What We Made – Episode 2: Design

Title: Design
Series Title: What We Made
Series Order: 2
Fandom: 9-1-1
Genre: Alternate Universe, Contemporary, Drama
Pairing: Gen
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Canon-level violence and situations, discussion of child abuse/neglect, domestic violence, character death
Author Note: See main series page (they’re not all gonna post this close together 😉 )
Timeline: Pre-series
Challenge: Rough Trade April 2024 — Mirrors (Alternate Universe/Soulmates)
Word Count: ~12,300
Summary: Nearing the end of his formal education, Evan wonders what’s next on his journey. Then his life makes another drastic turn.

* * *

March 2011

Evan left the engineering building at Penn State Harrisburg and had barely cleared the front door when he felt the telltale energy buildup. He put out his hand in a gesture of long practice, and the stone dropped easily into his palm.

He kept walking, barely missing a beat, to the point that the few people around didn’t even notice the stone’s arrival.

Reflexively, he rubbed his thumb over the stone’s surface, letting the vision fill his mind. He had so much practice with the stones at this point that he let the vision guide his body, leading him to his target.

The frequency of fate stones plopping into his hand had increased over the years. Sometimes it was one or two a month, and sometimes he’d get more than one a day. The only person who was aware of how frequently Fate came knocking on his door was Darius Tomlinson.

Darius had become more mentor and friend in the last few years. At least until Darius had taken up a position at Penn State to teach calculus and quantum mechanics last semester. Evan wasn’t in any of his classes, but the man was still a professor at Evan’s university now. Just when he’d gotten used to calling him Darius instead of Mr. Tomlinson, he should now probably get used to Professor Tomlinson. Although he only had two more months before completing all the schooling he had intended to have.

While Evan’s grandparents were very supportive of Evan’s interactions with Fate, it also seemed to stress them out, so Evan had ceased telling them about every single stone to drop into his hand.

Evan stopped in front of a petite young girl standing next to a small Fiat, biting her lip and looking stressed. In actuality, she was probably older than him, considering that he wasn’t even twenty, yet he was nearly completed with his master’s program. While she was probably already twenty-one.

She gave a start of surprise and peered up at him. Her expression became stiff, and then she tried to smile and bat her lashes. “Hi there. Can I help you?”

He held out the stone, and her eyes went wide. Letting it fall into her hand, he said, “You’re making a mistake. Call your parents.”

Her chin wobbled in an alarming way for a few seconds before she pressed her lips together firmly. “They’re going to be so disappointed in me.”

“Whatever it is will be worse if you keep on the way you’re going. You should call your parents.” He took a step away, but she reached out a hand toward him.

“Can we go get a cup of coffee or something? You can tell me what you saw?”

He hesitated for a second, then shook his head. “I’m just the messenger. It’s up to you whether you heed Fate’s warning.” If he’d decided he wasn’t in the business of trying to persuade his own sister, he wasn’t going to try to persuade a flirty student.

She looked like she wanted to argue, but then gave a little nod. “I’ll call.” The fate energy subsided; some definitive decision had been made. Then she cocked her head to the side. “You’re that Buckley kid, right? You started college when you were sixteen?”

He nodded. “Not that remarkable. Kids are starting college younger and younger all the time.”

He could have probably started even earlier, but he’d had lengthy conversations with his grandparents and Darius about when the right time to go to university was. Despite starting university at sixteen, he’d lived with his grandparents until he turned eighteen. The fall semester after his eighteenth birthday, he’d moved out. Though he went home most weekends, they happily encouraged him to get a small townhouse near campus. Neither of his grandparents had been keen on his living in on-campus housing.

Paul and Bethany had bought the townhouse, but he worked a part-time job to cover his living expenses, despite the fact that his grandparents had offered him the funds for everything he needed. They already bought him a house and a car, so he figured he could work for the rest of his living. He’d actually been offered a scholarship to attend the science and tech college in Harrisburg, but his grandparents had asked that he conscientiously turn it down since they could afford to pay for his schooling. He’d accepted the spot at Penn State instead.

He’d been accepted to several other universities, including Berkeley, but he wanted to remain close to his grandparents, so the two schools in Harrisburg were the only real contenders as far as he was concerned. His grandfather was advocating for a doctorate and encouraging him to consider attending an Ivy League school after he graduated in May. Evan was humoring the discussion but really had no intention of going that far from home. He also didn’t plan on getting a doctorate. Maybe someday he’d reconsider, but he didn’t feel a particular pull to that much higher education. He’d have his master’s in civil engineering in a little more than two months, and then he could figure out why he felt prodded in that direction when he was considering his course of study.

He backed up another step. “It’ll work out. Take the out Fate is giving you, okay?”

Her expression softened. “Thanks. Really. I…I was feeling a little lost.”

He nodded and turned away.

His SUV was parked in the opposite direction, so he headed back where he’d come from. His vehicle was a bit of pretension that he could have done without; he didn’t like flaunting his grandparents’ money, but when they’d tried to find a vehicle for him, the best for legroom in the midsize SUVs wound up being a Hummer or the Lexus R-class. He’d rather bike than drive a Hummer, so he lived with the Lexus.

He got his weird proportions—all leg—from his grandfather Paul. Grandpa drove this ridiculous Cadillac Escalade. Despite how the gas mileage offended Evan down to his toes, he had to admit the legroom in the Cadillac was really nice. They always went out in Grandpa’s SUV when the family went out together.

That evening, he needed to get some time in at the track and do some studying, but he had a sex date planned for nine. He’d continued with exercise as a way to help him burn off all his excess energy, but he’d discovered that sex was a great focusing tool for him as well, so he’d developed a robust and varied sex life since he turned eighteen. He was a late bloomer by some standards, and though he’d dated and lost his virginity before he was eighteen, it wasn’t worth it to him to sneak around his grandparents’ house rules in order to get laid.

He wasn’t even out of the parking lot when his phone chimed, indicating a text message. He glanced at it and saw a message from Darius. Since he knew Darius was teaching a class for the next forty-five minutes, getting any text was weird, so he whipped into the next available space and checked his iPhone. He freaking loved his iPhone. He’d gotten a first-gen and then managed to persuade his grandparents to get the 3G when it was released. They’d liked it so much that they were all on board for upgrading to the iPhone 4 when it was released last year.

Darius: Can you swing by and pick me up?

Evan: Now?

Darius: ASAP

Worried for his mentor, Evan sent an affirmative and changed his course. When Evan had been a kid, he’d been oblivious to the issues Darius had faced just to exist in the world. He’d just seen a good teacher who could have been in trouble because someone lied. Later, Darius became a tutor, then a teacher. Along the way, he became a mentor and a friend.

It wasn’t until Evan was in his teens, able to understand issues surrounding different types of bigotry, that he began to appreciate a fraction of the challenges Darius had faced as a Black man. What the accusations that had nearly been leveled at him when Evan was seven would have cost him.

Darius had only ever been teaching at a public school in Hershey because there’d been difficulties with some bigoted asshats on the school board in Harrisburg, and the private schools tended to be hard to get into for less experienced teachers. Darius had seemed old to seven-year-old Evan, but he’d actually only been twenty-seven, barely finished with completing his doctorate in applied mathematics. The newly minted teacher had been struggling to navigate what felt like a hostile system in the town where he’d lived.

The Buckleys had opened the door for Darius to get an interview with one of the most prestigious private schools in the area, but it was all Darius from that moment on. Darius, who kept the door open, Darius, who won Teacher of the Year in their district three years in a row, and then Teacher of the Year for the whole state of Pennsylvania twice.

As the age gap between them narrowed, Evan was secondhand embarrassed at his younger self’s thinking twenty-seven was old, and he was very thankful that the first stone Fate had sent to Evan had been to intercede on behalf of Darius Tomlinson.

He found Darius waiting in the loading zone in front of the math department building. Instead of getting in, Darius walked around to the driver’s side. “May I drive?”

Evan’s brows shot up. “Can you drive…?” At Darius’ steady, unwavering expression, Evan shrugged. “Yeah, sure.”

After getting in the passenger seat, he attempted to drill holes in the side of his friend’s head with the power of his gaze, but he waited until they cleared the parking lot before prompting, “Well?”

“Your grandmother called, and she asked me to take you somewhere. It’s easier if I drive.”

Evan frowned. “That’s all I’m getting?”

“For now.”

His grandparents occasionally pulled surprises, but not usually on days he had classes.

“Do you work this evening?” Darius asked.

“No. I’m working in the garage in the morning; I have an engine to rebuild and a Porsche engine that keeps misfiring.” He’d tried a few jobs before finding that part-time mechanic suited him. He’d done the work to become a certified mechanic, so his rates were good, and the garage he worked in had a good reputation and had a steady flow of business. They’d take whatever hours Evan could give them, but he preferred to keep it under twenty a week so that he didn’t affect his time with his family.

Darius nodded, looking like something was on his mind. “What else tomorrow?”

“The combined course on earthquake engineering and structural engineering.” Evan’s official subspecialty was structural engineering, but he found the earthquake offering to be interesting.

“Ah. The strange course for them to be offering here on the East Coast.”

“Well, fracking has made us more aware of how seismically vulnerable we all are. I’m glad the university decided to add the course.”

Darius made a humming sound, something Evan had long ago learned meant he was processing something he wasn’t quite ready to share yet. “You don’t have any weekend classes this last semester, right?”

Weird. Darius knew Evan’s schedule pretty well. “Nooo…,” he drew out. “Track this weekend and work. I was going to spend Friday and Saturday at home in Carlisle, though. I need to be at the garage at six on Monday, so I’ll stay at my townhouse on Sunday night.”

“Right. Of course.”

“This is going to be a really tedious drive all the way to Carlisle if you aren’t going to talk to me, Darius.”

Darius shook his head. “Not to Carlisle. Just a couple of minutes, I promise.”

Drumming his fingers on his knee, Evan asked, “Everything okay with you?”

“Everything is fine, Evan.”

“Seriously. What’s up?”

“Honestly. I’m fine.”

Huffing, Evan crossed his arms over his chest, and then he noticed where they were pulling into, and his heart seemed to skip several beats. “Darius?” he managed to whisper.

Darius pulled into the loading zone in front of the main doors of St. Agatha’s Hospital. “Fourth floor, room 420. Your grandmother asked me to try not to tell you until we arrived.”

Evan shot him an alarmed look. “Are they…?”

“I’ll park and meet you up there; I don’t have many details. Just… You should hurry, Evan.”

Heart in his throat, Evan jerkily got out of the SUV and then sprinted into the hospital. He ignored someone calling after him not to run and hit the stairwell door, running full tilt up all three flights of stairs.

Every possible horrible scenario started going through his mind as his lungs began to burn in a parody of the promised pain of losing his grandparents. Were they sick? Car accident? Heart attack? His grandmother was eighty-one, and his grandfather was eighty-six. He’d known for years that they were aging, that his time with them wasn’t infinite. It was part of why he’d refused to go far away to college.

Despite knowing their age, they’d never shown their age. Most people would guess them to be in their late sixties. They both seemed outwardly healthy, were fit and active. He’d known he could lose them, but he wasn’t prepared—in any way—for that to become a reality.

Please, please, he prayed to whatever forces might exist in the universe, please let this be a simple injury. Please don’t take them from me.

His grandmother was the first thing he saw as he skidded around the corner. She was standing in the hallway, talking to a man in a doctor’s coat, nodding at something he’d said.

Evan screeched to a halt and took a steadying breath, forcing himself to calm down before approaching. If she was standing there looking unscathed, it couldn’t be too bad, right? Soulmates didn’t do well without one another after so long together, so Grandpa had to be inside the room.

She looked up just then, and her gaze landed squarely on him. She smiled, the same proud, loving smile she always had for him, but her hazel eyes at once filled with tears.

His heart seized, and his stomach twisted in knots.

He strode down the hallway and pulled her into his arms without asking any questions. She was always larger than life to him but, in reality, she was so tiny compared to him now that he was an adult. Her arms clutched at him, squeezing tightly as a sob broke free.

“Evan,” she whispered against his shoulder.

“Grandpa?”

“There’s not much time, darling.”

He took a shaky breath and stared up at the ceiling, blinking back tears as he squeezed her a little tighter.

She sniffled and pulled back enough to take his hand. “Come in. He’s asleep, but they’ll wake him up in a bit. We’re hopeful he’ll be lucid enough to say goodbye. In the meantime…” She gave him a shaky smile. “We have our own goodbyes, dear heart.”

Evan bit his lip and nodded, though he was unable to stop a couple of tears. He let his grandmother lead him into the large private room.

Grandpa was in the bed, the head of which was slightly elevated. A few machines were hooked up to him, but not the way Evan would have expected. He was asleep and seemed comfortable. It wasn’t readily apparent what had happened.

“It was a massive stroke,” Grandma said softly, stepping close to Evan and curling her small hand into his. “They administered tPA, but it caused bleeding in his brain, and… Well, he doesn’t have much time. I can feel it.”

Evan squeezed his eyes shut. “Grandma.”

She took both his arms and turned him to face her, reaching up to frame his face. “Oh my sweet boy. I’m so tempted to try to stay for you.”

“No,” he choked out. “I’d never ask that.” The longer a soulbonded pair was together, the tighter their souls joined, the harder and more painful it was to be parted after death. He’d never want his grandmother to suffer in order to make his grief easier to bear for a while.

“I know. You’re so good, Evan. Come here.” She took him over to two chairs seated next to Grandpa’s bed. She adjusted her chair so that she was facing him, then took both his hands in hers. “We’ve had everything arranged since you came to live with us, sweetheart. We weren’t young to begin with, and we wanted to be mindful of leaving you protected if we should pass before you were an adult. I’m just grateful we were here long enough to see you become a man, and you never had to have another change of custody in your life.”

She looked over his shoulder. “Come on in, Darius. Sit with Paul and say your goodbyes while I speak with Evan.”

“I can wait,” Darius hedged.

“Nonsense. We don’t have much time, and you deserve to say your goodbyes. He considered you a delightful addition to our family, and he’d want you to be here. Also, I’m grateful you’ll be here for Evan. Sit, please.”

Evan listened to the squeak of the chair, then saw Darius in his peripheral vision as Darius curled his big hands over Grandpa’s suddenly frail-looking ones. “Hello, Paul,” he said softly. “Poorly met, old man, poorly met. You owed me another game of cribbage.”

Evan pressed his lips together, fighting back the emotion.

His grandmother squeezed his hands. “Listen to me, Evan.”

He fixed his gaze on her.

“Remember that stone you received the last time you talked to Maddie?”

He frowned and nodded. “Of course, but why are we talking about—”

“Just listen. I told you then, and I want you to always remember, that vision was for you so that you’d not tie yourself up in knots trying to fix someone or something that wasn’t ready to be fixed. I thought then, and I still think, that Fate was also warning you of the burden of trying to walk Fate’s path while chasing someone who won’t be beholden to Fate. In the end, we all must walk our own path, darling. You have a special journey in this world, and you don’t deserve to be held back because you’re chasing Madeline. And the people you might help in this world don’t deserve it either.”

“I agreed with you then, Grandma.”

“Yes, but I worry that losing me and Paul will make you seek out something you think is familiar, but I want you to remember you don’t even know her. Plus, you do have family. Darius is family. The Kutchers are close. Molly adores you. Allen is practically your uncle, and he certainly likes you better than his own grandkids. You’re not alone, no matter how it might feel at any given moment. You don’t need Madeline, Philip, or Margaret.”

“I know,” he whispered.

“I just needed to do my best to be sure my most precious boy is taken care of, okay?”

“I promise I’ll remember what you’ve said.”

“Also remember how I told you I thought part of the reason for the vision was to allow Paul and me to take the burden of looking out for Maddie?”

“Yes…?”

“We did. Allen will explain everything to you, but whether we’re around or not, Maddie is taken care of when she’s ready. To avoid lengthy probate, most of our estate is in a living trust with you as the beneficiary. Darius has agreed to act as the executor; we’ve always trusted him with that which we most valued.” She reached up and patted his cheek.

“Grandma….”

“Shh, darling. Let us have our sentimentality. You have been such a blessing, and for however long we were allowed to be your parents, we have been so grateful. All we want for you is happiness. Please remember that you don’t have to settle, all right? When the time comes, you deserve to be loved for who you are.

“Couples compromise about things to make their relationship work, but they don’t compromise on who they are as human beings. That’s where Philip went wrong. He gave up who he was to make Margaret happy. Wait until love is right, and no matter how much it hurts, walk away if the price of love means carving away parts of yourself.”

He nodded, barely able to speak. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

“I know. The only thing difficult about taking you in so late in our lives was knowing we’d have to leave you long before any of us could possibly be ready. Everything else has been a joy.” She stood up and pressed her lips to his forehead. “I know grief must come. Let yourself feel what you need to feel, but don’t close yourself off or shut yourself away. You’re not meant for that, Evan. You need the world, and it needs you.”

“Grandma, please….”

“I wish we had all the time, sweetheart, but I feel Fate’s pull on Paul. We need to wake him to see if he can be roused enough to see you. I know he’d want that.”

Evan managed to choke back the sobs that wanted to break free.

“I believe Fate has a special path for you,” she murmured as she hugged him, “but what you do with that is entirely up to you. Remember, fate is what we’re given, destiny is what we make of it. Make a great destiny, all right? We’ll always be with you.” She patted right over his heart.

He nodded against her shoulder.

She took him by the elbow and guided him to his feet.

At some point, the doctor arrived and was fussing over his grandfather. Darius was standing, staring down at Paul, his expression twisted with sadness.

Bethany went and gave Darius a firm hug, whispering something Evan couldn’t hope to hear. Then she rejoined Evan, maneuvering Evan to be closer to the head of Paul’s bed.

A couple of minutes passed before Grandpa’s eyes began to twitch, and some vague formless sounds came from his throat. It took another minute or two before he was able to focus on them.

He zeroed in on Grandma first, then looked at the other two of them. He didn’t seem able to form actual words. He patted Darius’ hand, then stared at Evan. A twitch of his hands had Evan leaning down.

Somehow, Grandpa found the strength to shakily lift both hands and grip Evan’s shoulders, tugging him closer. When Evan was where Grandpa wanted him, Grandpa cupped Evan’s face, kissed both cheeks, then his forehead.

Evan felt the love and the goodbye in every fiber of his being, and he couldn’t stop the tears. Even as he stood, a couple fell on his grandfather’s face.

Grandma gave him one more hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Love you.”

“I love you.”

Then Darius was there with an arm around his shoulders.

Grandma climbed into the bed next to Grandpa. The doctor helped maneuver Grandpa so that the two were facing each other. Grandma reached into her pocket and pulled out both their journey stones, folding them into Grandpa’s hands and holding them in place for both of them.

They lay there together, pressed forehead to forehead, hands clasped between them.

Evan felt paralyzed, unable to look away, barely able to breathe. The center of his existence was leaving the world, but where else could he be but there, watching them take the next step on their journey?

His grandparents’ eyes slid shut.

Grandpa’s heart monitor suddenly blared, but Evan stayed focused on the people he loved.

The monitor was silenced.

Their soul stones flashed, a bright flare of light, and fate energy swirled heavily in the air for a moment that was brief but also felt like eternity.

When the feeling passed, the sob tore from his throat because he knew they were truly gone.

“Mr. Buckley—”

Evan’s knees gave out, and Darius guided him to a chair.

“Please give us a moment,” Darius said, his voice cracking. “Close the door.”

“Of course.”

Evan choked on sobs, barely able to breathe, reaching out for his grandparents, gripping onto the back of his grandmother’s blouse.

A strong hand settled on his back, but no words were said.

It felt weirdly like a ghost hand settled on his head. Reminiscent of the swells of fate and destiny, making him feel dizzy and comforted at the same time.

Moments passed, and he let himself exist simply in the pain of their loss before he forced himself to pull back from it, knowing there were important things he had to do.

He pushed himself to his feet.

“Evan—”

He turned and pulled Darius into a hard embrace. “I know this is hard on you too, but we have more to do,” he murmured.

Darius pulled back and frowned. “What?”

Evan turned back to his grandparents and reluctantly removed the stones from their grasp, unable to stop the new tears that welled up at taking his grandparents’ journey stones. Now their journeys-end stones.

The value of these stones now was immense, and his grandparents’ remains were at risk just by leaving them here.

He swiped his forearm over his eyes and passed the stones to Darius. “Slip them into your pocket and leave. Take the car and go to the bank. Wait for me. Anyone who knows will think I have them. I’ll get there as soon as I can, but it could be a while.”

Darius stared blankly at the stones for long moments. Then his breath caught. “God. Okay.” His breath came out in a shuddery wave. “Okay. I’m gone. I’ll wait as long as you need me to.”

“If I get delayed, ask for the branch manager. If you get grief about staying after hours, have the manager call me.”

“Okay.” Darius pulled him into one more hug. “You sure this is the best way to protect their journey stones?”

“Anyone at the hospital will assume I have them. When you leave, say you’re giving me a minute alone and you’re getting me some coffee. That you’ll be right back. Ask them to give me some privacy.”

“Right.” He squeezed Evan’s shoulder. “I’ll see you soon.”

Evan nodded.

As soon as the door closed behind Darius, Evan let his eyes fall shut as the grief welled up again and he had to fight through more tears. He pulled the blankets up to his grandparents’ shoulders, unable to bear the thought of covering their faces.

He needed to buy Darius some time, so he went to the window and stared out, not bothering to check his tears this time as they continued to fall.

* * *

“Mr. Buckley?” the doctor’s voice intruded on his contemplation of the far-off skyline. He’d distantly heard the knock but hadn’t bothered to respond to it. His tears had stopped a couple of minutes ago, but his emotions felt brittle and untethered.

He waited, not saying anything, continuing to stare out the window. There was some rustling behind him, and he was sure that his grandparents’ faces were now covered. He squeezed his eyes shut.

“I understand your grandparents were soulmates…?”

His response was just a jerky nod.

“Their stones aren’t here.”

“I have them.”

“I see. It’s typically hospital policy to—”

Evan swung around. “Don’t even. If you’re going to actually put forth that there’s a policy preventing me from removing the journey stones from my grandparents’ hands, you’d better be prepared to hold that line against my family attorney.”

The doctor flushed. “My apologies.”

“Right. I appreciate you taking care of my grandparents in their final moments, so you need to drop this entirely, go away, and let me forget to speculate about wherever you might have been going with that bizarre assertion.”

Then he was alone again.

A minute later, a nurse entered, giving him a sympathetic look. “My apologies, Mr. Buckley. I think he let his curiosity about journey stones get the best of him. The hospital administrator is on her way down.”

“I’m completely uninterested in talking to the hospital administrator. I just want to get my grandparents cared for and then get out of here.”

“Of course.” She passed him some papers. “They’d already made all their end-of-life arrangements.”

He bit his lip, struggling with his turbulent emotions. “Right.”

“I contacted the funeral home on your behalf as well as the other contact numbers they gave, one of which seems to be their attorney. Allen Simmons is on his way down here now. He asked if you’d please wait for him.”

He nodded. “Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Of course.”

“Come on over to the lounge,” she said softly. “Let us take care of your grandparents. It’s not good to stay here.”

“No, I’ll stay—”

“Darlin’, they’re gone.” Her tone was firm but gentle. “It’s not good for the living to linger with the remains of the dead. Bethany talked about you every spare moment while we took care of Paul, and I know she doesn’t want you staying in this room. So, come away. Let me get you something to drink and a place to sit while you wait for Mr. Simmons.”

He couldn’t manage a response, so he let her lead him away.

Halfway through his bottle of water, he got a text from Darius that he was waiting at the bank.

Evan wasn’t even sure how much time passed, but when he looked up, Allen—his grandparents’ long-time friend and attorney—was sitting there, patiently waiting and watching.

“Hello, Evan. My deepest condolences, son.”

He cleared his throat. “You too, sir.”

Allen smiled sadly. “It’s a difficult day. While we have a lot to discuss in the days ahead, only a few things require our immediate attention, and then I think removing you from the hospital is in your best interests.

“The first is that the funeral home will be picking up Beth and Paul this evening. In the morning, I can discuss the funeral arrangements they made, and you can decide when you’d like to hold the service. The dates are really all that needs to be arranged. The home knows who to notify. Beth was very organized about such things.”

“I know,” he whispered. “She was organized about everything.”

“Indeed.” Allen’s expression twisted briefly with grief. “The other thing is securing their journey stones. Depending on a variety of factors, a journeys-end stone could be worth a million dollars to even a hundred million dollars. But they’re too much temptation to keep in a safe at the house.”

“They’re at the bank already—the branch Grandpa uses here in Harrisburg. The one he used, rather.” Evan swallowed down the pain. “I need to get there to get them in the safe deposit box.”

Allen frowned, then he looked understanding. “Ah. You had Darius move them?”

“Yes. I immediately took them and had him walk out with them.”

“Clever. You might not ever be able to pull that stunt again, but it was good thinking. Well, to further the ruse, I’m going to call the Sheriff to ask him to escort us to the bank to lend credence to the idea that you have the stones on you now. There’s already a rumor going around that they’re in your pocket.”

Evan blew out a breath. “Right.” The local police chief might have been a more logical choice, but his parents had a personal friendship with the county sheriff.

“Sit tight and I’ll be right back.”

“Can you call the branch manager and make sure they don’t give Darius a hard time?” He checked his watch. “And that they don’t close before I get there?”

“Of course. Your grandparents were loved in this community, Evan, even here in Harrisburg. We’ll take care of seeing them to their rest.”

“Thank you, sir.”

* * *

Sheriff Jack Robertson pulled into the bank parking lot, then turned to give Evan a look. “I’ll be waiting out here to make sure everything goes all right. Just flag me down if you need me.”

“Thank you, Sheriff.”

“Of course, son.” He handed Evan a card with his number scrawled on it in pen under the official contact information for the county sheriff’s office. “Call if you need me. But assuming you don’t need anything before then, I’ll see you at Paul and Beth’s service.”

Evan nodded and slid out of the Ford Explorer and headed inside. Mr. Simmons had followed them and was waiting to walk in with him.

The branch manager, Max Walter, met them and offered his condolences with a warm handshake. Evan’s nerves were starting to feel as brittle as his emotions.

“What can we do for you today, Mr. Buckley?”

“I have my grandparents’ journey stones. I’m not sure I have the legal right to access their safe deposit boxes yet, but I need to secure them somewhere tonight.”

Mr. Walter pursed his lips. “Even with the nature of your grandparents’ living trust, we couldn’t get into their boxes tonight. We could certainly get you a new box immediately in your own name. Let me get that paperwork started. While I do that, I’d recommend that you sit with Mr. Simmons and thoroughly document the stones. If anything should ever happen to them, you’ll need that information. Do you have a camera?”

“I have one,” Allen said immediately. “Beth and Paul have documented them over the years, but a final survey is a sound idea since the final passing leaves a last etching.”

“Right.”

Darius came to stand beside Evan and let his hand settle on Evan’s shoulder. “You all right?” he asked lowly.

Evan shook his head.

“Can you get through this?”

Evan shrugged.

His phone vibrated in his pocket with a message from his boss.

Del: was on the radio about your grandparents. Take your time coming back to work, Ev. Let us know if you need anything.

He fired off a quick thanks and pocketed the phone.

His mind was swimming with logistics and all the things that had to happen, even as his heart felt like it had been cracked wide open.

Mr. Walter showed them to a private office. The bank was closed, so it was eerily quiet.

There was a blue velvet tray left on the table, and then Mr. Walter left them alone.

Darius placed the two rubies on the tray. “Do you need me to leave?”

“Please stay,” Evan whispered, not able to look away from the two stones that represented his grandparents’ lives together.

Mr. Simmons pulled out a camera. “Do you want to do this or shall I…?”

Evan took the camera.

Leaning over the table, he looked through the viewfinder and zoomed in on the small details he’d never before seen in the few times he’d ever set eyes on these stones. Small markings that represented the life and love of Paul and Bethany Buckley.

He took three shots and then had to stop because tears clouded his vision, and he couldn’t see.

He handed the camera to Darius and left the room.

* * *

Evan sat in the third row, sandwiched between Darius and Allen, and listened to Jack Robertson reminisce about meeting Paul Buckley when Jack was just a kid. Evan had had no idea that Jack had been a royal troublemaker in his youth, and that Grandpa helped steer Jack back onto the right path, eventually getting him into law enforcement.

Evan’s seat, hidden behind the ladies from Grandma’s quilting group, might be perceived as odd by some, but he’d suspected that Philip, Margaret, and Maddie would be here and make sure they were perceived as the grieving family. It had plagued his dreams the night before—confrontations with them tarnishing his grandparents’ memorial service—and he just wasn’t having it.

Since he didn’t want to sit with them, or even acknowledge them today, he’d told the funeral director to let them have whatever accommodations they asked for during the service, and that Evan would hide amongst the crowd. He didn’t have anything to prove to anyone. All the people who mattered to Paul and Beth Buckley knew that Evan was their family. They also knew that Paul and Beth were the center of his world.

Grandma and Grandpa died on a Thursday, and Evan had pushed for the service to happen on the following Sunday. It was fast as these things went, but Sunday was the soonest the funeral home could accommodate, and he needed to get this over with. He needed the public grieving to be done so he could retreat and figure out what the hell he was going to do now that his touchstones were gone.

He was never oblivious to his grandparents’ age, but he’d always thought they’d have more time.

Despite the venue’s large capacity, it was completely full, and the fire marshal would likely have something to say about the number of people standing in the back. The smaller service rooms had set up televisions, and the service was being shown for those who couldn’t get seats in the main hall.

Evan’s grandmother had known the potential for spectacle, so she’d limited the number of speakers to a fixed list—assuming they were willing. All had accepted, so the service was rather long. Evan himself was on the list, and he was slated to go last, assuming he was feeling like he could handle it. He was supposed to go right after the sheriff, and Jack knew to look to him for a sign whether to call up Evan or turn it back over to the funeral director to close the service out.

Bethany had no doubt handled it this way to prevent Margaret or Philip from trying to take over, and Margaret had certainly tried. Allen had run interference, telling Margaret the funeral arrangements were fixed at Beth’s request and couldn’t be altered. If she tried, she’d be removed. Margaret could demand to sit in the family area, insist that the privacy curtains be drawn, and cry loudly, but Evan drew the line at her speaking at his grandparents’ memorial service.

No way, no how, not in this lifetime.

It made sense that Bethany and Paul had wanted their son to be able to attend their memorial service, but they’d left it up to Evan whether to invite them to anything else. So, they hadn’t been invited to the service where the ashes were interred. That was actually done yesterday, and only about thirty people had been in attendance. Evan suspected that Grandma might have wanted Philip there, but how could she have invited her son while at the same time leaving instructions to ‘leave the harpy at home’?

He rubbed his thumb over the stone in his pocket. It was just a plain white stone he’d found on the porch in front of the Buckley house when he’d gone there on Friday. It had been sitting there on the step, small, smooth, and white. No markings, just plain, almost like a disk, barely bigger than the tip of his thumb. It had drawn his eye, and he’d leaned down for it. He’d used the little stone as a distraction, delaying entering his grandparents’ home now that they were no longer there—and never would be again.

Being in the family home had been a sort of emotional torture. The place where he’d first really felt like part of a family, felt safe and secure in familial love, and now it was empty.

Ladies from his grandmother’s charity and quilting groups had met him at the house to handle sorting through and packing the personal effects, helping him decide what to keep and what to donate. Allen had gone through the house first, picking out certain items designated in the will that were left to specific people. Beyond that, everything was up to Evan to deal with.

Those were choices Evan didn’t want to make. He didn’t want to decide what to get rid of. He didn’t want to live surrounded by memories of Grandma buying that ugly butter dish or Grandpa’s weird collection of hardwood canes when he didn’t even use a cane. But he also didn’t want to give those memories away. It was a shitty lose-lose proposition.

Right now, all their personal effects were sitting in boxes, lovingly labeled by his grandmother’s best friends, waiting for him to decide.

The little stone gave him comfort for no real reason. Probably because it reminded him of a Fate stone, though it looked nothing like them. The only similarity was that it was a smooth stone that was out of place in the world.

Fate had been a comfort to Evan his whole life, and he needed something to remind him that Fate had been kind to his grandparents; it had held them in its embrace through their whole relationship, and their relationship was something beautiful in the cosmic picture that Fate was creating.

The little reminder helped him settle his emotions when he just wanted to run and hide. Which was exactly what he’d wanted to do when he’d seen Maddie and her douchebag husband walk in behind his parents. Maddie had barely gotten along with his grandparents, yet she looked the part of the grieving granddaughter, and Doug held her a little too close. It was gross.

Maddie had looked around for a few moments, as if trying to spot him, but then Doug had pulled her into the family area and whispered something to her.

Rubbing his thumb over the stone in his pocket one more time, he caught Jack’s look, indicating his speech was coming to an end. Evan gave the small signal that he was going to speak.

Jack gave a subtle nod as he said, “So, that’s how I got to know Paul. And where there’s Paul, there’s Beth. Always seemed like they were in lockstep, so when you got one, you got the other, and we were all the better for it. They became two of my best friends, and I’m going to miss them dearly. I guess that’s about all I have to say. Paul, Beth, I’ll do my best to do right by you. Be at peace, old friends.

“With that, I’ll turn things over to their grandson Evan. Get up here, kiddo.”

Evan slipped out of the row, grateful for the squeeze to his wrist from Darius. He ignored the eyes of his family on him and focused on the crowd. His gaze skittered over friends from school, who were mainly in the back and had come to support him. His boss from the garage was also there, which he found oddly touching.

Mostly, he let his gaze move between the people his grandparents had been closest to—the people who had been fixtures in his life since he was eight years old.

He hadn’t planned what to say, because he hadn’t been sure he was even going to be able to do this. If he did speak, he wanted it to be from the heart.

Taking a deep breath, he started from the beginning. “I remember my life before my grandparents being a lonely one. It wasn’t always about physically being alone, but feeling alone, sometimes even in a room full of people. My grandparents brought me to live with them when I was eight, and I don’t recall ever feeling lonely around them. Bethany Arlene Buckley had a way of reaching out and making you feel like you weren’t alone on your journey—all without ever saying a word.

“Paul Adam Buckley made the people around him feel safe. You knew you could step out on a ledge because Paul had your back. If you did your best and interacted with the world in an upright way, Paul would make sure you didn’t suffer for it. And sometimes, even when you screwed up, he’d make sure you knew there was a way back if you were willing to try.

“I think those things came through in the words people spoke here today. If you tried to do right in the world, Beth and Paul were there for you—you wouldn’t be alone, and you wouldn’t fall.”

He glanced down, blinking back tears. “People would ask me sometimes if it was true that they were soulmates, and I found that a strange question since they had chosen to be registered. As with most soulmates who’d walked the journey together for so long, they left this world together—neither one of them alone, safe in each other’s arms.”

He took a deep breath. “Their journey stones were rubies. Very few people had ever seen them prior to their death. Though that number has still only increased by a few. Rubies, as a soul stone, indicate a passion for life and good luck in life, but they’re also considered the most protective stone and are given to those who tend to guide or shelter those around them. Fate doesn’t make mistakes, it seems.

“When we interred their ashes yesterday, someone asked what I thought their legacy was—what value the community should honor for them. And it’s simply that. Be there for one another, let no one be alone. When your neighbor falters, prop them up, let them know it’s safe to be weak sometimes. Grandma and Grandpa would love to be remembered in that way.

“Thank you for being here to remember them as individuals, as a couple, as part of a family, and as members of this community. In all aspects, they leave a void behind that’s impossible to fill. Grandma once told me that grieving is for the living, not the dead. How you grieve is for you; so, please don’t let anyone tell you the right or wrong way to get over the death of a loved one.”

His smile was sad. “She told me that after the bus accident that took so many of their friends—so many from our community. We all move on how we’re able. So, in Grandma’s memory, I ask that you be kind to yourselves and kind to one another. Thank you again for joining me today to say goodbye to the two best people I’ve ever known.” He nodded to the funeral director to come take over, then he stepped right into the arms of Sheriff Robertson, accepting a bear hug from a bear of a man.

“You did good, kiddo. As eloquent as Paul.”

“Only for them,” Evan mumbled into Jack’s shoulder.

Jack squeezed the back of his neck. “Come on. I’ll escort you outside. Your parents are staring holes into your back.”

He could feel it, too. “Thank you, Jack.”

“Never alone, right?”

Evan smiled. It was a good legacy.

* * *

Evan sat across the desk from Allen, with Darius seated next to him. He’d managed to avoid his family the day before, but it was now an hour before the reading of the will, and he couldn’t keep his head in the sand any longer.

Allen had indicated that a formal will reading wasn’t truly necessary, but his grandmother had set it up for the family portion only, for a very specific purpose that would be apparent during the reading. Evan wasn’t required to attend, but he felt like he needed to.

“You sure you want me to stay for this?” Darius whispered.

“Yeah. You already know the reasons why I came to live with my grandparents, so there’s not going to be anything shocking.” Evan hesitated. “But if you’re uncomfortable….”

“No, Evan. But this could be painful for you, and your comfort is what matters. At any time, if you need me to leave, please don’t hesitate to say so.”

“Okay.” He looked to Allen. “What do I need to know?”

“I assume you want to know about the provisions made for your sister?”

“Yeah. Grandma had said she’d tell me when I was ready; I was just never ready.”

“And there was nothing wrong with that,” Allen said firmly. “I think you’ll understand when we finish why you still need not concern yourself. Beth felt strongly that handling the situation with Maddie and your parents should never be your responsibility.”

“But I’m an adult now.”

“And so are they. It’s not your job to manage them.” Alan shuffled some papers around. “Let’s start with the general structure of their estate. As you’re aware, most of their estate was left in a living trust with you as the sole beneficiary. This includes their houses and vehicles. This is what they wanted, and they were emphatic about it. They were firm that I assist you in not being manipulated or guilted into giving people money.”

Evan pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded.

“I removed some items from the house that were on the inventory sheet I showed you; those items are to be given to specific people or organizations. They’re being held until probate is complete, but your grandparents’ estate is quite orderly, and most of it is in the living trust. The only issue with probate will be if someone files a caveat, which is most likely to come from the Buckleys or the Kendalls.

“A couple of the pieces of art are to go to either charities for auction or to museums. Anything about their estate is available for you to review if you wish, but I assumed you’d prefer the highlights…?”

“I would.”

“There’s a list of monetary bequests to charities, organizations, and a few individuals. Most beneficiaries will be notified by certified mail. Only the family and Mr. Tomlinson will be at the will reading.”

Allen looked to Darius. “Speaking of Mr. Tomlinson…”

“Darius, please.”

“Darius, then.” Allen handed him an envelope. “If you’d sign this ledger, please, acknowledging receipt.”

Looking wary, Darius signed the ledger and then opened the envelope. “It’s a letter from Paul and Beth.” His eyes flicked over the page, then he sucked in a sharp breath. “They left me their beach house in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, and half a million dollars?” He looked up. “I don’t understand.” His gaze shot to Evan. “That should all go to you.”

Evan smiled gently. “No, Darius. They wanted you to have that. They really cared for you, so just take it. Pay off your student loans, enjoy your summers at the beach.”

“I…I don’t even know what to say.”

“Say nothing,” Evan said firmly. “We don’t get to question why they did what they did. Just go with it, man.” Evan nudged Darius’ shoulder.

Darius looked a little misty-eyed as he folded the letter. “Is there anything I need to do?”

“No,” Allen replied. “They wanted to avoid the probate process for you, so the money is actually payable-on-death in the form of a ten percent beneficiary on a life insurance policy of Paul’s, and the house is a transfer-on-death deed. There’s mention of both in their estate planning but not in the will as they’re not subject to probate.”

“Jesus,” Darius whispered. “They’re too much.”

“They cared for you,” Evan whispered. “It may have started with me, but their relationship with you evolved completely separately.” It was good to remind himself that Darius had lost people he loved too.

Darius nodded tightly, tucking the envelope away.

“As for your sister,” Allen continued, “your grandparents have set up a bit of a net around her.”

Evan frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, the person living across the street from them worked for Paul, and he’ll continue to work for me. It’s a secondary assignment—the man has a normal job, but as part of this assignment, he keeps an eye out for anything reportable and calls the police. He’s been able to successfully have Doug Kendall arrested twice. Unfortunately, Mrs. Kendall never cooperates with the police or prosecutors, so he continues to live in the home and abuse his wife.”

Evan flinched.

“I’m sorry, Evan, I don’t mean that harshly. Unfortunately, Maddie must be willing to leave the circumstances she’s in, which cannot happen if she can’t admit the reality of her situation. Your grandmother contacted her after the first arrest and offered assistance. Maddie denied that abuse was occurring and hung up on Bethany.

“Your grandparents have set up a trust to assist your sister in obtaining psychological help and housing, as well as getting back on her feet if she leaves her abusive husband. As far as public knowledge goes, they’ve only left her a small inheritance. The rest will only come to her if she leaves that man.”

“What about any children she has?” Evan asked cautiously.

“There’s a net around Madeline and any future children to keep an eye out for abuse, but financial assistance or any inheritance will only be if she leaves her husband.”

“I see.”

“Your grandparents saw giving money to her as giving money to her abuser, which they refused to do.”

“I understand. There’s not actually anything said today that’s going to outright say that, correct? Because I don’t want this to be a circumstance that makes things worse for her.”

“Nothing will be said about her husband today, but we cannot know what he might do. But please remember that no one but Doug Kendall is responsible for his actions.”

Evan cracked his neck. “Right.”

“Is it weird seeing her?” Darius asked.

“So weird. I used to think the sun rose and set on Maddie. I don’t doubt that she loved me when we were younger, but I saw our interactions through the desperate rose-colored glasses of a child whose only positive physical interactions were with her. Looking back, I think she was just a typical older sister. Now…she’s basically a stranger.”

“You know that’s okay, right?”

“Yeah. I guess. In my head, I’m there, but I feel like I got lucky in getting out when there was time to avert disaster. Maddie grew up entirely in that house.”

“Maddie wasn’t treated the way you were,” Allen said sternly. “You were too young to know the details of the criminal investigation, but it was clear your parents were only that negligent with you. They may not have been ideal parents to Maddie, but there was never any indication of them leaving Maddie alone for days at a time.”

Evan frowned, not wanting to go down that path. “What can we expect from my parents today?”

“Your grandparents are paying off their mortgage and a cash inheritance of half a million. Nothing else.”

Evan blew out a breath. “They’ll be furious.”

“Yes. They’ve already called, demanding Beth and Paul’s journey stones.”

“Excuse me?” Evan’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline.

“They’ve got brass ones, I’ll give them that. The stones were covered at length in their will. The most relevant part is that they’re an asset in their trust, so they belong to you, but they have a letter for you when you’re ready to read about the stones. Your grandmother indicated she trusted you to know what to do with them. Though I’ll say I think she’d be horrified if they went to Philip.”

“Yeah, that’d happen over my dead body.”

“While we have absolutely no wishes for your dead body, it does bear noting that you should begin estate planning.”

“Allen.”

“I know it’s a lot, but you just inherited a lot of money, not to mention several notable properties, son. You can’t just ignore this.”

He made a face. “Let’s just get through this circus before buying tickets to a different one.”

* * *

Evan stood as his family filed into the room, grateful to have Darius at his back.

He was surprised that his parents hung back; they’d been in significant legal trouble surrounding leaving him home alone, and they hadn’t spoken to him since. It was weird to see them, yet he’d expected them to be making demands.

Maddie immediately approached him. “Evan.” She went to hug him, but he stepped back. Her arms fell to her sides, and her smile was stiff. “I barely recognized you yesterday. You’re so tall.”

“Kids grow.”

“Right.” She cleared her throat. “You didn’t sit with family.”

“Actually, I did.”

She looked hurt by that, and he had no idea why that would be. He hadn’t had a meaningful connection with any of them in a decade or more.

A man cleared his throat, and Maddie flinched slightly. Then she smiled and turned, but the smile looked plastic. “Evan, this is my husband, Doug Kendall. Doug, this is my brother, Evan.”

Doug extended his hand, and Evan reluctantly shook it. He wanted to refuse to touch the bottom feeder, but he thought being deliberately rude to Doug might cause problems for Maddie later on.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Doug offered. “Maddie’s missed you terribly over the years.”

Evan’s brows shot up, not sure what to do with that. It felt like a ploy, but he wasn’t sure what the aim was. “I’m sure the distance between us has been…difficult.”

“Hopefully, there will be healing between you.”

“Mmhm.” What the fuck was he supposed to say to that?

“This is my mentor and good friend, Darius Tomlinson. Darius, this is my sister, Maddie, and her husband, Doug Kendall. My biological parents, Margaret and Philip Buckley.”

Philip and Margaret just nodded but said nothing.

“Biological,” Maddie repeated. “Evan, they’re just your parents.”

“Don’t start this, Maddie. You have no right. The state severed their parental rights, and Paul and Beth adopted me. They were my parents, even if I called them Grandma and Grandpa.”

“It’s lovely that you had that relationship with them,” Doug said smoothly, taking Maddie’s arm in a firm grip. “If a child has to go into the care of someone other than their biological parents, it’s certainly better that it be a family member. Don’t you agree, darling?” He wrapped an arm around Maddie’s waist and pulled her close to his side.

“Yes.” Maddie cleared her throat. “Yes, of course. I’m glad you had them, Evan.”

Something about the whole interaction felt nasty.

“Shall we have a seat?” Allen said firmly, eyes flicking between Evan and Doug. As soon as everyone was settled, he began the formalities, stating he was skipping over minor bequests to friends and various charities, as per Bethany’s directive about the will reading.

Then Allen cleared his throat and read, “First, to our granddaughter, Madeline Gwendolyn Kendall née Buckley. Please read the letter our attorney has for you. It must be read alone, within the confines of this office, and left in this office. This is private communication for you, dear.” Allen looked over the top of his glasses. “Do you wish to read the letter?”

“Um.” She looked nervously at Doug, who was stony-faced. “I guess I should.”

Allen pointed to the worktable behind him, which was at least ten feet away from anyone. “It’s sitting on that table. It’s the only thing on the table. You must hand the letter back to me when you’re finished, or any other inheritance that was to be yours will be returned to the main estate.”

“Right. Of course.” She shot another look at Doug, then got to her feet. Allen had informed him that her grandmother had left a letter for Maddie, explaining how to get help and how to get out whenever she was ready. That she’d have whatever help she needed. She just had to take the step to leave. The letter, which she had to read in private, was the only way Grandma could guarantee private communication to Maddie that Doug couldn’t access.

When Maddie was finished, she was ashen, and she folded the letter carefully, placing it in the envelope before crossing to hand it to Mr. Simmons.

“And I can’t read it?” Doug prompted.

“No,” Allen said firmly. “That was Mrs. Buckley’s provision for Madeline to obtain her inheritance.”

“She was disappointed that I gave up on medical school,” Maddie said shakily as she took her seat. “She was willing to pay for it if I’d return. She doesn’t think you’d be pleased with the offer.”

“I’m not. You don’t have time for such nonsense. You’re happier being a nurse, right?”

“Of course, Doug.”

“Good, then let’s move on.”

“Since you read the letter,” Allen said, “I’ll continue with their bequest to you. ‘To Madeline Gwendolyn Kendall née Buckley, we leave a monetary sum in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars.”

“That’s it?” Doug said stiffly.

“It?” Allen echoed. “A hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money, Mr. Kendall.

“They were worth millions.”

Allen gave him an unimpressed look and continued reading. “To our son, Philip Arnold Buckley, we’ve arranged to pay off the mortgage on your home in Hershey, or wherever you live, if you have moved as of the time of this reading. This is beneficial to both Margaret and Philip, as the home is community property. Philip’s main inheritance, however, is a cash bequest in the amount of five hundred thousand dollars, and requires a post-nuptial agreement that this is not community property before the bequest will be paid. These funds are intended to benefit our son; hopefully, he will not be so foolish as to do anything with the money but invest it.

“All of our remaining property, money, and assets are in trust held for our grandson, and legally adopted son, Evan Paul Buckley.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then Margaret’s yelling was deafening.

* * *

“Da- Philip, wait,” Evan called out to his father’s retreating back.

They were all on the sidewalk in front of Allen’s office. The argument had been loud and heated. Doug had come down on Margaret’s side, despite the fact that she obviously detested him, and the two had sworn to contest the will.

Philip Buckley turned around, his expression sad but curious.

“Let’s go, Philip!” Margaret demanded.

“I’ll be right there, Margaret.”

“Philip!”

Expression hardening, Philip turned around and glared. “Meet me in the car.”

After a long stare-off, Margaret stomped away.

Doug was standing at the end of the sidewalk, outside of hearing range, a firm grip on Maddie, simply watching the interaction like a damn vulture.

Philip and Maddie had both been relatively quiet through the raging argument. They’d agreed with whatever their spouse said when required, but otherwise just looked like they wished they could be anywhere else.

Finally, Allen threatened to call the sheriff if they didn’t leave his office.

With some reluctance, Evan had followed them out, feeling like he needed to say something to Philip.

“I think in all this, Margaret, Maddie, and Doug have forgotten that you lost your parents,” Evan said softly.

Philip’s face briefly twisted with grief, but then went blank.

“All we’ve done so far is box up the personal effects from the house. If there’s something you’d like, if there’s something sentimental, please let me know.”

Philip didn’t react for the longest time, then he just nodded and started to turn. He froze and looked back. “Did Dad still have the cane collection?”

“Yeah, he’s kept buying canes over the years, but he never told me why.”

Smiling softly, the expression more sad than anything, Philip offered, “We bought the first one together when I was nine. It was a gift for Grandpa Buckley, who had just hurt his leg. Grandpa refused to use it, said it was too fussy, and he’d be fine with something cheap. Dad and I, for some reason, kept buying canes made out of different types of wood, the rarer the better. I even had call to use a few due to injuries over the years.” The nostalgia was thick in the air.

“I’ll have them sent to you,” Evan said—half offer, half statement.

Philip’s expression twisted with some unnamed emotion, but he finally nodded. “Thank you.”

“If you think of anything else, you can let Allen know.”

Philip nodded, then turned and followed his wife. Evan suspected he’d never see his parents again unless it was in a courtroom.

* * *

Evan used his key and entered Darius’ condo. He’d been rooming with his mentor since a week after the funeral. His townhouse was too lonely, and he hated going back to his grandparents’ home. He’d already arranged for a realtor to list the townhouse for sale.

Somehow, he’d managed to get through the last two months of the semester, despite grief dogging his every step. It felt like he was existing underwater, the world moving around him slow and muffled.

The only reason he’d kept going to school was because of his grandparents. Education was important to both of them, and he was only two months from finishing. He’d wanted to lie down and stop, but that wasn’t their way, and he refused to give in.

Now that school was done, he needed to stop imposing on his friend and make some decisions.

Darius was at the dining room table, papers in stacks everywhere, his typical grading, no doubt. He looked up over the top of his reading glasses. “So, it’s done?”

Evan sprawled out in an ugly but super comfortable chair. “Yep. Last class.”

Leaning back, Darius slipped off his glasses, twirling them around by the temple. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

Evan glanced away. “I can’t stay.”

“I know. It’s like you’re suffocating.” Darius blew out a breath. “Can you wait a couple of weeks?”

Evan frowned. “Why?”

“I’ve got some interviews at universities in New York and Boston. Thought you might want some company for the start of your little road trip.”

“You…” Evan had to stop and clear his throat. “You’re leaving too?”

“I’m not totally sold on it yet, but… It’s hard.” He frowned. “I’m not sure if you even realize it’s not just your own grief. Everyone around you is sad, kid. My students are still being nice to me, and there are degrees of separation. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you. Paul and Beth have lived in this area forever. I don’t even think I realized how many people they knew.”

“Everyone.”

“Right. So, I understand. And whether it’s permanent or you come back someday, I’ll support you. But I think you could use some company to get you started.”

Evan smiled. “I’d like that. While you’ve got a couple more weeks, I’ve got an errand in Philly. I’ll be gone for a week or so, I think.”

“School ask you to speak at this year’s graduation ceremony?”

“Yes, and hell no. They can mail me the pretty piece of paper. I just…need to be done. I can’t bear any more places where they’ll never be.”

“Yeah. You decide what to do about the house in Carlisle?”

Evan bit his lip. “They took me in, you know? Yeah, they’re my grandparents, but I could have just as easily wound up in foster care. Back then, I didn’t see the situation for what it was.”

“Okay…?” Darius said, clearly confused.

“A few of Grandma’s friends are getting certified as foster parents. They’re going to move into the big house, and Allen’s helping me set up a charity to help with their expenses so they can run a group home. Space-wise, they’ll be able to take in about eighteen kids, but they’ll probably need at least one more adult working with them for that number. They’re looking for someone else who’s interested.”

“Oh.” Darius looked a little emotional. “Evan, I…” He broke off and cleared his throat. “I never told you, but I grew up in foster care. In and out of different homes until I went to college.”

Evan blinked, not sure what to say.

Darius waved him off before Evan could stutter out a reaction. “I think Paul and Beth would be proud of their home being used for that purpose. I know I’m proud of you.”

Evan looked down at his hands and nodded. “That means…a lot. From you.”

“Always have been proud of you, Evan.”

* * *

An assistant showed him into the museum director’s office, offering a flirtatious smile. “The director will be with you shortly. Can I get you some tea?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

The door was kept open, with him in clear view of the assistant, which made perfect sense.

A couple of minutes later, a tall woman with dark hair and a strong grey streak at her temple entered, holding out her hand. “Dr. Asia Ward, Mr. Buckley, what can I do for you?”

He shook her hand and gestured to the door. “Can we speak in private?”

“All right.” She flicked the door shut and rounded the desk. “You’d mentioned your grandparents’ art collection and that there might be pieces suitable for loan to the museum?” She sat and smoothed her pencil skirt. “Though I was familiar with them by name, I wasn’t familiar with their art collection. I did look up the pieces that are documented online, and there are a couple we might be interested in…”

“I misled you a bit,” Evan admitted. “All of their fine art was allocated specifically in their will, either loaned to local museums or donated to charities for auction. My grandparents knew art wasn’t a passion of mine, so they took the burden of handling their art collection entirely off my shoulders. I confess, I’m grateful for their foresight. It entirely went to museums in the Harrisburg, Carlisle, and surrounding area, as my grandparents were strong proponents of supporting your local community.”

She cocked her head a bit. “I confess, I’m at a loss as to why you’d want to meet with me.”

“There’s one thing left to me in their estate that I’d have in a museum in Harrisburg if I could, but no local museum could handle the security.”

“Oh?”

He reached into his bag and pulled out the small case. “I only got this here without an armored car because no one knew it was on me. If we don’t come to an arrangement, you’re stuck with me until I can arrange for a security escort to a bank.” He opened the case and flipped it around.

She sucked in a sharp breath. “Are those…?”

“My grandparents’ journey stones. Six decades together, and only one slight deviation that we’ve been able to find. I’ve deliberated about what to do with them. I know most people keep such things locked away, unless they’re royalty and can have the security to turn them into crown jewels.

“I’ll admit I find the idea of wearing them to be obscene, but I do think they should be displayed. I think their story should be told. If you’re interested…?”

“Good lord, yes! Yes, of course. We’d love to have these on loan to our museum. I assume you have documentation proving that you have the legal right to loan these to our facility?”

“I do. As long as we can come to terms so that you secure them starting tonight, I can stay in Philadelphia while we finalize the terms. The main thing I would like, other than their story displayed with the stones, is that anyone displaying a driver’s license with a Carlisle address be able to enter your museum for free.”

She considered for a moment. “That’s honestly a very minimal ask. Considering the draw these will be for the museum, I don’t see why we wouldn’t be able to accommodate that. Has there been a valuation done?”

“No. We were trying to avoid drawing that level of scrutiny to them. Though, based on what our family attorney could find out, he estimated easily upwards of ten million.”

“I’d say easily upwards of fifty. Possibly the most valuable pair in the United States, and there aren’t many pairs even privately displayed.” She finally looked away from the stones. “Can I ask why?”

Evan shrugged. “Soulmates and soul stones are a part of the fabric of our society—how we function as a people. Yet we tend to lock away the final evidence rather than appreciate the beauty of two souls who went on a magnificent journey together. Whether the stones are exactly the same or wildly different in the end, they’re all amazing, and they should be appreciated. They only have such shocking monetary value because there are millions of them locked away, hoarded life journeys. I just don’t see the point of that.

“My grandparents’ journey through life was extraordinary, and I want them to be remembered. I wish I could put their stones in a wall with thousands of other stones, sparkling in the sunlight, showing the world the beauty of Fate’s gift, but I can’t. We can only show this behind security glass and laser fields. So, that’s what we’ll do.”

“Maybe someday the world will change,” she murmured.

“I hope it does. I hope it changes so much that these are worth no more than their weight as rubies.”

She smiled, the first truly sincere smile she’d given him since she walked in the room, and she held out her hand. “I’m willing to help you be an agent of change.”

Evan laughed. “You have me confused with Paul and Bethany Buckley. But let’s continue their work.”

The End

Series to be continued in Episode 3: Destiny

 

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