The Reunion
By Addie Butaud
© 2000
CAUTION! This story contains mature subject matters.
Callie was sitting in the galley of the sub sipping tea
completely stunned.
CALLIE: So why do you think it's her?
ELIA: Callie, I'm just telling what the investigators told me. The
woman they found was wearing your mother's jewelry.
CALLIE: That proves nothing Dad. She probably sold it years ago.
ELIA: I thought of that as well. That's why they're faxing me a photo
of the woman.
CALLIE: If it is Mom, then where's Codi?
At that very moment, the fax machine began going off. Callie's
hands began to shake.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Fifteen-year-old Codi Madison sat in her dorm room of the
boarding school that her mother had dumped her in while she gallivanted
around the world. She was a year old when her parents had split up.
Whenever she asked about her father, her mother would just say that he
was a flake that thought that he was Captain Nemo.
CODI: Dad's a flake, Leda's a flake. I sure hope it skips a generation.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Elia walked to the fax machine and took the page from it. He
looked at it and dropped it to the floor.
CALLIE: Dad?
He turned to look at Callie. She saw something that she had
never seen before. Captain Elia Walker Walker had tears in his eyes.
ELIA: It's her. The body they found was your mother's.
Tears welled up quickly in her eyes and fell down her cheeks.
CALLIE: This isn't fair. We finally find her and she's dead.
Elia was silent. His beautiful Leda was gone.
CALLIE: Dad, where the hell is Codi?
ELIA: I don't know.
I'm flying down to Mexico to find out what exactly
happened. Perhaps someone will know what happened.
CALLIE: I'm going with you.
ELIA: No Callie. You stay here with your husband and your son.
CALLIE: Dad!
ELIA: No Callie. I'm going alone.
Look, go home. Be with your
family. I will call you the second I find out anything.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Just as Codi had fallen asleep, the phone began to ring
incessantly.
CODI: This better be important!
MR. CALDWELL: Miss Madison, this is you headmaster. I need you to come
to my office immediately.
CODI: I couldn't have done anything wrong. School hasn't started yet.
MR. CALDWELL: Please Miss Madison, just meet me in my office.
CODI: Fine!
She hung up the phone and started to put her sweatpants on. Her
roommate sat up in her bed.
PAIGE: Who was that?
CODI: "Baldly Caldy". He wants me to go to his office.
PAIGE: Are you in trouble already?
CODI: Not that I know of. Leda probably forgot to sign my tuition
check.
PAIGE: Where's your mom this month.
CODI: I think she's in Mexico. She said something about wanting an
authentic Margarita.
PAIGE: Really?
CODI: It's Leda, what do you think?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Callie walked through her kitchen door from the garage and sat
at the table. Jimmy came into the room carrying nine month old AJ. He
flipped on the light and was startled to see Callie at the table.
JIMMY: When did you get back?
CALLIE: Just now.
She stood and walked over to Jimmy and took AJ from him. She
ran her hand over her son's head, hugged him tightly and rained kisses
over his face. Then she began to cry.
JIMMY: Baby, what's wrong? Is it your mother?
AJ's little hand brushed Callie's face as if he were wiping away
her tears.
CALLIE: Her body washed up on a beach in Mexico. My father went down
there to find out what happened.
JIMMY: What about your sister?
CALLIE: Not a clue. Hopefully someone down there will know something.
Jimmy put his arms around her.
JIMMY: I'm really sorry Callie.
He kissed her on top of her head and rubbed her back.
JIMMY: You look so tired. Why don't you go to bed and get some sleep.
I'll take AJ out for the day.
CALLIE: Thanks.
I love you guys.
He kissed her softly.
JIMMY: We love you too.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Codi sat in the huge leather chair in the headmaster's office.
MR. CALDWELL: Can I get you something to drink Miss Madison?
CODI: No, I'm fine. Why am I here? And why are you acting like
somebody died?
Mr. Caldwell froze. Then he sat beside Codi and grabbed her
hand.
CODI: Okay, that was not the response I was looking for.
MR. CALDWELL: I received a phone call from your mother's
uh
traveling
companion. Your mother has
passed.
CODI: Passed? What do you mean passed?
MR CALDWELL: I'm sorry Miss Madison, your mother has died.
Codi sat quietly. She knew she should feel something, but she
was numb. After a few minutes, she finally spoke.
CODI: What
what happens to me?
MR. CALDWELL: That's up to your father.
CODI: My father? You know where he is?
MR. CALDWELL: His name and number are in your file. You didn't know?
CODI: No, I didn't.
MR. CALDWELL: Would you like to call him?
Codi shook her head.
CODI: You do it. I wouldn't know what to say.
He picked up the phone, but Codi stopped him.
CODI: I'm going back to my room. This is all too much for me to handle
right now.
She left the office quickly. Mr. Caldwell picked up the phone
and began to dial the phone number.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Callie was lying in her bed, unsuccessfully trying to sleep when
the phone rang.
CALLIE: Hello.
MR. CALDWELL: Yes, is this the Walker estate?
CALLIE: Yes it is.
MR. CALDWELL: Perhaps you can help me. I'm trying to contact Elia
Walker. The last number I have for him is in Greece and they directed
me to this number.
CALLIE: He's out of the country right now.
MR. CALDWELL: Oh dear.
CALLIE: I'm his daughter. Is there something I can help you with?
MR. CALDWELL: Yes. This concerns your sister.
CALLIE: My sister? You mean Codi?
MR. CALDWELL: Yes.
CALLIE: You know where she's at?
MR. CALDWELL: I am the head master of the boarding school she attends.
CALLIE: Where is this school?
MR. CALDWELL: Connecticut. The reason I'm calling is because your
father is down as next of kin. And with the death of her mother,
arrangements need to be made for Miss Madison.
CALLIE: Madison? No wonder we couldn't find her.
Callie took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
CALLIE: My father is in Mexico trying to find out exactly how my mother
died. Is there anyway my husband and I can come and make arrangements
for her?
MR. CALDWELL: I would need identification and proof that you are indeed
related to her. What is your name?
CALLIE: Callie Clay
Walker. It's Callie Walker Clayton. What do I
need to bring?
MR. CALDWELL: Your driver's license and birth certificate should be
sufficient.
CALLIE: Okay. Now, where exactly am I going?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Codi was lying on her bed staring at the ceiling. Her roommate
had no idea what to say. Codi had come back to her room, told her that
her mother had died and that "Baldy Caldy" was calling her father. Then
she lay down on her bed. That was an hour ago. A knock came on the
door. Paige got up and answered it.
MR. CALDWELL: I spoke to your sister. She and her husband will be here
tomorrow.
CODI: Thank you sir.
MR. CALDWELL: If there is anything I can do
CODI: Thank you, but I'm fine.
Mr. Caldwell excused himself and left.
PAIGE: You never told me you had a sister.
CODI: Didn't know. Hell, I didn't even know Leda knew where my father
was.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Jimmy finished packing AJ's bag. He wanted to make sure he had
everything he needed for his first plane trip.
CALLIE: Is the little man all packed?
JIMMY: Yeah.
How are you doing?
CALLIE: When I figure that one out, I'll let you know.
Jimmy put his arms around her and held her close. Then he
kissed her on the forehead. Tears began streaming down Callie face once
again.
CALLIE: She must feel so alone right now.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The next morning, Codi was sitting at her desk writing in her
diary. There was a knock on the door. Codi took a deep breath, stood
up, walked over to the door and opened it.
MR. CALDWELL: Miss Madison, your sister and brother-in-law are here.
CODI: Where are they?
MR. CALDWELL: They are waiting for you in the lounge.
CODI: Neutral ground huh?
MR. CALDWELL: So, are you ready to meet your sister?
CODI: I guess it's now or never.
She followed him out of the room and down the hall to the lounge.
He was about to walk into the room when she stopped him.
CODI: I want to do this on my own.
MR. CALDWELL: I understand.
He opened the door for her and she walked through. Her eyes
went wide when she came face to face with an older version of herself.
CODI: This might sound completely rude, but what's your name?
CALLIE: I'm Callie.
You've changed
a lot, since the last time I saw
you.
CODI: You remember me?
CALLIE: The last time I saw you, you were a year old.
CODI: Oh.
At that moment, AJ decided to make his presence known. Callie
walked over to pick him up from Jimmy.
CALLIE: Come here little man.
CODI: So who's this?
CALLIE: This is AJ. AJ, this is your Aunt Codi.
CODI: And you're her husband?
CALLIE: I'm sorry. This is Jimmy.
JIMMY: Hi.
CODI: So, how old are you?
CALLIE: I'm twenty.
Mom never talked about me I guess.
CODI: Leda didn't talk to me much at all.
CALLIE: Did she tell you why she left?
CODI: No. The only thing I ever heard about was how our father is some
kind of fish nut.
JIMMY: Sounds like the Captain to me.
Callie swatted him.
CALLIE: Dad can be a little
odd at times.
CODI: Well, Leda's mentally unstable most of the time.
CALLIE: Why do you call her Leda?
CODI: It's what I've always called her. See, I've been raised in
boarding schools. I only saw her twice a year. Any vacation I took,
any family time I got was with friends or teachers.
CALLIE: I'm sorry you had to grow up like that.
CODI: I'm not. Leda lets me do
let me do anything I wanted. Anything
that I've ever achieved is my own.
Codi flopped down on the couch.
CALLIE: I remember her so differently.
CODI: So, what happens to me?
CALLIE: Well, I talked to Dad last night
for hours
and he said it's
up to you. You can stay here and go to school
Codi's eyes fell to her hands.
CALLIE: Or you can come home with us.
CODI: Are you serious?
CALLIE: Codi, Dad and I have been looking for you and Mom since the two
of you disappeared.
CODI: So you're willing to take in a total stranger? What's in it for
you?
CALLIE: I get my sister back.
Codi smiled.
CODI: So what's in it for me?
CALLIE: How about public school, no uniforms, an incredible life and a
family that will always love you.
Tears welled in both girls' eyes.
CODI: I'll take it.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Codi had all of her stuff packed in an hour.
PAIGE: So you're really leaving huh?
CODI: Looks that way.
PAIGE: Scared?
CODI: What do you think? Yesterday I found out my mother died and today
I met the sister I never knew I had. I'm moving to a town I've never
heard of that's probably some hole in the wall. And to top it off my
father, whom I've yet to meet, lives in a submarine. Yeah, I'm a little
freaked.
Callie knocked on the door and walked in.
CALLIE: Are you ready to go?
CODI: Yeah. I guess.
PAIGE: Can I get an address so I can write?
CALLIE: Sure.
Callie reached into her purse and pulled out a card.
PAIGE: The Walker Estate?
CODI: Yeah. That's something else I found out. Madison is actually
my middle name. Learn something new everyday.
PAIGE: I'm gonna miss you.
CODI: Hey, there's always summer. See ya later.
The girls hugged and Callie and Codi left the room.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Douglas Markham's private jet landed at Swans Crossing's airport.
Codi's heart was pounding. She had moved a dozen times, but this was
the first time she would have a home. Callie was talking to Jimmy as
they got off the plane.
CALLIE: Remind me to call Sydney and thank her again for the use of her
dad's plane.
CODI: So, how far is it to where we're going?
JIMMY: About twenty minutes.
Jimmy put Codi's luggage in the back of his 4Runner as Callie
fastened AJ in his car seat. Codi took a seat next to her nephew and
inhaled deeply. They drove for a bit when Callie turned around and
looked at her sister.
CALLIE: You're gonna like it here. I moved here when I was fourteen.
It was the first place I ever really felt at home.
CODI: I realize you're just trying to calm my fears, but I
Her mouth dropped open when she noticed the huge mansion set
back beyond the most beautiful landscaping she'd ever seen.
CODI: Whoa! I'd like to meet the people who live there.
JIMMY: You already have.
CODI: You mean
CALLIE: Welcome home little sister.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Questions or comments? addiegirl@hotmail.com Text file Source (historic): geocities.com/hollywood/hills/2262/fanfic
geocities.com/hollywood/hills/2262geocities.com/hollywood/hills
geocities.com/hollywood
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