Chapter Thirty-One #2
“You don’t grasp the complexities of leadership,” Pete said finally. “Sometimes you have to make compromises.”
“Not when lives are at stake.” Noah laughed harshly.
“Leadership is Rachel spending hours researching what the community has versus what it needs, talking to residents, and understanding what this town actually requires. It’s Bethany using her healthcare executive background to create programs that would save lives.
It’s people working together toward a common goal instead of stealing and backstabbing and manipulating. ”
“She’s turned you against me,” Pete said, his voice taking on a wheedling quality that Noah suddenly recognized as the same tone he’d used as a child when caught in a lie.
“She shows up, and suddenly I’m the bad guy?
We’ve been friends for over twenty years, Noah.
Twenty years. That has to count for something. ”
“It counted for everything,” Noah said quietly. “That’s why this hurts so much. I trusted you, Pete. I believed in you. Even when other people warned me about your methods, I defended you. I told them they didn’t understand, that you had good intentions.”
He could see Rachel watching him, her expression unreadable, and he finally turned to meet her eyes directly.
“I was wrong,” he said, speaking to her as much as to Pete. “I’ve been wrong for a very long time. And I’m sorry. I’m sorry I wouldn’t let myself see it sooner. I’m sorry I let old habits of unearned loyalty cost me your love and respect.”
Rachel’s eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t speak.
Pete seemed to sense his loss of control over the situation. “Noah, think about what you’re doing. We can work this out. The proposal can be modified, we can find ways to incorporate more of her original ideas—”
“No.” The word came out flat and final. “We’re done, Pete. This friendship, the tag team, whatever you want to call it—it’s over.”
“She’s poisoned you against me,” Pete said desperately. “Can’t you see how she is with everyone? She comes around and everyone is always paying attention to her hair, her drawings, what she’s building. Like no one else exists—”
Noah gave a humorless laugh. “You dislike Rachel for her beauty, her talent, and because she shines her own light, in her own way, without me or you.”
Pete’s face cycled through several emotions—anger, jealousy, contempt—before settling on something ugly and true to his character. “Fine. You’d rather choose the farmer’s daughter over me? Go ahead. But don’t come crying to me when precious Rachel decides you’re not good enough after all.”
“If she leaves,” Noah said steadily, “I’ll still love her, but I won’t blame her for that decision. It doesn’t change that my friendship with you is done.”
Pete stared at him for a long moment, seeming to realize that his usual tactics were ineffective. When he spoke again, his voice was cold and threatening in a way Noah had never heard before.
“You’re making a mistake, Noah. A big one.” Pete looked at Rachel. “I tried to save you from yourself.”
“The only thing I need to be saved from,” Noah said quietly, “is my stupidity for letting Rachel get away the first time.”
Pete’s face twisted with rage that he aimed at Rachel. “Bet you’re happy now. He’s as mixed-up as you are.”
Instead of fury, Rachel’s features flattened with a pitying resolve.
“Mixed.” She chuckled. “Guess that’s another dig at my Afro or European heritage…
my thick lips, curved hips. Or maybe it’s the red hair and pale skin I arrived in this world wrapped in.
Either way, you don’t have the right to police or question my Blackness.
I tell you who I am, not the other way around. ”
Pete gave a smirk of disapproval, but Noah more than listened; he heard Rachel’s weariness of the generations dealing with static belief systems. “Is this the part when you tell me to kiss your apple bottom?”
Rachel crossed both arms over her chest, unflinching, unbothered by the obvious insult. “No. It’s my body. My choice. I’d never want any part of you touching me.” With a stubborn lift of her chin, she returned his smirk. “That’s called freedom.”
Before Pete could respond, the elevator dinged. Amarie stepped out, looking exhausted. At finding them, her brows lowered, the lines bracketing her usual flawless mocha complexion relaxed.
“Mom’s asking for both of you,” she said, glancing between Noah and Rachel. Then she noticed Pete, and her expression cooled noticeably. “Excuse us, Mr. Judelson.”
The dismissal in her tone was unmistakable, and Pete seemed to finally understand that his presence wasn’t welcome. He straightened his tie and tried to recover some of his political composure.
“Of course. I just wanted to check on Mrs. Bethany’s condition and show community support. Please give her my regards.” He turned back to Noah, his expression unreadable. “I hope she recovers quickly from her… episode.”
The way Pete said “episode” made Noah’s stomach turn. As if Bethany’s diabetes diagnosis was trivial, and not a serious health condition that would require ongoing healthcare management.