Chapter 11

Chances Are

The words Leah spoke stabbed Raven like a spear into her chest. Everything around her seemed to spin, and the sound cut away. Feeling about to be sick, she doubled over and covered her face with her hands.

Leah had quit talking and wore a horrified expression. "I'm sorry, Raven. I didn't know. I thought Jacob told you everything last night. I know I heard him thinking he was telling you everything."

Raven dropped back against the sofa, squeaking, "He tried to, but I didn't let him."

"Raven, I'm so, so sorry. It wasn't my place to tell you that. You need to talk to him." Leah frowned in concern.

Raven struggled to hold in her tears, dying inside from hurt, but also feeling a combination of embarrassment and stupidity. She should have expected this. Yet, he told her he loved her, and she believed him. Why would he do that?

Knocks sounded at the door. Leah sniffed. "It's Jacob."

Raven shot her a look that said, please don't tell him I know. She gathered herself together and answered the door, pretending nothing was wrong. But the leftover tension loomed thick in the air.

Jacob trudged inside. His eyes lifted, wide and round at Raven's glare. "What's up?" Shifting his eyes to Leah then back to Raven, he asked, "Did I interrupt some highly classified girl talk or what?"

"Actually, I was telling Raven here how evil and awful you are." Leah sneered.

Raven's face felt hot, and she faked a laugh. "No, she wasn't. She told me how good and awesome you are." Her voice sounded foreign to herself.

Jacob laughed. "Yeah, right! That'll be the day."

"You know it," Leah snapped.

When Jacob turned his head, Leah and Raven shared twin expressions of relief.

Just as Leah had expected, Jacob wanted to get Raven and Abby out to La Push. "I can't because my brother is flying in tomorrow. Leah volunteered to go with me to pick him up."

"I should go too then, because it's still dangerous for you, or any of us, to be traveling alone right now."

Raven avoided his gaze.

"Unless," he paused, "You don't want me to go with you?"

"No, it's fine," Raven forced herself to say. "We figured you'd be coming."

As Jacob filled them in on the Romanians, Raven couldn't help but think about her discussion with Leah. Her hurt made it difficult to keep up appearances. She felt a painful stab of betrayal every time Jacob smiled at her so innocently. Ugh, I wish he'd stop looking at me like that. She yanked her eyes away from him.

"Seth will be around the corner at Charlie's tonight, protecting Mom and him. I could stay here with Raven and Abby to monitor things over here and stay close by Seth if you guys want me to?" Leah suggested. "That way, there will be two of us in the area."

"Since those weren't burglars, I would definitely feel safer if you stayed here with us tonight." Raven said. "My mom won't mind."

"Great. I'll just have Sue bring me some things, and, Jacob, you can bring my jeep tomorrow."

"Sounds good," Jacob said. An awkward silence followed. Jacob huffed. "So, I better get back to Billy now." He reached for Raven's hand. "Come with me outside for a minute."

Even though she didn't want to go with him, Raven let him walk her outside, fighting the lump growing in her throat as her heart crumbled to pieces.

Once they were out the door, he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm fine," she replied. Nervous, she cleared her throat.

Jacob slanted his eyebrow, giving her a skeptical glare. "I don't want to say you're not telling me the truth, but Raven, you're not telling me the truth."

She bit her lip, knowing if she opened her mouth to speak, she wouldn't be able to hold back her sob, anymore. Instead, she turned away, staring out into the darkness as tears forced their way to the corners of her eyes.

"Raven," he whispered, directing her chin back to him with his fingertips and brushing her tears away.

Grasping at his warm hands, she brought them away from her face. "I'm just dealing with a lot, Jacob. I'm fine, really. I just need some time now."

He pursed his lips, examining her face. "I'm sorry for bringing you into this. I really am. I won't let anything happen to you or your mom. Trust me, we won't. You'll both be safe."

"I know, and it's okay. It's just been a terrible day for all of us. Tomorrow will be better. I'll feel better about all of this tomorrow. I will." This time when she faked a smile, she made certain it was nice and broad.

"You're right. It has been a long and stressful day. I should go." Then leaning over, he gave her a long, soft kiss goodnight.

She couldn't help but let herself fall into his kiss, finding it offered her an abundance of alleviation. It surprised her to come away from his lips feeling comforted. She gave him a true smile.

Jacob grinned. "I'll see you tomorrow." He gave her a quick peck on her sore nose and dashed across the street, disappearing into the dark, shadowy forest.

At last, Raven could be alone with her thoughts.

Accepting the reality Jacob was arranged to be with someone else someday, she lay on her bed and sobbed, hoping Leah couldn't hear her. By the time she ran out of tears for the night, her insides felt bruised and weak. She curled up holding herself. All cried out and too tired to hurt anymore, she went numb and began to ponder Jacob's every expression toward her. She basked in his "I do love you" words repeatedly. To those words, she added the tender, passion filled kiss he graced her with before he left. Every fiber in her being told her, he was telling the truth. Jacob loved her.

Before drifting off to the gray morning light, she decided whatever time she could have with him now was better than having no time with him. She would not punish herself or Jacob for something beyond either of their control.

The hidden sun gave the overcast clouds a silvery glow. Jacob was standing by the water, tossing rocks into the gentle foaming waves. Raven felt peaceful and happy watching him. He flashed Raven his adorable smile, the one that always caused her tummy to flutter.

"It's time!" he said. Happiness shimmered from his eyes as he knelt beside her. Taking her by the hand, he stared into her eyes. "Raven, I love you, but I love Renee more... Okay?"

"Huh?" Raven shook herself.

"I said, are you okay?"

She and Jacob were sitting in the airport terminal while Leah roamed around the airport, trying to keep herself from falling asleep.

"Just tired. I didn't sleep well last night."

"Are you sure?" Jacob pulled his brows together as he looked her over.

Raven glanced down and saw she had unknowingly shifted herself as far away from him as the chair would allow and had leaned her shoulder in the opposite direction of him. She blushed and scooted back toward him, winding her hand through his. "A lot has gone on these past couple of days, but I want you to know how glad I am we met," she stated with an urgency. She didn't want him to get the sense that something was wrong between them. She truly was grateful they met and for the time she had to be with him.

"Me too." She could see elation in his eyes as he leaned over and wrapped an arm around her, pressing his lips against her face. The familiar butterflies he had a way of causing, rolled through her. Still so hopelessly in love with him, she sighed in defeat.

"Flight 719 from Fayetteville, North Carolina is arriving on schedule," blared over the intercom.

Hearing the announcement of River's flight, Raven bounced with excitement, anxiously awaiting him. "I'm so lucky he was already scheduled for leave. He said he just got back from somewhere overseas and needed a break. My mom will be so happy to see him!"

Jacob pointed at a guy in a military uniform, walking into the terminal. "Is that him right there?"

Raven glanced over and said, "No, he won't look like that. He's top secret."

Jacob's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean, like special forces or something?"

Raven nodded. "He's Delta Force, actually. But you can't tell him I told you, because no one is supposed to know that. River said he'd look regular. I just hope I can recognize him. Gosh, it's been so long. He has dark hair and dark eyes just like me."

Raven examined everyone coming off the plane and into the terminal. She spotted a muscular guy in faded jeans with a regular white tee shirt on that somewhat resembled River. This guy was probably about six-four or six-five. River had always seemed tall to her, but she didn't remember him being that tall. This guy's hair seemed too long for the military, long enough to fasten it into a short ponytail if he'd wanted to. No one else came from the plane though, and Raven started to worry. The guy got closer, glanced at her, and a smile spread across his face.

It is him!

Raven jumped up, rushed over to River, and threw herself into his arms. Someone in the family had to get dad's height. She gave him the tightest hug she could muster as tears trickled down her cheeks.

She noted a concentrated air of dignity and self-confidence about him. And he was just as handsome as she remembered.

He set Raven down. "Wow! Let me look at you. I half expected to see the tiny little tomboy with a great big head, and you know what? Here she is," River teased.

"And you look like an old man," Raven teased back. "Just kidding. You look good for an old man."

"Hey, I'm not that old." River laughed.

"Twenty-six?"

"Just about. Getting up there, I guess."

"Come on, I want you to meet Jacob," Raven said, pulling River by the arm. She had told him about Jacob over the phone.

When they approached him, Jacob stood. Taken aback, River made an abrupt stop, surveying Jacob, then said, "Damn, Jacob, Raven never told me she was dating the Incredible Hulk."

Jacob cracked a smile. "Hey, what's up?" he said, extending his hand.

River shook his hand with extra force. "Are you sure you're only seventeen?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Actually, it's more like eighteen soon."

"We'll get River's duffle bag, Jacob," Raven said.

"Okay, I'll go find Leah, and we'll meet you at the entranceway," Jacob said, strolling away.

"Jacob seems like a decent guy," River remarked, as they waited at the baggage claim. "So, how's mom doing? How's she taking things?"

"I think she's doing as well as can be expected. I heard her crying a little yesterday, but she was going over bills. She's worried about whether we'll make it on her income alone. I'll get a job, too, though."

River scowled, upset. "Money worries got her with that idiot prick to begin with."

"She won't take him back. I heard her say so on the phone. She filed a restraining order and is already seeing a lawyer on Tuesday. Besides, she told me after all these years she deserves to be happy."

River sighed, relieved. "She does. We all do."

"She'll be so happy to see you, River. I can hardly wait." Raven grinned, contemplating the look on Abby's face.

Leah was facing Jacob when Raven and River came up behind her. "Leah, this is my big brother, River."

Leah spun around, gazing down at River's extended hand.

"My pleasure," River said.

"Nice to meet you." Taking his hand, she lifted her eyes upward. Her legs buckled, and she wobbled backward in a glazy-eyed stupor.

River clutched her by the arm. "Whoa... Are you all right, Miss?" he asked, as he steadied her on her feet.

Raven tossed a worried look at Jacob. His jaw hung open but by the engrossed glint in his eyes and the curious grin on his lips, it was clear, he was enjoying the scene. "I so... know what's going on right now," she heard him mumble.