| |
The back-to-school shopping season meant the mall was busier than usual for a Saturday morning. Rachel had to wait in line longer than she expected when she picked up her sister's shower gift. When she finally arrived at her mother's house the party was in full swing.
"Sorry I'm late," she said as she handed off her gift to Sara and joined the others in the living room. "I ran into an unexpected delay."
"No problem." Alice pointed toward the kitchen. "We have coffee and pastries, and you need to grab a pencil and paper off the coffee table. We're getting ready to play a trivia game about me and Donny."
Rachel gave her sister a mischievous grin. "Well now, this should be interesting. So how much would you be willing to pay for my silence? I know a lot of things about you that no one else knows."
Rachel glanced around the room. Everyone, with the exception of Grandma Alice, had burst out laughing. Her grandmother, however, remained stoic in her chair as she sipped her coffee and gave her a somewhat disapproving look. Rachel suddenly felt as if she were only a few inches tall. She slunk into the kitchen to get some coffee, along with a cinnamon roll. When she returned, her mother and another guest made room for her on the sofa, but she kept to herself as the others enjoyed the game. A few more games followed before Julie finally announced it was time for Alice to open her gifts.
Sara picked up her pencil and volunteered to make a list of each gift, and the person giving it. One by one, Alice opened the beautifully wrapped presents while her guests oohed and awed. Finally, Emma handed her one of the larger boxes. Alice opened the card and read it out loud. The gift was from Grandma Alice. Rachel looked at her grandmother, whose face beamed with pride as she watched Alice tear off the wrapping paper. Lifting up the lid, the box was filled with several items tightly wrapped in tissue paper.
"I already know what's in here," said Alice as she carefully unwrapped a piece of crystal stemware. "My grandmother has generously offered me all of her china and crystal."
"And I wrapped up a few of the pieces so everyone could see it." Her grandmother's face glowed as she spoke.
"I got my own china and crystal when I got married," said Aunt Laurie, "and with all of my kids being boys, Mother and I wanted to pass hers on to you, since you're the only granddaughter. That way it stays in the family, and hopefully, someday, I'll have a granddaughter of my own who I can pass mine on to."
Laurie's words cut into Rachel like a knife. She wondered if her aunt fully understood the implication of what she was saying.
"And I'm truly overwhelmed," said Alice. "I don't know what else to say, other than thank you both, so very much." Alice gave her aunt and her grandmother a big hug, thanking them once again. When she returned to her seat, she unwrapped one of the plates so everyone could see the pattern. As she carefully rewrapped it and placed it back in the box, Aunt Laurie pointed to another package.
"Wait, there's more," she said, proudly. "It's the one with the big, blue bow."
Emma reached for the package, laughing about its heavy weight as she handed it to Alice. Inside was Grandma Alice's sterling chest, filled with all of her flatware. Rachel's heart felt like a ball of lead as her sister gushed once again about their grandmother's generosity. Alice passed a few pieces around the room, and while everyone was busy admiring it, Rachel slipped back into the kitchen.
She poured herself a second cup of coffee and stared at the cinnamon rolls. It was her favorite pastry, but she had completely lost her appetite. She took a few sips of coffee before topping off her cup and returning to the party. To her relief, Alice had set the boxes of china and sterling aside and had moved on to another gift. Rachel's was the last one opened, and while Alice seemed to appreciate the set of towels, Rachel nonetheless felt upstaged by her aunt and her grandmother. As the gift was set aside with the others, several of the guests went to the kitchen for more refreshments, while others took a closer look at all of the gifts.
Rachel silently finished her coffee and took her empty cup back to the kitchen. Coming back into the living room, she found her mother and sister ogling over the crystal, and she overheard her mother praising Grandma Alice's generosity as she reminisced about how her own circumstances had been so different when she married Bruce. Rachel's eyes suddenly welled with tears and she quickly grabbed her purse.
"It's been fun guys, but I gotta run."
"So soon?" asked Julie.
"I've had a hectic week. I need to run to the grocery store, and then I have a mountain of laundry to do."
Her mother gave her a disapproving look and nodded toward Aunt Laurie and Grandma Alice. "I planned on all of us having lunch together."
"Sorry, Mom, but I just can't. You guys go have your fun."
"Your laundry can wait." Her mother's voice was stern. "Today is a big day for your sister, and you should be there to celebrate it with her."
"I know, Mom, and I'm sorry, but I have to be in court next week, and the outfit I plan on wearing is in the wash. Shane and I have plans for tomorrow, so if I don't get it done today it won't get done."
Julie gave her a hard look, but Rachel held her ground. She blinked back the tears and gave them all a quick good-bye. None of them had a clue. They were all too preoccupied with Grandma Alice's gift to her sister. She rushed out the door, but she wasn't quick enough. Tears streamed down her face before she reached her car. Slipping behind the wheel, she turned fired up the engine and turned on the air conditioning, laying her head on top of the steering wheel as she cried. Aunt Laurie's remark about giving it to the only granddaughter so it would stay in the family said it all. Bruce may have adopted her, but she wasn't their flesh and blood, and she would always be an outsider.
She heard two female voices. Looking up, she saw Sara and another of Alice's friends walking toward their car. She reached into her purse for a tissue and quickly wiped her face. She was about to put her car in reverse, but once again, she wasn't fast enough. Sara stepped up to the driver's side window and Rachel quickly rolled it down.
"Are you okay, Rachel?"
"I'm fine. My allergies always kick up this time of year, and something just got to me. I was looking to see if I had any Claritin in my purse, but I came up empty."
"Know the feeling. I sometimes get them myself, but there's also a bug going around. I noticed you seemed kind of quiet, so I hope you're not coming down with it."
"I hope not either, but I'm fine, really. I just need a little antihistamine, and then I'll be good to go."
"You're sure you're okay? Because I can drive you home if you're not feeling up to it. Jessica can follow us in her car."
"Thanks, Sara, but I'm actually feeling a little better. I think I just got a blast of pollen from somewhere, but it feels like it's easing up."
"Well, as long as you're sure. I'll see you at the wedding. Alice has asked me to be the official greeter, so I'll be out front asking people to sign the guestbook."
Rachel gave her a smile. "Well, good for you. I'll see you then, and thank you."
As Sara walked away, Rachel put her car in gear and headed home. Once she arrived, she sent Al an email to him know about her upcoming hearing. After hitting the send button, she called Shane. To her relief, he quickly answered.
"Are you alright? Your voice sounds a little strained."
"Let's just say I would have had a better time having root canal than I did at Alice's shower. Bruce's mother and sister made it crystal clear that I'm really not part of their family." She told him about Aunt Laurie's comments, and her own mother and sister's reactions. "I'm still in shock. How could she announce to the entire room that Alice was the only granddaughter, when I was sitting there in plain view?"
"Wow." Shane sounded stunned. "How embarrassing for you."
"Tell me about it."
"Didn't your mother or your sister say anything?"
"Nope. They were too caught up in the moment to even notice. In fact, my mother is a little put out with me for not going to lunch with all of them this afternoon."
"I'm so sorry, Rachel. Is there anything I can do?"
"Well, actually, there is."
"What is it?"
Once again, her eyes were misty. She reached for another tissue. "Did you really mean it when you offered me the guest house? Because I'd like to take you up on your offer, but only for the short term. I don't want to live in Aunt Laurie's duplex anymore, so I'm moving out. As soon as possible."
"Whoa! Let's slow down here." Shane's voice was calm, but firm. "I understand you're upset, which is the reason why I don't think you should be making such a big decision right now, especially when you consider she's renting you the place at cost."
"She's also a real estate agent who owns several rental homes around town, and she says she's using this one as a write off."
"All right. So, what do you have in mind?"
"Between Jonathan, Pilar, and my website, business has really picked up, so I can now afford to stay in the same neighborhood. I just need the guest house until I can find another place, and I want to take my time while I look."
"Okay." Shane sounded tentative. "But here's the bigger question. Businesses ebb and flow, so do you have enough in your savings account to cover your living expenses during slow times?"
Once again, her heart sank. Shane stepped in to answer her question.
"It's okay, Rachel. I already know you don't, at least for now, but I also know you'll get there. And I understand how you feel, because, frankly, I'm ticked off too. So, here's my suggestion. We go to court on Wednesday, and I think Debra may have him served for the lawsuit while we're there."
She perked up. "Really? Why do you say that?"
"I was going to tell this you tomorrow, but yesterday afternoon Jonathan positively identified the computer hacking into your email. It, of course, belonged to Craig."
"Of course. No surprise there."
"Agreed. So Jonathan called Debra's secretary to let her know they'll get his official report on Monday. Apparently, the court papers were ready, because she said she'd file them with the court first thing Monday morning, and she'd let the process server know about your hearing because it would be the easiest way to have him served. So, here's what I have in mind. I think you should stay in the guesthouse for a week or two after he's served, just in case he decides to retaliate."
"I agree."
He chuckled. "Good. At least I don't have to argue with you like I did the last time. Then, once the dust settles, we'll sit down and discuss you moving out of your duplex. I'm hoping by then you'll have saved up enough to cover three month's living expenses, and we'll be ready for you to move into the main house with me."
Rachel smiled as she listened to him talk. "Well, I guess we'll have to see about that won't we?"
"I guess so," he said, flirtatiously, "but in the meantime, why don't I bring some Chinese food to your place tonight, and tomorrow we'll take that day trip down to Bisbee just like we planned."
Her phone chimed. "Hang on, Shane. I think Al might have just replied to my email." She quickly checked. Al had indeed sent her a reply.
"Al says he's wishing me luck with my hearing, and he wants me to let him know what the judge says. I'm also to let him know if I need anything." She stopped for a moment. "You know, I wish he were closer. I really do need him right now."
"So, where does he live?"
"Albuquerque."
"Well, I'd like to meet him, so maybe we might think about taking a trip there. Perhaps between Christmas and New Year. It's a slow time of year, so I should be able to get a couple of days off."
A sense of peace came over Rachel. "That's a great idea, Shane. I'll bring it up with him the next time I talk with him and see what he thinks. In the meantime, I'll see you tonight."