The Decks and the Road book 1- Freeborn The Final Chapters - Chapter 37 Dr. Kat Shepherd - The two biggest decisions I ever made, I never had to make.  They just naturally felt right.  One was to remain a virgin, and the other was to accept Tayeton’s proposal.  I’d never considered Christmas Eve, but there he was on one knee.  I’d always had a vision for my life, and I was doing a pretty good job at making it real.  I can’t say I’d seen Tayeton coming, but he was no compromise.  The last three years were easy and fun.  I’d brought most of the fun, and he was easy.  The subject of my virginity hadn’t come up; not one time.  It’s not that I was afraid to approach the issue; it’s just that the issue never got big enough.   Neither of us had been in a hurry, and our growing careers helped us to redirect our attention.  Then there was Christmas Eve.  It was like the moment he’d placed the ring on my finger, all my...

The Decks and the Road book 1- Freeborn The Final Chapters - Chapter 36 Nathan - I'd never been on a plane.  It was my love affair with cars that kept me grounded.  I hadn’t really thought of the sky as a road, but it certainly was.  I’d taken many high roads, but none of them had asked me to take my feet off the ground and I was glad.  I’d enjoyed the last twenty-four hours in Miami.  It came with lots of nerves, but it also brought with it joy, surprise, and both new and old memories.  It was good being able to fill in the blanks.  I didn’t let Vance’s perception of things speak for my father, but it did answer the question of why he’d left.  To his credit, he did seem to know things about him than I didn’t.  I hadn’t realized how much my father had withheld from me.  It was the moment I saw the service tags hanging on his office wall that I understood that we’d both experienced him in a very different way.  It wa...

The Decks and the Road book 1- Freeborn The Final Chapters - Chapter 34 Erilyn - Up until I was about ten years old, I was certain I could hear the voice of God.  I hadn’t heard it again until last night.  It wasn’t audible, but that was no cause for uncertainty.  He had a way of making himself know; of setting himself apart.  It came to me in dream.  It was not like most of the dreams I remember.  I was sitting on a beach alone.  Before I heard him, I was just soaking up the peace, and catching the breeze.  Then it was like a voice came up out of the water.  It’s hard to describe, but I know it was coming from in front of me, and not above me.  There was no change in the air or anything; just a voice—full of peace and from the mouth of an entity that obviously knew me.                  “I will accept the line you drew in the sand.  I ...

The Decks and the Road book 1- Freeborn The Final Chapters - Chapter 33 Eaton - I’m what you call a trip.  I’m only twenty-one, and I’ve been in the business for five years.  I trip them all—men; women—young; old—rich and poor.  Sometimes I wait to see them fall, but most times my assignments only require me to make the set up.  It’s how the rich maintains their wealth, and controls the poor.  This was the first trip I’d ever set at a funeral.  I knew it was her when I spotted her.  I’d expected to see the heart shape frames from the picture.  I knew she was young, and she’d be grieving.  It should have been an easy trip, but she was beautiful.  Our eyes met between the first and second verse of the song she was singing.  I knew she was overcome when she closed her eyes.  I didn’t stay for the rest of the service.  I left just a few steps behind a woman who appeared to be in disguise.  I left a note on ...

The Decks and the Road book 1- Freeborn The Final Chapters - Chapter 32 Nathan -The moment she turned the corner I recognized her from the funeral.  It puzzled me, but I didn’t have any time to think about it before she made her way back.  She was not herself.  I hadn’t seen her in months, and although I always considered her a pleasant surprise, her face soaked up all the pleasantness.  She stood in the door frame with her back posted up.  I knew something was wrong.                 “Come in. Close the door.”                 “Why’d you let me believe a lie?”  She’d closed the door, but hadn’t come any closer.  We remained about six feet away from each other.  I didn’t know which lie she was referring to.  I’d done everything I could to protect her.  I sat trying to retrac...

The Decks and the Road book 1- Freeborn The Final Chapters - Chapter 31 Erilyn - The last few years were good.  Nathan and I were good.  I wasn’t sure if he could see it, but being a husband had added many layers to him, and had also made him lighter on his feet.  Along with his feet, he’d taken a leap in his heart.  He didn’t seem so worried anymore about what everyone thought, or had to say.  I never knew how much he listened to me; how much he cared.  It was the moment he asked me—his apology and the sense of uncertainty I read behind his eyes that let me know that I wasn’t a compromise.  We didn’t make a big fuss of it and kept it in our backyard, but it was huge in each of our hearts and minds.  I think we’re still newlyweds.  At least it feels like it.  Everything’s still pointing towards our future, and that seems to keep things fresh.  Well, just about everything.  First, there’s a funeral I must attend....