The Things I've Never Done: A Caledon Hockley Love Story

Chapter 8: All Good Things Come To A Bittersweet End

Y/N had made her bed that morning, something she didn't do regularly or without being instructed by her mother. She cleaned her room up and left no traces of dirt behind, skipping breakfast altogether to bask in a long bath. Molly had told the women that she was feeling seasick, allowing her daughter the freedom society only allows rarely.

By lunch, Y/N was draped along a lawn chair on the side deck, reading a novel with a glass of tea. After some choice wording, her mother tore away from the wealthy folk too, and snuck away with her daughter for bonding time. She found her on the deck and played games, describing the shapes of the clouds and just embracing random conversations. It wasn't much, but it meant the world to Y/N every time they did something like this; to just bask in her companionship and bond with her mother.

And, by night, Y/N sat at the table with the rest of the people once more, claiming she'd felt better with a smile and sly glance at her partners in crime: Caledon Hockley and Molly Brown. It was the same banter, the same gossip. It felt like nothing was out of place and no one had seemed to truly admire the normalcy.

To Be Continued...

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<3rd Person Perspective>

With a glass of wine in her hand, Y/N continues to rock in her chair, eyes blurred as she recounts the memories of decades past. Her eyes are trained on her hand, still holding the sharpened pencil above the drawing in her lap; another one to add to all of her special drawings in the folder on the coffee table beside her. The picture, looking back at her, simply just brings more pain. She can still remember the people she'd met, the roles that were so miniscule then, but mean so much to her now. She can still recall the content happiness, humbled hopes and dreams of the young girl she was.

That final day was spent dilly dallying and daydreaming, and for once, she recounts feeling whole - a total and complete fulfillment of what she had on her checklist. She'd found her man of her dreams, saw life for what it was, spent time into education, and was excited for her new adventure in America.

Swirling the alcohol in her glass, she takes a sip. She'd hoped that feeling would've lasted. Even now, she fears that feeling would never amount to feel completely and utterly the same again.

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April 13, 1912

The next day had followed in a blur of events. The poor danced, the rich drank, and everyone talked. As for Y/N, she was found by the stern, cigarette in hand as she watches each individual plume of smoke touch the cold, night air, and disappear. She smirks as she dreams of the future ahead of her and it looks beautiful through her pink shades: a few babies running around buck naked, Cal smiling as he chases them with her placing a hand on her stomach, another to come. They'd be happy with a family of their own, comfortable in their suitable wealth with no other care other than their little bubble they would create.

"There you are," Cal says softly, his hands going around to encase her waist, head plopping atop her head. "What are you up to?"

"Mischief, of course," Y/N giggles, one hand going to lay atop his as she finishes off her cigarette. "I was dreaming of our future," she smiles.

"Ah," he smirks, "And how does it look?"

Y/N tries to sum up all her feelings into one, beautiful word, choosing them properly, "Gilded and achieved."

Cal places a kiss on her head, not completely understanding of the choice of words, poking her side to prod her on.

"I would achieve and earn everything I wanted. We would be one, I would be loved and cared for, have a family and live up to my greatest desires. Everything I dreamed I would have as a child would finally finish off the lifelong puzzle I've been trying to complete - all I would need would be that final piece."