THE BIGGEST HEARTACHE IN TOWN

Part 11

Ding-dong.

"Who COULD that be?" She asked the room. Twirling about, she jerked the door open for her unwelcome guest. "What!?"

Cindy froze, finger poised in mid-buzz. "H-hi, Rachel." The raging matriarch threw Cindy for a loop. Never before had she seen the Cory woman in such a temper.

"If it isn’t Cynthia Hutchins." Her gaze traveled down the younger woman’s pregnant body. "And company I see. Please, do come in." Rachel stood aside with a wave of her hand. "I would be ever so honored."

"Is that sarcasm I hear Rachel?"

"Not if I have to explain it."
The women faced one another in a chill not caused by the weather.

"Since you’re not coming in," Rachel said, breaking the silence, "and since you’re obviously not here on a pleasure trip, please tell me why you’re standing on my doorstep."

Cindy’s ever-present wit left her under Rachel’s icy stare. She’d come prepared to do battle with her, but instead found herself reduced to feeling like an errant child.

"Well?"

"My father," she finally managed to get out.

"Carl?" Rachel laugh was brittle. "What about him?"

"I came for my father." Cindy took a deep breath, gaining some strength. "I came for Carl."

Rachel’s face split into a wide grin as laughter shook her body. Cindy could only watch, puzzled at the woman’s behavior.

"Did I say something funny? He left a message for me that he was in Bay City and I naturally assumed…"

"Never assume Cindy," Rachel replied. She wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. "I thought you knew."

"Knew what?"

"You really don’t know?" Cindy shook her head no. "Well, well, well. I guess Carl is up to his old tricks."

"I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t question my father’s character. A simple yes or no will do."

"No. Carl is not here. I suggest you ask my daughter. Now, please leave."

"Fine. Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience, but at I’m glad I provided a few laughs. By the way, could I possibly use your bathroom?" Cindy winced as the door unceremoniously slammed shut in her face. "Okey dokey. Nice talking to ya, you old bat," she muttered.

Walking carefully down the slippery walkway, Cindy clambered into a waiting car.

"We can cross her off the list," she stated to her traveling companion.

"I tried to tell you this was useless," Seamus retorted. "Useless and half-baked. Returning to Bay City does not equal returning to your ex-wife."

"I was so sure that’s where he’d end up. The man is a moth to her deadly flame. He resisted Rachel last year, but it’s only a matter of time before she gets her claws into him again. Where’s my bag?"

"Carl is a grown man who’s more than capable of taking care of his own affairs."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." She pawed through her carryall. "Ah, here it is, all the addresses we need to get around Bay City." She held the slim book above her head. "Rachel mentioned I should check with her ‘daughter’ if I wanted to locate Dad. I guess she meant Amanda."

"Fabulous. More irate, half-asleep people answering their doors."

"I didn’t see you up there with me, so can the sarcasm. You know, she totally threw me back there. I felt like a little girl caught stealing from the cookie jar. I didn’t say half the things I’d planned." Cindy scanned the pages. "I think I have Amanda’s new address in here somewhere."

"And what do you plan to do if you don’t?"

"It’s all a process of elimination. We’ll eventually run him to ground."

"And you are positive he’s not in any of the hotels in this fair city?"

"Yes, yes, yes for the final time. You stick to the driving and let me do the thinking sweetie, ‘kay?"

"And Carl wonders why I choose to remain single," Seamus lamented. "Where are we going now?"

"That gas station just down the road."

"Again!?"

"What? I’m pregnant. I can’t help it if I’ve got to pee every half-second. Just drive, or you’ll be cleaning the inside of this rental car."

()()()()()()()

Rachel felt like breaking something. Leave it to the Hutchins clan to reduce her to a quivering mess.

"Whoa Rachel, I heard a commotion up here. What’s the matter, pesky door-to-door salesman again?"

"Paulina." At the sight of her stepdaughter, some of the tension drained from Rachel’s body. "Come here honey and let me hug you."

"What’s the matter Rachel?" Paulina asked as she slipped her arms around Rachel’s body and squeezed for all she was worth.

"I’ve had a rough morning, that’s all." They settled onto the sofa. "How are things with Vicky?"
"Good. Great. She came out of her coma early this morning. Jake called and boy, was he ticked off."

"Why? His wife is back in the land of the living, he should be ecstatic."

"Yeah, well, you know Jake."

"Why does every situation involving Jake involve the phrase ‘you know Jake?’"

Paulina giggled. "He’s that kinda guy I guess. He’s just angry because the doctors won’t let him see Vicky."

"I’m sure the doctors have their reasons."

"Oh no, it’s not the doctors," Paulina explained. "When she came round, Vicky asked for Carl, not Jake."

"It figures," Rachel said, some of her previous anger returning. "Women flock to that man. Why? He is stubborn and infuriating and so set in his ways. There is absolutely no reason why I should…"

"Love him?"

"Dear God yes. I’m drawn to him. There’s something about him that makes me want to protect him as much as I want to rip the clothes from his body and smother him with kisses."

"Yeow."

"He’s passionate too," Rachel said, warming to her topic. "He’s passionate and sensual. When you’re with him you feel special, you feel…womanly. Know what I mean?"

"Yeah," sighed Paulina. "My ex-jerk made me feel like that too. Once."

Rachel’s face became dreamy as she remembered. "When it was long, I could spend hours brushing his hair. He’d fall asleep with his head on my tummy and I’d drape it over myself like a soft blanket."

"That sounds so romantic Rachel."

"Carl was every inch the romantic. Sweet too. He was forever bringing me little mementos and I’ve kept them all." She sighed. "I miss him Paulina."

"Then why not try to fix things between you. He is in town after all."

"There’s no use Paulina." Rachel stood and moved to the terrace doors. The snowy scene before her could not have been as cold as her heart felt. "I don’t have a chance."

"You can’t talk like that. Anything is possible with love Rachel, you taught me that."
"I wish it was that simple. It’s been far too long and our relationship was in shambles before Carl left for rehab. How can I be sure he still cares for me?"

"That man was crazy about you Rachel, you could tell by his actions and the way he treated you." Paulina placed a hand on Rachel’s shoulder. "I know things sort of went bad after Ryan died, but YOU were Carl’s world. Of course he still loves you."

Rachel shook her head. "I think he may be involved with someone."

"Listen to yourself! Is this the same Rachel Davis Cory I know and love? So what if he’s involved! Follow your heart and go after him. Woo him Rachel. Let him know how much you love him. He’s not going to fall panting at your feet with a snap of your fingers."

"Paulina! You’re talking nonsense."

"Am I? Carl pursued you relentlessly. Flowers and poetry and romantic walks under starlit skies. It worked on you…"

Rachel digested the suggestion. Could it work?

"Do you love him?" Paulina prodded.

"Forever."

"Then don’t just tell him, show him."

"What if he doesn’t want me?"

"Then you keep trying." Paulina shepherded her to the front door. "You could fail today. He could turn you down flat. Maybe the timing is all wrong, but it could happen somewhere down the road. Just don’t give up." With a little effort she had them in their coats.

"Paulina, I’m not sure about this."

Paulina grabbed both of Rachel’s arms. "Men like Carl are rare. The jerks of this world are a dime a dozen, I know that and you know that. Just be the woman I know you are and you’ll be fine. Okay?"

Rachel nodded.

"Good." She pushed Rachel forward. "Let’s go."

*