Page 27

Mackenzie

The door opens with a soft push, and I step into the Sullivan home. My heels click against the shiny wood floor. The air feels busy, full of quiet movement and the sounds of people getting things ready. I came early, hoping for a moment of calm before all the guests arrive. But even now, the house is full of energy.

I hear Caroline’s voice from upstairs. She sounds a little rushed. “Oh, Mackenzie, I’m glad you’re here. Can you supervise as they finish getting the downstairs ready? I need to talk to the caterer.”

“Of course,” I call back. “I’m just going to pop into the bathroom.”

She nods, and I head toward the guest bathroom with my clutch in hand.

Inside, I fix my makeup and smooth out my dress.

When I step out, I find the bartender setting up. He’s busy polishing glasses but looks up and smiles at me. “You look like you could use something to take the edge off.”

I pause for a second, then nod. “Maybe just a small one.”

He hands me a pretty drink with tiny bubbles that sparkle under the chandelier light. I take a sip. It’s crisp and light, just enough to calm my nerves.

“Do you work for the Sullivans?” he asks.

“No. They’re friends. What about you? Do you work here often as a bartender?”

“Not really. I work at The Church a few nights a week, and I’m working on a business plan for my own startup.”

“You work at Grace Cathedral?”

He grins. “No. The club in the warehouse district.”

I blush. “As you can tell, I’m not much of a clubber.”

“That’s okay. Maybe you can come by some time. I work Thursday through Saturday, six to three a.m.” He leans on the counter.

I smile at his offer. It’s nice to be noticed, even for a moment. “I’m seeing someone,” I say simply.

“Lucky them,” the bartender says with a wink, then goes back to his work as the first guests start to arrive.

I make a quick round, checking that everything is in place and no one needs anything. Of course it’s impeccable, as Caroline’s plans always are. The room slowly fills with the sound of talking and laughter. People from EnergiFusion and their families move through, greeting each other with laughter and smiles. It’s good to have that outweigh the sadness, at least for a moment. Across the way, I spot Mason walking in. Even in a big crowd, he stands out. There’s something calm and proud in the way he carries himself, probably because SHN just had another startup with a successful IPO this week.

Then I see Caroline at the top of the stairs. This is her stage, and she knows exactly how to shine on it. When she reaches Mason, he pulls her close and kisses her. You can tell they understand each other without even needing to speak.

I watch them for a second. That’s what love looks like, I think. The kind that’s strong, even in quiet moments. The kind that lasts.

I feel a small ache in my chest, one I try not to name. I brush a strand of hair behind my ear and look away, letting them have their moment. I sip my drink again, the bubbles tickling my tongue. I remind myself why I’m here. We’re celebrating Justin’s life. I should be grateful for all I have.

More people arrive, more smiles, more laughter, and some tears. I try to let go of my heavy thoughts and focus on the good around me. But my feelings threaten to overwhelm me.

Then I hear Theo’s voice. “Hey, you’re not leaving, are you?” He steps through the crowd, looking concerned.

I give him a small smile. “I think I might. These things are tough.”

Theo frowns. “Of course, it is. Because of your mom?” He holds out his hand, asking me to join him.

I wait for a second, then take it. “It’s not only my mom. It’s everything. I can’t believe Justin’s gone and Crystal’s not here. I suppose I thought she’d show up.”

Theo nods, his eyes kind. “Thank you for saying that. I feel the same way.”

We move into the living room and gather around as Rhys starts telling a story from their school days. “Justin was the glue that held us together,” he says. “He came up with this wild idea for a sodium-ion battery. He said it could replace lithium batteries in electric cars.”

A few people laugh.

“We thought he was crazy,” Rhys goes on, shaking his head. “Lots of people had tried and failed. But Justin? He didn’t give up. He believed in the idea, even when we didn’t.”

The laughter fades a little, and the group shifts, making room for another story.

Austin jumps in next. “Remember when Justin and Crystal started collecting refrigerator magnets from every state?” he says with a smile. “Right after graduation, as we drove to San Francisco, he bought her a magnet in every state we stopped in. At home, they have a big metal map of the world, and they stuck the magnets on it to show where they’ve been. It’s almost completely covered.”

Everyone nods. It was a tradition they kept up for years.

“Wherever they stopped in a new state, they grabbed a magnet,” Austin says. “They wanted a little piece of every place they’d visited.”

Behind me, I hear someone whisper, noting Crystal’s absence. They think it makes her seem guilty. I can’t blame them, and I can’t say I disagree. But I still struggle to find a reason she would have done this. How it could have been so bad? A little voice in the back of my mind still whispers that she’s being framed.

The conversation shifts around us. Now, everyone starts talking about the moment that changed everything, the day EnergiFusion finally made its mark on the world.

Austin clears his throat. “San Francisco’s big car showcase,” he says. Just the name makes everyone quiet. “We went there with our battery prototype. We were so nervous. People said eBattery was going to beat us to market, but Justin was determined. He finally had a battery that held the charge.”

Everyone shifts a little, like they can still feel how tense that day was.

“But we had Theo,” Austin adds, giving Theo a look. “Our guy on the inside.” Rumor has it he sweet-talked the founder into giving him the scoop on what was happening at eBattery. Some say it was over drinks. Others say it happened in bed. I don’t want to think about it.

We all look at Theo. He just shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“That showcase wasn’t just about showing off a new product,” Austin continues. “It was the day we proved we belonged. We walked out of there with contracts from many of you. We weren’t just a small group of dreamers anymore. People saw us. They knew we’d nailed it.” He shakes his head. “Justin never stopped believing in us. Even when we were panicking and thinking everything would go wrong, he stayed confident. He kept us grounded.”

That word— confidence —keeps coming up tonight. It’s part of every story they’ve shared. It’s something Justin gave to all of us.

He lifts his glass. “Because of Justin. Because he believed in us.”

The room falls quiet in a moment to honor someone who meant so much. Justin didn’t just help build something big. He made people believe. He pushed them forward. That’s his real legacy. And we’re all part of it.

Justin is still with us—in the work we do, in the stories we tell, and in every person in this room. He’s part of EnergiFusion and part of changing the world.

Then Gina Aldo, Justin’s mom, stands from her chair with her husband, Graham, by her side. Her back is straight, and there’s something strong in the way she carries herself. Everyone turns to look at her.

“Thank you,” she says. She looks around the room, taking in every face—Justin’s friends, his team, his family. “Thank you for keeping me in the loop. For the calls, the emails…for helping me remember that even though Justin is gone, he’s still part of something amazing.”

Her eyes glisten. “I miss him every day.” Her voice breaks a little, but she keeps going. “But knowing that his spirit lives on—in you and in the company he believed in—helps me feel a little less alone.”

A lump forms in my throat. She’s doing something so hard, and she’s doing it with grace. The whole room seems to pause, holding on to her words. It’s not just sadness we’re feeling. It’s love, strength, and it’s the truth that Justin’s dream is still alive.

Gina sits down again, and conversation fills the space. I wipe my eyes, surprised to find tears there. Theo does the same. For once, his calm mask slips, and I see how deeply he feels all of this too.

A little while later we have dinner, and then the evening ends quietly. People say goodbye in soft voices with promises to see each other at tomorrow’s funeral. Hugs last longer. Hands squeeze a little tighter. Everyone seems to understand what tonight meant.

Theo, Anna Beth, and I walk out together, the feeling of the evening lingering over us.

Back at Theo’s home, we settle on the soft couch in the living room, each of us holding a glass. Outside the big window, the City lights twinkle like stars.

Theo leans back. “Mom’s getting married,” he says. “To Mitch. They’re really good together.”

I blink in surprise. “That’s amazing news!” I say. “If you need ideas for the honeymoon, I’d love to help.”

Theo laughs, shaking his head. “Thanks, but I’ve already got my personal assistant to handle it for them on my behalf. They’re going to New York. First-class everything.”

I grin and lift my glass. “Of course, you did.”

His eyes meet mine and hold. After such a long, emotional day, it feels good to sit here in this peaceful moment, to believe in all the things in life that are real and true and meaningful.

“To new chapters,” I say, lifting my glass.

“To love,” Anna Beth says.

Theo taps his glass gently against mine. “To the future.”