Read Online Reinventing Rachel by Alison Strobel - Free Book Online
Authors: Alison Strobel
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of organized religion, overall, so I just go with what feels right. Served me fine so far.”
Rachel considered this. Barring her childhood, over which she had no control, Daphne’s life had been pretty good. She had a job she loved and was good at, lived comfortably on her own, and while not completely lucky in love, she had not suffered more than the usual heartbreak—certainly nothing like what Rachel had gone through.
Their meals arrived, and Daphne graciously steered the conversation to less troubled waters. It didn’t take long for them to come back to Rachel’s life, however, and after finishing her last bite Daphne sat back and crossed her arms. “You know what you need, Rachel?”
“What?”
“A fresh start.”
Rachel swirled her fork through a puddle of balsamic vinaigrette on her plate. “I agree.”
She looked up to see a slow smile spread across Daphne’s face. “You know how you could do it?”
“How, dare I ask? Your face tells me you’re scheming.”
“You know me so well.” Daphne paused, leaned in as though sharing a secret. “Move to Chicago and live with me.”
Rachel let out a laugh. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious!”
“So am I. There’s no way.”
“Why not? Give me one good reason.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Because I have a job.”
“Quit. Chicago has coffee shops too.”
“But my mom—”
“Is an adult and can take care of herself.”
“All my friends—”
“Not all, seeing as I don’t live in California anymore. And seriously, are you going to want to hang out with people who are constantly trying to get you back in the fold?”
Rachel frowned. “You have a point.” She didn’t know how she’d go back to working with the high school girls, either. She didn’t think the church would appreciate her handing down her cynicism to the next generation.
“Plus Patrick and Trisha are still around, and no matter how hard you try to avoid them, you’re going to run into things that remind you of them all the time, if you don’t actually run into them.” Daphne spread her hands. “So what choice do you have?”
Rachel closed her eyes and pressed her palms against them. “My gut says you’re right. But it’s too much right now.” She gave Daphne a small smile. “I can only handle so much upheaval.”
“Understandable.”
“But I have to admit it sounds fun.”
Daphne’s eyes sparkled. “So much fun. Can you imagine? I totally get that you need some time, but keep it in mind, okay?”
“I will. I promise.”
They paid their bill and went on their way to try their hand at the table games. But despite the sights and distractions of the casino, a small part of Rachel’s mind couldn’t let go of the idea.
Chapter 7
The light of late morning was no match for the blackout curtains. The clock read 11:24 when Rachel finally pried her eyes open, and if it weren’t for the fact that she was famished she’d have rolled over and gone back to sleep. But dinner had been too long ago, and the snacks they’d scurried out to buy at midnight hadn’t done anything to fill her up. Coveting Daphne’s ability to sleep twelve hours straight when she wanted to, Rachel hauled herself upright and took a few reviving breaths before stumbling to the bathroom to make herself decent. She needed coffee, stat, and not the complementary bag of instant crystals that sat on the bathroom counter. Hopefully the European bent of the hotel didn’t stop with the decor.
Too hungry to waste time on coordinating an outfit, Rachel pulled on one of her new skirts and a shirt of Daphne’s that caught her eye. Then she grabbed her key and debit card from her wallet and slipped out into the hall, leaving Daphne still dreaming beneath the rumpled white sheets.
The chaos of the casino jarred her senses when the elevator opened its doors at the main floor. Throngs of people clogged the hall, and smoke from countless smoldering cigarettes watered her eyes as she skirted
Rachel considered this. Barring her childhood, over which she had no control, Daphne’s life had been pretty good. She had a job she loved and was good at, lived comfortably on her own, and while not completely lucky in love, she had not suffered more than the usual heartbreak—certainly nothing like what Rachel had gone through.
Their meals arrived, and Daphne graciously steered the conversation to less troubled waters. It didn’t take long for them to come back to Rachel’s life, however, and after finishing her last bite Daphne sat back and crossed her arms. “You know what you need, Rachel?”
“What?”
“A fresh start.”
Rachel swirled her fork through a puddle of balsamic vinaigrette on her plate. “I agree.”
She looked up to see a slow smile spread across Daphne’s face. “You know how you could do it?”
“How, dare I ask? Your face tells me you’re scheming.”
“You know me so well.” Daphne paused, leaned in as though sharing a secret. “Move to Chicago and live with me.”
Rachel let out a laugh. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious!”
“So am I. There’s no way.”
“Why not? Give me one good reason.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Because I have a job.”
“Quit. Chicago has coffee shops too.”
“But my mom—”
“Is an adult and can take care of herself.”
“All my friends—”
“Not all, seeing as I don’t live in California anymore. And seriously, are you going to want to hang out with people who are constantly trying to get you back in the fold?”
Rachel frowned. “You have a point.” She didn’t know how she’d go back to working with the high school girls, either. She didn’t think the church would appreciate her handing down her cynicism to the next generation.
“Plus Patrick and Trisha are still around, and no matter how hard you try to avoid them, you’re going to run into things that remind you of them all the time, if you don’t actually run into them.” Daphne spread her hands. “So what choice do you have?”
Rachel closed her eyes and pressed her palms against them. “My gut says you’re right. But it’s too much right now.” She gave Daphne a small smile. “I can only handle so much upheaval.”
“Understandable.”
“But I have to admit it sounds fun.”
Daphne’s eyes sparkled. “So much fun. Can you imagine? I totally get that you need some time, but keep it in mind, okay?”
“I will. I promise.”
They paid their bill and went on their way to try their hand at the table games. But despite the sights and distractions of the casino, a small part of Rachel’s mind couldn’t let go of the idea.
Chapter 7
The light of late morning was no match for the blackout curtains. The clock read 11:24 when Rachel finally pried her eyes open, and if it weren’t for the fact that she was famished she’d have rolled over and gone back to sleep. But dinner had been too long ago, and the snacks they’d scurried out to buy at midnight hadn’t done anything to fill her up. Coveting Daphne’s ability to sleep twelve hours straight when she wanted to, Rachel hauled herself upright and took a few reviving breaths before stumbling to the bathroom to make herself decent. She needed coffee, stat, and not the complementary bag of instant crystals that sat on the bathroom counter. Hopefully the European bent of the hotel didn’t stop with the decor.
Too hungry to waste time on coordinating an outfit, Rachel pulled on one of her new skirts and a shirt of Daphne’s that caught her eye. Then she grabbed her key and debit card from her wallet and slipped out into the hall, leaving Daphne still dreaming beneath the rumpled white sheets.
The chaos of the casino jarred her senses when the elevator opened its doors at the main floor. Throngs of people clogged the hall, and smoke from countless smoldering cigarettes watered her eyes as she skirted
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