To Be Made Whole (A Christian Romance) (On Hold)

Chapter 14: Answers

Rafael offered to drive me home after our time at Squirrel's Coffee. He had noticeably become tense and his eyes were blazing brightly as if they glowed. His hands were slightly red from the tension of his grip on the steering wheel. The car ride had been mostly quiet and I could see that he was in deep thought. Within what felt like seconds we were at the front of my home.

We both stared ahead at the average two story house before us, neither of us speaking a word. It took a few more seconds to pass before he turned to look at me.

"Anna," he started speaking with stress clear in his tone. "If what Jessica and Ben hypothesized happens to be true, we have to do everything in our power to keep you safe. Even now, I need you to take precautions. My work usually has me wrapped up throughout the week, but I'm going to try and get my schedule rearranged so that I can be your ride everywhere from now on. Is that okay?" He asked gently.

My heart bloomed with gratitude as I nodded. His eyes studied my own searching for any kind of reluctance.

"I would really appreciate that." I glanced down at my hands as a question came to mind. "Rafael, about Sarah, I know that you gave her rides too. I don't want it to become awkward. I can talk to my parents and see if they could work with my schedule." I offered, slightly hoping that he would deny her outright in that moment.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "About Sarah, I won't be giving her rides anymore, so no worries. It was a temporary arrangement that I had to cut short." He muttered. The very end of his sentence held a distinct tinge of emotion. It was hard to decipher perfectly, but if I was correct, then he was annoyed or even possibly battling that annoyance.

"Oh?" I asked. I felt too nervous to meet his gaze, but I could feel his eyes on me. Studying me.

"We also haven't spoken about that day, Anna." He spoke gently, shifting his body to fully face my own. "Please look at me." He pleaded.

This was inevitable and if I owed him anything, it was to hear his side. I turned to him cautiously. My fight or flight had been accustomed to choosing flight. Flight had always been my safe option, but to make a change, I had to listen and fight my own flesh that so badly wanted to run away in bitterness.

"Sarah had been staying with me," he began slowly. He paused and stared at me in wait of a reaction and I'm sure my eyes betrayed me. That sentence alone caused an uncomfortable feeling to twirl about within my stomach. Suddenly, I could perfectly hear the animals rustling about within the tree branches and I could easily smell the nauseating car perfume. I didn't want to be here.

"I hadn't realized." I said with a sad smile.

"Sarah only stayed with me because of some personal things on her part. To respect her privacy and to avoid gossip, I won't share her reasoning, but I allowed her to stay. It was a foolish decision, but she stayed in a guest room. I truly did view her as a sister and I have zero romantic feelings for her. I thought our feelings were mutual, but when she met you, she changed it seemed. Which you have only witnessed her that way and for that, I'm sorry. Once I realized just who she was becoming, I told her that she must go and so she has left." He explained to me thoroughly.

His eyes never left mine as he pleaded to me through them. He wanted me to believe him and a large part of me did believe him, but each moment with her constantly by his side, made it difficult for me.

"Thank you. Thank you for telling me that. I'm still on the fence now, but I'm beginning to believe you. I remember when you first told me about Sarah, I also felt jealous just hearing about her. I can sympathize with her. Unrequited love is not an easy battle, but I wish she handled it better." I shared.