Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 39

Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 39 Summary

In Chapter 39 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Robert, Lavern’s assistant, finds himself in a difficult situation as Lavern, intoxicated and without a place to go, demands that Robert call Marina for help. Robert feels helpless, especially since Marina had left abruptly earlier, and he grapples with guilt over keeping Lavern’s struggles hidden from her. When he finally reaches Marina, her icy demeanor and mocking laughter leave him speechless, as she suggests that Lavern has other options and implies that he should take him elsewhere, hinting at someone else who could care for him.

After the call, Robert drives Lavern to Shawna’s apartment, where Lavern mistakenly calls out for Marina instead of Shawna, causing tension in the air. Shawna, initially relieved to see them, is taken aback by Lavern’s drunken state and the misunderstanding. Robert feels the weight of the situation as he watches Shawna struggle to help Lavern, and he contemplates his job security as Lavern’s assistant. Meanwhile, Marina, now at home and trying to relax, receives a message from Shawna about Lavern’s condition, which triggers her anger and frustration, leading her to block Shawna’s contact.

As Shawna deals with Lavern’s drunkenness and her own rising anger, she feels a tightness in her chest and worries about her baby, which she sees as her leverage against Marina. The chapter ends with Marina feeling increasingly irritated as she receives messages from Daron, who invites her to a game. Despite her frustration with the events of the night, she finds herself intrigued by Daron’s playful side as they engage in a light-hearted exchange about gaming, providing a momentary distraction from the chaos surrounding her.

Overall, the chapter is filled with a mix of emotions, from Robert’s helplessness and guilt to Marina’s anger and Shawna’s confusion, all set against the backdrop of Lavern’s drunken state. The interactions between the characters highlight the complexities of their relationships and the underlying tensions that threaten to unravel them.

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 39**

These were not the sort of concerns that should occupy the mind of an assistant like Robert.

After a brief moment of uncomfortable silence, Robert let out a soft sigh, attempting to lighten the mood. “Mr. Ross, why don’t we head to that hotel you used to enjoy? It might be a good change of scenery.”

Lavern’s voice dripped with annoyance as he replied, “I have a home; why on earth would I choose to stay at a hotel?”

Robert found himself momentarily at a loss for words.

In the past, when he had a place to call his own, he often preferred the anonymity of hotels. But now, it seemed that such options were suddenly off the table for Lavern.

The cool breeze that slipped through the restaurant’s door had sent a chill through Robert, and he could see that Lavern’s head was beginning to throb from the alcohol. “Call Marina and ask her to come pick me up and take me home,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Robert felt utterly helpless at that moment.

Marina had left so abruptly earlier; it was hard to believe she would return for Lavern.

Yet, pondering over the situation, Robert decided he would at least attempt to reach out to her.

Marina had just parked her car at her place when Robert’s call came through. “What’s going on?” she answered, her voice icy, laced with irritation at being disturbed, devoid of any concern for Lavern’s condition.

A wave of guilt washed over Robert as he spoke to her, knowing how much he had assisted Lavern in keeping his troubles hidden from her.

“Ms. Finley… Mr. Ross is intoxicated and has nowhere to go. He asked me to call you. Should I drop him off at your place?” He lacked the courage to suggest that she should come to collect him.

Marina let out a mocking laugh. “He has nowhere to go? Come on, Robert, do you really believe that?”

Robert found himself rendered speechless once again.

Marina continued, “I’m sure there’s someone who would be more than happy to take care of him in this state. Why not give her a call? Just drop him off there and see what unfolds.”

Robert felt a tension build within him. Unsure if this was some sort of test, he replied cautiously, “Ms. Finley, who are you referring to? I’m afraid I don’t quite understand.”

Marina chuckled lightly, the sound sharp. “Robert, you’ve worked alongside me for years; you know my methods. If you’re pretending to be clueless, then stay that way forever.”

A cold shiver crept down Robert’s spine. “Ms. Finley, I’m sorry, I…”

Before he could finish, Marina cut him off. “Everyone looks out for their own boss and fulfills their responsibilities. I get it; you’re Lavern’s assistant now, after all.”

With that, she abruptly ended the call.

Robert sat in the car, glancing into the rearview mirror. Lavern had already succumbed to sleep, leaning against the seat, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around him.

His own head began to throb in tandem with Lavern’s drunken state, so he pressed his fingers to his temples, trying to ease the discomfort.

In the end, he took Marina’s insinuation to heart and drove Lavern over to Shawna’s apartment.

Shawna came bounding down the stairs to greet them, her energy infectious and bright.

As Robert assisted her in maneuvering Lavern out of the car, the inebriated man stirred slightly, his eyes barely open.

He draped an arm around Shawna’s shoulders, pulling her in closer. “Marina, I knew you wouldn’t leave me hanging,” he slurred, his words thick with alcohol, clearly oblivious to the fact that it was Shawna beside him, not Marina.

Shawna froze, her face paling as the realization hit her.

Robert pretended not to notice, continuing to support Lavern as they made their way toward the elevator.

Once they reached it, Shawna shot a sideways glance at Robert, her brow furrowed with curiosity. “Was coming here Lavern’s idea, or…?”

Without missing a beat, Robert replied, “Naturally, it was Mr. Ross’s request.”

A flicker of relief crossed Shawna’s face. “You can hand him off here.”

Robert nodded, releasing his hold on Lavern.

The drunken man leaned heavily against Shawna, staggering unsteadily as she worked to guide him into the elevator with some effort, a small smile dancing on her lips despite the situation.

Robert watched the elevator doors slide shut, a heavy weight settling in his chest as he returned to the car. He couldn’t shake the feeling that it might be time to start looking for a new job.

Meanwhile, Marina had gone inside, freshened up, and slipped into bed.

With Lavern absent, the quiet of the night felt blissfully serene.

Just as she began to drift into sleep, her phone buzzed with a notification. Yawning and squinting at the screen, she saw it was a message from Shawna.

Shawna: [Marina, Lavern’s drunk and ended up at my place. No need to wait up for him.]

A wave of disgust washed over Marina, her stomach twisting at the thought.

Marina: [Thanks for the hassle, free nanny. Don’t wear yourself out and lose your bargaining chip.]

She quickly sent the reply, then blocked and deleted Shawna’s contact in one swift motion.

At Shawna’s place, the response made her draw in a sharp, angry breath. She typed out a heated retort, but when she hit send, the app flashed: message rejected by recipient.

Fuming with pent-up rage, especially as Lavern kept slurring “Marina” over and over, she felt her chest tighten, struggling to catch her breath.

A faint twinge in her belly jolted her, and she forced herself to take several deep breaths to calm down.

Her baby had to be fine. It was her trump card against Marina.

That message had completely chased away Marina’s drowsiness.

She lay there with her eyes closed, counting sheep over and over, but her mind only grew more alert.

Then her phone pinged again.

Marina’s irritation boiled over. She thought, ‘This never ends, does it? I blocked her, and now she’s texting from another number.’

Frustrated, she grabbed the phone and opened it, only to find a game team-up invite from Daron.

Marina was momentarily speechless.

His gameplay was mediocre even when sober; after all that drinking tonight, he’d be a complete disaster.

But since he’d sent the invite, ignoring it would come off as rude.

Marina: [Mr. Zamora, no plans for tomorrow?]

He replied almost instantly: [Nothing major lined up. Fancy a game?]

Marina: [You had quite a bit to drink tonight; can you even keep a grip on your phone?]

Daron shot back an emoji of a “grumpy dog pawing at the ground.”

Marina stared in surprise. She thought, ‘Who knew… he has this playful side? He actually uses emojis?’

A moment later, the emoji was withdrawn.

Daron: [In or out?]

Even through text, those words screamed impatience.

Marina: [Gotta download the app first.]

It had been ages since she had any games on her phone.

Daron: [I’ll wait.]

She began the download.

Marina: [Download and update should take about ten minutes.]

Daron: [Okay.]

A typical short-and-sweet response from him.

Marina paused, then typed: [Go ahead and start a match without me. I’ll be ready when you finish.]

Daron: [Okay.]

As she waited for the download to complete, she browsed some finance headlines, trying to distract herself from the chaos of her evening.

Once the download finished, she logged in. They were already connected as friends, so there was no need to add him again. She saw he was in a game and clicked to spectate.

He was playing his go-to AD carry. The match was about fifteen minutes in; both teams seemed evenly matched, gearing up for an intense late game.

But his plays… they appeared much sharper than what she had witnessed before.

Intrigued, she continued to watch until the end. His team emerged victorious.

She set up a room and sent him an invite. No reply. She tried again, still nothing.

Growing impatient, Marina exited the app and messaged him.

Marina: [Mr. Zamora, still game?]

Silence.

Marina: [Mr. Zamora, did you fall asleep?]

Still no response.

Marina was left speechless, frustration bubbling within her.

Marina: [Mr. Zamora, that last match… you didn’t nod off and let the AI handle it, did you?]

Conclusion

In the aftermath of the evening’s chaos, Robert found himself grappling with the weight of his choices. As he drove away from Shawna’s apartment, the realization set in that he was merely a pawn in a game far beyond his control. Lavern’s drunken state and Marina’s icy demeanor had illuminated the fractures in their relationships, leaving Robert feeling more isolated than ever. He had hoped to bridge the gap between Lavern and Marina, but instead, he had only deepened the chasm. The echoes of Lavern’s slurred words, calling out for Marina while leaning on Shawna, haunted him. It was a moment that encapsulated the tangled web of emotions, unspoken truths, and lost promises that had come to define their lives.

Meanwhile, Marina lay awake, the serenity of her night shattered by the tumult of her thoughts. The chaos of the evening had left her feeling raw and exposed, yet she clung to her power in the situation. As she engaged with Daron in a seemingly innocuous game, she began to realize that perhaps the distractions she had sought were not enough to mask the deeper issues at play. The anger she felt towards Shawna and Lavern was intertwined with a sense of vulnerability regarding her own choices and the impending changes in her life. As she navigated the complexities of her relationships, the weight of her hidden struggles became increasingly apparent. In that moment of quiet reflection, she understood that the winds of change were stirring, carrying with them the lost promises of the past, and she would have to confront them head-on if she ever hoped to find peace.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

In the upcoming chapter of *Winds Carry Lost Promises*, readers can expect to dive deeper into the tangled web of emotions and relationships that have begun to unravel. With Lavern’s drunken escapade leading him to Shawna’s apartment, the tension between the three characters—Robert, Marina, and Shawna—will reach a boiling point. As Robert grapples with his feelings of inadequacy and the burden of loyalty to Lavern, he may find himself caught in a storm of conflicting allegiances. Will he confront Marina about her dismissive attitude towards Lavern, or will he remain a passive observer, allowing the chaos to unfold around him?

Meanwhile, Marina’s simmering frustration with both Lavern and Shawna is bound to escalate. As she navigates her own emotional turmoil, the stakes rise with every message exchanged and every secret hinted at. The arrival of Daron’s unexpected invitation to game could serve as a distraction, but it also poses a risk of drawing her further into the complications of her relationships. Will Daron become a confidant or an unwitting pawn in the brewing conflict? The chapter promises to explore the intricacies of these connections, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the next twist in this emotional saga.