Free Eternal Service by Regina Morris Page A

“I’m attracted to Captain Brennan, and I don’t want to be.” He shook his head. “I really don’t want to be attracted to her. I don’t want to dishonor Wilma. My memory of her is all I have.”
    Sulie’s eyes lit up to the confession. “It’s healthy to see other women, Raymond. You’ve been alone a long time. You’re young. It's only natural to have an interest in the opposite …”
    “I don’t need a shrink. I’m fine,” he said, cutting her off. He started to get up, but she pulled him back down onto the bench they shared.
    “People who are fine don’t go around breaking vases.” Sulie allowed that to sink in. Then she continued, “You’ve been in mourning over Wilma for way too long. It's okay to move on.”
    “Thanks Sulie. I know your heart is in the right place, but I don’t want to discuss … moving on.”
    As he got up to leave, she quickly asked, “Are you afraid of replacing Wilma in your heart?”
    Raymond stopped in his tracks.
    “A heart can hold a great deal of love. You can have a relationship with someone else without the new feelings taking away from what you had with Wilma.”
    He turned and looked at his sister. “It’s not that easy. Wilma meant the world to me. No one else could come close to what she means to me.”
    “Yes. She meant a great deal to all of us.” Sulie stressed the word ‘meant’. “No one will ever mean the same to you as Wilma did. She was a special individual, and your relationship with her is unique. A relationship with someone else would be different. It could be just as nice, just as wonderful … but it will be different. A new relationship should be different because this person is different from Wilma. You’re a different person today than you were all those years ago.” She paused as she noticed Raymond had played with the rose so much that several petals had fallen off into his hand. “But I want to hear more about this woman. ‘Alex’, right? Tell me about her.”
    He hesitated, but then broke the silence. “Alex is different. You’re right. She’s easy to talk to and I felt a connection with her the moment I laid eyes on her. It was the same feeling I had when I first saw Wilma. It’s hard to explain. Like a door opened and I have to walk through it.”
    “That’s good Raymond. You are entitled to find love. You’ve been alone a long time and raised a child on your own. I don’t think a relationship with someone else could ever erase the memories and the joy you had with Wilma. Plus, you shouldn’t forbid yourself love just so you can preserve the love you had with her.”
    He gazed down at the mostly destroyed rose in his bandaged hand and handed it to her. “Thanks for taking care of my hand.” That was all he said before he left her in the garden and headed back into the mansion.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
     
    Raymond inwardly laughed. Alex had suggested a picnic at a park for their next meeting, and had insisted on packing herself a lunch since Raymond wouldn’t be eating. Outdoors? Raymond needed to explain the dangers of the sun on his delicate vampire skin to her.
    “Thanks for agreeing to meet me at the park.” Alex came up to him with her bagged lunch. He agreed to meet her at the park because it was his job, but he found himself eager to see her today. He wanted to spend time with her, and his talk with his sister last night had helped. He noticed the sunlight radiating off her auburn hair. The light made her appear almost angelic, and beautiful.
    He led Alex to a remote area so they could talk in private. He spread the blanket under a large tree with plenty of shade. He suspected she chose the park because it was such a public place. He remained uncertain of what had spooked her yesterday.
    “Next time I’m picking the place,” he said as he allowed her to sit down first.
    “Oh, are you feeling weakened by the sun’s rays?” She almost sounded delighted.
    “No.” He looked at her as he sat down. “Is that