FINDERS KEEPERS

Part 4

Paulina placed their plates in the sink then braced her hands on its rim, shoulders slumped. "I had hoped Carl could keep a secret."

"There?s no such thing as a secret between Carl and myself any more. It?s not as though he gave me any details Paulina, he only clued me in to something you would have told me eventually." Rachel stood, hands on hips. "So tell me."

"It?s Joe, Rachel. I don?t know what to do," she sighed. "I had no idea he?d leave me."

"Joe left? Why? Has the man lost his mind?"

"No, he thinks I?ve lost mine." Paulina swiped the already clean counters. "Last week we had a fight and he walked out."

"So you had a fight, big deal. The two of you fight more than any couple I know."

"This time it was different. Joe mentioned he thought it was time for Dante to have a little brother or sister and I told him no, I wasn?t ready for another baby. Joe being Joe he overreacted, we had a huge screaming match and he left. We haven?t talked since."

"How are you doing?"

"Fine, I guess. I just wish Joe could understand why I?m not ready, but no, he has to be a big jerk about it and make me feel rotten." Paulina hugged herself tightly.

"Oh honey, don?t let him get to you. You can?t make him understand something he?s not willing to see and if he wants to be stubborn then let him. There?s nothing in your marriage vows that say you need to be some baby-making machine."

"I know, but I?m scared Rachel. After all the things I?ve done to my body I?m worried I?ve done some damage." Paulina sniffed, but the tears did not come. "Remember what happened after I had Dante? The pills and the drinking and all the stupid stuff that went with it. I?m not sure I?m ready for this again. I know it sounds vain, but what if this time the fat doesn?t go away? I can?t stand the thought of my body blowing up like a balloon again. What if Joe doesn?t want to put up with me anymore?"

"Then he?s an idiot."

"But he?s my husband."

"Yes he is, and as such he?s supposed to support your decision even if he doesn?t like it."

"You can?t blame him for wanting another child Rachel."

"No I can?t, but I can blame him for his simple-mindedness." Rachel felt for Paulina. There were times she wished her son-in-law weren?t so stupid. "Listen to me Paulina, there?s nothing I can say to make you feel better. I can?t promise everything will be okay because it might not go the way you want. Just take it one step at a time. You?re tough, I know you can make it and you?ll always have me and Carl."

"Thank you Rachel," Paulina hugged her. "I should check on the other customers." She left the kitchen as Remy entered from the side door, the twins in tow.

"Hi guys, where?s Daddy?" Rachel dropped to her knees to finish tidying their clothes.

"Grandpa went back to the table but WE decided to come back here for some cookies," Remy explained, lifting Cory onto her hip.

"Okay, but only one apiece."

The swinging door swooshed open and Paulina entered a worried expression on her face. "Hey Rachel, come look at this."

She let Paulina pull her to the door so they could look through square of glass. "What is it Paulina?"

"Do you know that woman?"

"That?s the woman I met on the plane yesterday. Her name?s Julie I think."

"Okay, so why is she staring at Carl? And why is Carl looking at her like he?s just won the lottery?"

"I have no idea, but we?ll know in just a minute." Rachel pushed on the door, never taking her eyes from her husband.

Jules stood in Carlino?s door, slightly dazed. Meeting him had been inevitable, yet she hadn?t expected to feel such a powerful rush of emotions.

The man before her looked much the same as when they?d last been together. Long silver hair and a snow-white beard set off by his black slacks and what looked like the softest blue sweater in the world. No matter who he was now, he was still the same beautiful man she?d found in the middle of nowhere.

Her heart flew to her throat as he turned in her direction and their eyes met. What few people were in the restaurant faded into nothing as he came towards her, his smile growing with each step.

"Dear God! Jules? Is it really you?"

"Of course it?s me, you silly man," she laughed. Her eyes closed and she felt the air crushed from her lungs as his arms circled her in a fierce hug. Everything, every single thing, had been worth this moment alone.