Par 23-25

Lava spoke with her parents about the situation that night, and her father told her that he felt she should end it with him, and not give it a second thought. He said “I know it hurts honey, but this too shall pass.” Mr. Locust always had a way of making Lava feel she could do anything. The confidence he had in her had helped build her own confidence in herself. Lava heard the phone ring, her father answered “Hello…..yes, I’ll accept the charges” his voice trailed off, as Lava heard him walk into the other room.

Lava later learned that it had been Danny calling back that night, and Mr. Locust had a few things to say to him. In his conversation he asked Danny not to call Lava again, and he didn’t. Lava had not heard from Danny since.

The door bell rang. Lava jumped, looked at her watch, she had dozed off, thirty minutes had passed with her just sitting on the couch with her Diet Dr. Pepper, thinking about Danny. The door bell rang again. Lava hesitated, then went to the door, she opened it. There stood Sharla Ashton, who Lava had not seen in months. Lava and Sharla used to work together at a printing company, and toward the end had become friends. Sharla had left the company before Lava, gotten married, started a new job, and bought a large new house in the next City, South of Hebron. Lava, in a way, was envious of Sharla and her new life, but Lava new she would one day have all of her dreams fulfilled as well. Even if she had to do it by herself. “Hi Sharla” Lava exclaimed. “Sorry to drop in unexpectedly, I was in the area, and thought I’d see if you were home” Sharla replied. “Come in” Lava invited. Sharla went into the house, and Lava showed her around, “well, it’s not much, but it’s mine…” Lava said. “It’s great, Lava” Sharla said with enthusiam, “I love what you’ve done with it.” Lava always loved very modern, very contemporary things. She had large pictures on the small walls, a sofa and armchair with a mixture of deep colors, and a set of very interesting tables, that complimented the furniture well. She had an odd shaped television stand, and two very large, contemporary metal candle holders on the wall opposite the sofa. “How’s Rob?” Lava asked. “Oh, he’s fine I guess” Sharla replied with a sigh in her voice. “Is something wrong?” Lava asked with genuine concern. She looked at Sharla, and could see sadness in her eyes. “Not really, nothing’s , er…. wrong…It’s just…..I don’t know” Sharla was having a hard time explaining how she felt. Lava was still for a minute, waiting, wanting to give Sharla a chance if she wanted to talk. Then Lava spoke, “Let’s sit down, you want something to drink?” Lava walked to the Fridge, opened it and continued, “ I’ve got Diet Dr. Pepper, Fresca and uh… water.” Sharla looked at Lava, said “water would be good” her voice cracked a little, and Lava looked at her, and saw a tear fall down her cheek. “What is it? ” she asked very softly and gently. Lava quickly grabbed a bottled water and walked back into the living room, she sat down right next Sharla, grabbed a kleenex from the box on the table, and handed it to her. Sharla took it, said “thank you”, then tears flooded her eyes.