Reaching Rachel (31 page)

“You look absolutely wonderful,” her mom gushed. “As beautiful as ever. And would you look at that glow about you. It’s Devin, isn’t it?”

Rachel blushed, in disbelief that her mom could see through her so easily. “He’s amazing, mom.”

“Well we always knew that, didn’t we, hon,” she teased. “And very easy on the eyes, too.” The women laughed, and Rachel followed her mom into the house. “I have to tell you, watching that man at your bedside, before you even knew he was there was enough to put me into a puddle on the floor. If you could’ve heard him, talking about your life together … it was amazing. Promising you he’d be by your side forever, that he never should’ve let that much time go by without finding you …”

Now she couldn’t stop them, tears filled her eyes, and one traveled down her cheek and dripped on her arm. “Mom, I haven’t even been here five minutes, and I’m already crying!”

“Dennis, where are you? Our girl is here!” Rachel dabbed her eyes. They walked into the living room and her dad walked up, grabbing her in a huge bear hug.

“Baby Bear,” he said into her hair. He had called her that since she was a little girl, and being in his arms reminded her of sitting on his lap when she was very small while he read stories to her.

“Hi, Dad.”

“You look wonderful, sweetie. You’ve healed nicely. How’s the shoulder?”

As if on cue, it ached slightly. It would probably never be 100%. “It’s pretty good after a lot of therapy.”

“And you? How are you?” She knew what he was asking.

She sat down on the couch as her mom busied herself in the kitchen, preparing to set the table for the feast she had undoubtedly spent the whole day cooking while Rachel was driving.

“I’m good, Dad. Honestly.” Her mom looked up from the kitchen, listening to her. “It’s been a long road, but with help from my therapist, Devin, and my friends, I’ve come very far. I’m sure it will take more time than I would like to, but every day is better than the previous. How have you guys been?”

Rachel helped her mom set the table as her dad filled her in on his extracurricular activities—woodworking, hunting with the guys, and finishing their basement. He was loving retired life, and enjoyed living in the mountains. Her mom volunteered at a local school, having retired from teaching a few years ago, and helped out at her church to keep busy.

Sitting down at the table to her mom’s amazing dinner of pot roast, potatoes, vegetables, and salad, Rachel felt comfortable and safe. She hadn’t felt panicked once today, even when she kissed Devin goodbye. They talked small talk, about Rachel’s job, Devin’s job, their recent visit to see his parents (she left out the other part), and Kayley and the kids. Her parents had taken to them and saw them as surrogate grandchildren.

After dinner, they sat around the fire in the living room, drinking coffee and eating homemade chocolate chip cookies. Rachel knew it was time to tell them the truth.

“I have something I want to tell you guys, something I never told you.” Her parents both looked at her, waiting. “What happened with Devin and me years ago.”

Her mom raised her eyebrows, knowing this was something Rachel had never wanted to discuss before, had adamantly refused. “Honey, it’s okay if you don’t want to. We understand. It’s not our business anyway.”

“Yes, it is. I want to tell you, I need to tell you.” Rachel looked at her dad, quiet but listening. “We went to a party for Dev’s work at someone’s beach house. He was outside by the fire, and I was inside hanging out. I still don’t know why I wasn’t with Devin. If I would’ve been …” She wasn’t going to cry. “One of his co-workers started hitting on me, and I refused him, of course. I didn’t know at the time that he had a beef with Devin and was looking to get back at him.”

Rachel spent the next half hour telling them everything, from what Zack did at the party to what he threatened her with, to her refusing to tell Devin what Zack had told her. She let him leave her, walk away, thinking she had done the unthinkable, all to keep him from throwing his career away over her. And to keep him safe. She knew Zack would’ve done it, ruined him. Devin would’ve probably been in jail for the rest of his life if Zack had gotten his way. Then she told them about the baby, and all three of them cried, her parents both coming to her and wrapping her in their protective arms.

“Oh, Rachel,” her mom sobbed, “I wish we could’ve helped you. I feel terrible.”

“Baby bear,” her dad choked out. “You were going to be a momma?” With that, she started crying again, and he apologized, not meaning to be insensitive.

“I want nothing more to be the mother of Devin’s children. It wasn’t our time, I guess.” She then told them about telling Devin the truth, him leaving, confronting Zack, and the corresponding drama over him being arrested. They sat, mouths agape, while she recounted the phone call she got from him all the way to them walking out of the precinct with his name cleared and Zack fired.

“Wow,” her mom said, incredulous. “It sounds like a soap opera.” That got a laugh out of the three of them, and for the millionth time that night, Rachel was glad she came to see them.

“Ellis! My man!” Devin shouted, hugging his friend. “How ya been? Keeping the ladies happy?”

Ellis laughed. “You know it, bro! Got to keep them doubly happy now that you aren’t here! And you’re all whipped now, huh?”

“Watch it,” Devin warned, all teasing aside. “That’s my girl you’re talking about.”

“You’re going to have to tell me the story now, man. I’ve never seen you this way over anyone before.”

“She’s not just anyone. She’s it for me, dude.” Ellis raised his eyebrows at him, then slid a beer across the bar for him. Devin clinked his glass with his friend’s, his thoughts with his beautiful girl. Right on cue, his phone vibrated with a text. She had sent a picture of her parent’s backyard, rolling mountains and tall, skinny pine trees showcased by the setting sun.
‘Made it safe and sound. I miss you already. I love you.’

Typing her back, he told her he loved her and missed her already, then slipped the phone in his pocket.

“How long you here for?”

“Three days. I head back Sunday. We’ve got some intel we’re looking for down here, and have some meetings with the big cheese.”

Ellis laughed. “You liking this SWAT gig? Maybe I need to come on over there and get a job with you. Any openings?”

“It’s fantastic. I can definitely check it out for you. It would be awesome to work together again. You won’t believe what happened on my first hostage situation …” With Ellis’ confused look, Devin knew he was going to have to tell him about the past with Rachel. Ellis had known that he had been in love before, but Devin hadn’t ever wanted to talk about it. He looked around, seeing they were mostly alone, as private as you could be in a public bar. “You see, there was this girl …”

“Dude, that’s crazy,” Ellis said after Devin had told him the whole story. He felt like he had been talking for hours; maybe he had. They had drank a lot of beers. “I’m happy for you, bro. It sounds like you’re meant to be and all that shit. Meanwhile, here I am. Still a cop, still alone. Hmmm … I guess I needed to be a hot guy like you.”

Devin roared in laughter, slapping Ellis on the back. “Seriously. Don’t even start with me. You just don’t want to have a girl. You said so yourself. Maybe you need to move away from Miami, come on over to … what did you call it? Podunkville?”

Ellis snorted. “Yeah, maybe I do. You were only there a few months and look at you now. Hook a brother up, man.”

“I heard you were in town,” a voice came from behind him, and he turned, seeing Cammi. She looked good, damn good in a short skirt and halter top, her hair piled on top of her head.

“How’d you hear that?” Devin asked, eyeing Ellis. He hoped he hadn’t tried to set them back up.

“Word travels fast, you know that.” She hugged him, pressing her breasts against him as she squeezed him. “You look good. SWAT’s been good for ya, huh? Sure do miss you around here. It just isn’t the same.” She winked at him, and he felt uncomfortable. Why did it feel like she was trying to pick up where things left off?

“Yeah, I’m good,” he started, trying to find a segue into telling her about Rachel. “Staying busy with my new career, for sure, and my girlfriend.”

Her eyebrows went up in surprise. “Girlfriend? Wow. Who’s the lucky lady that got you to commit?”

“Remember the one you asked me about before I left? We got reconnected.” He wasn’t getting into how he found her again, not with Cammi.

Cammi stepped closer to him, her eyes searching his. “She’s not here?”

He shook his head, his mouth dry. What was she doing?

“Well, that’s a shame. I thought we could hook up, you know, for one night. For old time’s sake.”

Devin met Ellis’ eyes, looking for some help, then back to her. “Cammi, I’m not sleeping with you tonight. Or ever again. You heard me. I have a girlfriend.”

Cammi pouted. “You’re no fun.”

Devin’s temper flared. What was her problem? She had never acted like this before. “I’m going to forget that you’re acting this way, Cammi, because you are a nice person and I’m not sure why you would want someone to cheat on their girlfriend to be with you for one night. That’s not me, and it isn’t you, either.”

Cammi blew out her breath, looking at Ellis and then at Devin. “I’m sorry, Dev. I was hoping that when I heard you were here that I could come see you and you would’ve missed me like I’ve missed you. It took you leaving for me to realize that what we had—it was great. I love you, Devin. Now I’m too late, I guess. But I wanted you to know.”

Ellis’ mouth dropped open, and Devin wanted to kick him. He wasn’t helping him at all. Now she was saying she
loved
him? He was speechless. He hated hurting her, he did. But their relationship had never been that way, and she had even said she agreed.

“Cammi,” he started, narrowing his eyes at Ellis. Was he part of this? He couldn’t blame him, since he didn’t know anything about what had happened with him and Rachel until tonight, but still. He could’ve warned him she was coming. “I don’t want to hurt you. You’re a beautiful woman, and you deserve someone great. I just …”

“That person isn’t you,” she finished the thought. “I can see that. I’m sorry, Dev. I know we were never ‘that couple’. You always made it very clear your heart was somewhere else. I just hoped … anyway. Good luck to you. I hope she knows what she’s got.” She kissed his cheek, stepping back away from him with a wistful look on her face.

“I’m the lucky one,” Devin said. “I’m sorry, Cammi. Take care of yourself.” After she walked away, Devin smacked his friend in the arm. “Seriously! You could’ve told me she was coming here!”

Ellis looked at the door that Cammi had walked out of, then back to Devin. “Whoa. I had no idea that was what was going to go down. She heard me telling some of the guys that you were here for the weekend, and asked if she could stop by. I didn’t see any harm in in it, but forgot to mention it to you. Sorry, dude. That was crazy. She
loves
you? Wow. Must be nice to have women falling all over you.”

“Shut up, Ellis. That was totally awkward! I mean, we were never like that, not at all!”

“Well, you were enough for her to fall in love with you. Shit, man.” Ellis shook his head, and Devin picked up his drink, in disbelief of what just happened. He felt bad, but there was nothing he could do about that. His heart belonged to Rachel.

Several other guys from his old precinct showed up right after that, and they spent the night catching up, Cammi and her admission far away from his mind.