As she drove she tried to think of a plan instead of simply walking in and saying “Hey Mom! Guess what!?” She didn’t bother stopping for a nap. No, she drove straight through.
Hours of driving and when she arrived she still had nothing! She stepped out of the car, grabbed her bags, and slowly walked up to the house. She yawned and stretched. When she was about half way to the door it burst open. “Oh my, goodness!!! Raelyn! Oh, honey! My baby’s home!” Her mother shouted over her shoulder toward Raelyn’s father who was probably in the den. The house was an old colonial home which was simply stunning. It showed all the major features of it’s time period including the large white columns which held up the covering to the porch.
“Hi, mom.” Raelyn smiled. She was hesitant about hugging her mother but knew if she didn’t she would know something was up. So she hugged her, just loosely.
Pulling away her mother gave her a strange, knowing look. Crap. She thought. Her mother knew.
“Darling, how was your drive... would you like to take a nap for a little while before lunch? I’m sure you are exhausted.”
“Yes, I would love that.” She yawned once again.
Her mother helped her with her bags and showed her to the bedroom which Raelyn still called hers. It had been updated since her childhood years though thank goodness. No longer did it sport pink walls and posters, but instead it was a blue green with white trim and a beautiful white spread covered queen sized bed in the center of a wooden floor.
She set down her bag and turned to shut the door, but her mother stood there. “Should we talk first?” her mother questioned knowingly.
“Uh...” Raelyn muttered.
“Darling. You can’t hide these things from your mother.”
Raelyn frowned. “What do you want to talk about?”
“You know what I want to be told,” her mother didn’t hesitate. Her stare burned holes into Raelyn and she fidgeted.
“I’m pregnant.”
“That’s what I thought! Oh my goodness!!! Oh... does Richard know?! Have you seen a doctor? What are you going to do about working? Richard shouldn’t let you do such strenuous tasks while pregnant I’ll have to talk to him.” Her mother beamed as she paced back and forth. “I have to plan a party! And I have to get a room set up for your visits! And ... “ her mother went on.
Raelyn laughed slightly and grasped onto her mother’s arm. “Mom... mom... calm down.” Her mother looked at her. “No. Richard doesn’t know and he’s not going to know. He isn’t ‘letting me’ do anything remember. We divorced. Yes, I went to the doctor. And no... I don’t know what I’m going to do about work. I think I’m going to open a shop.”
“Oh, but don’t you want the baby to know its father?” Her mother questioned with a slight frown.
“He’s not the father.”
“He’s not the father! You cheated on your husband, Raelyn!”
“Mom! NO, we’ve been divorced for a while now! Really? You need to get him out of your mind. He’s gone.”
“Yes, dear. I’m sorry. Who is the lucky guy? When is he arriving?”
“Uhmm... He doesn’t know yet. I think I’m going to raise this baby a bit unconventionally... you know... without the father...”
Her mother growled out something inaudible, then turned and left the room.
With her mother gone and knowing the big secret she knew there was no turning back. When she walked out of the room at 11 am... everyone would know. Her mother would tell her father, who in turn would tell her brothers who would undoubtedly tell Merilee as they tried hitting on her... again.
Merilee would be telling her mother how Raelyn had scared away the one man she had met who treated her like an angel and now she had no idea of where he was. It would only be a matter of moments and they would be going out and getting baby supplies and before she headed home... her car would be overflowing.
She grumbled as she curled into the bed for a nap.
Chapter 17
Sure enough. There was a celebration pretty much when Raelyn woke. Her mother and Merilee were already planning her baby shower and nursery. While her father was complaining about to her brothers about the acts of being responsible and not making the same mistakes.
“How come you didn’t tell me, Rae!?” Merilee asked as she sat down at the table, it was obvious she was a little hurt.
“Sorry Meri... I just...”
“So what is the lucky guy’s name?!” her brother Sebastian called from the other room. “Was he too scared to meet the family and split?”
“Ha ha, Bast. Ha ha. No, actually, he doesn’t know.” She rolled her eyes calling back.
That’s how the whole visit went. That was until one pm came around and Raelyn’s phone began ringing repeatedly. “Who’s calling so much Rae?” her mother questioned.
“Oh... it’s just Darla... she’s probably pissed that I am not there stripping down and getting into one of those fancy gowns she has for me to wear at the fashion show in a few hours.”
“You left when you’re supposed to be at a show!” Merilee screeched with laughter laced in her voice.
“Yeah.” Raelyn smiled. “I can’t do that pregnant. They’ll fire me for sure. Ya know... belly.”
“Who needs them anyway! Hey!!! Did I tell you? I found someone to rent that guest house of yours!” Merilee chimed cheerfully. It had been two weeks since she had helped Raelyn pack her things up and move into the new house. Two LONG and LONELY weeks. Yet so much closer to town now, Raelyn still felt as if there was something missing. Her beloved dog, Tanner, her Australian Shepherd had grown too old and passed away with the stress of the move. Now her other dog, Lilly, looked around anxiously trying to find her friend. She groaned. Why was life so difficult?
“No, you didn’t.” Raelyn grinned. “What’s her name?”
“Oh... uh, her name is Charlie. She’s a friend from way back. She’s in town for a few months and so I thought that would be perfect for a little while.”
“Great. I can’t wait to meet her. I think I’m going to get going back home. I’m soo tired.” Raelyn yawned. Yes, she had only been there a day. But now she had plenty of things to think about, starting with what she was going to do about her job.
Raelyn drove all afternoon and as soon as she got home she was so exhausted she simply left her things in her car and clambered into bed. Tired. Lilly laid by her on the bed a bit put-off-ish for a dog. Maybe she would think about getting her a friend...
It didn’t take long for Raelyn to drift off. Her heavy lids shutting as soon as her head hit the pillow. Lately, she had dreamt of explicit encounters with Cole and then once the loneliness of Cole never coming back her dreams had morphed into something in the looks of a man, but not quite Cole... more like just some random guy.
Her steamy dream soon began to make her sweat and it wasn’t the good kind of sweat either. It was hot. Literally. She fidgeted in her sleep and still couldn’t figure out why. Smoke clouded the dream and Raelyn felt trapped. The smoke clouded her lungs and she coughed. One cough turned into more and more until she knew there wasn’t much time. She wandered around, but she couldn’t escape! This was it. It was her last dream. She was dying, she knew it.
Wake up! she screamed at herself in her dream.
She could hear the sirens of fire trucks. They were trying to get to her. Their lights flashed and struggled to get through the smoke. Her house was engulfed and there was no way out! What about Lilly? No. Lilly was barking to get out... barking for her to get out.
“Anyone in here!?” Voices called. But she couldn’t answer.
Chapter 18
Cole hated staying at the firehouse. He couldn’t go back to Raelyn’s farm though. Yuna had told him it sold. Yes. Yuna knew everything... unfortunately. He had thought about going back many times but then there was that month of extra training he had to do to move up in the chain of command and he knew he couldn’t let that opportunity slip away. He had packed a bag and went off to the
largest training facility around, 500 miles away. In that time, Raelyn had sold the house and moved away. So when he had come back... it was too late.
He was so stupid! How could he have been so stupid! It was obvious now to him, looking in, that Raelyn had been in a bad relationship and was trying desperately to stay away from any further relationships. Cole didn’t really care about her past. It was none of his business. BUT he did care about her now and her future. He wanted to be in that part of her life.
It was too late.
He had tried to talk to the chief about his predicament though a good friend, not the best in relationship advice. Yet chief did offer him a counselor, he didn’t want it though.
He shifted around in bed. Waiting for something to do. It had been an exceptionally dry spell lately and there was bound to be a bad fire soon. He could feel it coming.
The fire alarms blew.
Cole jumped up out of bed and raced to the pole. He grasped it and slipped down with the speed of a very skilled firefighter. He kicked off his shoes and slipped on his overalls, coat, then helmet. As he hopped aboard the truck started and other men jumped on as well. He could hear the CB going off and this fire... it was a big one.
It threatened all the houses on the street and also threatened a guest house behind it. Reportedly at least one woman was trapped inside. She had come home only a few hours ago from her weekend trip with a dog, but the neighbors had her dog, burned but not badly, in their car safely on the way to a vet. The woman though... no one had seen her exit the home.
“Jameson!” Chief called as he scooted back toward Cole. “I got some news...”
“Oh?” Cole’s face contorted slightly. He didn’t know anyone in the area...
“Yeah... uh... I don’t know how to say this Cole but...”
“Oh for the love of chili just spit it out Chief! You know you can’t hide anything from me... We’ve known each other for way too long for that.” Cole grumbled.
“Cole...” the chief sighed, using his first name... was never good. “It’s her... the owner of the house, her name is Raelyn Shepherd.”
“NO!” Cole screamed. He rushed toward the door, but a hand landed on his shoulder first.
“Don’t do anything stupid. We need you. She needs you.”
He shook his head frantically shaking off his friend’s hand. Then rushed forward. Once Cole reached the house he smashed through the door and that’s when it happened... The flames which had engulfed the house had weakened the structure and the main beams could no longer support it. The roof collapsed in.
To be continued in Spark book 2 of the Dying Dark series. I’m sorrrrryyyyy.... the darkness has gripped my story! And I know it’s bad but I must!!! I must! End here. To be continued.
Hope you enjoyed the Dark the first book of the Dying Spark Series by Lindsey Owens!
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Dark (Dying Spark Book 1) Page 5