Chapter 28

Lora didn't know what came over her. She woke up the next morning and packed a suitcase. She decided to take a trip back to Barbados. She told herself it was to make sure she had all she wanted from the house, but she really wanted to find some kind of reason for Ralph to have done what he did. She knew that if she couldn't see where it all happened she would never be able to really heal.

It had been three months and her therapy with Doc Lin was going well and so was her work at the crisis center, but she still wanted to go back. She told Doc Lin about her plans and why she wanted to go back.

Doc Lin advised against it, "I really don't think it is a good idea. You are healing so well. You shouldn't go backward in your therapy. If you are sure you are going, I insist on going with you." Doc Lin wanted (maybe needed) to go with her. She didn't want Lora to find out who she was or any of Ralph's secrets. Lora decided to sneak off on her own. She didn't know if she wanted anyone else to see her deep pain. She still didn't trust Doc. Lin.

Stanley was told by Doc Lin about the trip and she asked him if he could go with them.

"Well, sure I'll go with you but why is she going?" Stanley asked.

"She says it is so she can get the things she left. I just want to make sure she doesn't relapse. She is doing so good but seeing the place where the rape took place again might break her."

"Don't you worry. I will be there for her." Stanley packed a few things and headed for Lora's house.

Stanley and Doc Lin reached Lora's house at about the same time. Doc Lin opened the door with her key and went in to look for Lora. When they didn't find her, they started to look for clues of where she was, hoping that she hadn't left on her own. Lora left a note on her bed stand. Doc Lin read it and ran to show it to Stanley. Then they jumped into Stanley's car and headed to the airport. They were on a plane to Barbados four hours later.

Stanley had called Tracy to find out if she knew where Lora was and told her about Lora's plans to go back to the island.

"What is wrong with her? She can't go back there. How could you go along with her plans? She needs to let go of the situation and not dwell on it." Tracy exclaimed.

"I know. That's why she is going back. She wants anything she left over there. I would rather be there with her than let her go alone." Stanley replied.

Tracy got a ticket to the island for the next plane, the same plane Stanley and the good doctor was going to be on. Tracy didn't really like Doc Lin. She didn't know exactly why but she didn't. One thing was for sure Lora had become more of a loner since Doc Lin started the therapy. Tracy was going to find out all she could about Doc Lin on the plane.

Lora's plane landed. She couldn't believe she was back on the island of her torment. She decided to walk to the island mansion so that she could relax some of the fears she had. It wasn't a long walk anyway. It would do her good. When she reached the memorable sites that she shared with Ralph she lingered a short while. She couldn't remember when Ralph turned so evil. It couldn't have just happened. Why didn't she pick up on the signs? Was she that naive or that stupid? She passed the park where she and Ralph picnicked, the fairground where all their friends met each other and fell in love; the café' where the two of them sipped cups of coffee, and then the shadowed corner where a big oak grew and they had once made love. They made love beautifully together. She loved his touch. She still couldn't figure out what had happened.

Tracy left Denise a message about Lora on her answering machine. Denise couldn't believe Lora went back to the island. Tracy had left without giving word to Carlos and asked Denise to tell him. Tracy knew he wouldn't have let her go. She only had two weeks left in her pregnancy and anything could happen to her. It was hard enough to get the airport to let her on the plane because she was so heavily pregnant. Carlos was going to be furious. Denise was asked to help Carlos calm down and for them to sit by the phone. Of course, he didn't and was on his way to the airport.

Stanley, Doc Lin, and Tracy sat pretty close on the plane. None of their seats were together; they had to take the seats that were available. Doc Lin sat in front of Tracy and Stanley sat across from them in the window seat. He decided to doze. Tracy started to probe Doc Lin.

"How could you let her go back to that island?"

"You know your friend has a strong will. You can't stop her."

"You should have discouraged her."

"I did try. Lora feels she has to go back and find closure. She may be my patient but she is also an individual. She has the right to make the final decisions in her life."

"You Bitch, you are supposed to be helping her. I am going to do my best to get you removed from her case."

"Look, you are her best friend and you couldn't help her; now you want to take away her professional help."

Stanley heard the punch before he saw it. Tracy hit Doc Lin right in her jaw. Then they started swinging their arms at each other and pulling hair. Stanley and a few other people finally pulled the women apart after their shirts were torn and their hair pulled out of place. Stanley traded seats with Tracy. Finally some peace.