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| Chapter One |
| The pain was incredible! Just when he thought he couldn’t run another step, new urges would force him forward. He could barely breath for the pain; each pounding step sent burning sensations up his legs. He couldn’t stop, because if they caught him there would be no telling what would happen to him. There had to be some place! Some place where he could hide and be safe! The wet pavement suddenly seemed to slip out from under his smooth soled dress shoes and threw him into the corner of a bay window. His body was reeling from the sudden stop, but he could still hear them behind him. His desperation forced him to his feet and his hand yanked open the door to the ancient New Orleans shop. A dark head looked up at him as he stood with his back to the door and his chest heaved with pain from every breath. “Help me!” He gasped. She ran out from behind the counter she was sitting and rushed to his aid. She pushed him to his left and proceeded to tuck him under a seat of a bay window. There was no door; no covering and anyone could’ve seen him if they entered the shop! Suddenly the door opened and the fearsome crowd was there. All that stood between him and them was a tiny slip of a girl with dark hair and pale white skin. “What do you want?” She demanded. “Did you see someone come in here?” One of the young girls panted. “No. Whoever you are looking for isn’t here.” She said with a strict tone. “No, I saw him come in here.” A second girl said. “You did not see what you thought. You are going to leave.” The woman ordered. “Come on, Becky. He’s not here, let’s go.” The first girl said as she turned, taking the others with her. The second girl was not as easily swayed. “I know I saw him come in here.” She insisted. “I said get out.” The woman demanded firmly. “Okay, whatever.” And the second girl finally left, following the others outside. The woman went to where he was curled in a ball, under the bay window and held out her hand. Fear paralyzed him as she reached out to him. “You’re safe now. Please. Come out.” She said. He crawled out and took her offer to help him up. Her hand was warm to the touch and strong. “See? Everything is going to be all right.” “Thank you…” He said, still trying to catch his breath. “Come here, sit by the fire. You must be chilled to the bone. You’re soaked through.” The young woman took him to a roaring fire to the right of the store’s front door. He hesitated as they passed the window. Someone was peering in. Almost absently, she waved an open palm between the peering girl and him. “She can not see you. C’mon now, it’s all right, sit.” She helped him out of his sports coat and hung it on a round rack by the fire. She directed him toward a high-backed chair with a matching ottoman. The shop was an old bookstore with bookshelves reaching to the ceiling. The cashier’s counter was directly in front of the door, about half way back. The fireplace sat to the right of both, before the counter. It was an old stone fireplace, decorated with an old Oriental rug spread out before the hearth in faded colors of red and gold. It smelled of warmth and old books. She pulled his shoes off without asking and placed them near his jacket to dry. She left him there and returned shortly with a washcloth. His breathing was still rapid and broken, and the chill she spoke of was starting to set in. She put the cloth to his face and it was wet and warm. It smelled of lavender and he involuntarily breathed it in. She set to wiping the sweat and grime from his face and then from his hands. His body gave out a shiver and she reached for the bottom of his cable knit sweater. “You are too wet, this needs to come off. Don’t fuss.” She chided him and she pulled it up over his head to reveal nothing but a white tee shirt. “I will get you a blanket.” She appeared with a blue and gray quilt that smelled of the same lavender. He leaned forward and she wrapped it around his shoulders and tucked it around his chest. She pulled up the ottoman and sat there facing him. She had the most incredible dark eyes he had ever seen. They were pools of obsidian. Her dark hair was restrained by a clip at the top of her head and one at the nape of her neck and fell to the middle of her back. She was shorter than he was. She wore a gray baby-tee and a relaxed cut of jeans with a casual black shoe. She wore no jewelry that he could tell. Her skin was startling white and utterly flawless, almost translucent. She acted as though she had no idea who he was. “My name is Raven.” She smiled. “I’m afraid I don’t know who you are.” His breath had returned and he put out his best show biz handshake. “My name is Howie.” Raven shook his hand. “It is nice to meet you Howie.” Do you mind if I ask why those girls were chasing you?” “They are fans.” “Fans?” She asked, “Are you famous?” “Yes, you could say that.” He said, lifting an unbelieving eyebrow. She really didn’t seem to know who he was. “Should I?” “Huh?” “Should I know who you are? Are you an actor?” “No.” He smiled. “But you want to be.” She guessed. “Yes, someday, maybe. I’m with the Backstreet Boys.” Raven only shook her head. “We’re a pop singing group.” “I’m afraid I don’t have a radio.” She replied. “Do you watch MTV?” He asked, but she looked at him like she didn’t understand. “It’s on TV.” “I don’t have a TV.” Raven shrugged. No wonder she hadn’t heard of them, he thought. She only had these old books. “I only have these books.” Raven waved toward the shelves. “Let me get you some tea to help warm you.” She got to her feet. Howie stared into the fire and shook his head. This was a rarity for sure. He might have actually met someone had no idea of who the Backstreet Boys were. What a trip. When Raven returned, she handed him a white ceramic mug with an herbal tea that was one of his favorites. She had nursed it with lemon and honey. “Are you on a trip?” She asked suddenly. “What? How did you know?” He watched her take a seat on the ottoman at his feet. “You aren’t from here.” She said. “No, I’m from Orlando. That’s in Florida.” Raven let out a little giggle. “I know where Orlando is. Is your tea all right? Is it how you like it?” “Yes, it’s perfect.” He said. “Good, it isn’t often I meet men who like to sweeten their tea.” She smiled, “So, Howie, do you read?” “Uh, sure.” He replied. “Good. I have a book I think you will like. You can read it while you sit here and dry off.” Raven handed him a old hardcopy of a graying book, titled: “The Spanish Invasion.” “It is a wonderful story. It’s actually fiction, but good fiction.” Raven stood over him. “I need to go and work on the receipts for today. Is there anything else I can get you?” “No, thank you.” Howie said as she slid the ottoman near his feet. He stretched out his legs and set his feet down. A clap of thunder wailed in the distance, but they paid it no mind. The fire roared at his feet and she toiled at the counter with paper and pencil. Howie opened the book and began at chapter one. The storm raged on for hours after he fell asleep. His dreams took him far away from the screaming fans, the demands of his work and worries of his family. The heat from the fire began to enter his body and he stayed where he was until she woke him a few hours later. Her hand gently lay on his knee, shaking him hesitantly. “Howie?” Raven asked, peering down at him. “Howie, you need to wake up. I’m afraid you will be late if I let you sleep much longer.” His brown eyes opened on to her smiling face and her warm hand smoothing his cheek, one finger tracing the line along his bearded jaw. A manicured finger tapped the tip of his nose. “It is time for you to go.” She smiled. How could he move? He had never felt like this before. He was so warm and comforted that he almost decided he never wanted to leave. Raven took his sweater from the chair, gave it a shake, brushing some debris from the back, and then picked up his shoes. He had sat up; setting the book that had been resting across his chest aside on a side table. She handed him his shoes first. He sat up and laid the blanket back instantly sending a shiver down his body. She bunched up the sweater and carefully placed it over his head and then pulled his ponytail from the collar as he pulled his arms through the sleeves and adjusted them. Her hands ran down his arms and she took his hands. “This should help drive that nasty chill from you.” She gave his hands a gentle tug, encouraging him to lean down toward her. Her cheek grazed his and he felt heady from the scent of her. Raven lingered with her cheek against his and Howie pulled away first. “How can I thank you?” Howie whispered. “There’s no need. I enjoyed having you. I sometimes don’t have visitors for long periods of time.” Raven smiled with a shrugged. “It’s I who should be thanking you.” “I was hardly good company. I fell asleep.” He joked. “You were running pretty hard when you hit my window. You must ache all over. Here, I want you to take this.” Raven let go of his hands and reached around him to pick up the book. She handed it to him for him to take. Howie took it and tucked it under his arm. “I think you’ll finish it some day.” “I think so, too. It is a great story.” Howie said. “How much to I owe you?” “For what? The book, oh, nothing. It’s a gift.” “Are you sure?” “Of course, they are my books. I can give them to anyone I want.” Raven laughed. “Here, I can even give you a bookmark.” She went to the counter and brought back a paper bookmark. She took the book from under his arm and tucked it into the pages. She playfully lifted his arm and tucked it back under. He chuckled with her. “Thank you, Raven. I almost don’t want to leave.” Howie reached and took both of her hands this time. “You can’t stay. I have to close up soon.” Raven looked up at him. Her left hand left his and she reached for his face again. It seemed she was fighting something by the way she hesitated. He trapped her hand in his and brought it to his face. She traced the line of his bearded jaw again, her fingertips coming to rest under his chin. He leaned in, pulling her into his arms, but she turned her face away as his lips barely grazed hers. She slipped her arms around his body and buried her face into his sweater. He could feel his heart racing beneath her cheek. She pushed away and took a couple steps back. “You need to go, you’re going to be late.” “Can I call you? I’m in town until tomorrow night, can I stop by again?” He asked. “I don’t think you’ll ever need to.” She smiled. “Of course I do. I’ll need to see you.” He said. She walked by him and opened the door. She was smiling warmly at him as she held door. “C’mon now!” Raven laughed, “I can’t have you being late for your singing tonight.” He returned her smile as he reached for his jacket. He pulled it on as walked toward the open door. He put one arm around her, pulled her close, and simply kissed her cheek. “Good-bye, Howie.” She whispered. |
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