Shattered Ice

He needs her

*Virginia*

I can barely breathe as I answer the phone, my heart pounding hard enough that I’m afraid he might hear it on the other end. “Yes, this is Virginia Harrington,” my voice trembles despite my effort to sound steady.

“Hi, it’s me. I need your help badly right now,” Caleb’s voice comes through, thick with exhaustion. “I did not know who else to call.”

“Oh God, Caleb, are you okay? Where are you? I’ve been so frightened!” Panic surges through me, and I can feel the hot tears spilling down my cheeks. Relief washes over me at the sound of his voice, but it’s quickly overshadowed by frustration.

“I’m so sorry, Virginia. I really f****d up here. Can you come get me?” His tone is heavy, laced with something I can’t quite place… shame, maybe?

“Of course, where are you? I’ll be on my way right now!” I’m already moving toward the door, urgency propelling me. I need to see him, to know he’s okay, even if I’m furious.

“I’m at the local police station. I have to go, please hurry.” His voice wavers, and the weight of those words hits me like a punch to the gut. “And bring bail.. okay?”

Oh s**t. Of course, he’s gotten himself arrested. It’s almost predictable at this point. I can’t help but think about how he’s probably been acting like a reckless fool, and this time it’s gone too far. Drunk driving? If I know Caleb, he was probably speeding too. My mind races through the implications… the press, the headlines. I can already hear James Rutherford’s voice in my head, the way he’d freak out about this. But I can’t call him now; I tell myself he’s probably asleep, and I don’t want to deal with his judgment… I was supposed to keep Caleb out of trouble.

I jump into my car, gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turn white. I have to remind myself to keep my speed in check. The last thing I need is to get pulled over myself.

When I arrive at the police station, the fluorescent lights buzz overhead, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. I approach the reception desk, forcing myself to stay calm as I tell them I’m there to pick him up. I fill out the paperwork and pay the bail, my mind racing with all the things I want to say to him, the anger bubbling just beneath the surface.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the door swings open. An officer leads Caleb out, and my heart sinks. His head is hung low, like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Guilt radiates off him in waves.

“Caleb?” I call out, and as soon as he hears my voice, his head snaps up. Tears glisten in his eyes, and within moments, he’s crossing the distance between us, pulling me into his arms.

I hug him tightly, feeling the tremors of his sobs against my shoulder. I want to yell, to shake him and demand to know what the hell he was thinking, but as I stroke his back gently, I know that’s not what he needs right now.

“I’m so sorry, Virginia. I really f****d up this time. s**t, I have to call Mr. Rutherford.” The fear in his voice sends another pang of frustration through me.

I push his hair back from his forehead, gazing into his eyes. “I’ll talk to James, but tomorrow. He’s asleep now, so let’s just get you home, okay?”

The drive home is suffocatingly quiet, tension wrapping around us like a heavy fog. I can feel him glancing at me, and it makes me angrier. “Were you really worried about me?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Of course I was worried, Caleb! I was scared out of my mind! I thought you were dead!” My grip on the wheel tightens as I keep my eyes on the road, unwilling to let him see the depth of my fear.

He bites his lip, hesitating. “You were probably just worried about the fallout and having to clean up in the media, right?”

“No, Caleb, that’s not it! But don’t you dare think for a second that I’m not extremely pissed at you right now! What the hell were you thinking? You could have killed yourself or someone else!” I pull up in front of the house, the engine idling as I stare at him, my heart racing with frustration.

He sighs deeply, and the weight of his stupidity hangs in the air between us. “That’s the problem… I wasn’t thinking.”

“Right now, I’m most worried about what kind of trouble you’re going to be in. You know you could face jail time for this, right? And the media will tear you apart.” My voice softens slightly, but the concern is still there, palpable and heavy. I look at him, hoping he understands the gravity of this situation.

As he stares out the window, I can see the gears turning in his head, the realization of his actions finally sinking in. But I’m not ready to forgive him just yet. Not until I know he understands just how serious this really is.