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Her tears subsided and Kelly rose up unsteadily.
Roger was insane and even more dangerous than she had thought.
15
Raina raced through the bedrooms upstairs, checking to see if the movers had forgotten anything. In her bedroom, the enormity of what she was about to do hit her and she had to hold the door knob for support.
Calm down Raina, she thought. She was moving the children from the only home they had known in Palm Beach.
She had bought the B&B and sold the house in a few whirlwind weeks.
As if all that was not enough, the kids were starting school at Crampton Academy.
Raina recalled the meeting with the accountant from the firm that had offered the private scholarship. “So you won’t tell me how they were picked for this scholarship?” Raina had insisted for the tenth time, her arms crossed over her chest.
“I’m afraid I cannot divulge that information. It’s a condition of the scholarship,” he had replied.
She had left that meeting frustrated, but resigned that she might never get the closure from the Del Mar that she hoped for.
Her glance fell on the spot where her bed used to be and like rushing water memories of Christopher flooded her mind. She closed her eyes and remembered his gentle touch on her skin and his kisses that had seemed to awaken every nerve in her body.
She felt as though a part of her very essence was missing.
Why hadn’t he even given her a chance to explain? The excitement she had had earlier faded. She just wanted Christopher back. She felt so weak and foolish, but she missed having someone to share her life with.
He should be here with her now, boosting her confidence and telling her that she had made the right decisions. Every night that week she had lain wide awake, wondering if she was doing the right thing.
“Aunt Raina, what’s taking you so long? Everyone is waiting for you in the car!”
Raina had to smile at the irritation in Crystal’s voice. She who had to be called ten times every morning before school. She gave a last glance at her room before shutting the door.
Goodbye, Christopher, Raina whispered in her mind.
In leaving this house, she was leaving her memories of their short-lived relationship behind. Short and sweet, was how it had been for them.
“Alright guys, let’s get this show on the road,” Raina said with a grin as she herded the kids into the car.
“What show, Aunty? We’re in the car not a show,” Jeremiah piped up from the back seat.
Raina and the girls burst out laughing.
“What’s funny?” Jeremiah demanded.
“You are, and we love you so much, now belt up.”
On the way to the B&B, Raina listened absentmindedly to the kids’ conversation. Every once in a while, her mind strayed and she thought of the things she needed to do in the next couple of days. It was a good thing that the kids had several more weeks to go before schools closed for the summer.
It would give her time to settle in at the B&B and establish a routine.
The few weeks also gave them time to acclimatize themselves at the new school and then they would get a break during the summer months.
Raina pulled into the B&B parking lot as the movers were busy carrying furniture up to the third floor. The apartment had a private stairwell, behind the reception area, which would give Raina the confidence to leave the kids alone upstairs when she had to work, knowing they could find her any time they needed to.
Martha’s smiling face shone from the B&B entrance and she came towards Raina’s car.
“Hi Raina, how do you feel? Welcome to the new owner of Cliff West Inn!” Martha said, widening her arms to hug Raina.
“Oh, I’m feeling a little bit of everything right now! Excitement mixed with fear mostly,” Raina admitted.
