“Oh, I disagree wholeheartedly,” Caitlin chuckled. “I think my opinion matters just as much as our fathers’, or your brother.” Daniel’s face came to mind. “If we're going to show them that we're more than their helpless daughters, or sisters, then we need to start taking an active role in these things. Soph, it’s the only way we're going to earn any true respect around here. Don't you want that, Sophie? To be respected and have responsibility over yourself and our family businesses. Businesses that we will rightfully own and manage after they're gone.” Sophie said nothing, only turned a look at the padlock. “So come on, Sophie, let me in. Let me help you.”
Sophie released a shaky breath and reached for the padlock. “There's things you don't know about Caitlin, about our families. If you knew well…” she trailed off and dropped the padlock.
“I have to know. Tell me.”
Before Sophie could say another word, a flash of headlights cast eerie shadows, and a red Volkswagen appeared through the dense fog.
“Sophie?” Daniel’s familiar voice called through the window, and immediately set Caitlin's teeth on edge. Now she was never gonna get anything out of Sophie. “I came here as quick as I could,” he added, and then paused at the sight of Caitlin. “Cait, what are you doing here?”
Caitlin ignored the question as Daniel climbed out of the car and jogged toward them, his face shadowed by the hood of his coat.
“She was just trying to help me, Daniel,” Sophie said.
“Yeah, I saw the truck on the side of the road. Imagine my surprise when it was Sophie and not some delivery driver,” Caitlin said, and turned her attention back to the truck. What was inside, and why was it worth standing in the rain for?
“Kilian will be here soon, and he can give us a hand,” Daniel said, and checked the watch on his wrist, its face covered in rain drops.
“Good,” Sophie said with a nod of her head as a shiver rippled through her body.
“Sophie, you didn't have to stand in the rain,” Daniel murmured, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, bringing her in close to warm her.
“Father said…”
“Forget what he said,” Daniel interrupted. “He's not the one out here in the rain. Come on guys, get in the car.” He escorted the two of them back toward the cab of the truck.
“Caitlin doesn't have to be here.” Sophie held her hand out, stopping Caitlin from climbing into the truck. “Really Cait, you should get home. Your father's probably waiting for you.”
Before Caitlin could argue, headlights pierced the fog, and Kilian’s familiar police cruiser pulled into view. He was taller than Daniel and gangly, ever awkward, with long arms and legs. And though he was strikingly handsome like his father and younger brother, his long strides reminded a younger Caitlin of a man trying to walk on stilts. No one was sure where his height came from. He had been teased in primary school about being a milk man’s son, but he had the undeniable Kelly blue eyes. Those Kelly blue eyes and strong brow had had been passed down through the Kelly Clan for generations, and was a sure sign of paternity, at least in Caitlin’s mind.
“We don't have a lot of time,” Kilian said, his voice low, the same deep register as his brother. “It will only be a matter of time before another cruiser is called. What's she doing here?” he asked, nodding toward Caitlin before striding toward the front of the truck.
“She was just stopping to see if I needed help,” Sophie called from inside the cab.
“Well, you don't need help anymore,” Kilian muttered, and gave Caitlin a wary glance that both surprised and wounded her. The Kelly family, in many ways, had been like her own family, and it hurt to be cast aside this way.
“What's going on here?” Caitlin demanded. “For Christ’s sake, Kilian, you’re like a brother to me, why are you acting like this, and what the hell is in this truck?”
The rage boiled within her as she whirled around to stare at the monster of a vehicle.
Kilian gave her a sympathetic look before turning back to the wheels that were apparently trapped in mud, “It’s nothing you need to worry about, Cait. Go on home and enjoy your evening.”
“Nothing for me to worry about? Go home? I am worried, I care about you all.”
Kilian’s eyes softened as he lowered the flashlight, and nodded toward Daniel. Without a word, or acknowledgement of understanding, Daniel put an arm around Caitlin's waist, and pulled her away.
“Sophie, you talk to me right now! What is going on?” Caitlin called over her shoulder as Daniel continued to usher her away.
“Be quiet, Cait, or do you want to bring more awareness to us?” Daniel tightened his grip on her before checking the street for cars.
“Daniel, what is going on?” she demanded as he opened the passenger door of his Volkswagen, pushed her in, and locked the door.
“This is absolutely ridiculous,” she snapped as the driver door whipped open against the wind, and Daniel slid in.
“Come on, Cait, I'll drive you home.”
“I don't want to go home. I want to know what's in that truck. Why Sophie was being so weird.” Caitlin said, and shoved her sopping red hair out of her face and back down her shoulders.
“I wish I could tell you, Caitlin. I really do, but I can't. It's not for me to do.” He sighed and put the car into gear.
