"Isn't she getting suspicious about all these sick calls I keep sending her out on?"
"She's so wrapped up in Chip, and the renovations on the cottage, and the new baby, and her classes, and making plans for the money she got from selling G. Dwayne's diamond stash that I don't think she has time to get suspicious." She was wrapped up in him, too, but Gabe didn't mention that because he didn't want to brag in front of his brothers. Not that Cal and Ethan didn't have plenty of room to brag themselves.
Rachel loved the finance courses she was taking at the local community college, although she pretended she was doing it only because he was so hopeless about money. If she left it up to him, she said, they'd end up in the poorhouse.
Just to give her a hard time, he'd pointed out that she'd never have to worry about the poorhouse if she'd hung on to some of G. Dwayne's fortune instead of using it for her pet charity after she'd paid his debts, but she paid no attention. She and Ethan were working together to establish a statewide foundation that would help single mothers get on their feet by providing decent child care while they took classes and started new jobs. Rachel had backed into the perfect career for herself.
She's also helped the community by setting up a group to run the Pride of Carolina on a nonprofit basis. The drive-in had become the most popular spot in town on summer weekends.
"It's hard to believe… Just over a year ago, everybody in Salvation hated her guts. Now she's a local heroine." Cal spoke with a great deal of pride for a man who'd been one of her chief persecutors.
Rachel had Snoozer in her arms as she stuck her head up to the screen. "Everybody's getting hungry, Gabe. How about starting the grill?"
The men ambled out to the backyard where their parents sat together on an old quilt with Rosie perched between them and the dogs reclining nearby. Ethan moved over to Kristy, and she cuddled up to him. Cal wrapped his arm around Jane, then reached over to pat her uneasy stomach.
Gabe simply stood there, taking in the sight of these people he loved so much. Rachel set a stack of paper plates on the picnic table and looked up at him. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, their thoughts perfectly matched.
I love you, Gabe.
I love you, Rach.
Chip charged forward. Gabe knew what he wanted, and he reached out his arms.
A moment later, Chip was settled on his shoulders, his hands clasped across his father's forehead, legs dangling over his chest.
Rachel started to cry.
She did this sometimes at family gatherings when her happiness got to be too much for her. They were all used to it. They liked to tease her about it. They'd tease her about it today. Soon… Maybe after lunch…
But for now, Cal needed to clear his throat. Jane sniffed. Ethan had a little cough. Kristy wiped her eyes. His mother handed a tissue to his father.
Gabe's heart swelled. Life was good on Heartache Mountain.
He threw back his head and laughed.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
