WILD RIDE (Rafe Cameron x OC) *COMPLETE*

Chapter Fifty-Three (Rafe)

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Rafe

Guadeloupe

"So, things are going good. I mean.. I've been doing the best I can. Taking care of business and trying to handle things. I think I've got a buyer for the cross so when you wake up you don't have to worry about any of that, alright? I've got it handled, Dad... Doc says you'll be up and moving soon."

Dad has been in bed and has good and bad days. Most days he's out like a light in a windstorm. If he does wake up its brief and he's in so much pain they gotta knock him back out with meds.

I pat his hand and kiss his head before getting up and headed toward the dining room. Rose is watching the driveway and refuses to speak to me unless it's about the business. She's only sitting in on this meeting with me because she's nosey.

She and I got into a blow out a few weeks ago and she blamed me for Alana being gone. She's been a mess and acts like she's truly grieving the loss of a child. Meanwhile I've had to force myself to stay busy to keep her from my mind.

Wheezie is pissed at me because Rose is pissed at me. It's an endless cycle. I walk over to where Rose is waiting and I cross my arms. Leaning against the doorframe. She's got a bracelet in her hand and I realize what it is. It's the one that Alana used to wear until I gave her Mom's old bracelet. Dad always told me to give it to my future wife.. So I did.

"Sarah made this for Alana... To mark their friendship." Rose says without even looking at me. "I watched Sarah sit at that dining room table and organize the beads by color. Ones that she knew Alana would like. Her favorite colors. Pink and white. Did you know that, Rafe? Did you know her favorite colors? She loved pink. Ballet pink. Bows and sparkles and anything girly. She loved pink."

"She's not dead, Rose."

Rose turned to look at me with tears flooding down her face. "How can you be so sure, Rafe? How can you confidently stand there and tell me she isn't dead? It's been a month. She would have already found a way to call me to tell me she's okay no matter what. How can you have no remorse? How can you just keep going on every single day like she's not dead?"

I slam my fist against the wall with a loud thud. "Because she's not dead! She's not fucking dead, Rose! She's... She's not dead. And if I sit here and wallow in what happened between her and I will go into madness. I'm bettering myself, okay? You've seen it. You know I'm good... I don't do drugs anymore. I.. I'm controlling my anger better and- and I just want her to be okay. I want to apologize to her and tell her I love her but that's not going to happen anytime soon. So I have to keep busy. I have to keep busy or I'll rip the world apart trying to find her until my palms bleed."

"Then rip it to shreds. Or I will." Rose says as she pushes past me. The car pulling up the secluded driveway coming to the house.

-

"It's very nice to finally meet with you, Mr. Cameron. Michel does not speak English only French. So I will be translating for him." The woman says. "Your home is very beautiful."

"Thank you." I shift in my seat. I'm doing my best to fake a smile. Rose sits on my side and says nothing. Just gives a few half grins that don't add much to the conversations at all. "Welcome to our home and uh.. I don't know French but I do wonder if there's a French word for... Priceless?"

Michel, the French man, smiles. He must have gotten the hint of what I'd said. Or maybe he understood by my tone and my smile. Either way, it works and he wants to see the piece. I take him to the living room that's become more of a show room now. I unveil the cross and he gawks in awe.