Bella stayed by the window long after Chloe and Timothy had left, her eyes fixed on the direction they walked even though they were already far gone.
The morning light was brighter now, slipping through the curtains like unwelco truth, touching everything she didn’t want to face. Her hands were trembling a little, and her breath ca in uneven pulls.
Jake was still outside.
She could feel his presence even without looking and it made her chest tighten. It made her heart feel too heavy. And sohow, it made the pain inside her rise again, fresh and sharp.
But she shook her head, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"No," she whispered to herself firmly. "Not now. I can’t deal with him right now. Rachel is the one who needs . Rachel first. Rachel cos before everything today."
She turned away from the window, pressing her fingertips to her temples. Her heart was a ss. Her thoughts were running in circles. She felt torn in so many ways she didn’t even recognize herself anymore.
Jake had hurt her, shattered her, and suddenly appeared with guilt in his eyes. Her sister was unwell, quiet, weak, and hiding sothing.
Her own emotions were pulling her in different directions at once.
Bella took a deep, shaky breath and walked down the hallway, heading for Rachel’s room.
The door was slightly open, and she pushed it gently so it wouldn’t make noise. Rachel’s room was dim, the curtains half-drawn, the air heavy with warmth. Rachel lay curled under a blanket, her face pale, her hair ssy, her body still.
Bella’s heart squeezed, seeing her that way.
She stepped inside slowly. "Rach?" she said softly.
Rachel stirred a little, turning her face halfway toward Bella. "Mm... Bell?" Her voice was weak, thick, like she hadn’t slept at all.
Bella walked closer and touched her forehead with the back of her hand. The heat shocked her. "Rachel... you’re burning up," she whispered, her voice instantly filled with worry. "Why didn’t you tell it was this bad?"
Rachel groaned softly, closing her eyes again. "I’m fine," she murmured.
"You’re not fine," Bella said sharply, though her tone held only concern. "You’re running a high temperature. You look weak. You’ve barely eaten since you ca back from wherever you went yesterday."
Rachel tried to push herself up but winced, falling back against the pillow. "I’ll be okay. Just let rest."
"No." Bella shook her head and reached for the blanket, pulling it back a little. "You need to get up. We’re going to the hospital or at least a clinic. You can’t stay like this."
"I don’t want to go," Rachel said quickly, panic flickering through her eyes. "Bella, please. I don’t want to."
Bella stared at her, confused. "Rachel, you’ve been sick since yesterday. You ca ho from God knows where, went straight to bed, and barely said a word. Tell what’s going on. Or is this because... because you’re no longer working at the Camden house? Is it?"
Rachel froze, not sure if she should just tell her sister the truth or just go back to bed.
Bella watched her carefully, lowering herself onto the edge of the bed. "If it’s about the job you lost," she said gently, "Chloe and I can help you find another one. You don’t have to worry about that. I can ask around. There are people who will hire you imdiately so you don’t have to feel bad."
Rachel shook her head slowly, her eyes filling with sothing Bella couldn’t na. "No... Bella. I don’t want another job."
Bella blinked, confusing clouding her features. "Why? What do you an?"
Rachel gripped the blanket weakly, her fingers trembling. She looked away, her lips pressed tightly together. What would her sister’s reaction be if she confird what Chloe had suggested that day? What would she say if she found out she was this sick because she was worried about Henry?
"Rachel," Bella pressed, "talk to . Why don’t you want another job? You’ve always tried to do sothing. Even when I didn’t want you working, you’d insisted so why don’t you want to work anymore?"
Rachel swallowed hard. "It’s not that I don’t want to work, Bell. I just don’t want to work anywhere else if it’s not at Mr. Camden’s."
Bella’s heart skipped. She stared at her sister, confused, startled, uneasy, all at once. "Rachel," she said slowly, "you can’t an that. What do you an if it’s not at Mr Camden’s? Sandra fired you, rember? I know you probably liked working there but it’s ti for you to move on."
Rachel closed her eyes tightly as if fighting tears. "I tried," she whispered. "I swear, Bella... I tried. But... I can’t. I just can’t move on no matter how hard I try to."
Bella felt the air shift. Sothing inside her tightened. This wasn’t what Chloe had suggested the other day, was it?
Bella exhaled deeply and then looked at Rachel carefully, her voice low and cautious. "Why? Rachel... why can’t you move on? What is going on?"
Rachel hesitated. Her lips trembled. Her hands gripped the sheets tighter. For a mont, she didn’t speak. Then, slowly, painfully, she whispered:
"Because... I’m in love with Henry."
Bella’s breath left her body all at once. Her heart stopped for a second.
Her fingers went numb. She stared at Rachel like she hadn’t heard her correctly. "Wh–what?" she whispered. "Who... who did you say?"
Rachel’s eyes opened, glossy with pain. "Henry," she said again, barely audible.
Bella’s stomach twisted violently. "Rachel..." she whispered, "Rach... tell it’s not Mr. Camden Henry you’re talking about. Please. Tell you an soone else and not him. Please."
Bella looked at Rachel, expecting her to quickly correct her notion. But then, Rachel looked away and that, that was the only answer Bella needed to know she hadn’t misheard or misunderstood because there was no way whatever Rachel was saying had to be what she’d heard.
Reviews
All reviews (0)