“I couldn’t ask him to get checked out.”
Her freaking doctor should have mentioned it! “It’s something to consider, especially before you take the next step,” Rachel advised.
“He’ll get mad. He’s already angry at me for going to the doctor. He said that, if we get pregnant, it’s God’s will.”
Rachel’s hands fisted by her side. The inconsiderate asshole just didn’t want any blame focused on his own possible defects. Jared especially wouldn’t want to accept any blame cast on his own masculinity; he was too busy proving it to every woman in Treepoint who would have him. He hadn’t been faithful to Cheryl since they came back from their fancy honeymoon in Hawaii.
Honestly, Rachel thought half of Cheryl’s desperation to have a baby was to save her failing marriage. Treepoint being such a small town, she was sure Cheryl hadn’t escaped the vicious gossip of Jared’s affairs.
“Did the doctors say there was a reason you weren’t conceiving?”
“No. All my tests are coming back normal, but I made an appointment with a specialist in Lexington.”
Rachel sighed. “I don’t think the problem is yours, Cheryl. I think you should ask Jared to get checked out before you spend money on more expensive doctors.”
She bit her lips. “I’ll think about asking him,” she finally agreed.
“Good.” Rachel took her hand, giving her a reassuring warmth that would lessen her anxiety.
“Thanks, Rachel.”
“You’re welcome.” Rachel was showing her out the door as her new appointment was arriving.
Both women greeted Mrs. Langley. Rachel told Cheryl good-bye before escorting Mrs. Langley to the sunroom, helping the frail woman onto the table. She’d had gallbladder surgery months ago, and the older woman had not recovered her strength yet. Rachel doused the lavender candles and lit her white candles for healing, letting the soothing aroma fill the room as she came to stand over Mrs. Langley with a gentle smile.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Tired. I’m tired all the time now, Rachel.” The woman’s pale, lined face stared back at her.
“Let me see if I can help with that.” Rachel skimmed her hands over Mrs. Langley’s body, taking her time to send wave after wave of healing warmth through her. As Rachel worked, she noticed her stiffness gradually became more relaxed.
She worked on her longer than she had anticipated; giving the woman everything she could, hoping it was enough. It was going to take several sessions to ease the toll the surgery had taken on her.
When she finished, Rachel helped Mrs. Langley from the table.
“I feel like I had a long nap.”
“You might have dozed off,” Rachel prevaricated, handing her purse over without telling her she had slept for over an hour.
“How much do I owe you?” Mrs. Langley opened her purse.
“Nothing, you get the family discount.” Rachel smiled, placing her arm around her frail shoulders. “Want to see Logan?”
The bright eagerness in her eyes brought a lump to Rachel’s throat as she led her into the living room where Holly and Dustin were sitting, playing a game.
“Grandma!” Logan got up from the floor, running to his great-grandmother, carefully wrapping his arms around her waist, giving her a hug.
“Holly and I are playing a game. Do you want to play?”
“I would love to.” While Logan eagerly showed her how to play, Rachel watched for several minutes before going back into the sunroom and removing the sheets, placing them in a hamper she kept in the corner. Blowing the candles out, she went to her room to get changed out of her jeans and t-shirt.
The only time she wore dresses was when she went to church or helped out at the church store which helped the economically disadvantaged in the community.
Pulling on a peach sundress, Rachel brushed her waist-length hair before plaiting it. Her hair was straight as a stick, but it was thick and heavy. The whole process was becoming more and more time-consuming; she needed to cut it off and save herself the trouble.
Sliding her feet into her sandals, she turned back to the mirror. Somehow, even in the pretty dress, she still looked like the tomboy she was. Just once, she wanted to look as sexy and seductive as the women Cash ran after.
Rachel went for her purse, immediately dragging her thoughts from the man she’d had a crush on since she was a little girl. Some things were better left to the imagination, Cash being one of them. She wasn’t his type, and her brothers would kill him. On the other hand, a little fantasy never hurt anyone.
Chapter 2
Rachel straightened the clothes on the shelf as Lily handled their last customer of the day.
“Want to grab some dinner at the diner?” Lily asked after the customer left.
“Yes. Holly volunteered to cook dinner tonight. I love her to death, but she can’t cook.”
Lily laughed. “You ready?”
“Let me grab my purse.”
Rachel curiously studied her friend. Lily was beautiful; she had long, black hair with violet eyes. Today, she had worn a long, maxi skirt with a pretty, white camp shirt. She was feminine and pretty, everything Rachel wasn’t.
“Why aren’t you eating at the clubhouse tonight?”
“The factory has a big order to get out tonight, and Shade refuses to let me help. Since he’s found out I’m pregnant, he hasn’t let me lift anything heavier than a book. He’s going to order everyone pizza so they can work through dinner, but me and pizza aren’t getting along right now.” Lily made a face.
“Stomach upset?”
“That’s putting it mildly. The doctor said it should pass after I get farther along.”
Rachel looked down at the small woman, her morning sickness the only sign she was pregnant. She had told her husband and father last week that she was pregnant at a barbeque celebrating her nephews’ Baptism. Rachel had been there and had offered her congratulations to the happy couple. Lily was only a couple of months along, and despite her morning sickness, she was glowing with happiness.
“Try chewing on some crystallized ginger. It will help.” Rachel waited as Lily locked the door behind them, then they crossed the street, going inside the diner.
It was slow for a Friday evening, only a couple of customers. Rachel was surprised to see Cash and Stud sitting at one of the tables, quietly talking. Being in two different motorcycle clubs, Rachel would have thought they wouldn’t be sharing a meal.
After making their way to a table, Lily waved at the two men while Rachel took a seat, facing away from them. When Lily sat down across from her, they requested their drinks before giving their order.
“Any luck getting your brothers married off yet?” Lily teased.
“No, darn it. I’m beginning to get worried. Tate is getting older; he should be settled down and married,” Rachel complained.
“He’s got plenty of time. You just want him off your back.”
“Yes, I do.” Rachel didn’t have any problem admitting the truth. “I’m too old for him to be telling me what time to be home or who I can and can’t date.”
“He actually gave you permission to date someone?” Lily’s purple eyes were filled with amusement.
Her freaking doctor should have mentioned it! “It’s something to consider, especially before you take the next step,” Rachel advised.
“He’ll get mad. He’s already angry at me for going to the doctor. He said that, if we get pregnant, it’s God’s will.”
Rachel’s hands fisted by her side. The inconsiderate asshole just didn’t want any blame focused on his own possible defects. Jared especially wouldn’t want to accept any blame cast on his own masculinity; he was too busy proving it to every woman in Treepoint who would have him. He hadn’t been faithful to Cheryl since they came back from their fancy honeymoon in Hawaii.
Honestly, Rachel thought half of Cheryl’s desperation to have a baby was to save her failing marriage. Treepoint being such a small town, she was sure Cheryl hadn’t escaped the vicious gossip of Jared’s affairs.
“Did the doctors say there was a reason you weren’t conceiving?”
“No. All my tests are coming back normal, but I made an appointment with a specialist in Lexington.”
Rachel sighed. “I don’t think the problem is yours, Cheryl. I think you should ask Jared to get checked out before you spend money on more expensive doctors.”
She bit her lips. “I’ll think about asking him,” she finally agreed.
“Good.” Rachel took her hand, giving her a reassuring warmth that would lessen her anxiety.
“Thanks, Rachel.”
“You’re welcome.” Rachel was showing her out the door as her new appointment was arriving.
Both women greeted Mrs. Langley. Rachel told Cheryl good-bye before escorting Mrs. Langley to the sunroom, helping the frail woman onto the table. She’d had gallbladder surgery months ago, and the older woman had not recovered her strength yet. Rachel doused the lavender candles and lit her white candles for healing, letting the soothing aroma fill the room as she came to stand over Mrs. Langley with a gentle smile.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Tired. I’m tired all the time now, Rachel.” The woman’s pale, lined face stared back at her.
“Let me see if I can help with that.” Rachel skimmed her hands over Mrs. Langley’s body, taking her time to send wave after wave of healing warmth through her. As Rachel worked, she noticed her stiffness gradually became more relaxed.
She worked on her longer than she had anticipated; giving the woman everything she could, hoping it was enough. It was going to take several sessions to ease the toll the surgery had taken on her.
When she finished, Rachel helped Mrs. Langley from the table.
“I feel like I had a long nap.”
“You might have dozed off,” Rachel prevaricated, handing her purse over without telling her she had slept for over an hour.
“How much do I owe you?” Mrs. Langley opened her purse.
“Nothing, you get the family discount.” Rachel smiled, placing her arm around her frail shoulders. “Want to see Logan?”
The bright eagerness in her eyes brought a lump to Rachel’s throat as she led her into the living room where Holly and Dustin were sitting, playing a game.
“Grandma!” Logan got up from the floor, running to his great-grandmother, carefully wrapping his arms around her waist, giving her a hug.
“Holly and I are playing a game. Do you want to play?”
“I would love to.” While Logan eagerly showed her how to play, Rachel watched for several minutes before going back into the sunroom and removing the sheets, placing them in a hamper she kept in the corner. Blowing the candles out, she went to her room to get changed out of her jeans and t-shirt.
The only time she wore dresses was when she went to church or helped out at the church store which helped the economically disadvantaged in the community.
Pulling on a peach sundress, Rachel brushed her waist-length hair before plaiting it. Her hair was straight as a stick, but it was thick and heavy. The whole process was becoming more and more time-consuming; she needed to cut it off and save herself the trouble.
Sliding her feet into her sandals, she turned back to the mirror. Somehow, even in the pretty dress, she still looked like the tomboy she was. Just once, she wanted to look as sexy and seductive as the women Cash ran after.
Rachel went for her purse, immediately dragging her thoughts from the man she’d had a crush on since she was a little girl. Some things were better left to the imagination, Cash being one of them. She wasn’t his type, and her brothers would kill him. On the other hand, a little fantasy never hurt anyone.
Chapter 2
Rachel straightened the clothes on the shelf as Lily handled their last customer of the day.
“Want to grab some dinner at the diner?” Lily asked after the customer left.
“Yes. Holly volunteered to cook dinner tonight. I love her to death, but she can’t cook.”
Lily laughed. “You ready?”
“Let me grab my purse.”
Rachel curiously studied her friend. Lily was beautiful; she had long, black hair with violet eyes. Today, she had worn a long, maxi skirt with a pretty, white camp shirt. She was feminine and pretty, everything Rachel wasn’t.
“Why aren’t you eating at the clubhouse tonight?”
“The factory has a big order to get out tonight, and Shade refuses to let me help. Since he’s found out I’m pregnant, he hasn’t let me lift anything heavier than a book. He’s going to order everyone pizza so they can work through dinner, but me and pizza aren’t getting along right now.” Lily made a face.
“Stomach upset?”
“That’s putting it mildly. The doctor said it should pass after I get farther along.”
Rachel looked down at the small woman, her morning sickness the only sign she was pregnant. She had told her husband and father last week that she was pregnant at a barbeque celebrating her nephews’ Baptism. Rachel had been there and had offered her congratulations to the happy couple. Lily was only a couple of months along, and despite her morning sickness, she was glowing with happiness.
“Try chewing on some crystallized ginger. It will help.” Rachel waited as Lily locked the door behind them, then they crossed the street, going inside the diner.
It was slow for a Friday evening, only a couple of customers. Rachel was surprised to see Cash and Stud sitting at one of the tables, quietly talking. Being in two different motorcycle clubs, Rachel would have thought they wouldn’t be sharing a meal.
After making their way to a table, Lily waved at the two men while Rachel took a seat, facing away from them. When Lily sat down across from her, they requested their drinks before giving their order.
“Any luck getting your brothers married off yet?” Lily teased.
“No, darn it. I’m beginning to get worried. Tate is getting older; he should be settled down and married,” Rachel complained.
“He’s got plenty of time. You just want him off your back.”
“Yes, I do.” Rachel didn’t have any problem admitting the truth. “I’m too old for him to be telling me what time to be home or who I can and can’t date.”
“He actually gave you permission to date someone?” Lily’s purple eyes were filled with amusement.
