First, Best and Always

Chapter 26 Doubts Arise

It was almost 4:00 when Vin started downstairs to the kitchen. He called out for her as he entered the downstairs hallway, “Raven!.” Getting no response he called again, “Raven?” “Hey where are ya Pooh?” Searching the downstairs rooms and finding no one he finally opened the door and looked to her parking space. The car was gone.

“Where’d you go?” he thought to himself, then shaking his head in denial said aloud.

“No way, she can’t be with him,” she can’t.”

Vin began to imagine all manner of things, “Maybe she just went to the store for something” he thought, then decided no…

”She would have left a note or something if she had.”

He entered the kitchen and picked up her coffee cup, “Cold, she’s been gone for a while.” Setting the cup in the sink he turned and leaned back against the edge of the counter.

“Where are you?”

Looking around the room he spied the phonebook on top of the refrigerator and crossed the room to retrieve it. Slamming it on the table he pulled out a chair sat and quickly flipped through the ‘A’s’. “You better not be where I think you are,” he said his temper rising. “You damn well better not be there!”


Eric sat in quiet contemplation on the bench beside her. “You know why I’m here,” he said softly. “I keep struggling with this, and you’re the only one who can help me…who can tell me if I’m doing the right thing.” He went on, “These feelings I have, they haven’t diminished, and they haven’t changed.” “If anything they’ve gotten stronger.” “Being away has made me know just how much I….” he stopped short of saying it. “But you already know that, I don’t have to say it…do I?” he said smiling.

“I don’t want to be selfish, I don’t’ want to think only of myself…” “You know me better than anyone, and you’ve never been one to bite your tongue, if I’m being self-centered I know you’ll tell me.” “But this guy Vin…it’s not right what he did…it’s just not right.” “I would never have done it, never…not in a million years.”

“Father says that I should follow my heart, that it’s never steered me wrong before and that it will navigate the right course for me now.” “But it’s hard to know what is the right course and what is ‘just me’ wanting things my way.” “So I need to hear it from you, see some sign from you that I’m right.” “But if you say I’m wrong I’ll go.”

He sat quietly then waiting for a response, waiting for his answer. He didn’t have long to wait. Raven stood up from behind her parent’s tombstone and started back towards her car. Eric sat, watching as she got in her car and drove off. Gazing down he smiled, then kissing his hand he placed that kiss on her stone saying, “Thank you Ina ..I knew you’d show me the truth.”