“Dante is Rachel’s choice,” Mom continues. “Thank God she’s with someone you know is a great guy. I was seventeen when I was pregnant with Matt. Rachel is twenty-six. Peter, stop acting this way. It’s completely unacceptable.”
When Dad’s face softens I feel a little better. “Is he your choice Rachel? Is he who you want to be with?”
“Yes. Dad, I love him and I know he’ll take care of me. You know that too. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys I was seeing him but I hope you can accept my choice. I hope you love me enough to do so.” My tone is firm and gets the message I want to get out.
“I do,” Mom says with a smile and we both look to Dad.
He’s hesitant as he is stubborn but he nods. “Yes.”
My whole body sighs with relief. It feels like the first time in forever that I’ve gotten my father to agree to anything.
I’m so relieved it’s the one thing I wanted most.
Chapter Twenty
Dante
It’s Sunday.
I never made it into the office yesterday. I just couldn’t leave the house.
It was Jia that called me in the evening to let me know Rachel was okay.
It was only then I relaxed a little.
I planned for today, deciding I’d go into the office and get my departure over and done with. It would be worse tomorrow if I was to wait.
There’d be too many people and I don’t want the attention.
The office is open on Saturdays for business as usual but on Sundays some of the staff come in to catch up on work. There were a few here and there when I got here.
I have my stuff packed in four big boxes. I’ll take four trips out to the car and that will be it.
It will be goodbye to an office I’ve used on and off for the last twenty years. whether I was in Chicago or away when I was here visiting I’d use it. The place feels like a home I’m saying goodbye to, very much like when I left my actual home to go to college.
When I’m done here I’m heading to the hospital and I will make Peter allow me access to Rachel even if I have to fight my way through to see her.
There’s a slight tap on my door. It’s already open.
I turn and see Peter standing there looking over the boxes then his gaze lands on me.
“What’s going on here?” he asks.
“I’m leaving. How comes you’re at work?” It’s odd. There’s no way he’d come to work on Sunday.
“I called to check in because they needed a security code earlier. Brenda told me you were here. I figured there could only be one thing you’d be doing.”
I stare at him. “can you blame me?”
“No… I can’t.”
“How is Rachel?” I ask. I don’t want to talk about anything else that’s not her. Everything else is set in motion and I’m leaving whether he likes it or not. She’s the only thing I need to talk to him about.
“She’s okay. It’s her blood pressure and she’s anemic. She’ll be out tomorrow.”
“You can’t stop me from seeing her, you know that right?” I square off with him.
“I’m …not going to.”