Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 28

Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 28 Summary

 

In Chapter 28 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” the tension between Marina and Lavern escalates as Lavern, feeling vulnerable and sick, pleads to be let into Marina’s room for comfort. Despite his desperation, Marina remains resolute, citing her grandmother’s disapproval of unmarried couples sharing a space before marriage. This conversation reveals Lavern’s guilt over past mistakes and his longing for connection, while Marina’s coldness underscores her determination to uphold her principles, even in the face of his vulnerability.

 

As Lavern stands outside, the emotional weight of his actions and the memory of his grandmother’s death haunt him. He struggles with feelings of guilt and regret, particularly when Marina reminds him of the sleepless nights she endured during that time. This exchange highlights the deep emotional scars both characters carry, as Lavern grapples with his past while Marina remains steadfast in her resolve to not let him in, both physically and emotionally.

 

When Lavern receives an urgent message about Shawna’s distress, he attempts to reach out to Marina again, but her sharp rejection deepens the rift between them. The urgency of the situation forces him to confront the reality of his choices, as he balances the need to support Shawna with the fear of losing Marina’s trust. The chapter culminates in a moment of panic as Lavern realizes the gravity of Shawna’s condition, leading him to prioritize her well-being over his unresolved issues with Marina.

 

Ultimately, the chapter encapsulates the themes of regret, responsibility, and the complexities of relationships. Lavern’s internal conflict and Marina’s steadfastness create a poignant atmosphere, illustrating how past promises and emotional burdens can shape present decisions. As Lavern makes the choice to head to the hospital, the stakes are raised, leaving readers to ponder the implications of his actions on his relationships moving forward.

 

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**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**

**Chapter 28**

In the dimly lit bedroom, Marina had just wrapped up her evening routine, the warm water still lingering on her skin when a familiar knock echoed through the silence. “Marina, it’s freezing out here in the living room. Can you let me in so we can sleep together?”

There was a note of desperation in his voice, an unspoken plea that tugged at her heartstrings, urging her to reconsider. “I’m still sick, you know,” he added, hoping she would relent.

Lavern couldn’t shake the feeling that she wouldn’t be so callous as to leave him out there, vulnerable and alone, especially when he was still in the throes of a cold.

Moments later, her voice sliced through the air, cool and devoid of warmth, tinged with an unwavering resolve. “Grandma always hated the idea of unmarried couples crashing together in someone else’s place. We haven’t even secured our marriage license or had the ceremony yet. You sure you want to make her mad?”

The silence that followed was palpable, and Lavern felt as if he could sense her steadfast gaze boring into him from the other side of the door.

He let out a heavy sigh, his irritation bubbling to the surface. “Okay, I won’t come in. But could you at least throw me a blanket?” he pleaded, his voice softening.

“Aren’t you supposed to be apologizing to Grandma? How’s someone with genuine regret gonna get any sleep anyway?” Her words dripped with sarcasm, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

Lavern scratched his nose, feeling awkward and exposed. “It’s dropped a ton in Sicester today, and my cold’s still kicking,” he muttered, trying to defend his situation.

Marina shot back, her tone icy, “It was just as cold when Grandma passed. I stayed up night after night, hardly got a wink of sleep.”

His heart sank at the reminder. “I’m sorry. This is all on me,” he whispered, the weight of guilt pressing down on him.

But she remained silent, her eyes closed, shutting him out completely.

Lavern lingered by the door for a moment longer, torn between the desire to push through and the understanding that he might be crossing a line. He shuffled back to the living room, dropping onto the sofa with a heavy thud.

He tried his hardest to avoid the gaze of Alyssa’s portrait hanging on the wall, but it was impossible. It felt as though her eyes were piercing through him, judging him for every misstep he had ever taken.

Taking a ragged breath, he fought against the guilt rising in his chest. He grabbed his phone, opening up social media in a futile attempt to distract himself.

His eyes landed on his pinned contact. After a brief moment of hesitation, he typed out a message: [Asleep yet, Marina?]

Meanwhile, Marina’s phone lit up, illuminating the darkness of her room. She picked it up, saw it was from Lavern, and frowned. With a sigh, she silenced his notifications and shut her eyes once more, determined to block out the chaos of the night.

Tomorrow, she had an important appointment to take Daron to the Wonder Group project site. She needed to push him to finalize that contract soon.

Only eight days to go. She had to tie up these loose ends quickly.

Lavern continued to send a few more messages to Marina, but they went unanswered. He leaned back, feeling utterly deflated, rubbing his throbbing temples in frustration.

Just then, his phone vibrated in his hand. Eagerly, he grabbed it, but to his dismay, their chat was still empty. Instead, a new message popped up from Shawna.

Shawna: [Lavern, my stomach hurts so bad out of nowhere. Have you and Marina turned in for the night? I don’t want to interrupt, but I’m really scared.]

His heart raced as he jumped up from the sofa and hurried toward the courtyard.

He took a couple of steps, then stopped abruptly, turning back toward the house. After a moment of hesitation, he approached Marina’s bedroom door and knocked again.

“Marina, something urgent just came up; I gotta head out for a bit. Tomorrow, I’ll…”

“Get lost!” Marina’s voice was sharp, cutting through the night air. She had barely drifted off when the knocking jolted her awake, leaving her fuming.

Lavern froze, realizing he had crossed a line. He dialed back his tone, attempting to soothe the situation. “Marina, it’s a real emergency. I’ll come back tomorrow and keep you company. Please, try to get some rest.”

Silence enveloped them, thick and heavy.

He lingered at the door, brow furrowed, feeling torn between his need to leave and the fear that doing so would mean she might never forgive him.

“Marina…” he murmured softly, but before he could say more, his phone rang, pulling his attention away.

Lavern glanced at the screen; it was Carrie. He answered immediately, raising his voice to mask his anxiety. “Mom…”

Hardly had he spoken the word when the bedroom door swung open.

Marina lunged forward, snatching the phone from him and switching it to speaker mode.

“Lavern, where are you? Sha…” Carrie began, her voice filled with concern.

Lavern’s heart raced as he panicked, but he quickly composed himself. “Mom, hang tight. I’ll fill Marina in and be right over.”

Carrie caught the shift in his tone and realized Marina was there, prompting her to swallow the rest of her words.

The call timer ticked on, but the line fell into an unnatural silence. Then, suddenly, the call clicked off; she had hung up.

Lavern retrieved the phone from Marina, meeting her gaze with a sincere expression. “Marina, something’s wrong at home. I need to go sort it out.”

“I’ll tag along,” she declared, her determination evident.

Lavern blinked, a wave of nerves washing over him. “You…”

He scrambled for a reason to turn her down but found himself at a loss.

Marina’s lips twisted into a smirk as she caught his guilty vibe, followed by a cold laugh. “What, you don’t want me coming?”

Lavern shook his head, trying to regain his composure. “It’s not like that.”

He pushed down the rising panic in his eyes, his voice softening. “Let’s go, then.”

Marina started toward the exit, and Lavern stood frozen, desperate to think of a way to stop her.

She reached the center of the living room before glancing back at him, a teasing smile dancing on her lips. “Aren’t you in a hurry? Why the holdup?”

Lavern sighed quietly, his chest tightening as he finally moved.

He walked at a casual pace, not like someone rushing to an emergency. It felt more like he was stalling, trying to slow her down, buying time.

At the front gate, Marina came to an abrupt halt.

Lavern had pulled ahead by a step or two, only to notice her sudden stop.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her eyes glinting with a mischievous smile as she leaned one hand on the iron gate, but her stare was as cold as ice. “Look at you, breaking out in a sweat from nerves. Really that terrified of me joining you?”

Lavern swiped at his forehead, but there was no sweat to be found. He pulled himself together, hiding the alarm in his eyes. “Marina, that’s not it at all.”

With a cool, detached smile, she replied, “My time’s too precious to waste on people like you.”

And with that, she slammed the door shut in one swift motion. The heavy clang of the iron gate hit Lavern like a punch to the chest, leaving him dazed and breathless. Panic gripped him suddenly, and he stepped forward quickly. “Mar…”

Just then, his phone buzzed again. Lavern picked it up, his eyebrows knitting together, irritation lacing his tone. “If you’re feeling sick, go see a doctor; I’m not one!”

Carrie’s frantic voice came through, urgent and filled with fear. “Lavern, Shawna’s bleeding. I called an ambulance, hurry to the hospital.”

Lavern stood there, speechless, the gravity of the situation crashing down on him.

In the end, he made his choice. He had to go to the hospital. Lives were at stake, and he couldn’t afford to hesitate any longer.

Conclusion

 

In the aftermath of the night’s turmoil, Lavern found himself standing at the precipice of his decisions, the weight of urgency propelling him forward. The chilling words exchanged with Marina hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the emotional chasm that had widened between them. As he raced toward the hospital, the echoes of their argument replayed in his mind, each syllable a reminder of the promises left unfulfilled and the barriers erected by fear and pride. He felt the sting of regret, knowing that in his moment of need, he had pushed away the one person who could truly understand the gravity of his situation. The urgency of Shawna’s condition overshadowed everything else, yet the thought of Marina’s cold dismissal gnawed at him, a reminder that their connection was fraying at the seams.

 

Meanwhile, Marina lay in the dark, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. She had always been a steadfast presence in Lavern’s life, yet tonight’s confrontation had revealed the cracks in their foundation. As she turned away from the door, her resolve began to waver, and the silence in her room felt deafening. She had wanted to protect herself from the pain of his mistakes, but now she questioned whether she had gone too far. With each passing moment, the fear of losing Lavern to the chaos of his life intertwined with her own sense of betrayal. As the night deepened, she realized that the winds of their shared past carried not only lost promises but also the potential for reconciliation. Tomorrow loomed ahead, and with it, the hope that they could mend what had been broken, if only they could find the courage to face their fears together.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**

 

As the tension between Lavern and Marina simmers beneath the surface, the next chapter promises to delve deeper into their tumultuous relationship, fraught with misunderstandings and unresolved emotions. With Lavern racing against time to reach the hospital, readers will witness the weight of his choices unraveling, as he grapples with the consequences of leaving Marina behind. Will their unresolved conflict deepen the rift between them, or will the urgency of the situation force them to confront their feelings head-on? The stakes are high, and the air is thick with anticipation as Lavern’s journey unfolds.

 

Meanwhile, the looming presence of Shawna’s crisis adds an urgent layer to the narrative. How will Lavern cope with the fear of losing someone he cares for, and what impact will this have on his relationship with Marina? As secrets threaten to surface and emotions run high, readers can expect revelations that could alter the course of their lives forever. The chapter is set to explore not only the fragility of human connections in times of crisis but also the strength that can emerge from vulnerability. With every ticking second, the tension builds, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to discover what choices will be made and what promises may be lost—or found—amid the chaos.