A Day To Remember

Chapter Five

Now that I've stopped pretending that I wasn't one hundred percent into Caleb, we're practically inseparable. Danni's leaving was a big shock, but I'm beginning to see the appeal of living without her. The last month and a half have been so drama free and relaxed, and I can't remember the last time I felt that way. Ana has not accepted that I'm okay and refuses to stop showing up with food and toiletries in order to make sure I'm really okay. How couldn't I be okay? I was living with my boyfriend, all alone, with a gorgeous home. Not to mention that I was far from struggling. Not only did Danni leave behind two $500,000 rings, she left behind much more valuable items, which have left my bank account very well off. For the first time in history, Im in a good place, and there's nothing I have to complain about right now. The phone rings downstairs, and as I walk towards the steps, I hear Caleb answer. I hear him walking towards the steps, "Ambrosia?"

"Yes?"

He looks up at me with a hesitant face, "Someone's on the phone for you. It's a woman." I hurry down the steps and take the phone from him, "Hello?'' After a brief moment of rustling, I finally hear a response, "So you did decide to stay in the house."

I raise my eyebrows, "Well, what a surprise. Hello, Danni. Yes, I did, and it's the least you could do."

"So is the boy who answered staying there with you?"

I chuckle, "And just how does that concern you?"

"Well....it doesn't. I was just pretending to care."

"No need to pretend, Danni. We both know you never did. Besides, you're no longer my foster parent."

"I'm not surprised Kayla adopted you. Anyways, the house is paid for. Enjoy."

The line goes blank, and I turn to Caleb, "Wow. Well, the house is paid for."

Caleb, "I didn't know it was her or I would have just hung up."

I nod, "I know. It's okay, don't worry about it, baby." I'm not surprised that Danni called, but I'm surprised that she didn't sound high. Just as I finish my thought, a knock comes to the door. I walk forward and quickly answering it, assuming its Ana with more stuff. However, its the police, not the skinny overprotective brunette.

I clear my throat, "How can I help you, officers?"

The younger cop begins talking, "Are you Ambrosia?"

I nod, "Yes."

"We have come to ask you a few questions in regard to Danni. We were informed that she adopted you, and we were hoping you may be able to help us."

"Um, okay? I'm no longer adopted by her."

The officer nods, "I'm aware of the unusual circumstances. I've already spoken with Kayla. Is there somewhere we can sit to talk?" I nod, "In the living room." I lead the way, offering a cold water on the way. After getting settled into the couch, the officer began to talk, "The reason we are here today is obviously because of Danni. Officers in another county found her body around 11 p.m. last night, 5 miles out from a local bar. Do you know of anyone who would want to harm her?" I'm frozen, and I don't know what to say, or even where to start. Caleb must see this, since he talks first, "How is that possible? We just received a phone call from Danni."

The younger officer looks at me again, "Is this true?"

I nod, "Ho- What- I don't even know what to say. If that wasn't Danni who called me ten minutes ago, then who was it?" I sigh, "Danni has...had a bad history of drug addiction. She abandoned me over a month ago for the relationship she was in with another drug addict. I just can't believe this. I don't know how any of this could have happened. "

"We don't, either, but we will get to the bottom of it. We'll be in touch." I nod, quickly writing down the number that the woman previously called on for the officers, "Thank you. Caleb will show you out." While I sit here in shock...

It sounded just like her, I mean, just like her. How could she be talking to me if she was dead? How could they have found her body? Who even identified the body? There were so many questions in my head, but not enough room. I don't think I can remember the last time I sat down, or really took a breath. How can I take a breath at a time like this? Shouldn't the officers have called back already?

I feel like ripping my hair out of my body. I need answers, and I'm not getting them here. I'm driving myself crazy, and making poor little Caleb worry like crazy. I can't even help but smile at him, with his warm eyes on me, hand on his knee as he ponders if I'm alright, the crease above his eyebrows that show his concerns, the way his nostrils flare when he's uneasy about the things out of his control, and the heavy breathing of his anger that this can't just be fixed. As much as a long embrace in his arms might cheer me up right now, just a little, I have to figure this out. I start to get my belongings together, as I clear my head with a plan. Caleb has already begun getting his own belongings as he will not let me do this alone. Thank god.

I never imagined I'd be here... Well, I suppose I did know this would come, but I figured it wouldn't be this soon, and I'd have time. For Danni's life to be... gone so soon is just frightening. If she is dead this can't be an accident, I mean, so soon after she left me? For it to not be at all drug related, she just died. Danni's drug use was no secret, the whole town knew, but no one thought she would have lasted as long as she did on it.

Danni grew up in a small town, on a farm where she was raised by her grandparents. She was abandoned by her mother, who had just graduated from high school, a addict herself. Her father was never around, and she was better off for it. When Danni went down the path she did, it was a shock to her family, and to her friends. Not at all like how shocking her alleged death is to me at this very moment...

But like any other interruption, Im ripped from my thoughts as a knock comes from the front door. I subconsciously hope that it's not the police again, but I have a feeling that wouldn't be too off course. Sure enough, the officers from earlier have returned, and are outside the door. "We need you to come to the coroners. I'm sorry to ask you to do this, but we are going to need you to identify the body." I nod, unsure how to respond. I'm not quite sure I've totally taken a moment to process, or maybe I'm heartless, but this doesn't bother me much. "Okay. I can come with you."

I grab my phone and leave a note for Caleb. I'm slowly starting to think as I follow the officers out to their car. If this is Danni's body, then this will lead to so many more questions...

____

"When you're ready, you can head inside." I take a breath, mentally preparing myself to see Danni. I enter the doorway, pausing to see the body on the cot. There's only one person with me, to lift the sheet. It's cold in the room, another reminder of the dead corpse approximately 5 feet away from me. I continue to walk to the head of this person, slowly granting permission to draw back the sheet. My stomach drops to the floor, and my hand flies to my mouth. It is Danni. I run from the room and sit outside. So many questions are running through my head, but I can't stop to focus on just one. Nothing seems to make sense. Until I hear a familiar voice, but not of any I've heard in person. "I guess you have put it together that Danni didn't call you, earlier." I turn to see a woman about 5 foot 8, dressed in old clothes. She has Auburn hair, shoulder length with a smug look on her face. I stand up slowly, wondering who this woman is. "Am I supposed to know you?"

The woman smiles, "No, I guess you aren't supposed to know me... You know...my niece always had a thing for helping. It's too bad that she could never finish a project."

"Your niece... You're Danni's aunt then. You don't seem too sad for the loss of your niece. Any reason for that, or do you just want something?"

She comes a little closer, and lowers her voice, "Danni was a menace, are you really going to sit here and pretend like her death really means anything? It won't make a difference, you know. After all, she left you everything she had, so wouldn't you say that the best is gone?"

I shake my head, "That's what this is really about? Money? Whew child, you really need to go." I take a few steps away, "You are by far the worst person I've met. I thought Danni was horrible, yes, but she was a person. Maybe she turned out that way because of the family like you she had. You need help if you think you're any different. I mean, where did you get your clothes? The Gap? Instead of chasing a dead woman's wealth, go f*****g make something of yourself."

An officer finally walks in, "Ambrosia, is everything okay?"

I shake my head, "You know, everything is not okay, but we have bigger things to worry about. I'm ready to talk now." The officer nods, and proceeds to his office. On my way past the woman, I smile, "Stay the hell away from me."

But something tells me that won't be the end...

Having just arrived, Caleb quickly asks, "Who was she?" The very question I've been asking myself the whole way home, unsure how to even answer myself. I sigh, "I don't know! I've been thinking the same since it happened, and it was so... too much. All I know is that she is Danni's aunt, and she wants something. Money, or something. Can you believe she cared more about Danni's wealth then about Danni?"

Caleb places a hand on my shoulder, "Babe, not everyone has a good heart. You can't expect everyone to be humane." I shake my head, but say nothing, because I understand where Caleb is coming from. He himself has seen quite a bit and hasn't let it make him bitter at all. Regardless of his past, he copes pretty well. Seeing so much pain has made him want to be better, and kinder to people. One of the many traits I love about him.

Ana finally pitches in, "So what are you going to do if she returns for more?" I know from the tone in her voice that she's sincerely worried about this, and I hate that she is. I grab her hand, "Ana, don't worry. If the hag comes back, I'll fight back. I'm not giving her anything."

Caleb stands up, "I'll be here for her, too, so she won't be fighting alone." He grabs our empty cups and ventures into the kitchen, likely to bring back more drinks. I'm tired of the negative energy in the room, so I turn on some music, and pull Ana up. "Come on, we are getting our bathing suits on, and ordering a lot of food. You are gonna call everyone we know, and we are throwing a party.... after the food"

Ana smirks, "Never a bad time to party. But I just adore the food first idea, where can we order from this time?" As if I'm the right person to ask...

Caleb brings out more drinks, and I quickly take a few gulps before noticing the slight burn going down the back of my throat, cutting off from my drink, "You could have told me this was a mixed drink, Caleb."