Chapter Twelve
Rachel faced a long day on the island. The rain let up and she spent a lot of time walking through the beach and along the trails inland. When darkness fell, she ordered room service and forced herself to eat. The food was delicious but she had no appetite. She laid down in the comfortable bed. She should’ve been exhausted but she couldn’t sleep. Abe had left. Maybe she didn’t completely understand how it would feel to be betrayed by your best friend and your fiancée but she knew how it felt to be hurt by someone and need to forgive them. Flint Brooks had set the explosion that had ruined her face. She hadn’t forgiven him and let it go, but she’d idealistically hoped she and Abe could work through that pain together. Maybe it would be easier for her as Flint was in prison and she knew he couldn’t hurt anyone else. Maybe that was all Abe needed: Preston and Angel behind bars and not able to hurt anyone else, but she feared his revenge quest would hurt him more than it would heal. She prayed for her and Abe’s hearts to heal and for protection for Abe in his pursuit.
The night slowly passed and the next morning she knew it was time for her to leave this beautiful island. She called the front desk for a boat ride back to Belize. She met with the manager, Jason, and felt he had everything under control. The staff had already cleaned up most of the mess the storm had created, and they all seemed happy and productive. She left a nice tip, hoping they’d soon recover the tip money Preston and Angel stole before they ran. In addition to whatever they’d stolen over the past four years from the employees.
She flew into Savannah, Georgia later that afternoon on a commercial flight. Luke, Joshua, or her dad would’ve all sent their jets if she’d asked but she hadn’t wanted to wait.
Her mom and dad were both waiting for her outside the airport. They hugged her tight and her mom kept exclaiming. “Your hair! Oh, I love the way you’re wearing it, sweetheart.”
Rachel smiled her thanks, exhausted clear through. Her hair was tied back from her face and fell in long curls down her back. She knew her mom wasn’t talking about her hair at all, but the fact that she was showing her scars and not hiding them. Even if she never saw Abe again at least he’d given her the confidence to show her face and believe she could still be attractive with the bumpy, uneven skin.
Her smile disappeared. Never saw Abe again. What kind of negative thinking was that? Abe would track down Preston and Angel, somewhere in this huge world, and then he’d come back for her. They loved each other. Of course he’d come back for her.
She walked with her parents out of the airport and climbed in their car. She told them all about the exquisite island and the fabulous experiences she’d had there, not telling them who she’d done them with, yet. When Abe came she’d introduce him to her parents and they’d immediately know how great he was and how the two of them were meant to be.
Her mom glanced over the seat at her. “And who did you have all these fun adventures with?”
Rachel looked into her mom’s bright blue eyes. “Luke ratted me out?”
“No.” Her mom shifted uncomfortably as if she didn’t want to tell her. “Mar called. It’s all over the media.”
“Seriously? Luke’s island is supposed to be paparazzi free.”
Her mom nodded. “Luke was really upset. Apparently, an unknown guest took the pictures and sent them toThe Rising Starand the article went viral. I’m sorry, love.”
Rachel’s stomach churned but she wasn’t as upset as she would’ve been three days ago. She pulled out her phone and typed in her and Abe’s names. There were some pictures of them on bikes, lying on the beach side by side, eating dinner outside Abe’s bungalow, and even some of them in the main building during the storm. She laughed. “I look like a drowned rat in some of these.”
Her mom’s eyes were wide. “You’re okay about this?”
Rachel shrugged and slid the article closed. She didn’t love her face being splayed everywhere but it didn’t look as bad as she’d feared, and Abe had looked amazing. She’d probably look at those pictures later simply to stare at him. She wondered briefly if Angel was the “unknown guest” who took the pictures but found she didn’t care to know the truth. It would fit though as the woman had tried to make Rachel worried about the media “disparaging” her.
“It was bound to happen eventually,” she said to her mom. “I met an amazing man on the island, Abe Bradford.”
Her dad pulled into their tree-lined driveway and looked at her in the rearview mirror. “Amazing enough for you?”
“Just barely.” She winked at him.
Her mom looked relieved and ecstatic. She loved welcoming new in-laws into the family and having married off all the boys happily, she wanted Rachel and Eve to find someone wonderful. She was probably even happier Rachel wasn’t upset about her scars being displayed for the world to gawk at. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was Abe coming back.
“And this Abe is the reason you’re showing your beautiful face and not upset about those pictures online?”
Rachel nodded. “He helped me see that I’m brave, smart, and beautiful. The scars don’t change that.” As she said it, she realized that Abe had set her on her path to forgiving Flint Brooks. Yes, Flint had taken some flesh from her but she would come out stronger in the end and hating him would only hurt her.
“Oh, love.” The car stopped and her mom jumped out and pulled open Rachel’s door. She tugged on Rachel’s hand. Rachel stood and hugged her tight. She got a little choked up, as if she were a child who needed her mom. She supposed she’d always need her mom. The hug was healing.
Her dad walked around the car and waited his turn and then he was holding her. He gently kissed her forehead. “If you think this boy is good enough for you, I might give my permission.” His blue eyes twinkled.
Rachel laughed and blinked away the wetness behind her eyes. “Thanks, Dad. You’ll love him.”
“We’ll see. When do we get to meet him?”
Rachel bit at her lip. “That might be a problem.”
Her dad’s brows drew together and she said another prayer that Abe would find Preston and Angel and come to her quick. She hoped it wasn’t a vain repetition of a prayer that might never get answered.
* * *
Ten long weeks passed. June came and though it was beautiful in Georgia it was getting oppressively hot. Rachel got regular phone calls, FaceTime calls, and texts from Abe. He was always happy to talk to her and seemed like he was doing okay but neither he nor the high-dollar private investigators he’d hired had found Preston and Angel. They’d had some leads and all of them pointed to them still being in the Caribbean or possibly South America, but Rachel worried that Angel and Preston had caught wind they were being chased and would disappear for good. She begged Abe several times to come home and let the investigators look for them but he seemed to be more intent and obsessive with the search as time went on. His sister Allison had confided that his various assistants, team leaders, and managers were worried about his business profits sinking and wanted him home as well, but neither she nor the business he’d worked so hard for seemed to be the motivation to get him home. She had no clue how to get through to him.