale Skye Club pulsed with neon light and deep bass, a private party for the city’s young elite. But the energy faltered when a section of lights sputtered and died, casting the VIP lounge in an inconvenient darkness.
Tony Callahan, handsome and impeccably dressed, ran an agitated hand through his hair. “What the fuck is this On my wedding night?..
Kael.....call the electrician as soon as possible”
Kael “he said it's too late, he won't be able to come” angry tony got up and wanted to hit Kael but Daniel interrupted
“Bro, chill, don’t worry,” Daniel said, phone already in hand. “I have someone I can call to come fix it. He does different jobs, but when I call him, he’ll come as soon as possible.”
Tony scoffed. “Is he that desperate? It’s late. Nobody will come fix this now, take my electrician for example.”
Daniel just smiled. “I got you.” He dialed a number. “Caleb? Hey man, it’s Daniel… Yeah, listen, I’ve got an urgent job. Electrical issue at a club downtown, quite the distance from where you are but They’ll pay well. Really well can you come as soon as possible?.”
On the other side of the city, Caleb, finishing his last delivery, didn’t hesitate. The venue was far, but the promise of good pay was a siren call. He needed to build his savings back up, for Cathy.
He arrived on his bike less than an hour later, weaving through the fleet of luxury cars parked outside. Daniel, looking sharp in a tailored suit, met him at the service entrance.
“I knew I could rely on you, man. Come on,” he said, leading Caleb through a corridor that vibrated with the party’s energy. He pointed to a panel behind a large decorative board. “It’s that one.”
As Caleb got to work, his tools laid out on the floor, the party’s MC took the main stage, his voice booming over the speakers.
“Alright, Veredale! Let’s give a massive round of applause for the new couple, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Callahan!”
The crowd erupted. Caleb smiled to himself, continuing his work. In the background, a woman’s voice shrieked with excitement.
“Go Cathy! You made a beautiful bride today!”
Caleb chuckled under his breath, splicing two wires together. *I guess déjà vu is real,* he thought. *Just when I was thinking about her, someone calls her name.* He plugged the last wire in, and the lounge flickered back to brilliant life. He packed up and went to find Daniel.
“I’ve finished the job,” he said, standing awkwardly in his black boots and worn workshop clothes amidst the sea of designer outfits.
“I knew you would do a great job!” Daniel clapped him on the shoulder. “Hold on for the event before you go.”
“No, I need to hurry back for another job,” Caleb lied, suddenly eager to get home to the quiet apartment.
“Okay, wait here for just a while.” Daniel turned to get the payment, and Caleb, out of habit, turned to join the crowd in applauding the couple who were now descending the stage.
And then he saw her. His girlfriend. Cathy. She was standing in the center of the club hall , a vision in a white, floor-length gown that shimmered under the chandeliers. Her hair was swept into an elegant updo, and a diamond necklace glittered at her throat. A handsome, suave-looking man stood beside her, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist.
They were laughing, raising their glasses in a toast with their guests.
“Cathy?” he mouthed, the name a silent shock on his lips.
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245- The end
Rose was fully recovered. The doctors had discharged her a week ago, and the quiet comfort of the main penthouse felt like a sanctuary after the sterile white walls of the hospital. Her recovery was more than just physical; it felt like a healing of the entire family. The old, festering wounds of silence, ambition, and misunderstanding, which had almost destroyed them, were finally closing. Rose, in her quiet strength, became the living symbol of their resilience.She sat on a plush armchair by the wide window, a wool blanket draped over her knees, watching the sprawling cityscape come to life as the morning sun climbed.A gentle knock preceded the opening of the door, and Caleb entered, holding two mugs of tea. His hair was grayer now, but his eyes held a softness that had replaced the sharp, guarded look he’d worn for decades. Diana followed him, a familiar, easy grace in her movements.“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Diana murmured, leaning down to kiss Rose’s forehead.“It’s barely se
244
Six months had passed since Rose had opened her eyes. The physical recovery had been grueling, marked by painful physiotherapy and the constant presence of scars—both visible and invisible. But the Callahan family had not paused; they had channeled their fear and relief into action. The Anchor Project, initially conceived in the intensity of the hospital waiting room, had evolved, matured, and was now being launched publicly as the Callahan Compass Initiative.The launch event was held not in a glass-tower ballroom, but in the newly renovated community center in the city's South District—the first operational hub of the Compass Initiative. The air hummed with controlled excitement. Local politicians, community leaders, and the Foundation's board members mingled, but the focus was entirely on the new architecture of the Callahan leadership.Caleb stood to the side of the stage with Diana. They watched their children, no longer just "the children," preparing to address the assembled cro
243
The sun was high in the mid-morning sky when Rose finally opened her eyes. Caleb was there, having returned directly from his reflective visit, sitting quietly beside her bed. The moment was not dramatic; there was no sudden gasp or call for a doctor. Her eyelids simply fluttered, and she focused on the antiseptic ceiling tiles, then slowly, agonizingly, shifted her gaze to Caleb.Her lips moved, but no sound came out. She was exhausted, weak, but she was awake.Caleb leaned closer, taking her hand. It was a gentle, protective hold, vastly different from the desperate grip he’d had the night before. “Rose,” he murmured, the name heavy with relief. “Welcome back.”He pressed the call button, and within minutes, the ICU team was assessing her. They confirmed the improvement was significant; the ventilator would remain for now, but the worst of the crisis was undeniably over. The machine that had kept her alive was now assisting her journey back.The rest of the family filed in soon afte
242
The silence that followed the cardiac episode was heavier than any sound. Rose had been stabilized. The doctors, sweating and grim-faced, had managed to pull her back from the precipice, but only just. The rhythmic, mechanical hiss-sigh of the ventilator and the steady, weak beat of the monitor were the only evidence that she still clung to life. Caleb did not return to the chair. The nurse who had pulled him back helped him to his feet and guided him, stumbling, out of the sterile ICU room and into the small, windowless waiting area reserved for immediate family. Diana was already there, pacing, her face etched with a fear Caleb rarely saw. Leo and Kasper were sitting together, silent, their faces mirroring the exhaustion that had plagued Caleb for days. Aimee sat slightly apart, clutching a worn, small book—a collection of Fiona Callahan’s published poetry—as if it were a shield. Caleb walked to the furthest corner and stood, leaning his back against the cool wall, unable to sp
241
Then, Victor’s voice began. It was weak, a breathless rasp, the sound of a man fighting for air and losing. It was completely unlike the booming, confident baritone Caleb remembered from childhood visits. “Caleb,” the voice whispered, a fragile ghost of a sound. “If you are listening to this, I am gone.” Victor confirmed the contents of the letter, then moved into the specifics of the murder, dragging the painful narrative out over the slow hiss of the tape. “I followed Fiona that night. She found out about the offshore accounts, the things I was doing with Senator Thorne. She wasn't just going to John; she was going to the authorities. She gave me an ultimatum. She threatened to expose me, ruin me, and she had the evidence.” Victor coughed, a wet, rattling sound that made Caleb involuntarily jump back. The pause stretched, agonizingly long, broken only by the continuous whir of the tape. “I had to stop her. It wasn’t about the money, not anymore. It was about her stopping me. Th
240
The hospital room smelled of sterile air and fading flowers. Hours had bled into an indistinguishable block of time. Caleb sat on the hard plastic chair beside Rose’s bed, the silence of the room broken only by the steady, measured rhythm of the heart monitor. He held the manila envelope, sealed with a piece of old, brittle tape, resting in his lap. It was heavy, not with physical weight, but with the entire, catastrophic history of his life.Victor had sent it from the prison infirmary days before he died. Days before Rose had fallen.Caleb’s gaze drifted from the plain brown paper to Rose’s pale, slack face. Her hair was spread across the white pillowcase like dark silk, and the rise and fall of her chest was so slight it barely disturbed the thin blanket covering her.He closed his eyes, gripping the envelope until the edges bit into his palms. He wasn't ready to open it, but the pressure to know the final truths was crushing him.A sudden, sharp image broke through the fog of his
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