Chapter 13
Orange flames speared the dark sky. Violent flickers highlighted the downstairs windows of the home. As a precautionary measure, the upper half had been drenched, as had the townhomes on either side. Mouth agape, Raven watched the destruction from the park sidewalk. Multiple firetrucks and a hoard of men dotted the street, aiming water at insatiable flames. It was a sick, hypnotizing scene. If it weren’t for glancing at Liam’s arm wrapped around her shoulder, she wouldn’t have known it was there—she didn’t feel it. Like the fire, she fed on rage.
Charlene was at her side, lips moving, her face contorted in sadness and guilt. “I’m sorry …”
“No!” Raven moved to the other side of Liam so as not to be touched by her mom.
Royael’s baby pictures! The thought struck Raven like a stray flame. No thought was involved as she went sprinting across the street with tunnel vision. All she thought of was getting past the firemen to save her daughter’s mementos. Then her feet were lifted off the ground as she was grabbed around the waist.
“No, Raven.” Stephen held her to his chest as her legs thrashed in the air.
“Royael’s baby pictures!” She tried unwrapping herself from his grip. Overwhelmed with anger, she had to keep reminding herself that he was a friend, so as not to pummel him and continue.
“No.” He knelt to the asphalt, holding her. She allowed his biblical verse to envelop her spirit and pacify her. He rubbed her back. Submerged in the darkness of his collarbone, she tuned out the firemen’s shouting, the raging fire, and the neighbors’ empathetic, confused chatter. Concentrating on him, her crying turned into a whimper, and then finally a sniffle.
When a second voice mimicked Stephen’s words, Raven opened her eyes to a chubby hand reaching out to help her off the ground. Melanie hugged her tightly. If only she could stay on the ground, blend in with the asphalt, become nothing … except Melanie continued to chant comforting Psalms, and her heart swelled for these two people. They ambled back to the park, sitting Raven down on a swing.
***
Night blanketed the neighborhood as the last embers went out. The fire chief came over and spoke with Raven. She nodded as he explained that the point-of-fire came from a cup towel on the counter near the stove. Annette’s dinner hadn’t made it off the stove when they had all left for the hospital. She distinctively recalled telling Charlene to turn it off, right after their argument to determine who would ride in the ambulance. Raven didn’t even know what she’d said to Charlene, but it was apparently harsh enough to get Charlene to back out of the ambulance.
Charlene stood at her side, listening to the fireman. Raven wanted to push her away, tell her that it was none of her business, yet energy failed her.
Raven rocked back and forth on the swing as Melanie offered to take her home. She shook her head. When Charlene offered, Raven stood so fast the swing jerked and went rocking. “I’m not going anywhere with you!”
Charlene sighed, opening her mouth, but Damien nudged her arm.
“You can’t stay here,” Stephen said.
“Come home with me,” Liam directed.
She’d forgotten he stayed after Stephen came. Finally looking at him, she shook her head. No clear sense of direction, Raven walked to her car. I’ll get a hotel. The thought of being alone made her shoulders tense as she fumbled with her keys.
Liam leaned against the door, looking down at her. “I won’t allow you to stay by yourself tonight.”
Raven didn’t relent when he pulled her toward his Range Rover. Settling into the car, she watched Damien corner him before he opened the driver’s door. Even in the dark, there was a glint of concern in her stepdad’s eyes. She could just imagine what he told Liam. Maybe not; she’d never had a father.
Raven watched dark trees whip by as they ascended into the mountain. Baby pictures and kindergarten crafts. Biting her lip to stop a sob, she glanced at Liam from the corner of her eyes. Could he be her rock again—the strength she needed during the storm? Images of his comforting, strong arms holding her up at Brinton Hospital in North Carolina crossed her mind. He’d been the reason she’d coped as a doctor told her that Grandpa Otis had leukemia.
That image was a murmur of hope.
No. He wasn’t her rock.
***
In a daze, Liam pulled in between the Bugatti and the Murcielago. The close connection that he’d seen when Stephen consoled Raven had his shoulders rigid. He’d almost gone to her then. Instead, he imagined himself soothing her. He got out of the car, wondering why Stephen hadn’t offered to take Raven to his home. Her chunky friend did, but not Stephen. Oh, good Christians don’t sleep together.
In the house, Liam guided Raven up the stairs to a bridge that led to his master bedroom on the left and guestrooms to the right. Rain drummed on the skylight as he took her to the first bedroom on the right. He flicked on the light, illuminating a room with olive-green walls and potted plants. Not knowing what to say, he told her how to use the system that would darken the glass wall.
When she didn’t speak, he went into the adjoining bathroom and turned on the shower. He grabbed a set of towels out of the cabinet and placed them on the glossy white counter. When he walked back into the bedroom, she stood in the center, looking through him.
Liam rubbed his hand over his thick hair. “I’ll go find something for you to wear.”
Raven nodded, taking a seat on the khaki couch.
She was in the same spot when Liam came back. He placed a pair of sweats and a T-shirt from his alma mater next to her. What to say? When they were kids, he’d never have a problem turning her frown upside down. Now, he didn’t know her.
Since the house would be full of light in the morning, he used the automated switch to close the blinds himself. Steam flowed from the bathroom door. Finally, having nothing constructive to do, he told her goodnight and was shutting the door when she said his name faintly.
“Will you lay with me for a while after I shower?”
Did she just say that?
“Please?” Raven looked into his eyes as he hesitated.
“Okay. I’ll be back.” Liam hurried to his room, pulled off his clothing, and kicked off his shoes. Going into the closet, he hastily grabbed a pajama set off the shelf. The neatly-stacked pile of new pajamas crumpled. Pulling the tag off the pants, he went to take a shower. It wasn’t until he’d brushed his teeth that he stopped to laugh at himself. He gritted his teeth, cursing Tyriq’s inability to find the maid. Lucinda knows about the forged letter, if she knows that there's no telling what else she knows.
The melodramatic beat of the rain against the skylight mimicked Liam’s heart as he went back to the guestroom. Raven laid in bed on her side, her back to him. It was safe to retreat and ignore her plea, but she looked fragile in the large bed. Sighing, he climbed into bed. Inhaling her intoxicating mango and papaya perfume gave him a flurry of vivid images of their first time together. Inwardly, he cringed. This is fucking painful. I can’t have her.