Unforgettable Embrace (3 page)

Chapter 3

“
What have you got on your feet?!” Jen shrieked as Rachel tottered towards her in her new dangerously high Louboutins.

“
These old things?” Rachel smirked smugly, whilst glancing lovingly at her shoes, “they're just a little something I decided to treat myself to last week.”

She flopped nonchalantly down on the couch beside her friends.

“
They are breathtaking,” Elizabeth Willows, who was Rachel's friend from college, stared at the shoes in awe.

“
So was the price tag, I'm sure,” said Jen, “I saw that exact pair in a magazine the other day for £795, and that was sterling, I can't imagine what they cost in Euro.”

“
Trust me; you don't want to imagine either,” Rachel said weakly, “I'm dreading my next credit card statement.

“
It's only money,” Liz consoled her friend, “you deserve it. You've always wanted a pair of Louboutins and you're never extravagant, so it's about time you spent some of your hard-earned cash on yourself.”

“
The most expensive thing in my wardrobe, before the Louboutins of course, was a winter coat from Marks and Spencer for two hundred Euro,” Rachel agreed with Liz, “when I read the
newspaper at the weekend they were surveying random women on the street about their style and the average most expensive item is about five hundred Euro. Some of the women were in their early twenties; I don't know where they get the money.”

“
Exactly,” Liz said, “and while we're on the subject, what I'd like to know is where these young girls, who are only in secondary school, get the money for their gorgeous blonde highlights and expensive hairstyles.They have better hair than me and I'm working full-time and I've practically bankrupted myself with the fortune on spend on my hair, between the hairdresser and styling products. I remember when I was in school, my hair was a frizzy mess, but the youngsters today have perfect hair.”

“
I so deserve these shoes,” Rachel felt convinced on her purchase then and there, “I hardly ever get my hair done, so I can look on these shoes as compensation for all my missed hair appointments.

“
Anyway, drinks are on us tonight, so that'll save you some cash,” Jen winked at Rachel. “Thanks, girls,” Rachel smiled at her friends.

“
So, how are things with you two?” Rachel asked as she took a sip of her wine. “It seems like ages since we all met up.”

“
It
's been forever,” Jen agreed. “We have a lot of catching up to do.

“
What I'd like to know is where have all the good men gone?” Liz lamented to her friends. “That's a sudden outburst,” Jen said, “are you OK?”

“
I'm just so tired of waiting for The One,” Liz wailed, “where is he already?”

“
You're asking the wrong person here, love,” replied Rachel, as she poured herself another glass of wine. “My love-life is an absolute disaster area.”

“
Tell me about it,” Jen piped up from her comfy position on the couch, “I'm sick and tired of being on the singles scene. I mean, how many first dates can one woman have? I feel like I'm stuck in some sort of never-ending ground-hog day.”

“
Well, at least you have first dates,” Liz interjected, “I can't remember the last time I've been out with a man, first date or otherwise.”

“
The way I see it,” Rachel piped up, “you two are like the opposite extreme ends of the same scale.”

“
Oh really now,” her friends looked at her in amusement, “please do share your insight on us with us.”

“
Well, Liz, you are stuck in a bit of a rut, where you've thrown yourself into your work and all the extra-curricular activities that entails. I sometimes feel like I have to make an appointment to see you. If you're not teaching extra maths classes after school, then you're coaching the girls' basketball team or supervising some student activity weekend. You barely have time to hang out with Jen and me let alone have time to meet a man.”

“
It's true,” Liz sighed in agreement at her friend's analysis. “I love my job, I just can't seem to say no when I'm asked to help out after hours. My last relationship was with another teacher, but that's fizzled out quite a while ago and I haven't met anyone else who even remotely interests me.”

“
So, which end of the scale am I on then?” Jen interrupted, “oh and be gentle, Rachel, please, I'm feeling a little fragile at the moment.”

“
Here missus, have some more wine, it'll numb the pain,” Liz grinned at her friend as she refilled everyone's glass. “Don't mind if I do,” Jen swigged down a large gulp of wine from her glass, “hit me with it, Rachel, I'm in the brace position.”

“
Hmm, Jenna you are the quintessential serial dater.”

“
I am not!” Jenna objected, “I just believe in having a proactive approach to my love life, sometimes a little too proactive, I agree, but it's not like Mr. Love of my Life is going to come knocking on my door, announcing his arrival, and begging me to marry him, now is it?”

“
That's very true,” Rachel agreed, “but you hardly give these guys a chance. How many second dates have you had lately? Not many, as far as I can recall. Surely some of them are worth a second chance. You seem to dismiss them for something as trivial as having the wrong hair colour or too many freckles! How many dating websites are you a member of at the moment? Last time we spoke you were thinking of joining your fourth site! If there's a singles night in town, you're there. If someone offers to set you up on a blind date, you go. I think it's excellent that you are proactive, but I think you need to start
giving your dates more than just one chance before you dismiss them as completely wrong for you.”

“
You're right, I know,” Jenna agreed rather reluctantly with her friend. “It's just that if I see something small that irritates me I can't move past it, and because I have so many dates lined up, I think that the next one will be better and couldn't be bothered making an effort with the one in front of me. Hmm, now that I've said that aloud, it sounds quite bad actually...oh dear.”

“
Well, everyone know
s my situation,” Rachel said. “It's well and truly finished with Tony. He moved out last weekend. I have to admit, my life feels quite empty without him. The reality of life on my own has started to sink in and it's not as wildly exciting as I thought. Part of me expected it to be like the television show Sex and the City, all glamorous nights out and plenty of dates, every minute of my time occupied but I find myself being bored a lot. I constantly catch myself thinking, “ I must tell Tony this” or “I wonder what Tony would think of that” and then I realise he's gone. I suppose it will take time to adjust to my single life, after all I brought it on myself.”

“
It's completely natural and understandable how you are feeling,” Liz sympathised. “I suppose you are suffering withdrawal symptoms in a way. If you want my opinion, I think you and Anthony did the right thing breaking up, even if it's only temporarily. You've been together since you were teenagers and it'll do you both some good to explore life apart. Of course you're going to miss him, and it'll take a while to get used to life without him. You should look on this as an opportunity to get to know yourself. Find out what you want in life, who you are and what you want in your future. I certainly wouldn't be rushing into finding another man.”

“
Still avidly reading the self-help books, Liz,” Jen interrupted sarcastically, “most of what you've just said is good advice but I think Jen needs to get back out and start dating, nothing serious, but some male attention is always good for the ego, and that's exactly what Rachel needs right now.”

“
I feel a bit lost and quite lonely actually,” Rachel said tearfully.

“
Hey, hey, you're not alone, lovey,” Liz hugged her friend. “You've got me and Jen and we're always available for you, anytime.”

“
Look,” Jen said matter-of-factly, ever the pragmatist, “you need to plan your evenings. Take some classes. Join a gym. The gym is a great place to meet new people. You can come out with me at least once a week and I'm sure it'll be no time at all until you are dating again.”

“
Oh, I dunno,” Rachel said doubtfully, “I think I need a break from men.”

“
I don't want you getting all sad and lonely by yourself,” Liz said. “How's this for an idea; Jen and I will plan your after-work and weekend activities for the next month, after all we're old hands at the singleton life. All you have to do is promise to follow our instructions.”

Rachel perked up at the thought of this. “Hmm, that could be interesting.”

“
Well, it'll be fun anyway,” Liz said, “and I think you could do with a good dose of fun.” “Exactly, and if all else fails, at least we have each other,” Jenna said.

“
Yes, and lots of wine,” Liz agreed, raising her glass, “cheers ladies, to wine and friendship.” “Cheers,” the three
girls sang in unison as they clinked their glasses together.

Chapter 4

Rachel's heart was pounding in her chest and she was bright purple in the face. She felt like she was on the verge of a massive heart attack. Her entire body was soaked in sweat and her hair was stuck uncomfortably and unattractively to her head. She tried to wipe her face dry on her t-shirt but that too was drenched.

“
The things we women do to look good,” Rachel thought as she angrily punched the treadmill speedometer, increasing the speed another few kilometres. “I feel like I'm dying.”

It was her first day at the gym in years. She'd joined the gym at college many years before, but had given it up as a bad job after a few sessions. She was determined to stick with it this time. She'd had enough of feeling like a chubby butt and figured since she was spring-cleaning her life, that she might as well spring-clean her body while she was at it. What was it the experts said? Healthy body leads to a healthy mind. She'd spent the morning taking Polaroid photos of herself from different angles, and she'd felt quite disconcerted by the pictures in front of her. Too many wobbly bits and dimples in all the wrong places. She'd stuck the photos on the refrigerator door, and purged the junk food from the fridge and her kitchen cupboards. She'd made a mental note to go shopping for healthy food after her gym session.

She jumped off the treadmill after pounding on it for twenty minutes. She felt like her heart was about to explode out of her chest it was beating that quickly. She made her way weakly towards the showers, gasping for breath all the while.

“
Are you OK?” Helen, a staff member asked her in concern.

“
First day,” Ra
chel puffed.

“
It'll get easier.”
Helen smiled sympathetically.

“
Well, it can't get much worse,” Rachel stormed off into the ladies changing room. Easy for her to say it'll get easier, Rachel thought, Miss Gym Bunny, always glowing with health and vitality, looking like she'd barely break a sweat after running a marathon.

Rachel scrubbed her body until it was bright pink and almost raw. She was in the mother of all bad moods. She was absolutely exhausted and a touch light-headed. All she could think about was how hungry she felt. She could easily have demolished some fish and chips there and then, and the only food she had to look forward to was a boring, limp salad and she'd worked up an appetite after all that running. She was starting to regret binning the tasty junk fund from her cupboards. She contemplated getting a take-away on her way home from the gym, but decided to resist.

Rachel flung her gym bag into the boot of her car and tore down the road at top speed to Tesco. She grabbed a trolley and started firing vegetables, yoghurt and fruit into it.

“
What did those poor apples ever do to you?” Rachel was startled out of her tantrum by a man's voice behind her.

She swung around with a curt response on the tip of her tongue, but was left speechless when she found herself looking into the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. They weren't your usual run of the mill blue; they were more a light blue, almost grey, fringed
with thick black eyelashes.

“
I'm just having a bad day,” Rachel responded, “the apples are completely innocent.”

She felt herself blush under his steady gaze.

“
Well, they're not going to taste too good if they're battered and bruised,” he grinned at her.

“
I suppose not,” Rachel replied as she scurried away. Suddenly, she felt overwhelmed by embarrassment and couldn't wait to get home.

The phone rang as Rachel was unpacking her groceries. It was Jen.

“
How's things, girl?” Jen asked her friend.

“
Well I almost self-combusted at the gym, and I've resisted eating any junk food all day. I've only eaten a Caesar salad for dinner, so I'm feeling a bit deprived and sorry for myself at the moment,” Rachel said disconsolately as she flung herself onto the couch.

“
You should be proud of yourself, that's a great start,” Jen encouraged.

“
Yeah, yeah, coming from the woman with the perfect figure,” Rachel said moodily.

Jen rarely thought about food, and was so full of energy that the little food she remembered to eat was quickly burnt off. She was a size eight and five foot six inches tall. She still had the perky breasts and trim butt of a teenager and her flat stomach was the envy of all her friends.