The phone beeped and sprang to life and soon she was watching the notifications scroll up the screen. Six calls from Henry and eight from Lori. As well as text messages from both, and a text from her Mum. She ignored them all and rushed around getting ready. Her coat was on the back of a chair and she grabbed it as she made a dash for her car. If she hurried, she might only be a few minutes late, after all.
***
Saturday passed in a blur. She kept her phone turned off and, on a whim, volunteered to help at the shelter on Sunday as well. Sarah was thrilled to have an extra set of hands and promised that Rachel would be assigned serving duty with no cooking tasks. As she drove home, tired and unhappy, she considered stopping for takeaway. This was the first chance she’d had all day to let thoughts of Henry intrude, and the tears started along with the first memory of their fight. No way would she stop with red-rimmed eyes.
Toast for dinner it was then. She popped in two slices as soon as she got home and pulled a tomato and some cheese from the fridge. She made a quick visit to the bathroom and before she could return, the trusty smoke alarm let her know the toast had popped up. With a sigh, she dragged herself out to the kitchen, muttering as she tracked footsteps through the remains of the flour. “I’m going to ignore you. You can turn yourself off for once.”
The siren continued for a full minute and then there was a quick knock at the door. After another knock, Jeff opened it and stuck his head around the corner. Seeing her calmly cutting tomato in the kitchen he moved inside, like he had that first day she’d met him.
Mental note. Start locking the damn door.
He grabbed her jacket off the seat and flapped at the alarm, like she’d become so used to doing. The sound stopped after a few seconds and he turned to look at her. “Just decided to let it go, now? You’ve given up on life?”
She would have laughed on any other day but instead she shrugged before answering, “You’ve gotten really good at that in the last few months.”
“I’ve learned you have to be if you live in this building. Every time I cook a roast in the oven the stupid alarm squeals when I take it out. Even a whoosh of hot air sets it off—I don’t even need to be burning any food. I know now that yours probably goes off all the time, whenever it feels like it. That first day I thought it was your cooking.”
“Oh, it’s my cooking, all right.”
He glanced around at the mess on the floor and then looked back at her with a frown. “What happened in here?”
She sighed. “Long story that included attempted baking. Anyway, thanks.” She stared at him until he made his excuses and left. A big fat tear slipped down her cheek as she finished cutting the tomato and put it on her beige-coloured toast, which was now cold.
Turning to the television for a bit of mindless entertainment, she flicked it on to find the current marriage and dating show playing.
That’s not what I want to watch tonight.
She channel surfed for a minute and then switched it off when there was nothing worth watching. Her toast finished, she sat quietly, trying not to think about the mess she’d caused with Henry and Lori.
Because I did cause it. This is all my fault.
Shaking her head she went to the cupboard and pulled out the vacuum cleaner so she could clean while she wallowed in self-pity. The carpet looked like it might never recover from the flour and cocoa settled across it.
This is not how I thought I’d be spending my weekend when I skipped out of work early yesterday afternoon.
***
Rachel got up early on Sunday and made her way to the shelter to do her shift. At some point she was going to have to reply to Lori, if not to Henry. Dozens of messages and texts filled her phone, now. Lori was freaking out. She pushed all thoughts of them away, reminding herself how hurt she’d been when she found out what Lori had done.
The line up for food service stretched out the door and she put on an apron, washed her hands and rushed to join the other volunteers. She served vegetables for more than an hour before the kitchen was closed. Then she collected the cleaning supplies and set about tidying up the dining room.
Most of the tables were empty—people tended to leave as soon as they were finished. One gentleman sat alone at a table in the back and when she asked if she could clear his dishes he looked up at her and smiled.
“Thank you so much for what you do here.”
“You’re very welcome. Did you enjoy your meal?”
“I did. Did you make it?”
Rachel laughed, “Oh no. I had one turn at cooking and now they’ve banned me.” She smiled at him as she stacked the plates onto her trolley, “It’s best for everyone if I stay out of the kitchen.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s not true.”
“Well, you’d be wrong. Were you here for the pea and ham soup a few weeks ago?”
“Maybe.” The twinkle in his eye told her that he had been. “Sit with me for a few minutes and I’ll tell you.”
She laughed and sank into the chair opposite. “Come on, give me the verdict.”
“There were a lot of bay leaves, I seem to recall.”
She rolled her eyes and slapped her forehead. “That’s all anyone mentions, the blasted bay leaves!”
“Well, they gave us all a good laugh. We don’t often get that around here. The organiser made it into a competition—whoever found a bay leaf in their soup got a prize.” Rachel groaned as he continued to laugh. “I got myself a new t-shirt and a food voucher thanks to you, missy.”
“Well, I’m glad I was good for something.”
“Oh, come on, now. I’m sure you have lots of other skills. Not everyone has to be a master chef.” She closed her eyes for a moment when he mentioned that word. Images of Henry flooded into her head and she grimaced before opening her eyes to see him watching her. “Is something wrong?”
“No,” she sighed. “You reminded me of something.”
“Something? Or someone?”
She smiled at him before standing up and pulling the trolley toward her. “Someone, but it’s a juicy story for another day.”
He grabbed her wrist as she moved away and she turned to give her full attention to his urgent tone. “Don’t let that someone get away, take it from me. Whatever has happened, apologise and get things back to normal.”
“It might not be as simple as that, I’m afraid. I reacted badly to a situation and I don’t know if I can take it back.”
“Everything can be taken back. Make sure you try. It’s a shorter jump than you might think from happiness to homelessness, let me tell you.” He let her arm go but continued to watch her with that sad look in his eyes. “Trust me. On this one thing I know what I’m talking about.”
“Thank you. I’ll consider it. What’s your name?”
“I’m Rodney.” He held out his hand and she shook it.
“Well, Rodney. Thank you for the chat and the good advice. I’ll see you here again.”
“I hope you don’t. I want to stop relying on this place.”
Unsure of how to answer she smiled and squeezed his shoulder. “I hope for that, too.”
***
Rodney’s words stayed with her all afternoon and into the evening. Was it really as simple as apologising? Would Lori forgive her easily or had she damaged their relationship with her selfishness?
Damn. How to get out of this mess?
She stayed later than she’d planned at the shelter and tiredness drooped her shoulders when she left. Pizza seemed like a good idea, although, like everything this weekend, it reminded her of her last meal with Henry. As she ate, sitting up in the pizza shop window on a stool, she glanced through a magazine that had been left behind. Again, the cover was from that marriage show she’d seen on the television. The behind-the-scenes look at what went on and who was with who had her thinking of the fun she’d had with Henry. The fun she might not get to have again. They’d started seeing each other based on a joke, but it had quickly become serious betwee
n them.
Truth be told, she missed him. She missed their nightly phone calls. Missed knowing that he had something important to tell her. She even missed the cooking trials she’d been hiding from him. Now, she’d ruined all these months of getting to know each other with one childish outburst. Ignoring all the messages for the past two days couldn’t have helped, either.
She glanced out the window, mulling over how they’d met and all that had happened. The moment he’d suggested she buy the photo flashed into her head and she gasped as she remembered his words that day. “You look happy and brave and like nothing this exciting has ever happened to you before.” That’s what he’d said. Before he’d asked her to lunch. Before Lori had whispered in his ear. Long before she’d been silly and tested him by asking him why he was interested in her. The truth had been there all along, she’d just been too blind to see it. Again.
I need to call him when I get home. Lori too.
Now that she’d decided to call she was in a rush to get home. She left what was left of her pizza uneaten and hurried home. She slid into the carpark at breakneck speed and raced upstairs, eager to find the privacy of her lounge room so she could make the calls and make the situation right.
Damn. Maybe I should have gone over in person.
As she rounded the corner from the elevator she saw that her front door was blocked. Henry and Lori sat side-by-side playing cards and chatting. When they saw her they dropped the cards and rushed to her side before she could escape back the way she’d come.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Henry said as he reached forward and grabbed her hand. “We need to talk in person since you won’t answer any of our messages.”
“I was about to call you both. I’m sorry, I know I’ve behaved badly.”
“Oh, really?” Henry’s expression confirmed the doubt in his voice.
“Yes, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”
“Can we take this conversation inside?” Lori asked, indicating the front door. “It’s bad enough that your neighbours have to hear the smoke alarm all the time, without hearing you grovel to your two besties.” Her grin soothed Rachel’s nerves. Once they talked this out, everything was going to be fine.
Rachel unlocked the door while Lori collected the discarded cards. “Why did you two bring cards?” she asked as she held the door open.
“Because we were staying here as long as it took to make you see sense. We weren’t leaving until we were all friends again.” Lori grinned as she slipped past.
Once they were all inside she faced them and put her hands up so they would let her speak first. “Again, I’m sorry. I’ve had some time to think about it and this whole mess is my fault. It’s all because of me and my stupid high school issue. I shouldn’t have ignored you both.” She watched their faces, waiting to see if they would be able to go back to the way they were before.
“I’ve been worried about you,” Henry spoke first as he pulled her toward him. “Have you been okay?”
“I wasn’t at first, but I am now. I had a surprising conversation with someone at the shelter today and it helped me put things in perspective.” His hand moved behind her neck and his thumb grazed her jaw.
“Hey you two, enough of the gross stuff. I’m still here, you know!”
Rachel laughed as Henry dropped his hand. “Sorry. For this and for overreacting.” She put her arms out and wrapped them around Lori. “You’re a great friend and I’m lucky to have you.”
“Well, I know that. I have one question, though.”
“Just one?”
“Only one that seems important right now. What in God’s name happened to your apartment?” she waved her arm and indicated the flour still caking the walls. “Are you redecorating?”
Henry and Rachel laughed together at the horrified look on Lori’s face. “Oh, I didn’t get to tell you about my accident on Friday afternoon. I was trying to make pies and there was a little explosion—”
“Little? I’m guessing it wasn’t little if it looks like this two days later.”
“I was going to send a cleaner and Rachel was going to stay at my place. But then we had our fight and she came back here. The cleaner isn’t coming until tomorrow.”
“She’s still booked to come?” Rachel’s heart melted a little bit. He’d still organised to have her apartment cleaned, even though she hadn’t been talking to him.
“Of course. I thought maybe you were a compulsive cleaner when you were unhappy but I should make the booking just in case.”
“Thank you. I did vacuum the carpet three times but it needs a professional.” She looked at them both, wanting to be sure of her place. “Can you both forgive me?”
“I already have—”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” Henry took her hand again. “I want you to come back to my place. We missed our weekend together.”
“I know I ruined it, I’m sorry.”
“You can stop saying that now.” He grinned at her and she relaxed for the first time since her trip home alone on Friday night.
“At least you saved me from having to drag you from your office to have it out in the parking lot tomorrow,” Lori joked. “Josh would not have liked that.”
Rachel grinned at her. “I can imagine the gossip that would have caused. Much better this way.”
She beamed at them both as Lori made her excuses and left. She packed a bag for the second time in three days and was ready to join Henry a few minutes later. He held her hand tightly as they made their way to his car. Before he opened the door for her he pulled her close, “Don’t do that again, okay? Next time you have a problem you have to promise that we’ll discuss it.”
“I promise. I’m—” his fingers settled over her lips.
“No more apologising. It’s not necessary. Just stick to your promise and we’ll be fine.” He pulled open her door and helped her in and once again they sped toward his house, all confidence in their relationship on the way to being restored.
When they arrived it was like their Friday night was being repeated. Henry had stopped to grab a pizza, promising her that they wouldn’t eat it for months after this weekend, and they had a bottle of wine to share. They sat at the kitchen counter chatting as they ate and she filled him in on her weekend spent mostly at the shelter.
“I’d like to volunteer at the shelter with you next time. My restaurants could organise to provide some meals, too.”
“I’ll let Sarah know. She’s the contact for us.”
“Perfect. When do you go back?”
“I have tomorrow night. I volunteered for extra shifts to keep my mind off you.”
“Alright, I’ll get the night off and we’ll go together.”
“I’d like that.”
He stood up and rounded the bench before pulling her to her feet. “I’d like something else right now.” She blushed at his words, remembering his promised ‘big plans’ before she’d stormed out on Friday.
“What did you have in mind?”
“This, for starters.” He lifted her hand and examined it up close. “Can you take the day off work tomorrow?” he asked as he continued to look at her hand.
“Possibly. I could go in late in the day since I need to pick up my laptop.”
“That could work. I’d like to take you for a manicure.”
“A manicure? That’s odd.”
“Not really. You’ll need it once you start showing this off.” Before she could ask him what he meant he held up a gold band with a single diamond in it, making her gasp. He grinned at her as she stared at it, and then he dropped down on one knee as she squealed and covered her mouth. “Rachel Canales, would you accept this ring to replace the original perfect one I gave you? I’d like to marry you for real.”
A grin split her face and she grabbed him and kissed him, muffling his laugh. She pulled away and watched him kneeling before her, waiting for an answer. “Of course, Henry. I’d love that. I love you.” She held out her hand and he slipped it on sho
wing it was the perfect fit. “Oh, it’s beautiful.” She breathed as she held it up to the light.
He stood up and placed his hands either side of her face. “I told you I’d replace it for you. And that I was serious.”
“You did.” She laughed quietly, “You can never be sure, though. It’s an unorthodox situation, you have to agree.”
“Yep, but fun. Imagine the stories we can tell our children.”
“How many children exactly?”
“Lots. I’ll take you on a tour of this house and you’ll see how many spare bedrooms I have.” He frowned and his eyes found hers, “Assuming you want to live here, of course. We can move somewhere else if you like.”
“I like it here, what I’ve seen of it, anyway. If I can get my car out into the traffic in the morning, I’ll be happy.”
“It’s a quiet street in peak hour, so I guess,” he swept his arm out toward the lounge room, “welcome to your new home!”
***
Rodney was sitting at a corner table when they arrived and Rachel went to speak to him before joining the serving line. “Hey Rodney, I took your advice and apologised.”
“Good for you. I’m pleased.”
“He’s even come to help out tonight.”
“Which one is he?”
“There with the green shirt.” She pointed and Rodney laughed loudly. “What?”
“Your boyfriend is Henry Baxter?”
“You know him?”
“No, but I know of him. He’s big time.”
“Everyone seems to know who he is except me. The attention he was getting whenever we ate out was because of that, I’m guessing.”
“You think? Hey, is he gonna cook for us? That would be something I’d love to be here for.”
“Not tonight, but he’s going to organise meals for the future. Listen, I have to go and help but I’ll come and see you when I’m done if you’re still here.”
Married This Year 2: Simmering Love Page 13
