A Time for Us - By Amy Knupp Page 0,26
wave of killer emotions subsided, it felt awkward to be holding on to Noelle’s sister so tightly, for so long. They seemed to become self-conscious at the same time, and he stepped back a few inches as they both dropped their arms, him to his sides, hers back in front of her chest.
“Your sister didn’t mean to make me feel bad, I know. Her idea would be good...for someone else. She seems like a nice person.”
“She means well,” Cale said.
“I’m okay. Really.” She flashed a forced grin. “Thank you, though.”
She didn’t say exactly what she was thanking him for. Didn’t say anything else, but in that moment, as he looked down at her, he saw so much more than she knew. He saw her backbone and her deep, deep love for her sister and, yes, a good dose of stubbornness. A mix he couldn’t help but admire. A mix that, it turned out, he couldn’t get out of his mind for the rest of the day.
CHAPTER NINE
IT WAS DARK when Rachel opened her eyes.
She blinked several times, trying to grasp where she was and what time it was. With a turn of her head, the outline of Yoda against the glow of the digital clock came into view. Ah, yes, home sweet Yoda. But...9:07? At night?
After Cale had left, she’d tidied up the kitchen, caught up on email and then finally crashed in the early afternoon. She wished she could say she’d slept soundly but that would have been a lie.
She’d tossed, turned, dreamed and woken up wanting. Rinse and repeat a dozen or so times. No matter how agitated she’d been when she woke up, no matter how many times she’d told her brain to move on to something besides Cale Jackson, every time she’d drifted off again, there he was. Calming her, comforting her, touching her, making her want more. The dreams had been delicious, but waking up to the reality of being alone every few minutes...not so delightful.
A light tapping sounded on the bedroom door.
“Yeah?” She cleared her throat and the grogginess from her voice as the door was eased open, letting in the bright light from the hallway. Rachel closed her eyes against it.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” her mom asked from the doorway.
Embarrassed that she’d wasted the entire day, Rachel sat up. “Yeah. Fine. Fabulous.”
“I’m sorry to wake you up, but I was worried. It’s not like you to sleep the whole day away.”
“You didn’t wake me up. I took my kayak out after work so I didn’t go to sleep until late. I meant to be up for dinner, though. What’d I miss?”
“I made some spinach and ricotta manicotti. You lucked out—even half the recipe makes enough for several meals...well, unless your brother’s home. There’s some in the fridge.”
“I’m becoming addicted to your gourmet leftovers. The quiche was excellent.”
“Glad you liked it. I’m no expert, but I’ll give you cooking lessons anytime.”
The prospect had absolutely no appeal. “Why would I want to do that when there’s another dish of something awesome in the refrigerator every time I open it? Plus there’s the time thing...”
“Just offering. I’m heading to bed. Hospital rounds come early and I’ve got a tennis match tomorrow after work.”
“I’ll be at work by the time you get home tomorrow evening, then,” Rachel said. When she looked at her mom again, she did a double take at the doorway beyond and her heart felt as though it had crashed to a halt. “Mom? Why is that door open?”
Her mom glanced at the door to Rachel and Noelle’s room. To her credit, she didn’t play stupid.
“I just thought, after all this time, it was time to open it,” her mom said curtly. “The air in there is stale, and it’s become this void in our house. One of these days we need to do something about it.”
“Have at it,” Rachel said, glad the lights were still off so she could hide her scowl.
“I thought it would be best if you went through the room yourself, sweetie. Half of it’s yours, and the other half... I figured you have the right to any of your sister’s things that have special meaning to you.”
Knowing she risked protesting too much and unwilling to draw her mom’s attention to her inability to even step in the room, Rachel remained quiet. Counted the seconds and waited for her mom to leave. She could feel the open door, the room and everything in it, taunting her. Disquieting her.
“Well, good night,”