The Biggest Heartache in Town

By Meloira

Part Two

Rachel listened as her voice echoed off the empty mansion walls.

"Great," she muttered s she slammed the front door and deposited her travel bag. Dear God, how she loathed business trips.

Walking into the darkened living room, Rachel was struck by a sudden thought.

"This place is worse than a damn tomb."

Kicking off her shoes, she slumped onto the couch. Of course, she thought, the trips wouldn’t be so bad if she actually had someone to come home to. Greeting Carl after a lengthy trip had always been a delightful pleasure. Absolutely delightful.

Rachel stretched out on the couch and stifled a yawn. Nothing had really been the same since the divorce and she had to live with the loss of Carl in a thousand little ways every day. No matter how she tried to put things back together, Rachel had found it damn near impossible. Even her engagement to Richard had not been enough to ease her heart. That she had realized after her chance reunion with Carl a scant five months before. The meeting had brought it home to her just how much she still loved him, would always love him.

Too bad he hadn’t returned her advances.

Since September she’d tried every method and means available to find him, all to no avail. Private investigators, record searches, even 1-800 Search after she’d seen a commercial. Her results had been nil.

In the end, she’d been so desperate she’d tried to wheedle it out of Vicky.

"And what a colossal mistake that was," Rachel remarked to the empty room.

Needless to say, Vicky had snubbed the request before Rachel had even gotten it out of her mouth. So much for hoping Vicky was a hopeless romantic.

After months of searching and praying, Rachel was left empty-handed. She had her company to run and her children to love, but she could’ve cared less. Being a middle-aged CEO who lived alone in a massive, empty mansion was not her idea of living. How would Alli sum it up? Oh yes, Rachel’s life sucked.

Rachel punched a pillow and tried to get comfortable. She promised herself at the end of every day that the next would be the day she would forget Carl and move on. Perhaps tomorrow would be a better day.

Just as she was drifting off to dreamland, the phone rang. For a brief moment she considered letting the machine pick it up, but then her manners kicked in.

"Cory household," she answered.

"Rachel, I’m glad you’re home."

"Paulina? Honey, how are you?"

"Unfortunately Rachel, I have to be the bearer of bad news."

"What? Is something wrong with Dante?"

"No, nothing like that." Paulina paused for a breath. "There was a shooting at the restaurant a few hours ago. I managed to slip out and call 911, but Amanda and Vicky didn’t."

"Amanda…"

"She’s okay Rachel. At least she claims she’s fine. No, it was Vicky who was shot. She’s in surgery right now. I thought you might want to come down here and be with Amanda. I’ve tried to get her to leave Rachel, but she won’t. Maybe you could be more effective."

"Don’t worry honey, I’ll be right there." Rachel hung up and was out the door in record time.

..more to follow..please keep flames to a low broil..

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