Rachel laughed and placed a hand on her forehead as she turned her back to the plate-glass window of the Sunny Umbrella and stared out at the ocean, to the rays of the low sun reflecting off it. It was a quarter to eight, but the big yellow ballwas fighting to stay up. At least, that was what her mother had always claimed.
“I just arrived, Maya. Give me some time to breathe, okay?”
“Rachel, you’ve had almost four years to breathe,” her best friend said gently. “And for four years, you’ve been miserable.”
Rachel frowned. “Oh, that’s what you’re talking about. I thought you wanted to know if I told them I might lose my license, and that all that’s left of my former practice is a copper paper clip, which I hope is worth millions because my savings won’t keep me afloat for much longer.”
Silence was Maya's only response. Then: “You haven’t told them thateither?!”
Rachel grimaced and rubbed her forehead. “I’m not good at communicating.”
“You’re a psychologist!”
“Exactly. I mostly listen.”
“Well, listen to me: Keeping secrets from your family won’t help you regain their trust.”
She nodded. “Good point. That’ll be $300, Maya.”
“Pfff. I’m not paying a psychologist who might lose her license.”
Rachel chuckled even though it burned her throat. “Understandable, I…” She swallowed and lowered her voice. “I’m just so tired of disappointing and hurting my family, you know? Lucy will be mad at me anyway. She never says it, but she’ll blame me for not being here to help her after Mom died. She won’t be thrilled that I came back, mainly because things are heating up in Chicago. Maddie will pretend like everything’s okay now. Like we can be the perfect family again. And I…” She was distracting herself with stupid bets with hot divorce lawyers just so she wouldn’t have to think about her problems so much.
Maya heaved a heavy, drawn-out sigh. “Rachel, I need to be tough with you for a minute.”
Rachel wanted to smile but didn't. Maya was obviously so terribly uncomfortable with those words, which might be because she was the most generous and big-hearted person in the world.
“Nathan says the truth hurts sometimes, but it’s still what we need.”
“Oh, really? Then tell your husband he doesn’t smile enough and his coffee is only barely acceptable.”
“Oh no. I can’t tell him that. It would hit him too hard. Are you crazy?”
Rachel snorted.
“That’s his charm, okay? He’s dark and taciturn,” Maya continued, defending her hot firefighter.
“He saves kittens and chickens doing his job," Rachel countered. "How dark can he be? Everyone thinks he must have super crooked or rotten teeth, Maya, because he rarely displays them.”
“That’s bullshit, and you’re changing the subject!”
Yes, but obviously not successfully enough.
“My point is: You need to get rid of an emotional burden. Keep your legal problems to yourself for a little while if you like, but tell them about your mother. You’ve been carrying it around far too long. Naturally, it’s going to hurt. And, yes, it’s uncomfortable. But…you could use your family’s support.”
Rachel narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I know. That’s why I moved here. Even if it’s...not as relaxed here as I remembered.” In Chicago, she’d never had to yell at attractive, idiot lawyers.
“I offered you the chance to come live with me here in Eden Bay! It’s relaxed.”
She frowned. “Small-town life isn’t for me. Too many people meddling in my business.”
“Well, then you know what to do.”
“I… I haven’t found the right moment yet.”
“Rachel. Tell them. You have to.”
“I hate it when you’re right.”
