by Tracy Krauss
“You really think so?” Bonita sniffed.
Rachel nodded. Now Steve Friest would be exposed for who he really was. Rachel felt a deep sense of satisfaction over that.
They both heard the knock on the door, and Rachel stood to answer it.
“If it’s Uncle Con, I’m not sure I want to tell him yet,” Bonita said, pleading in her eyes.
“Bonita, you have nothing to be ashamed of,” Rachel said. “You’re not the one at fault.”
“I know, but I just need to think for a bit.” Bonita frowned. “I should tell my parents first.”
Con knocked again. “Hello?” his muffled voice sounded on the other side.
“Just a minute,” Rachel called, and turned her gaze back to Bonita.
“Please?” Bonita begged.
Rachel sighed. “All right. I won’t say anything. But promise me you will. Mr. Friest needs to be stopped before he hurts someone else.”
Bonita nodded her agreement and Rachel went to the door.
“Hi beautiful,” Con said, taking Rachel into his arms the moment he stepped over the threshold. He bent for a kiss, but Rachel managed to clear her throat and dodge the kiss with a jerk of her head in Bonita’s direction. Con’s eyes opened in surprise, but he didn’t release Rachel immediately. “What are you doing here, Bonnie? I thought you had a practice.”
“Cancelled,” Bonita said.
“Oh.” Con stepped back from Rachel and frowned.
“You can both stay for hot chocolate,” Rachel suggested. “The kettle just boiled.”
“It’ll have to do,” Con said as his mouth twisted up into half a grin.
“Um, can I use your washroom?” Bonita asked.
Rachel pointed her in the right direction and turned back to where she thought Con was sitting. He was behind her and she had turned right into his embrace. “I need to hurry and steal a kiss before she comes back.”
The kiss was anything but hurried and Rachel finally pulled away and smoothed her hair. “Behave.”
“What if I don’t want to behave?” Con asked. “I’m tired of snatching a few minutes here and there.”
“We’re going into the city on the weekend, remember? We’ll have an entire day together. Now sit down and drink your chocolate like a good boy,” Rachel teased as she set his mug down in front of him.
“All right,” Con acquiesced. He took a sip of the hot liquid. “What’s with Bonita, anyway? She looked kind of upset.”
Rachel just shrugged and turned away so he couldn’t see her face as she stirred the next cup of cocoa. She’d made a promise and didn’t want to give anything away. “I’m not sure.” She just prayed that Bonita would do the right thing and go to the police.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The stores and shopping malls were decked out for the holiday season. Con and Rachel strolled hand in hand, doing more looking than buying. Every twinkling window display, every group of children singing, every Santa ringing his Christmas bell, seemed to echo her own sense of joy. She wondered what kind of gift she should buy Con. She realized that even though she felt as if she knew him, she still didn’t understand him very well.
“Let’s stop for a minute,” Con suggested. “There’s a coffee bar just around that corner.”
Rachel laughed. “Tired already? We’ve only just started.”
“Really? It feels like ages,” Con said with a grin.
“Don’t tell me you’re tired of my company already?”
“Never.”
They ordered a cup of steaming coffee each, and sat down in the communal food court area, watching the frenzied shoppers as they passed.
“What do you want for Christmas?” Rachel asked.
“If I told you, it would spoil the surprise.”
“Seriously. I don’t know what to get you. Do you need anything in particular? What do you want?”
“You.”
The one word sent shivers down her spine. “Besides that,” she continued.
Con shrugged. “Can’t tell you.”
“You’re no help at all.” She surveyed the milling crowd.
“Actually, I’d love for you to come to church with me,” Con said.
“I said I would,” Rachel replied. “You just haven’t picked the right day yet.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Won’t we be too tired? I mean, it’ll probably be late when we get back home after visiting Sherri and Dan,” Rachel reasoned.
“I go to church every Sunday,” Con responded. “Well, almost every Sunday, unless I’m out of town. Tired or not.”
“Oh.”
“So? What do you say?”
“Okay, I guess,” Rachel agreed. “You’re the boss. But don’t be surprised if I fall asleep.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be there to poke you in the ribs.” Con smiled mischievously.
“Goody,” Rachel feigned disgust. She looked at her watch. “I think it’s time we went up to Sherri and Dan’s. They’re expecting us around five.”
“You’re the boss,” Con repeated Rachel’s own words.
“I think you’ll like them,” Rachel said. “Sherri is a lot of fun—kind of the typical blonde, if you know what I mean. But fun. And Dan is a sweetheart. He’s very laid back and easy to talk to.”
“Any friends of yours have got to be great people,” Con stated.
****
“I am sooo glad to finally meet you,” Sherri exclaimed for the tenth time, as they sat having coffee after supper.
“I think you’ve said that already,” Dan observed.
“Well it’s true! Rachel has hardly been in to visit since she moved here, and I’m blaming you,” she teased, directing her accusation at Con.
“Sorry to have deprived you.” Con laughed.
“I’ve just been really busy,” Rachel defended.
Sherri winked. “I’ll just bet!”
“I saw on the news about some conflicts over grain subsidies. What’s your take on the situation?” Dan asked Con.
“Boring!” Sherri announced. “Come on, Rachel. Let’s see what else we can find in the kitchen for munchies.” She grabbed Rachel by the hand.
“But we just ate,” Rachel said, frowning.
“I’m eating for two, remember?” The men continued discussing the effects of world markets, while Rachel and Sherri made their exit.
“Who cares about the price of wheat?” Sherri whispered to Rachel when they were out of earshot.
“Well, he is a farmer,” Rachel defended.
“I know,” Sherri said. “I’d rather talk about, you know, your relationship. How serious is it? Have you made it with him yet?”
“Sherri!”
“Well?” Sherri folded her arms over her chest.
“No, I haven’t made it with him yet,” Rachel blustered. “He’s not like that.”
“What do you mean, ‘not like that?’ He’s a man, for goodness sake. Isn’t that all they think about?”
“No.”
“Well, what is it then? I thought you really liked this guy.”
“I do. He’s different about things like that, though. He’s more cautious, I guess.”
“Meaning?”
“Well, he’s pretty religious. It’s against his beliefs to go too far too soon.”
“Are you serious?” Sherri’s mouth was agape.
“What’s wrong with that?” Rachel asked, her defenses rising again.
“Nothing, I guess. It just seems kind of old-fashioned. He sounds completely different from Ronald.”
“I don’t want to talk about Ronald,” Rachel said stiffly.
“Still touchy about him, I see. My best advice is, make it with this new guy, and the sooner the better. Nothing like some good sex to exorcise the memory of a past boyfriend.”
“Hey, ladies. Where are those snacks?” Dan came into the kitchen. Con was close on his heels. Rachel wondered how much of the conversation he’d heard.
“Coming right up,”
Sherri said. “I was just going to pop some popcorn. I’m always craving popcorn these days.” She rubbed her slightly protruding stomach.
“Eating for two is really getting hard on the grocery bills.” Dan laughed, encircling his wife from behind.
“No more fat jokes, buddy,” Sherri swatted him away playfully. “Now where did I put that popcorn?”
“Actually, I was thinking that maybe we should be heading out soon, anyway,” Con said.
“So soon?” Sherri cried.
“Well, it is a bit of a drive and it has started snowing again so I’m worried about the roads,” he explained. “But you should come out our way next time.”
“Can we, Dan?” Sherri turned to her husband and clasped her hands at her chest. “I’ve been dying to see Rachel’s little haven.”
“We’ll see.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call Marshdale a haven.” Con laughed.
“Wouldn’t you? Rachel seems to think so. She’s becoming very cozy there, I’m thinking,” Sherri teased.
“Maybe after Christmas,” Dan suggested. “Things are a little hectic around here right now. We’ve got a few parties to go to in the next few weeks and all that. Then we’ll be flying back east for a week at Christmas. But once we get home, we should try and get together.”
“Actually, we’re having a big get together at our place on New Year’s Eve,” Con stated. “Outdoor skating, tobogganing, snowmobiling. We do it every year. You should come if you don’t have other plans.”
“That sounds like fun,” Dan said. “Doesn’t it, honey?”
“Sure, I guess. I’m not sure if I’ll be up for too many sports in my condition, though.”
“There are always lots of people who prefer indoor games, as well. Plus there’s lots of good food. We do a potluck kind of thing and just let people bring whatever they want.”
“We’ll keep it in mind for when we get home,” Dan answered. “Say, Rachel? Aren’t you going home for Christmas, too?”
“Yes.” Rachel nodded, her voice not all that enthusiastic.
They said their final good-byes and were soon heading out of the city.
“You never mentioned you were going out of town for Christmas,” Con said. His voice sounded quiet, maybe even accusatory.
“I must have forgotten.” Rachel focused her attention out the window at the passing landscape.
“Seems like a funny thing to forget.”
“I guess I’ve just been busy these days. Is it a problem?”
“No, of course not. I guess I just never really thought about the fact that we might not be together at Christmas, that’s all. But of course you should go home and spend it with your family.”
“It’s expected.”
“But it’ll be nice to see them again, right? Your family?”
Rachel shrugged. “I guess. You don’t know my family.” In fact, she wasn’t looking forward to it one bit. But she couldn’t tell Con that. His family was so close, despite their differences.
They rode quietly for a time until Con spoke again. “I guess I’ll have to give you your Christmas present early, then.” Rachel remained silent. “Your friends are nice. I liked them.”
Rachel frowned. She still hadn’t bought him anything and his suggestion that all he wanted was for her to come to church was lame. Oh well. There was always Silver Creek.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Con smiled. He was having trouble containing it, this excitement he was feeling right now. Rachel was sitting beside him in church. Now God would speak to her heart and she would want to share his faith and all the worry and guilt and fear would be ended.
The roads coming into Marshdale had not been the best this morning and he’d been a little late picking her up. They’d slipped in during the first song and found a seat at the back. It was probably better this way anyway, since it was her first time. There was no fuss or introductions to deal with, and since they were sitting right at the back he could hold her hand for the entire sermon and no one would even see.
She sure seemed nervous, though. Hopefully the singing and the message would calm her. He squeezed her hand and glanced over, hoping to communicate his assurance with his eyes. Hers looked panicked.
“I need to leave immediately. I don’t feel well,” Rachel whispered into his ear as soon as the service was over.
Con raised his eyebrows in question. “I was kind of hoping to introduce you to a few people.” “Please?” Rachel begged, her eyes pleading.
He nodded. It wasn’t exactly the response he had hoped for, but at least she’d come. It was a start. Maybe she was just feeling some conviction. He took her by the hand and tried to rush her through the milling bodies that had already started congregating in the foyer.
“Thomas!” Con called, seeing his friend entering the building. “I didn’t see you in church today.”
“I couldn’t make it myself, but I dropped the kids off,” Thomas explained walking toward Con. Suddenly he stopped, as if seeing who was by his friend’s side for the first time. He blinked.
“I’m sure you two have met,” Con said, “since Whisper’s in kindergarten.”
Thomas was staring down at their clasped hands. “So this is your girlfriend?” His voice seemed strained. Tight. Angry, even.
Con frowned. “Yes, as a matter of fact. Is that a problem?”
“Ask her.”
Con turned to Rachel. “What does he mean?”
“Let’s just go,” Rachel replied, her voice small and forlorn.
“No, I want to know what he means,” Con persisted.
“This probably isn’t the time or the place,” Rachel said. “Please? I—I don’t want to cause a scene.”
“I’d listen to her,” Thomas advised. “You won’t want this crowd eavesdropping.”
Con watched Thomas stalk away in search of his children. There were a couple of people standing nearby whose own conversations had become inexplicably quiet. A horrible sick feeling landed in his stomach.
He set his mouth into a determined line and maneuvered himself and Rachel through the rest of the people and out into the fresh air. He didn’t release her hand until she was safely stowed in his truck. When he got in on his own side he let out a pent up breath.
“So? Are you going to tell me now or are you going to tell me at your place?”
“Let’s drive,” Rachel replied. “I’ll tell you on the way.”
****
Rachel swallowed. A lump had formed in her throat. Never in her wildest dreams had she considered that Con and Thomas might know each other, let alone be friends. It was just the kind of sadistic joke that was the byline of her life.
“So?” Con prompted.
Rachel licked her lips. “Thomas and I were kind of seeing each other awhile back. That’s all.”
The information obviously took Con by surprise. His eyebrows shot up and he remained silent for several seconds. “Oh,” was all he finally uttered.
“I guess he’s still bitter about it,” she added.
“And that’s it?”
Rachel shrugged. “I’m not sure what else you expect me to say. It’s not like it was serious or anything. I mean, we went out a couple of times, but we didn’t sleep together if that’s what you’re worried about.” The fact that she’d come close—even pushed herself on him, wasn’t something she was going to volunteer.
“Wow. I don’t exactly know what to say. I feel kind of jealous, I’ll admit, but it’s not quite as bad as I feared.” He thought for a minute and frowned. “When was this?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Rachel hedged. “If you recall, there was a time when you basically ignored me. What was I supposed to do? Sit home and keep waiting?”
“And before that?”
“It wasn’t like you’d staked a claim or anything.”
Con was silent and kept on driving.
“You passed my corner,” Rachel pointed out.
“I know,” Con clipped. “We’v
e got some other things to talk about.”
Rachel looked out her window. Why did the prospect of spending time alone with Con not send thrills up her spine like it might have just hours ago?
“What did you think of church?” Con asked with no preamble.
“Um, it was okay.”
“You seemed nervous. Preoccupied.”
“Is that what we’re doing?” Rachel asked. “You’re going to grill me about church?”
“I’m not grilling you. I just need to know where you stand. It’s important to me.”
“Where I stand? What do you mean?”
“You know. In terms of the Bible and your belief in God,” Con explained.
“I told you,” Rachel replied, her voice taking on a slightly defensive edge. “I don’t exactly know what I believe when it comes to religion, but you’re welcome to believe whatever you want. I can live with that.”
Con’s lips were clamped shut and he released a frustrated breath from his nose. “But I’m not sure I can.”
“Now you’re scaring me.” Rachel allowed a nervous giggle to bubble forth in hopes that it would lighten the tension that had taken over the interior of the truck. His expression didn’t change.
“I’ve thought more than once about throwing it all away, you know. Everything I believe in. Heck, I could drive out to my place right now and we could make love all afternoon. I’m only a man, Rachel, not a saint.” He looked over to see her reaction. “And I think if I suggested it, you might just agree. Neither of us are virgins, I know, and everybody’s doing it, right? So big deal. But then I remember I’ve been bought with a price. It’s why we’re warned not to be ‘unequally yoked.’ The temptation is just too great and sooner or later we might fall away from God.”
“So what you’re saying is, you choose God over me,” Rachel said, her voice tight.
“Something like that, if it comes down to it,” Con agreed. He glanced her way again. “Look, I’m not trying to hurt you. Lord knows I care about you more deeply than is good for me. Which is my point. I think I love you, in fact, but I love God, too.”
“So why can’t you just love us both?” Rachel asked.