For the Love of Jason
"What are you going to do
now, child?"
Christina Belcuri’s tear-filled
eyes went wide at Mabel’s question. Mabel Jenkins was the matronly postmaster
for the small town of
Pulling herself together, she
glanced down at the small bundle that slept in her arms, oblivious to all but a
pair of loving arms, a dry diaper and a bottle of milk when the time was right.
Three-month-old Jason Raven, it seemed, was to be her responsibility now. Never
mind that somewhere out there he had a father and grandmother -- neither of
whom seemed overly concerned with the matter. Despite the fact that Christina
had sent a certified letter to the address that Jeannie Raven’s address book
had listed as her mother’s, neither Georgiana Stanton, nor the mysterious Mr.
Raven who had 18 months previous claimed Jeannie as his bride had put in an
appearance at Jeannie’s funeral.
"I sup-suppose,"
Christina said tentatively, "that I’ll be caring for Jason now."
"Supposing isn’t good enough,
girl. A child needs more sincerity than supposing." Mabel’s tone
threatened to bring fresh tears to Christina’s eyes, but she straightened her
shoulders and spoke more firmly.
" But I am sincere, Mabel.
I’ll take care of Jason just like he was my own. I’ll love him just like Aunt
Elise loved me, and like Jeannie’s aunt Cara loved her."
"I know you will,"
Mabel’s voice softened as she placed a plump hand on Christina’s shoulder.
"I know. " Then turning her gaze to the pink casket that had been
partially lowered into the ground, she went on, shaking her head, "Such a
shame. That one was too young and too beautiful die. And she had so much to
live for." At that Mabel’s eyes rested on Jason.
Then turning again toward
Christina, a frown crossed the woman’s stern features. "I’m not surprised
at the mother. But still no word on the father?" Her tone of voice
suggested that there was more behind the questions. But Christina was too
exhausted to do more than to answer it at face value.
Christina sighed. "No. When
Jeannie showed up on my doorstep a year ago, she was a mess. You know that
Mabel. She didn’t want to talk about her husband. I didn’t even find out that
they’d only been married for seven months until she found out she was pregnant.
Even then she wouldn’t tell me his name. All she would say was that Georgiana
was evil, and that he wasn’t to
blame. And that she wouldn’t let him
suffer for what she had done."
Mabel sighed along with her.
"A body can understand why Cara told the child that her mother was dead.
Shame that she had to find out different after Cara passed."
"Yeah, she said that,
too," Christina confided. Privately however, she couldn’t understand why
Cara Meridon, the woman who had raised Jeannie would lie to her niece, telling
her that her mother was dead. Or why a mother would go along with the game,
never visiting or even writing her child.
"She probably found out the
truth after that woman got her hands on the money Cara left the girl."
Christina looked up in surprise.
Jeannie hadn’t told her much about what had happened during the six years she
had been away from McAllister. All that Christina knew was that the only person
she’d called best friend and ‘sister’ had changed dramatically in that time.
Having both grown up in a small
town environment under the care of Aunts, they’d become fast friends, even to
the point of declaring one another family. A year after graduating high school,
Jeannie’s aunt Cara died suddenly. Those had been difficult days for the both
of them, then news had come that Jeannie’s mother, Georgiana Stanton was alive
and well and living on the West Coast. Jeannie had been ecstatic to learn that
she might have a ‘real’ family. Shortly after, she decided to finish college on
the West Coast nearer her newfound family.
During the initial months of their
separation, Jeannie had written quite often. Greenich was a big city in
comparison to McAllister, and she’d had a lot that she wanted to share. But
eventually Jeannie’s letters became shorter and further apart. Within a year
they had stopped writing altogether. When Christina’s Aunt Elise died, the
letter Christina sent to Jeannie was returned unopened. No such person as
Jeannie Meridon resided at that address.
And then, after more than three
years of silence, Jeannie showed up on Christina’s doorstep. The once
happy-go-lucky young woman had been come a nervous, tearful and sometimes
hysterical woman perhaps near the brink of a total breakdown. Christina hadn’t
known what to do for her. But she could not, under any circumstances, turn away
her friend. Once again, they were their only family. A week after her arrival,
Jeannie discovered that she was pregnant.
Halfway through her pregnancy,
Jeannie seemed to calm down and settle into a routine. And then after Jason was
born, it was as if the old Jeannie was back. She was happy again, and had a
purpose for going on. Christina had thought that it was only a matter of time
before she opened up and confided all that had taken place after she’d moved to
Greenich.
But then, suddenly, there was no
more time. Jeannie Raven, once vibrant, witty and beautiful, was no more. Just
before her twenty-fifth birthday, Jeannie was killed by a hit and run driver
while returning home from a shopping trip in a neighboring town. In one
careless act, an as-yet-unknown, driver had taken one life, and changed another
forever.
"Well, well, well. What have
we here?"
Christina was pulled from her
thoughts by Mabel’s words. Following the woman’s gaze passed the thinning crowd
of mourners, she caught sight of something sleek and black pulling to a stop
along the dirt road that led to this part of the cemetery.
All eyes remained glued on the
vehicle as a man dressed in a dark suit got out of the driver's side and then
moved to open the passenger door. Christina was sure that even the birds ceased
to make a sound as the form of a tall man dressed completely in black, down to
the black glasses that obscured most of his features was assisted from the
vehicle. She wondered for a moment if he were hurt, because even after he was
out of the car, the driver continued to offer his arm. It wasn’t until he
rounded the front of the vehicle that she noticed that cane clasped in his
right dancing above the surface of the ground. This man was blind. And he
wasn’t from around those parts.
The two men stopped near Jetty
Burke and asked him a question. Christina noticed that while the driver had
talked to Jetty, the blind man had gazed absently skyward. But when Jetty had
begun speaking, he had turned intently in the direction of the Jetty's voice.
Christina felt pretty sure that
the conversation was either about herself or Mabel, because Jetty pointed a
crooked finger in their direction before getting another eyeful of the sleek
black sedan that the two men had driven up in. Cars were Jetty's fascination,
and this was probably the type that he had only seen in magazines.
There was no more time to ponder
the men’s purpose in coming because they were already near enough for Christina
see that the driver was of medium height and build, while his charge was tall,
slim and dark. Dark was the description that suited him best; dark hair, dark
coloring, dark clothing, and a mouth set in a thin brooding line.
"I am Oscar Desmond,"
the driver introduced himself. "And we are seeking someone by the name of
C. Belcuri." His gray eyes wore an expression of sympathy, but also
something else. Something that bothered Christina deeply.
She blinked, attempting to hold
the feeling of trepidation at bay. But the small gesture of drawing Jason a
little tighter against her shoulder, almost in protection, was unconscious.
"I’m Christina Belcuri," she said. "Is there anything I can do
to help you?"
The driver made a gesture against
the blind man’s arm, who then turned his attention toward her with an intensity
that caused Christina to question his blindness. "I am Michael
Raven," the blind man spoke, extending his hand toward her. "You sent
a telegram concerning my wife, concerning Jeannie?"
Christina gaped. It wasn’t until
Mabel nudged her that she glanced down and saw that Michael Raven had extended
his hand toward her. It was slightly off, but Desmond gestured that she should
take it, anyway.
Moving quickly, too late to
conceal her shock, Christina reached for the man’s hand and briefly clasped it
in greeting. "I’m sorry, Jeannie was a good friend," she managed,
having no idea what else to say to the man who had been Jeannie’s husband, to
Jason’s father. Jason’s father! The
thought struck fear into her heart. It wasn’t until that moment that she began
to realize how much she didn’t want to lose the little guy. The child was as
much a part of her as he was of Jeannie. And of, she admitted reluctantly to
herself, Michael Raven.
As if beginning to sense some of
the turmoil around him, Jason began to whine and fret. Tiny hands clinched as
his body wriggled fussily against Christina’s shoulder. Immediately, Christina
began to make comforting noises. Locating the pacifier that had been tied to
his shirt front, she placed it into his mouth. The child took it, but continued
to make unhappy whining noises.
"I’m sorry," Raven
apologized. "I didn’t realize... Perhaps we can set up an appointment. I’m
going to be at the..." His voice trailed off as he turned slightly toward
Desmond.
"The Howard Johnson,
Sir," Desmond informed him.
"The Howard Johnson. If I may
contact you, there are a number of things I would like to discuss."
"There will be a gathering
tonight...for Jeannie," Christina found herself saying. "It will be
above Elise’s Olde Time gift shop, on Main Street. Everyone knows where it is.
The entrance is in back. Everyone will probably be arriving around six."
Raven seemed to consider this for
a moment. "Thank you," he said, finally. "I will look forward to
talking to you later."
After mutual good-bye’s, Christina
watched the two men head slowly back toward their car. Mr. Michael Raven was
not at all what she had expected. Handsome, yes; well spoken, perhaps; blind,
definitely not.
~*~
Jason was sleeping soundly at six
o'clock when the guests began to arrive. Angela Kater was first. She was a
plump middle aged woman with a cherubic face and an incurable knack for gossip.
"Am I first?" she'd asked as soon as she crossed the threshold.
"Um hum," Christina
nodded taking her jacket. "Thank you for coming Angie, I know you and Jeannie
didn't get on so well." Christina spoke honestly, leading Angie into the
living room with a light touch on her back.
"Yeah well, that's no
secret," Angie responded good-naturedly. "She always said I was too
nosey and she was probably right, but she came back here so mysterious and
all." Angie took a seat on the long sofa and picked up one of the little
cakes some of the neighbors had made. Taking a bite of the cake Angie changed
the subject to the one Christina was sure had been on her mind all along.
"Who was that man who arrived late? I saw you talking to him when we
left."
"That was Michael
Raven." Christina answered reluctantly. There was no sense in hiding it,
especially since she’d invited him to the gathering as well. In hindsight,
however, she wondered at the wisdom of such a thing. More than likely Michael
Raven and Oscar Desmond would be the only men present.
"Raven? As in Jeannie Raven and
Jason Raven? Husband of and father to?" Angie’s eyes had grown wide.
As far as gossip went, this was probably the mother lode. "Did you know
all along that Jeannie’s husband was blind?!"
Without waiting for a reply, Angie went on, practically bouncing on the sofa.
"Oh my goodness, it's no
wonder she was so secretive. Do you think she was ashamed for some reason?
Maybe he wasn’t born that way and it happened later and she couldn’t handle it.
Oh my goodness! Chrissy! Maybe it was her fault that he’s blind!"
Christina had had enough.
"Angie, stop it," she told her friend, forcing her own voice to be
calm. "You’re getting carried away with yourself and I won’t have you
spreading these ideas. Besides, Mr. Raven and I will be talking soon enough so
I suppose we will find out some of the true
answers that we’ve all been craving."
Angie, used to people trying to
calm her imaginative, gossipy mind, simply continued on, ready with the next
questions as soon as Christina finished speaking. Christina sighed in relief
when the doorbell rang.
It was Mrs. Janis Belevedere, a
woman who had been an old and dear friend of Christina’s Aunt Elise before she
had died nearly two years earlier.
"Hello, Mrs.
Belevedere," Christina welcomed her with a hug before helping her down the
hall to the living room. The arthritis in her legs was obviously bothering her.
"I'm so glad you could come tonight."
"Hello, dear," Mrs.
Belevedere returned the greeting. "You are such a sweet child to take care
of that baby and helping Elise like you did."
Christina smiled and thanked her,
and helped her to settle on the sofa. Before Mrs. Belevedere had gotten
comfortable, Angie had chimed in with her latest supposition concerning Michael
Raven.
"I never said that!"
Christina objected.
"Well, are you going to give
him the baby or not, then?" Angie asked, pressing the issue. It was then
that Christina realized what she had done. And it was too late to turn back
because Angie’s words had gotten Mrs. Belvedere started.
"Surely you're not going to
just turn the baby over to a strange man you know nothing about and blind to
boot. He can't take care of a baby. Why the baby doesn't even know him!"
The older woman was outraged.
"I may not have a
choice," Christina tried to defend herself. "He is the child’s
father, after all."
"Listen, honey. You just keep
real quiet about whose baby that is. We’ll never tell!" That from Angie.
Christina doubted Angie could keep anything quiet. But Janis Belvedere backed
her up, even stomped her foot on the floor.
Sighing, Christina pointed in the
direction of the doorbell. Soon the entire group was there save for Michael
Raven. Christina was relieved that he hadn’t because she fully suspected that
along with planning the conspiracy to prevent Michael Raven from learning about
his child, the townswomen of McAllister were quite capable of running the poor
man out of town that very night.
Chapter Two
Michael Raven rolled over and came
groggily awake. Opening his eyes, he suffered mild panic when the darkness did
not abate. He hadn’t yet adjusted to the fact that darkness was his domain. He
wasn’t sure that he ever would.
Feeling for the edge of the bed,
he pushed himself carefully to a sitting position. Resting his elbows on his
knees, he ran a hand along the back of his aching head; exhaustion clung to him
like a second skin. For once, he thought, the doctors may have been correct.
This trip had been too soon. But
nothing could have kept him away after he’d received the message about
Jeannie’s death.
"Desmond?" he croaked,
calling to his assistant. Oscar Desmond had been with the Raven family for
nearly thirty years, since Michael’s own father was a young man. Desmond seemed
to have developed a sixth sense of when Michael needed him. Most of the time.
This time, however, no approaching footsteps responded to his plea.
"Desmond?" he called
again, louder this time. No response. The ensuing silence was heavy, alerting
him to just how still the room was, how lonely. He was alone - in a strange place. Mild panic washed over him. He
pushed the unwelcome sensation forcefully away. This was ridiculous! He was
reasonably intelligent. How difficult could it be to find the bathroom in a
Howard Johnson Motel?
Moving slowly, carefully, he rose
to his feet. Arms spread, he took several cautious steps away from the bed. The
plan was to find a wall, from which, theoretically, he could find anything. He
found the dresser, or rather his toe did. It was painful, but it was also
progress. Sliding along the dresser, he found the wall.
Moving more confidently, he felt
along the wall in what he hoped was the proper direction. The cool, slightly
embossed surface of wallpaper slid beneath his seeking palms. A light switch.
He had no idea whether the lights were on or off, not that it mattered. He
continued along the wall, feeling the coolness of a tile floor beneath his
stocking feet. Suddenly, his foot hit something round, hard and plastic. He
became entangled, and once he began to lose his balance, it was over. He felt
that plastic warp, then pop beneath him as he went down.
The sounds of his own swearing and
assorted falling items were dying down when he heard the room door slam open.
"Mr. Raven!," Desmond’s worried exclamation only added to his
irritation.
"Are you injured?"
Desmond’s hands went beneath his arms to steady him as he assisted him to his
feet.
"I’m fine!" Michael
snapped defensively, shaking his arm from Desmond’s grasp. He hated being
helpless. "If I’m to be stuck this way, I may as well start getting used
to it. I can’t just depend on you for the rest of my life."
"You’re going to have to
depend on me, or someone, for the time being," Desmond replied reasonably.
His voice sounded as if he’d turned his back and were attending to something
else.
"Maybe ‘or someone’ would be
better?" Raven muttered, though it was more his own hurt pride and
frustration speaking than anything else.
"If that is your
desire," was Desmond’s smooth reply. He was used to the Raven moods.
Continuing as if the discussion was of little importance, "I’ve brought
dinner. Seems this...town has no inkling of delivery or room service. I did
however find a quaint establishment: Granny’s Nibblins. If I may direct you to
the table?"
Michael sighed, his irritation
leaving as quickly as it had began. He was too tired to hold on to the emotion
anyway. Besides, whatever Desmond had found at Granny’s Nibblins smelled
delicious. He allowed the older man to lead him to the table.
A sudden thought occurred to him.
"What time is it ?"
"Ten minutes of seven, local
time." Desmond replied. Then touching his hand to a utensil, "This is
your fork. Your plate is directly before you. Enjoy." Then continuing
without missing a beat, "And before you began to fret, I’ve left a message
with Ms. Belcuri, making her aware that your arrival will be later than
expected."
"Thank you," Michael
said softly. What would he do without Desmond, indeed. "You should have
waken me. I told her that I would come. I should have gone."
"You needed your rest,"
Desmond said. "You know what the doctors said as well as I."
"Desmond," Raven warned.
"Yes I know. Don’t ‘mother’
you," Desmond said the words in a way that suggested he’d said them many
times before. A silent moment passed, and he continued. "I did try to
awaken you, Michael. I suspect that perhaps your body was simply too tired to
awaken fully."
There had been other instances in
which he had been difficult to awaken. But the frequency had decreased. The
doctors had explained that it wasn’t unusual with the type of head injury that
he’d sustained. His exhaustion had no doubt exacerbated the problem.
"Well," he said, with
forced cheerfulness, "I’m rested now and I’m starving. What else have you
got besides country fried something or other?"
~*~
At half past seven, Christina
found herself in the doorway saying her good-byes to what she privately
considered the lynch mob. One thing was for sure, Angela Kater was definitely
out of control. And the rest of the group had been far too willing to follow
her lead. Christina had to admit, though, that the discussion of Angie’s ‘plan’
had diverted everyone from the true sadness behind the gathering. For that
perhaps, she should thank Angie.
Hugging each one of them with
renewed appreciation, Christina felt the beginnings of a genuine smile. In the
midst of a half dozen commands to call if she needed absolutely anything, she
closed the door. The care and concern of the townspeople touched her. Closing
her eyes, she forced away the tightness that began in the back of her throat.
She’d shed enough tears.
Opening her eyes, she allowed them
to trail over the only home she’d ever known. The apartment was still decorated
as it had been when Aunt Elise died. Christina hadn’t changed a thing. Elise
had been fond of knickknacks as evidenced by the many figurines which decorated
the apartment. If Jason was to be hers, Christina would definitely have to give
some thought to child-proofing.
Finding surprising comfort in the
thought, she pushed away from the door to check her messages. The phone had
rang several times during the gathering. No doubt Mabel was checking up on her.
She paused mid-stride when the doorbell rang.
Thinking it to be one of the women
from the gathering, or even Mabel, Christine threw the door open without
looking out the peephole. The tall, darkly clothed form of Michael Raven,
accompanied as usual by his manservant, was not at all what she was expecting
to see.
"Oh Mr. Raven and...Mr.
Desmond," the name came to her at the last minute. "Please come
in."
Desmond thanked her politely and
escorted Raven into the apartment before stepping back onto the landing.
"I will await your call," he spoke softly.
"Thank you, Desmond,"
Raven replied, equally softly. After a nod in Christina’s direction, Desmond
was gone, leaving her to face Jason’s father alone.
"Uhm, should I take your
arm?" she asked, feeling extremely uncomfortable. Michael Raven was tall
and lean, looming nearly a foot taller than her. Dressed in dark clothing, his
face set in harsh lines, he posed a very daunting figure. Jeannie was such a
gentle creature at heart; this man didn’t seem at all the type to which she
might be attracted.
"That would probably best
easiest," he said. "Unless you’d prefer that I stumble around your
home. I’m very likely to break a few things." Christina wondered if a
small, ironic smile crossed his lips. She couldn’t be sure as it was more a
breaking of the thin line of his mouth than anything else.
"All right," she
breathed, then tentatively took his arm. He turned his head slightly in her
direction at her touch. Christina looked up expectantly, wondering if he meant
to say something. Then she realized that he was simply acknowledging her.
Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, she took in the landscape. If the
knick-knack shelves and little odds and ends were off-limits as a child’s
domain, they were a virtual mine field for Michael Raven. "This could be interesting,"
she found herself saying aloud. "I didn’t realized just how cluttered this
place is. We’re going to move slowly here."
It took several minutes to make
their way to the den, which she figured was safer, considering. She offered
words of warning when they reached the sofa. Raven seemed to be listening very
carefully as she directed him, his movements only becoming jerky when she put a
hand on each of his arms to maneuver him backward so that his legs gently
brushed the chair. She was sure his lips twitched this time.
"Thank you," was all he
said as he lowered himself carefully to sit.
"Would you like a drink or
something to eat?" she asked, noting the way he turned his head as if his
ear were following the sound of her voice. "There are a lot of things here
that the neighbors brought. I could even make a sandwich if you’re
hungry."
"No, thank you. I’ve eaten
already," he answered. "But I would like to apologize for arriving
late. Have I missed everyone?"
"I’m afraid so,"
Christina said. "And it’s no problem. I realize it was unexpected."
She looked down at her hands. He and Angela Kater would not have been a good
mix. But, Jeannie had been his wife...
She went on, "I was a little
surprised when I found out who you were, though. Jeannie never told me that you
were blind."
Raven shifted uncomfortably in his
seat, "That’s probably because she didn’t know."
Christina wasn’t sure how to reply
to that. "I’m sorry," was all that she could think to say.
Raven cleared his throat. "I
was injured in an automobile accident, or so they tell me. I only just awakened
from a coma a couple weeks ago. You can imagine my...surprise at receiving your
telegram." He spoke the words in a measured monotone.
"I’m so very sorry,"
Christina said, sure that words were inadequate. Despite the fact that her best
friend had found it necessary to leave this man, she could very well understand
the shock he must have felt.
"How long were you in a
coma?" she asked him.
"One hundred and twenty-seven
days," Raven said. "I was the resident miracle patient; they didn’t
think that I would live, much less wake up. There was a price to pay for
breaking the medical rules, however. I lost some short term memory. The events
in the months prior to the accident are vague and unreliable at best. And of
course, my vision was forfeit as well. Although there is some thought that a
series of laser surgeries may help me regain a measure of vision."
"What about your
memory?"
"That," he signed
heavily, "Is open to debate. I remembered a lot in that first week after I
awoke, but the new memories have slowed down now. The doctors aren’t very
hopeful."
"I’m sorry," Christina
said again and reached across to touch his arm. "It must be very difficult
for you."
"Yes," Raven nodded.
"It is difficult. But I didn’t come here to burden you with my problems. I
came here to see if you could help me understand what happened with
Jeannie."
Christina frowned. "What
would you like to know?"
There were several moments before
he uttered the softly spoken words. "Why she left me."
Christina’s heart wrenched. The
simply spoken words told of his sorrow and pain. And he was exposing himself to
further pain by asking such questions of a stranger. He hardly seemed daunting
anymore as Christina could sense what lay beneath the harsh facade he
displayed. And she wished desperately that she had an answer to his questions.
For his peace of mind, and her own.
"I don’t know why she left
you," she told him. "She never said, and I never asked because she
was so upset. I always thought we had....time."
Raven deflated. "Can you tell
me how she...died? I’ve been trying to get the information, but the
investigators haven’t gotten back to me yet and I would really like to
know."
Christina swallowed. There was no
way to buffer the truth so she simply gave him the facts. Jeannie Raven had
died without reason. And the irony that both Jeannie and Michael Raven had been
injured in similar fashion was not lost on Christina. "She was killed in
an automobile accident in a neighboring town. Hit and run. The police suspect
that it was a drunk driver."
Raven gasped and paled.
"There’s more,"
Christina pressed on, having come to a decision. His investigators would learn
of the truth eventually. "You have a three month old son. His name is
Jason Michael Raven." She enunciated each name carefully to be sure he
understood. "And he’s sleeping in the other room."
Raven froze completely as the news
went through him. "A...s-son?" he stuttered. Chris felt horrible at
the necessity of the one-two punch she’d just given him.
"I...have a son?"
Hesitance turned into disbelief. "The baby from the funeral...that can't
be true." He turned away and moved to get up from the sofa.
Christina rushed to help him.
"I'm sorry, I know this is a shock to you, especially after all this time.
Maybe if I got you a drink you would feel better." She grasped his arm as
he stumbled into the coffee table jarring the lazy Susan that had been left
from the previous visitors.
"I’m sorry," he
apologized, struggling to control powerful emotions. "I - I’m
not...." He ran a hand through his hair. "I’m sorry. I can’t..."
"If you could just see him
--" she began, then bit her tongue. Her choice of words hadn’t been the
best. "Look why don't you have a seat?" She tugged slightly on his
arm.
"If I could see him
what?" Raven asked.
Christina tugged again on his arm.
"Would you like to sit?"
"No, tell me what you meant
‘If I could see him’?"
"It was nothing." She
gave up trying to move him. "I didn't mean to..." her voice trailed
off .
"No," his voice
softened. "Please tell me what you meant. I know that your choice of
wording wasn’t intended to be hurtful. I’d just like to know what your thoughts
were."
"If you could see him, you
would love him," she said. "He's a beautiful little boy."
"If I could see him," he
repeated very softly, almost to himself. "What does he look like? Like his
mother I'll bet." A sad smile hovered around his lips. He extended his
arm, allowing Christina to lead him once again.
"He has lots of curly dark
hair and the longest lashes you've ever seen. Actually..." Christina
stopped for a moment in thought. "He has pale blue eyes, not at all like
Jeannie's. What color are your eyes Mr. Raven?" she asked.
Raven silently reached up and
removed his dark glasses. His eyes were the same pale blue as Jason's.
"He probably looks a lot like
you did when you were a baby," she said. Just as if Christina had timed
it, Jason began to whimper. It was time for his last feeding of the day.
"Would you like to feed him?" she asked.
Raven shook his head nervously.
"No, I can't do that. What if I dropped him?".
All you have to do is support him
and hold the bottle," Christina said. "I'll help you," she added
knowing she had him. "I’ll be right back." She put the bottle in the
warmer on the way to the baby's room. By the time she'd changed him and gotten
back out to the den the bottle was ready.
She spoke softly to him as she
carried him over to his father. Ordering Raven to curl his arms, she gently
laid the baby in them. He turned his face down towards the little bundle as if
searching for an image of his son. His face turned back up to Christina, his
blue, sightless eyes, full of awe.
"He smells good," he
said, turning his head back toward the child.
"Here's the bottle," she
placed it into his hand and guided it toward Jason’s mouth. The child
immediately began to suck vigorously. Raven seemed to find awe in that, too.
Christina smiled as she watched
the two of them.
At first Raven was stiff, as if he
was afraid he would drop the baby. But gradually he began to relax. It looked
and felt right, seeing them together. Perhaps little Jason Raven could heal
Michael Raven’s emotional wounds.
Raven smiled in the general
direction of the child. "I wish I could see him."
"I'd like to ask a favor of
you," Christina said, her voice turning serious. She waited until Raven
turned his head slightly in her direction. "Would you keep in touch with
me so I'll know how he's doing, maybe let me visit sometimes?"
"Visit?" Raven said. His
voice became edged with something akin to panic "I can't take care of him,
I can barely take care of myself. He needs someone to love him right now. Not a
house full of strangers. I wouldn't fight you if you wanted to keep him. You
are much better for him than I am. There are no guarantees on my vision. One
blind parent is not good enough for him."
"Mr. Raven, I have no claim
to him. He is your child. Even though I love him I know I have to give him to
you. You are his father and he's going to need you. The longer he's with me the
harder it is to give him up because I know after he's gone it's just me and
this house. I know what it is to have no family. But you are his family. He
should not have to grow up feeling that you didn't want him or that you gave
him away."
"Are you saying that you
won't keep him?" Raven asked. "What would you do if I didn't take
him? If I left him here with you?" He dared her to deny she would take
care of him rather than let him go to a foster home.
Christina's voice hardened,
"If you leave him here, then you're going to have to give up all claim to
him. Forever. You’ll have to sign over your parental rights. I don’t want his
life torn apart in a few months or years whenever you decide you’re ready for a
child in your life."
Raven held the baby silently for a
few moments. She began to wonder if he were going to answer her at all. He had
to be reeling from all that she’d hit him with that night. And she hated adding
one more thing to the list. But she needed to know. For herself, and for Jason.
There could be no middle ground.
"I'll need help," he
said finally, looking up. For a moment, she almost believed that he could see
her and then his gaze drifted. "In my home there is my mother, but she is
an invalid and not capable of caring for an infant. I’ll need a nanny. Would
you consider interviewing someone for the position. I trust your judgment. And
you already know Jason. I’ll reimburse you for your time and any work that you
are lost here."
Christina let out a breath that
she hadn’t realized she was holding. A knot was forming in the back of her
throat. That Jason would grow up with his true family was wonderful. But she
would be left alone as before. She didn’t trust herself to speak.
"If you need some time to think about it..." he
offered.
"No," Christina spoke up
sharply, then cleared her thought. Forcing her voice to steady. "I don't
need time to think about it. I'll do it. I need to see the person who'll be
taking care of...him. All I ask in payment is a place to stay and travel
arrangements."
"Very well then, I'll have
all the arrangements taken care of." He carefully placed the bottle on the
table in front of him, feeling with his fingers where the table was, also
careful not to disturb the then sleeping child.
"Would you like for me to put
him to bed?"
"If you don't mind I'd just
like to hold him for a while," he replied. "It's very new to me I
hope it isn't a bad thing to hold him like this."
Christina smiled. "My Aunt
would say that your could never spoil a child by loving it."
"Your Aunt sounds like a wise
woman."
"Yes, she was."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Raven
said. "I didn't realize..."
"It's really okay,"
Chris said. "She was wonderful, I still have all of her memories here in
this house. I grew up here, she took me in when I was very young." Chris's
affectionate gaze wandered around the room, cluttered with the remnants of her
past. She loved this old house. "We used to run the shop together. She
left it to me...after..."
"What happened to the rest of your family?"
Raven asked.
“My parents died in an accident
when I was about 2 years old so I really don't remember them. When we were
kids, Jeannie and I always felt like it was the two of us against the rest of
the world. Jeannie's Aunt Cara took care of her and Aunt Elise took care of me.
Jeannie’s mother left her with her aunt shortly after she was born. Jeannie
thought her mother was dead most of her life. But you probably know all of that
already."
Raven nodded his head. "Yes,
I’ve met Georgiana on several occasions. She lives near Greenich, and is rather
an odd woman. She and Jeannie had a strange relationship, from what I can
remember."
Christina had never met Georgiana
Stanton, and didn’t think she wanted to. Jeannie had had nothing good to say
about her mother.
Raven continued, "I'd better
go and let you get this little guy in bed. Thank you again. For everything. For
taking care of Jason. I’ll be in contact about the arrangements."
Christina removed the sleeping
child from his arms, and showed him out.
"Are you certain?"
Michael Raven asked in surprise.
"I’m quite certain," was
Desmond’s calm reply.
"Has she been informed?"
"No. But she may already be
aware of the situation if Jeannie informed her. The insurance company will
likely notify her within the next thirty days that she is beneficiary."
Raven rubbed at his brow.
"Well, it does make sense that Jeannie would change her policy. Especially
after Jason was born. But it also means that she had no intention of ever
telling me about my son." He was quiet for several moments, while he tried
to come to terms with the situation. "What did I do wrong, Desmond?"
Desmond sighed. "I don’t know
what happened between the two of you. You...kept your own counsel back then.
She left and you became very distant. No one could reach you, Michael."
"I can barely remember her
Desmond," he whispered. "How could I fall in love with and marry a
woman and then barely remember her?"
Desmond remained silent, allowing
Raven to talk.
"That’s what bothers me the
most. I’m here mourning a woman I don’t know anymore, a woman who ran away from
me. A woman who has, in a round-a-bout way, given me the gift of a son. He’s
the one who is important now. He’s the focus."
~*~
Christina sighed, and again
demonstrated how to work the temperamental mechanism on the safe. "See, if
it sticks, then you have to do it this way."
"Oh, I see," Angie Kater
smiled apologetically. "I thought you meant... Oh, never mind what I
thought. I got it. So how long are you going to be gone with this Michael
Raven?"
Christina wondered just how much
of what Angie did was an excuse for digging up juicy information. As far as she
was concerned, if Angie didn’t have a need to know, she wouldn’t be hearing it
from her. Her answer was to the point. "Two weeks is what I have planned.
Are you worried about the extra hours?"
"Oh, they’re no
problem," Angie assured her. "If you would let me, I’d take over the
shop full time. This is a great old place. Your Aunt had a good eye."
"Yeah, she did,"
Christina relaxed, gazing around the area.
"Have you told Larry
yet?" Angie asked next.
"Not exactly. I left a
message asking him to call. It’ll probably be a day before he gets back to
me."
"How do you think he’s going
to take it?"
Chris shrugged. "Doesn’t
really matter."
Angie seemed to digest that for
several seconds. "So, when ya leaving?"
"In two days, if all goes as
planned," Christina replied.
"You’re not worried?"
Angie’s voice dropped to a whisper, though there was no one else in the shop.
"About what?" Chris
copied her tone.
"Being dragged off into the
woods and getting roughed up." Angie replied as if she were surprised that
Chris hadn’t come to that conclusion herself.
"By a blind man?" she
asked skeptically.
"You never know. It’s the
ones you least expect."
"I’ll be careful," Chris
assured her. The doorbell jangled, announcing the arrival of a new customer,
and Christina’s release from Angie’s interrogation. "Listen, why don’t you
get that while I finish up back here?"
"Sure thing," Angie
bounced happily out of the room.
Chris sighed and returned to her
task of bringing the books up to date. She wanted things to go as smoothly as
possible while she was away. She’d only tapped in another set of digits into her
calculator when Angie’s head appeared around the door.
"There’s a woman here to see
you." Angie informed her.
"Does she have a name?"
Christina asked, barely glancing up from her ledger.
"She said her name was Ms.
Stanton."
Christina nearly dropped her pen.
Georgiana Stanton?! Here? Quickly marking her place, she passed around the desk
and went toward the front of the store.
"I’m Christina Belcuri,"
she extended her hand to the perfectly made up woman on the opposite side of
the counter.
"Georgiana Stanton," the
woman responded, disdainfully ignoring the hand Christina had offered.
Christina uncomfortably brought her hand back to her side. It did have a bit of
leftover wood stain on it.
"I’m sorry for your
loss," Christina offered. "And I’m sorry to say that you missed the
funeral. It was the day before yesterday."
"What right did you have even
burying my daughter?" Georgiana demanded, ignoring Chris’s proffered
sympathy. Her eyes and tone were cold.
Christina’s eyes narrowed slightly
as she studied the woman. "I wasn’t able to contact you," she said.
"If you would like, I can show you the grave site."
"She doesn’t need me
interfering with that. She’s probably better off where she is, silly girl. She
certainly was unhappy enough in this life. But what I would like, is to know
why my daughter named you as beneficiary to her life insurance policy."
Christina blinked, stunned at the
woman’s callousness. "What?"
"Her policy," Georgiana
spat as if talking to a particularly dim child. "Why did she leave it to
you?"
Chris was too stunned to do
anything more than answer. "I didn’t know she had. Are you sure?"
Georgiana rolled her eyes nastily.
"Thanks for absolutely nothing." With that the woman slammed out of
the shop.
"And that was Jeannie’s
mother?" Angie asked, stepping up beside her.
"Yep," Chris said.
"She didn’t look very
happy."
"No, I don’t think she
was."
"She didn’t look too sad,
either."
"Nope."
"Why didn’t you tell her
about her grandchild? Might have mellowed her--though I kinda doubt it."
"She didn’t really give me a
chance."
"Good point."
~*~
Christina stared at her reflection
in the mirror and nervously fidgeted with her hair. She rarely wore it in any
other manner than a braid down her back. Even on Sundays. But in just a few
minutes, Michael Raven and Mr. Desmond would be arriving to gather she and
Jason. She decided that a trip to Greenich required something more.
Her long dark blonde hair had a
natural wave and hung half to her waist. She hadn’t really needed the liner to
accentuate her dark lashes and brows, but Mabel, of all people, had insisted on
it. She’d said that it gave her a more ‘put together’ look. Whatever. And it
was Angie who had insisted on the lipstick. Christina simply wondered if all of
it hadn’t been a big mistake.
With lipstick, she couldn’t kiss
Jason, and what if her hair fell over her shoulder and bothered him? She hadn’t
really found a reason to dislike the eye make-up, but she was sure she would
come up with something.
"Chris, are you coming out of
there or not?!" a voice yelled through the door.
"I’m coming!" she called
back, making a wry expression. She could just wash her face...
The phone rang as she continued to
contemplate her newly forming plan. Mabel and Angie would have no time to get
her back into the horrid stuff.
"It’s for you! Larry!"
All thought of washing her face
and braiding her hair vanished. She’d left Larry a message two days earlier,
and he’d chosen the worst of all possible times to call her back. Leaving the
bathroom and heading for her bedroom, where she hoped to find at least a
modicum of privacy, she picked up the line.
"Hi Larry," she replied
cheerfully into the phone. And then, upon hearing Angie’s breathing on the
other extension. "I’ve got it, Ange."
"Sure thing," was
Angie’s disembodied reply, but no tell-tell click of the receiver being
replaced.
"Angie," Chris warned.
The phone clicked without another
word. Chris sighed.
"What’s going on?" Larry
asked, his deep drawl echoed over the phone lines bringing to mind his handsome
features. His usual easy-going smile was no doubt plastered over his face.
"I’m leaving," Chris
told him. "Just for a little while. Two weeks."
"You? Leaving?" Larry
laughed. "I thought I’d never hear of that day. Taking a vacation? You ought
to, you know. ‘specially after being saddled with that baby and all."
Christina fought the irritation
that was beginning to rise. Larry had never approved of her wanting to assume
responsibility for Jeannie’s child. "No, Larry," she replied.
"Jason’s father showed up at the funeral. He’s taking the child home, and
wants me to help him find a nanny."
There was silence for several
moments.
"Larry?" Chris spoke
into the quiet.
"You sure that’s such a good
idea, Chris?"
"Well, he needs the help.
He’s blind. And his own mother is an invalid. He just woke up from a coma for
heaven’s sake."
"You’re kidding me. You
believe that?! That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of in my life.
No one is that unlucky --"
"Larry..." Chris tried
to cut in.
"It’s probably just some
story to try to --"
"Larry..." Chris’s voice
rose.
"You’re too naive for your
own good! Let him find his own nanny! I forbid you to go!"
"You what?" Chris
demanded. "You can’t forbid me to go anywhere. In case you haven’t noticed,
you’re 1000 miles away and have been for the past month! I talk to you once a
week, maybe! What gives you the right?"
"You’ve been waiting for me
all your life, Christina Renee Belcuri, and you know it. That’s why you called
me. If you ever want me to ask you to marry me, you’ll do what I say."
Chris gasped in outrage. Of all
the Neanderthal...! She was beyond words. After sputtering several times into
the phone, she simply slammed the receiver down.
"Is everything all
right?" Mabel and Angie came rushing into the room.
Chris wiped at her eyes. The fool
man wasn’t worth crying over. "Everything is fine," she told her
friends. "Larry just wasn’t very happy."
Mabel looked thoughtful, but Angie
looked like she was trying to decide which obvious question to ask first.
Neither had an opportunity to speak because the doorbell rang. It was time.
"I’ve gotta go," she
told them, retrieving Jason from Mabel’s arms. Suddenly nervous at the
impending trip, she glanced over everything hoping that she hadn’t forgotten
anything. Everything seemed to be in place.
"It’s fine," Mabel told
her, seeming to understand. "We’ll take care of this place. You just
go."
Chris’s eyes teared for a whole
different reason as they settled on Mabel. She hugged both women and headed for
the door. Mr. Desmond greeted her formally and gathered her luggage.
As the car pulled around the
storefront of Elise’s Olde Tyme Gift Shop, Christina wondered if she’d ever see
the place again.
~*~
Christina gazed down at the lakes
and highways and developments that were the city of
Michael Raven and Desmond had sat
quietly in the back while Christina soaked up the geography lesson. Jason had
slept in a baby carrier for the first half of the trip, and then lain
contentedly through the last leg. That had eased one of her fears. She’d
worried that the unfamiliar noise and motion would upset him. But it seemed
Jason, like she, were born to fly. She decided that she would have to find time
to go on vacation in the future.
As the plane descended toward the
runway at Greenich airport, she held her breath. The wheels gently bumped the
ground, bringing a delighted smile to her lips. Johnny French grinned over and
gave her the thumbs up sign before tending to several gages on the very full
control panel.
A car was waiting for them when
they exited the plane. She saw Raven speaking quickly with someone who quickly
loaded her and Jason’s cases in the trunk. Desmond led her toward the back seat
and helped her load Jason and his carrier into the vehicle. Michael Raven was
soon settled beside her.
"That was wonderful,"
she smiled over at him, though she knew he couldn’t see her. A return smile
broke out on his face.
"It appears that you love to
fly as much as I do," he replied. "And little Jason, my son, you were
wonderful as well," he spoke in the direction of Jason’s carrier. The
child was making happy gurgling noises, so Chris was sure that no one would
have any problems finding him.
Christina laughed at him, "I
think he’s a natural," she whispered conspiratorially.
Raven's smile broadened. "He would have to be."
Christina watched as the smile
lingered on Michael Raven’s face. The lines she’d remembered from three days
past, were less deep. And his coloring was better as well. She was beginning to
understand what Jeannie may have seen in this man.
The car began moving as Desmond
climbed into the front seat. Trees of many varieties lined the lane that led
from the airport out onto the local highway system. Greenich was nothing like
McAllister. Yes, McAllister had lots of trees, but none had the lush greenness
of Greenich.
Finally the car pulled into a
driveway that seemed to go on forever. After some minutes, they pulled around a
curve and a sprawling white-pillared home appeared. Christina’s mouth dropped
at the sight. This was possibly the most beautiful home she’d ever seen.
"Welcome to Raven’s
Rest," Michael said at her side, and he was smiling again.
"Everything should be prepared for our arrival."
"Right," Chris said,
awestruck at the sheer size of the place. Dragging her eyes away from the site,
she gathered Jason from the carrier and followed Desmond and Raven up the wide
steps.
The foyer was just as breathtaking
as the outside. A giant polished staircase stood off to one side and a marble
fireplace on the other. An ocean of polished parquet flooring stood between the
stairs and the front door. A room off to the left, near the fireplace, was
occupied. Chris heard voices.
Georgiana Stanton accompanied by a
curly haired gentleman carrying a briefcase stepped into view. Chris had a
sinking feeling as the gentleman retrieved something from a pocket. His manner
screamed lawyer.
"Hello Michael,
Christina," the woman said. Then resting her eyes on Christina, "I
appreciate everything you’ve done for my daughter. Especially for caring for my
grandson. And I think it’s wonderful the way you, Dear Michael, are trying to
care for him, now. But really, you must see that the child would be better off
with me and family who can love and care for him?"
"No," Chris muttered,
tightening her arms possessively around the child. "Jeannie left Jason in
my care. You don’t have any right to him."
"Grandparents do have rights,
young lady. In the eyes of the law, it is you who are the interloper."
Then waving a hand at the gentleman at her side. "This is my lawyer, Mr.
Lunari. He is here to protect my rights,
and those of the well-being of the child. Michael is quite well meaning, but he
is unfit."
Michael spoke up for the first
time since they’d entered the house. His voice was deceptively calm. “Ms.
Stanton, I ask that you and your attorney leave my home immediately. You are
not to enter it again without my express permission. Any other communications
you would like to make on this matter are to be made through my attorney."
Georgiana smiled wickedly.
"I’m just here as a courtesy, to inform you of my intent," she said.
"Wouldn’t want you to have to try to find someone to read it to you."
Chris glanced between the
retreating duo and Michael. He was shaking with rage. Christina wasn’t doing
much better. How a person could be so mean, she couldn’t understand. The woman
hadn’t wanted to raise her own daughter and now, she was trying to gain custody
of her grandson. And during the entire time that she’d stood making her threats
she hadn’t once looked at the child.
Raven stood very still for long
moments after the front door closed. When Jason began to whimper, Raven
fidgeted slightly; a helpless gesture for assistance. He’d gotten angry and
lost his bearings. Chris imagined that angered him even more.
Desmond cleared his throat. "Would you like to show
Ms. Belcuri to the nursery?"
Raven seemed to relax by force of
will. "Yes, thank you, Desmond." He allowed himself to be lead as the
four of them slowly made their way through a side hall and to a door on the
lower level.
"This will be your room, Ms.
Belcuri, " Desmond said. "It adjoins the nursery." Opening the
door he led them all in. The room was breathtaking, done in yellows and creams.
A large king sized bed looked small in this room. Glass doors at the side of
the room opened to a patio that led to a garden beyond.
"Will it be suitable?"
Raven asked. Desmond looked on smiling, as he could see her reaction.
"It's perfect," Chris breathed. "Your home
is very beautiful."
Raven smiled then. "Thank
you. The nursery is through the other door." Desmond led the way.
The nursery had every modern
convenience. There was a new crib and a rocking chair and music boxes and wall
hangings -- all the things Chris could possibly have wanted for her baby. If
she had a baby, she reminded herself. She couldn’t forget that Jason was Mr.
Raven’s son. But not for long, if Georgiana got her way. Chris fervently hoped
that she didn’t. Because then, Chris knew for a certainty, she would never see
Jason again.
Chris put the child in the crib
that had been prepared for him and wound the music box. As a lilting melody
tinkled out of the device, small airplanes flew in circles. Jason was
transfixed, and delivered several kicks of delight. Chris couldn’t help but to
laugh at him.
As the music continued on, his
eyes began to drift closed. His breathing evened into the steady patterns of
sleep.
"Thank you Desmond."
Raven whispered.
"Yes, sir." Desmond replied, then immediately
left the room.
"There's a monitor in your
room that you can take within a certain range." Raven told her. "If
you'll lead, we can go into the other room and talk."
Chris gave him her arm and led him
out of the nursery. "Could we go into the gardens?" she asked. It was
so beautiful, she wondered what it would smell like.
"Of course. My mother used to like to sit out here
when I was younger."
Chris opened the doors and led him
out. "There's a bench to the left where we can sit," he said.
Chris, copying motions she’d seen
Desmond make, led him to the bench. At first they sat silently, listening to
the gentle sounds of birds singing and the flow of the wind. The smell of many
flowers flavored the air, adding to the general serenity of the place.
After a time, Michael Raven began
speaking. "I’m sorry you had to witness that scene. When I told her about
Jason, she’d seemed happy - like you’d expect any grandparent to be. I should
have known better than to take Georgiana at face value."
Chris wasn’t entirely sure what to
make of his last sentence. "What I don’t understand is why she is doing
this. You said that she lives in a nearby city, so she could always visit. And
from the way she simply left Jeannie with her sister, and the fact that she
didn’t even look at Jason, I wouldn’t imagine that she has some great longing
to mother. She probably wouldn’t even know him if he turned up in a basket on
her doorstep."
Raven chuckled mildly,
"You’re probably right. But you could say the same of me."
"No you couldn’t,"
Christina objected.
"I’ll bet you’d know him, by
the way he feels, by the way he smells and sounds. I’ve seen you take in all
those things about him."
Michael smiled, pleased.
"Thank you," he said softly. "I really want what is best for
that little boy. But, I’m afraid I know why Georgiana is doing this. If she
were to gain custody of Jason, then she could also file for me to pay child
support. That could prove very lucrative for her. I believe she may be
especially upset since Jeannie left her life insurance to you."
"I’d give her the money if it
would make her stop." Chris said.
"It won’t," Michael
shook his head. "She’s probably decided that she can get more out of
me."
"She won’t take care of him,
Mr. Raven," Chris insisted. "She’d treat him just like she did
Jeannie, just leave him behind somewhere. You can’t let her get away with
this."
"I don’t have a lot of choice
in the matter. If I can’t prove to a judge that I would be a fit parent, then
she could win her case. Despite how much I want it to be so, I haven’t
recovered from my accident. I have several more surgeries to go through, and
there is no other family available to care for him."
"What would you have to do to
prove you were a fit parent?" Christine asked. She wanted to help in any
way she could to save Jason from the life Jeannie had.
"In my present condition the
only thing that would convince a judge would be if I were married, then there
would be no problem at all and Georgie would have no basis for her
claims."
"I don't suppose you have a girlfriend?" Chris
asked.
Raven grinned. "You're going to help me find a wife
now, are you?"
"Sure," Christine said, "Now what type of
woman do you like?"
"Sweet, gentle, kind, loving,
someone who will love Jason and take care of him as if he were her own. Someone
who would be a good mother to him. Someone like...you. If you could find
someone just like you, I'd be willing."
"Well, it's just your luck I
happen to be free," Chris responded, thinking briefly back to the argument
she had earlier with Larry.
Raven sat silent for a second.
"Are you really? Free?" he asked finally. "No boyfriends back
home, waiting with bated breath for your return?"
Chris squelched the image of Larry
that cropped up. Their relationship had been going nowhere for years. And the
situation with Jason had brought many of the reasons why to the fore. Larry
would never settle down to a normal life with a home and a family. She was
alone.
Shaking her head, she answered, "Nope, it's just
me." She held her breath.
"Would you really consider it then? For Jason?"
He asked.
"Yes, I would." She answered without hesitation.
Raven let his breathe go, before
answering, "If you do decide to go through with this, it would have to be
soon. Georgie would probably want to have a hearing as quickly as
possible."
"I understand," Chris
said suddenly feeling very self conscious. She was definitely getting the
better end of the deal. She could have Jason as her own son and also, this
beautiful home to live in... Raven cut into her thoughts.
"After the issue is settled
and I am able to take better care of Jason, you could be released from the
marriage. Or earlier if you desired, as long as Georgiana was no longer a
threat."
Chris paused in her imaginings.
Because that was all they were. Jason would not be her son. But, she couldn't
allow Georgiana Stanton to use Jason to get money for herself. Marriage was a
very serious step, not something one planned on leaving at a set date. But if
Raven didn’t want to remain tied down to her... For Jason, she would do this.
But she couldn’t let it be for nothing.
"What happens if you never regain your sight?"
Chris asked.
"I'm confident that I
will." He said, "If there's some unexpected problem, we can cross
that bridge when and if we come to it."
Chris nodded, "I'll do it, but I have one request
first."
"Yes?"
"I want equal custody of Jason, no matter what
happens."
"Okay," Raven sighed.
"I promise you that. I'll have my lawyers draw up a contract if you
like."
Chris considered him. She trusted
him, but people changed. "Okay, that'll be fine." The sunshine had
gone out of the day for her. She was now involved in a business arrangement of
a kind she had never expected.