Chapter 31
thirty-one
. . .
Rachel
It wasn't until I got home and sat on the couch with Jack on my lap, telling me happily about his day, that it all finally hit me.
Jack hopped off my lap to start a coloring page on the coffee table, and the tears started flowing.
Mom walked out from the kitchen with a glass of iced tea and found me silently sobbing.
I hadn't told her anything about the day yet, only that it had been a long one.
"Ray, what on earth?" She rushed to my side, set the tea down and sat next to me. She dropped her arm around me. "What's going on? I have some good news to share, but I want to hear about what has you in such a state first."
I wiped hastily at my tears. "No. Let's hear the good news first. I'm still processing what happened today, and I'm afraid it will come out as hysteria.
" I sniffled and took a deep breath. "What's the good news?
" She pulled her arm away, and I scooted back to face her.
She immediately reached up and wiped my cheek.
She was holding back a smile that wanted badly to break free.
"You sure you don't want to talk first?" she asked.
"Mom, what is it? You look as if you're going to burst."
"All right. Well, Misty called. She wants to retire from the fabric shop.
Her hands are so gnarled with arthritis," she started and waved off that tangent.
"Anyhow, she said she'd only feel comfortable retiring if she had a responsible general manager who knows the shop and the fabric business.
She asked me to do it, Ray!" The last words shot out like confetti from a canon.
"It comes with benefits and a great salary.
And the hours line up perfectly with Jack's day care hours. "
"Mom, that's amazing!" I threw my arms around her, and we hugged and both cried. It seemed as if some of our financial woes were over. Jack saw us hugging and climbed up to join in. He never needed a reason for hugging. He also bored of it quickly.
"Mommy, do you want to color with me?"
I combed his hair back with my fingers. "In a minute, I just need to talk to Nonna for a second." He sat back down to his artwork.
"What on earth happened today? This isn't still about Evan and his offer, is it? We can take care of ourselves now, Ray. The house is beautiful, but I don't want to see you live a loveless life like I did. You need someone in your life who makes you happy."
My mind went immediately to Ronan. I wondered then if the tears were more because of my broken heart than the terrible scare in the diner.
A little of both probably. It really had been a turmoil-filled afternoon.
In that second, I decided not to tell her the whole story about the men who tried to rob the diner.
It would only freak her out and cause her unnecessary worry.
I'd talked to Carol, and she told me she'd have the security cameras she'd been thinking about installed right away.
I was sure it was just a one-time event, but security cameras were a good idea.
"I guess I'm just tired, Mom. I didn't mean to worry you.
I was basically running the diner on my own today, and I'm exhausted.
" I took her hand. "And I think Evan's pressure to accept his offer has been taking up far too much of my thoughts and time.
I'm going to let him know it won't happen.
The house is nice, but my independence and freedom are more important. "
Jack interrupted. He held up a coloring page with a triceratops in the middle. He wasn't exactly coloring in the lines yet, but he was getting close. "Look! I'm going to save this one for my friend Ronan."
Mom looked over at me. "Your time together was short, but I have to say I've never seen you happier than when you were with Ronan. And Jack, who can't remember to bring his coat home from day care, has not forgotten his friend."
"I'm sure Ronan has moved on. It's all right. All I need is you two, and I'm perfectly happy." I hugged her again. "I'm so happy about your job, Mom. I think you needed this, too."
"I really did, Ray. I'm excited to start."