Road to Redemption - Michelle Dalton Page 0,27

problem.” Vestra waved a finger between the pair.

“Why? Ray and I know perfectly well where this started.” Mina slapped her hands on her knees where she sat.

“And what of Lullu?” Vestra questioned softly.

“Same,” Mina snapped.

Ray’s reply made it to his mouth, but he bit it back when Vestra’s glance told him to keep quiet.

“Perhaps a different approach is what we need.” Vestra pointed with her gold Parker pen to the table. “Could each of you please grab a pen and notepad?”

“Vessie, I have shit to take care of and …” Mina balked, but Vestra held up her hand and Mina’s mouth snapped shut.

“That shit can wait, love. This shit …” She gripped her pen, and with an index finger, made a swirling motion.“… cannot. You need this about as much, if not more, than Raymond. I’m not suggesting you walk out of here holding hands, and dance off in to the sunset. But it’s time you learned to deal.”

“This won’t fix the past.” Mina pinched her hands beneath her arms.

“No, but it’ll help to pave the way toward a better future. Isn’t that why we’re here?” Vestra’s voice soothed.

“Fine.” Mina threw her hands in the air.

In that moment she looked like the Mina of years past. Stubborn, scared, lost.

He so badly wanted to wrap his arms around her. Protect her. Instead Ray sat on his hands and bit his tongue.

“Right. Here’s a writing pad and a pen for each of you. Write a letter to the other. It can be from your past self, or from your present self. Address it to the other.”

“I’ve said what I have to.” Mina sulked.

But Vestra ignored her, “It doesn’t matter. Just write, don’t hold back.”

Half an hour and half a writing pad later, Ray handed his completed letter to Vestra, who declined it. “I told you to write it to Mina.”

Ray retracted his arm and glanced at the pages folded neatly into an oblong.

Mina crumpled another page. “For fuck’s sake!” She glared at Vestra then at Ray. “I’m done with this.”

Vestra held both her hands up. “Okay. Don’t give up just yet. Take Ray’s letter. You have tonight and tomorrow to read, digest, and reply. We’ll meet back in my office day after tomorrow where you can give it to him.”

Raymond nodded and cautiously, as though he were handing a feral dog a piece of meat, and passed the letter to Mina who grabbed it, then shoved it in her pants pocket. “Fine. See you day after tomorrow.”

She didn’t give Ray a second glance as she stomped toward the door, slamming it behind her.

“Breathe, Ray. I think you’ve been holding your breath since you walked in. How do you feel?” Vestra offered him a bottle of water.

“I don’t know,” he whispered, looking at the closed door.

“She’s a tough cookie, that one, but she’s never had to face her demons or truly deal with all this shit. You left her; she was pregnant, and then she was a mother who had to cope with the condescending attitudes of a conservative community. A part of her will always be that frightened, heartbroken sixteen-year-old.”

Ray nodded. “I wish …”

“We all do. But don’t get stuck there, my friend. This is all about moving forward. How are the cravings? Do you need extra help?” Vestra offered.

“I can handle them.” Ray stood. “Thanks for this.” He pointed to the writing pads before he walked out and into the humid spring breeze that drifted up off the ocean.

Was he handling this? Right then, Ray felt as though he were standing on a gangplank, staring down at a shark-infested ocean. Well, he’d have to deal with an irate Mina and his past if he wanted to play some part in Lullu’s life.

The storm hit soon after dusk. A gale hammered its angry fists against the doors and windows of Mina’s home. It’d drifted over them yesterday, only to return with more ferocity this evening.

“Do you think it will blow the roof off? It’s made of straw mom, not tin like the warehouses.” Lullu snuggled closer beneath her arm where they sat snug under the bedcovers in Mina’s room.

“No. The guys who laid the thatch made sure it was meant for stormy Cape weather. We’ll be okay.”

“Ah, what if Boesman isn’t? I need to go and fetch him, Mom. I’m sure he can fit in the kitchen.” Lullu made to jump out of bed, but Mina squeezed her arm tighter around her daughter.

“Boesman is fine. His stables are made for this weather