Page 60 of Treason's Temptation
Rayven paused, heavy with the weight of living her dream. She talked about becoming a doctor since she was a child, while I wasn’t sure I had ever had one.
“I tried to make s’mores, but they didn’t come out like yours.”
“You just can’t cook.”
“I never had to because I had you. I didn’t have to do a lot of things because of you. I can’t thank you enough.”
I knew whatthingsRayven meant. I just didn’t want to use our time together rehashing our tortured past.
“Don’t do that. God is just rewarding you early for all the good you’re going to do in the world,Dr. Dixon.”
Rayven forced a less-than-convincing smile. Sloane always got on her because she couldn’t hide her feelings from a blind man. It was then that I realized Rayven wasn’t cut out for it. Maybe that was the point. I went through it so she wouldn’t have to.
“I called Sloane,” she admitted, slowly with regret. “When I couldn’t reach you, I was desperate, so I called her.”
“Why the hell would you call her?”
“All she said was,Being a doctor isn’t guaranteed success. There’s more than one way to get money.”She mimicked Sloane’s diction, making me realize just how much I didn’t miss her voice.“She said I could move in with her if I wanted to drop out. I guess that’s progress.”
“You’ll have to go through me to get there. Moving in with Sloane is not an option. Do you hear me?”
“I’m just telling you what she said. I don’t want to live with her.” Rayven shared, then silence filled before Rayven tried to smother her sob, “Why is it so hard for her to show up for me? Forus?”
“I don’t know Squirt, but I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
“My friends go on and on about their moms and how great they are. Ashley’s boyfriend broke her heart, and her mom came up for the weekend. Deja got sick, and her mom mailed a big ass care package. I smile and pretend I can relate, but I can’t. If there is any inconvenience, big or small, they can call them. Then there’sus.”
Now I realized why Rayven was struggling. It had less to do with academics, but trying to find her way. Rayven was different, and nobody understood, except me.
“It makes me jealous sometimes, I’ll never know that kind of safety or freedom. I should be able to call my mom when I’m having a hard time, but I can’t.”
“That’s when you call me. I’ll always show up for you.”
“I know, Vie, but it makes me sad sometimes, too. I’m your baby, but you’re the oldest. You’re nobody’s baby, and you deserve that too.”
Being the oldest daughter wasn’t for the weak. It sucked, but the reward was knowing Rayven had me to protect her. Most importantly, Sloane would never look at her the way she did me. At sixteen, the veil came off because even the great Sloane Bishop couldn’t outrun aging. It became my turn to take on the family business because if it weren’t me, it would’ve been Rayven.
The epitome of what being the oldest daughter meant and represented.
“I miss you. Please tell me I’ll see you at homecoming,” she whined.
“I’m working on it.”
“Do I need to call my brother-in-law?”
“Whoa! No. Do not do that.”
“Then come! Don’t you miss me too?”
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see Rayven. I did, probably more than she needed to see me. The problem was getting away from Treason to do it.
“You are laying it on so thick right now, kid.”
“Is it working?”
“Things are hectic around here, but I’m working on it. I promise.”
“Fine,” she sighed, loud and exaggerated.
