Saturday March 21, 1987
Randy knocked on the door to the Williamson house. He had arrived to pick Chevonne up for their weekend trip to Forrest Lake. After a few moments the door opened and Chevonne was standing there sighing.
"I need you to help me convince mom to let me go. She is worried about us going to the lake because of the murder last night." Chevonne said.
"I'll talk to her. Come on." Randy said as she let him in.
Randy followed her into the kitchen where Judi was making her lunch. Judi smiled at Randy as he walked in. She had light brown hair and brown eyes, medium height and looked a little younger than 38 years old.
"Randy, nice to see you." She smiled.
"Hi, Mama Judi. Chevonne tells me that you are worried about our camping trip." Randy said.
"With that girl being murdered last night, I just don't think you kids should go off unsupervised." Judi said.
"I promise, we will be perfectly safe. We'll be at the cabin the Uso family owns and that is private property at the lake. The family has owned it for years, it is perfectly safe. And there will be a large group of us. You know we have been there before." Randy said.
"But they don't know who killed that girl. What if he is still on the loose somewhere in the area?" Judi said.
"I promise, I will not let anything happen to Chevonne. I will keep my sister safe; you know I would never let anything hurt her." Randy said.
Judi sighed. "Okay, okay, okay….she can go. But Randy I am holding you to your word. You keep her safe. You know she is all I have in this world."
"You got it." Randy hugged Judi. "And you got me too."
"Thanks mom, I will be fine, I promise." Chevonne hugged her mom.
Judi walked the kids to the door where Chevonne grabbed the bag she had packed earlier. Judi hugged Chevonne again as she walked out the front door.
"Bye sweetie, I love you." Judi said.
"Love you too mom." Chevonne called back.
Randy tied Chevonne's bag on the back of his motorcycle and handed her a helmet. They both put on their helmets and climbed on the bike. Randy gunned the engine and pulled them out onto the street, headed towards Forrest Lake.
When they arrived at the lake, they could see that everyone else was already there. Randy and Chevonne grabbed their bags and headed into the cabin. The cabin was large with a lot of rooms. The Uso/Reigns family had bought it to use for family gathering purposes.
"Finally, we were starting to think you guys had bailed on us." Ted looked up from the couch where he sat with Kristin.
"We had a hard time convincing Mama Judi to let Chevonne come. She is upset because of the murder." Randy explained. "Where is everyone else?"
"Brett who talked his way out of being grounded is down at the lake with Cody and Brandi. Naomi is in the kitchen sorting through the food. Jimmy and Jey were last seen fussing over the grill and charcoal. Not sure where Roman is." Ted explained.
"Where are we sleeping? I want to put my stuff down." Chevonne asked.
"We put you and Randy in the twins' old room. It has twin beds." Kristin said.
"Won't be the first time we shared a room." Randy said. "At least we have different beds. Chevonne kicks in her sleep."
"Hey, we haven't shared a bed since we were 8 years old. And you snore." Chevonne said.
"I do not." Randy said as they headed up the stairs.
"You do so. Why do you think I always woke you up when we were little? I couldn't sleep with all that racket." Chevonne laughed.
"You know, sometimes I think they are real siblings." Ted laughed.
Randy and Chevonne found their room at the end of the hall. They each claimed a bed and set their bags down on them.
"I should probably go help Naomi in the kitchen." Chevonne said.
"Wonder if the twins have set the back yard on fire yet?" Randy laughed.
Chevonne headed back downstairs to the kitchen. She found Naomi putting away some groceries in the kitchen.
"Hey, you made it. I think Roman has been watching for you." Naomi winked.
"Oh, where is he?" Chevonne asked.
"He said something about checking out the pontoon boat. His father bought one and put on the lake a few years ago. They keep it here." Naomi said. "We're gonna have to do the cooking. The boys are hopeless and I am convinced Brett could mess up a bowl of cereal."
"Oh no problem. I am glad to help." She said. "I'll start on a salad since you appear to be setting out hamburgers and hotdogs."
"You know the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Kristin walked in.
"I doubt salad has ever won a man over." Chevonne rolled her eyes.
"Roman has been asking about you on the drive up here." Naomi said.
Despite trying to be nonchalant, Chevonne broke into a big smile. "What was he asking?"
"What kind of guys you usually date. Had you ever dated anyone in our little group of friends? That kind of thing." Naomi said. "Then Jey started bragging he was the only one in our group to have a date with you since you guys went to the homecoming dance together."
"Leave it to Jey. Does it count that when we were in 5th grade Cody kissed me on a dare?" Chevonne laughed as she washed the lettuce.
"If the boys have got the grill going, we can put the burgers on." Kristin said. "I'll carry them out."
"You know…you and Roman could get close this weekend." Naomi said.
"We'll see what happens." Chevonne said.
(6:30PM)
The kids were all seated in the back yard of the cabin eating the food that the girls had grilled and cooked for them. Brandi, Cody and Brett had returned from swimming and everyone was enjoying the outing.
"So Cody, gonna try telling ghost stories again?" Randy chuckled.
"I think we're spooked enough considering what happened last night." Brandi said.
"Besides, I have to work some on my biology project." Ted sighed.
"Poor guy got partnered up with Bray Wyatt." Kristin chuckled.
"It's not that bad, just gonna do the project and move on. He is nice enough, just a little strange." Ted said.
"Guy is a fucking nut. When we were kids he had an imaginary friend on the playground. Called it Sister Abigail and played with it every fucking day." Randy said.
"Randy, lots of kids has imaginary friends." Chevonne said.
"Not you, you had an imaginary monkey." Randy laughed.
"Yeah and you tried to bury him alive in the sandbox." Chevonne said.
"Yeah and then you got mad and bit my leg to make me stop." Randy said as everyone cracked up at the story.
"I was five and you were purposely trying to make me mad." She said.
"I thought you two grew up as best friends?" Roman asked.
"Oh they did. Randy might pick on her when they were little, but if anyone else tried to he'd get mad." Cody laughed.
"I'm gonna take some of this garbage in and throw away. We don't want wildlife coming here because they smell leftovers." Chevonne stood up gathering the empty plates.
"I'll help you." Roman said, standing and gathering some of the empty soda bottles.
They walked back into the cabin to throw away the garbage. They walked into the kitchen and Chevonne threw the paper plates in the trash.
"So do you have any plans for tonight?" Roman asked.
"I figured I would just hang out with everyone and see what we get into." She smiled at him.
"My dad has a double deck pontoon boat. I thought you might like to go out on the lake for a moonlight cruise." Roman said.
She looked up at him. "That sounds wonderful. I would love to."
"Great, say around midnight?" he asked.
"Yes, I'll be there." She smiled.
He smiled at her but before he could say anything, Kristin, Brandi and Naomi rushed into the kitchen.
"What is going on?" she asked.
"We're gonna make s'mores while the grill still has some fire in it." Kristin said as Roman walked back outside.
"Girls…Roman asked me to go on a moonlight cruise with him on the pontoon boat." Chevonne said.
"Oh that is so romantic. I am jealous." Brandi said.
"Me too…maybe I am dating the wrong family member." Naomi joked.
"Love is in the air." Kristin hugged her.
"We're just going out on a boat, calm down." Chevonne said.
"Oh honey, I think he wouldn't ask you to do something like that unless he really liked you." Brandi said.
"You think…..I hope so." Chevonne smiled.
"Come on, let's make s'mores!" Kristin said.
"What are you gonna wear? You know this is like a date?" Naomi asked.
"I dunno." Chevonne said.
"I'll help you pick out something. Honey that man is gorgeous, don't let him get away." Naomi smiled.
(Midnight)
Roman was waiting on the back porch of the cabin when she stepped out. Everyone else was either with their significant others or hanging with the singles.
"I got the boat all ready." Roman said.
"Is going on the water at night safe?" Chevonne asked as they walked towards the lake.
"Yeah, the boat has lights. And I have been using this boat since I was a kid. My dad taught me how to use it safely from the beginning." Roman said.
They walked down to where the boat was kept along a small dock. Roman helped Chevonne climb on the boat and then he untied it from the dock and lifted the small anchor. He started the engine and drove them away from the shore.
"It is beautiful tonight. So many stars in the sky." Chevonne said.
"I brought a small cooler with some drinks. And I brought an extra blanket in case it gets chilly." Roman said.
Roman steered the boat to the middle of the lake and cut the engine.
"You wanna go up on the upper deck?" Roman asked.
"Yeah." She smiled.
Roman followed her up the stairs to the upper deck. She sat down on the padded bench and he sat next to her.
"It is so peaceful here." She said.
"I know. Often times you hear whippoorwills calling." Roman said. "I used to spend a lot of summers here with Jimmy and Jey as kids."
"So you were the cousin they always talked about spending time at the lake with." She smiled.
"I guess so. We had the best times." Roman smiled. "One time, we were about 7 years old….Jimmy climbed a tree and hid from everyone for four hours. Uncle Fatu almost called the police. When he finally climbed down, I thought the adults were going to strangle him for making them panic."
"Uncle Fatu…I thought he was your cousin?" she asked.
"He is, but since he was older, I always called him uncle." Roman said.
"Did you hear that?" Chevonne looked around.
"What?"
She listened closely and thought she heard someone walking on the shore. "Hear that, sounds like leaves under footsteps."
"Probably some of the others. Or maybe some people from the other cabins on the lake." Roman shrugged.
"You're probably right." She said.
"Here, I'll get you a soda." Roman said. He pulled a small cooler open and handed her a soda, taking one for himself.
"Thanks. Since your family is so close, why did it take so long for you to move out here?" she asked.
"Dad has wanted to move here for years, took him awhile to get his job to transfer him." He said. "What does you mom work at?"
"She was working and putting herself through nursing school when she got pregnant. When my dad took off, she knew she couldn't afford a baby and school so she dropped out. She has worked a lot of jobs over the years. Right now she has a pretty stable job at Sears in town; she has been there awhile and worked herself up to manager of the shoe department. She also works part-time at an all-night grocery store." She said.
"Do you know anything about your dad?" Roman asked. "Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have asked."
"No it's okay. I know you aren't asking out of cruelty. Very little, mom refuses to talk about him. She won't even tell me his name." Chevonne said. "Once she told me that I was tall like him, but that is all."
"I guess it really hurt her being abandoned like that, when she needed him most." He said.
"Yes, and being from this tiny gossiping town didn't help…and let's face it in the late sixties being an unwed mother was still a big stigma around here. Probably would've been easier if she had lived in a more liberal area." Chevonne said.
"You cold? It's a bit chilly on the water." Roman asked.
"A little, I should have brought a jacket." She said.
Roman pulled a blanket out of the storage compartment. He sat down next to her and spread the blanket over both of them.
"Better?" he wrapped an arm around her.
"Yeah." She smiled. "So, tell me what it was like in California. Did you live near the beach?"
"No, we lived near Sacramento." Roman said. "But I went to the beach with friends from time to time."
"Why didn't you have a special girl back there?" she asked.
Roman looked at her. "Guess the right one wasn't back there." He leaned down and gently kissed her.
"I am glad you moved here." She leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I wasn't happy about it, but it's getting better all the time." He kissed her forehead. "By the way, the stories you and Randy tell on each other about when you were kids are hilarious."
"Oh, well you know we grew up like siblings. I am sure you hear Jimmy and Jey telling similar stories." She chuckled.
"How did you and Randy become so close?" Roman asked.
"When we were little, we were in the same pre-school together. We became friends pretty early because we were at the same table. Then our parents met at open house. Next thing I know we're being invited to dinner….our families just clicked. Mama Elaine offered to babysit me, knowing mom was struggling to work, find sitters, find time to sleep etc. Over time we just grew into a family." She said. "What were you like as a kid?"
"Very well behaved compared to the twins." He said, making Chevonne laugh.
(7am)
Roman slowly came awake. He looked around and realized he was on the boat with Chevonne. She was leaning against him asleep; both of them snuggled under the blanket. They had stayed up most of the night talking, getting to know each other in depth and enjoying the quiet of the lake. He realized they had fallen asleep at some point.
He rubbed his cheek against her head and she stirred. She nuzzled her face into his neck.
"We should probably get back to the cabin. I am already surprised no one has come looking for us." Roman said.
"I am too comfortable to move." She groaned.
"Come on, I'll make you a cereal breakfast." He joked.
Chevonne chuckled and sat up. "How about I fix us a real breakfast?"
"Great, I am starving." Roman smiled.
They climbed down to the lower deck and Roman started the boat, heading back towards shore. The sun was shining bright on the water. Roman pulled the boat up to the small dock. He helped Chevonne onto the deck and then he made sure to secure the boat.
"Come on, let's go on in." Roman wrapped his arm around her.
They walked up the path to the house. They quietly opened the back door and entered the kitchen.
"I'll get started on breakfast." Chevonne said.
Randy walked in the kitchen. "There you two are. I was worried when Chevonne didn't come back last night."
"I didn't mean to worry you. I was with Roman on the boat all night." Chevonne said.
"You were out all night just the two of you? Everything okay?" Randy asked.
"Randy, everything is fine. I promise." Chevonne said to him.
"Randy, nothing physical happened between us. I wouldn't do that to her. We just fell asleep while talking on the lake." Roman said.
"You sure you are okay?" Randy asked her.
"I am fine. You know I would tell you if something was wrong or I was upset." She said.
"Does this mean you guys are official or something? I mean you two were out all night." Randy asked.
"No, I always spend all night on a boat with just random girls. Do you want me to give her my class ring?" Roman rolled his eyes.
"Roman, this is my sister. You hurt her, you answer to me." Randy said.
"I know, everyone knows. You don't have to worry." Roman said.
Brett walked into the kitchen, having been out for a morning run.
"Hey, Brett. Did you have a good run?" Randy asked.
"Good, but I think someone is in the woods around here." Brett said.
"Really? Out here?" Chevonne asked.
"I could've sworn I heard someone in the woods." Brett said.
"Maybe poachers. Heaven knows some people don't obey the laws like they should." Chevonne shrugged. "I was just making breakfast, do you boys want some?"
"Yeah, sounds good. I'm gonna go shower." Brett said.
"So we're official?" Chevonne turned to Roman.
"I meant what I said to Randy." He said.
"Damn, I owe Brandi five bucks. She swore you two would get together up here." Cody said as he walked by.
Author's Note- Thank you BloodCharm for the add; glad you are reading the story. Thank you to Cinnamon Muffin Punk and cdajr for their continued support and feedback. The more feedback I get the faster I am inspired to update.