Page 110 of Full Circle

CHAPTER 52

THE TURNING POINT

CELESTE

The shrill cry of a phone ringing was not how I wanted to wake up. After the three of us talked for hours in the living room at Aunt Shirley’s old place, Iris, Wes, and I had gone to bed. Wes made up his old room for Iris, showing off the photographs I decorated with all those years ago. Iris asked for backstories on each and every one, which took another couple of hours.

While I offered to take the couch, Wesley flat out refused for us to sleep apart. He told me it would be too hard for him to sleep if he couldn’t reach out and touch me to know that I was safe. Since I was still frightened over the prospect of Jeremy returning to finish what he started, I agreed, and we collapsed into Aunt Shirley’s old bed in sheer exhaustion. The only reason I was able to keep the nightmares at bay long enough to fall into a deep sleep was Wesley’s presence. He cocooned me in his arms, tucking my head under his chin, and we were both out cold as the adrenaline finally leveled off.

Now, however, the vibrations on the nightstand combined with the piercing ringtone abruptly brought me back to the land of the living.

I didn’t even check whose phone it was as I hit the green button and whimpered, “What is it?”

“Celeste!” Marla’s voice was frantic. “Get down here right now! Right NOW!” She hung up before I could respond.

“Wesley, we have to go!” I scrambled out of bed, snatching clothes out of a random dresser drawer without any consideration for fit or size.

For how tired he must have been, Wesley didn’t hesitate to jump up and join me. He went down the hall to shake Iris awake. I suspected he would struggle to let her out of his sight from now on.

As we loaded up in Shirley’s old Buick, dark smoke billowed in the sky as a large fire truck sped down Main Street…towards Marla’s place. My heart sank.

“Wow, this is bad,” Wesley commented as we got closer. Even from a few blocks away, the bright flicker of flame was evident licking the sky. Only it was further down the street than Marla’s.

The Comfy Cushion was on fire.

“Nonononononononono!” I launched myself out of the car before Wesley could bring it to a full stop.

Several fire trucks circled the building, blocking off the street. Although there were dozens of firefighters, I couldn’t see anyone combating the flames. The entire structure was on fire. Even from the other side of the road, the heat was enough to burn my face.

“Why aren’t you doing something?!” My lungs hurt, the ashes in the air infiltrating my airway. I tried to grab the hose from one of the trucks and immediately felt a strong set of arms wrap around my waist, carting me backwards. “No!” I screamed. “They have to save it! THEY HAVE TO SAVE IT!”

“They can’t, sugar bee!” Wes sounded anguished. “They can’t save it!”

“What…?” My voice was barely above a whimper.

Wesley watched as the center of the roof caved in, the flames soaring higher with the newly added fuel. Iris stepped in between us. Our whole family watched in silent horror as my parents’ legacy literally went up in smoke before our eyes.

A movement in my peripheral caught my attention. Desiree stood on the opposite corner, a malicious smile on her face. Despite the early hour, she was dressed in a sleek little black dress with black stilettos.

My feet moved on their own accord. My stepmother didn’t even flinch as I approached. “What did you do?” I ground out through clenched teeth.

Desiree shrugged one shoulder. “I always win, Celeste,” she said. “In one way or another.”

“You’re fucking pathetic, Desiree!” Wesley’s voice cut over the flames. Or maybe it was just his sudden presence at my shoulder.

Her evil grin widened. “That may be. But it was worth paying bail to see your faces now.”

More sirens wailed behind us as two sheriffs pulled up. Wesley ran over to meet Sheriff Heddings in one while Desiree continued to stare at me with the same harsh smile.

I turned back to The Comfy Cushion just as the final vestiges of the walls crumbled to dust.

Their descent was the perfect allegory of my life. That restaurant symbolized everything my parents had ever worked for. I devoted everything to their dream, even when I had nothing more to give. And now that was gone, too.

All I could picture were the moments with Iris that I missed out on because of the restaurant. I barely got to attend so much as a parent teacher conference because we never had help. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to regret a single moment of it. Working there kept my parents’ memories alive. I never felt as close to Mama as I did in that kitchen, nor could I better imagine Daddy anywhere other than in his office.

“Mama!” Iris’ voice was distant. It was only after I sucked in a harsh breath of air that I realized it was distant because of how hard my feet were running.

* * *

---