Beyond The Boardroom by Maureen Child

Author:Maureen Child
Language: por
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Ben & Jerry’s was a sad substitute for sex with Shane.

But, since it was all Rachel had, she indulged. Curled up on the couch, with the TV muted and showing some old black-and-white movie, she dug her spoon into the chocolate chunk ice cream. One bite after another slid down her throat despite the huge knot lodged there.

“Idiot,” she muttered, pausing to lick her spoon. If she had any spine at all, she’d be out tonight, doing some Christmas shopping. Getting on with her life.

Forgetting about Shane.

Apparently, though, her spine was pretty much a wet noodle.

She glanced around the room, sighing. But for the three Hollyberry scented candles burning in a twisted metal candelabrum on top of the entertainment center, there were absolutely no decorations up. This just wasn’t like her.

Ordinarily Rachel was a real Christmas nut. Nothing she liked better than dragging out all of the boxes filled with her Christmas goodies. Stuffed animals, three crèches, hand knit stockings she’d made during her knitting phase, silk garland and the wreath she’d made the Christmas before.

But no. She couldn’t get her mind off her troubles long enough to care about the most magical season of the year.

“Just pitiful,” she murmured and dipped her spoon back into the carton for another chunk of chocolate.

When the phone rang, she ignored caller ID and all but lunged for it, desperate to hear a voice other than her own. That feeling lasted less than ten seconds.

“Honey,” her mother cooed in a voice pitched to carry over fifty thousand screaming fans in Yankee Stadium. “I’m so glad you’re home!”

“Hi, Mom.” Rachel swallowed fast and instantly took another bite of chocolate.

She loved her mother, she really did. But every year about this time, Celeste Adler started in on the “you’re not getting any younger” speech. Her mother was bound and determined to get her older daughter married and “settled.” Rachel’s younger sister, Rita, had been married two years and the “perfect” daughter was already pregnant. With twins.

So basically, even if Rachel got pregnant right this minute, Rita would still outdo her.

Pregnant.

For just an instant, she allowed herself a brief, tantalizing dream. One night with Shane and a baby to remember it by. Wouldn’t that have been something? She sighed and took another bite of ice cream. No way. Her birth control pills were way too effective. Other women might have an accident, but Rachel wouldn’t. Even her body was a rule follower.

“Rita had an ultrasound this morning and she let me come in with her and ohmygoodness—” that last was crammed into one breathless word “—it was the most exciting thing ever. You know, Rita’s husband Jack is just the most wonderful man.”

Rachel rolled her eyes. Jack would never be simply Jack. His full name from now unto eternity would be Rita’s Husband Jack. Poor man. But then, she told herself as she crunched quietly on an extra big chunk of chocolate, no one had held a gun to his head. He’d dated Rita for two years.

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