5. Raven

5

RAVEN

I can't believe it. It's an email from my old bestie from high school, CJ Simons. She and I haven't talked in ages. Does she even know I had cancer?

How did she get this email?

But I laugh at myself.

My email address is easy.

[email protected].

I open the email and start to read.

Hey Ray,

Long time no talk! I just wanted to let you know that I'm back in town. I got a cushy job in the suburbs. It's been forever since we've talked. I'm really sorry we lost touch after college. Of course it didn't help that my family moved to Germany and I tagged along. I hope all is good with you, and if you're still around, I'd love to meet up and find out what's been going on with you for the past eight years. Give me a call.

Best, Ceej.

Then her phone number.

CJ Simons.

Damn. We used to hang out all the time. She and I were the only two in the needlecraft club at our small high school.

Robin wouldn't have been caught dead in that club, and frankly, needlecraft wasn't really my thing either, but my mother is excellent at it, and I always loved her work and wanted to be better. CJ's work was always way better than mine. In fact, she used to enter the county fair every year, and she had a stash of blue ribbons in her bedroom at home.

We went to college together as well, and we were roommates all four years.

But no sooner had we graduated when CJ's father, a colonel in the Army, got transferred to Germany, and CJ decided to go with him and her mom. She got a great job as an au pair for a German family, and that was the last I heard from her. We emailed for a while, kept in touch on the socials, but then longer and longer periods took place between our emails until eventually it all petered out.

I'm not sure which one of us emailed last.

I start to respond to her when another email pops up on my screen.

I don't recognize the name, but the domain name is one of the law firms my father uses.

I quickly open the email.

Dear Ms. Bellamy,

I'm an attorney at the law firm of Polk and Creighton in Austin. Your father mentioned that you're looking to form a nonprofit. I believe I may be able to help you. Let me know when you're available and we'll set up a meeting.

Sincerely,

Brick Latham.

Brick?

That was my grandfather's name. Brick Bellamy. I didn't know anyone else had that name.

But I'm excited.

My father came through for me more quickly than I thought he would.

I quickly respond.

Dear Mr. Latham,

Thank you so much for your email. My time is flexible, so let me know what's good for you. We can start with a phone or Zoom call. As you may or may not know, I'm recovering from cancer, and though I feel great, my physicians have advised me not to drive for another week or two. After that, though, I'm happy to meet you at your office in Austin. Thank you so much for your offer of help.

Raven Bellamy.

I get ready to email CJ back when I decide to call her instead.

I need to tell her what I've been through and that if she wants to see me, she'll have to come to me, at least for the next week or two.

I punch in the number from her email.

"Hello?"

"Ceej?"

"Oh my God, Raven!"

"Yeah, it's me. I just got your email. So you're back in town?"

"Yeah, I've been back for a couple of months. Unfortunately, Dad passed away, and we had to bring his remains home."

"Oh my God, Ceej, I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, it wasn't pretty. Cancer."

I gulp back my gasp. "How's your mom?"

"She's good. She has an apartment in Austin. It's been hard for her, but she's dealing."

"And how are you doing?"

She sighs. "I'm adjusting. We knew it was coming. It was pancreatic cancer, and there's not much they can do about that. He lived about six months after the diagnosis. All he could talk about was how he wished he had retired ten years ago, once he was eligible. Then he and Mom could've had more time together."

I sigh. I'm not sure what to say. Having been in the situation, I know nothing—no words—can help her.

I could tell her that at least her father had a long life, which he did. Longer than I would've had if Falcon hadn't come through with his bone marrow.

But telling CJ that at least her father had a long life would feel like a punch in the gut to her.

"Raven, you there?"

"Yeah, of course. I'm just so sorry."

"I appreciate that. I'm sorry we lost touch." Her voice brightens up. "So tell me. What's going on with you? I checked you out on social media, but the last time you posted was like three years ago. You're not married?"

Yeah. I've never been much into social media, and once I was diagnosed, I didn't want to post at all.

"No, not yet. I've been…busy."

"And I was always sure that Raven Bellamy would be the first of our group of friends to marry. After all, you were the homecoming queen back in high school."

"True."

"Is that still a sore spot with Robin?"

"Come on, Ceej. It's been a long time now. Robin and I are close. Any drama from high school is long behind us."

"If you didn't look so much alike, no one would even know you were twins. You're so different."

She's not wrong. Robin and I have always been different as night and day. CJ herself was up for homecoming queen as well, as well as Robin, me, and one other girl whose name I can't even remember now.

"So no husband," CJ continues. "Any special man in your life?"

"Not exactly."

"What do you mean not exactly ?"

"It just means…" I take a slow breath in. "During the last few years I haven't been in a position to really date."

"Okay…"

"It's really something I'd rather talk to you about in person."

"Let's get together then," CJ says. "I'm a nanny to these rich people in this gorgeous suburb. You can come over anytime, because no one's here during the day except me. The kids are in private school, and of course it's my job to take them and pick them up, but the lady of the house is always off doing something. She doesn't work, but she keeps a full schedule. Whether it's a meeting of the Junior League or meeting of the board of something or other from the back-ass of nowhere, you know."

I chuckle at that. "Sounds like a dream job. But…I don't think I can get away. Maybe you could come here?"

"I'm off on Sundays," she says. "I suppose I could. But you know, Ray, it would be much easier if you came to me."

I don't want to tell her about my cancer over the phone, and if I tell her I'm not clear to drive, she'll have questions.

"Oh, come on, Ceej. We can walk through our old stomping grounds. This Sunday?"

"All right, Raven. This Sunday. I just need your address."

"I'm actually staying with my parents right now. My place is being…redecorated."

I hate the lie, but again, I don't want to talk cancer over the phone. When she sees me at the front door with a nearly bald head, she'll realize the truth.

Is it rude of me to not tell her? To surprise her with my bald head?

Well, that's how it's going to be. "Sunday. Come on over around noon. You know my mom always makes a huge lunch on Sundays. It will be great to see you."

"Sounds great, Raven. I'll see you then. And this time, we're not losing touch."

"Absolutely. I can't wait to see you. We've got a lot of catching up to do."

As soon as I end the call, I get another call from a number I don't recognize.

"Hello?"

"Is this Raven?"

"The one and only."

"This is Brick Latham. I'm an attorney in Austin. I assume you got my email?"

"Oh, Mr. Latham. Yes. I emailed you back but maybe you haven't gotten it yet. Thank you for getting back to me so quickly."

He chuckles. "When Austin Bellamy talks, our law firm listens. I understand you want to talk about starting a nonprofit."

"I do."

"You came to the right place. I've set up many nonprofits here in the state of Texas. I'm definitely your man. We should get together to discuss everything. I can tell you what you'll need so that we can get you incorporated as a nonprofit with the state, and then we'll have to talk about funding and all the other details."

"To be honest, Mr. Latham?—"

"Brick, please."

"Okay. Brick. I honestly haven't given the details a whole lot of thought. It's just… I need a project, and this is something that's near and dear to my heart. You probably know that I'm recovering from cancer myself."

"Yes, my partner who referred me did tell me that. And let me tell you that I'm very glad that your prognosis is good."

"Thank you. So am I." I laugh nervously.

"If you can come to the office, I can go through everything with you. We can discuss your idea, and I can help you come up with a business plan."

I sigh.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It's just that I haven't been cleared to drive yet. I probably won't be for another week or two, according to my physicians. Don't get me wrong. I feel fine. And I'm sure I could drive but?—"

"That's not a problem. You listen to your doctors. I can come to you. You name the time and place."

"Great. How about tomorrow? My parents' house."

"Let me just check my calendar." The tapping of his computer keys echoes through the phone. "Looks like I'm available tomorrow morning around ten a.m. Will that work for you?"

"Gee, let me check my calendar…" I let out another nervous chuckle.

"I see. Tomorrow at ten it is then. I look forward to meeting you."

"Me too. Thanks again."

I'm parched after two phone calls. My throat's still a little sore from the virus I just recovered from, so I head down to the kitchen to grab an Orange Crush, my favorite soft drink.

Just as I'm entering, though, I hear my brothers talking.

Again.

"There's one person who may be able to help us," Falcon is saying.

"Who?" From Hawk.

Falcon pauses a moment. "Savannah's brother. Vincent Gallo."