SUMMER'S RAIN

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 26

Walking with Lisa from the kitchen we are both laughing at a joke Doug just told us. We both come to a dead stop in the dining room. I am looking straight at the last two people I wanted to see today. They are both staring right back at me. I wonder if I look as frozen as they do at the moment. Case walks around my parents and comes to stand by my side.

“Hey" he says as he takes my hand and kisses me on top of the head. I’m not sure how I feel about Case acting as if we are a couple. He is probably just trying to put me at ease. He knows this is the last thing I want to deal with. He laces his fingers with mine. I turn my head towards Lisa noticing her gaze is locked on mine and Case’s hands. She looks up at me when she feels my eyes on her. She raises her eyebrows at me questioning without words what the hell is going on between Case and I. Case gives a small smirk to Lisa before squeezing my hand then he turns his attention back to Summer and Harris. “Lana I don't believe you have met the King and Queen.” He says to me which I never reply to.

Harris is the one that speaks first. “Everybody would you please leave, Summer and I would like to speak with Ra...I mean Lana alone.” I watch as Cain and Lisa both walk away without looking back. Case never let go of my hand.

“Case that goes for you to” Harris says.

Case surprises me by still holding my hand.  He turns to me “Lana do you want me to stay?” I look at him. I can’t believe he is going against what the King has told him to do. Before I have time to say anything to him however, Harris speaks again.

“Case I told everyone to leave. That means you too.” Harris says his tone showing he doesn’t appreciate the fact Case is not doing as he has been told.

Case never even looks at the King. His eyes are still on me. “Lana do you want me to leave it’s up to you.”

I have to say I feel my feelings grow even more for Case. I understand how much he cares for both Harris and Summer and for him to go against them tells me a lot. “No Case you need to go. He's right we do need to talk, and we need to do it alone but thank you so much for standing by me.” He catches me off guard when he bends down and kisses me on the lips before telling me I only have to yell if I need him. He let’s go of my hand and starts to walking towards the door having to pass by Harris as he goes. Harris stops him when he reaches his side. I thought he was going to be mad, but instead he puts his hand on Case's shoulder telling him not to worry everything will be fine. Case gives his head a nod letting Harris know he understands. Harris gives his shoulder a pat and Case walks out of the room.

“Why don’t we all sit down," Harris says motioning towards the table.

I take the chair at the far end of the table while Summer and Harris sit side by side at the other end of the table giving me plenty of space; trying to make me as comfortable as possible. I see it in their eyes they are as afraid as I am. Could this really be as hard on them as it is on me? Yeah, I guess it can be. They’re afraid I won’t talk to them, that I won’t want anything to do with them. Not knowing quite how I feel about that realization I just sit there with my hands in my lap.

“You are truly beautiful Rain.” Summer says.

“My name is Lana not Rain.” I retort.

“I'm sorry your right Lana is your name.” Summer says while her head drops a little.

“Sorry we weren’t here when you got ho...I mean here...but we had to be in a meeting, it took longer than we thought it would” Harris says trying to ignore the mounting tension in the room.

I know he trying to give Summer time to recover from me telling her “Rain” wasn’t my name. I don’t mean to hurt her but there is NO way in hell I am going to be called Rain. I’d already lost everything in my life I have no intention of losing my name as well.

“Are you feeling better?” Summer finally asked.

“Yes much better thank you.”

“By what we heard you did a great job at taking down that fucking Drag. It seems you’re going to be a natural. I believe you get that from me, I was a natural myself.” Harris says all boisterous.

I can hear the pride in his voice as he tells me how proud he is of me even if he is also stroking his own ego at the same time. Plus the smile on his face shows how much he likes what I did. Summer is rolling her eyes at him as she shakes her head at his behavior. Without thinking I let out a laugh. Both Harris and Summer start laughing.

“I guess that broke the ice didn’t it?” Harris says.

“Yeah I believe it did.” I answer.

“I'm sure you have a lot questions Lana, and we will answer anything you ask. Summer tells me still smiling.