First, Best and Always

Chapter 54 Choose Your Battles

Raven stood outside the door to Craig’s room, she was shaking uncontrollably. In all the time she’d been with Vin there had been very few times when she’d even raised her voice to him, and now she’d raised her hand.

“God…” she thought, “What’s wrong with me?”

She paced back and forth momentarily; trying to regain her composure, then made her way to the ladies room. Entering the room she placed both hands on the countertop and stared at the stranger in the mirror…

“I can’t believe I did that…” “I can not believe I did that!”

Then, talking to herself she tried to justify her actions, but didn’t have much luck.

“He was out of line, he was waaaayyyy out of line…he had it coming! Damn! “God why is this happening to us!”

Inside the room Vin was furious. He raised his fists above his head and brought them down against the door to Craig’s bathroom with a vengeance; expelling a guttural scream of utter frustration as he did.

“Hurughhh!”

The hollow core door never stood a chance; it splintered and shattered spraying small pieces of wood all over the floor leaving two gaping holes where wood once was.

“That’s it!” He yelled at no one who could hear, “That’s it I’m done!” “I’m not gonna keep doing this.” “If she wants him she can have him!”

“She can have who?” came the voice behind him.

“Vin spun around prepared to let whoever owned that voice have it with both barrels, his anger quickly dissipated as his eyes fell on Craig’s mirror image….Chris. As he entered the room Chris surveyed the damage to the bathroom door. He slowly reached for Vin’s wrist and raised his hand to eye level to inspect the injuries.

“Bet that smarts” he said with a sheepish little grin. Looking quickly around the room he stepped into the bathroom and grabbed a small hand towel from the rack. Moistening the towel with cold water he wrung it out and gingerly wrapped it around Vin’s fist.

A wry smile crossed his face as he tentatively questioned Vin. “I know this is a hospital ‘n all, but don’t ya think we’ve got enough family members on the disabled list without adding you too?” “What’s happened in here?”

Watching Chris standing there trying to take care of him melted the anger away from him. Reaching up with his right hand he cupped the back of the Chris’ head and pulled him forward placing his forehead against the boy’s.

“Nothing that I can’t handle” he replied quietly.

Motioning towards the bathroom door Chris queried, “This is about Ric isn’t it?”

Vin paused pondering how much to say…”I wish I could say it was, I wish I could blame it all on him, but this…I can’t lay this at his door any more…not all of it anyway.”

Chris didn’t look up; he couldn’t look Vin in the eyes to say what he had to say. He kept his attention on Vin’s bruised hand gently wiping away the blood that was accumulating in the scrape…

“She’s in love with him ya know.” “I mean…she loves you too, I know she loves you too, and I know you love her, and I wish I could say he’s a bum and I hate him or something like that to make you feel better, but I can’t…he’s actually pretty cool once you get to know him.” “Did you know when we were studying for the S.A.T.’s he called us every day from Chicago to quiz us…did you know that?”

“No.” Vin said quietly “I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah he did… he’s the one who taught Craig how to box.” “That’s where he got that wicked left hook.”

Vin smiled in spite of himself, “No shit?”

“I shit you not.” Chris smiled seeing Vin start to perk up. “Taught both of us how to ride,” he said as he looked over at his brother’s still body. “And…

“And what?”

“He never tried to get rid of us.”

“Get rid of you?” Vin said incredulously “What do you mean get rid of you?”

Chris smiled as he moved closer to his brother’s side. “You know how it is when a guy’s going out with your sister…they never want you hangin’ around.” “Not him, no matter where they were going, if we said we wanted to go too…he took us.” “Used to drive Raven crazy.” “I guess its cause he had brothers of his own ya know?” “We were never left out with him…never.”

“I guess what I’m trying to say is…”

“Is what?” Vin questioned almost afraid to hear the answer.

“They’ve been together since before Craig and I were born.” “I don’t know if that’s something a person ever forgets…” “If he’s back in her life again…” Chris paused not knowing how to say it.

“If he’s back in her life again what?”

“This might not be a fight you can win Popi…” he looked up at him then repeating the words more firmly, “This might not be a fight you can win…”

Vin stood there staring at Chris, marveling at what an incredible young man he’d become, incredible and…insightful. He leaned back against the wall as the rest of the anger drained away from him. He tilted his head back against the cool hospital wall and closed his eyes as he spoke…”I’m beginning to think you might be right Chris…I’m beginning to think you might be right.”