Love for Scale (27 page)

Rachel melted. Could this guy be for real? “I’m sorry, Finn. I didn’t realize.” Why did she have to keep putting her foot into her mouth?

Because she couldn’t think of anything to say that would erase her stupid question, she leaned in and kissed him. It was like the kiss back at the apartment, soft and sincere, but different at the same time. It wasn’t one of those ‘what if we get caught?’ adolescent kisses. But instead, an adult ‘I really like you and I need you to know’ kind of kiss.

She put her hand on the back of his neck, feeling his skin goosebump under her touch. She pulled him closer, wanting the flushed feeling in her chest never to end.

“Mm, the shifter,” Finn said, pulling away. But the way his eyes were half closed told Rachel that he had enjoyed the kiss as much as she.

“Sorry,” she said.

“It’s okay. I should get you back to your car, anyway. It’s late.”

Rachel nodded. They chatted about her plans for Sheri’s apartment on the short drive back to her car that they’d left at the Y.

When they arrived, Finn put his car in park and said, “Thanks for a great night.” Then added, “Even though it wasn’t a date.”

“Right.” Rachel couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe we should have one of those.”

“I’d love that.”

Leaning in close, Rachel gave him another quick peck before getting out of his car.

“Call me when you get home,” Finn called after her.

She nodded as she put the keys into her door.

And after I call you, I am so calling Sheri.

Chapter 34

Christmas break day two began just as horrifically as Christmas break day one.

Rachel walked into her project room at eight-twenty a.m. to find a set of parents sitting at the project table. Apparently, they were quite unhappy that their child had not been allowed to use the red fingerpaint to make them a picture on day one. Rachel tried to explain that their child had dumped the red paint on the floor, emptying the bottle and leaving only the blue and yellow for people to use. But the parents still saw no reason why their child should have to do without a red finger-painting when a red finger-painting is what the spawn of Satan himself desired.

Managing to be diplomatic, Rachel finally convinced the parents that she would personally ensure that their child would be treated ‘specially’ and sent home with exclusive projects fitting his obvious above-average intellect.

Once the parents were satisfied and out the door, Tina strode into the project room and sat on the corner of the table. “Everything okay?”

Rachel shook her head. “Yeah, they were just a bit bent that their little Frankie didn’t bring home a
red
picture yesterday.”

“Isn’t he the one that…”

Rachel sighed. “Yes.”

“Listen,” Tina’s face became serious, causing Rachel to instantly jump to the conclusion that she was in trouble. “I gave you this project for a reason. So far, and I know it’s only Tuesday, but I think you’ve done a great job with the programming and you’re good with the kids. God knows
I
wouldn’t be…” She smiled, erasing some of Rachel’s nervous tension.

“Thanks,” Rachel said, relieved.

“Well, I just wanted to tell you that unless you manage to set a kid on fire before the week’s out, I’d like to give you the assistant branch manager opening when Sylvia goes on her maternity leave. That is, if you’d be interested.”

Rachel was shocked. Angie had been at the library much longer and had been gunning for the promotion. Never thinking she had a chance, Rachel had never bothered to even express an interest. “Really? What about Angie?”

Tina leaned in close to Rachel. “Angie’s a train wreck. I’ve known I wanted to give it to you for a while, but now that I have you doing the Christmas program, I have something to take to HR saying that you can handle stress and programming better than her. I wouldn’t have been able to justify it since she’s been here longer, but now I can.”

Rachel’s heart jumped with excitement. “Wow, Tina, thanks so much!”

“You’re welcome, but it’s just between you and me for now. I’ll announce after the new year.”

Rachel pretended to zipper her lip, realizing only after she had done it how lame she must have looked to her boss. She smiled weakly, suddenly thankful the kids were starting to file in for the program.

Tina got up from the table. “Oh, hey, I heard about your dad, is he okay?”

“He’s coming home today, thankfully,” Rachel said with a smile and a nod. “There will have to be some changes, but I think he’ll be okay. It’s more my mom I’m worried about.”

“No doubt.” Tina winked, having worked with Pearl before Rachel even got her job at the library. “I’ll send Angie in to give you a break about ten-thirty. Good luck.”

“Thanks,” Rachel said, turning toward her charges. “I’ll need it.”

Chapter 35

“That’s wonderful!” the Weight Watchers lady exclaimed. “You’re down two and a half pounds. That gets you your ten-pound ribbon.”

“Thanks,” Rachel said, folding up her booklet and shoving it into her purse. She was beyond excited. Ten pounds: only ninety or so to go. Ugh. That sounded awful. How about ten percent of the way there? Yes, that sounded much better.

She was early, having come right from work. She took her regular seat in the meeting room and waited for Finn, excited to see him, especially after the night before.

“Mind if I sit, pretty lady?”

Drawn out of her reverie, Rachel shook her head and looked up to see Finn smiling down at her. She smiled back as she shuffled over a chair so he could sit on the aisle.

“You know, it just occurred to me we’ve seen each other almost every day for the past week?”

“I know. I like that,” she said.

“Me too.”

“AND WELCOME BACK TO WEIGHT WATCHERS EVERYBODY!” Donna hollered from the front of the room, calling the meeting to order. “Who’s feeling good today?”

Finn’s hand was hardly off his thigh before Rachel shot hers straight up in the air. He looked at her, a shocked but encouraging smile on his face as she waved her hand frantically.

“Looks like we’ve got someone feeling
really
good today.” Donna walked over, a beaming smile on her face, her stickers at the ready. “Tell me how good you’re feeling.”

Rachel jumped out of her chair, feeling lighter than she ever had. “I’m feeling great today. Not only did I get a promotion at work, but I’m here for my first ten-pound ribbon.”

A roar of applause broke out and Donna grabbed Rachel’s arm, dragging her past the grinning Finn and up to the front of the room.

“Looks like that Finnegan Schwartz is quite a good influence on you. You may have to fight for the opportunity to sit next to him if he’s such a lucky charm,” Donna said as she dug in her file box.

“Not a chance, he’s mine,” Rachel said. She looked back at Finn and smiled when he winked at her.

“Ah, there it is.” Donna stood up straight, the pink ribbon in her hand. She held it up for the whole room to see.

A collective “
Ooooooh…Ahhhhh
,” erupted from the audience.

Donna turned toward her and pinned the ribbon on Rachel’s sweater. “Your first ten pounds. You are now ten pounds closer to your goal. And with a coach like Finn on your side, I know you’ll go all the way. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Rachel said to Donna and then turned to the room to show off her new, most treasured accessory. More applause.

She hadn’t even realized she was crying. She began to walk back to her seat before Donna caught her arm and pulled her in close for a hug, so close that Rachel could feel the other woman’s breath in her ear.

“You know he’s a gynecologist, right?” Donna whispered.

Rachel pulled away from the woman’s grasp and looked her in the eye as she nodded, not able to wipe the smile off her face. She walked back to her chair and scootched past Finn’s knees to sit down.

“Wow,” he said. “You really had a good week.”

Rachel leaned forward and kissed Finn on the cheek. “Yes, I did.”

Chapter 36

“You’re what?” Pearl demanded, her hands on her hips, eyes as big as saucers.

“Ma, take it easy, you’re going to upset Dad,” Jeff said, still holding Christine’s hand.

“Pearl, take it easy. The boy’s engaged, it’s not a bad thing.”

Pearl spun on her husband, who’d only been home from the hospital for a couple of hours. She took several breaths, her nostrils flaring as she forced her voice to be calm. “Harry, you just had a heart attack, I don’t think you need to hear these kinds of things right now. You’re very vulnerable.”

Harry waved her off. “I’ve known for a while. And I’m not a piece of china.”

Rachel looked at the poor, trembling Christine. Jeff’s recent engagement was news to her but apparently he had tested the waters by telling their father first. Just like she had done about her moving out. If nothing else, the Stern children were consistent.

“You knew?” Pearl demanded of her husband before turning on Rachel. “Did you know too? Am I the only one around here who doesn’t know anything? Rachel’s moving out, Jeff’s marrying a
shiksa
.” Pearl turned to Christine whose lip was beginning to quiver. “No offense, dear.”

“You’re moving out?” Jeff turned to his sister, a genuine smile on his face. “That’s great.”

Rachel nodded, schooling her smile so her mother wouldn’t completely lose it. “Yeah, after the new year.”

“Wow, congratulations.”

Pearl tapped her foot to get their attention. “Excuse me, could we talk about the matter at hand?”

Harry heaved his body out of the kitchen chair. “I’m tired. Jeff, just tell me when to show up and I’ll make sure my tux is clean. Christine, it was nice to see you again, and my apologies,” he nodded toward Pearl. “Rachel, could you please give me a hand?”

Rachel stood and took her father’s elbow, leading down the hall to his bedroom. She pulled the comforter and sheet back from the bed and took his slippers off when he sat down on the edge.

“It’s okay, right, Rachel?”

She arranged the slippers at the side of the bed and then looked up at her father. “What’s that, Dad?”

“Jeff. He loves her. You can tell he loves her. Maybe she’ll convert, maybe she won’t. But you know what?”

Rachel pulled the covers over her father as he lay back on his pillows. “What?”

“As long as he’s got someone. Someone who loves him and would sit in the hospital all night the way your mother did with me. That’s what really matters.”

Rachel nodded as she thought about Finn and how willing he had been to take her to the hospital even when it meant sitting in the hall by himself.

“I think you’re right Dad. You’re a pretty smart guy.”

“Make sure to tell your mother. I think she has her doubts,” he said as his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep, his words replaced by gentle snores.

Clicking off the light on the nightstand, Rachel lightly kissed her father’s cheek. “Goodnight Dad,” she whispered.

She returned to the kitchen, right back into the fray.

“So what about children? What are you going to raise the children?”

“We’ve talked about all of this, Ma and Christine is very supportive of my beliefs.”

As a testament, Christine nodded vigorously.

“Would you convert?” Pearl asked the question Rachel was waiting for.

Christine opened her mouth, but it was Jeff who spoke. “I wouldn’t ask her to. If I asked her to convert, she’d be doing it for the wrong reasons. If down the road, Christine decides she wants to be a Jew, she can convert, but I wouldn’t ask her to do it just to marry me.”

Rachel nodded, it made sense.

Christine took a deep breath and looked at Pearl, finally speaking for the first time. “Mrs. Stern, my family is basically non-practicing so we’ll be raising any kids we have as Jews. I’m very comfortable with that.”

Rachel exhaled, her relief echoed by Pearl’s.

“Thank God,” Pearl said, “At least there’s that.”

“Mom, please be happy for us.”

As a show of defeat, Pearl threw up her arms. “What else can I do? Everything’s changing. Rachel is moving out, Aaron is getting divorced, Harry is on heart medication and has to change his whole diet and now my Jeffery is marrying a
shiksa
, no offense, my dear,” she added to Christine.

“I think we’ve discovered in the past couple of days that there could be worse,” Rachel said.

Pearl bobbed her head in agreement. “You’re right, Rachel, you’re very right. Wise like her father, this one.”

“So, Ma?” Jeff bit his lip. “We were thinking since Christine’s family is all in out west and our family is all here, well…we were planning on getting married on a cruise. But wait,” he said before Pearl could protest. “We would really like to have a reception for each family. One here and one out in Seattle.”

Pearl’s lips pursed into a thin line as she carefully chewed her words. Before she could spit them out, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it.” Rachel jumped out of her chair, happy for the sudden distraction.

She looked through the peephole to see Finn’s distorted figure on the other side of the door. He was holding flowers. She smiled and opened the door.

He smiled back. “Hi, I hope I’m not interrupting anything, but I just wanted to stop by and make sure your dad’s okay. And I brought a little get well arrangement.” For the first time since the speed dating, Finn seemed shy. Rachel wondered what that was about, but she didn’t exactly have time to analyze it at the moment.

“You’ve got to stop buying everyone in my family flowers,” she laughed. “C’mon in, I’m glad you came.” Rachel took the bouquet from Finn as he kicked off his shoes. She leaned in close to catch him up on the evening’s events.

“Dad’s fine. He’s sleeping. Here’s the drama: my brother’s here from Seattle and he and his girlfriend just told my mother they’re engaged and getting married on a cruise ship. Oh and she’s not Jewish.”

Finn cringed. “Ouch.”

Rachel nodded. She smiled at Finn, wanting desperately for him to kiss her.