Embracing Forever

by Sheryl Lister

  “You’re not going to like what I have to say, but if he never said anything, then she wasn’t worth mentioning.”

  Raven jumped to her feet and strode angrily toward the door. “You men are all alike.”

  Simeon cut her off and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Hear me out, sis. I know you’re angry with Bryson, but from what you’ve told me, he would’ve never invited that woman, knowing you were coming.”

  Her shoulders sagged and those damn tears came anyway.

  He peered into her face. “Raven, I truly believe that what he had with her was nothing more than a casual once-in-a-while type arrangement. You said you knew about all his ex’s, right?”

  She nodded.

  “Met them?”

  “Yes,” she mumbled.

  “When was the last one?”

  Raven thought back and couldn’t remember. Was it last year?

  Simeon wiped her tears. “I rest my case,” he said softly and kissed her forehead. He hugged her. “You love him, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” she whispered on a broken sob. The tears came full force and she let herself be consoled by the little boy who she had always taken care of, who now eclipsed her height by six inches and who had become a man of whom she was extremely proud. When the tears finally stopped, she looked up at her brother. “I thought this was supposed to be my job.”

  He smiled. “It still is, but it’s okay if we switch up every now and then.”

  She gave him a watery smile. “Thank you. I’m sorry for interrupting your date.”

  “It’s okay. Andrea’s cool. She’s an attorney I met recently. We’re both trying to work our way up in our firms.”

  “Well, I’d better go.”

  “Stay. We can watch Captain America and I’ll make you popcorn with extra butter and an orange freeze.”

  He knew she wouldn’t be able to resist. “Okay.” He went to make popcorn and Raven removed her shoes and sat on the sofa. Had he been right about Bryson? Bryson said he hadn’t seen her in months, but the woman waltzed into his home like she owned the place and it had infuriated Raven to no end. Most people would probably call it jealousy and she probably would, too if she owned up to it, which she wouldn’t. Maybe she wasn't ready for the type of relationship Bryson offered. Life was so much simpler when they were just friends. She heard a buzzing sound and glanced around. It took a moment to realize it was her phone. Raven dug it out of her purse and saw the missed call from Bryson. Actually five missed calls. She didn’t want talk to him right now. She knew he wouldn’t stop calling and wouldn’t put it past him to camp out at her house, and she couldn’t deal with all the emotions right now. What am I going to do? A thought came to her. Home. She could go home.

  Simeon entered with a big bowl of popcorn and two orange freezes. He handed her a glass and sat down next to her. He picked up the remote, turned the television on and started the movie from the On Demand menu.

  “I think I want to go home for a few days.”

  “Ah, okay. What about work?”

  “I don’t know. Say I have a family emergency or something.”

  “Are you serious about wanting to go?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’ll make the reservation and you can leave tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” She had never run from anything in her life—that had always been Ryleigh’s thing. A small voice in her head reminded her that Ryleigh had found her forever when she stopped running, but Raven ignored it. Raven typically faced her problems head-on, but this time she was running as far away as she could.

  Chapter Eleven

  Bryson was at his wits end. He had a hundred things to do today at the center, but he couldn’t concentrate on even one. He’d called Raven a half a dozen times last night and sat outside her place until one in the morning and she hadn’t come home. She wouldn’t return his calls and he was close to losing his mind. Where is she? He braced his hands on his desk and bowed his head. His heart felt like it had been ripped out of his chest. He drew in a deep breath.

  “No word from Raven?” He lifted his head and saw Jerome standing in the doorway of his office.

  He shook his head. “She won’t return my calls.”

  Jerome came in and shut the door. “Maybe you should try her job.”

  “I already called. She didn’t come in.” He collapsed into his chair and dragged a hand down his face. “What am I going to do, Rome? I love her so much it hurts. I need to find her and try to talk to her.” He let out an animalistic growl. “Where the hell is she?”

  Jerome pulled out his phone and made a call. After a moment, he put it back in his pocket. She’s not answering. A knock sounded and he opened the door. “Hey, Ken.”

  Kendrick came in. “Anything?”

  “No,” Bryson answered in an agonized whisper. Both his friends wore expressions of concern. He’d called last night and told them about the disastrous events that had occurred.

  “She’s not answering my calls, either,” Jerome said.

  Kendrick sighed. “Same here. Bryse, have you thought about calling her brother?”

  “Simeon?” Would she have gone to him? And if she had, would Simeon tell Bryson? “No. I don’t have his number, but Raven mentioned where he worked once.”

  Jerome and Kendrick shared a look. “Call him,” they said.

  “She’s his sister and he probably won’t tell me anything if he thinks I hurt her.”

  “Maybe, maybe not,” Kendrick said. “But if you love Raven like you say you do, I figure you’ll do whatever it takes to get her back.”

  “I do.” He rotated his chair toward his laptop and googled the name of the law firm. Once he had the number, he called and a receptionist informed him that Simeon was out unavailable at the moment, but had an opening for a consultation that afternoon due to a cancellation. Bryson scheduled the appointment and hung up. He looked at Jerome and Kendrick’s expectant gazes. “I have an appointment with Simeon at two.” He just wished he could be sure that he would come away with the information he needed.

  The day seemed to creep by and he became more anxious the closer it came to the time he had to leave. At one o’clock, he powered off his laptop, locked it in the drawer and went to find Jerome. He found him in one of the classrooms observing the first and second grade summer school class. Bryson got Jerome’s attention and signaled for him to step out. “I just want to let you know I’m leaving.” The drive to the Wilshire District should take only thirty-five or forty minutes, but LA traffic could be unpredictable and he’d rather be early than late.

  “Okay. Are you coming back?”

  “Depends on what I find out.”

  Jerome clapped him on the back. “Good luck, my brother.”

  “Thanks. I’m going to need it.”

  As he suspected, the congested street and highways added ten minutes to his driving time and he arrived with eight minutes to spare. He parked in the underground garage and followed the directions to the fourth-floor office. A woman sat at the receptionist desk and greeted him.

  “Hello. I have an appointment with Simeon Holloway.”

  She pulled up a screen on her computer and searched for a minute. “Mr. Montgomery?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have a seat and I’ll let Mr. Holloway know you’re here.”

  “Thank you.” Bryson sat in one of the leather chairs in the waiting room and did something he hadn’t done in a long time. He prayed.

  “Bryson.”

  His eyes popped open and swiftly came to his feet. “Simeon.”

  “Come on back.”

  He followed Simeon past several offices and stopped at one midway down the hall.

  Simeon closed the door and gestured Bryson to a chair. “I assume you’re here about Raven.”

  “If you know that, then she told you what happened. Believe me, I was angrier than Raven about Whitney.”

  He nodded.

  “I need to talk to her. She’s not returning my
calls, she’s not at home or at work.”

  “Do you love my sister?”

  He met Simeon’s challenging stare unflinchingly. “More than life itself. You’ve never seen me mistreat your sister and I never will.”

  Simeon regarded Bryson silently. “For what it’s worth, I believe you.”

  Bryson released the breath he’d been holding. “Do you know where she is?”

  “Yes. Since you and my sister are good friends, you have to know that relationships have always been hard for her. Men don’t always know how to take her because she’s not afraid of speaking her mind. Raven has a handle on every area in her life, except this one. She retreats at the first sign of trouble. It’s how she protects herself.”

  “I know. But I would never hurt her. She means too much to me. I need to know where she is, Simeon. Please.”

  Simeon seemed to struggle with whether to tell Bryson her whereabouts or not. “And when you find her?”

  “Do what I had planned to do last night. Ask her to marry me,” Bryson answered without hesitation.

  “I’ve always respected you, Bryson and if I didn’t know your history with Raven, I’d let you take your chances. But I want my sister to be happy and I know she loves you, too. Just don’t hurt her,” he said warningly.

  “You have my word.”

  “She went home.”

  Stunned, Bryson asked, “South Carolina?”

  “Yes. She’ll be back on Monday.” A smile played around the corners of Simeon’s mouth. “The look on your face says you don’t want to wait that long.”

  “I can’t.” Today was Thursday and no way would he make it another four days without trying to make things right. “Where’s the nearest hotel in Rosewood Heights?”

  He rounded his desk, wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to Bryson.

  “Rosewood Inn?”

  “Yeah. There are a few large chain hotels outside of Rosewood Heights, but this is the best place to stay.”

  “Thanks, Simeon.” Bryson felt the weight on his chest ease a fraction. “I’ll be there late tonight or tomorrow, depending on when I can get a flight.” He retrieved a business card and gave it to Simeon. “Here’s my number. Do you think you can find out where Raven will be tomorrow?”

  Simeon chuckled. “Probably either at the town’s bakery or the gardens at Rosewood Estates. Those are her favorite places. I’ll call her tomorrow around noon to be sure, then let you know.”

  “I appreciate this, man.” He extended his hand and Simeon grasped it in a firm handshake.

  “Just make Raven happy and promise me you won’t be a bossy big brother.”

  Bryson smiled for the first time. “Done. Raven is bossy enough for the both of us.”

  “True that.”

  He was searching for flights on his phone before he exited the elevator and found that the earliest available wouldn’t be until tonight. Once in the car, he called Jerome, filled him in and told him that he wouldn’t be back until Monday. He wasn’t leaving without Raven. He made a second call to Myles. It was time to go get his woman.

  * * *

  Raven felt her stress melt away the moment Ava drove into the town limits. “Thanks for picking me up.”

  “Oh, girl, you know I would’ve been upset if you had called anyone else. I do have to say I was pretty surprised to get your call this morning.”

  “I just needed to get away for a few days.”

  “Who hurt you?”

  She should have expected the question. “Can we talk about it later?”

  “Whenever you’re ready. You want to go to your parents’ house?”

  Raven would have preferred to stay at the Rosewood Inn, but her mother would have a heart attack. “I guess. But can we stop at Roseberry Bakery? I need some butter cookies.” Mrs. Oak’s butter cookies and blueberry muffins drew crowds from all over the state. Growing up, she and her girlfriends had visited the bakery at least once a week.

  Ava laughed. “I might need to get a couple myself.” She turned down the street leading to downtown and, minutes later, parked in front of the bakery.

  The familiar smells of the bakery hit Raven’s nose and an involuntary moan slipped out. She greeted the people she knew and placed her order, limiting herself to only half a dozen. She could eat double that amount in one sitting, but at thirty, the weight didn’t come off as easy anymore. She’d eaten two cookies by the time they got back into the car. “I can’t believe they still taste exactly the same as when we were kids.”

  “I know, right? These things are addictive. I really have to watch it. Gotta keep it sexy for Owen.”

  Raven smiled. “How is married life?”

  “Absolutely fabulous.”

  Raven was happy for Ava, but it only served to magnify the pain in her heart and the knowledge that she would never have the same.

  Ava seemed to sense the change and said, “I’ll come by later and we can talk.”

  “Okay.” A few minutes later, Ava parked in front of her parents’ house. Home. She leaned over and hugged her friend. “See you in a while.” She got out, retrieved her suitcase from the backseat and rolled it up the walk.

  Her mother came barreling out of the house and down the steps toward her. “Oh, my goodness! Raven.” She grabbed her up and held Raven like she would never let go.

  “Hi, Mom.” Tears stung her eyes.

  She held Raven away, gave her a once over then pulled her into another crushing hug. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? How long are you staying? Have you eaten?”

  Raven laughed. “Can I answer one question at a time? I’ll be here until Monday morning and I had two butter cookies on the way. I just needed to be home for a few days.”

  Her mother studied her critically. “Well, come on in, baby. I sense you need some cheering up. Your daddy’s going to be so happy to see you.”

  “Is he home yet?”

  “He got here five minutes ago.”

  She carried her bag up the steps and into the house.

  “Margaret, who are you talking to—“ His eyes lit up. “Hey, baby girl.”

  Her father rushed over and, once again, Raven was swept up in a hug. She basked in the strong embrace of her father. She had always been a daddy’s girl and no one gave hugs like him. “Hi, Daddy.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?”

  “I just wanted to come home for a few days.” Her parents shared a glance. “What? I can’t come home?”

  “Of course you can. Go put your stuff in your room and come on out to the porch so we can talk. And welcome home, baby.”

  Raven smiled. She headed to her room. When she got there, she stood in the middle of the floor and drew in a deep, calming breath. This was exactly what she needed. She quickly changed into a tank top and shorts and walked barefoot out to the front porch. Her parents were sitting in their favorite swing with glasses of sweet tea. Raven picked up the third glass and sat in the rocking chair facing the swing.

  “How’s the job going?” her father asked.

  “It’s going well. Just busy, as usual. Simeon said you two are thinking of going on a cruise.”

  “We’re more than thinking about it,” her mother said with a smile. “We booked it for September.”

  “That’s wonderful. Where are you going?”

  “It’s a week-long cruise to the Caribbean.”

  A twinge of envy hit Raven as she watched her parents share a loving stare and a short kiss. Memories of Bryson’s kiss rose so sharply in her mind, she could almost feel his lips against hers. Her eyes slid closed.

  “Raven, are you okay, honey?”

  She opened her eyes and smiled at her mother. “I’m fine. Just a little tired from the flight.” She set the tea aside. She asked them more about the cruise and caught up on all her family and friends. Soon her parents went back inside, her mother to start dinner and her father to take a phone call. Raven relished the quiet, lush green surroundings. She could
sit out here all night.

  As promised, Ava came back. She went in to speak to Raven’s parents then came back out to the porch. “You ready to talk about it?”

  “No, but I’ll tell you anyway.” She started with the breakup with Darren, Bryson consoling her and the two of them ending up in bed together, and finished with their subsequent relationship and the devastating events that led her back to her hometown.

  “So do you think he was cheating on you?”

  Over the past twenty-four hours, Raven had done a lot of thinking and had come to the conclusion that Bryson had been truthful about not having seen Whitney in months. “No.”

  “Then why haven’t you talked to him?”

  “Scared, I guess. It’s crazy, I know. Me, the queen of the daredevils, ran clear across the country because I’m afraid to let go.”

  “Raven, love means taking the risk, even though you’re afraid. Imagine your life with Bryson.”

  Raven thought about all the years he’d been part of her life—the laughter, fun, the serious times, and more recently, last weekend at his house. She smiled.

  “Now imagine it without him.”

  Her heart almost stopped and she struggled to draw in a breath. Bryson had been such an integral part of her life she couldn’t envision him not being there. “I can’t.” A pain spread across her chest and she brought her hand up and massaged the spot, hoping to ease the agony.

  “I didn’t think so. Stop running, Raven. I know Mac, Ryleigh and Quinn would tell you the same thing.”

  Once again, Quinn’s words floated across her mind. Don’t let your fears stop you from being happy because I believe he could be the one for you. “I don’t know how.”

  Ava grasped her hand. “Just let go. I promise it’ll all work out.”

  Ava sounded so sure. Raven wished she shared her optimism.

  * * *

  Bryson followed Simeon’s directions and spotted the man holding the sign with his name.

  “Welcome to South Carolina, Mr. Montgomery.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Do you have any other bags?”

  “No, just this one.” He had brought one carry on because he didn’t want to waste one minute longer than he had to before seeing Raven.