A Christian Romance

Chapter 12 - Deserved vacation

(the picture on the top is Chloe)

That would be Debora's first Christmas away from her family. She had a few invitations for Christmas: Ralph's, Chloe's and even James'. Molly - Adam's mother - pleaded with her to join their trip to Canberra, that she didn't have to worry about money, the trip would be her Christmas present, but the way Adam reacted to that just gave her what she needed and she chose Chloe's invitation instead. First of all, Chloe was a girl, second, Debora had promised her a visit and it would be good to stay away from Sydney for a few days.

When Debora arrived in Melbourne for the first time, she didn't think it would be so hard to recognize Chloe again. She saw many ginger girls, but none of them looked like the ginger tomboy she had met in Sydney months back. Finally, Debora decided to give her friend a phone call, just to inform her of the arrival. While she was on the phone, a ginger girl escorted by a young man came walking toward her.

"Hi Debora!" The girl called.

Debora couldn't believe her eyes. Chloe looked like a whole different person: wearing a petrol green dress, escorted by a young man that Debora recognized.

"Ben?!" Debora marveled to see Joel's brother next to her friend Chloe. What a small world!

"You two know each other?" Chloe was intrigued.

"Yes. Debora's a great friend of Joel's." Ben introduced, matter-of-factly.

Apparently, Ben didn't know what happened between Joel and Debora, and if Joel kept their misunderstanding to himself, then Debora wouldn't be the one to bring it to the table.

"Debora!" Small Chloe energetically embraced her friend. "It's so good to see you, I'm glad you accepted my invitation. It's gonna be a lot of fun." She was excited.

"I thank you for the invitation." She emphasized her gratefulness.

They walked out of the train station in direction to Chloe's apartment which was nearby, within walking distance. The group was excited and well-humored, while sharing their latest news, except for Debora who was far more engrossed with her surroundings. Melbourne seemed to be one beautiful and unique city with traces that reminded her of the cosmopolitan German cities. There was a side about that place that gave her a sense of home, she didn't know why, but probably because she saw Chloe and Ben holding hands while leading the way, or maybe not, because that distracted her.

The sensation of holding hands was blurred in her memories, and when would that pure touch come from Adam? They had kissed, touched, gone over the edge, but never held hands, or shared an innocent kiss on the cheek or forehead, none of those pure physical expressions of love. It became clear as crystal that what they shared was nothing more than lust. Why else would it be so hard for him to express feelings? Maybe because admitting that his feelings were nothing compared to love would drive her away.

Thinking of Adam automatically made Debora think of Joel and how he had closed the door of his heart. She didn't even know why she prayed for him, but it was all in obedience. What a mess! Michelle was right! Love wasn't supposed to be this hard. Debora would be better off without men, and living the single life.

Chloe heard a sigh from her friend and looked back:
"Is everything alright?"

"Yes, it is!"

"If you need help with the luggage, Ben can help you."

"How silly of me!" He had forgotten that he could help her.

"Ben, it's fine! It's not like I brought my whole life here!" She replied. "What I really needed is help with my thoughts." She talked to her buttons.

They didn't hear her, especially Ben, whose phone started ringing.
"Ooh! That must be Mim!"

"Is Joel coming?" Debora spoke to them, however her voice was unheard. She truly felt like a third wheel.

She predicted that the rest of the week would be like that, and if so, not truly funny.
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"Molly, my trainers?" David screamed from his room, waking Adam.

David and his wife couldn't choose another time to pack their bags, it had to be that early in the morning? Maybe they planned to wake their son and still convince him to leave the house with them. Whether or not, Adam woke up and left his bed. Shirtless, he walked barefoot to his parents' room, still squinting from the glare coming from the window.

"Could you be more silent?" He asked on a complaining and demanding tone.

His father looked at him with a smirk on his face, while putting some shoes in a bag.

"Good morning, son!" He kept the smirk. "I'm glad to see you awake."

Adam rolled his eyes and folded his arms against his chest, while observing his father. Tempted, he caught himself reconsidering his decision about that trip. However, the schemes he had in mind didn't include his parents' presence, yes, he was missing Debora again. The way he missed her became more ardent and uncontrollable each time.

"Are you still deciding about the trip?" His father walked to him. "You should come, Ade! A man alone is more prone to fall into temptation." His father didn't believe in God, but knew the ways of males. "Just pack your bags, and let's go!"

"Yeah, maybe I should..."

David couldn't believe that he had convinced his son to do something:

"I can't believe that you agree with me on this..."

"I don't. That's why I'm staying."

His father looked at him with a disapproving look and, as he was leaving the room, the landline phone started ringing. The way he rushed down the stairs attracted Adam's curiosity.

Adam tiptoed down the stairs and heard his father whispering; nothing very distinct, but afterwards he saw his father putting his fist onto the table and cursing under his breath. He knew that it was something illicit. So, he walked into the living room and met him, as David closed the entrance door.

"Is everything alright, dad?"

"Yes." David was aggravated. "All is fine!" Throwing a paper onto the sideboard.

Adam observed his father walking away, sure that he was up to something. The person on the phone could be anyone, but his strong suspicion fell on Richard.

"There is a letter on the sideboard for you, by the way." David informed him.

"For me? From whom?" He frowned.

"From Court." David stopped for a while, fidgeting with his hands.

"How do they know that I live here?"

"Your concubine blabbered!" The pastor confirmed, walking up the stairs afterwards.

Adam barely heard the tone his father used to refer to Debora, while rushing to the sideboard. He ripped  the letter open and inspected it, his heart pounding in his chest. When his eyes read Richard Manners' name, the images of the day he saved Debora from rape came flooding back to his mind. That game of playing the hero would apparently cost him, and the trial was in less than a month. He paced restlessly thinking of what he was going to do.