FAMILY TIES

BY:  ROSE CARR

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Personal diary of Richelleen Javert: April 16

My mother is constantly in my thoughts as of late. Funny that I can’t remember what she looked like except for the time that she was ill. My beautiful courageous mother, you died believing that it would not happen…you never gave up on life, not even at the end. I wonder will I be as brave as you when death comes to visit? Will it hurt, do you come back, does your spirit linger so that you can watch over those you love? The church teaches us that there is an afterlife and so do my people but in spite of that my faith wavers.

Richelleen rubbed at the spot on her head that ached. Perhaps it’s the severe headaches I’ve been having that bring you to my mind so often, Mother. I know you suffered from them more often than you let on. I saw you shun the sunlight, wince at loud sounds, and sometimes remark that your food tasted funny. Could I have the same problem? My symptoms are similar…

Richelleen put her pen down, unable to write down the things that were bothering her, like the headaches, and aversion to light and sounds…were her other symptoms due to the horrific headaches or was something more sinister at work in her head. Sighing, she closed her journal and put it away. Hiding things had never been her thing but she had other people to worry about now and she didn’t want to worry them needlessly. Javert and Adele were the big problems. They noticed everything and she didn’t know how much longer she could continue to hide her problem from them. And now, this mess with her uncle, talk about a headache! Adele had asked her not to tell Javert about it until she talked to some of the others in their clan and she would honor her wishes. Her uncle was a very powerful man though and she didn’t see anyway out for poor Runa. She jumped when the front door banged open. “Mother, Mother where are you?” Nicholas breathless and bright eyed with excitement burst into the room. “There you are! Cousin Louise wants to take me to the coast to go fishing! Can I go? Please! Can I?”

“Nicholas where are your manners,” she said. He nodded, his excitement temporarily dampened. “Yes,Mama, I know, no running in the house. I won’t do it again.” His eyes echoed his father’s, steady and clear and they went straight to her heart. He could talk her into almost anything, and the little stinker knew it. She tousled his thick head of dark hair. “A fishing trip does sound like fun but you do have your studies Nicholas.”

He shrugged away, impatient and full of youthful energy. “Oh Mother, I know I do but I’m caught up on them, really! And it’ll be just two days and one of them will be a Saturday. Can I go, please?” It might be a good idea for him to go she thought looking down at his hopeful face. She and Javert had not been alone since she returned from the meeting and a couple of days to enjoy each other sounded heaven made. “Okay, okay,” she said laughing over his happy shrieks. “Go tell Louise to come in and help you get your things together.”

He turned to go and then stopped at the doorway. “And Father, do you think he’ll be displeased with my going away?”

She smiled. “No…no he won’t, I’ll explain it to him. Now go…have fun!”

He grinned and blew her a kiss that she caught in midair and went running to tell his cousin that he could go. Richelleen smiled at his enthusiasm. Everyone who knew Nicholas loved him because he was so kind and thoughtful, always worrying about other people and their feelings. She and Javert felt very blessed that he had come into their lives. Tears stung her eyes; she wished her mother could have lived to know him.

to be continued....

© 2005 Rose Carr

Contact the author:  Rosematuse@aol.com

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