Page 55 of Until the Storm Breaks

Dominic:At home. Theo’s here going over restaurant stuff. Why?

Calvin:Be there in ten.

The drive to Dominic’s takes me through the old neighborhoods, past houses I remember from childhood. His place sits in one of the newer developments, all strategic rusticity and calculated charm. Theo’s Subaru is parked beside Dominic’s BMW.

I don’t bother knocking. The door’s unlocked—small town habits die hard even in fake neighborhoods. They’re at the dining table, laptops open, papers spread between them. Comfortable. Casual. The brothers who stayed, handling family business while Jack and I lived our lives elsewhere.

They look up when I walk in. Theo’s face shifts immediately to concern. Dominic just looks annoyed at the interruption.

“Cal? Everything okay?” Theo says, already half-standing.

“Verdant State Developments.” I set my phone on the table between them, the demolition permit filling the screen. “Complete demolition. Wellness center. When exactly were you planning to mention this?”

Dominic doesn’t even flinch. Just leans back in his chair like he’s been expecting this. Maybe he has. “Sit down, Cal.”

“I’ll stand.”

Dominic’s face doesn’t change, that CEO mask he perfected, but Theo shifts uncomfortably, looking between us. “Let’s all sit down,” Theo says, his voice taking on that careful tone. Already trying to broker peace, like always. But I’m done with peace.

“You knew?” I turn on him. “You knew they’re tearing down Mom’s house? Everything?”

Before Theo can answer, Dominic cuts in. “Everyone whobothered to join the family meetings knew. You and Jack weren’t fucking here. Theo, Alex and I have been the ones dealing with this.”

“So Jack doesn’t know either,” I say. It’s not a question.

“Jack agreed to the sale,” Dominic says. “Same as you.”

“But not tothis,” I say. “Not to demolition.”

“He trusted us to handle the details,” Dominic says. “Just like you did, until suddenly you care.”

“You mean he still doesn’t know you’re tearing everything down,” I say.

Theo finally speaks up, his voice gentle. “Cal, listen. It breaks my heart too. But we need to think about the future, and none of us are going to live there. You’re in Seattle, Jack’s always traveling, Dom has his place, Alex and I each have ours. We can’t afford twenty-six thousand a year in taxes and maintenance for an empty house that needs four hundred thousand in repairs.”

“It’s ten acres of prime waterfront,” Dominic adds. “They’re offering two and a half million. Cash. No contingencies. Do you understand what that means?”

“I understand it means you lied to me,” I say.

“I told you we had buyers,” Dominic says. “You didn’t ask for details.”

“YouknewI’d care about this.”

“Did I?” Dominic stands now. “When exactly would I know that? During your twice-yearly visits? The five-minute phone calls?”

“How fucking dare you try to spin this—” My voice rises.

Theo raises his hands slightly. “Dom, that’s not fair. We all dealt with Mom’s illness differently.”

“Exactly. I had classes—” I start.

“Weallhave jobs, Cal,” Dominic interrupts, voice rising. “But Theo and Alex and I made time because someone had to handle this. Someone had to deal with the lawyers, the assessments, the buyers.”

“I know it’s hard,” Theo says, rubbing his temples like he’s fighting off a migraine. “Believe me, I’ve been struggling with it, too. But the wellness center will at least preserve the Midnight name. That’s something, right?”

“It’s bullshit,” I spit out. “Some tech bro slapping Mom and Dad’s name on his meditation pods and IV drip lounges. And Maren?”

The question hangs in the air. Theo looks down.