months earlier and her team was mourning their loss. They weren’t the same without her.
“I worry about her too,” Sophie said softly.
“She’ll be back,” Shea said confidently, though her voice lacked conviction. “She’s tough and she’s a fighter. I don’t see her wimping out. She just needs time.”
Everyone nodded at that. It was a concept they were all familiar with. Time healed all wounds. Time and…love.
Sarah checked her watch and winced regretfully. “We better wrap this up soon. I know the guys have to be up early in the morning for training drills.”
“I have to be up early for work,” Rachel said in a rueful tone. She sighed. “That sounds so nice to say again.”
“Are you loving it?” Sarah asked.
“I really am,” Rachel replied. “I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I went back that first day. I love teaching. It’s a part of who I am, and I’m tired of being a different person.”
“Good for you,” Sophie said, reaching across to squeeze her hand. “We’re all so proud of you, Rachel. You’re such an example. I’m so glad my daughter has you to look up to.”
Rachel’s mouth dropped open in astonishment, and she looked at the other women like they’d lost their minds. Then she laughed because she simply couldn’t help it.
“Don’t laugh,” Sarah said in her quiet voice. “We’re all aware of your story. What you endured. How you never gave up. And how resilient you’ve been. It takes a very strong woman to endure what you did and to not only survive but to triumph over such adversity.”
“Oh God, you guys, don’t make me cry,” Rachel choked out.
She dabbed furiously at her eyes to prevent the flow of any tears.
Laughter rounded the table, breaking the serious tone that had settled over the group. They paid their checks and then headed out to the truck.
As they drove back, Rachel’s hand went unconsciously to her belly, and she marveled that she was shielding two tiny lives deep in her womb.
She couldn’t wait to tell the rest of the family. Couldn’t wait to bask in the joy of the moment. It would be her moment in the sun after a long sojourn in the shadows.
Chapter 8
“Did you enjoy your evening out?” Ethan asked as he pulled her down against him on the couch.
She snuggled in his arms, enjoying the feel of his bare chest against her cheek.
She’d changed into another of the sexy little night outfits she knew drove him crazy, and he was wearing his boxers. She loved evenings like this when they just snuggled on the couch and watched television or even just talked about nothing at all.
“It was fun. It’s been awhile since we did anything together. Everyone’s been so busy, and Sarah and Garrett and Nathan and Shea were off on their honeymoons.”
“And we were moving,” he added.
“Yes, finally,” she said with a happy sigh.
He went still against her, his breathing soft and even, but he was tense, his muscles firm and unrelaxed. After a moment she pushed herself upward and cocked her head in a questioning manner.
“Is something wrong, Ethan?”
His brow furrowed a moment, and then he pushed up to his elbow so their faces were more level. He seemed hesitant to say what was on his mind.
“I get the impression you were eager to move,” he began.
She nodded.
“I mean I know you were excited about the new house. I guess I don’t understand…”
He drifted off and then closed his lips, almost as if he’d decided not to bring up whatever it was that was nagging him.
“What don’t you understand?” she prompted.
“I admitted that I was surprised you went with a design so dramatically different than our old house. It was almost as if you wanted nothing at all to be the same. And then you seemed so relieved when we moved out, and I’ve noticed that you’re happier since we started living here.”
She studied him a moment, hating the conversation she knew they were going to be forced to have. “That bothers you.”
She didn’t pose
“I worry about her too,” Sophie said softly.
“She’ll be back,” Shea said confidently, though her voice lacked conviction. “She’s tough and she’s a fighter. I don’t see her wimping out. She just needs time.”
Everyone nodded at that. It was a concept they were all familiar with. Time healed all wounds. Time and…love.
Sarah checked her watch and winced regretfully. “We better wrap this up soon. I know the guys have to be up early in the morning for training drills.”
“I have to be up early for work,” Rachel said in a rueful tone. She sighed. “That sounds so nice to say again.”
“Are you loving it?” Sarah asked.
“I really am,” Rachel replied. “I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I went back that first day. I love teaching. It’s a part of who I am, and I’m tired of being a different person.”
“Good for you,” Sophie said, reaching across to squeeze her hand. “We’re all so proud of you, Rachel. You’re such an example. I’m so glad my daughter has you to look up to.”
Rachel’s mouth dropped open in astonishment, and she looked at the other women like they’d lost their minds. Then she laughed because she simply couldn’t help it.
“Don’t laugh,” Sarah said in her quiet voice. “We’re all aware of your story. What you endured. How you never gave up. And how resilient you’ve been. It takes a very strong woman to endure what you did and to not only survive but to triumph over such adversity.”
“Oh God, you guys, don’t make me cry,” Rachel choked out.
She dabbed furiously at her eyes to prevent the flow of any tears.
Laughter rounded the table, breaking the serious tone that had settled over the group. They paid their checks and then headed out to the truck.
As they drove back, Rachel’s hand went unconsciously to her belly, and she marveled that she was shielding two tiny lives deep in her womb.
She couldn’t wait to tell the rest of the family. Couldn’t wait to bask in the joy of the moment. It would be her moment in the sun after a long sojourn in the shadows.
Chapter 8
“Did you enjoy your evening out?” Ethan asked as he pulled her down against him on the couch.
She snuggled in his arms, enjoying the feel of his bare chest against her cheek.
She’d changed into another of the sexy little night outfits she knew drove him crazy, and he was wearing his boxers. She loved evenings like this when they just snuggled on the couch and watched television or even just talked about nothing at all.
“It was fun. It’s been awhile since we did anything together. Everyone’s been so busy, and Sarah and Garrett and Nathan and Shea were off on their honeymoons.”
“And we were moving,” he added.
“Yes, finally,” she said with a happy sigh.
He went still against her, his breathing soft and even, but he was tense, his muscles firm and unrelaxed. After a moment she pushed herself upward and cocked her head in a questioning manner.
“Is something wrong, Ethan?”
His brow furrowed a moment, and then he pushed up to his elbow so their faces were more level. He seemed hesitant to say what was on his mind.
“I get the impression you were eager to move,” he began.
She nodded.
“I mean I know you were excited about the new house. I guess I don’t understand…”
He drifted off and then closed his lips, almost as if he’d decided not to bring up whatever it was that was nagging him.
“What don’t you understand?” she prompted.
“I admitted that I was surprised you went with a design so dramatically different than our old house. It was almost as if you wanted nothing at all to be the same. And then you seemed so relieved when we moved out, and I’ve noticed that you’re happier since we started living here.”
She studied him a moment, hating the conversation she knew they were going to be forced to have. “That bothers you.”
She didn’t pose
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