Lost and Found (A Novel) (9 page)

“Um, did you guys prepare this even before we get the deal?” Caelie asked incredulously. She wondered what would happen to the food had she lost the deal.

“Of course.” Someone shouted.

“But-” Caelie tried to explain before being cut off by Marine.

“We know you can do it Caelie. Stop doubting yourself. The fact that we got the deal is proof of your capability. Now let’s eat.” Marine chided, pushing a paper plate towards Caelie. A chorus of agreement came from the rest as they swooped in on the table of food like hungry hawks.

“Tsk, tsk. How come I have never gotten this type of reception after clinching so many deals?” Wynne sauntered in, shaking his head in mock reproach.

“Aw, come on boss, we all know you are a master at it.”

“Yeah, this is Caelie’s first time.”

“Yeah Wynne, don’t be a sour grape.” Alex joined in the jibes nonchalantly. Surprisingly, instead of sulking as always whenever Alex made fun of him, Wynne elbowed her playfully and went to grab himself some food, joking with his team members at the same time. Caelie was clearly taken aback by his demeanor that day. Wynne seemed to have gotten rid of his bad bones. Maybe, he wasn’t so bad after all, she thought just as her handphone rang. Seeing Annetta’s name flashing on her phone screen, Caelie smiled and stepped out of the rowdy room to take the call. She couldn’t wait to share the good news with Annetta.

“Hey Annetta, guess what?” Caelie said excitedly the moment she pressed the answer key. She could hear Annetta clearing her throat in the background.

“What dear? You sound so happy.” Annetta’s voice came out in a soft whisper.

Frowning, Caelie’s forehead creased slightly. “Why are you talking so softly, are you okay? You sound strange.”

“What? No, it’s nothing. Just losing my voice a little, you know with the flu bug and all. Besides, I just missed you.” Annetta chuckled from the other line.

“Sorry I couldn’t make it back this morning.” Caelie’s voice dropped. In her excitement, she had forgotten about her routine trip to Annetta’s house. She hated it when she had to break the routine.

“Don’t be sorry, you had work to do. Now, what was that you wanted me to guess?”

Her face lightening up again, Caelie recounted her success. “Oh yeah about that. Remember the proposal I told you about? Well, I did the presentation today and the clients loved it! We got the deal Ann.” She squealed excitedly.

“That’s good Caelie, I’m so proud of you.” The pride Annetta felt was evident in her voice.

“And the team did like a little celebration party for me, it was just awesome. I’m really touched by their support for me Ann.”

“Of course, haven’t I been telling you that they would make wonderful friends?”

“Yes, you did.” Caelie smiled. “Listen, let me just grabbed some food to eat so that they won’t get offended then I’ll make a move. I should reach there by late afternoon.”

“No, no it’s fine. You just enjoy yourself there with your friends. Don’t rush out here for my sake. It’s not all the time that you get to socialize with them Caelie.” Annetta’s voice was thick with some emotion that Caelie could not discerned.

“Are you sure Ann? Won’t you be lonely?” Caelie’s voice was now tinged with worry.

“What’s there to be lonely about? I have Wilburn here with me.” Caelie could hear Wilburn’s voice in the background but she could not make out what he was saying.

“Okay then, if you are sure. Take care of yourself Ann. I’ll see you soon.”

“Sure, you take care of yourself too Caelie. And remember that I will always love you. Be strong my dear. Goodbye.” With a click, Annetta had already ended the call. Caelie stared at her phone for an instance. She couldn’t seemed to shake the weird niggling feeling she had from her conversation with Annetta. Not wanting to think about the worst, Caelie brushed off the feeling and rejoined her colleagues.

Caelie had so much fun that she did not realized a few hours had passed. She usually dread social gathering as time seemed to pass slowly but with this group of people, she was at ease and for the first time, she actually enjoyed herself. Perhaps it was also the fact that Wynne himself was having the time of his life that coaxed Caelie slightly out of her shell. Most of the people had already left except for a few who stayed back to clear the mess. Walking with Alex towards their cubicle to get their belongings, Caelie suddenly remembered that she was still wearing Alex’s blazer and promptly took it off.

“Here Alex, thank you for lending me your blazer.” Smiling, she extended the blazer towards Alex.

“It’s okay, you can keep it.” Alex said casually as she pushed the blazer back towards Caelie.

“Huh?”

“I said it’s yours.” Alex smiled and went to grab her things from her desk.

“No, I can’t take it. This looks expensive. Besides it still seems almost new.” Caelie tried to get the blazer into Alex’s hands but she just crossed her arms and frowned at Caelie.

“Do you mean to say I can only give away things that look old? Gosh Caelie, do you think I’m that bad? Besides the blazer fits you perfectly. It’s yours and that’s it. Take it as a congratulatory present from your mentor if you must but I am never taking it back. If you don’t want it, just throw it away.” Alex shrugged as she slung her bag over her shoulders.

Caelie looked at Alex aghast. “Of course I want it.” She said, hugging the blazer protectively against her chest. There was no way she would throw away things that people had graciously given to her. Satisfied with Caelie’s response, Alex smiled and gave a victory sign. Waving her hands, she walked away, causing Caelie to chuckle.

Caelie turned to her desk and began packing up her things. Her phone rang then and she picked it up distractedly without looking at the caller id. “Hello?”

“Caelie? It’s Uncle Wilburn.” A familiar male voice spoke from the other line.

“Yes, Uncle Burn. Is everything alright?” Caelie asked anxiously, the weird feeling returning to her.

“I’m afraid not Caelie.” Caelie felt herself stiffened as she heard this. “Can you come here as fast as you can?” Caelie was momentarily numbed. All sorts of thoughts ran through her head at what could have possibly gone wrong so much so that Wilburn had to call her. She could hear him saying her name over the phone but she was unable to respond as she was held speechless. “Caelie? Are you there? Listen honey, I need you to stay calm and drive safely down here. Annetta needs you.” That was all she needed to hear. Annetta needed her. In a flash, Caelie was practically running out of the office, down the elevator and out to her car parked by the curb.

Turning her ignition key for the fifth time, Caelie prayed hard that her car would start up. The engine spluttered slightly but refused to function. Banging the steering wheel, Caelie leaned back on her seat, sobbing profusely. Annetta’s house was a long ride away and she did not know whether she could make it in time. “Please wait for me Annetta.” She pleaded silently to herself. Getting out of her car, Caelie kicked her front tire in frustration and looked at the almost empty street for any signs of a cab, her anxiety growing with each passing minutes. Almost giving up hope, Caelie sat by the roadside, crying her hearts out. A slight drizzle had already formed, as if the sky was crying with her.

The sound of engine revving broke through Caelie’s melancholy causing her to look up with hope. A black and silver sports bike that she knew belonged to Wynne stopped in front of her. A helmet covered face turned towards her and as the rider pushed up his visor, a pair of grey eyes searched her tear-stricken face questioningly. Pushing aside any apprehension she felt towards Wynne, Caelie looked pleadingly at him. “I know it is too much to ask but could you give me a ride into the countryside Mr. Grant?” She said in between sobs. Wynne just stared back at her. “Please Mr. Grant, I need to get there fast and my car refused to start.” Her voice was now tinged with desperation.

Wynne stared at Caelie as tears kept streaming down from her hazel eyes. It wasn’t that he was unwilling to help but it was the sense of familiarity that her pleading eyes bore that struck him speechless. He sat rooted on his bike blinking unseeingly at Caelie as his mind traveled into the murky depths of his locked up memory. A sense of deja vu washed over him.

“Wynne, what the heck are you staring at her for? Can’t you see that she needs help?” Alex’s voice snapped Wynne back to the present. He blinked again, now seeing Caelie slumped on the ground as though dejected with the fact that he was ignoring her. Alex was bent over her rubbing her back soothingly. She glared at him as Wynne caught her eyes. He wondered how long he had been lost in thought that he had not realized Alex had came over. Grabbing his spare helmet, he thrust it towards Caelie.

“Put this on and climb up.” Wynne commanded. Alex took the helmet and helped Caelie, who now seemed to be in a daze, to put it on. Once she was securely up on the bike behind Wynne, Alex gave a short nod towards Wynne who then sped off. Based on what little direction he could get from a distraught Caelie, Wynne rode as fast as he could, sensing the urgency in Caelie’s voice. He did not know what the emergency was but he would do whatever he could to help Caelie get to her destination before it was too late. Gripping tightly to the handles, Wynne swore that he would not let his foolish stubbornness to repeat history.

After what seemed like an endless ride through the rain, Caelie finally guided him towards a house set within the countryside. Jumping off the bike even before Wynne could stop properly, Caelie ran into the house with her helmet still covering her head. Wynne dismounted from his bike and took off his helmet. Leaning against his bike under the shade of a tree, Wynne looked towards the verandah where Caelie had run into. He did not know whether to wait or follow her up there. Not wanting to intrude, he stayed put. A moment later, an old man walked out of the verandah, turning to his left and right until he spotted Wynne. Wynne stood up awkwardly as he recognized him as the man whom he had followed Caelie with to the diner a few nights back. He watched as the man made his way towards him.

“I believe you are the one who helped Caelie to get here?” The man spoke. Wynne nodded his head silently. “I’m Wilburn Beyene.” He extended his hand towards Wynne, who took hold of it.

“Wynne Grant.” Wynne replied, shaking Wilburn’s hand.

“Thank you for helping Caelie. It means a lot to us for her to be able to get here on time.” He said again, his expression laced with profound sadness.

“It’s no problem at all. Err...” Wynne paused hesitantly. “Will she be okay?”

Wilburn looked back towards the house for an instance before turning to Wynne. Sighing, he shrugged his shoulders. “I should hope so.”

Wynne nodded his head uncomfortably. “Well then, I should be getting back now.” Wynne put on his helmet and mounted his bike.

“Ride safely.” Wilburn called out to him as Wynne slowly rode his bike out. Putting up his hand, Wynne watched Wilburn waved at him from his side mirror until he was completely out of sight.

Caelie knelt down by Annetta’s bedside, watching her still body as she laid with her eyes closed. Bending closer, she watched her chest rose slightly with her weakening breath. A hand covered her mouth as she tried to stifle her sobs. How could she not have detected the pain in Annetta’s voice earlier?

“Annetta...I’m so sorry I wasn’t here earlier. Why didn’t you tell me?” Caelie whispered softly, her voice broken up with hiccups.

“She didn’t want you to worry.” Caelie looked up as Wilburn walked in and sat beside her. “She called to tell you that she wasn’t feeling well but after hearing how happy you were, she didn’t have the heart to make you worry. Besides, it had been all that she was hoping for, for years. For you to be happy with people close and nice enough to be called friends.” Caelie sat silently as she listened to Wilburn. Although her tears had dried up by now, she was still sniffling as she rubbed Annetta’s limp hands.

“Wilburn didn’t make you rush back, did he?” Caelie looked up as Annetta’s hoarse voice drifted to her ears. Overwhelmed, Caelie threw herself at Annetta and hugged her tightly, fresh tears spilling out of her puffy eyes. “Hush now dear.” Annetta tried to pat Caelie’s back but she no longer had the energy to lift up her frail arms. Choking on her words, she looked at Wilburn over Caelie’s shoulders, trying to blink back her tears. Even Wilburn was fighting with his own tears. It was time for her to go, she could sense it now. “Wilburn...” She called out, stretching a hand out to him. Wilburn rushed to the other side of the bed and took hold of her hand.

“I’m here Ann.” Wilburn smiled despite his tears, looking lovingly at his best friend and neighbor for many years. He knew he would miss her, his daily companion, terribly.