Chapter 24
Rachel
Sophie's apartment was small but impeccably styled, modern furniture with clean lines, plants in every corner. When Rachel arrived, both Sophie and Ellie were waiting, wine already poured, expressions serious.
No pizza. No pretense that this was a casual girls' night. There was wine though, and Rachel accepted the glass Ellie handed her.
"Sit," Sophie said, and Rachel did.
"Rachel," Ellie started, her voice careful. "What happened at the boutique, running out like that, we're worried about you."
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine." Sophie wasn't budging. "You ran out rather than talk about Matthews."
Rachel's hands tightened around her wine glass.
"Is Derek Matthews really not dangerous?" Ellie asked directly. "Because he's coming to Vermont. He's targeting our team, attacking me professionally, and if there's something we need to know, we want to understand what we're dealing with."
"I can handle him."
"That's not what I asked." Ellie leaned forward.
Her throat close up. "It's complicated."
"Then help us understand." Ellie's expression was concerned, not angry. "Because right now, Mac is worried about you and doesn't know why. And that's hurting him too."
"I know it's not fair to him," Rachel's voice broke. "I know I need to tell him. I just… I don't know how. I don't know how to explain what Derek did without…" She stopped, tears spilling over.
"Without what?" Ellie prompted gently.
Rachel shook her head, unable to finish. How could she explain who Derek was without telling them about the assault?
"Derek was involved in the breakup, wasn't he?" Sophie said quietly. "With Brad?"
Rachel nodded, not trusting her voice.
"How involved?"
"Very." The word came out as barely a whisper.
Ellie reached across and took Rachel's hand. "I'm so sorry. Whatever he did, I'm sorry you went through that."
Rachel looked up, surprised by the warmth in Ellie's voice. No judgment. Just compassion.
"But Rachel," Ellie continued, "Mac needs to know. Not because we don't trust you to handle it, but because the bastard is coming here."
"I'm afraid Mac will look at me differently when he knows the truth."
"He won't," Sophie said firmly. "Mac loves you. And nothing about what someone else did to you is going to change that."
"But what if—"
"Rachel." Sophie squeezed her hand. “Keeping this secret? It's going to hurt worse than telling the truth. The longer you wait, the harder it gets…" She trailed off, letting Rachel fill in the implications.
"Mac will feel betrayed," Rachel said quietly. "Not by what happened to me, but by the fact that I didn't trust him enough to tell him."
"Exactly," Ellie said. "And you don't want that. Neither do we."
Rachel nodded slowly, something settling in her chest. They were right. She knew they were right.
"Tomorrow," she said. "I'll tell him tomorrow."
"Do you want one of us there? For support?" Ellie asked.
"No. This is something I need to do alone." Rachel took a shaky breath and felt fresh tears well up.
"No more tears," Sophie said, wiping the tears from Rachel’s cheeks. Then she stood and grabbed the wine bottle. "Let's actually have that girls' night. Because you need friends and more wine before you have that conversation with Mac tomorrow."
An hour later, sprawled on Sophie's couch with wine and finally some pizza, the conversation had shifted to lighter things. Wedding logistics. Town gossip. Sophie's insistence that Rachel needed a new dress for the wedding.
"I'm serious," Sophie said. "You need something that makes you feel confident. Powerful. Like you can walk into that reception and own it."
"I don't think a dress can do all that," Rachel said.
"You'd be surprised. The right dress is basically armor." Sophie pulled out her phone. "I'm texting the boutique on Oak Street. We're going tomorrow after work."
"Sophie—"
"Non-negotiable. You're telling Mac the hard stuff at 4 PM. We're buying you armor at 6 PM. It's called balance."
Rachel smiled despite herself. "You're very bossy."
"I prefer decisive.'" Sophie grinned. "But yes."
Rachel got home just after ten, feeling emotionally wrung out but also somehow lighter. She had friends who cared enough to push her. Friends who saw her struggles and helped her face them.
Mr. Darcy greeted her at the door with his usual demanding meow.
"Hi there, Darc," Rachel fed him, then curled up on the couch. Her phone buzzed.
Mac: How was your day? I heard you helped Ellie with her dress crisis.
Rachel: I did. Crisis averted. How was practice?
Mac: Good. Jamie's reorganizing the equipment room again. I'm worried about him.
Rachel: Should I be worried that you're worried?
Mac: Probably. Can I see you tomorrow? I miss you.
Rachel's heart squeezed. Tomorrow. When she'd tell him everything.
Rachel: Coffee at 4?
Mac: Perfect.
Rachel: I have something I want to tell you too.
Mac: Good something or bad something?
Rachel: No comment.
Mac: You’re making me nervous, cat lady.
Rachel: Just a joke, I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night, cat man.
Mac: Good night.
Rachel set down her phone, Mr. Darcy immediately claiming her lap. She closed her eyes, trying to imagine the conversation. How she'd start. What she'd say. How Mac would react.
One week until the wedding.
Tomorrow she would tell Mac the truth. She should probably also let him know that she loved him. Probably.