Rachel said. The idea of meeting her family made Gabe blush for a reason he was unaware of.
“Does your brother still live with her?” Gabe asked.
Rachel hesitated, looking back out the front door to the rainy night. “I’m not sure. He was getting ready to head off to college when I left with Uri. I haven’t spoken to them since that night, so I don’t really know what happened.
Gabe could hear the sadness in her voice. When Uri had found him he was leaving nothing behind. Gabe had no friends or family of any kind. He never imagined how hard it would be for someone to leave when they had something to stay for. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”
“What? Don’t be silly. You all are protecting me, I’m grateful.” Rachel replied. Without hesitation she dashed out the front door, squealing as the cool rain fell on her face.
Surprised by Rachel’s sudden sprint into action, Gabe leaned forward and pulled himself to the open doorway. Midway into the clearing in front of the cabin Rachel danced. Spinning in a circle, her face and palms turned upwards, she was basking in the moonlight and embracing the rain drops. Rachel’s tongue slipped out, mouth open, lapping up the water as it fell.
“Hey, crazy woman, what are you doing?” Gabe called out.
“It’s refreshing, you should join me.”
“Yeah, no thanks, I think I will stay in here where it’s dry and warm.” Gabe replied.
“Oh come on, you big wuss, live a little.” Rachel goaded, not shifting her gaze from the heavens. “It’s beautiful! The moon, the stars. All of it.”
Using the door handle, Gabe pulled himself to a standing position with a groan. “How is it you always do that?”
“Do what?” Rachel asked, glancing at him for a brief moment.
“You look at everything with such a positive attitude. It is pouring rain out there and you’re talking about how beautiful it is. I wish I had been born with that ability. I can move mountains, but I can’t find the silver lining in things.” Gabe grimaced stepping onto the porch, careful to stay under the shelter of the roof.
Rachel stopped spinning and looked at Gabe intensely.
“What? Is it something I said?” Gabe asked, glancing over his shoulder and acting confused.
Rachel didn’t say a word; she calmly walked up to face him. Silently they stared at each other for a moment. She leaned in and planted a wet and gentle kiss on his cheek. “Gabe, it’s not something you’re born with. If you want to be happy, then be happy. You only need to make the choice to let go of your sadness.”
With that, Rachel walked past Gabe and back into the cabin, the rain water dripping from her drenched clothes that now clung to her curves, leaving very little to Gabe’s imagination.
Gabe realized he was standing there alone, with a goofy smile on his face. Limping inside, he closed the door behind him, her words still lingering in his mind. Gabe wanted more than anything to be able to choose happiness. He wanted a rain storm to make him smile. He desired that the simple task of cooking would make him dance. To Gabe, however, it didn’t seem as simple as just making a choice. He hoped her joy was contagious, because he was in uncharted territories.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Rachel awoke early, her chores nearly finished soon after sun up. Gabe was used to rising early himself, but somehow Rachel always seemed to slip out hours before him. Taking a deep breath, Gabe stretched his arms out wide, his chest flexing as he exhaled. The tape on the bandages tugged at Gabe’s flesh as he did so, irritating him tremendously. Carefully, he picked at the corner of the wrapping, pealing it back and revealing the scabbed wounds. The bruises had already begun to fade and Gabe even impressed himself with the healing abilities he possessed.
Satisfied with his progress, Gabe pushed himself to his feet and decided it was time he started pulling his weight again. Pressing the tape back into place, he grabbed a nearby t-shirt and stretched it on over his head and muscular frame.
“Rachel,” Gabe called out as he took a step outside the cabin. He took another step and felt a shooting pain race up his leg and settle into his hip area. Clearly he was not completely back to his old self. Gabe grabbed the walking stick that was leaning against the frame of the front door. Using it to displace his