Wind Over Marshdale (31 page)

****

Nothing could dampen her high spirits, Rachel decided as she crunched along in the snow on her way home from school. She and Con had either seen each other or talked on the phone every day since his grandmother's party. They'd been for dinner, coffee, drives, walks—almost any excuse would do when he could make it into town—and when he couldn't they talked about nothing and everything over the phone. Once or twice he'd tried to bring up the religion thing, but mostly they stuck to lover's banter that was low on substance and high on emotional sizzle.

Speaking of sizzle, she would have gladly given him anything he'd asked for by now, but in a way she was glad he was such a gentleman. Con always managed to stop things in time, and gently but firmly explained that he was only a man and he respected her too much to go too far too soon. So far there had been no freezing up on her part, which was a relief, but she still harbored some insecurity.

For safety's sake she was letting him take the lead, not jumping him like a desperate person as she had with Thomas. That episode still embarrassed her to the core and she was glad he'd quit coming to pick Whisper up from school.

Con was coming over again today. She wasn't sure what they'd do, but he was waiting until his niece Bonita's volleyball practice was over so he could give her a ride home. It was a convenient excuse.

Rachel rounded the corner of the high school wing and almost bumped headlong into someone. The girl obviously wasn't watching where she was going. Her head was down, hands jammed into her pockets.

“Excuse me,” Rachel said, jumping slightly back. “Oh, hello, Bonita.” The girl looked up briefly, but didn't return the greeting. It looked as if she had been crying.

“Bonita, are you okay?” Rachel asked, stopping. The girl nodded her head forcefully. “Are you sure?” Rachel asked again, peering at her more closely. Bonita nodded again, but then burst into a torrent of tears.

“Oh my goodness!” Rachel exclaimed, putting an arm around Bonita's shoulders. “What's the matter? Do you want to come to my apartment? Your Uncle Con is on his way over.”

Bonita just nodded again. They made their way to Rachel's apartment. “Now, tell me what's troubling you,” Rachel said once she had the girl seated at the kitchen table and she'd plugged in the kettle for hot chocolate.

“Nothing,” Bonita sniffed. She'd stopped crying and was gaining some control, although she still took a few shuddering breaths.

“It's obviously not nothing, or you wouldn't be crying,” Rachel coaxed. “You can tell me.”

Bonita sat for a moment, staring at a spot on the table. Rachel just waited. “You won't tell anyone?”

“I promise.”

“Okay.” Bonita paused and took a deep breath. “Mr. Friest has been having some extra practices for some of us that he thinks might make it to the provincials,” she began.

Rachel had a sinking feeling in her stomach, but waited for the rest of the story.

“He said the other girls would be there, but when I got there it was only me.” Her lip started to quiver again. “At first it was okay. We warmed up and stuff. But then he started showing me some stuff about my serve. He was, like, touching me and stuff and standing real close. I didn't feel right about it. So I tried to move away. But then he started touching me on the neck and saying stuff like I had nice hair and pretty eyes.” She burst into tears again.

“Bonita,” Rachel said, her voice tight. “What he was doing was wrong. You have every right to be upset.”

“But he said… he'd… cut me from the team if… if I said anything,” Bonita was able to get out between sobs.

Rachel reached out and enveloped the poor girl in a motherly embrace. She let Bonita cry for a few more minutes, stroking her hair gently as she sobbed. Then Rachel held her at arm's length and looked her in the eye. “Bonita, what you've just told me is an offense. Steve Friest has no right to do what he did to you and no right to threaten you. I know I promised not to tell anyone, but you are a minor and the authorities need to know about this.”

“You mean the cops?”

“Child molestation is a serious crime and should be reported.”

“He didn't really do anything,” Bonita wavered. “Besides, it's my word against his.”

“You might be surprised to find some other girls come forward, too, once you do. But someone needs to be the first to tell. To be brave and put a stop to this.”

“You really think so?” Bonita sniffed.

Rachel nodded. Now Steve Friest would be exposed for who he really was. Rachel felt a deep sense of satisfaction over that.

They both heard the knock on the door, and Rachel stood to answer it.

“If it's Uncle Con, I'm not sure I want to tell him yet,” Bonita said, pleading in her eyes.

“Bonita, you have nothing to be ashamed of,” Rachel said. “You're not the one at fault.”

“I know, but I just need to think for a bit.” Bonita frowned. “I should tell my parents first.”

Con knocked again. “Hello?” his muffled voice sounded on the other side.

“Just a minute,” Rachel called, and turned her gaze back to Bonita.

“Please?” Bonita begged.

Rachel sighed. “All right. I won't say anything. But promise me
you
will. Mr. Friest needs to be stopped before he hurts someone else.”

Bonita nodded her agreement and Rachel went to the door.

“Hi beautiful,” Con said, taking Rachel into his arms the moment he stepped over the threshold. He bent for a kiss, but Rachel managed to clear her throat and dodge the kiss with a jerk of her head in Bonita's direction. Con's eyes opened in surprise, but he didn't release Rachel immediately. “What are you doing here, Bonnie? I thought you had a practice.”

“Cancelled,” Bonita said.

“Oh.” Con stepped back from Rachel and frowned.

“You can both stay for hot chocolate,” Rachel suggested. “The kettle just boiled.”

“It'll have to do,” Con said as his mouth twisted up into half a grin.

“Um, can I use your washroom?” Bonita asked.

Rachel pointed her in the right direction and turned back to where she thought Con was sitting. He was behind her and she had turned right into his embrace. “I need to hurry and steal a kiss before she comes back.”

The kiss was anything but hurried and Rachel finally pulled away and smoothed her hair. “Behave.”

“What if I don't want to behave?” Con asked. “I'm tired of snatching a few minutes here and there.”

“We're going into the city on the weekend, remember? We'll have an entire day together. Now sit down and drink your chocolate like a good boy,” Rachel teased as she set his mug down in front of him.

“All right,” Con acquiesced. He took a sip of the hot liquid. “What's with Bonita, anyway? She looked kind of upset.”

Rachel just shrugged and turned away so he couldn't see her face as she stirred the next cup of cocoa. She'd made a promise and didn't want to give anything away. “I'm not sure.” She just prayed that Bonita would do the right thing and go to the police.

 

The stores and shopping malls were decked out for the holiday season. Con and Rachel strolled hand in hand, doing more looking than buying. Every twinkling window display, every group of children singing, every Santa ringing his Christmas bell, seemed to echo her own sense of joy. She wondered what kind of gift she should buy Con. She realized that even though she felt as if she knew him, she still didn't understand him very well.

“Let's stop for a minute,” Con suggested. “There's a coffee bar just around that corner.”

Rachel laughed. “Tired already? We've only just started.”

“Really? It feels like ages,” Con said with a grin.

“Don't tell me you're tired of my company already?”

“Never.”

They ordered a cup of steaming coffee each, and sat down in the communal food court area, watching the frenzied shoppers as they passed.

“What do you want for Christmas?” Rachel asked.

“If I told you, it would spoil the surprise.”

“Seriously. I don't know what to get you. Do you need anything in particular? What do you want?”

“You.”

The one word sent shivers down her spine. “Besides that,” she continued.

Con shrugged. “Can't tell you.”

“You're no help at all.” She surveyed the milling crowd.

“Actually, I'd love for you to come to church with me,” Con said.

“I said I would,” Rachel replied. “You just haven't picked the right day yet.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Won't we be too tired? I mean, it'll probably be late when we get back home after visiting Sherri and Dan,” Rachel reasoned.

“I go to church every Sunday,” Con responded. “Well, almost every Sunday, unless I'm out of town. Tired or not.”

“Oh.”

“So? What do you say?”

“Okay, I guess,” Rachel agreed. “You're the boss. But don't be surprised if I fall asleep.”

“Don't worry. I'll be there to poke you in the ribs.” Con smiled mischievously.

“Goody,” Rachel feigned disgust. She looked at her watch. “I think it's time we went up to Sherri and Dan's. They're expecting us around five.”

“You're the boss,” Con repeated Rachel's own words.

“I think you'll like them,” Rachel said. “Sherri is a lot of fun—kind of the typical blonde, if you know what I mean. But fun. And Dan is a sweetheart. He's very laid back and easy to talk to.”

“Any friends of yours have got to be great people,” Con stated.

****

“I am
sooo
glad to finally meet you,” Sherri exclaimed for the tenth time, as they sat having coffee after supper.

“I think you've said that already,” Dan observed.

“Well it's true! Rachel has hardly been in to visit since she moved here, and I'm blaming you,” she teased, directing her accusation at Con.

“Sorry to have deprived you.” Con laughed.

“I've just been really busy,” Rachel defended.

Sherri winked. “I'll just bet!”

“I saw on the news about some conflicts over grain subsidies. What's your take on the situation?” Dan asked Con.

“Boring!” Sherri announced. “Come on, Rachel. Let's see what else we can find in the kitchen for munchies.” She grabbed Rachel by the hand.

“But we just ate,” Rachel said, frowning.

“I'm eating for two, remember?” The men continued discussing the effects of world markets, while Rachel and Sherri made their exit.

“Who cares about the price of wheat?” Sherri whispered to Rachel when they were out of earshot.

“Well, he is a farmer,” Rachel defended.

“I know,” Sherri said. “I'd rather talk about, you know, your relationship. How serious is it? Have you made it with him yet?”

“Sherri!”

“Well?” Sherri folded her arms over her chest.

“No, I haven't made it with him yet,” Rachel blustered. “He's not like that.”

“What do you mean, ‘not like that?' He's a man, for goodness sake. Isn't that all they think about?”

“No.”

“Well, what is it then? I thought you really liked this guy.”

“I do. He's different about things like that, though. He's more cautious, I guess.”

“Meaning?”

“Well, he's pretty religious. It's against his beliefs to go too far too soon.”

“Are you serious?” Sherri's mouth was agape.

“What's wrong with that?” Rachel asked, her defenses rising again.

“Nothing, I guess. It just seems kind of old-fashioned. He sounds completely different from Ronald.”

“I don't want to talk about Ronald,” Rachel said stiffly.

“Still touchy about him, I see. My best advice is, make it with this new guy, and the sooner the better. Nothing like some good sex to exorcise the memory of a past boyfriend.”

“Hey, ladies. Where are those snacks?” Dan came into the kitchen. Con was close on his heels. Rachel wondered how much of the conversation he'd heard.

“Coming right up,” Sherri said. “I was just going to pop some popcorn. I'm always craving popcorn these days.” She rubbed her slightly protruding stomach.

“Eating for two is really getting hard on the grocery bills.” Dan laughed, encircling his wife from behind.

“No more fat jokes, buddy,” Sherri swatted him away playfully. “Now where did I put that popcorn?”

“Actually, I was thinking that maybe we should be heading out soon, anyway,” Con said.

“So soon?” Sherri cried.

“Well, it is a bit of a drive and it has started snowing again so I'm worried about the roads,” he explained. “But you should come out our way next time.”

“Can we, Dan?” Sherri turned to her husband and clasped her hands at her chest. “I've been dying to see Rachel's little haven.”

“We'll see.”

“I wouldn't exactly call Marshdale a haven.” Con laughed.

“Wouldn't you? Rachel seems to think so. She's becoming very cozy there, I'm thinking,” Sherri teased.

“Maybe after Christmas,” Dan suggested. “Things are a little hectic around here right now. We've got a few parties to go to in the next few weeks and all that. Then we'll be flying back east for a week at Christmas. But once we get home, we should try and get together.”

“Actually, we're having a big get together at our place on New Year's Eve,” Con stated. “Outdoor skating, tobogganing, snowmobiling. We do it every year. You should come if you don't have other plans.”

“That sounds like fun,” Dan said. “Doesn't it, honey?”

“Sure, I guess. I'm not sure if I'll be up for too many sports in my condition, though.”

“There are always lots of people who prefer indoor games, as well. Plus there's lots of good food. We do a potluck kind of thing and just let people bring whatever they want.”

“We'll keep it in mind for when we get home,” Dan answered. “Say, Rachel? Aren't you going home for Christmas, too?”

“Yes.” Rachel nodded, her voice not all that enthusiastic.

They said their final good-byes and were soon heading out of the city.

“You never mentioned you were going out of town for Christmas,” Con said. His voice sounded quiet, maybe even accusatory.

“I must have forgotten.” Rachel focused her attention out the window at the passing landscape.

“Seems like a funny thing to forget.”

“I guess I've just been busy these days. Is it a problem?”

“No, of course not. I guess I just never really thought about the fact that we might not be together at Christmas, that's all. But of course you should go home and spend it with your family.”

“It's expected.”

“But it'll be nice to see them again, right? Your family?”

Rachel shrugged. “I guess. You don't know my family.” In fact, she wasn't looking forward to it one bit. But she couldn't tell Con that. His family was so close, despite their differences.

They rode quietly for a time until Con spoke again. “I guess I'll have to give you your Christmas present early, then.” Rachel remained silent. “Your friends are nice. I liked them.”

Rachel frowned. She still hadn't bought him anything and his suggestion that all he wanted was for her to come to church was lame. Oh well. There was always Silver Creek.