ANOTHER'S TREASURE

CHAPTER 5

I turned away, my throat burning.

I walked out with my box and my broken pieces, one foot in front of the other, like I wasn’t falling apart inside.

Just outside the building, I stood with the box I had used to pack up my things. Nine years— nine whole years—I’d worked in that company. Losing my job wasn’t my boss’s fault, and I knew if it had been up to him, he would’ve fought to keep me. But it wasn’t up to him.

I wanted to cry. To fall to my knees and ask God, “Why me?” Why did everything have to fall apart at once? But I had no energy left for tears. I was too tired for that.

I sighed and began the walk home, one painful step after another, the box heavy in my arms and my thoughts heavier.

I hadn’t gotten far when a familiar voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Can I give you a ride?”

I turned toward the voice. Of course, it was Cai. Leaning out of a black Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The walk home would be unbearable. But riding with Cai? Somehow, that would be worse. I was humiliated enough without adding him to the picture. He didn’t need to see me like this.

“No, thank you. I’m good,” I said, forcing a polite smile.

Cai shut his eyes for a moment. Then before I knew it, he was out of the car, walking toward me with that stubborn determination I remembered all too well. He took the box from my hands, placed it in the back seat, and opened the front door for me.

“I’d hate to ask twice,” he said.

Then I saw that look in his eyes, the same one he had when we snuck that stray cat into the house as kids. Mischief and certainty.

So I got in quietly. What else could I do?

He adjusted his suit with grace. Elegant and intimidating, without even trying. Or maybe that was just how he appeared to me.

We drove in silence. Maybe only for a few minutes, but it felt like hours.

His phone rang.

“Cancel all meetings,” he said. “Clear my schedule for the day. Something important has come up.” He hung up.

Then he turned to me. “I’m not a mind reader,”.

I blinked. “What?”

“You’re going to have to actually tell me where you're headed so I can take you there.”

“Oh! oh! Sorry. My mind was... somewhere else.” I offered a small, embarrassed smile and gave him directions.

We arrived shortly after. I reached for my box, getting out of the car to escape him.

You’re not even going to invite me in?” he asked. “The least you could do is invite me and let me refuse.”

His smirk was subtle but smug.

“I’m sorry,” I said, confused. “Wait... do you want to come in?”

“Yes. I’d like that very much.” He was already getting out of the car.

“Lead the way,” he added.

My head spun. “But I thought... You said you’d refuse. I...”

“So you don’t want me to come in?”

“No, I mean yes...I mean...it’s just that the house is a mess and I..”

“Cynthia.” His voice was calm, “We grew up together. I’ve seen your room in its peak messiness. I’m sure your house isn’t as bad as you’re trying to make it sound. But if you don’t want me in, just say so.”

I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but was saved by a voice.

“Mom?”

Jamie stood in the doorway. His bike was lying on the porch, and I hadn’t even noticed.

He walked toward us, his expression unreadable—protective, territorial. He stood beside me and held my hand tightly and then I understood . My boy was trying to shield me, show Cai he wasn’t just a child.

I looked at Jamie who was almost the same height as me. He was taller now. What an odd thought but it made me smile.

“You must be Jamie,” Cai said, extending a hand.

“And you are?” Jamie replied, shaking it with a firm grip.

“Cai Vaughan,” he said smiling from cheek to cheek. Only God knew what amused him. “An old friend of your mom’s.”

I was still stuck on one thing—how did Cai know Jamie’s name?

As if reading my mind, Cai glanced at me and said softly, “Just because you cut us off... doesn’t mean we didn’t care. Or check on you.”

Those words cut throat like razor, I felt so ashamed so I just bowed my head.

"Are we just going to stand out here? Or..." Cai said "not that I'm complaining or anything, I love the view" he smirked.

Jamie looked at me and started walking towards the door And I immediately felt the dread rising in my chest. The box in my hands felt heavier by the second, My apartment—what was left of it—was a shell.

He couldn’t see it. I couldn’t let Cai see that.

As I reached the bottom step, I paused and turned to Cai. “Actually,” I said, “Jamie and I were just about to head out and grab something to eat.”

Cai stopped in his tracks. “Oh?” he said mildly, like he didn’t believe me—but didn’t want to call me out either.

I nodded quickly, gripping the box like a shield. “Yeah. It's been a stressful day and… I figured we could both use a treat.”

His brows rose slightly amused. “Then I’ll take you.”

“Oh no,” I said quickly, “you’ve done enough already. Really. Thank you, but we’ve got it.”

“Cynthia,” he said slowly, a playful lilt in his voice, “don’t make me ask twice.”

“Seriously, Cai. I mean it. We’ll just take a walk, it’s not far—”

“Mom?” Jamie’s voice cut through,

“We were going to get something to eat,” I said to Jamie, keeping my voice steady. “Just you and me.”

Jamie looked at Cai, then at me again. “Can we just take the ride? I’m tired.”

Traitor.

I sighed. Jamie, knowingly or not, had sided with Cai. And I had no more excuses or lies. My shoulders dropped as I exhaled, defeated. “Fine,” I muttered. “Just a quick bite.”

Cai gave Jamie a wink, then walked back to the car like he’d known all along he’d win this little battle. Jamie jogged down and opened the back door himself, already settling in like he’d been waiting for this.

I hesitated for a moment before following.

It was quiet in the car for a while after we left the house.

I stared out the window, unsure of what to say or feel. Jamie sat in the back, one earbud in, one out—listening, watching. Cai was focused on the road, but I could see his jaw flex now and then, like he was thinking too hard and trying not to show it.

"Do you trust me?" Cai asked suddenly.

The question caught me off guard.

I blinked. "What?"

"Just for a couple hours. Do you trust me enough to let me borrow both of you?"

Jamie leaned forward. “Where are we going?”

Cai just smiled, God his smile. “You’ll see.”

---

The place was tucked between a bookstore and an ice cream shop—undetectable, but as soon as we stepped inside, the sounds of laughter, games, and music crashed into us. The soft neon glow gave the arcade a nostalgic charm. Jamie’s eyes widened, and despite myself, I smiled at the way he tried not to look impressed.

“I haven’t been in one of these since…” I trailed off, surprised by my own excitement.

Cai chuckled. “Yeah. Since we used to sneak out to that run-down game center in high school. You were terrible at everything but air hockey.”

“I was decent,” I argued, and he laughed.

Jamie had already wandered toward a corner where two connected racing games sat idle. Cai followed and squinted at the game title.

“wow, Turbo Drift X,” he muttered.

“You know this?” Jamie asked.

“Know it? I dominated it.”

Jamie slid into the player one seat, eyes twinkling. “Let’s see about that. Old man”

I stepped back and watched them. First round—Jamie won. Cai grumbled something about getting used to the controls. Second round—Jamie won again. The third time, Cai leaned forward, loosening his tie.

“I don’t like losing,” he said.

“I can tell,” I said, biting back a laugh.

He turned to me, eyes playful. “Alright, final round. Let’s make it interesting. If I win, I get to pick where we eat.”

“And if you lose?” Jamie asked.

Cai slipped off his suit jacket and handed it to me with a mock seriousness. “Then I lose my pride and dignity, and we eat wherever you want.”

Jamie grinned. “Deal.”