A Fourth of July Proposal by Kim Findlay

Author:Kim Findlay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-04-14T15:51:52+00:00

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RACHEL CLOSED UP the office at noon Wednesday. She knew her uncle was going home to drink, but she couldn’t stop him. He’d had a call from Abigail Carter about contracts for the mill, but he’d brushed it aside, promising he’d deal with it tomorrow.

She hadn’t done anything to those contracts herself. Abigail Carter did not suffer fools gladly, so she’d be calling back. If Rachel’s uncle didn’t do his job, Abigail would find someone else.

It was a relief, knowing that she was going to leave. She didn’t have to worry about her job security, and what she’d do if her uncle lost his practice. She had a horrible feeling that it would happen once she left. But if it did, he might finally seek the help he needed.

She grabbed the lunch she’d packed and got into her car, heading to the closest DMV center. She often worked on Wednesday afternoons, so her father wouldn’t wonder where she was. And her uncle wouldn’t care.

She sighed as she thought of her father and telling him about her plans. It was going to be a lot harder than telling Jaycee and Mariah. He’d be hurt, she’d feel guilty and he might use that guilt to make her stay.

She wanted to be more confident before she talked to him. And it was still a few months away. She decided to give herself another month before she worried about that and focused on the rules for motorcycles instead.

She needed to ace this exam.

Okay, technically she didn’t have to get every question right to pass the test and get her learner’s permit. But she wanted to. She wanted to tell Ryker she was taking this seriously and got every question right.

She did. She walked in, and no one paid her any attention. She followed the signage, paid her fee and took her test. She waited for the results and was given a learner’s permit.

With a perfect score.

Not a single person recognized her. Not a single person cared who she was or why she wanted to ride a motorcycle.

She walked out of the DMV office, feeling for once like an interesting person, and passed a hair salon on the way to her car.

She stopped. Bit her lip. Fidgeted with the strap of her purse.

Then her chin went up. She pushed open the door to the salon. It was time for another change.

A few hours later she was driving back to Carter’s, feeling like she’d slain a small, but still fiery dragon. Her long, boring hair was now cut, highlighted and with every swing of her head, assuring her that she could change. Nothing was keeping her back except her.

She realized something else, as well.

Outside Carter’s Crossing, she was anonymous. She could cut her hair, get her motorcycle licence, ride a bike, and no one would know or care.

They also wouldn’t know her at an Al-Anon meeting. Maybe that was an avenue she could explore while she tried to deal with her uncle.

She had some more research to do.

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