First, Best and Always

Chapter 42 The Truth and Nothing but the Truth

As Vin returned to the cabin Raven stared at him anxiously. “Did you get a hold of them?” she asked.

“Yeah babe, there’s no change.” “Well” he thought, “at least I didn’t lie to her, his condition is the same…I just know more about it.”

Raven slumped back in her seat, “How much longer until we get there?” she said in a voice just above a whisper.

“Only about another 30 minutes.” Vin replied.

Eric eyed him suspiciously, Chris had already told him about the injuries, he knew the update couldn’t be that good, he knew Vin was lying. “Seeing things my way now, are we?” he thought. Vin sat down beside her and gently offered a suggestion,

“Babe, maybe you ought to go and wash your face…ok?” “You don’t want the boys to see you all upset, do you?”

Raven considered it for a moment and then nodded her agreement, “I must look a fright,” she said softly.

“No, you look beautiful as always,” he said reassuringly, “Just put a cold cloth on your eyes for a few minutes, it will make you feel better.” Then taking her gently by the arm he helped her out of her seat into the aisle. She took the first few steps towards the restroom and then stopped. Turning to look back at them she said softly,

“Thank you…thank you for doing this for me, if it weren’t for the two of you….I don’t know what I would have done today.”

As she turned and continued to the restroom they could see her shaking her head from side to side and hear her saying under her breath, “I really don’t know what I would have done…”

As she entered the restroom Eric turned to Vin, “So what did they really say?”

“They’re worried about his kidneys…and the head injury.”

“They said he has some kind of fluid buildup around his brain, they’re monitoring it, and hoping that they…”

“That they don’t have to go in to correct it?”

“Yeah”

Eric stood shaking his head, “This isn’t good,” “I don’t want to sound like some kind of doomsayer, but this is something that could go bad very quickly.” “We’re going to be at the hospital in less than an hour, we need to do something to prepare her for what they’re going to tell her.”

“I know…I know, I just don’t know what to say, how do I tell her that her brother may die.”

“I know, I’ve been searching my mind trying to figure out the same thing.” “Perhaps if we just keep it clinical, discuss the injuries separately and give her just the clinical odds, without going into details…”

From the door of the restroom they heard, “Details on what?” Turning they saw Raven standing there listening. Vin and Eric stared at one another, each understanding that it was now or never, they had to say something, they couldn’t let her be blindsided by the doctors. Eric took the lead, slowly extending his hand to her he said,

“Come here Jicarilla….we have something to tell you….”