Smiles By Trials (Rays of Sunshine Book 2)

by Leonard,Jewel E.

  Adam chuckled. “I’ll see what I can find.”

  Rhea’s eyes stung from blinking around her tears. “Thanks. Hey, it’s late here and we’ve got a super early morning tomorrow and a long day ahead of us, so—”

  “Say no more. Love ya, Sunshine. Text when you can.”

  Love ya? It took a moment for her to find her words. “I will. Love you, too. Bye.” Rhea ended the call with a shudder; she had a feeling she’d be sleeping on a wet pillow that night, and not for her damp hair.

  “Oh my God,” she exhaled. “Thanks so much for being here. I wasn’t exactly in the mood to fool around and I don’t know what I’d have done without you as an excuse and Lord knows I did not want to have to explain why I’m so upset.”

  “You’re totes welcies.” Brianna gave her a crooked smile. “It’s kind of a shame though. I mean, you know, I wouldn’t have minded the show. You could have performed for both of us.”

  “On a normal day I’d say you have the wrong girl for those kinds of escapades. Today? I don’t even know where to start explaining how wrong you are.”

  “What’s a matter?”

  Rhea took a deep breath and held it, remaining silent for several moments. She exhaled. “Adam’s suddenly absent from my life a lot—I mean more than just not being in the neighborhood, you know—he’s making excuses to extend our separation. Call me slow but I’m getting the idea he’s only interested in being long-distance friends now.”

  Rhea rubbed her eyes. “To add insult to injury, I was so looking forward to seeing him in four months. And with this change of plans, it’ll be over a year before he’s here again. And you know . . . it makes sense. Right now maybe he thinks it’s too hard to break it off with me because we only recently got together. But think about it: the more time that passes, the easier it’ll be for him to just write me off.”

  She balled her hands into fists, making a motion to punch herself in her thighs without making contact. “God dammit. Why did I have to let myself get so attached to him? I promised myself I wouldn’t. I promised.”

  Brianna moved from the chair beside the desk to the bed, patting the mattress. “C’mere.”

  With a sigh, Rhea hoisted herself out of her seat and plopped beside Brianna.

  Brianna pulled her into a tight embrace and held her. “This is a good thing for him, isn’t it?”

  Rhea nodded. “It’s a great thing. I just . . . I wish it didn’t have to be at the expense of his usual travels. I know I’m selfish, don’t remind me.”

  “You’re not selfish. You’re loving. But . . . Oh—no, I can’t say it, it’s not my place.”

  “What can’t you say?” Rhea’s eyes narrowed.

  “I don’t want to hurt your feelings. I only want to help you. So, uh, never mind.”

  “What, Brianna?”

  “Maybe if you think he’s brushing you off . . .” She took a deep breath and blurted, “don’t wait for him. If he’s not going to make himself available for you then it’s time to move on. This thing you had with him, it was good and enjoyable I’m sure. And obviously it was important for you at that point in your life. But maybe it was never meant to be anything more than a fling. Hot sex, a reintroduction to single life. A reminder that being yourself will attract remarkable people and make special memories.”

  Brianna shifted in her spot, taking Rhea’s hands and squeezing them. “If your relationship with this guy isn’t going anywhere, for God’s sake, let him go. Your life is here now. Enjoy it! Live for yourself. You deserve to, you’ve earned it.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” Rhea replied, lost in thought.

  “Really?” Brianna grinned. “Thanks. I was due.” After a moment she added: “And—and hey, I’m available. You’re not alone.”

  Brianna’s move went without incident. Tuesday morning before work, Rhea received a text from Adam that he was hitting the road a little ahead of schedule. Wednesday and Thursday were quiet days during which Rhea did her yoga and Zumba classes after work; Brianna joined her for Zumba and proved, of course, to be a natural—much to Rhea’s awkwardness and chagrin.

  During her lunch break on Friday, while a couple co-workers were getting into a heated argument about the following Saturday’s scheduling, Rhea sneaked in a massage with Sheldon. It was hard, as it were, to relax with bickering right outside the door.

  Jodie needed the overtime: her daughter lost glasses which cost 300 dollars to replace. Clarence’s son had a tooth pulled at the dentist, which cost him just shy of 400 out-of-pocket; he too needed the overtime. There wasn’t enough available shift to go around. Therefore, one would get the extra hours at the expense of the other.

  “Excuse me,” said Rhea to Sheldon. She pulled the sheet tightly around her body and got off the bed, stalking to the door. She threw it open. “Take my shift. Please.”

  Jodie stared at Rhea’s bare shoulders, her face going pink.

  Clarence stared hard at her face, as if making sure she knew he wasn’t staring at her cleavage. “Is this some sort of joke?” he asked.

  “No. I clearly don’t need the shift as bad as either of you. So please. Take it and let me have my lunch break in peace. Please.” She returned to her massage and enjoyed the silence her small sacrifice created.

  When she emerged to resume working, Rhea found Jodie whispering to Brianna in the waiting room.

  “Bri?” Rhea asked. “What are you doing here?”

  Brianna smiled. “I came for an adjustment. The move fucked up my back something fierce and sleeping on your couch didn’t help it any.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? I’d have done you for free and saved you a copay.”

  Brianna’s smile turned wicked. “You still could—”

  “You know what I mean,” said Rhea, smacking Brianna’s arm playfully.

  “My normal doctor referred me to Dr. Kasick.”

  “Oh. Well, okay then. I hope it’s nothing too awful. I’m—” she gestured down the office hall. “—gonna get back to work.”

  “We on for dinner tonight?” Brianna asked.

  “Of course. And apparently—” Rhea forced a smile at Jodie. “—I’m free a week from Saturday, too. So be prepared to find something to entertain me with.”

  Brianna’s wicked smile acquired a suggestive eyebrow wiggle. “Oh, I could think of something—”

  “Not that,” Rhea laughed. She turned to continue down the office hallway, waving over her shoulder. “See you later.”

  “Bye.”

  The knocks came on Rhea’s front door much too early Saturday morning. She rolled onto her back in bed, pressing her fingertips to her eyelids before glancing at her clock. Nine-forty-six? No. Oh hell no.

  “There’d better be a fire is all I’m saying,” she grumbled, getting out of bed and padding to her door. Peering through the peephole verified her hunch: Brianna stood outside, rocking in her spot.

  Rhea opened her door. “No.”

  “Rise ‘n’ sunshine,” Brianna sang. “Whatcha doin’?”

  “I was dreaming.” No she wasn’t. However, a good coma had been hard to come by in recent nights. And something about Brianna’s appearance—hair done in perfect ringlets, war paint on in full effect, skin-tight everything beneath her open coat—indicated returning to bed wasn’t in the immediate future.

  “Yeah well, ‘nuff dreaming, sweet cheeks.” Brianna squeezed by her to get inside. “There’s a street fair this weekend and since you told me you wanted me occupying you—and you continue to shoot down my sex suggestions, which totes hurt me in the feels, by-the-way—I decided we’re going. No arguments.”

  Rhea groaned. “You morning folk are gonna be the death of me.”

  “Fevered Pitch is playing there at two. They’re my favorite cover band and I’m dying to see them. So get ready while I make you coffee, okay?”

  She didn’t want to begrudge Brianna her favorite musicians even if she had a terrible case of the not-especially-interested-in-going’s. “Fine.�
��

  Rhea retreated to her bedroom, first neatening her hair—bless its shortness—and doing her makeup. Brianna looked stunning as always and Rhea—even in her lack of energy and enthusiasm—didn’t relish going out as the less attractive friend. She was certainly the fatter one. As always.

  “Coffee’s ready,” Brianna sang.

  Rhea changed out of her loungewear and dressed in a cheerful yellow blouse she paired with navy khaki pants and a white scarf. She paused to check her phone.

  Adam texted her a half hour ago: Already made my first sale. I love & miss you but I feel confident I made the right choice.

  She sighed. There was no arguing success so she texted in reply, Hope you sell everything you took with you. Heading out with Bri today, probably won’t text much. Love you too. She took a steadying breath; if she cried, she’d have to fix her makeup and her eyeliner was worn down to a nub already. Not crying seemed preferable all the way around.

  “It’s a miracle.” Brianna announced as Rhea emerged from her bedroom. She handed Rhea a full mug of something she must have thought was coffee. It looked anemic and was probably more cream than anything else.

  “What’s a miracle?” asked Rhea.

  “Shrek went into your room and Aphrodite came out.”

  Rhea stuck out her tongue. “Gee. Thanks.”

  “Honest, you look great.” Brianna leaned in for a kiss on the cheek. Rhea grudgingly permitted it. “You trying to make me look like a slob next to you?”

  “No, of course not.” Rhea took a sip of her coffee in an attempt to hide her guilty smile. The liquid may have been closer kin to hot chocolate. That wasn’t going to get her through the day; not by a long shot.

  “So. Indulge me,” said Brianna impishly.

  “What?”

  “I was thinking it’d be fun to really let our freak flags fly today. I look sexy, if I may say so. And you’re hot. So let’s mess around with each other and see how many people—men and women—we can make jealous today.”

  If they spent the day flirting, they’d spend the evening in bed together and Rhea knew it. She was tired of fending off Brianna’s advances and her dumb old rabbit was in its death throes the last time she employed it. Can you die of horniness? She was afraid of finding out.

  Though she didn’t let on, Rhea decided Brianna had won this round. It was sex tonight or bust. “Let me finish this cup and we’ll get going.”

  The street fair was a sundry collection of local merchants peddling items from salsa to hand knit stuffed animals, and everything in between. There were even booths for local insurance companies and non-profit organizations. It wouldn’t have been too surprising to see a kitchen sink thrown in there somewhere.

  Rhea got herself a coffee upon their arrival while Brianna poked into a neighboring stand to get churros.

  She held a couple cinnamon-encrusted pastries in one hand and texted furiously with the other as Rhea approached. “Hang on—almost done—okay. Okay.” She shoved her phone into her purse and held out the pastries. “Work’s nagging me about Monday but I’m done. I’m all yours today. Churro?”

  “I don’t need it—”

  “But I don’t need two. So take one.”

  Rhea accepted one of the churros with a defeated smile. They toasted each other with them and continued on.

  The women wandered from stall to stall, table to table, chatting of the mundane. Attempting to coerce the other into buying any number of items neither needed. Certainly things Brianna couldn’t afford. The hung all over each other, smooching whenever they caught someone staring.

  They got lunch at a food truck which asserted it served something claiming to be Mexican food before heading toward the stage at the intersection—a couple of Aurora’s streets had been blocked off, a makeshift stage erected on the northwest corner of said intersection—as the band Brianna wanted to see began playing.

  A crowd gathered while Fevered Pitch played a rock ‘n’ roll cover of Lady Antebellum’s “Where it All Begins.”

  From several layers of fans away from the stage, Brianna jumped and waved while yelling, “I love you, Kim!”

  The bass player—tall, willowy, and platinum blonde—blew her a quick kiss between notes in return.

  “Do you know her?” Rhea asked.

  Brianna, who had to have the biggest smile of her life on her face replied, “A little. I’ve been chatting with her a lot through Messenger. If I’m lucky, maybe someday I’ll know her a lot . . . Thanks to you.”

  Rhea tilted her head in question but figured it was better not to ask. That could easily trip into TMI-territory.

  Fevered Pitch followed with a twangy arrangement of John Mayer’s “Your Body is a Wonderland” and Rhea allowed herself the chance to reflect.

  It was a cold early spring day, with a high in the mid-forties and a hazy sky. A moderate breeze carried scents from nearby barbecues along with the sounds of ruffling umbrellas. And she was out with someone who was turning out to be a pretty decent friend. Or more.

  Her one regret was not taking a heavier jacket; the black one she threw on let the wind cut through a little too easily.

  Brianna huddled with Rhea, looping their arms together. “Let’s see if we can get closer. I wanna say ‘hi’ when their set’s done.”

  “Okay.”

  “Your Body is a Wonderland” blended into a halfway decent cover of “Marry You” by Bruno Mars.

  “I love this song!” Brianna squealed, hugging Rhea’s arm. “Sing with me?”

  She sang along and after a bit, Rhea gathered the courage to join in.

  The crowd parted for them as they approached the stage, revealing the sidewalk where there was a vibrantly colored chalk drawing of sunflowers, snapdragons, and lilies. Alongside the chalk bouquet were the words: Rhea, will you marry me?

  She glanced at Brianna, her mouth falling open.

  “What are you doing looking at me for?” Brianna laughed, nudging Rhea forward. “Look there.”

  Down on one knee beside the question mark: Adam L’amoreaux, lifting an open blue velvet jewelry box.

  At first, Rhea couldn’t process what she was looking at. Then, as the band played out and silence hung in the air, it sunk in.

  Her knees turned to jelly and Brianna struggled to keep her on her feet, clinging to her arm. “Don’t you faint on me, Rhea Josse-hopefully-someday-soon-L’amoreaux-if-you-say-yes,” Brianna hissed.

  Rhea trembled as she lifted a hand to her mouth, her pulse thundering. “Oh my God, Adam—”

  His lips lifted into a wavering smile as he gazed at Rhea. He took a deep breath. “The chalk is temporary but my love is permanent. I don’t know the kinds of adventures our lives have in store for us . . . But I do need to know you’ll always be there with me on them.” Adam swallowed. “Rhea Josse, will you be my wife?”

  “Oh my God yes,” Rhea shrieked, nodding emphatically. While the crowd roared around them, she added for good measure, “Yes, yes, yes, of course I will!”

  “You’re . . . you’re actually gonna have to get down here ‘cause I don’t think I have the strength to stand—” Adam laughed at his own expense and everyone within earshot laughed along.

  “Come on,” Brianna said to Rhea. “A couple steps, dear, you can make it—”

  Rhea tore herself from Brianna’s grip, rushing the remaining distance to Adam and yanking him to his feet. She flung her arms around his shoulders and hugged him while the crowd cheered them on and the band began to play again: A melody Rhea didn’t recognize and it had unfamiliar lyrics, but she figured it was for them when the singers—and the crowd—crooned the words ‘and she said yes.’

  Adam pulled back, offering her the engagement ring with a trembling hand. “I got it for you.”

  She sniffled and laughed while watching through watery eyes as Adam slid the ring onto her finger.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said. “Thank you.” Beautiful was an understatement; it was perfect. It would have been the ver
y thing she’d have chosen for herself.

  He leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers. “Thanks for saying yes.”

  “You told me you didn’t want a girlfriend. You lied to me.”

  “Hey, I wasn’t lying. I didn’t want a girlfriend, I wanted a fiancée. Operative words are crucial.”

  Rhea hugged him again until he grunted from her squeezing. She nuzzled into his neck. “What are you doing here?”

  Adam lifted her face, kissing her on the lips. The crowd hooted and whistled. “Um . . . I’m proposing to you?”

  Rhea thought she may never stop smiling again. “There never was such a thing as Seattle. Was there?”

  “Oh you know there’s such a thing as Seattle,” he laughed. “I just didn’t go there and have no plans to. Not without you, anyway.”

  A large man who looked like he didn’t care the 1970s were over—probably in his fifties or maybe even sixties—approached Adam from a couple feet away, clapping a hand on his back. “Congrats, man. Toldja she’d say yes.”

  Adam looked a bit sheepish as he nodded toward the man. “Rhea? This is Gary.”

  “Gary!” Rhea reached out to him without letting go of Adam. They shook hands briefly. “It’s so great to finally meet you.”

  Brianna cleared her throat, joining in by placing a hand on Rhea’s shoulder. “You both have an amazing evening together. Kim’s gonna take me home.” She leaned in and kissed Rhea’s cheek. “Congratulations, lovey.”

  Before Rhea had the chance to reply or introduce Brianna to Adam in person, she disappeared into the crowd.

  Adam and Rhea enjoyed a quiet dinner at an upscale steakhouse followed by a long stroll along part of DuPage River. They headed to Rhea’s apartment around sunset.

  She gave him the grand tour—all three minutes of it—and he nodded in appreciation of her décor. “I love what you’ve done with the place.”

  “Praise from Caesar.” Rhea blushed, hugging him from behind. “So . . .”