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“Of course, I’ll take you by to get it. It’s not out of the way.”
“You’re a sweetheart. It’s way out of the way, but I love you for not mentioning it.”
Dreaming of hot coffee as she drove, Raven had taken her friend into town to pick up the car. They found it right where Wes had left it, covered in a fine coating of Texas dust.
Sensing something was wrong, before Maggie got out, Raven asked her, “Is everything okay with you and Wes?”
“Sure, why?” Maggie asked. It was weird, but her friend’s “Why?” almost sounded like “What do you know?”
“No reason,” Raven replied. “It’s just that Wes doesn’t often go out on a weeknight, and even less often without you…”
Maggie’s eyes brimmed with tears as she admitted, “We had a fight. I’m sure everything will be fine. He’s just been a little distant lately.”
“Oh, honey,” Raven said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“It’s okay,” Maggie told her. “It’s not your fault. I’ve been crying about everything lately. I think maybe that’s what’s pushing him away. He’s afraid to say anything in fear it might bring on a bad mood and a torrent of tears. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“You want to have lunch today? We can talk. I’m off at one thirty, but if you have your lunch earlier, I’m sure Cheryl wouldn’t mind if I left for a while.”
Maggie nodded and wiped her tears. “That would be nice. I can do one thirty. You want to meet me at the Wendy’s down from the school?”
“I’ll be there,” Raven promised her.
After she waited for Maggie to get in her car and start it up, she headed to work. The drive to Pendale was short, but she was running late. It didn’t matter. She was glad she’d been there for Maggie. It made Raven sad to hear that she and Wes were having problems. They were the couple who had restored her faith in love. She’d even restarted her novel, and the love story she was writing was loosely based on their close relationship.
But now Raven was at work. While Cheryl kneaded out the dough to make the morning’s delectable creations, she talked non-stop, telling Raven the newest rumors that were flying around town. Raven nodded and said, “Mm hmm,” in all the appropriate places, and was even mildly interested at a few points. Cheryl was still talking a few minutes after six when Raven turned the sign in the window to “Open” and unlocked the front door of the bakery. Almost immediately, the bells on the door jangled, and Raven turned to see her brother Hank come in the door.
“Hank!” she cried, going over to give him a hug. She was happy to see him, although surprised.
“Hi, Raven. How are you?” he said.
Raven held him back at arm’s length to have a look. He seemed healthy, and he even had a little suntan across his face.
“I’m great, Hank. Surprised to see you, though. How are you? What are you doing here?”
Hank laughed. “One question at a time, sis. I’m good, better than I’ve been in a long time. I’m here to see you, and meet with Corbett later today.”
Raven led him over to the counter and said, “Sit, I’ll get you some coffee.”
Cheryl waved at him from the back, and Hank waved back. He seemed embarrassed to see her again, no doubt after the way he’d acted in the past. At least she was smiling at him and didn’t look like she’d held a grudge.
Glad she’d already filled the pot, Raven set a cup in front of him and poured. “You want a muffin or something?” she asked when his cup was full.
“No thanks, Raven. I need to talk to you about something.”
“Oh no,” she said with a grin.
“It’s not bad, well, not compared to what I was mixed up in before. Corbett said he got approval to put me in Witness Protection. That’s what he wants to talk to me about today.”
“That’s good,” Raven reckoned. Looking at her brother’s face, however, she could tell that he didn’t feel the same. “Why is that not good, Hank?” she asked.
“Raven, you know I don’t do well on my own. I don’t have a knack for making friends, and I’m not even very good at getting a date. We both know my horrible track record when it comes to relationships. I don’t want to be sent off to a strange city, probably in another state, and be all alone, Raven. I don’t want to go. I want to be here, close to you.”
Raven put the coffee pot away and came back over to her brother. “Oh, Hank. I know that it’s a scary prospect, starting over. But new beginnings aren’t all bad. I came here looking for one, and look how happy I am. I have great new friends and a new relationship.” Cheryl, who was clearly straining to hear their conversation, cleared her throat. Raven added, “And I have the best job and the greatest boss in the world.”
Hank looked up at Cheryl and smiled. Then he said, “I’m happy for you, Raven. But we both know that I’m not like you. I don’t make friends like you do. I’m afraid of being completely alone.”
Raven put her arm around her brother. “How about I talk to Corbett with you? Maybe we can figure something out for you.”
